A/N Hey, it's Lucy here, and I have really high hopes for this story. I'm not going to put in many author's notes before the chapters, usually they'll be at the end. But, I like talking to my readers, so there will most probably be an author's note in each update. Anyways, thanks for your time-
Spider-man never fails, slush puppies with extra ice and stinging nettles ~ Lucilia Venom, the organic cooking sauce lover.
Part 1: The Awakening
The banshee wailed, its jaws clicking and clacking as they grew, widening, lengthening, becoming inhuman. The monstrous screech reverberated inside Valkyrie's skull, each different pitch bringing a new level of pain. Voices began bouncing back and forth in her head, telling her that all hope was lost, that she should just give up and die. God, this was worse than the sense-wardens!
Valkyrie reached out, her finger-tips probing the surrounding concrete, until she found what she was looking for and dragged it slowly towards her. Just as she was placing Skulduggery's gun to her temple, a powerful, malicious voice boomed in her head, making all the others sound silly and weak.
"Get out of my head," Darquesse said angrily. The banshee staggered back, black eyes wide, and then amplified her screeches, trying to defeat the enemy she still thought was a sanctuary agent. Darquesse smiled.
A bright, blue lightning bolt of magical energy burst out of her hand. It caught the banshee in the stomach, and the banshee's torturous screams became yells of pain. The banshee collapsed, moaning piteously, clutching the sizzled flesh of her stomach. Darquesse stepped towards her, and the banshee looked at her through glazed eyes. She cracked her knee into the banshee's head, and then stomped on her leg, which she crushed underneath her boot. She grabbed the banshee's arm, pulling it out of its socket, and began hitting her with it repeatedly. The banshee moaned and Darquesse smiled, and then kicked her in the chest and her heart came flying out the other side.
The last thing the banshee heard was Darquesse whispering the words, "Thank-you for releasing me." Then everything went black.
14 mortals were killed that night, along with 21 sorcerers, 1 banshee and seven vampires. 43 deaths were reported on the news the next day. Mother's wailed and Father's yelled. Friends mourned and enemy's laughed. And Darquesse smiled, happy with that night's work, and happy with the reactions. Now, to gather an army.
Part 2: Gathering
Dusk narrowed his eyes, and then looked at Mist, the Torment, Billy-Ray Sanguine, the remnant, Eliza Scorn and Solomon Wreath. He shot Darquesse a loathsome look, and resumed his heated discussion. Darquesse waited silently and calmly, and every-one thought her to be doing nothing but just that. But, really, Darquesse was quietly taking their will to refuse her proposal about joining her army and making sure it disappeared. The remnant was, of course, happy to oblige, and Billy-Ray followed suit. Eliza,Wreath and Mist had taken their time to decide, but had agreed, and now it was just Dusk and the Torment, who would both, any minute now, lose their will to oppose her completely.
Three seconds later, Darquesse had seven useful and dedicated followers to do her bidding. Tanith, Wreath and Dusk were now her generals, Mist was her spy, Eliza her body-guard (not that she needed one) and Billy-Ray and the Torment her black ops people, warriors, whatever. She sent Tanith to go and deliver a little proposal to Nye for her, Dusk to go and make her a miniature vampire army, and told Wreath to convince the sanctuary prisoners to join her. Eliza, Billy-Ray and the Torment were to come with her.
Darquesse entered China Sorrows home and climbed the old, oak stairs to the top floor. Billy-Ray and the Torment waited outside in the shadows of the corridor, while she and Eliza entered a lavishly decorated bed-room. White silk curtains hung drawn in front of a large window, and an old-fashioned wooden four poster bed with heavy velvet curtains stood in the middle of the cream room. A tasteful desk, complete with an oval-shaped mirror, was in the corner, and all the wall next to the door Darquesse had come in through was a walk in wardrobe. A small wooden table sat next to the bed, and a large, wooden bookcase was standing on the other side of the door. Darquesse motioned with her hand and Billy-Ray and the Torment stepped into the room. Darquesse told them the plan and they all went into their hiding places. The Torment stood behind the door, Eliza stepped into the wardrobe and Billy-Ray crouched down behind the bed. Darquesse sat down on the chair in front of the desk and waited.
Not long later, China Sorrows walked into the room, holding a thick leather book, which she promptly dropped at sight of Darquesse.
"China," Darquesse said, not bothering to get up. "I have a small... proposition for you. But, first things first, I must tell you that I am not Valkyrie, well... not the Valkyrie you know anyway. I am Darquesse. And, if you try to hurt me in any way, not only would you have me to deal with, but also my accomplices." Her warriors, as she was now calling them, stepped out from their hiding places. " I want one thing, and if you do not do as I ask, they will rip you apart, piece by piece."
"Very well," China replied, after a pause. "I suppose I don't have a choice. What do you want?"
"I want your beauty. I want you to do to me what some-one once did to you. Carve a pretty little invisible symbol onto my face, so that every-one who sees me will fall in love. But, I want mine to be stronger than yours. Thrice as strong. I want you to carve it onto my face three times."