A Question of Why

Earlier that day.

"I'm going to the toilet." Valkyrie announced, knowing Skulduggery was waiting for her. She ran up the stairs, passing the toilet and tapping the full-length mirror in her wardrobe door. Her reflection stepped out and Valkyrie briefed it as she changed into her black clothes.

"See you later." Valkyrie called over her shoulder just before she jumped out of her window.

Skulduggery was waiting for her when Valkyrie got to the pier.

He was leaning against the Bentley, his arms crossed.

"Who was the girl?" He asked casually.

"Holly Short. She'll be staying at my house for the next two months."

"Any potential friendship?" He asked, opening his door.

"I'm not sure, I don't know how to make a friend you age..."

Skulduggery said nothing to this.

"We've got a problem." He finally said.

"What? What problem?"

"It might not be a problem at all."

"Then why did you go and say 'we've got a problem' in a dark voice that scared me half to death?"

"I like getting you all worked up."

"Arsehole."

"I beg your pardon?"

"You're pardoned."

He sighed. "Wreath contacted me earlier today..."

"Why?" Valkyrie couldn't believe Wrath would contact Skulduggery unless absolutely necessary.

"He wanted to talk about you."

"Why?" She repeated her question.

"Because he has a theory and he told me that if his theory is true I should keep away from you."

"WHAT?!"

"That's what I said." Skulduggery seemed to be deliberately not looking at Valkyrie and this scared her. Could he know? Could he be taking her off somewhere to kill her?

"W-what's his theory?"

"You're the death bringer."

NO! Oh, but it made perfect sense. I couldn't! It did. If Valkyrie was the death bringer, the most powerful of necromancers. The destroyer of the world.

Oh goodie.

"And what did you say?" Valkyrie whispered. Half afraid.

"I told him where he could stick his advice."

Valkyrie laughed and relaxed a bit. "Where?"

"I think you're a tad too young to find out."

"Oh, where?"

"Not telling." Valkyrie groaned.

"Where are we going?" She asked, looking out the window. They were already in the country, having been speeding.

"A place called Fowl Manor. A mortal residence that houses a prodigy. Something is going on with him. Has been for a few years now. He's got a file that took me three hours to read."

"And we're paying the kid a visit?"

"If I wanted to do that I could've stayed in Haggard. No, I'm paying his bodyguard a visit."

The manor was huge. It had a slightly overgrown look to it. Skulduggery parked at the gate and pushed the intercom button.

A low gruff voice came through. "Who are you?"

"Skulduggery Pleasant and Valkyrie Cain. We're here to talk to a Mr. Butler?"

"Come through."

When they reached the house Skulduggery said. "Watch your back."

The man was huge. Well fit for the manor. He stared at them for a moment before allowing them in.

Just as she entered the room, Valkyrie was bowled down by two very excited little boys.

"MYLES! BEKETT! (a/n: hopefully spelled right) Get off our guest!" The boys retreated immediately and Valkyrie was helped to her feet by a middle aged woman.

"Hello dear. I'm Mrs Fowl. Butler and the man you came with are in the other room but it looks like they're talking about private stuff so why don't we have a cup of tea?"

Valkyrie blinked. "Oh, er, yes, sure. I'm Valkyrie Cain."

The kitchen was the same as the rest of the house. Huge in italics.

"Just sit down here dear, don't mind the twins, they get very excited when we have visitors." She walked to the fridge and Valkyrie saw a bunch of photo's of what looked like the family.

On it there were various people, there was one picture in particular that caught Valkyrie's eye.

It was the exchange student who had come with Holly. She was sure of it. He was smiling thinly, sitting with the twins.

"Who's that?" Valkyrie asked, pointing to the picture. "The older one with the mismatched eyes."

Mrs Fowl looked up from the kettle. "Oh that's Artemis, my eldest son."

Valkyrie looked at the picture again, she knew it was that boy that came with Holly.

So what was he doing in Haggard with a different name?

A/N: OK. I'm just going to make this ABSOLUTLY clear, AH and Valduggery.

You'll find out why Valkyrie was crying later.

~Greaya/BB