So to let you know, this takes place in between Death Bringer and Mortal Coil. Please review!

"Hey, Valkyrie. Can I talk to you for a minute?" Melancholia didn't look at Valkyrie as she spoke, looking almost ashamed of talking to her.

It was after Valkyrie's Necromancy lesson with Solomon Wreath and was waiting outside the Temple for Skulduggery to pick her up. Valkyrie looked up. "Um, sure." They walked off together through the gravestones, deeper into the shadows. They stopped next to an old mausoleum and Valkyrie leaned against the side of it. "What's up?"

Melancholia took a deep breath. "I heard you have new pet right? A Hellhound?"

"Yes…." Valkyrie said slowly, not quite sure where this is headed.

"Well, I've been having some… things happen lately and I was wondering if I could borrow him for a day?"

Valkyrie looked at Melancholia for a long time. "So you want me and my pet Hellhound to play Ghostbusters for you."

Melancholia took a deep breath. "Yes."

"Okay."

"Great. Can you come over tomorrow? I have a special appointment with Craven the next day and I want this taken care of so I don't have to worry about it anymore."

The Next Day…

"So where are we going?" Scorch asked Valkyrie from the backseat of Melancholia's car. She had just picked up Valkyrie and Scorch from Valkyrie's house and they were almost to Melancholia's.

"We're going to Melancholia's house to help her with something," Valkyrie explained. She sat next to Melancholia in the front.

"With what? I hope it's cleaning out her fridge, I love eating food you guys can't eat anymore! I can't get in trouble for eating it!" Scorch exclaimed.

"No."

Scorch's tail drooped. "Darn."

"But," Melancholia chimed. "If you completely solve my problem I'll give you everything in my fridge."

Scorch brightened. "Deal!"

They parked on front of the house and they walked up to the door. As soon as they crossed the threshold Scorch changed. "There is something in here that isn't living." His voice was uneasy, cautious. The atmosphere was heavy in the house and there was definitely something not quite right.

Melancholia and Valkyrie looked at each other, shocked. They hadn't told Scorch anything other than that they were helping Mel out with something.

Scorch dropped to his belly, butt sticking in the air, sniffing loudly as he moved room to room. "It's a man," he said. "He likes to think of himself as strong and preys on women and young girls. But he really isn't, if a real man confronted him he would become much more weak and reserved. That's why he preys on females; they aren't as difficult to deal with."

Scorch stood up straight again, gaze slowly moving over the room. "He knows I am here and is becoming worried as I'm saying all this. Yeah that's right, I know all about you." Scorch seemed to say the last part to the ghost.

"He's running away," he continued. "Trying to hide. Thinks that he can hide from me long enough that I'll finally give up and leave. But I know where he is, I have X-ray vision, I'm superman."

Scorch once again went to his belly and continued sniffing loudly as he went into the hallway, in pursuit of the entity.

Melancholia turned to Valkyrie. "He's odd isn't he."

"Actually," said Valkyrie. "He's being a lot less odd today."

They walked on and found Scorch standing in the middle of the kitchen, stiff and straight, eyes seeing things they couldn't.

"I've cornered him," Scorch said. "He doesn't know what I am yet but he knows I'm not a normal dog."

Silence.

"Yeah that's right, I'm a talking dog. Some say I never shut up, but they're wrong. I don't talk in my sleep."

"Yes you do," Valkyrie piped up. "And you sing."

"Hush now."

More silence.

"Yeah, yeah. I know you're a wuss now shut up and face me like a man."

Silence.

Scorch cocked his head. "You want to know what I am?"

Silence.

"You really want to know what I am?"

Silence.

"You really, really want to know?"

Silence.

"You really, really, really want-"

Silence.

"Okay, okay. Fine, sheesh, you don't have to yell." Scorch let his claws and teeth grow to their actual length, the symbol on his forehead appeared and his eyes turned black and red. "Happy now?"

Silence.

"What do I want? For you to get out and leave Melancholia or anyone else alone."

Silence.

"What I'll do if you don't?" Scorch's eyes narrowed. "I will come back again and again, causing more and more pain to you with each visit until you either leave or are destroyed." His voice had turned demonic. The hair on the back of her neck rose and Valkyrie could tell that he meant every single word that he said.

Silence.

Then the atmosphere changed in the house and Scorch relaxed, going back to his disguise. "He's gone and never coming back."

Valkyrie felt her shoulders relax and she smiled at Melancholia, who had gone slightly pale. "Well, you're problem's been taken care of."

"Wow, I thought Scorch was particularly stupid. I never thought he could be so terrifying.'" Melancholia said.

"Oh, you should have seen him beatup Sanguine. Sanguine didn't even get a punch in."

"Wow."

"Yep."

"Hey!"

The girls looked down at Scorch who had come up to them. "I fixed the problem, now pay up."

Melancholia smiled. "Of course, go ahead."

"Yes!" Scorch cheered then raced over to the fridge. "Come to papa," he yanked open the fridge and sagged.

"NOOOOOOOOOOO!" Scorch howled.

The fridge was entirely filled with neatly stacked containers of spinach.