Secrets

46. Wait, You're Leaving Now?

The next morning, Valkyrie was still shaking. What had Tyrell's message meant? All she knew was that it was freaking her out a lot.

"Valkyrie!" Came Skulduggery's voice, snapping her out of her thoughts and making her jump.

"Coming!" She replied, starting down the stairs. She was glad that Gabrielle and Tyrell had gone out for the day, she didn't want to be anywhere near Tyrell. Not after last night.

Skulduggery was waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs. He looked sad for some reason. When she reached him she could see the guilt in his eyes.

"Hey. What's wrong?" She asked. He looked up at her.

"I'm so sorry Valkyrie," he said.

"For what?"

"I've been called on."

Valkyrie pursed her lips and looked away from him.
"Why?"

"Something about the murders of some English Mages."

"And they want you because?"

"Valkyrie..."

"No Skul! You can't just leave me here!"

Tyrell's warning played back in her head. 'Don't do anything alone.'

"Val, I don't have a choice..."

"Yes you bloody well do! You're just going to go off and possibly get yourself killed, when our child is going to be born in the next week! How could you do this? We were supposed to paint her room today!"

"I'm sorry."

"No Skulduggery, you're not. If you were, you wouldn't go!"

"Now you're just being stupid."

"What? I'm being stupid? No Skul, you're the one who's being stupid here! You couldn't say no to one job!"

"Because it's important Val!"

"More important than your wife is it?!"

"Look, I'm not doing this."

"Well neither am I!"

"It's only for a couple of days."

"A couple of days?!"

"Yes," he sighed irritably.

"What if you die? What am I supposed to do then?"

"I'm not going to die, Valkyrie."

"I can't live without you. A couple of days with you not being here is like eternity to me."

Skulduggery stepped forward, and cupped her face with his hands.
"I will never leave you. I promise."

Valkyrie felt her eyes welling with tears.
"But I don't want you to go."

"I'll be back."

"But I need you here."

"Gabrielle and Tyrell will help you until I get back."

She inwardly cringed at the thought of spending her days with Tyrell.
"Wait, you're leaving now?"

Skulduggery looked down at the floor. Valkyrie pulled away from him angrily.

"You know what? Just go."

He looked back up at her.
"Val..."

"JUST GO SKULDUGGERY!" She screamed, going back up the stairs.

Skulduggery shook his head angrily and stormed out the front door, slamming it behind him. He turned, about to go back inside, when he growled and stalked to the Bentley, driving away.

Valkyrie watched from Sophie's bedroom window with tears streaming down her cheeks as the Bentley sped away. She screamed in anger and fell to the ground, sobbing into her hands.

***

The girl smirked as Ravel took in the news she had just told him.

"English Mages eh?" Ravel spoke to himself. "Well done."

"Thank you," the girl said.

"Looks like a lot has been happening then. For once I'm actually proud of you."

"Cheers."

Ravel stood up from his desk and paced around the room and the blonde girl watched him.

"How long now?" He asked her.

"A week," the girl answered.

"Have you got people ready?"

"Of course I have."

"Good."

"Erskine, we will succeed. Give it time."

Ravel shook his head.
"Why did I agree to the second child?!" He slammed his fist down on the desk angrily and fumed.

"Calm down. She'll conceive again don't worry about that."

"And if she doesn't?"

The girl smiled.
"Then we snatch Sophie."

***

Valkyrie didn't know how long she'd been crying for, but it felt like hours. Eventually she stood up and looked at herself in the tiny mirror on the wall. God, she looked awful.

Valkyrie pulled her dark hair back and tied it in a messy ponytail before heading to the bathroom. She undressed and turned on the shower. She stood under the hot water and let it run over her skin. She sighed and closed her eyes. She wished that Skulduggery hadn't gone. She needed him right now.

Valkyrie almost punched the glass on the shower door she got so angry. Why couldn't the English Sanctuary have hired someone else to solve the murders of their precious Mages?! Why did it have to be Skulduggery?! She was going to scream to let out all her pent up anger, when she heard voices outside the bathroom door.

"Valkyrie?" Gabrielle's voice.

"Hang on, give me a sec!" Valkyrie yelled back.

"Take your time! There's no rush!"

Valkyrie turned off the water and stepped out of the shower. She wrapped a towel around herself, and opened the door. Gabrielle was leaning against the far wall, and Valkyrie couldn't see Tyrell anywhere.

"What's wrong Gabs?" She asked.

"Where's Skulduggery?" Gabrielle said.

"He went off on a case, why?"

Gabrielle's face lifted and her expression changed.
"Oh, never mind then."

"What were you going to ask him?"

"Nothing, it wasn't important anyway."

"Okay well, he'll be back in the next couple of days. You can ask him them."

Gabrielle nodded.
"I'll leave you to get dressed," she said, and Valkyrie closed the bathroom door. She sighed, and started rummaging around for clothes.