As Valkyrie walked off she gave me one more glare as Hansard walked beside her. "What was that glare about?" Vex asked as he looked at me amused. "Nothing, it just seems Hansard is the only boy around Valkyrie's age that seems to resist her charms and I suggested to her that she try and get him to like him." I said it smoothly and as soon as I finished Tanith started laughing her head off. "I was not expecting that. But I guess it could it work, and he is nice, sort of cute," that got her questioning look from Ghastly, "and you're wrong by the way, Hansard likes Valkyrie. I forced it out of him just before his idiot of a father, Arthur barged in." I grinned and looked at Valkyrie looking incredibly awkward outside. Ravel chuckled, "Ahh, young love, how it amuses me. I was worried that after Fletcher and that vampire that Valkyrie would stop being a teenager." "Don't talk about the vampire and Valkyrie has never been a teenager." I hated how the vampire had attached itself to her without her even wanting him to, and I still blamed myself for Valkyrie not having a normal life. But, whenever I told her she said that magic was the best that had happened to her and that she chose herself to be caught up in all this. "Hey, you can't blame yourself for her being magic and she's is just as good as any of us. So just relax and watch her flail in being wanted." Vex had known me long enough to know what I was thinking, which worried me a little, and his last comment had made everyone laugh, so I let it go. "So what about you Ravel?" I asked perking my voice a little.
…..
The cold wind sent shivers up my spine as I waited for Hansard to get his stuff. We hadn't talked at all yet and I had finally decided that I, Valkyrie Cain, will get past all this petty whining and act normal. "So, are you just going to leave your dad there?" I tried to say it with my most normal tone of voice. "Yeah, he was being an idiot, and no I don't care if he's my dad I'm just accepting the truth." I laughed, and it wasn't forced. "I'm hoping that that laugh was genuine," he said quietly, "'cause it feels like you find it awkward to be around me ever since the train." I stood there stunned and no matter how hard I tried, an answer wouldn't come in my head. Sensing my unease he leaned in closer, so there was only an inch or two in between us. "I only said no, 'cause I think you already know my side of things." And with that he leaned closer and pressed his lips against my cheek. Heat ripped through me and my eyes closed involuntarily. "I like you Valkyrie." And with that he stood up and held my hand, sending sparks all over my body and making my blood run faster. Then he pulled me up with ease and walked back towards the Ball.
I let go of his hand as soon as we reached within a metre of the others. Skulduggery gave me an 'I told you so' look and I went and stood beside him. I took a few deep breaths trying to calm my heartbeat. Would somebody say something already? "Valkyrie, we have a new case." I looked up at Skulduggery and telepathically tried to tell him that I was forever grateful. "'Kay, what is it about?" I was a bit slow react but I just needed to clear my head. "I'll tell you the details later, I was just telling you so that you could say something to your parents." He had a point and as much as I hated lying to them, I had to. I sent a text to mum.
Hey mum, parties going to end late, staying over at my friend Tanya's house!
C ya later Steph xoxo
"Okay all done, hey, can you drop me at Gordon's house and pick me up tomorrow?" Thankfully I was finally my normal self again; no fast beating hearts and NO thoughts about Hansard Kray. Skulduggery gave me a curt nod and looked towards the others. An awkward silence fell between us all. Suddenly retching sounds filled the air and as I swivelled my head I could see Arthur Dagan throwing up on the floor. "Does he have to be a drunken idiot at every party?" Ravel's face slackened and he sighed as he walked forward and ordered the servants to clean the mess. "Come on; let's go deposit him at the infirmary." I don't know who he was talking to but I just followed him.
I could smell the puke from a metre and instead of touching him I just forced the air to keep him up on the right side. "Show off." Ravel said as he held onto Arthur's left arm. "I'm not going anywhere near him, last time I did, I got puke in my hair!" The disgust was obvious in my voice. "The girl who has saved the world at least three times is scared of getting puke in her hair?" "No, I it's just that I have a choice in this case and I choose not to touch him." I said with a finality that even Skulduggery would be proud of. Ravel chuckled slightly. "You sound more like Skulduggery day by day. He sure has a strong influence on you." I was stunned by that comment, was I really starting to turn into Skulduggery, is that same fate written for me?