Back from the race. Went from the lead biker, then the gun shot, I shrieked and fell, in the end I went from first to last in 30 seconds flat.

'Friends'

Alice left before she heard Tanith finished her sentence. Bored, she strolled around the almost empty Sanctuary. She found Skulduggery and Ghastly in the Elders' Hall.

"Hey guys." she dryly said and walked in, "What's up?"

"Weren't you eating Chinese with Valkyrie?" Ghastly asked and sipped some tea.

"Yeah, but I got bored. Which brings me to another question," Alice clasped her hands together and bounced them off her legs, "Do you think that Vendetta is, like, seeing someone?"

"Why would we care?" Skulduggery asked in confusion.

"Well, aren't you her friends?" her hands broke away and plunged them into her pockets.

"Yes," Ghastly affirmed, "But isn't gossip for women?"

"What?… no. they didn't take me seriously." Alice complained.

"Should we be worried?" Skulduggery questioned, not meaning it.

"I wou- I th-" she faltered, trying to think of something, "Look, I just want to know who he is, he could be dangerous."

"I really think there's no harm." Skulduggery concluded. "I mean, who cares if she's dating someone?"

"Well, wouldn't you like to know who he is?" she countered.

"Not my jurisdiction." he said. Alice stared briefly.

She started walking back to Rife's office when Vendetta stepped out, checking her phone with a grin. She did her skipping fit to the backdoor and went out. This time Alice had her.

"Thanks for the other night, it really means a lot to Val." Vendetta held someone's hand from what she could see. Alice leaned over the stairs' railing a little more to see better. Most of his face was a shadow, but she still saw a smile.

"Think nothing of it." a familiar voice said, a Texan drawl. She leaned more and flipped over the railings, landing with a thud.

Alice moaned and caught Vendetta's attention, and his as well. She ran first and he hesitated. "What the hell? Are you OK?" she asked. Vendetta glanced back and rolled her eyes, "She was gonna' find out sooner or later Sanguine." he stepped out and leaned against the tree. "What on earth were you doing?"

"Uh, spying?" Alice frowned, "Why is he here?" she scowled.

"Just visiting, but are you OK?"

"I'm fine, OK?" she stood up, "But seriously! Why him?"

"It's not my fault he left you scarred for life!" she snapped, "It's none of your business who I date, Emera."

"I think it is when you're dating a freakin' criminal." she pointed at the quiet Sanguine.

"Hey, hey, hey, Scars, relax." this was a new side of him that Alice has never seen.

"Vendetta, he's a hit-man, he's killed tons and," she grimaced at the next word, "tortured countless."

He didn't object to most what she said-, "Deluxe," except for one thing, "I'm a hit-man deluxe." he corrected.

"Whatever! The point is, is that she's dating you and you're a criminal!"

"I'm an ally, Scars, I work for either side, depending on how much they pay me." he folded his arms and leaned against another tree, "I'm a trader to all sides. You know, I even saved your sisters' life plenty of times before. And, I saved yours the other night." he added, "deal with it."

Alice scowled, "Imagine what would your friends think?" she said and stormed to Rife's office.

"Wait here." she told him and he shrugged. Vendetta sprinted to Rife's office.

"Oh, good you're here," Alice taunted, "K, guys. I know who Vendetta is dating."

"Alice, you don't know what-" Vendetta warned.

"She's dating Sanguine!" she exclaimed. Expecting gasps, never got them. "W-wha- aren't you surprised? She's dating a criminal!"

"OK," Skulduggery said down the hall, "What is it?"

"How much times do I have to say it? Vendetta's boyfriend is Sanguine."

"Good for her, then." Vendetta smiled back and glared at Alice.

"See? Like I was going to say, 'you don't know what you're getting yourself into'. No one cares, really."

"B-but, he's a hit-man."

"We all are familiar on who he is, we don't like him and we won't kill him. Easy as that."

Boggled, Alice frowned. "I-I-I am so lost right now."

"No one cares what I hide from them, Emera, but apparently you do."

All the anger swept away quickly and Alice drooped in shame. Vendetta walked out and silence fell over them. She chased Vendetta and grabbed her arm.

"I'm sorry." she said.

"Why?"

"Well, I, I guess… I'm lost."

"It was my fault that I should've told you," she thought for a moment, "I guess it cancels out, huh."

"OK, so we're good? Friends?"

"Uh, yeah, friends."

If you've been reading my third case, which I doubt. It's gonna be my last case on that and then I'll focus on this one. If you do read it though all questions will be answered from this one. Like, 'how did Vendetta and Sanguine hook up?' or 'what happened to the Necromancer Temple?' it'll get answered! I swear!

By the way, again, I doubt it. If you've read my latest chapter of case 3 (authors notes) you would've read about the infamous word "Valduggery" if not, here it goes… I found two meanings for "Valduggery" one, the obvious, their romantic side for each other. And two, not famous but somewhat deeper, their unbreakable bond as best friends, possibly siblings. What do you think? End it? (more drama for you and new sides of each other) or keep it? (intimate bliss)… I seriously have no clue what I just typed "intimate bliss"… but you get it. You have 3 chapters to decide