SKULDUGGERY AND VALKYRIE 23

VCPOV

Finbar fell over, he could have been possessed or some one had a bound. Skulduggery seemed in control. He didn't flinch nor do anything else. He's so helpful at the best of times…

I checked Finbar's pulse, nothing. I shook him a little. And checked his pulse again, there was a faint beating. I dug out my phone and called…

"Vendetta? I'm in Finbar's tattoo parlor, he was seeing where Scorn is, and skullduggery is not doing anything!…. Hello?" she didn't respond all I got was a voicemail. "hello, leave a message after the *beep"

Damn it! I jumped to Skul. He still didn't move! "Skul?"

"hm? What is it?" has he not been paying attention?

"look at Finbar we need to take him to Nye!"

"yes we do, you take him, I'm still a fugitive though… and I was thinking of who Finbar was trying to see."

"what? You could've helped for the past 2 minutes!"

"yes, I know… but don't you think finding out who was Finbar seeing than saving him? He's gonna be fine, let's go I'll drive you to as far as I can go, you take him from there. Ok?"

"alright" he levitated Finbar to the back of the Cooper, he could barely fit. Considering how small he is. We made a practical B-line to the sanctuary. Skul went a little too far than we planned. We were spotted by Geoffry. He ran up to us.

"what happened? What did Finbar do?"

"I think he got blocked, he's barely breathing!" maybe I said that a little to loud. Philomena came out too, spotted all of us. Looked like she didn't care about the fact that Skul was right there.

"we have to take him, now!" the 2 ran off to Nye, carrying Finbar. We were about to leave until Corrival Deuce saw us as well. He was to fast to stop us from leaving.

"Skulduggery, what are you doing here? I should take you to custody."

Skul turned his face to Corrival, he didn't say a thing. But corrival nodded as if he understood.

"carry on..", he said with a sympathetic voice, "and Skul, I know your not guilty. In response Skul nodded turned and we drove off leaving Corrival looking at us leave.

"ok skul what was that about? You didn't say a thing, are you still hiding a secret from me?"

"no, he just owed me a favor."

"really? A favor?"

"yeah, what else were you thinking, I'm telepathic?"

"maybe?" I said trying to look innocent.

"uh, huh, so after that heart attack shall we go to Russia?"

I did a half laugh, "sure, let me just let my reflection and Gordon know." I called them both, I told them that I'll be gone for 2-3 weeks.

"really Val? 2-3 weeks?"

"yeah, make them wait, plus we are gonna be gone for a while looking for Scorn also I like to make a last-minute appearance for my 18th party, by the way what are you gonna get me?"

"I was thinking long I hard and I decided to give you your Christmas present, plus something else."

"I thought you didn't believe in that?"

"well, personally I just cant think of getting you something. Why not?"

"good point so how are gonna get to Russia, plane, boat, magic?"

"car, it's the best way to travel"

"true"

SKULDUGGERY AND VELKYRIE 24

VDPOV

Tanith had been unconscious since last night, Nye had been running tests during the whole time, I had to be there too. No one wanted to take over my shift. I need coffee! Even de-café would work! Worst of all I had to keep my phone off so I don't 'mess with the computers'.

I was about to doze off until Geoffrey and Philomena barged into the medical bay carrying Finbar. To doctors ran in with a gurney placing Finbar on it and running into room 2b. I had a brilliant idea.

"hey guys can you look after Tanith for me while I take a leak? I've been here since last night with no sleep, I need Joe.". 'Joe' in the question is coffee if you didn't know that.

"oh, yeah sure, I'll keep an eye on Nye, Phil, look after Finbar." the 2 split off and I went to the ladies room.

I entered one of the stalls and checked my cell phone. 'one missed call from Valkyrie' I listened to the voice mail, I think she thought I actually answered, I feel bad. So I called her.

"Val? You there?"

"yeah, did you get my voicemail? Is Finbar ok?"

"uh, yeah. They just put him in the room, two doctors are doing a check-up right now. I'm sorry I didn't get to you earlier. I had to keep my phone off, I was making sure Nye didn't do anything, you know."

"yeah, I know. Got t'go. See you in a few weeks"

"weeks? What are you doing?"

"going o-on vacation. Do I still have a job?"

"afraid not, they know that Skul is back in the country and they think that you're helping him with something."

"please don't tell them."

"I wont, don't worry. Just be careful I don't want to see you guys in prison. I think I just the shivers down my spine. Have fun on vacation."

" I will, bye" I hung up and exited the stall to find one of my co-workers, what's her name…

"hey, aren't you gonna flush err wash your hands?"

"oh, right" I go back to the stall and flush than I place my cell on the counter and begin to wash my hands. Trying to force soap out of the pump she said, "I heard you talking on your phone, who were you talking to?"

"just a friend, uh, "I had to think of a name, good thing taken names can be ridiculous. I look at my soapy hands and get an idea. "his name is Soap Opera."

"where is he from? Did he do something bad? We should take him in.

"he's from Canada, I was assuring that he was gonna be ok but he killed a necromancer .right now he's in Russia, in hiding should we get him?"

"nah, only if he gets back here we should look into it. I'll let the Russian sanctuary know, bye."

"ok, see ya'" she didn't bother to dry her hands and than she cut behind me, throwing the something into the garbage than she left. I did an loud sigh. I grabbed some paper towel and left the washrooms forgetting to through away the paper so I put it behind a plastic tree, shh.

Before I could get back to Nye's office I got chased by two cleavers. What happened? Did my co-worker know that I was talking to Val? Either way I didn't want to end up in custody. I bolted towards that hidden exit, the cleavers were faster than me. I decided to use the air to push me faster. And it worked I basically flew like a bullet. I was about 10 meters away from the exit until the co-worker blocked the way and had blazing hands. I grab the shadows from behind her and make her fall back but she tripped me. I stumbled, hitting my head on the wall.

"looking for something?" she said, teasing me as she held up my phone and the screen displayed 'call ended from Valkyrie'. damn it! She must've taken my phone while she cut behind me! With no other option I drag myself up. And hold out hands. Just as she was grabbing out the bound cuffs I kick her hand hearing a crack. I push her down the hall along with the cleavers than make my exit. With no place to go I run somewhere not knowing where it is. I just run nonstop.