BREAKING UP

GEPOV

Valkyrie and Skulduggery were driving home.

"What was with Vendetta?" Skulduggery asked.

"I don't know. I don't know how to feel for her, I mean she was trying to get away or something. I'm so worried, like, who can I trust now?"

"Me?" He suggested with concern to his tone.

"But it's possible she could get to you too!"

"I'm sure you can tell the difference." Skulduggery countered.

"But you can't." Valkyrie teased.

"Will you ever live that down?"

"Not until you've suffered enough."

"And I thought that red hand was painful." Skulduggery murmured. Valkyrie punched hard enough for him to wince. He pulled up the driveway and Valkyrie got out, "When was the last time you saw your parents?" He asked.

"Next time I get a day off. K?" Valkyrie slammed the door and walked inside to find Gordon finishing his book as usual.

"How was your day?" He asked.

"Horrible! Vendetta is trying to avoid us. I think their Oracle's puppets and they can't tell us because when they do they faint and lose their magic." Valkyrie took a breath, "How can we help when she can't tell us what's wrong?" Her question turned to a plead.

"Hmm, that is hard. Have Nye look into that."

"Why that thing?"

"It has expertise for that. More than Kenspeckle I presume.

"How does Nye do it?"

"A few symbols and help from Geoffrey. It'll same safe enough so nothing can penetrate the field."

"But Oracle got through our highest level of security-"

"That Kenspeckle designed." Gordon smiled, "Not Nye.". It took a minute for Valkyrie to get the hint.

"Ah. I got it. What happens if Oracle can penetrate it?"

"Than we're all doomed." Gordon simplified.

"As usual." Valkyrie muttered, "We'll try tomorrow."

"Good. OK, I have to get back to work. Bye."

"See ya'" Valkyrie walked to the kitchen and phoned Skulduggery.

"'Ello?" He answered.

"Hi, I think I know a safe way to question Rife and Vendetta."

"I'm listening." Valkyrie explained everything that Gordon just told her, "Clever." Was all he could say.

"What do you think?"

"Brilliant, actually. I never thought of that before. Huh." A beat skipped before a continued, "We'll do it tomorrow."

"OK. Bye." She hung up before Skulduggery could reply. Valkyrie had some tea and went to bed.

The next morning Vendetta wasn't found at the Sanctuary. Rife didn't bother to get out of the bed because Tanith beat him to it.

"Have you seen Vendetta anywhere?" She asked.

"Not since last night, where is she?"

"We can't find her." Rife glared at Tanith and slipped out of bed, "Had a nice sleep?" She asked at he put on his jacket.

"Good I guess. I'm gonna' try to find her." Rife skidded across the hallway and darted for his BMW. The car roared and he drove off.

"What is with him?" Ghastly asked as he caught up.

"Don't know. Hey, do you think that Rife and Vendetta are more than friends." Tanith flicked her eyebrows.

"Maybe, what a weird world it is." He grabbed Tanith's waist and brought her into a quick kiss.

Vendetta woke up to the sound of her pager. She got to the café as fast as she could. Like last night, Oracle sat at the same table with two cups of tea.

"It's eight a.m. how is the café even opened?" Vendetta asked and grabbed her tea.

"I have my ways. Speaking of which, I felt your struggle not to tell last night; good job."

"Thank you…?" Vendetta gulped the tea down.

"I need your help, get detective Pleasant and Cain out of the Sanctuary for today. OK?"

"Can I ask why?"

"I need to do some research on something." Oracle saw Vendetta going rigid, "Not on any of your friends, don't worry. I'll create a distraction and you get them to it."

"Alright." Vendetta was still rigid when she walked out. Her phone started ringing.

"Hello?" Vendetta answered.

"Where are you?" Rife asked.

"I'm at the café across from the green inn."

"Why are you there?"

"I needed to meet a friend. Can you pick me up?"

"OK. Stay there."

"Alright." the line went dead and Vendetta crossed her arms against the crisp air. Rife came up minutes later.

"Thanks, it's so cold out." Vendetta said and snapped her fingers to feel the heat, "Are you OK?" She asked.

"Feeling better than last night. You're starting to worry me, are you OK?"

"To be honest? No, Rife, it isn't. my whole world is upside down. And I can't tell you why." Rife glanced at her and looked forward.

"Why can't you tell me? We're friends."

Vendetta sighed, "You just have to trust me, I can't tell you." She fought back the tears.

"I don't think I can." He pulled into the Sanctuary's lot and Vendetta got out.

"I know you can't." She said before she closed the door, "We shouldn't be friends. I'm sorry." Vendetta closed the door and Rife could here soft sobs coming from her and he drove around to find a parking spot.

Vendetta slugged inside and found her remaining friends chatting in the hall. To avoid them she went the opposite way. She walked passed Rife's office and walked into the washroom. Vendetta glanced at herself in the mirror and washed away the tears. On her way out she spotted Rife unlocking his office door and he walked in.

Valkyrie spotted Rife peering out "Where were you?" She asked. Vendetta looked at her and carefully walked away from the office. She grabbed Valkyrie's arm pulled her behind the corner.

"I was meeting a friend."

"Soap Opera? Give it up. Their not real." Valkyrie looked at Vendetta, "Spill it. Who did you meet?"

"I can't tell you." she replied, "Same reason I couldn't tell Rife." Vendetta gave way a tear.

"What happened?" Valkyrie asked. Vendetta didn't answer, instead she pointed to his office and Valkyrie knocked and Vendetta walked away.

"Hello?" Rife asked with no attitude.

"It's Valkyrie. I need to talk to you." The door opened and Rife ushered her in.

"What did Vendetta tell you?" Rife questioned.

"Something about what she can't tell you or me." She sat down and Rife joined her.

"Why can't she tell me?" Rife wondered.

"I don't know, Rife. Just trust her." Valkyrie assured him.

"Until she tells me we can't be friend." Valkyrie patted his back and she left.

Vendetta was sitting against the wall on the floor with head resting in her hands.

"What did he say?" Vendetta asked.

"The truth or a lie?" She asked and joined Vendetta's side.

"Lie than truth." She decided.

"Well, he said that you are his best friend and but he can't trust you until you tell him what's happening." Vendetta folded her arms in her legs and looked down.

"Can I tell you something?" She asked and looked at Valkyrie.

"Yeah?"

"You have to believe me, if I tell you anything you will get hurt, so don't say anything. OK?"

"OK, I won't. I promise."

Vendetta glanced at her, "Thank you. I have to go, again." Valkyrie nodded and Vendetta left with a beep to her pager.

I don't want this to happen but, it had to. I needed drama and I wanted it between my own characters who are best friends…