I struggled to push Fletcher away, and when my hands make contact with the side of his face, he takes it the wrong way and leans in further.
Good God, please let me burn him a small bit. Oh no, moving lips like that should be illegal- end this now please.
With Darquesse loud in my mind I do what I think I only can do- I bite his lip. Fletcher screeches and jumps back holding his face. "Nice to see you too Val! What the hell was that for?" He's half shouting but I almost don't mind it, the relief hits me that I just survived two super-charged battles. "Not now. And we aren't even together. Have you seen Skulduggery?" I sigh after speaking, I'm alive, but I really am tired. I can see that he's about to start arguing with me, possibly over something stupid so I walk past him and out the doors before he has the chance. All I hear is something about stupid skeletons, but I don't bother to turn and correct him.
The sun had finished setting by the time I was back outside, and I enjoyed the cool, fresh air compared to that of the stale and blood soaked air inside. I flexed my fingers and felt the power there, it was like someone had turned the bulb to its brightest- only I didn't know how bright it could far could we stretch our magic? Could we bring people back?
Gordon...
My late uncle echoed in my head, until I realised how selfish it would be to try it. I could imagine the newspapers saying how his death was a scam, the heart attack my parents would have when he walked in on their Sunday dinner... What I would feel like if he didn't like it, what I would feel like if I tried and failed.
I stared up at the stars that were just becoming visible, and concentrated. The energy died down a little, but I knew it was there, it made me excited. However I was mentally and emotionally exhausted. I knew Tanith would be fine now, if she woke up soon we would have to fill her in. I would be unfortunate enough to have to tell everyone (Ghastly and Ravel more than likely) why I hadn't told them about Darquesse. I would have to spell it out for Fletcher probably. And Skulduggery...
My fingers flexed again, the thought of the conversation I would have to have with him made me want to run. Suddenly I wanted to see if my powers extended to faster running and increased stamina. I doubt running would solve it.
No... Probably not, but it does make it easier to deal with until I have to see him.
Tanith. Ghastly. Fletcher, even Ravel. You would leave them so quickly because of a guy that looks better in a biology classroom than he does in a bright yellow car.
You're right, I do owe them some explanation.
I was having a normal conversation with one half of me that I was yet to figure out. As bad days go, this ending could have been a lot worse.
I look at the ground now, I've got the tingling feeling of running again and wonder if the ground would give way for me. I wonder if it would help me run, I feel as if it is alive beneath me.
"If you're going to run, do it now but go slowly. First time you always crash into a tree." A velvet voice sounds behind me and I turn, placing my hands behind my back as if I had been caught doing something red-handed. Skulduggery looks terrible. His suit has been cut clean in half, with his shirt hanging down and exposing his ribs, which have nicks and scratches from barely avoiding blades. He walked over re-attaching an arm, and with a limp.
"You've seen better days. What would you know about running?" I don't say any of this with any malice, the first half is true , and the second half I'm curious about. Darquesse also seems to lean forward, keen to know what Vile would have done or Skulduggery could have done as Vile.
"I know that running looks like the best thing for you right now" His reply was simple. I nodded and looked away from him as he stopped an arm's length away from me.
"We will need to talk about it at some point. It doesn't have to be now, tomorrow, or even a week from now. I need to say some things, and I think you do too." His head tilts at me, and I almost copy the action. "But for now, crisis averted, we need to patch ourselves up, look after Tanith and maybe, maybe after then we can sort through things- but let's get everyone help first."
Tears stung, and I didn't expect them. I think that was what I wanted to hear, but I never knew it. I craved Tanith now more than ever, because I needed her help on this topic, and because I needed her. She was my other person to go to in these situations, and I had contemplated running from it all- running from her. How could I have even thought about leaving her when she needed me?
"I-I... Yeah" I managed to croak at Skulduggery and he cocked his head in an understanding way.
"She would have understood. Everyone gets that feeling at least once in their life." His soft voice carried to me across the short space and I asked "How many times have you felt that?"
He hesitated, then moved slowly towards me. My heart pounded but I couldn't move, I wouldn't move. I would see what he does. He pulled me into a hug tightly and whispers "Too many times. And each time, I ran."