SKULDUGGERY AND VALKYRIE 15

SPOV

After I dropped off Val I had some plans of my own. I was going to Gordon's to try and get some information but then ghastly called.

"Skul?"

"hello ghastly" I greeted while I thumbed with my keys

"hey we need to meet, lets say at my shop?"

"sure, any news on china's murder?"

"I'm sure you know as much as I do"

"hm. Why do you want to meet?"

"you know vendetta dare right?"

"yes. Is why you want to meet?"

"sort of. Any way I'll see you there"

"ok bye"

Call ended

I got to Ghastly's old and dusty shop to find him inside. He doesn't look to happy, as normal.

"well? What is it?"

"remember the '43 case you did"

"yes, how can I forget? It was the only case that I haven't solved yet, but I have new suspicions"

"oh? Like what"

"thanks to Gordon he solved a piece of the puzzle for me. Turns out vendetta actually took control after the protégé disappeared. But why was she there?"

"didn't she tell you about her magical properties?"

"from Val, she told me that she can do elemental and necromancy"

"she didn't you she can do adeptry too, did she."

"she's and adept?"

"from what I heard not a bad one too. Just be careful if you see a raven. K?"

"a raven?"

"its what she does best, now do you understand why she was involved in the '43 case?"

"sort of. Thanks Ghastly. Where did you get that information from?"

"lets just say I'm not the person you think I am" after that answer he started to contort. Every thing changed. his arms and legs became thinner. He grew shorter. Until his scarred face rippled to pale skin. This wasn't ghastly this was an adept. The adept was I believe vendetta I couldn't get a good glimpse. As soon as she changed to her true form, she was enveloped by a wave of shadows causing her to disappear. She shadowed walked, so she couldn't be far. I jumped inside my car and drove fast.

Why was she being ghastly? What information did she need? Why didn't she fight? Those question floated in my mind I think I thought it through. Maybe she was trying to find the dirt I have on her.

I realized that I couldn't find her tonight. I drove home forgetting about Gordon, plus I'd rather have Val by my side.

Why did she say, "I like y-y-yogurt, do you?". why did she stutter? Was she planning on saying something else? I wonder what she was gonna say? Hmm. I drove into my garage, got out and set my car alarm. God the stuff Val did to my house was almost like a home, but with out a bed. I grabbed a Gordon's latest book and began to read. I read for hours on end.

In the morning I send her 2 texts

What did she do last night? We decided to meet at Gordon's, not a bad plan.

We arrived at Gordon's, Val's face looks a lil' tired and shaken. We got inside and walked into the hidden study to find Gordon watching Top Gear, one of my favorite shows. He seemed startled to see us.

"w-what are you doing here?"

"we came to see if you had any information on vendetta, she might have to do with china's murder and the '43 case"

"n-no I-I don't have anything"

"Gordon, I find that you Edgley's stutter when you lie."

"really?" Val said sounding surprised.

"yes, it's something I recently discovered"

Val's head turned away quick, I think she was blushing.

"fine, very well." he replied disappointed.

Gordon grabbed 2 books and dropped them on his desk. Each was at least 600 pages long. Why couldn't he get to the point. *sigh*

"why don't you tell us, instead of giving us unnecessary information."

"actually last time you were here you both walked out without saying good-bye, nor did you let me get a word within inch-wise. Plus, these books will tell you everything you need about adeptry and how to use it"

"adeptry? And how to use it? Gordon were not learning new disciplines, right skullduggery?"

I didn't respond. It wasn't a bad idea. But then I remembered the whole vile thing and for once val was right.

"I agree with val. But you know the books will help us understand more of vendetta's power."

"Ugh! Homework? I do homework everyday!"

"you don't do homework any."

" I don't, but my reflection does and I absorb the memory of doing it, I hate math"

"by the way how is your reflection?"

"um good? it's starting to creep me out even more. Gordon do you have anything on the reflection spell?"

"like what? What is it doing?"

"when I was 13 the torment wanted me to get shot by Skul, but he had a plan. He summoned my reflection through a puddle and it played me. Every since its like its becoming a real person."

"well I'm not a real person, and you think I'm becoming my own person is a good thing."

"I know. But my reflection is me. it's supposed to be Stephanie Edgley not Valkyrie Cain. Just last night it pulled a joke that Valkyrie would say"

"did you ask it why it said that."

"ya, it said it was adjusting to my personality because Stephanie is now it 95% of the time"

"interesting. Anything else?"

"uh huh. Whenever I refresh my memory it always seems there's blanks"

"and?"

"yes and I quote 'no. I am not meant for that though I am also not meant to be used for more a year. If you do find missing blanks it might just be glitch' its kinda' creepy to me"

"well that seems like a plausible answer for a reflection to say"

"speaking of which. Skul did you ever use the reflection spell for yourself?"

"once, maybe twice. Why?"

"no reason, just thinking how fun we would have with 2 skullduggery's"

"oh, ha ha, I think it's time to go. Good-bye Gordon."

"buh-bye. Ooh! The Toyota is still running! And I thought it was gonna die from the collapsing building"

Fighting the urge to watch the truck come to life on the T.V. I needed to tell Val what happened earlier.

"Val? I need to tell you something"

"sup'?"

"earlier this morning after I dropped you off, I arranged to meet ghastly at his shop, but it wasn't him."

"what do you mean?"

"well, we talked about vendetta, turns out she's an adept.?"

"a what? What happened?"

"well it looked like it vendetta a disguised as ghastly than she shadowed walked before I could catch a full glimpse of her face. I suspect she was trying to find what I had on her."

"are you sure? Maybe they disguised themselves to look like vendetta"

"who knows"

The moment became silent so I started the conversation.

"remember how I said 'you Edgleys' stutter when lying'?"

"uh-um ya?"

"what were you gonna say? And don't day yogurt."

"do I have to?"

"well we can do it the easy way or I can make you say it, either way I'll find out"

"*sigh* fine I was gonna say that I-" she faltered because there was a crash.