Valkyrie held the gun tightly to her temple.

"Nobody move," she repeated quietly.

The muscles on her arm stood out with sharp, carved lines as she pushed back the hammer of the gun. Her black hair contrasted boldly with her pale face, but her eyes shone with a strange light.

"I will shoot if you try anything."

Ghastly knew that. Not a hint of indecision showed anywhere.

His mind roiled with shock and confusion. Why? She had shown no signs of...of anything. At all. What the hell could this possibly be?

"Val?" whispered Tanith, her voice trembling.

There were shouts of shock as more people realized what was happening.

Valkyrie threw her head back and laughed. The gun never swayed from her temple.

"You don't get it. Of course you don't."

Ghastly looked over at Skulduggery. He stood stock straight, with all of his limbs locked tightly. His arms hung uselessly at his sides, but as Ghastly watched, he reached out slightly towards Valkyrie.

She threw him a glance of contempt.

Skulduggery sagged, fists clenched. Ghastly could feel the hurt and horror radiating from him in great pulses.

"I never realized how surrounded by small-minded people I am," Valkyrie continued. "You see, before now, I also didn't understand what the Sanctuaries are doing to people. Oh, but you don't understand this yet. You lot still think you know who it is you're talking to."

China frowned in confusion.

"You're talking to her body. Physically, this is Valkyrie. But mentally? Let's just say that she's taking a little nap. So I'm not afraid of pulling the trigger and blowing her pretty little brains all over the walls. And you still don't get it."

Skulduggery stiffened again. "Then why don't you explain it to us, whoever you are," he said in a voice that was devoid of emotion.

Valkyrie's laugh sounded through the silent foyer again.

"Darren Wield is a brilliant man with brilliant plans and ideals. The Sanctuaries don't understand this. They look at him and see a dangerous under miner. He looks at you and sees a selfish power that hugs magic to its chest like a spoilt, bratty toddler who doesn't want to share. Magic should belong to the masses. But there's a barrier, and that barrier is the Sanctuary concept, oppressing the people."

Behind her, an office door opened, and Grand Mage Ravel looked out to see what was going on. At the sight of Valkyrie with a gun to her own head, his face went slack with shock.

Valkyrie's voice carried on. "So when Mr. Wield saw the two top Sanctuary detectives out by themselves, he couldn't resist the opportunity to make a tiny example out of the Irish Sanctuary. And that's how sweet baby Valkyrie Cain ended up in our hands."

She began a slow, sweeping walk around the room as she continued talking.

"We just wanted to convince her to follow our patterns of thought. Now that would have been hilarious: Top Detective Switches Sides. Man, what a headline that would have made." Valkyrie chuckled softly. Then her expression turned to one of anger. "She didn't cooperate. Her will is unusually strong, and try as we might, she didn't turn."

Valkyrie's walk led her to Skulduggery. "Oh, I can feel the connection here. All of this body's tissue is aching to go to him. It's almost a physical draw." She laid her free hand on Skulduggery's chest and smoothed the lapels of his suit. He flinched at her touch. "You know, you were the reason she wouldn't listen to us. She just kept whispering your name and turning away. Cute, really."

She turned to address the rest of the gathering. "There's something else you should get about Mr. Wield. He can convince you with his words of truth. Not magic. In fact, his chosen discipline is just elemental, nothing special at all. But we, his followers, are loyal to him. And we would do anything for him. So we will kill."

She smiled sweetly. "Come on, didn't you think it was just a little too easy to rescue your precious Val? Sorcerers that don't throw any serious blows? Only one guard for this little critter here?" — she gestured at herself — "Oh, you, my friends have been set up."

Valkyrie's finger tightened on the trigger of the gun.

"Also, when this girl dies, you're gonna lose your other detective too – to insanity."

She cackled insanely.

Abruptly, Valkyrie gagged. Her eyes widened, and the gun slipped through her fingers.

She clutched at it as it was about to hit the ground. "Gotcha, you little bugger," she muttered.

Then her spine arched and she collapsed, writhing. "Skulduggery," she gasped, the weird light in her eyes gone.

He ran to her side. Valkyrie sat straight upright and pointed the gun at him, eyes gleaming. Her voice sounded guttural. "Get back." Skulduggery froze, but didn't retreat.

She cried out and her face strained, eyes pinched closed tightly. The gun dropped and her leg shot out and kicked it away. Her eyes flew open and she screamed, flinging out an arm in front of her. "HIM!"

A mage in the crowd panicked. He whipped his head back and forth, eyes huge and wild, searching for a way out of the crowd. What had once protected his identity now became a trap without any possibility of escape. This was the man possessing her. "Die, Cain," he snarled. Skulduggery backhanded him across the face, and he staggered. A shout of alarm echoed from the other side of the foyer.

Skulduggery whirled in time to see Valkyrie pick up his gun from the ground and turn it on herself.

A single shot rang out through the Sanctuary.

She clutched at her chest, where blood was already beginning to leak. Her gaze met his across the room. She fell to her knees, then collapsed sideways.

Skulduggery charged towards her, and a cry tore from his lips. All of her life with him, she had been in constant danger from others. None of it had prevailed. He wouldn't let this be the time to take her to an early death at her own hands. Skulduggery dropped to hands and knees by her side.

"I'm sorry...I - I tried to stop but I couldn't fight him -" she gasped, body trembling. He shushed her gently, and swept her up. "It's okay. We'll get you to the doctors here. You're going to be fine."

The words fell from his mouth haphazardly. He babbled, trying to convince himself even more than he tried to convince her. Skulduggery's eyes were fixed to the dark patch on her shirt that was rapidly spreading.

Coughs began to rack her body, and blood misted Skulduggery's shirt. A faint line trickled from the corner of her lips. Her eyes stared dazedly at him.

"Hang on, Valkyrie. Keep your eyes open. Watch me, Valkyrie. Can you hear me? Valkyrie Cain!"

Her eyes slid shut.

Hi there everyone! Hope this will thoroughly explain the dilemma of my favorite, Valkyrie Cain! Oh, also, just realized that the timing on the characters in this story is a little off, because if Val isn't dating Fletcher anymore, then Tanith should be a Remnant... I couldn't do that to you, Tanith dearest. I love you too damn much xox

Who else is on that list? Everyone who reviewed/followed/favorited this story! Realtawit, XxbeautifulxX134, sandjoe101, Fire Kitty 12, justrockyzxx, and of course all of you maddeningly unidentifiable Guests. xoxo to everybodyyy

Oh. Also. Sorry about another cliffhanger:P

Please rate&review, follow, favorite, or PM me, and I'll return the attention to you! There will be one more instalment in Someone to Save You and then I'm starting a new story. Leave me ideas in your reviews for the next one or PM me! MUAH!