What can I say...oops? Sorry, once again, life got in the way.

I hope this makes up for it...you guys are all brilliant you probably deserve a better writer!

Chapter 18

"We surrender!" Skulduggery shouted, holding up his hands. The cleavers paused.

"What the hell are you doing?" Ghastly demanded. Skulduggery had given up. Skulduggery never gave up.

Outside the cave, Tanith could be heard ordering the cleavers to stand down. Before she had a chance to enter the cave, Skulduggery beckoned Dexter and Ghastly closer.

"We can't win this. You know we can't. The three of us, excellent as we are, can't expect to go against eight cleavers and Tanith Low. This isn't giving up...this is damage limitation. The only way we can win this is to wait. We don't know what they want or what they are here for, although it's clear it has something to do with Valkyrie. Right now Tanith has the upper hand, we have a better chance of changing that if we remain uninjured.

The others nodded in agreement and turned to watch Tanith Low as she sauntered into the cave.

"Well hello boys." Tanith winked. "Funny seeing you here. Long time no see, Ghastly."

Ghastly reddened and took a deep breath. He imagined all his anger funnelling out of him, leaving his mind clear and purposeful.

"So, Skulduggery."

"Tanith."

"Was it you I heard declaring defeat? The great skeleton detective, beaten?"

"Beaten is such a strong word. I prefer...momentarily overcome.

Tanith narrowed her yes and sniggered.

"Well that's where you're wrong."

She snapped a finger at the cleavers, who once more held their scythes up. They pushed Ghastly and Dexter into a corner, but Skulduggery stayed exactly where he was, tense, poised, protective.

Tanith peered around the skeleton, catching sight of Valkyrie. Her lips split wide, revealing white teeth and a wicked smile.

"Stay away from her, Tanith."

There was a terrifyingly harsh edge to Skulduggery's voice. Ghastly and Dexter stood still, surrounded by cleavers. Even Ghastly had no idea what Skulduggery was going to do.

Tanith, however, ignored him completely and crouched down besides Valkyrie. She watched her for a few minutes, murmuring to herself, before abruptly raising a hand.

A sharp crack ricocheted through the room as Tanith slapped Valkyrie in the face. But Valkyrie didn't stir.

As a white hand print blossomed on Valkrie's red cheek, Skulduggery launched himself at Tanith.

He knocked her into the wall and pressed her there, one hand at the throat. Tanith's eyes widened and as she waved the cleavers back she flipped herself over into a handstand on Skulduggery shoulders. He stumbled with the weight and she sprung off, landing on the floor.

"Come and have a go, if you think you're hard enough."

Skulduggery rushed her, a red haze clouding his judgement. He had forgotten what he had drilled into Valkyrie-let your enemy make the first move. Tanith dodged and released a high kick, swinging her sword towards him as she did it. Skulduggery ducked under the kick and responded with one of his own, which caught Tanith's wrist. She hissed in pain as her sword flew from her grip. Then they were dancing, their bodies rippling and reacting faster than the eye could follow. But Skulduggery was clumsy with anger and a punch from Tanith sent him reeling. He tried to get up, but she waved a hand and two cleavers dragged him away.

Tanith brushed herself off and smiled. What a fun game.

Ghastly shook his head. Now Tanith was just playing with them. He shook with anger as he knelt down beside Saracen. He was losing blood fast from the gash in his stomach, so Ghastly took off his jacket, followed by his shirt. As he ripped the shirt, one of his personal favourites, into strips, Tanith, who seemed perfectly at ease with the whole thing, wolf-whistled loudly.

Ghastly clenched his fists and continued bandaging Saracen. There was nothing else he could do. That damn skeleton, Ghastly told himself, had better have a plan.

Tanith, meanwhile, had sat herself down cross legged on the floor, facing the remaining Dead Men. Skulduggery had been deposited near Dexter by the cleavers, and was watching her warily. She smiled happily.

"Well, this is fun, isn't it? Just like old times, hey Skulduggery, Ghastly. I'm not going to lie, I do miss our little crime fighting gang. Maybe we should get back together, have a reunion some time when Val isn't quite so unconcious. And Dexter; how rude of me! Of course you're invited too."

Skulduggery interrupted her nonsense.

"What the hell do you want, Tanith. I'm assuming you haven't just come to ruin our day."

"Well," Tanith winked again. "There may be a little ruining involved."

"I warn you, Tanith, if you touch Valkyrie..."

"Oh, chill out Skulduggery. I'm sure you'll work it out sooner or later."

With this, Tanith fell silent.

Two days later, they were all still there. Anton had regained consciousness pretty soon after the action, and Saracen was recovering. He was still in pain, but the wound had stopped bleeding. Their supplies, however, were not in such a good condition. They were running out fast. Shudder was keeping quiet, casting a protective eyes over Valkyrie from time to time, and Dexter and Ghastly were getting restless. Skulduggery, however, was quieter than anyone else, and as tense as a coiled spring. Ghastly knew the cogs in his head were whirring.

Tanith was bored. Wasn't it time to kill someone? It must be nearing that time of the week. It was...a Saturday. Tanith sighed. She'd decided a while back that killing days were Thursdays. Decaptitation days were Tuesdays, and these two days, she had concluded, were a healthy balance between evil and...slightly less evil. Anyway, it seemed she has missed her spot. Maybe she could deviate from her timetable for once...

She got to her feet and stretched herself out. Waiting was one of the things she hated most in the world, and she felt she had now done her fair share,

Skulduggery had also gotten tried of the wait. He now had a plan, and he just had to communicate it with the others.

He sent a tiny gust of wind whistling into Ghastly's face. As Ghastly turned to watch him he twirled his fingers and letters appeared as the dust on the cave floor was pushed away by a "mysterious breeze". He jerked his skull downwards, and after Ghastly had finished reading he nodded, a small covert nod. But he couldn't hide the smile which had blossomed in his face.

Slowly the plan filtered through to Anton, Saracen and Dexter. There was denying it-Skulduggery was brilliant.

But unfortunately, Skulduggery never got a chance to prove his brilliance. The fabulous plan was never used. Just as Skuldyggery readied himself a small movement caught his attention.

Valkyrie opened her eyes.

Cliffhanger! If you liked that, or if you didn't, please review and let me know what you think. I'll try and update soon but I'm going away so it won't be for about a week and a half, unless I can finish a chapter today.