Secrets

22. Fuck The Boss' Orders!

Skulduggery paced back and forth in front of Ravel's desk.

"Skul, you need to calm down."

"How can I calm down?" He replied, and stopped pacing. He faced Ravel, and Skulduggery's expression was menacing. "Valkyrie could be anywhere."

"We'll find her, don't worry."

"It's not a choice for me to be worried, Ravel."

"I know that. But for now, we have to gather together a team and search for Valkyrie."

Skulduggery's head snapped up towards Ravel.
"You aren't searching yet?!"

"We had to organise reinforcements."

"It's been over an hour!"

"Skulduggery calm down."

"STOP BLOODY TELLING ME TO CALM DOWN!"

Ravel looked shocked, but didn't say anything as Skulduggery stormed out of his office. Ravel sighed, and shook his head before picking up his phone. He dialled the familiar number and waited until someone picked up. 

"Skulduggery's angry," he said down the line.

"We can take him," Sanguine replied, his voice sounding extremely confident.

"You have Valkyrie, am I correct?"

"Yes, locked in one of the prison cells."

"Good. Did you tell her what we want?"

"Yes I did."

"What did she say?" Ravel asked quickly.

"She didn't make a decision."

"TORTURE HER YOU IDIOT! MAKE HER CHOOSE GODDAMMIT!" Ravel realised that he had been shouting, so he lowered his voice and spoke quietly to Sanguine.

"Do it now, before Skulduggery and the others work out where she is. Torture her if you need to, I don't care. Just make sure that the baby is unharmed. Do I make myself clear?"

"Crystal."

"As soon as you get her to choose, let her go free, and tell her this. If she fails to fulfil the deal then we will kill Skulduggery, the child, her parents and everyone who is close to her. Understand?"

"Sir, you are a genius."

"Shut up. Just do as you're told Sanguine. And if Skulduggery gets there before my plan can be carried out... Kill him. Kill him in front of Valkyrie."

"I will not fail you, sir."

"Better not. Remember Sanguine, if we succeed in getting Valkyrie Cain to give up Sophie, then we will have one of the most powerful sorcerers in the world in our arms."

"I'm still confused about that part, sir."

"You will find out soon enough! Now do not mess this up!"

Ravel hung up and smiled to himself.

***

Valkyrie had stopped crying now, and was staring at the ceiling with an empty feeling in her heart. Great, look what she'd gotten herself into. Why had she fallen in love with Skulduggery? Why did she have to be pregnant? Why was she getting married? Then she realised just how much she loved Skulduggery and Sophie, and she couldn't choose. She felt the tears welling in her eyes again, but she didn't let them fall. She could hear voices upstairs. One voice, someone was talking on the phone. She stood up, suddenly curious. Was it Skulduggery? She hoped so.

"Please," she whispered. "Please come!"

She was about to sink back to the floor when she heard footsteps coming back downstairs. She shrank back, now afraid of Sanguine. Wow, she was losing her touch. Sanguine turned the corner and smirked at her.