Valkyrie walked back into the kitchen after checking the rooftops for the eleventh time as Skulduggery hung up. "Well?" she asked.

Skulduggery turned to her. "Ravel hasn't heard anything from her since we left. He said that they interrogated one of the men who survived the assault on the warehouse and they got a lead that we should look into."

"What is it?" she asked.

"The man said that there is another person, Garret Lane, who might know something about where Ode's been taken."

"Who is he?" Sanguine spoke up from where he and Ray-Roy were leaning against the counter. Shoe was standing next to Ray-Roy. Ever since Vendetta had disappeared, her mood had considerably brightened.

"Lane," Skulduggery began. "Is a known underground intelligence officer. He knows a lot about these things and he might have heard about where a high-secrecy hideout for criminals is."

"So where is he located?" Ray-Roy asked.

"Back in Ireland at a town called Mayburn." Skulduggery fixed his suit. "Our flight leaves in an hour so pack your stuff."

...

Valkyrie sat in the front of the Bentley, back in her normal seat. Sanguine was in the backseat, much to his annoyance. They were almost to Mayburn. The others were back at the Sanctuary catching Ravel up on everything.

"Wow Skulduggery," Valkyrie said. "I never realized this, but you're a slow driver."

Skulduggery angled his skull towards her. "Compared to Vendetta, yes I am. As a normal driver, no."

"Oh come on," Valkyrie said. "You can go at least thirty miles faster than this."

"I think Vendetta is showing you bad driving habits," Skulduggery turned back to the road.

Valkyrie shrugged.

They arrived at a small house and got out. Nothing was really special about it, the same as any of the others on the block. White siding with dark blue shudders and an oak wood door with a heavy brass knocker. They got out and walked up the path. Skulduggery grabbed the brass knocker and wrapped it against the door.

A minute went by then a thin man with a mustache walked in. He looked them over, stiffening slightly when he saw Sanguine.

"Can I help you?" the man asked.

"If you are Garret Lane then yes, if you are not then forget you ever saw us and continue on with your life."

"Yeah," the man said glancing at them nervously. "I'm Garret. What do you want?"

"We just want to talk to you for a minute. Can we come in?" Without waiting for an answer, Skulduggery brushed past and walked into the house.

Garret followed them inside to a living room where Valkyrie took her place beside Skulduggery.

"Nice home you got here," Skulduggery said. "Nice and quiet. Very inconspicuous for an underground intelligence officer."

Lane looked at him. "What are you doing here?"

"We," Skulduggery chirped. "Are here because we heard you have some information on a person that has hired a mercenary named Adam Wreck and has gotten active recently. What do you know?"

Lane looked at them suspiciously. "One question," he began. "Why is he here?" he pointed at Sanguine. "Last time I checked he was on the Sanctuary's top wanted list. Why is he helping with a Sanctuary investigation and not rotting in a cell?"

"You don't need to know," Valkyrie said. "So what do you know?"

"Why should I tell you?"

"Because if you don't, we'll let that nice criminal you pointed out talk to you. I'm sure he'd love to test some new tactics out on you."

Lane paled and looked back at Sanguine nervously. "Simon Frost, he's been in the dark for a long time. Possibly a few centuries. But about a week or so ago he's gotten back into the business."

"What about him?" Sanguine asked.

Lane glanced at him. "Heard he got Wreck to pitch in a put out a plan. I'm guessing it worked since you folks have darkened my doorstep." His voice took on a bitter tone at the last sentence but changed back quickly. "Not sure where he's stationed. That's all I know."

Skulduggery nodded. "Thank you very much Mr. Lane. You have indeed helped us."

He led the way back out the door and they walked back to the Bentley.

…..

When they got back to the Sanctuary, Tipstaff came up to Valkyrie and said that he had a message for her. "It's from Cassandra Pharos," he explained to her. "She said she wanted you to stop by as soon as you could."

Valkyrie frowned. "Really? Okay." She walked up to Skulduggery and explained the situation. Skulduggery nodded and agreed that she should go right away. After checking with Ravel and Ghastly, Valkyrie didn't talk to Madame Mist; she called a cab and arrived at Cassandra Pharos's cottage. She walked up to the door, a slight uneasiness entered her belly as she thought of the dream whisperer Cassandra had given her that she had burned.

Cassandra opened the door before Valkyrie could even move to knock, the older woman smiled when she saw her. "Hello Valkyrie," she said. "It's good to see you again."

Valkyrie smiled back. "Good to see you too. So you wanted to see me?"

Cassandra nodded. "Yes, I had another vision, one that I think you should know about. Come on in."

Valkyrie followed Cassandra inside, shutting the door behind her. They walked through the living room into the room located in the back. The floor was all one large grate; a sprinkler system lined the ceiling. Cassandra took her place in the chair at the center and opened up her yellow umbrella.

"So," Valkyrie said. "What's this about? Is it another vision of Darquesse?"

"No, not this time." Cassandra looked at her from under the umbrella. "It's about Vendetta. I believe you have some questions and I have the answers. Now would you please?"

Valkyrie clicked her fingers, summoning a ball of flame which she dropped onto the coals below. She then turned the giant wheel; water poured out of the sprinklers and once there was a good amount of steam, turned the water off.

A scene appeared in the mist. A young girl, with long black hair. Vendetta. Valkyrie blinked. The vampire looked only to be about eight years old. She stood inside of what looked like an old, underground school. Like the kind in movies. Vendetta was leaning against a wall, arms crossed over her chest. A couple of other girls went by, one of them Valkyrie recognized as Ophelia. Ophelia's lips sprang into a sneer and she turned to the other girl, saying in a very loud voice. "Did you hear about the new freak? I heard there's something wrong with her, like something in her head is all messed up. I wouldn't talk to her if I were you, she's really messed up."

The other girl, with an evil grin replied, "Totally. She's a loser anyway, no one would want to talk to her anyway."

The two girls walked off, laughing as Vendetta glanced at them out of the corner of her eye. The steam changed scenes. This time, she appeared to be twelve years old in the same place, but in a different area.

Vendetta's eyes narrowed and she lunged suddenly; a knife flashing in her hand. She clashed blades with a man, who responded easily. They traded blows for a good few minutes; blocking and twisting, throwing in different attacks, trying to trip the other up. In the end, the man kicked her hard in the chest. She fell to the ground, the knife spinning out of reach. The man walked forward and pointed the knife in his hand at her throat. He smirked. "Looks like I win again."

Vendetta glared up at him.

Before either could act, the doors suddenly burst open and people, who Valkyrie realized were a much older version of the Cleavers, flooded in. The man swore and went to attack. Vendetta lunged at her own knife, managing to grab it. She got to her feet and slashed at a Cleaver.

The scene changed, jumping forward what seemed only a few minutes. Vendetta was fighting off a Sanctuary agent, slowly being backed up to the edge of a steep, twisting staircase. She grabbed her attacker's wrist, twisting inwards and driving him back. He grabbed her with his other hand, throwing her back. Vendetta stumbled to the edge of the step. She teetered, and for one awful second she stayed in place. Then she lost her balance and crashed down the stone steps.

Valkyrie sucked in her breath as she heard her cries and the sounds of bones breaking. Vendetta landed at the bottom. She didn't move. The Sanctuary agent hurried down and swore when he saw her. He called for help and more Sanctuary agents came over. The steam shimmered, showing Vendetta standing in the old Sanctuary. She was healed, no more broken bones; sitting in front of what was probably the Grand Mage. He nodded to her. "Miss," he said. "Since your school has been taken down due to the underlying criminal activity in it, and we don't know who your family is, we are going to be placing you in foster care."

Vendetta looked at him. "You don't need to do that," she said. "I can take care of myself. Transfer me to a new school. I can go home as well."

The Grand Mage shrugged. "I'm sorry. But this is for the best. Your new care takers are outside."

The scene skipped ahead now, Vendetta looked about sixteen. She stood in a kitchen, sweeping the floor. Another girl, about a few years older than her walked in. "Hey you," she sneered, her lip curling. "What were you doing in my room this morning? I told you. Don't go in my room!"

"Your mother said that I could use your books," Vendetta replied coolly.

"Well you aren't allowed to!" The girl snarled. "You're not even a part of this family. You're just here because your parents dumped you at some school that turned out to be a crack house and the Sanctuary ordered us to keep you here."

Vendetta's eyes flashed and suddenly she had the knife that had been sitting on the kitchen counter in her hand. She lunged at the girl. The girl's shrieks reaching a new pitch as the knife sliced through her flesh. Valkyrie felt like vomiting as she watched the girl's grisly death. A minute later a woman and a man came in. Their eyes widened in horror when they saw the scene. Vendetta, dripping in blood. The girl laying face-down on the floor, dead. Before they could even react, Vendetta killed them as well.

Thankfully, the steam shifted and Valkyrie managed to get her stomach under control. This time, Vendetta was sitting in the same office with the same Grand Mage. But now, she was wearing a pair of shackles and there were two Cleavers standing either side of her. The Grand Mage tisked as he looked at her. "You killed your own foster family," he said, his voice displeased. "Why?"

Vendetta glared at him. "Because," she said. "The girl was annoying and her parents were abusive. You don't know this, but they beat me on a regular basis. They deserved to die."

The Grand Mage shook his head. Then he looked at her curiously. "Normally, I would throw you into a cell and leave you there. But I think I have a use for you yet."

He stood and began to pace behind his desk, his hands behind his back. "We are assembling a new unit," he explained. "A unit of special people with special builds to take down crime." He looked at her. "I think you could join."

Vendetta looked at him suspiciously, her eyes narrowed. "Why?"

"Because," the Grand Mage resumed his pacing after he had stopped to explain. "You are, what psychologists like to call, a psychopath. I'm guessing you don't quite know what that means so I will tell you. A psychopath is a person who has a drive to kill. They are typically emotionless, therefore a sociopath. You don't have feelings do you? Maybe anger, but that is different. What I am getting at however, is that you have a choice. Join this special unit, we will use your abilities and way of thinking to track down and spot criminals that are like you. Or, you can go to jail."

Vendetta looked at him. Her face emotionless. "I'll join."

"Great. I'll call the leader to pick you up and you will begin immediately."

The next place was a few years later, Vendetta about eighteen. She was running alongside a couple of other people. They reached a building and she kicked the door down.

"Split up," the man of the group said. He and the other girl went right while Vendetta broke left. She hurried down hallways, going up staircases. The young woman paused outside another door then kicked it down. The room was bare, except for a single light bulb and a chair, which a man was sitting in. He smiled. "Hello."

Vendetta pulled out a gun and aimed it at him. "Come with me or I'll blow your brains out."

"And I don't doubt you will. I've been watching you."

Vendetta's eyes narrowed. "Why?"

"Because you are a very interesting girl, and I think I have a use for you."

"What is that?"

The man's smile turned to a smirk. "You are a lot like me. And I want to train you."

"Forget it."

"Now let me finish, I am a very professional killer. I live to kill and maim and hurt. And I enjoy it. You do too, I know you do. But you can't satisfy the urge. Sure, you get to kill a couple guys like me every few months, but it isn't enough. You need more to settle your bloodlust."

"And you can give it to me?" Vendetta said; her voice cold.

"Better. If you quit what you are doing for the Sanctuary right now I will take you in as my apprentice. I can train you to be a better killer. You won't have any rules or laws to follow. You can go about and do whatever you want. Always satisfied. You're a smart girl, and I know you like this offer. So are you in?"

Vendetta paused. Only for a second, before putting the gun away. "I'm in."

The scene shifted again. Now Vendetta looked more like she did now, dressed all in black and being a vampire. A woman was with her as well. She had blond hair and bright green eyes. Her clothes were tan and brown and she seemed to be the complete opposite of Vendetta. The two were sitting on top of a roof at night, the moonlight silver.

The woman grinned. "Ready?"

Vendetta glanced at her. "Ready."

The two stood and walked down into the building. They slipped along the shadows in the halls, stopping on either side of a doorway. The girls glanced inside then nodded to each other. Vendetta had a dagger in each hand. The woman conjured a flame.

They leaped inside together, the man inside jumped up from his seat and bolted out another door. Vendetta and the woman gave chase, racing through hallways and going up stairs. The man suddenly pulled something out of his pocket. The woman and Vendetta stopped immediately and as the man continued down the hall he threw it behind him.

The two girls were already running the other way as it hit the ground. It exploded and the two barely managed to jump out a window, landing on the sloping roof. They looked at each other. "What do we do?" the woman yelled over the explosions rocking the lower part of the building. It suddenly lurched and began to tilt.

Vendetta glanced at the sky. "Up."

The woman nodded and flexed her fingers. She shot into the air, Vendetta leaping up after her. The building was now completely crumbling, falling to the right. They reached the top of the tower and the woman grabbed Vendetta's arm. The vampire leaped and the other waved her arm. The air shot them through the air and they crashed through a window in a separate building.

They bounced apart, the woman didn't move for a moment then sat up among the broken glass. She looked up at Vendetta, who was already standing next to the window, watching the fire light up the sky. The woman stood and joined her, standing in silence for a moment.

"I hope you realize," Vendetta murmured, the explosions lighting up along her face. "That he could not have survived that Tempest. Our job is done."

Tempest nodded. "Of course. Not hard to figure that out."

"Agreed."

Vendetta turned away and they walked to the door, opening it and walking out. "What should we do now?"

Tempest shrugged as they walked down the hall. "I don't care. Go home? Get something to eat?"

"I'm fine with either."

"Oh come on, I can't decide. My best friend should help me."

"As much as I can be your friend," vendetta said. "Being a sociopath makes me unable to actually care about you as a friend. I respect you, however, and that is as much as you are going to get."

"I know." Tempest said cheerfully. "And I don't mind. As long as you don't turn and kill me I'm good with hanging out with a psychopath."

"And that is why I stick with you."

Tempest laughed.

Valkyrie was surprised. Vendetta had a friend?

The next vision was of the two women walking down a street. Vendetta's coat was open, while Tempest's was buttoned up against the cold. Tempest turned and looked at Vendetta. The vampire raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"I'm hungry."

"Go get something then."

"Where?"

"I don't care. Pick someplace."

Tempest shrugged and they walked up to a booth. She ordered a snack and the two sat down on a bench in a park. It was autumn and the orange-red-brown leaves swirled around them. The cold wind buffeted their hair. Tempest's breath was visible in puffs as she breathed. She ate her food quickly and once she finished she turned to say something when suddenly a man walking by grabbed her from behind wrapping an arm around her throat and putting a hand over her mouth.

Vendetta stood and went to attack when someone else grabbed her. She slammed her elbow into his kidney; his grip loosened immediately and she twisted, cracking her elbow in his jaw. He stumbled back and she slashed his throat with a dagger. Vendetta turned to Tempest but then someone else was there, slamming her to the ground.

She snarled and bucked upwards, knocking them onto their back. She slit his throat as well and stood. Tempest wasn't there. Before she could move, another person slipped up behind her. They jabbed a needle into her neck. Vendetta's legs gave out and as she fell into unconsciousness, Valkyrie heard the person whisper, "Better get out alive while you can."

A few weeks went by, and suddenly Vendetta was standing in a morgue. The man with her paused outside a door and looked at her. "What you see may disturb you but we need an affirmation."

Vendetta didn't say anything and the man led her through the door. A couple of people dressed in white robes stood next to a long metal cart with a white sheet covering it.

"Are you ready?" one of them asked.

Vendetta nodded and the other pulled back the top of the sheet. Valkyrie's heart clenched. Tempest lay on the cart. Her lips bloodless and skin pale. Her eyes were closed and she wasn't moving. Vendetta looked at her dead friend then gave a single nod. The person covered Tempest's whole body once again and the man nodded to Vendetta that she could go. The vampire walked out of the morgue, her face emotionless like always.

The steam finally dissipated and Valkyrie stared at Cassandra. "What was that?" she asked.

"That," Cassandra stood, shaking the water off her umbrella. "Was some of Vendetta's past. You were wondering why she has suddenly disappeared and that she has changed since this has started. This is personal for her. It isn't just a job anymore."

"Why are you telling me this?" Valkyrie said. "Because, honestly, I'm sure she'd kill me if she found out what I know."

"Because," Cassandra said. "She's going to need someone to cover for her while she's doing the things she needs to do. Someone on the inside."

"Like me."

"Exactly."

Valkyrie paused for a moment. Her mind reeling. She knew that what she had seen was only a bit of Vendetta's past, but they were some big things. Things that still had followed her to this day. Valkyrie looked at Cassandra. "What should I do?"

"My advice," Cassandra said. "Don't tell Vendetta what you've learned. Ever. From what I've seen I'd worry for your safety."

Valkyrie nodded. No kidding. "Okay. I can do that. So, was Wreck the guy Vendetta was looking for?"

Cassandra shrugged. "Maybe. Maybe not. I don't know."

"Should I tell the others?"

"If you want. It's your choice."

Valkyrie took a deep breath. "Thanks Cassandra."

"No problem Valkyrie."

And that is just a little bit from Vendetta's complicated past. The whole thing will of course be done in the backstories.

ValCain(Guest): Sorry I didn't reply in the last chapter, could have sworn I had. Sorry about that. :) Thanks for understanding and thanks for the suggestion! Hope you continue to like this story! :)

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