A/N: I don't own Valkyrie, Skulduggery, China, Ghastly, Finbar, Anton, Dexter, Erskine or any of the Dead Men.
I bundled Skulduggery into me tightly, he was shaking. "Valkyrie, I can't loose them, not again, please. I just cant be away from my family, that's why I-" He broke off abruptly, and I held him, rubbing his back soothingly while ice water flooded my veins.
His wife Victoria Discord had been more than friendly so had his son, though I privately wondered who had come up with the name Thaddeus. I knew it meant courageous heart, but I could see him getting picked on, though I suppose in his day it had been a fine name. I needed time to think. "Skulduggery, what clues do we have?" I asked, trying to give him something to do.
"Clues?" He asked, sounding dazed. "What clues?"
"At the crime scene, what clues did you find?" He stared at me helplessly and I turned to Ghastly. "We need to get to his house and find out what happened." Ghastly nodded and we got Skulduggery into the van. He'd started to shake and Ghastly told me with a glance to sit beside Skulduggery in the back.
Skulduggery seemed to have retreated inside of himself and he moved when we got him out and managed to open the door but it was like he was in a trance. "This is all my fault." He managed when we reached the living room where his meditation chair was.
"No, it is not, Skulduggery. This is the fault of some bad guys whom we are going to find and beat the living daylights out of. That is whose fault it is, not yours." I said firmly, helping him to the sofa. Ghastly was already on his mobile, contacting Erskine as he watched us carefully, clearly concerned for Skulduggery.
Skulduggery sat, saying nothing more, his long, gloved fingers clutching the teddy bear I'd given Thaddeus the day before. He looked at it then at me. "This was nice of you, thank you." He said quietly and I nodded.
"Tadpole's like a little brother to me, we'll get him back, I promise, Skulduggery." I said and he smiled at me.
"Right you are. After all, I am on the case, aren't I?" Skulduggery said, cheering slightly. I grinned at him and nodded. Ghastly looked at us, clearly needing to do something.
"Skulduggery, what happened yesterday and today? It might help if you tell us." He said and Skulduggery sighed.
"Well, you know what happened. You found me, took me to see Gordon, then home and met my family. Valkyrie charmed them of course, but she would being my partner. Then yesterday I was discussing the case with Victoria. We were discussing a family matter as well, and I'd been researching all day, that's why I forgot to come in. That and getting rid of the façade." He hung his head guiltily.
"Skulduggery, you hadn't seen them in centuries, you're allowed time off with them. But if it isn't too private, what were you researching?" I asked and he looked at me mournfully.
"Adoption. We wanted to see if it would be legal to adopt a daughter we had in mind." He said quietly. I blinked back tears.
"Skulduggery, that's wonderful. How on Earth did you two find a child so quickly?" He stared at me and it dawned on me. "Oh, Skulduggery." I said, bundling him into a tight hug.
He managed a shaky smile when I let go. "You wanted to know what I was doing when I was captured? Breaking into a place I didn't belong so I could get a particular book on adoption, which has rather different rules for magical people than for mortals. But I needed to know if it was legal. I still have no idea."
"And you were going to ask the daughter involved when?" I asked and his smile grew.
"When I was sure she would say yes. I told you I couldn't be away from my family, Valkyrie, and that would logically include my daughter."
"You should have just asked her then come to the Sanctuary, Skulduggery. Yes, it is legal for you to adopt Valkyrie. There is no cut off age for us." He sighed, rubbing his face. I knew he was frustrated, but I was used to Skulduggery choosing the hard way to do things.
"You didn't want anyone to know in case I turned you down, right?" I asked and Skulduggery nodded. "Well, no harm done other then you getting captured and killed. Do you know how they did it?" I asked.
"Do I have a daughter?" Skulduggery countered.
"Yes, Skulduggery, you have a daughter. Who perhaps is getting ahead of herself thinking your killers are also the ones who abducted your family, and how did they abduct spirits?"
Skulduggery hesitated. "I think they used Soul Catchers, or something like them. I heard them scream-. Oh, Val." I rubbed his back again. Skulduggery had lost his family once and now he was getting to relive the nightmare.
"It's OK, Skulduggery, it will be all right. We will get them back, I promise you that. I've got a few calls to make." I looked at Ghastly and he nodded, taking my place as I paced and contacted the Dead Men one by one. I assured them we didn't need them to gather, not yet at any rate, but we did need to know if they knew of any possible leaks. True, the Sanctuary knew he was back. But someone had known he had his family back, someone who wanted to draw him into a trap by using them.
My brothers promised to search and I cursed myself, realizing my pacing my have obliterated any clues. "Sorry, Skulduggery." I said and I scanned the room slowly. But nothing seemed out of place, there were no helpful dropped clues, nothing.
I looked at Skulduggery. "Other that the Sanctuary and Dead Men, we know you had your tattoos removed. But who knew you had your family back and is that good at magic that they could just dismantle your wards and get in here?"
Skulduggery looked at me, his expression pained. "There's only one person I know who would abduct my family, but we have no idea if she is even alive, and if she is why do this to me again?"
I looked at him. "Skulduggery, I'm not trying to hurt you, or place blame, but did you ever have a relationship with China? Killing your family the first time she was a religious zealot, but this time?"
Skulduggery shook his head. "No, I most certainly did not. I told you once she can charm people, and she does. She charmed me, until about thirty seconds after I got to know her. When I realized how ruthless she was, how self-centered- Wait, I sound like I'm describing me, don't I?" He laughed darkly then fell silent.
Ghastly grasped me by the arm and led me out into the hall. "Valkyrie until we have proof grasping at straws could backfire. If it isn't China and we go hunting she will smell blood on the water. And she'd do anything, even to her friends if she thought it would further her own goals."
"Friends? She killed his family, she's hardly our friend." I said. I didn't hate China, but I didn't trust her either.
"Lord Vile killed my mother, yet do you see me in there threatening Skulduggery?" He asked quietly and I felt my jaw drop. Ghastly sighed and ran a hand over his head wearily. "You don't teach a man how to box and not recognize how he moves, Valkyrie. I knew, the moment I saw Lord Vile, I knew. I just never understood why."
We heard hollow laughter from the doorway and turned to see Skulduggery. "Because I lost my family, Ghastly. So becoming a mass-murdering lunatic and ending up on the side I'd first fought against made perfect sense to me." He swayed and almost collapsed, but Ghastly caught him and led him to his meditation chair.
"He's in shock, Valkyrie. Get him a blanket, would you, please?" He asked and I did. I watched the tenderness Ghastly attended to Skulduggery with in awe. He'd always known the truth and while loosing his mother had been a heavy blow he'd mourned the loss of the man he saw as a brother and welcomed Skulduggery back with open arms at his return. I wondered then why more people couldn't be like Ghastly.
"Please stay." It was Skulduggery, but he wasn't talking to me, he was looking directly at Ghastly who only smiled reassuringly and patted his hand.
"Of course, you need to meditate, Skulduggery, please, for us. We'll find your family. And thank you for returning. It wasn't just about justice was it? As a matter of fact I doubt you cared about that. You wanted your daughter back." Ghastly smiled proudly at Skulduggery and I could sense Skulduggery slipping into a deep meditation. Ghastly came over to the sofa and sat beside me with a sigh.
"I could go for some tea right now." He groaned. I fished into a pocket and handed him several tea bags, each wrapped in a small cellophane bag. Terrible for the environment, but perfect for tea drinkers. Ghastly smiled his gratitude and we went into the kitchen. Luckily whoever was handling the estate had agreed to leave the utilities on for a year and a day. I mused, wondering how Skulduggery would explain being back from the dead.
Ghastly seemed to read my mind. "We have sensitives make people think other people have moved in. Honestly most of the time it is easy. Mortals age and wither like leaves compared to us and nobody listens to those who claim to see people who don't age. So there's really no need to move to avoid detection. Though of course things like bank accounts and deeds need to be changed to other names every thirty or so."
He continued, serving us both tea. "Thank you, Valkyrie, and please don't explain how you had tea on you, let me enjoy the mystery." He sipped his tea then continued. "You didn't get the benefit of a magical family and for a huge part of you life didn't know magic was real. You have so much to catch up on but we'll teach you. And before you ask, I'm not running even if your dad is the same age as me, it happens with mortals too if I recall correctly."
I laughed, relieved. "You're right, Ghastly, it does. I never thought of it that way. The age difference has never bothered me, but when he brought up adoption, I did feel strange. To mortals I'm an adult and should have my own children my now. I'd rather look at myself that way. I think it is arrogant to assume I have centuries. I could get hit by a bus tomorrow."
"Please don't say that." Ghastly winced. "I do intend on having you around a long time, Valkyrie Cain, and you getting hit by a bus would ruin my plans." He smiled, his eyes dancing. He was teasing and I liked this side to him.
We chatted I realized we'd be spending another day with a few hours of rest at best tomorrow. "After this case I want to sleep for a month, but I'm too excited to sleep right now and that's terrible, considering Skulduggery's family is in danger."
"Your family." Ghastly corrected gently and it was my turn to wince.
"Ghastly, Skulduggery's always been a tad off. He may not even remember anything he said when he wakes up. The Faceless Ones did a good job on him and he's never been the same since. I'm not holding him to anything, OK? Just getting his family back isn't going to make him right in the head, nothing will." I shrugged.
Ghastly looked at me and for a moment I thought I saw a flash of pity in his eyes. Then I realized it was compassion. "You're too young to have to be this brave, Valkyrie, and whether you know it or not, there is no such thing as a Dead Man who will just sit around when they know his family's been abducted. Your brothers are all on their way here if I know them."
I stared at him. "Why?" I asked, dumbfounded.
"Because they care about him, Valkyrie. And as I mentioned before we may have years if not decades pass before we see them again. To us a brief time, and trust me the longer you are on this planet the swifter time seems to move- Hey now, don't look like that." He said drawing me onto his lap. "We're none of us even middle aged yet. That's better." He said, kissing the top of my head. I cuddled in close.
"Sorry, I just don't want to loose you. Ghastly, I've never asked, but tell me your clothes are at least somewhat protective."
"They are." He assured me, stroking my back. "Being an Elder can be a dangerous position. I still wish they would let me change those stupid robes and I thank you for not mentioning why I took the office." He sighed heavily. "I felt like an idiot the moment I said that."
"Ghastly, it's OK, really, it is. If you still wanted to be with her you wouldn't have even looked twice at me, and you know that's the truth. I don't believe half the stories the Dead Men offered to tell me."
"Good, because half of them are lies. Men like to elaborate, and no, I'm not as pure as the driven snow either, but I'm not half as bad as the stories make me sound. Well, you're not blushing or saying that's disgusting, so I suppose you're old enough to marry." He teased gently.
That of course did make me blush as he knew it would and I knew he was waiting for a response. "Before you ask, yes, I'm a virgin and you can keep that bit of information to yourself. God knows what those idiot brothers of mine would do with it." I grumbled.
"You do realize you called them your brothers? Mmm, Valkyrie Cain is letting her defenses down, is she?"
"A little. I've just- I've met a lot of people your age who are arrogant. Who act like I'm subhuman or wander off after the novelty of teasing 'the child' wears off. So I wanted nothing to do with any of you, to be honest. Well, OK, I liked you and Skulduggery."
Ghastly grunted. "I hated that at your age. I still get it from older mages and it drives me crazy. You get the feeling life is one constant day in high school for them, and no I never went in my day, but the horror stories are pervasive."
We both smiled at that and rose as one to check on Skulduggery. He was meditating heavily so we just left him be and at I laid down on the couch while Ghastly claimed a chair and sleep took us as well.
I awoke to a heavy pounding sound and almost fell off the couch. Someone was nearly banging the front door off its hinges. I heard the door answered then low male voices and closed my eyes again, hoping to secure a few more minutes sleep. But then I was being shaken awake. "Valkyrie, honey? C'mon, time to get up. Yeah, I know, big bad Grand Mage making you do things." Erskine grinned as I sat up and rubbed sleep from my eyes, then handed me a steaming mug of coffee.
"I ever tell you you are the ugliest of my brothers first thing in the morning?" I growled and he laughed.
"Skulduggery always said you were funny when you first got up. Do you know I caused three women and two men to wreck their cars on my way here, Valkyrie? The burden of being so handsome is truly a hard cross to bear." He attempted to look mournful, but couldn't keep the mischief from his face.
"You're my brother, all brothers are about as attractive as toadstools." I teased and he grinned, delighted to be called brother. I was happy to have him, not that I was going to go all mushy and admit it.
Skulduggery wandered in, clearly having been eavesdropping. "He's no brother of yours, Valkyrie. I'd never have a kid that ugly."
Erskine waved off the insult cheerily. As stupid and as useless as the man acted he was a decent Grand Mage. He at least cared about people even if he wasn't wise in who he employed. I shivered inwardly wondering how he'd ever thought Madam Mist or Nye were fit to work at the Sanctuary. But then, we didn't live in a Disney film. Openly hostile people who made no secret of hating you were sometimes allies if only to keep peace. Or to give the infinite second chances Erskine truly seemed to think cured people of what ailed them.
Then was a knock and then we heard Ghastly talking to someone and Anton walked in, smiling and hugging me in greeting. He then glared balefully at the men for smiling over it. But as the day wore one one after another of the Dead Men showed up as detectives reported in, trying to help move the case forward. I realized then how many people cared about Skulduggery and me. They weren't pretty people. They weren't the prefect nuclear family some people blathered on about, but they cared about us. Dexter breezed in, carrying sacks of take away near lunchtime.
"Hope you all like Chinese." He said, then plopped himself down in a chair to talk to Anton. I followed Skulduggery outside at his head tilt. He stared into the distance for the longest time, then he looked at me.
"You do realize those men are your brothers, Valkyrie? That isn't just a cute or overly emotional thing men say about war. You become family when you fight for a common cause. I'm sure Ghastly gave you this lecture, but you'll get it again and like it. They love you and they need you. Don't be the bitter recluse I turned into, all right?" He gave me a shaky smile and I hugged him tightly.
"But your my bitter recluse." I said, my voice breaking, and meant it.
"Not anymore, Val. Not bitter and not reclusive. We'll find our family, I know we will, but there's also family inside waiting for us, thought certain infernal regions will freeze over before I call Ghastly my son." He grumbled good-naturedly and I kissed his cheek. He beamed at me.
"You're not bad, as fathers go. Not great of course, but not bad either." I teased gently. Skulduggery laughed and got the door for me. We went inside and enjoyed our family, dysfunctional as it was for the rest of the day.
By evening we had several leads and they all sounded good. It was agreed that Sanctuary detectives other than us could do the legwork. Not for us to be lazy, but to prevent a trap from springing.
I wandered away from them to think. I knew if I found a way to contact China she'd either smell blood in the water as Ghastly said and hurt us, or she'd prove to be a friend and help. But I had left her there, hadn't I? True, I'd shown mercy by not killing her, but China was petty and there was no other way to put it. She was mean for the fun of it. Still, stupidly I missed her.
I felt a hand on my shoulder and jumped guiltily, blinking back the tears that had threatened to fall. "You OK?" Ghastly asked, his voice soft. I nodded, but he held me, perfectly aware I was lying.
"How many lectures do I have to give you on not hiding your feelings, Valkyrie?" He asked gently.
"I can't cry every time I feel like it, Ghastly. Living with Skulduggery, all I'd do is cry." I growled. He still wasn't fooled but he let it be, knowing I'd tell him when I was ready. I sighed and looked up at him.
"We have all of the Dead Men here, we have Sanctuary detectives, but I can't help thinking we need to be looking another way." I almost mentioned China, assuming she'd still have her sources then had a flash of insight.
"Finbar Wrong could find them, I know he could. But we've put him in a danger before. I don't want to pull him into this."
Ghastly was about to say something when Skulduggery spoke from behind him. "Told you I was a good mentor, but let's hold him in reserve for right now. I can see you have the same wary feeling I do about this and if you say I feel it in my bones I'll disown you." He grinned. He seemed to feel stronger with the Dead Men there.
More than likely because they'd let him take command although in theory we all should be answering to the Grand Mage. Skulduggery came forward and hugged me. "Thanks for resisting the temptation to find the psychopath that killed our family, Val. She's not to be trusted. Her lure is what I warned you about. You will know she will hurt you and take advantage, she will even tell you that much, but she draws you in anyhow. She is charming in her own way, even if she isn't the best looking woman I've ever seen. That of course would be your mother."
He tilted his head and continued cheerily. "Well then, I came to tell you the good news. You two have been elected to go on a run for take away for dinner. Please go now before your brothers attack me. Please." He mock pleased, teasing a smile out of me.
Ghastly looked at me in the van. "You know there are times I swear he is omnipotent."
I laughed. "Good hearing and he can enter a room and not be noticed when he wants to, he's very sneaky in his own way."
Ghastly smiled and put the van into drive. "I wish we didn't have hungry men to feed, you deserve dinner out."
"We can eat in the back of the van when we get back. Skulduggery won't care and it is still eating dinner out."
Ghastly smiled at me. "You're a good woman and I mean that, Valkyrie. You don't ask for things, you don't care about being taken places. You're a cheap date is what you are." He sounded pleased and I laughed.
"My mom taught me to be that way. She knew my dad was the right one, only he didn't have two cents to rub together. They went on more free dates than anyone. She got him with her oven fried chicken, that's what she always said and he agreed."
Ghastly seemed charmed. "And did she pass this recipe down, I wonder?" He asked, hinting.
"Yes she did, and I'd love to cook for you. You've just never asked yet."
"Consider me asking. Ah, here we are, time to buy enough food to feed draft horses. Those brothers of yours eat too much." He grumbled good naturedly.
But it was good Italian take away, the cheaper no frills kind where we got a lot of food for little money. I insisted on chipping in and Ghastly nodded his thanks. "You can get dessert then. Men like to pretend it is a woman thing but we love it."
So I settled on a lovely tiramisu and we were soon back home. It was home, wasn't it, if I wanted it to be? Skulduggery was proud of the house. It was certainly big enough for the family, though I hoped he'd chosen to take over my old bedroom for himself and Victoria or given it to Tadpole.
I didn't ask of course, there would be time for that later. Now we had men to feed and had set aside our own portions to have out in the van. There were of course suppressed snorts of laughter and massive grins as we left, causing Skulduggery to swat several men in annoyance, but we were smiling ourselves and didn't mind.
"Well, if they didn't know before they know now." I said, settling back against the plush bench seat lengthwise.
Ghastly paused and looked at me. "You don't mind, do you?"
I blinked. "I'm proud to be with you, Ghastly. I don't care who knows. People who don't like us being together are so not my problem, they aren't yours either, by the way."
He smiled. "What is it people say today? Haters gonna hate? I like that philosophy."
I laughed. "I wish we could drag Skulduggery into the present. He swears life stopped being fun after the era of classic movies. True a lot are rubbish now, but a lot were rubbish then too, and if you only had those left the era would hardly be romantic." I snorted.
We didn't talk about anything important and I treasured that. I had the feeling you get when a huge storm front is rolling in, and for once the skies were clear, so I knew it was about the case. This might be a months-long adventure, this might take longer than that. Or it might all be over tomorrow, of course. I looked at Ghastly. "Is it just me or is trouble brewing?"
"You sense it too? Then it isn't just me. I think Skulduggery managed to uncover something he shouldn't have. They wouldn't have killed him otherwise, not just for breaking in to steal something. No, something was covered up here, and strangely he seems to want it to remain that way."
I shrugged. "Then unless we have no other choice, can we give it a good leaving alone? I don't know about you, but I've done enough things to be cooling my heels in the gaol for, unavoidable when your off saving the world with that man."
Ghastly smiled. "I intended to. Wait, books, library. There aren't too many collectors of arcane books, are there? Only a handful. And most have traps set up in the library itself. So he was either captured by other people after the same book and killed or he uncovered something big. Sorry, we're dropping it, I just don't want you caught in the crossfire, Val. He's back and they will want him dead again, you know that, right?"
I nodded. "That's the real reason I called all the Dead Men. He needs protection, that's what we're feeling, I think. Whoever killed him and how, they'll be back, unless they are afraid to. Maybe he is safe, maybe they feel striking again would draw attention. I officially hate magic. They might wait a century to strike again." Or, of course, they might strike again the next day.
Ta-da. This story is on auto pilot at this point. As long as I stay out of the way and don't try to write what I want it is flowing along all of its ownself. Hope you liked it and if you want more, tell me. Comments are welcome.