Author Note – This fic ties in with my last one 'The Story Continues', which is part of a trilogy. I hope you'll read them and review them. Anyway, let's get on with Chapter 4.
Skulduggery left the hotel and sat in the Bentley. His phone began ringing and he answered the phone.
"Hello?" asked Skulduggery.
"Skul, I hope you can meet me today since my bash was ruined by those idiots," said a male voice on the receiving end.
"It would be my pleasure, Chris," replied Skulduggery. He cut the phone call off and put the key in the ignition. He drove off into the distance from the hotel.
Driving through the countryside, Skulduggery felt at peace, alone with his thoughts, Skulduggery felt happy. The sun was shining, which was surprising for a British Winter. A thin layer of frost coated the grass beside the road. He checked his phone and seen he had a text message.
"Meet at the Ruins of Dragohiiv" read the message. Skulduggery pressed his foot on the pedal and sped off towards the ruins.
An hour later Skulduggery stepped out of his car and looked at the ruins. It had been a long time since he'd been at these desolate ruins, which used to be there for worshipping dragons. He walked into the middle of the ruins and looked at the markings on the circular panel at his feet. On the other side of the panel stood a male with broad shoulders and big, muscular arms, he had stubble on his chin.
"Chris, I don't have a lot of time," said Skulduggery.
"We'll let's get on with this then," said Chris, his voice deep and enticing.
"Go ahead."
"There is another portal opening soon. Roxas should be there when it does. He'll finally be able to go home, Skul. There will be a choice for him and whatever decision he makes will hurt someone emotionally."
"Where is the portal opening?"
"The Remnants Hill," Skulduggerys' face dropped at the mention of that place.
"How do you know this?"
"I've been tracking them for quite some time, but I think you should hurry and get to Roxas and Valkyrie. There is only another 3 hours for the portal to open."
"We'll never…"
"Fletcher," said Chris, turning away from Skulduggery.
"Redfield, come with us."
"I'd love to, but I have things to do."
Valkyrie woke up with her arm wrapped over Nero. She smiled as she got up. Nero lay on the bed, snoring lightly. Her face blushed as she remembered the night before, the pair dancing like an adult couple. Valkyrie walked into the bathroom and had a quick shower. She stepped back into the room with a towel covering her modesty and her hair dripping wet. Nero opened his eyes and sat up on the bed.
"Morning, Val," smiled Nero.
"Morning, Nero," blushed Valkyrie.
"You're wet," winked Nero.
"You're not," smiled Valkyrie, jumping onto the bed and soaked Nero. He yelped and hugged onto Valkyrie. The pair began rolling around on the bed, soaking the bed yet drying the pair. Valkyrie ended up on top of Nero, giggling. She knelt down and pressed her lips against his and he allowed the kiss. Suddenly Valkyrie's phone began ringing, interrupting the pairs moment. She gripped her phone and flipped it open.
"Hello?" asked Valkyrie.
"It's Skulduggery, be ready in 10 minutes, we have business," replied Skulduggery. Valkyrie sat up on Nero and climbed off him.
"Something's going down, get ready," said Valkyrie, throwing his clothes at him.
"And who said romance was dead?" asked Nero, stepping into the shower.
Valkyrie threw on her clothes and quickly used Air and Fire magic to dry and straighten her hair.
Nero let the hot water hit his tired body. He murmured to himself as the heat relaxed his body and woke him up. He quickly washed and dried himself off. He threw his clothes on and rushed through to Valkyrie.
"Skulduggery told me to phone Fletcher," whispered Valkyrie.
"Your ex?" asked Nero.
"Yeah, Skul said it would be much faster to get to the place we need to be."
"Give me your phone and I'll call him?"
"Okay, I guess it wouldn't hurt," replied Valkyrie, handing him the phone. Nero scrolled through the contact list and clicked the green phone icon beside Fletchers number. He pressed the phone to his ear and heard the ring. A click stopped the ringing and a male answered.
"Val, calling to break my heart again?" asked a young voice, sarcastically.
"Actually, my name is Nero and we need your help," replied Nero,
"Skulduggery phoned me, I'll be with you guys in a second," said Fletcher. Nero hung up the phone and then an attractive, blue eyed, blonde haired male stood in front of them. He was wearing a pair of plain blue denims and a black plain t-shirt.
"Hold my arm, we're going to Remnant Hill," said Fletcher, holding his arms out. Nero gripped his arm while Valkyrie took his arm reluctantly. In a flash the threesome were at the top of a rocky hillside about 3 hours outside Dublin. Valkyrie gasped as she recognised the area they were in.
"I knew you'd recognised this place, Valkyrie," came a voice from behind her.
"Skulduggery, how long have you been here for?" she asked.
"Only an hour, there's just a few more minutes before the portal opens,"
"Another portal?" asked Nero.
Suddenly vibrations rocked the hillside causing the group to stagger a little bit. A black mass appeared about 6ft from the ground. The mass expanded and became like a window. Nero looked in and saw a pink haired female smiling.
"ROXAS!" yelled the female.
"Uh, do I know you?"
"Mom, the portal has wiped his memories, remember," said another female, who looked a little like Nero, but with longer blonde hair.
"Mhm, that sucks," groaned the older woman.
A sudden burst of nostalgia washed over Nero. He fell to one knee and gripped his head. He looked up to the black portal and smiled.
"Namine, Lightning, how good to see your faces again," grinned Nero.
"Roxas, you remember us!" yelled the blonde haired girl, Namine.
"Yeah, so how is everyone?"
"Fine, we're looking for dad as well. He disappeared the same time as you. Also Shadow has been looking for you."
"Shadow, is he alright?" asked Nero.
"Nero, who's Shadow?" asked Valkyrie.
"He's an ex,"
"You're bisexual?"
"I guess you can put it that way." Suddenly a black shape leapt from the portal and landed beside Skulduggery. The shape stood up, its jacket flowing to its feet. Nero turned around and recognised the figure. Its black hair, streaked with red. It turned to face Nero.
"Shadow," yelled Nero, splaying his hands, forcing air to hit Shadow. He spun around and dodged the attack and from his coat he unsheathed a black bladed katana. Nero summoned his katana with a white blade. Shadow dashed towards Nero, a glint in his red eyes. Nero swiped at Shadow, who leapt over the blade and landed beside him. Shadow looked straight into Nero's eyes and Nero remembered the feelings he used to have for him. Nero threw those thoughts from his mind and slashed at Shadow. Shadow deflected the attack and proceeded to slice at Neros' throat. Nero leant back, narrowly dodging the attack. Shadow used this moment to bring his sword down on Nero. The force of the attack floored Nero, but no wounds appeared due to the apparel he had on. Shadow back-flipped away from Nero and landed on a small peak of rocks.
"Roxas, what are you wearing?" asked Shadow in disbelief that the attack didn't cause any wounds.
"These clothes," groaned Nero, climbing to his feet, "are magical." Shadow laughed as he put his sword in the sheath, hidden by his coat. Nero summoned the bright light to take his sword away.
"I'm guessing a man named Ghastly made them for you?" asked Shadow.
"How did you know?"
"I come from this world." Nero turned to the black portal and looked to the ladies inside it.
"Mum, I've missed you these past three days."
"Three days?" asked Lightning, Neros' mother, "try three years!"
"Years!" shouted Nero.
"You've been gone for three years, Roxas," replied Lightning.
"The time lines are different here," said Shadow, stepping up beside Nero, "three days here is basically three years there." Suddenly Skulduggery's phone began ringing. He murmured into the mouthpiece.
"Nero, Valkyrie, we have to go to see China," said Skulduggery, "George has had another vision."
"Mum, I have to go now, but I'm sure another portal will open in a few days," said Nero, sadness filling his voice.
"Nero, you go home, we'll be able to take this one without you," said Valkyrie, holding his hand.
"Actually the vision was about Nero, so he'll need to come with us," said Skulduggery.
"I'm coming too," said Shadow.
"Fletcher, can you teleport us to China?" asked Valkyrie.
"Sure," he replied. Nero turned to the portal and with teary eyes he said his goodbyes. The portal closed almost instantly. The next thing Nero saw was the library of China Sorrows.
China sat hunched over a book, yet still managed to keep her elegant look. She whispered words in an unknown language and then looked up to the group in front of her. Shadow kept himself behind Nero.
"Took your time," smiled China.
"What did he see?" asked Valkyrie, going straight to the point.
"Nero with Darquesse, in front of a portal full of blackness and creatures flying out of the portal destroying the entire populace," replied China. Nero groaned to himself and then looked to Shadow, who had stepped out from behind him.
"Ms' China Sorrows, it's been far too long since I saw you last," smiled Shadow.
"Who are you?" asked China, an expression of worry in her voice.
"It's me, Shadow," he replied, bringing forth a ball of fire into his hand.
"I was wondering when you were going to reappear," said China, placing her hand on the symbols on her arm.
"That won't work on me, Sorrows," laughed Shadow, using his free hand to shoot a wave of energy towards China. The wave of energy covered China and the symbols on her body were covered by a coat of magical energy.
"What have you done to me!" yelled China.
"I have covered the symbols on your body, you are no longer able to use magic," replied Shadow, taking strides towards the defenceless woman. Her eyes pleaded for help from the rest of the group. Skulduggery turned away from her and stepped out the door, closely followed by Fletcher. Nero looked to Valkyrie, who looked back to him. Nero drew his sword from the white light he summoned beside him and withdrew his gun, which he handed to Valkyrie. The fire in Shadow's hands died to nothing but and icicle formed instead. China stood up from her chair and looked into the emptiness of Shadows' eyes. She brought her leg up quickly kicking the table towards Shadow. He smiled and threw the icicle with such force it pierced through the table and hit China's chest, impaling her into the wall. Blood trickled from the fatal wound. Valkyrie pushed past Shadow and ran to China. The icicle had impaled through her heart.
"Shadow, what the hell!" yelled Nero, anger flaring through his body. He gripped the sword tightly, his knuckles turning white. Valkyrie turned and shot at Shadow, emptying the entire clip. Shadow spun on his heels, withdrawing his sword and deflecting the bullets. Nero growled and sprinted towards Shadow. Shadow leapt over him and landed where Nero stood just moments before.
"I had to kill her, she betrayed me and killed my family," said Shadow, placing his sword back in his scabbard.
"You as well?" asked Valkyrie, confused.
"What do you mean?" asked Shadow.
"A really long time ago, she betrayed Skulduggery and his family were murdered in front of him," replied Valkyrie.
"We have to go get Skulduggery," said Nero, sprinting out the door.
"Let's go," said Shadow, sprinting after Nero.