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Darquesse and Vile conundrum

Vendetta stalked inside and glanced around the café, only one pair of eyes were looking at her. She sighed and joined Tenebrae at the table.

"Why do you want me?" she hissed, "Why can't you hire someone else?"

"I need you to relocate only temporarily."

"But I'm busy here."

"Oh, with what?" His question almost mocked her.

"W-well, we're up against Maladroit."

"Who?" another mock.

"Gale Maladroit, can I go now?" she stood up, trying to achieve a dramatic exit.

"No, not yet," he gestured her down and she obeyed. "Please, be rational."

Vendetta cringed her nose and thought. "I know what's in store for the Temple, but I must know," she brought her voice to a whisper, "who are the two beings?"

Auron glanced over both of his shoulders and look at her, almost scared. "We have strong reasons to believe that Darquesse and Vile will return."

"Again, why me?"

"Please, Miss Dare, we need you."

"What makes you think I can hold them off? One of them is a supreme killer while the other has a remnant army for backup - not like she needs it, though."

"We have hired other strong allies."

"Who?"

"The remaining Deadmen, besides Pleasant, Bespoke and Ravel. There's also Sanguine-"

"You know Larrikin is alive, right?"

His brows arched, "Hopeless too?"

"Not that I know of. What about Tanith?"

"I'll look into it, I guess." he rubbed his slightly scarred neck, "Is that I yes then?"

"I guess," she stood up once again, "I'm going now, bye." Vendetta smiled briefly and jogged out. The Coupe stayed where it was.

"Well?" Valkyrie requested.

"I, I said yes." she oddly felt shame.

"Are you OK?"

"No, not really. I'm being relocated because the Temple is in danger."

"Yeah, the two beings, right?" Valkyrie smiled as she reached the Sanctuary, "Who are they?"

"Me and other allies are going up against Lord Vile and Darquesse. I think I'm going to die, really." Valkyrie and even Skulduggery froze. "A-are you guys OK? You look like you just saw a gist or something."

"Huh? Yeah, yeah, I'm good." Valkyrie shivered the thought away. "How about you, Skul?"

"Hmm?" he shrugged, "Fine." he curtly said. The Cleavers were gone and Vendetta got in first.

"What is it?" Tanith just pulled her phone away from her ear. "Who called?"

"The Temple, Cleric, to be exact." Vendetta slightly smiled, "They want me to be an ally."

"Do you know why?" she did.

"Two people are planning to fight there, they need me and other allies… I hope Frightening will be there."

"You know, I was called to that too."

"Who else?"

"Deadmen, Sanguine, others."

"Does that mean, like, the three- four here?"

"No- well Larrikin, maybe, that's about it from here."

"Do you know who the two people fighting are?"

"Uh…" to a whisper tone now, "I don't mean to alarm you, but it's Vile and Darquesse."

"What?" she almost laughed, "That's insane, Vendetta." she didn't smile and walked away.

"What was that about?" Valkyrie asked.

"Tanith and I are know working for the Temple."

"Oh, oh, OK…?" Skulduggery tapped her shoulder, "I think I should go, about this whole Darquesse and Vile conundrum."

"OK, bye." she frowned and walked to tell Rife.

Skulduggery dragged her wrist to an isolate area.

"This is insane, Skulduggery!" she shrieked.

"How did they uncover that?" he thought out loud.

"I do-" Valkyrie stopped herself, "Wait, you knew?"

"Um, yes, it appears I did." he slightly nodded.

"What the hell? Did it ever occur to you that I should've known?"

"Not now, Valkyrie."

"Right, sorry." she parted her hair behind her ear, "So, what are we going to do about it? I almost died last year from it."

"But you healed yourself." Skuldugery countered.

"Not the best time now." she shivered again, "Can we stop it?… And how did you know about it?"

"I doubt it." he shrugged, "I went to Finbar."

"OK, then…?" she opened the door and walked out, "Does Vendetta know?"

"I don't think so. But Rife does." Skulduggery bellowed.

"Should we tell her? Rife might-"

"Ghastly and Tanith don't even know."

"They know about Darquesse, not Vile."

"It's bad enough they know about Darquesse, but Vile? Imagine what would happen!"

"OK, you're right. But I should warn Rife, I doubt he'd say a word though." they walked out together and went opposite directions.

Vendetta thought for a while and finally knocked at his door and opened it.

"Hey, you know how about me being relocated?" she asked

He looked up. "Yes, what happened?"

"Nothing, yet." she paused, "I'm being relocated because Vile and Darquesse will be fighting at the Temple; they need me, and other allies, to protect it."

"Uh-huh, are you OK with that?"

"Me, Tanith and Larrikin can die! These two people are monsters, their ranking is so close to Mevolent and Serpine; no, I'm not OK with this."

"Than why are you doing it?" he asked, keeping rational.

"Because it's my duty, Rife, I have to."

"You always have a choice, though."

"Think about it; if I wasn't here when Dulcifer was and when the case was finished you got your job here and then you learned to hate Skulduggery, would you keep working here?"

He didn't respond. "You would, I know you, it's your duty."

"Fine, I would." a knock came from a door and Valkyrie stepped in.

"Oh, Vendetta… hi."

"Am I not supposed to be here?" she arched her brows.

"Maybe a little, it'll only take, like five minutes, OK?"

"Alright." Vendetta walked out and leaned against the wall.

"OK, Rife, you know about me and Skulduggery being Darquesse and Vile, right?"

"Don't worry I won't tell her." he meekly laughed. Vendetta opened the door without warning, holding her phone.

"Knock much?" Valkyrie asked, not intending to be mean.

"I got a text, I'm getting a ride from Tanith to the Temple. Bye." she smiled, but her eyes look scared.

I'm happy this one is at least 1000 words long, appose to my daily 500-700 words…yeah! Like before, 2 more chapters left to make up your minds on which Valdugery you like.