Demons: imagine dragons.

Valkyrie's PoV

She sighed. Alice was now 12 and looked up to her big sister like she was a saint. Sure it was nice to know that she wasn't a world breaker to everyone but she didn't deserve to be called a saint. Especially by Alice. Not after what she did.

General PoV

Alice didn't look like her big sister. Alice has deep blue eyes and soft blonde hair. Valkyrie has dark brown eyes and long black hair. Alice is like her sister in personality though. She is a smart child but unlike her she is calm and hard to anger. She is also observant and noticed the strange man who would come to visit was quite thin sometimes and other times he had large muscles. She saw how her sister speaks to him and how she trusts him. Her sister doesn't trust many people so Alice couldn't help liking and trusting this odd man. So when she was over at her sister's house Alice decided to ask her sister about him.

Valkyrie's PoV

Valkyrie had been shocked at her sister's curious manner. 'He is my partner. I solve crimes with him.' She had told her.

Alice's PoV

Later the tall man came and Alice could see how much they had been holding back with their parents. She was apparently always a quiet girl but with him she seemed to come out. When Valkyrie announced that was going to make dinner for herself and Alice she quickly took this chance to talk to this man, skulduggery, to get to understand how he makes her come out of her shell.

Skulduggery's PoV

Valkyrie left the room and I turned to see Alice watching me with the same look Valkyrie gave me the first time I spoke to her in the study. I tilted my head curious and she copied me. I had to laugh.

"What's so funny?"

"You have the same look on your face as what your sister had the first time we met."

"And when was the first time you met?"

She asked it so suddenly I almost told her.

"That was very sneaky."

"It was. So?"

"So?"

"Please don't insult my intelligence. You and I both know I'll find out."

"You will but it will be your sister's choice when."

"Alright. Then tell me about what you do. My sister seems to trust you so tell why I should too."

I looked at her. She is taking my refusal better than Valkyrie would. "We've worked together for a long time. I guess we've made a bond."

Alice nodded. She glanced to the kitchen and leaned in.

"Can I trust you to take care of my sister Mr. Pleasant?"

"Of course."

"Can I trust you to keep a secret?"

"Is it dangerous?"

"No."

"Then of course."

"I want to know why you and some of Stephanie's friends have called her Val or Valkyrie."

I froze. Damn this girl.

"It's a nickname."

"No it's not. A nickname has to have something to do with the person. Valkyries are woman warriors that lead the dead off the battlefield. Tell the truth. It's a sin to lie."

"I have a lot more sins to be worrying about. And it is. Many have said I was like a dead man after the war, that is until I got partnered with Stephanie."

"Well it seems like you DO learn a new thing every day." Valkyrie muttered from the door.

I jumped and Alice smiled.

"You knew she was there?"

"Sorry but I needed you to talk and you wouldn't unless you thought 'valkyrie' was out of the room. I could have said something but 'valkyrie' wouldn't say anything unless she was convinced somehow."

Valkyrie glared at me.

"This is your fault! My cute little sister did NOT learn it from my parents and I sure as hell wasn't letting her learn from me!"

Alice actually laughed at that. "I didn't learn it from either of you. I asked Saracen what was the best way to make you talk. It was when I came over last time and you and skulduggery hadn't come yet. Everyone laughed and told me to convince one of you to talk while the other was out of sight but could hear."

As if on cue the front door opened and they could hear shouts and laughter.

"Get in here now!" Valkyrie yelled making everyone in the hallway go quiet.

The first in was Larkin who bounced over and sat at Alice's feet. The rest followed sitting in the seats furthest away from Valkyrie.

"Do you want to explain to me why you would tell Alice to trick us?"

"We didn't we just provided her with the information to do so." Larkin said happily.

"Well unless your going to explain everything to her you shouldn't. I mean everything. Why I had to leave what happened everything." She said it calmly, like she was detached from what she was saying. Emotionless.

Skulduggery wrapped an arm around her and pulled her to him.

"I don't want to know everything. Not yet. I just want to know what you do, what war, when you met… the basics."

"Ok."

"And how long you two have been dating."

Valkyrie sighed and began.

Sorry for the delay! I've been in wexford all day so I have been working my ass off to finish something for you! xxx Scarlet.