Chapter Five - Mine

Valkyrie was asleep on the couch. I stared at her. I could still feel the phantom sensations of her smooth skin against my gloves from last night. It was almost driving me mad not to do it again. She was a drug. I never get enough of her.

I got up and approached her. "My Valkyrie." I whispered my desires to her. Someday, I wouldn't have to hide them behind the veil of sleep.

Valkyrie woke me from my meditation almost four hours after she fell asleep.

"Valkyrie, what's wrong?"

She was pale. "Hold me."

I allowed her to crawl into my lap. My arms wrapped around her and she curled up into me. I was concerned for her, but that didn't mean that I didn't enjoy this close proximity.

"Dear?"

She shook her head. Too soon then. Very well, I can wait. I am a very patient skeleton. After all, haven't I waited and carefully worked through the years to make Valkyrie mine? Careful words, perfectly sculpted to persuade her to my side.

It was at least ten minutes before she was willing to speak of what she dreamed. "It was Darquesse again." She looked into my sockets. "Skul, she's getting bolder!"

I sighed. I didn't know what to do. "It won't happen. There is always a way that will show itself when we need it most." I touched her chin. "Isn't that how it always is? We always have a plan. I'll just have to research it."

She leaned into my touch. I pushed my influence and began playing with her hair. She smiled at me. "I'm sorry I upset you earlier. You were right about my family. I'm an outsider now." Her fist clenched.

I tilted my head sadly even though I wanted to laugh and cheer. "Not completely." I made my voice carefully neutral.

Her head rose to look me in the face. "What do you mean?"

I situated her better, my right hand resting on her hip, my left hand on her thigh. "Am I not family to you?"

She hugged me so hard I could've have sworn my bones were bending. "Skulduggery Pleasant, you are everything to me." She looked at me in all seriousness.

I chuckled. "I'm not everything. Silly girl, I'm not…your lover. Why don't you just say I'm a brilliant friend, a humble partner, a magnificent mentor, and a very talented and impeccably dressed detective?" Make her think of lover. Think of it carefully. It will play on her mind. She will meditate. Lover. Love with me. It will drive her mad until she accepts it. That pause will give her hope that I love her back, but am hesitant.

However, much to my confusion, she started laughing. I stared, fascinated. I loved her laugh. It sound like a child's laugh, except with a little bit more cynicism. It's hard to describe, so don't blame me if I don't make sense.

She leaned into me. "Now you are being the silly one. When I meant everything…I meant…" She bit her lip. "Everything." I wished I could have raised an eyebrow. This was a very quick development. But of course, this is Valkyrie, I'm dealing with. She is know for making fast decisions and sticking with them. She sees what she wants and she grabs it. Much like me…a lot like me, actually. I stifled a chuckle.

I held her closer. "Lover too?" It was all I could do not to allow my exultation in my voice.

She nodded hesitantly. "We're perfect together." Of course we're perfect together, I molded you and trained you. You are who you are now because of me.

But, I pretended to think about it. "I'm not saying that I don't want this, but we must consider all the issues. I'm a skeleton. I will not be able to provide what you need."

She smirked at me. "I think you, being as creative as you are, will think of something to offset that little issue."

Those little words set off a series of images that I had stored up in my mind. I almost groaned at those words. "I'm…400 years old."

She laughed. "In a world of freak shows like us, do you think age matters?!" She shook her head. Suddenly my hat was no longer resting on the arm of my chair. It was, instead, hanging over the fire in the fireplace. "Date me or this hat will be forced to retire." Her eyes were alight with mischief.

I had no doubt she would do it. I had trained her be exactly like this. "This is slightly déjà vu. Except you're going to burn it instead of step on it." I shook my head in mock sadness. "Very well, if I must take on this burden known as courtship, then I must…"

Inwardly I was celebrating. I had expected her to give in to me much later than this, perhaps a month's time. I was foolish to think that. With the dreams she's been having, about me thanks to the tea, and the fact that I'm the only one she's interacted with, the same person who saved her life, it is no doubt that she's fallen in love with me. I held back my exultant laughter. I did well.

Valkyrie Cain was mine the minute I first laid eyes on her, but now it was solidified. Now she was mine completely, willingly, and wholly.

I looked at her. She had put the hat on her head. "We must take it slow."

She slipped back onto my lap. "I'm seventeen now, Skul. I'm almost old enough to own this big, old house. When I do, I'm going to move in. No more sneaking around a family that doesn't really know me. We don't have to take it slow, if I no longer have parents." She looked at me. "You're my world, Skul. And you better take care not to destroy it, or all your hats go up in flames!"

I laughed. "Now why would I want to destroy the world of a girl I love?"

She looked at me in surprise. "You love me back?"

I cocked my head at her. "Of course I return your feelings. If I hadn't I would have said so." I pulled my Valkyrie closer. My teeth grazed her neck. She shivered with pleasure, if the look on her face was anything to go by. I nipped here and there, working my hands along her torso, half massaging and half groping the body that I had craved for so long.

Finally, she was mine. "You're mine, Valkryie."

She didn't say anything at first. "Yours?" She stared at me with a mixture of shock and surprise.

"Yes…" I grabbed her and carried her to a guest room. I proceeded to worship every inch of her skin. Her breathless cries, her panting was like music to me. "You are mine." I whispered to her the whole time. Whispering how she was mine.

I rewarded her with agonizing pleasure when she affirmed that she was, indeed, mine. However, when she was hesitant, she didn't receive as much attention. She noticed, and her body craved my touch. Even in bed, I trained her and guided her.

She breathed out as I worshipped her body. "Y-yes…yours. I'm yours." I wished I could have smiled. Those words, dropped from such delicious lips. She arched her back as I caressed her insides as a reward for her words. "YOURS! AH! Ah… Yours…SKULDUGGERY!" She screamed my name. Only my name was on her mind, her heart…her tongue.

To put it simply, we made love. Glorious, deep, and rich love all throughout the night. Considering it was our night, I shall not share it.

I knew Gordon would be shaking his head sadly. Valkyrie Cain was gone, he would be thinking. I felt like laughing. Valkyrie Cain never existed. She was mine from the very beginning. I had decided it to be so when I saw her at the will reading. I had watched her stay alone at the house. I had saved her life then, and now, I am her life, and she is mine.

I look down at the still flushed girl. She is sleeping my arms. I feel like laughing. Finally, after five years of subtle persuasion, my work has finally come to fruition.

Valkyrie Cain is mine.

How was it?

I had to make it seemed rushed because that's Valkyrie's character. When she sees something, she wants it. Skulduggery persuaded her to want him, and so she takes him. Clever Skul…

Up next, I'm planning on doing a crossover with Percy Jackson and Skulduggery Pleasant's world. This should be interesting…

I enjoyed writing this. Hope you guys enjoyed reading it. Feel free to review your reaction.

Ink…