His stance is aggressive, I sense something along the lines of reproach from him.
I can't believe this. He has the cheek to be pissed off.

"Get in the car." Skulduggery's first and only words to me. As he turns to get into the drivers seat I answer him.
"No."
He turns back quickly and is in my face, but I don't flinch from him. He still towers over me and IS intimidating, but I won't take this from him.
It's not what we are as a partnership, we aren't like this. And I'm not going anywhere with him while he continues his mood swings as such.
"Don't argue with me Valkyrie." He threatens me, and although I can sense the threat it doesn't have any effect on me. Normally I would have been cowering and have done what he asked the first time round, I just don't feel the obligation towards him now.

I don't make an attempt to move and Skulduggery growls.

"Stop acting so childish."

Now I reply to that, that one will always hit a soft spot and he knows it.

"Childish? Like leaving someone for three days childish? Or not telling them people was watching them out of spite?" I feel my scowl.

"Or that the moment I needed you to fight for me- you didn't."
Skulduggery shifts backwards into a normal stance now and he looks hurt. No, now he's angry.
"I couldn't fight for you when Vile is prying to get at the necromancer. Or the fact that they had just ripped my arms out. I was feeling a tad sensitive." His voice held venom.
"As you are so keen to remind me so often, you aren't a little girl any more! You're supposed to be able to take care of yourself. Yet waking up in the middle of the night and asking for cuddles is so grown up! Kissing someone then running from it! Going to see the woman that murdered my family behind my back, I bet you had a lovely grown up conversation then! You couldn't use your head? Magic, Valkyrie! You should have enough to level the world and it didn't cross your mind. Such a young mind that supposedly knows everything! Don't you dare lecture me on maturity when I am four hundred years older than you." Skulduggery finished his rant.
About halfway through, Ghastly had appeared. I'm guessing it was from the Bentley.
"Skulduggery.."Ghastly placed a hand on his friend's shoulder.
Tears streamed down my own face, and I had only just realised.

"I asked you that night because I trusted you, a mistake I will not soon repeat." I said quietly.
I looked at my boots and looked back up, straight at him. My face held defiance in it.
"As for my magic, I don't have any... Whatever the woman did... She took all of my magic, now I'm as useless as a newspaper in a storm."

Ghastly looked at me and moved in for a hug. I stood there and let him, not really feeling it. I was glad that he blocked my line of sight to the skeleton.
"You don't care do you? Not even after everything we've been through? Are you capable of feeling anything apart from hate?" I demanded angrily from Skulduggery, Ghastly sighed and moved out of my way- knowing this conversation was far from over.
Mr Pleasant came back with one simple reply-

"Skeleton's don't have hearts."

The trees and bushes rustled in the wind, but no other sound was heard.
"Valkyrie. I can't give you what you want."
My face was an 'o' shape, I hadn't quite recovered from what Skulduggery had just told me.
Of course I knew skeleton's don't have hearts biologically speaking, but him as a person- as a conscience.
Ghastly moved between us and I allowed him to move me away. Skulduggery stood there looking drained, as if everything had left him in that moment.
"I never knew you.." Ghastly begun.
"Yeah, nobody knew. That's why it's called a secret and I didn't tell anyone. I knew all of this would happen. But you know what Skulduggery's like, he had me backed against a wall- quite literally." I didn't look at Ghastly as I told him this, because I knew he would be wearing a look of pity- something I couldn't handle right now. The breeze became warmer as sunlight broke out to the east. Ghastly shifted his arms to around my shoulders and hugged me tightly. "Stephanie... I can't tell you what you need to hear- but just follow what you think you should do."

Nobody had used my given name in such a long time. To think that I had adopted magic as my lifestyle now, built everything in my life around it- and now with no magic left. Everything seemed to have abandoned me.
I was only left with my name. What was the use of the mansion, the money, the clothes or flashy car when everything is so temporary? I Stopped my tears and Ghastly looked up worried.
I knew what he saw on my face.

Grief of loses over the years, anger of in just things happening and the stubbornness of a 12 year old little girl that wanted to stay in the world of magic and living skeletons. The determination of all these things to bring the making of Valkyrie Cain.

So if everything is temporary, then I'll just have to make the most of the now.

"Valkyrie, I'm not sure if I like that look on your face..." Ghastly trailed off and I smiled at him.

The skeleton was where we left him but staring at the ground, it was going to be light soon and we needed to leave. So I walked up to him and did two things.
Firstly, I slapped him.
Then immediately after, I kissed his teeth. Just long enough for him to be surprised.
"Valk-" He started but I cut him off "Get in the car."

Skulduggery stood and looked at me for five seconds then slowly nodded. "I couldn't beat them without you, or my arms. I made a deal with them that you wouldn't be hurt." I nodded to him Since when do we make deals with the enemy? I got in the passenger's seat, Ghastly got in the back and Skulduggery hopped in the front.

"I'm guessing you're wanting to see those charming ladies about your magic today then.." Skulduggery said.

"Yeah, and I have an idea. Two birds one stone." I grinned.

Two birds one stone means they'll get two things done at once... If anyone was wondering..

Ginger Blackmore; Loveyou too!

Massive thanks to NarahSelson ;)

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