According to Skulduggery, there was only one option for their current predicament. Get the people controlling Valkyrie and save her. According to almost everyone else, there were three options. Get the people controlling Valkyrie and save her, lock her up, or kill her. It was clear to Ghastly and Tanith that Skulduggery had only heard about the first two options. They weren't sure of that fact, but they were certain that if Skulduggery heard anyone mutter the death of Valkyrie, they'd be dead themselves. Tanith, on the other hand, sided with Skulduggery and saw no other choice than saving her. Ghastly remained realistic knowing that saving her was priority but circumstances may allow for undesirable alternatives. He was wise not to share his opinion with Skulduggery.

Tanith paced a random hallway in a random section of the sanctuary while Skulduggery sat in a chair against the wall. "The sound of your footsteps is making it awfully hard to think," Skulduggery said flatly.

"I just can't believe this is happening, y' know?" Tanith replied, her pacing continued. "Valkyrie's cool, she's a cool girl. I would consider her a friend. I don't have many of those. Not because I'm unlikable but because I'm a picky person when it comes to who I get close to."

Skulduggery sighed. "Is this going anywhere?"

"Well, it's only been a week or so and I already consider her a friend. That never happens and now she's already turned over to the dark side. We need to help her."

"I know. Once you stop pacing I'll be able to think and then maybe we will get somewhere."

At that moment, China Sorrows glided into the room her face grave. Skulduggery knew that whatever was going on wasn't good, China rarely showed emotion. "What did you find out?" He asked.

"Close proximity to that chain was giving me a strange sense of familiarity and now I know why. I spoke with my brother and that's when I knew my suspicions were true," she explained.

Skulduggery knew that once she mentioned Mr Bliss this was bad news. "It's related to the Faceless Ones isn't it?"

China nodded. "It seems the chain originates from them but Dusk's use of it is not tied to them. I'd be surprised if he knew it was theirs."

"How did they get it?"

"My brother and I discussed the possibility of it being a relic from long ago kept within one of the sanctuaries, but we don't think that's it. Valkyrie defied me, and I know of very few people who can do that and especially someone of her experience and age. There is something about her that is not revealing itself but could be sensed by those more in tune with magical properties."

"Where is this going China?" Skulduggery asked impatiently.

"Valkyrie may somehow be connected to the Faceless Ones in a way we cannot yet fully understand. I don't think it was pure luck that those chains fell into the hands of those who were already after Valkyrie," China elaborated.

"This was planned?" Tanith asked.

"Possibly," China replied. "We've already been visited by the Faceless Ones when the portal was opened to their dimension. They're power is immense, and I wouldn't be surprised if they can channel their senses to pinpoint powerful beings from afar."

Skulduggery stalked away from the two women to the opposite side of the room. With his back to the pair he contemplated the gravity of their current situation. Valkyrie had entrusted him with the information Cassandra Pharos had told her about being a powerful mage, so it didn't sit right with him to reiterate it to China Sorrows. Without a word, he removed himself and took a walk.

How had Skulduggery become so invested in the life of Valkyrie Cain that she had become his problem? He liked to think that her relation to Gordon Edgley was the reason he felt the need to protect her, but he'd be lying if he said that thought had occurred to him when he first saw her. It felt wrong to blame it on her youth as she exuded anything but youthfulness. He knew that somewhere deep within his subconscious he knew the answer, but for now saving Valkyrie was the priority. He found himself stood outside the infirmary room door where Valkyrie was staying. Nothing but silence could be heard from beyond the door, so he knocked once and pushed it open.

"Valkyrie, I just want to talk for a second and you can throw me out when I'm done," he said with a light voice.

No response.

The room was void of any human activity yet there were no windows for her to have escaped through. Though disappointed by her disappearance, Skulduggery was somewhat proud of the fact that she had vanished through the sanctuary without alerting the authorities. He was about to leave the room, satisfied she had left nothing behind, when the feeling of something out of place bothered him. Just under the mint green pillow the corner of a piece of paper peeked out.

Skulduggery,

I'm assuming you'll be the one to find this. I hate to admit but you are quite the detective after all.

I don't want to hurt you, or any of you guys trying to help me for that matter, so I'm going after Sanguine. If I wasn't concerned about the potential threat I pose to innocent people because of those chains, I wouldn't be writing this note because I want to do this alone. However, it seems those chains have made me unpredictable and I need you to know where I am going so you can come stop me if I lose myself completely.

If it's too late and the magic of those chains overtake me, do anything in your power to stop me. Even if that means you must kill me.

Valkyrie.

Skulduggery did one more scan of the room making sure there was nothing else left behind, then folded the note in half and tucked into his coat pocket. By now, Valkyrie would be way ahead of him and possibly close to Sanguine so he raced out of the room to where he had left China and Tanith. As if the universe decided to play on Skulduggery's team today, Ghastly was with them so he didn't have to waste time searching for him.

"Valkyrie is gone. She went after Sanguine," Skulduggery announced.

"Let's go then," Tanith moved immediately.

"We will take the van and I'll gather some cleavers on the way out," Ghastly added before following behind Tanith.

Skulduggery turned to China. "I know you are not Valkyrie's biggest fan, but I would really appreciate it if you could find a way to revert the effect of those chains while we find her. I'll pay you," he said.

China gracefully held up her right hand. "There is no need. I'll see what I can do and call you as soon as I have news."

Skulduggery nodded once and ran through the maze of hallways within the sanctuary towards the exit. Ghastly had pulled up out the front already waiting with a van full of cleavers and Tanith in the front seat, so he jumped in the back onto the bench seat.

"Where do we start?" Ghastly asked.

"Try the pub down on Eighth, Sanguine may have gone to celebrate after he hurt Valkyrie."

The van fishtailed slightly as Ghastly's foot slammed the accelerator and they were off to search for Valkyrie Cain.

Sorry for any mistakes!