Chapter 2 – The Bad Man Returns
DISCLAIMER ~~ We do not own anything from the Skulduggery Pleasant series! Derek Landy is the rightful and amazing owner of the awesomeness that is Skulduggery and Valkyrie, and all the other characters!
Okay, so we've decided to have two serious chapters, and then get more in to the Valduggery part of it all in the next two, just so we get our bearings!
This chapter is written by Shaneequa! It's set a month after the last one.
ooOoo
Skulduggery parked the Bently behind a red motor bike. They got out of the car and walked towards a pretty run-down house. Skulduggery opens the door for Stephanie. As she walked through in to the house, she saw two tall figures, just standing in a dark corner. Creeeeeepy.. Stephanie thought. They were in what seemed like the only room in the house. The two tall figures turned towards her and stepped in to the light and smiled a little weirdly at them.
Stephanie backed away slowly, bumping in to Skulduggery, who was standing behind her.
Staring down at her, he asked, "What is the matter, Stephanie?"
"U-uh.. There are two.. creeps in your living room.." she replied.
One of the strangers, a toned man with scars all over his face let out a chuckle.
"Hey Skul," He said, "We finally get to meet your partner, huh?"
"Yes," Skulduggery replied. "Stephanie, this is Ghastly and Tanith. Ghastly, Tanith, this is Stephanie. My partner."
Stephanie stared up at the scarred man's face with fear, and hid behind Skulduggery.
If Skulduggery had lips, he would be smiling.
"Don't worry. They don't bite. Much."
The other stranger, a muscled woman named Tanith, stepped forward and smiled kindly at Stephanie.
"Hey, kiddo."
Skulduggery pushed Stephanie gently forward from behind him and towards Tanith.
Tanith leant down and ruffled her hair, making Stephanie scowl.
"Have you chosen a new name yet?"
Stephanie looked at her, confusement filling her expression. Skulduggery placed a hand on her shoulder and explained that people in the magic world had to choose a new name to protect their given name from being used against them.
Stephanie nodded slowly, "Okay then, I like the sound of Ilvenna Nova. I'll be called that!"
"No," Ghastly said, kindly. "That's not quite how it wo-"
Stephanie's phone rang and she smiled sheepishly at them all as she answered.
"Hello?"
A deep, musky voice spoke to her from the other side of the line, "Stephanie Edgley.. You will walk outside to the Bentley, and you will not say a word."
Stephanie froze, instantly being controlled by her own name. Why hadn't Ilvenna Nova work? She chose that, right?
Ghastly and Tanith looked at her with concern. Skulduggery probably was too, but it's hard to tell.
Stephanie slowly turned and walked robotically towards the door. Once outside and next to the Bentley, she saw a man wearing black, with half-healed burns running down his arms and all around his face.
"Hello, Stephanie. We meet again."
Stephanie glared at the man, unable to do anything else.
She glimpsed Ghastly and Tanith at the window in Skulduggery's house, and Skulduggery himself marching towards them. The man hadn't seemed to notice that yet, though.
He stepped closer to her. "Stephanie Edgley, you will give me the key-"
Skulduggery sent a kick towards the man's face, cutting him off. But this time, he was prepared. He grabbed Skul's foot and attempted to twist it.
Skulduggery used his other leg to propel himself towards him, his elbow making contact with the man's neck.
The man released him and staggered backwards, gagging.
As Skulduggery continued to beat him up, Stephanie thought desperately of a name that matches her personality. All she was good at was causing trouble, and making others suffer to help her.
All she was good at was raising Cain.
She stuck out her foot and tripped the man as he ran at her.
He stared up at her in disbelief. "But I told you to stand there!"
"You told -Stephanie- to stand there. I'm not her."
As Skulduggery hand cuffed the man, he asked her, "So you've chosen a new name?"
"Yes."
The man was forced to stand. "Will you tell me what it is?" he asked.
"I am Valkyrie Cain. And you, sir, are under arrest."
ooOoo
Guys, that's it for now.. Jess will do the next chapter.. And we of course will help each other.. But she will do most of it! Didn't she already do a great job with the last one? We will upload asap!
(Please review!)