"Val? Are you okay?" That oh so smooth voice came from behind me. I sighed and turned slowly, his head was tilted at an angle and I started laughing. "I'm fine, lets go see Gordon." I walked past a confused Skulduggery and lead up the stairs. We entered Gordon's study and he was there almost as if he was expecting us. "Ah Steph- Valkyrie. Sorry I forget sometimes." Gordon greeted me with a warm smile which I returned half heartedly. His gaze shifted as I felt Skulduggery come through the door behind me. Gordon returned his eyes to mine "I see. What can I help you two with?". I shifted to the side so Skulduggery could join us in the conversation, and he moved to my side. "We were wondering if you had any information on removing remnants?" Skulduggery asked the question first. Gordon nodded as he spoke and glided across the room. "Yes...Originally thought to be impossible to rid someone once they had bonded. This must be about Tanith?" I nodded. "Hmm...they're not as impossible to get rid of as you would think. It is extremely painful for the remnants inhabitant. I'm afraid it has something to do with symbols and sigils, perhaps take a couple of my notes to China Sorrows?"
"Thank you Gordon" I gave him a small smile and excused myself. I felt both their gazes on my back as I left the room.
I wandered down the hallway into my room. The last time I was here I had a rather lovely dream of Skulduggery. I knew I shouldn't have but a small smile crept onto my face that I couldn't keep down. It was a full grown grin as I remembered the dream. A grin that soon faded as footsteps echoed down the hall. Skulduggery gently knocked on the door and I replied "It's open.".

I sat down on the bed, I couldn't go on with skulduggery like this. It wasn't fair to either of us. I couldn't delay it any longer, but if I told Skulduggery now, we could getting the mission done which I needed. I needed Tanith. I needed to confide in someone that would understand.

My eyes started to tear as I thought of Tanith, she would be in so much pain to be herself again. She wouldn't remember what she had done while she was a remnant either. It was painful to think about it for her. She wouldn't know what year it was, how many places she had been, she is with Sanguine, and she didn't know how many people she had killed. The more things I thought of that we would have to tell her, I am Darquesse who destroys the world. There wasn't a way that I could hold it back from her. If we managed to capture her and get the remnant out... I don't think I would have it in me to tell her all these things. Skulduggery sat down beside me. "You don't have to go and see her... I could do it on my own." I turned and said to him. Skulduggery shook his head "I need to do this as well, I can't hold a grudge forever. Although I will most certainly try." His voice was laced with humour and I couldn't help but smile. I sighed and put my head on his shoulder without realising what I was doing. We both stiffened.
I tried to make it out as a joke "I'm too tired and you're interfering with my sleeping." I said with a sheepish grin. "Yes because passing out didn't count as sleeping at all.." He joked back at me. I gasped and smiled good naturedly taking a swipe at his arm. Skulduggery jumped up from my bed before I could hit him and glided to the door. He loosened his tie and the facade came up, sticking it's tongue out. My jaw dropped in mock disbelief and I jumped up to run after him.

We both ran out the door as I gave chase. Skulduggery underestimated me as I ran faster. Rugby tackling him, but as I did Skulduggery was turning so we both twisted into the banister and fell over it. Zooming towards the floor I laughed as Skulduggery slowed our decent. I landed on top of him giggling "Someone has to be sensible, I mean I could have been hurt." I slapped his shoulder for his ego and took his hat playfully. "Mr Pleasant that ego has to be cut down." I smiled and rolled off of him standing quicker than he could. The face he wore today was as attractive as the last, with tight dark curls and blue-green eyes his lips pressed into a small smile "Valkyrie, no messing with me today- the hat please?" He held one gloved hand out to her and she laughed. "I think it looks good on me though." She shifted and placed the hat on her head with a smile. Skulduggery murmured something but didn't take his eyes off of her. Valkyrie now stuck her tongue out and ran into the kitchen with the skeleton on her heels. She almost slipped before running into the now completely dark living room. Skidding to a stop, reading the air. Skulduggery had stopped chasing her and she couldn't find him in the air. She tried to control her breathing and went to look for him in the air again, flexing her fingers.

Skulduggery crashed into the back of her knocking the both of them onto the sofa. The air rushed out of her lungs and Skulduggery landed on top of her on the sofa. He had taken the facade off and had a deep throaty laugh and Valkyrie laughed with him, breathless. Their faces were too close Valkyrie realised. She had to tell him, tell him everything. Although his body offered no heat Valkyrie felt on fire, and it was a good kind of fire. Skulduggery took his hat off of her and stood adjusting it. Valkyrie frowned, she had liked the way they were... Entangled, leaving Valkyrie's mind to wonder to a whole different place with both detectives in. Still sprawled out on the sofa she crossed her arms and looked at the floor.

"Valkyrie, you're not sulking because you can't have my hat are you?" His voice smiled Valkyrie didn't react to him, just kept her focus on the floor. Come on silly skeleton she thought with a smile. When Skulduggery leant in to check she was alive she pounced on him. Quickly grabbing his hat but Skulduggery refused to let it go without a fight. They both lost balance and Skulduggery twisted them so they landed with Valkyrie straddling his narrow hips. She almost lost it completely then and there, staring down into his eye sockets. As she grabbed his hat again, he let it go in a sigh of defeat and she grinned at him. Valkyrie's grin slowly faded as curiosity overcame her. Skulduggery cocked his head as she reached down under his shirt to the tattoo's. A shaggy blonde with blue eyes in his mid twenties appeared before her. Skulduggery looked confused...Wait, was he blushing? Valkyries thoughts travelled to his hands, that were resting on what would be his stomach. There was a fuzzy feeling in her stomach as parts of her dream came into her mind. The heated kissing, and the while dream did take place in this room... Her eyes fluttered.

Valkyrie opened them to Skulduggery clicking his fingers in front of her face, she scowled at him whilst in a dreamy state- she liked where those thoughts had been going.
"Val, we need to talk."