I don't know why I choose the worst times to get in the groove and start updating again. Anyway, here's an update for you all. As per usual, sorry for any mistakes and the slow update. I hope you enjoy and please review or favourite if you'd like to see more so I know this is something worth working on!
Thanks x
She hadn't been quite sure what drove her to consume alcohol, but it had seemed like a lovely idea at the time. As time continued and Skulduggery remained absent, the note in her bag seemed to get heavier. However, at the same time, her brain felt fuzzier and the worry slowly faded.
Her new friends had left her to go dance, so Valkyrie sat alone at a large round dining table watching the crowd. The handsome, nameless man that had addressed her earlier was leaning in towards Tanith speaking into her ear. Like a beacon, thoughts of the note flashed in Valkyrie's mind. What if that is him? Is he messing with me? How does he know my name and why approach me in such a manner in front of a crowd? Valkyrie's sudden revelation hit her like a fist. As strategies on how to approach the situation flooded her mind, she didn't realise Tanith taking a seat next to her.
Tanith's eyebrows raised as she surveyed the area. "Wow," she said, "you're having a good time, aren't you?"
Valkyrie followed her gaze to the myriad of empty champagne glasses and shrugged. "I hate crowds."
"Why don't you come dance with us? You don't even have to dance, just stand there and no one will even notice."
Valkyrie leaned in and before she knew it she was telling Tanith everything. "Tanith, I was attacked before I came here. Someone had gotten into my house and hid in my bedroom waiting for me. When I walked out, I noticed them in the mirror, but it was too late. They had me in a headlock and knocked me out before I could do anything."
"What. The. Hell," Tanith muttered. "You were attacked, and you come here acting like nothing has even happened? That's dangerous Valkyrie."
Valkyrie shrugged in return. "I was freelance before this. Anyway, that man over there approached me when I walked in. He knew my name but was being ambiguous about his own and wouldn't tell me."
Tanith had to try and hide her grin despite the seriousness of the issue. She was talking about Skulduggery without knowing it after all. "You think that is him?"
Another shrug. "Possibly. Also, Skulduggery hasn't turned up yet. Either he just invited me here as a prank or he's been attacked too," Valkyrie's words came out in a slight slur, giving her drunkenness away.
As if on perfect cue, Skulduggery began walking towards them.
"Uh, before you go making any accusations I think –" Tanith began, but Skulduggery was already standing before them and Valkyrie's face held serious determination.
Valkyrie opened her mouth ready to speak until Tanith stood in front of her, between her and Skulduggery. "Can I talk to you for a quick minute?" Tanith asked Skulduggery.
He tilted his head at her in typical Skulduggery Pleasant manner, but followed anyway, giving Valkyrie a polite nod on his way past. She squinted her eyes at him in an accusing manner, yet the familiarity of the head tilt made her own head spin.
Against the wall about ten metres away from Valkyrie, Tanith whirled around to face Skulduggery. "You have to tell her now," Tanith said.
Skulduggery rolled his eyes. "As fun as it is to actually have a joke for once, I'm getting tired of hiding anyway. I was just about to do it when you dragged me away."
"Valkyrie was attacked," Tanith announced. She didn't miss the slow curl of Skulduggery's fists as she continued. "According to her, Skulduggery isn't here so I think you need to show yourself now. She's under the impression maybe you're her suspect."
"Where was she attacked?" Skulduggery murmured in a quiet rage.
Tanith lowered her eyes knowing the answer was bad. For Valkyrie to be attacked inside her own home by an unknown source creates many issues and puts her in great danger. "She was attacked at her Uncle's mansion… in her bedroom."
Skulduggery stalked past Tanith in a flash and headed for Valkyrie. "Why didn't you tell me you were attacked?"
Valkyrie's eyes widened as she looked from Skulduggery, to Tanith and back again. "I don't know you!" Valkyrie exclaimed. Who the hell is this guy? She wondered.
"Oh," Skulduggery tapped his collarbones and suddenly the hair disappeared, eyes dissipated, and skin melted away. "It's me," he added. "I was planning on tricking you, but I guess that was a bad idea. It's a façade, it helps me hide my true identity from the world."
Valkyrie's eyes went from wide to narrow in two seconds. "You mean you've been here this entire time while I've been sitting around in this stupid place waiting for you?"
"Sorry," he offered. This isn't why he needed to talk to her. "You were attacked, why didn't you tell me?"
"Uh, maybe because I didn't actually know it was you!"
"You have a phone, I have a phone, there's this thing you can do these days where you touch the screen and you can talk to the other person. You should've called me," Skulduggery reprimanded.
"I don't know if you're joking or not," Valkyrie laughed humorlessly. "But I've known you for less than a week. That doesn't exactly lead me to trust you with that kind of information."
Skulduggery sighed. "I respect your decision in not telling me because of lack of trust. I want to help you build that trust with me because it will make this partnership a lot easier. I also don't like the idea of you being randomly attacked. What if it's because we have started working together and they're doing it to get to me?"
Valkyrie's expression softened. "I do trust you, but I can't afford to go around sharing information before I can process what's going on myself. I have a family to protect. I doubt they're doing it because of you. Hell, I seemed to have piqued Sanguine's interest so for all we know it is him."
"How about I grab you some water and you tell me exactly what happened, hm?"
Valkyrie nodded in return. Skulduggery was right. Trusting him was going to make this a lot easier, but will she pay the price for trusting too soon?