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"Now you must take it slow," Nye said to Tanith.
Tanith was too happy to see Valkyrie to listen to some gangly creature. She swung her legs around the bed, jumped up and ran at Valkyrie with a little squeal.
"Valkyrie!" Tanith exclaimed as she hugged Valkyrie tight.
Skulduggery let go of his grip on Valkyrie's waist. As they hugged Valkyrie tried to keep her pain in and not make a sound. However, her face showed exactly how she was feeling.
"Okay I think that's enough!" Ghastly said with light chuckle. He gently pulled on Tanith's arm and she let go of Valkyrie and stood next to Ghastly.
"Why?" Tanith asked confusedly.
"Valkyrie's hurt," Ghastly explained.
Valkyrie smiled guiltily. "Yeah," she said with a little sigh. She was hunched over to the right side a little and held a hand to the wound. Skulduggery come forward and helped Valkyrie again.
"What happened?" Tanith asked.
"Long story, we can discuss it later," Valkyrie said and then turned around to look at Nye.
"When can I leave?" She asked.
"Technically you can leave whenever you want, I'm sure if I tried to stop you you're skeleton friend would put a bullet through my head. However, based on recovery time, all you need is rest which you might find more comfortable in your own home. It would only be best that you stay here in case of internal bleeding but I'm sure you could make it here pretty fast," Nye said.
"Well good, get together at my house then," Valkyrie said with a smile. Tanith winked at her and Ghastly and Erskine looked at each other.
"Think we could sneak out of here?" Erskine asked.
"Who's going to tell?" Ghastly said with a shrug. Then everyone in the room looked at Nye.
"Don't worry about me," it said casually. "I don't even care about your silly games," it walked out the door and turned left, further down the corridor.
"Well that settles that then," Skulduggery said.
Valkyrie pulled away from him. "I'm just going to go get changed. I'll be fine," Valkyrie said and held onto the door frame for support as she left the room.
"Alright who will I be killing first? Who hurt Valkyrie?" Tanith asked.
"Saguine and..." Erskine gave a wary look towards Skulduggery. He worried that if he said this nxt name Skulduggery would burst.
"And...?!" Tanith asked impatiently.
"Caelan," he finished with a sigh.
"Caelan?! I'll cut his bloody head off!" Tanith yelled.
"And what about Sanguine?" Ghastly asked. He wasn't sure if that was his general curiosity talking or if it was jealousy.
Tanith was left a little speechless but she finally regained herself. "I have some unfinished business with him," she said through clenched teeth.
Ghastly was satisfied. What was he thinking anyway? That Tanith was still in love with Billy-ray even though it wasn't her in love with him in the first place, it was the remnant.
"Ready to go?" Valkyrie said from the doorway. If Skulduggery had eyes, everyone would see the hurt in them. Valkyrie was stuck wearing the clothes she had arrived in. Just under her ribcage on the right side, her shirt has a rip and bloodstain. He could see Valkyrie trying to cover it up so no one had to see it. Her jeans had grass stains on the knees as well.
"Yep!" Tanith said walking ahead of them. Ghastly and Erskine followed leaving Skulduggery and Valkyrie to follow behind them. As they walked Skulduggery saw Valkyrie glance down at her shirt.
Valkyrie felt something fall gently on her shoulders. She looked and saw the navy blue, pinstriped suit jacket. Skulduggery was now left wearing a crisp white shirt and navy blue tie.
"Thanks," she said gratefully while slipping her arms through and covering up her shirt. Skulduggery didn't reply. He didn't need to. He knew Valkyrie doesn't need an answer. Usually a tilt of his skull would be enough for her.
"Who's going with who?" Ghastly asked.
"Everyone in Skulduggery's car!" Tanith exclaimed. "We'll all fit," she said with an excited grin.
"I don't think we've all been in the one car before have we?" Valkyrie asked with a returned smile.
"And so the silliness begins!" Ghastly announced with a chuckle. Tanith and Valkyrie gave each other an excited smile as they all approached the sparkling, black Bentley.
Valkyrie walked to the backseat door and everyone but Skulduggery paused. He just continued to unlock the door. "What are you doing?" Ghastly asked her.
"What do you mean?" Valkyrie asked genuinely confused.
"Why are you getting in the back?" He replied.
"Well I thought maybe you would want t ride in the front..." Valkyrie said slowly.
"But you always sit in the front!" Tanith said.
"Okay," Valkyrie said dragging out the word a little. She moved around the car and to the front seat. Everyone then smiled comfortable and got into the car. The backseat was crammed. Ghastly with his big muscles sat in the left seat, Tanith squished into the middle and Erskine fit into the right seat. Meanwhile, Valkyrie and Skulduggery sat comfortably in the front.
Everyone talked to each other on the car ride. Just before they left the Roarhaven Skulduggery slammed on the brakes. Everyone went silent and looked at Skulduggery. Valkyrie put her hand on his bony arm. "Skulduggery, what's wrong?" She asked.
He was looking out his window and there in the dark alleyway, Sanguine stood with a victim. Skulduggery got out of the car and slammed the door.
"Shit," Ghastly cursed and got out as well.
Sanguine had his victim held up against the wall by the collar. When he saw Skulduggery strolling over he sighed and dropped the random guy.
"Was wonderin' when I was gonna hear from you," Billy-ray said.
"I bet you were," Skulduggery replied simply.
"Skulduggery, remember what we talked about at the sanctuary!" Ghastly reminded him. He was referring to the talk they had about Billy-ray and whoever he was working with and whatever they were planning.
"Yeah, listen to the scarred man," Sanguine said with a grin.
"Oh you'd love that wouldn't you? You'd love for me to just walk away. I would have thought you'd know me by now Billy-ray," Skulduggery taunted. Sanguine's head flicked to the side and he was now looking past Skulduggery.
"T- Tanith?" Billy-ray stammered.
Skulduggery chuckled. "Oh! You didn't know? Well this is just rich. You got to live your little fantasy with Tanith and now it's over," he teased.
Billy-ray looked at Tanith helplessly. "What did you think Sanguine? I was actually into you?" Tanith asked. "I treated you like crap... how were you still with me?"
"I uh, I actually loved you," Sanguine admitted. Hurt was clear on his face. It was the first time Skulduggery had seen one of the bad ones actually looking upset over being heartbroken. Ghastly almost couldn't handle the thoughts in his own mind. Those two together... kissing.
"I'm sorry Sanguine... I don't love you... that was the remnant," Tanith said.
Sanguine lowered his head. The ground below him crumbled and down he went, beneath the earth.
"Damn it!" Skulduggery grunted. "Let's g before I do something I'll regret."