Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters.

Chapter 2

Valkyrie's POV

That was really stupid. I shouldn't have told him. I didn't think of the consequences. I am not panicking, I am not panicking...

Shit. I am panicking.

Ok, everything is going to be ok, just get a hold of yourself.

Shit. I am in the forest, I don't have any food or clothes or tent... I made a big mistake. He's going to search for me in my house and any possible place now but I think I can hide here. After all he didn't see me when I ran and he doesn't know the direction I have taken in. Also it's quite far from the city. But the problem with the food still lasts. I don't have even water and I can't survive here without it. And I can't stay here for a long time. Skulduggery is a detective so he will find me soon with magic or without it. So it's absolutely necessary for me to think of a place I can go and it should be fast. I need a place, which hasn't been ''touched'' by the magic world...

No, I don't know a place like this. My whole world is magic. Then a place where Skulduggery wouldn't find me too soon. The only possibility is...

- Hey, what are you doing at my place? - It was Vaurian Scapegrace the ,,Great Killer''.

-Your place?

-Yes, my place. That has been my home recently.

- My master is right. And you should be respectful to my master.- Scapegrace's zombie ,,assistant'' or something like that said.

-Anyway Scapegrace, do you want to make a deal?

-And what can you possibly give which I haven't?

-I will help you into your search for a way to stop the decomposition of your body and I won't tell Skulduggery where you are hiding. I think that you would appreciate that as you will need time. Am I right?

-What do you want me to do?

- I want you to take me with you.

-What?!- Vaurian gazed at me in shock.

- So deal or no deal?

- Deal.

- So the first thing I need now is food and water. I want you to take me to some market or shop with your bus.

-This wasn't included in the terms of our deal.

I started watching him angrily.

-Uhh, okay. I will go get the bus. - he said with annoyed voice.

-I am coming with you.

Of course, he would try to escape.

-Oh, and if you try to bite me or something you know that you will be really sorry later. Right?- I said with a sweet smile.

-Whatever...

While we were walking toward the bus and not talking I looked around myself. The forest was beautiful and it was night so everything seemed so unrealistic. As if the magic take control of the world every time the night falls. I could see the tiny lights in the far. I could hear the whispers of the night creatures. I could sense the magic in the air. It was exhilarating.

I was glad I always took money with me wherever I went because now I need a food for some time. We went to a market two miles away from the forest and there I bought all I needed... Almost all.

- Wait a moment. Why Skulduggery is not with you? And why were you alone on my territory? What really stops me from killing you right now?. - he said with a devious grin while I was eating.

- What stops you? Maybe the fact that after you do that Skulduggery would chase you and you would suffer more than you could imagine.

-You are not stupid, are you?

I just smiled at this.

-It's not in your business why I am here or where I am.

-Stupid kid. - he said more to himself than to me.

-Don't speak like that to my master- the zombie assistant said.

I had forgot he was here. But for sure I can't say the same for Scapegrace. His smell was awful and I would die from it soon. Such an irony- his smell was more dangerous than he himself.

I need to think where we can go now. Maybe in another city. But I can't keep running from Skulduggery till the end of my life. So I should think of what to tell him and maybe I should try to decide how I feel. Ok, then - I like Fletcher, but do I really love him?. But if I loved him I wouldn't like Skulduggery or would I? So all in all I like both of them. But who is more important for me?. I couldn't live without Skulduggery for sure, he has been with me since I was 12 but Fletcher is important, too. I haven't seen him for days. I can call him now. The last time we saw each other I was a little bit angry at him for not telling me where he was going. But now I miss him since I am all alone. But if Fletcher is only this – a way to spend my time… I am awful. I don't know… It seems like I'll need more time to understand my feelings.

-Hey zombie, we should go.- I told Scapegrace

-Go where?

- In another city. You will drive till we find one.

- I don't remember you becoming my master...- he mumbled.

- We'll go tomorrow morning. I'll go to sleep now. And if you try to escape you should know that I never sleep deeply.

I just sighed and went to sleep under a tree. Soo tired...

Skulduggery? How did you find me?- I asked as I looked my partner right in the ,,eyes''.

But I got no answer to my question. He just stared at me with his bare eye sockets and didn't move at all. I felt my body trembling. As if I knew something bad would happen.

What was happening? Mist. All around me. I looked at the direction of my feet. I couldn't see them. The mist was too strong. Then I heard a clicking sound and I turned up my head immediately. Skulduggery was standing right in front of me with his gun pointed at my head. He didn't move an inch. What happened next was as if I was looking everything in slow motion. His skeletal finger pushed the thriller, then I heard the sound from the shot and felt the fear taking over my whole body paralyzing me. Then I felt the pain and...

.

.

.

Nothing.

A/N: This chapter is a little bit shorter but I hope you like it.