'I couldn't believe this had happened' skulduggery thought as he turned the corner. 'I can't believe that I let someone kidnap her. The vampire had distracted me long enough for someone to just come along and take Valkyrie! The sanctuary was only a couple of minutes away. Skulduggery parked the car and stormed into the sanctuary. Skulduggery placed out his cell phone and dialled taniths number

After two rings someone answered

"Hello" said a weak voice

"Tanith its skulduggery. Something has come up and I need your help"

Tanith yawned "What's happen?"

"Someone has taken Valkyrie"

Tanith paused for a moment "I'll be there as soon as I can"

Skulduggery leaned against his Bentley waiting for Tanith to meet him. A few moments dragged by then skulduggery heard the sound of a motor bike coming down the street. Tanith parked near the Bentley and lifted her helmet.

"So what are we going to do?" said Tanith as she got off her bike. The winds playing with her curly blond hair. "Were going to find out who took her and then were going to find her" Skulduggery started walking towards the sanctuary and turned on his heels as he realised Tanith wasn't following. She was standing next to her bike holding her phone with a confused look.

"What's wrong?"

"Ummmm this is going to sound strange but.... I just got a text from valkyrie"

Skulduggery ran up to tanith and was besides her in a flash "Are you sure it's her?"

"Well....it is her number but it could be the person who has her" Tanith stared at skulduggery "So what are we going to do?"

"Well am going to think of an amazing plan to save her"

"That's it?"

"Yep. Let's go" Tanith rolled her eyes and sighed as she headed towards the Bentley.

X x X

Valkyrie was sitting in an old wooden chair which was in the centre of the warehouse she was in. But her hands weren't tired or chained or anything. She just sat there staring into deep space. Waiting. Valkyrie face was very pale and she looked like she hadn't slept in weeks, more like years. She had no emotion on her face at the moment and just sat there doing nothing. She looked dead. Her leg was a little better. It had been badly bandage up and there were blotches of read all over it. She did feel pain but she didn't care all she cared about was just sitting there and waiting for her master to return, she was ordered to just sit here and do nothing but wait.

Valkyrie put her eyes on the door when her master came in. He was tall and had broad shoulders and chocolate brown eyes, but he was also pale and had the same features as Valkyrie but looked better. He walked in holding nothing but a tube which had a colourless liquid inside. Someone walked in after him. This person looked more normal. He had darker skin and had long hair and brown eyes. He too had walked in with something. It was a tray filled with medical tubes and liquids.

The man with the same skin as Valkyrie walked straight up to her putting his hand on her shoulder.

"How do you feel dear?" Valkyrie said nothing as she looked up at the person standing over her.

"Don't worry about the pain it will soon fade away"

The person with the long hair spoke "Why is she so different than the others?"

"Hmmmm....because she has ancient blood in her veins"

"She's an ancient?"

"Yes and because of this she is different than the other infected"

"I don't understand"

"Because she's an ancient she will act although she is already a full vampire. But she won't shed her skin like real vampires"

"How long will it take until she's a full vampire?"

"Two days"

The man looked down at Valkyrie. He had light green eyes.

"Jacob would you be so kind and bring the tray over here"

"Why are we using these again?"

"Test"

"Oh"

Jacob brought over the tray and placed it near Valkyrie.

"What are we going to do about the skeleton Drago?"

"No need to worry about him"

"He is dangerous Drago, from what I've heard and he does care about this girl a lot"

"There's no need to worry about him. I have a plan"

"Really?"

"Yes. I will let him come and find me and when he does I will have a surprise for him. Since I was the one who bit Valkyrie she will listen to everything I say. I will make her attack skulduggery and since she already has the vampires powers she will beadle to take him down"

"Skulduggery is very skilled and is good at fighting"

"Yes that's true but like you said he cares about her a lot. So I doubt he will won't to hurt her"

"Ah clever"

Valkyrie finally decided to speak "Skulduggery pleasant"

Jacob stared into her eyes "she can talk?"

Drago smiled "Another talent of her being a special infected"

"She knows who skulduggery is"

"Yes that is true in fact she remembers everything but she trust me and will only listen to me"

"Because you bit her?"

Drago nodded and then he grabbed a needle of the tray and attached it to the tube he was holding. He flicked the needle to test it and then he grabbed another tube and filled it with a different colourless liquid.

"Why do we need to do these tests?"Asked Jacob

"Well there not really tests but hopefully this magic liquid will help control her vampire side"

Jacob frowned "Is that the stuff you use"

"Yes" Drago bent down on his knees and took Valkyrie's arm. Valkyrie stared into his green eyes.

"Don't worry dear but this might hurt"

"Why are you being so nice to her?"

"Since she is different than the other infected she acts differently so she could easily become angry and betray me"

"You said she would listen no matter what"

"That's true but still"

Drago carefully held the needle and pierced it into Valkyrie's skin. She hissed as the colourless liquid worked threw her body. He removed the needle and placed it back onto the tray.

Valkyrie's arm started to shake as the medicine started to take affected. She used her other arm to stop it from shaking and looked up at Drago.

"Don't worry dear it will stop shaking"

Valkyrie spoke "Ok" she sounded weak

"What do we do now?" asked Jacob

Drago coldly smiled "we wait"

X x X

The Bentley was parked behind a tree close to the warehouse. Skulduggery was tapping his fingers on the wheel staring out the window. It was quiet for a few moments when Tanith decided to break the silence.

"Are we just going to sit here or are we going to go in and save Valkyrie"

Skulduggery turned to Tanith "It could be a trap"

"It might be but I thought you were going to come up with an amazing plan?"

"Yes but"

"But what"

Skulduggery looked out the window again. Tanith signed then she heard a door opening and saw skulduggery get out of the car. Tanith followed caring her sword.

Skulduggery quietly walked up to the door and listened for a couple of moments. He nodded to Tanith and she worked up to the lock and put her hand over it. Skulduggery heard a click and pulled out his gun. He held up three fingers then two then one. The burst into the warehouse but no one was there except the tray of medical gear. Tanith picked up a needle and looked at it carefully.

"They've been doing test on her!" shouted tanith. Skulduggery's hands turned into fits.

Tanith handed the tube to skulduggery "I don't know what kind of stuff this is"

Skulduggery looked at the tube carefully "I recognise what it is but i don't know what it's used for. There's only one person I know who would use this stuff".

"Who?"

"A vampire"

"A vampire has been doing test on Valkyrie?"

Skulduggery nodded. Then they both heard a voice come from behind.

"Well hello there"

Skulduggery spoke "Who are you?"

"What don't I get a hello? How rube"

"Am going to ask again. Who are you?"

"Allow me to introduce myself. Drago knights at you service"

Tanith looked at him closely and pulled out her sword "You're a vampire"

"You're Quiet a clever lady"

"Why thankyou"

"Do we really have to fight? I wouldn't won't to harm a lady"

Tanith smiled "come and have a go. If you think you hard enough"

Tanith heard another voice came from above her jumped out of the way as someone landed

"Hello there"

Tanith smiled "who might you be?"

"Jacob and yours"

"Tanith"

"Am sorry Tanith but you going to have to fight me instead"

"Am sure I can handle you"

Jacob smiled and then lunched himself at tanith. While they at it skulduggery was pointing his gun at Drago who stood continuing to smile.

"Where's valkyrie?"

"Would you like me to go and get her?"

"If you wouldn't mind"

"Valkyrie dear"

A door to another room was opened and Valkyrie walked into the room stepping besides Drago

Skulduggery looked at her closely. Something wasn't right here. She looked a lot like Drago and her eyes were dull. Skulduggery looked at her neck and notice the scar there. Her neck had bitten and ripped open and was covered with dry blood. 'She's an infected' he thought 'but why does she look more like a vampire'

Drago smiled "Well you wanted here. So here she is"

"Valkyrie?"

Valkyrie spoke weakly "hello"

Skulduggery turned to Drago "What have you done to her!"

"I've changed her little hope you don't mind"

"Actually I do mind. I don't like Infected"

"Well you going to love this one she's special"

Skulduggery placed his gun in his jacket and spurn at Drago. But Valkyrie tackled skulduggery to the ground. Skulduggery rolled up and dodged as Valkyrie tried to kick him. He dodged all her attacks but didn't fight back because he didn't won't to harm her. He got her in a lock without harming her but Valkyrie dug her vampire teeth into his bony arm. He heard his bone crack and he loosened the lock just enough for her to squeeze out. She was very graceful and kicked him in the ribs once or twice.

Skulduggery shot the air at her. Causing her to fly back into the wall.

"Stupid skeleton" She growled

She lashed out at him and leaped in the air. Landing both of her feet on his chess causing him to fall. She punched him in the skull and kicked his shin. But he put his hand right in front of her face and shot the air at her. She flew into the air and crashed into a pile of empty boxes, she didn't back up.

Skulduggery walked over to her unconscious body and picked her up in his arms. He looked around and didn't see anybody. 'Drago must have run' skulduggery thought 'coward'. He soon notice that tanith wasn't around either. He walked out of the warehouse and saw tanith leaning against the Bentley with her arms folded.

"Sorry I didn't help" said tanith

Skulduggery shrugged "I didn't need it"

Tanith rolled her eyes "Where's Drago?"

"He ran"

"Really. So did Jacob and after I was winning"

"Come on let's get Valkyrie to kenspeckle"

Tanith nodded and got in the car. Skulduggery placed Valkyrie in the back and they drove off.