POV in the Range Rover...

Skulduggery was driving, his fingers taping on the wheel. He was thinking. Thinking. Was Lauren alright? Is it just Sanguine or someone else? Dusk? Springheeled Jack? Where were they? They could be anywhere! His thoughts were interrupted by Ghastly speaking from beside him.

"It's going to be alright mate, we're going to find her"

"Yeah"

"She's a tough girl"

"She is"

"It's going to be fine" Skulduggery hoped he was right.

2 hours and a lot of comforting later...

"Okay, we're at the sanctuary" He turned around in his chair to look at all the men "Ghastly, you and Erskine go talk to Madame Mist. Me, Anton and Vex are going to look through Sanguine's latest files."

"Okay meet back in Reception in an hour." Erskine said then got out.

Valkyrie and Tanith POV...

"Hey mum could you do me a massive favour?" Valkyrie's mum and dad had found out about magic and Valkyrie's secret life when they had walked in to Gordon's and found Valkyrie and Skulduggery cuddling on the sofa, Lauren playing with a ball of fire in her hand and Josh was moving water from one glass to the other. "Could you look after Josh and Harley for a couple of days?... Me and Skulduggery have got a mission just come up and we have to go stay away... She's staying at her friend James' house...Thanks mum I love you see in a couple of hours" She put the phone down.

Valkyrie was driving with Tanith next to her. The boys were asleep in the back

"Do you think she'll be okay?"

"Yes Val! Her parents are Skulduggery Pleasant and Valkyrie Cain! She's going to be okay"

"Valkyrie Pleasant" She corrected "I just hope we get there in time"

"Yeah"

2 hours later...

"Josh,hunny, Harley were at grandma's" They boys woke up and got out.

"Okay guys we're going to be away for a few days so be nice for grandma" They both bent down to eye level with the boys.

"We'll call you every day to talk" Tanith added

"We love you lots both of you okay?" They both nodded.

Valkyrie stood up straight and rang the door bell. Tanith stood beside her. Valkyrie's dad opened the door .

"Hey dad thanks for this it's a bit short notice"

"It's okay, hunny. Boys, grandma is in the kitchen why don't you go see her?" Both boys ran past Desmond and straight into the kitchen.

"Thank you Mr Edgley"

"It's okay Tanith. Just keep my daughter and son-in-law safe"

"I will, sir"

"Good, be safe both of you. And look after your running-head-first-into-trouble husbands"

"We will dad love you" She kissed his cheek

"Come on Tanith we need to go"

"Bye girls!"

20 minutes later...

The girls arrived at the sanctuary and found Skulduggery, Shudder and Vex standing in the reception.
Valkyrie ran up to Skulduggery and gave him a bone crushing hug. He responded well by wrapping his arms around her and squecing her.

"Have you found anything?" She pulled away.

"Yeah we might have found where he's hiding out"

"Where?"

"Dublin Municipal Art Gallery we're going to go over there when Ghastly and Erskine come back" That's when Ghastly and Ravel came walking out of the meeting room.

"Hey Tanith" Ghastly went over to Tanith and gave her a hug. "Hey hun"

"So should we get going?" Ravel asked and everyone agreed.

Valkyrie, Skulduggery and Ravel got in the Lamborghini. The rest got into the Range Rover.

In the Lamborghini Skulduggery was driving one hand on the wheel other hand holding Valkyrie's. Ravel was in the back.

When they got there 4 cleavers were waiting to help them. When everyone was gathered round Skulduggery started.

"Me, Erskine, Vex, Tanith and a cleaver are group 1, group 2 is Valkyrie, Ghastly,Anton and three cleavers. Group 1 will go round the back while group 2 go round the front. Shudder can you write a listening symbol on mine and Valkyrie's wrists?" Shudder nodded "Valkyrie, the symbols will let us communicate with each other like walkie talkies, you talk out loud and it goes into your ear only you can hear it" Valkyrie nodded "Okay, Group 1 will go through the window on the roof at the back..."

15 minutes later...

Skulduggery looked round the corner. He quickly pulled away and touched his index finger with his thumb to start talking to Valkyrie "Sanguine and 4 Hollow men in the staff room outside volt 326." Okay we've spotted Lauren she's in the room next to where Sanguine is, we're on opposite end of the hall to you." "Okay how's Lauren doing" Valkyrie looked at Ghastly next to her "Not good" Skulduggery felt a tear come into his eye "Okay let's get this over..."

3 minutes later...

Sanguine was on the floor against the wall a gun being pointed to his head. On the other end of the gun was Erskine. Lauren was untying Lauren with Skulduggery. The rest of the group were checking the area for Hollow men.

"Lauren, baby, it's going to be okay just stay with us" Valkyrie held her daughter's head. Lauren's face was covered in blood,cuts on her arms, stomach and legs. Her hair was a mess full of dirt and blood. She was losing conciousness. Skulduggery was getting upset the same emotion with Valkyrie.

"Come darling stay with us" Skulduggery acouraged while untying her ankles then she was free. He picked her up from the chair. He cradled her.

"Stay with us hun" He looked over to Erskine "Ravel i'll send another cleaver back to help you we need to get Lauren to Kenspeckle" Ravel nodded

Lauren's POV...

Her eyes fluttered open. It was like a film, she turned her head to see two blury figures in a chair. She sat up and relised the two blury figures were her parents. Her mum was laying on her dad with her head on his chest his arms around her waist.
Kenspeckle walked in and relised Lauren was awake.

"Lauren lay back down please"

"Why?"

"I need to do some tests" He walked over and looked at her IV bag and started to fiddle with the machine

"What's the time?"

"9:47"

"Ohh" She looked at her parents.

"They've been next to you for whole time you were asleep"

"How long was I asleep for"

"A month" She gasped.

"Wow, what happened to the guy who hurt me?" He moved on to the needles in her wrist

"Oh, Sanguine? he's locked up in the Gaol in the Sanctuary"

"Good"

Next morning...

Lauren woke up to find her parents gone. She sat up and looked around she must have sleep about 12 hours. It was light outside. Her mum and dad walked through the door.

"Lauren your awake!" They ran over and Valkyrie stroke her hair

"Yeah I woke up last night but you guys were asleep"

"We are never leaving you on your own again" Her dad said.