TROUBLE AT THE TEMPLE

GEPOV

Alison was woken in the middle of the night by a rapping her window. She looked closer to find a hand making the sound. Alison walked closer to find her sister managing her balance.

"What is it?" She asked.

'Skulduggery and your sister need your help." Valkyrie almost fell.

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, I'm her reflection, c'mon!" The reflection jumped off and did a grunt when it landed.

"How did you get up here?" Alison dangled from the gutter and let go.

"I climbed up, though you'll learn to manipulate the air to propel yourself." It smiled and hopped on a motorbike and shimmied her helmet on.

"Where did you get this?" Alison shrieked and slipped her helmet on and hugged the reflection.

"I borrowed it from Tanith. It's her spare bike. Hold on." Alison obeyed and the bike revved. They hit a red light and the conversation continued.

"Why do they need me?" Alison shouted over the engine.

"Trouble at the Temple. It'll take us three hours!"

"Doesn't it take, like, five hours?"

"Not on this!" The light turned green and they got to the Temple in three hours and thirty-two minutes time.

Valkyrie was woken by another tapping at the window, thinking it was Skulduggery. The window opened and she was whipped onto the ground. Valkyrie let out a moan through her teeth. The figure landed right by her side.

"What do you want." She demanded and dragged herself up.

"Your sister." Is all he said. He held her and they shadow walked inside the temple. The room was decorated with a gothic attire with deep reds and purples, it was also bound.

"Wreath? Is that you?" Valkyrie asked.

"Yes it is Valkyrie. Where is your sister?"

"Why am I here." She demanded.

"Where is your sister?" He repeated.

"Where's Skulduggery?"

"Somewhere." He smiled and walked out. Valkyrie texted her reflection to bring Alison; she had a plan. Cleric came back, this time with the unconscious skeleton detective falling beside her.

"What the hell?" Valkyrie yelled, "What did you do to him?" Cleric smiled like before and walked out.

Minutes before Wreath came Skulduggery was reading a book. Cleric silently appeared behind him and shot shadows at Skulduggery. The shadows wrapped around his neck and he thrashed until he fainted.

"Huh, didn't actually think that would work." Wreath said to himself, "You can actually choke a skeleton." Cleric laughed briefly and shadow walked.

"Skulduggery?" Valkyrie shook him, "You OK?" He cleared his virtual throat and stood up, "What happened?" She asked.

"I think he choked me." Skulduggery answered and rubbed his neck.

"How is that even possible? You're dead."

"Workings of magic I assume." He fixed his hat and tried the door which was locked.

"We're bound too." Valkyrie added.

"Damn." he sighed, "What do they want?"

"Emera. I have a plan though." She smiled and sat down on a chairs arm.

"What is it?" He asked with a smile to his tone.

"Be brave." Was all she said as a good hint, "Hold on." She took out her phone and texted some one.

"Who did you text?" He asked.

"Step away from the mirror." Skulduggery stepped aside and

Alison's reflection appeared.

"How did you do that without chalk?" He wondered.

"I've been in here before." She smiled, "Though, I never did do the spell to the mirror, someone else did."

"Could Melancholia have done it when she attacked?" Alison's reflection suggested as it squirmed out "When you thought you killed her?"

"Another mystery solved." Skulduggery said, "I think I know what you're getting at."

"Good." She turned to the reflection, "Stay in the mirror and wait till my sister gets here. OK?" it nodded.

Alison got off and Stephanie drove away. She got to the door and Cleric answered.

"Hello, dear." He greeted, "Come with me." He opened his arms for her to follow.

"No thank you." She started walking and played with shadows when he didn't see her.

"Listen. Come with me." He snapped and she flung the shadows at him. Alison ran at the first chance she got.

"Skulduggery? Valkyrie?" Alison called and tried doors in that hall

"Do you hear that?" Valkyrie asked, "I think it's Emera."

They heard it again, "Guys? Where are you?" She called.

"Over here!" Valkyrie called back.

Alison heard her sister and ran to the door and opened it. Skulduggery got out first and snapped his fingers to summon a flame.

"Get in." Valkyrie said as the reflection stepped out, "I have a plan." Alison obeyed and hid inside. The reflection took her spot and they closed the door most of the way.

"Guards!" Wreath called and they cornered the three, "Give me your sister." he demanded. Skulduggery glanced at Valkyrie and she gave Alison to him.

"I'm sorry." Valkyrie called to make a show.

"Whatever." she said sadly. Alison turned to Wreath, "What are you going to do to me?"

"Train you, my dear." He smiled and walked with the reflection who turned and winked.

"Does it know the plan?" Alison asked behind the door.

"It does." Skulduggery said and ushered her out.

"Good, I have no clue what it is." Alison brushed off his arm and got out.

"When she gets to her room or when they find she can't to magic she'll come back." Skulduggery explained.

"Ah. OK." She smiled and hopped in the Coupe.

"What's the time Skulduggery?" Valkyrie asked and closed the car door.

"It's four twenty-six?" Skulduggery put the keys in the ignition and they drove home.