Ah! I can't apologise enough. My "few weeks off" turned into a few months. I never had half an hour to just sit down and write, stuff kept on getting in the way. But I'm back, and updates should be regularly every few days over the next few weeks.

I also need to thank Deadgirl19, for your help and ideas with this chapter, and giving me the motivation to carry on writing. Thank you! And if you haven't read her writing, she has two fics on the go right now and they are both brilliant.

This is just a filler chapter, nothing too ground breaking. But I figured it would be interesting to see things from Val's point of view. Hope you like it!

Chapter 19

5 days earlier

"I think this calls for a tactical retreat." Skulduggery grabbed her arm and ran.

The bats snapped after them, gaining speed as Skulduggery and Valkyrie sprinted down a narrow, steep tunnel. The path divided and Skulduggery pulled her to the left and carried on running. Valkyrie looked behind her and cried out in fear and pain as a bat flew in her face, its fangs peircing deep into her cheek. She put her hand to her face and felt blood, before she tripped and fell, her head thumping on a rock. Skulduggery pulled her up onto her feet and carried her along with him, using the air to push them away from the vicious bats.

Valkyrie tripped again, got up, and shook her head. It was agony and she couldn't ignore the ache any longer. Blood dripped from her cheek and started to leak from her nose. Her eyelids fluttered and the last thing she was Skulduggery cursing as she fell to the floor, unconcious.

Pain exploded in the centre of her body. It coursed through her limbs, pressing into her extremities and burning in her heart, Valkyrie wanted to scream and thrash about, but it felt like she was being held down and silenced by invisible, unbreakable bonds.

All she could do was wait it out.

But it didn't stop. It worsened, growing and sreading from the hotness of her heart. And now it really was hot; the pain turned to flames, burning a pathway from her head right down to her toes. All she wanted was to escape the fiery pain.

How long had it been? Minutes? Hours? Days? Valkyrie didn't know anymore. But she tried to calm her mind and count the seconds.

722 seconds...1144...6290...and then the pain surged again and she lost count. Back to the beginning.

259,202 seconds later and something had changed. The pain was still pulsing through Valkyrie's body. But now she could tolerate it, anticipate the worst moments and prepare herself. And whilst she couldn't speak, move, open her eyes or feel where she was, if she focused she was starting to be able to hear what was going on around her.

She could hear the crackle of a campfire and low laughs. She tensed her body, listening intently, and yes, she realised she could hear Saracen wistfully reminiscing about his time with a dairy maid in France 200 years ago, and the repulsed groans of the other Dead Men as they tried and failed not to listen. Despite the pain, which once again pulsed through her body, Valkyrie stayed concentrated. She felt safe for the first time since falling unconcious, and, even in her fevered state, she knew that she was protected.

And now the topic of conversation turned to Dexter. As she listened she realised he was talking about her.

"So do you like her?" Saracen was teasing.

"Yes, I like Val." Dexter sounded embarrassed. "Have done for ages. But I didn't want to act until now-she's a lot younger and I don't know what she'd say."

"Oh, I think you're more than a match for each other." Saracen sounded suggestive.

Now clearly addressing Skulduggery and Ghastly, Dexter seemed hesitant as he asked:

"I know neither of you are her father, but Ghastly especially, you're probably as close as she's got to a responsible father figure. Skulduggery, I wouldn't exactly say you are responsible. Would you be ok if I...?"

Dexter's voice trailed off.

"I'm fine with it," Ghastly sounded like he was smiling. "But if she'll have you, you're incredibly lucky, so treat her right."

"Otherwise you'll have me to answer to, Vex." Skulduggery's dark voice made the others laugh, and they relaxed back into less serious conversation. But now the pain in Valkyrie's chest has built up, and as it burst once again through her body she was pulled into unawareness.

When she could finally hear what was going on around her once more, Valkyrie detected an abrupt change of mood. Gone were the laughs, the camaraderie and the jokes. Now there were angry voices and a tension which was palpable in the air. But to her delight, as she listened. Her toes and fingers began to tingle as the pain retreated to her burning heart. Feeling was returning! But now she could hear raised voices, and lay still to listen.

"What do you want with Valkyrie?" Skulduggery sounded furious. "I warn you Tanith if you touch her..."

And now the voice of Tanith Low.

"Oh chill out Skulduggery. I'm sure you'll find out sooner or later."

That, Valkyrie decided, sounded ominous, especially given that she couldn't move The only thing she could do was wait and then act.

As the hours wore on, and the pain receded from her body, Valkyrie found she could move her toes and fingers, and after another agonising waiter arms and legs began to tingle, but her heart grew hotter and hotter. And now all she could hear was silence around her. What had happened? Was she too late?

Valkyrie guessed that it was a day and a half later when she regained control over her body. And as her heart, which had been so hot, gave one strong pulse, she felt magic shoot into her fingers and rush into her veins. This magic, stronger than anything she had felt before, was a unique part of her-Valkyrie could feel it, rolling round her body ready to obey her commands. The only thing she could liken it to was memories of Darquesse but that couldn't be possible. She figured she'd find out soon, but oh-this felt good.

And with that thought, Valkyrie opened her eyes.

I tried to get the timings right. Whenever Val hears speech, that is when it happened in the last few chapters. I tried. Not sure if I succeeded! Review with comments/criticism. It is always much appreciated. :)