Secrets

54. Just Remember That We're Still Watching You...

Skulduggery looked at the sleeping form of Valkyrie Cain. He sighed. She was so beautiful... He felt Sophie stir in his arms and his attention snapped to her.
Her brown eyes reminded everyone of Bambi, and they stared up at him. He stroked her cheek gently.

"Hi Sophie," he said. The baby blinked a couple of times. "You're not very smart are you?"

Sophie just stared at him, and Skulduggery sighed.

"You are pretty cute though aren't you? You've got Valkyrie's eyes."

Sophie still stared.

"I wouldn't get on your mother's bad side... That always ends with something getting broken or killed."

Sophie's plump baby lips parted slightly, and she made an amused sound. Skulduggery gently stroked her head.

"I'll never let anything hurt you," he whispered, his tone turning serious. "I made this promise once before, and I failed. This time, everything will be different. But I'm just going to tell you this now, so listen closely. There is no such thing as winning or losing. There is won and lost, there is victory and defeat. There are absolutes. Everything in between is still left to fight for. He will have won only when there is no one left to stand against him. Until then, there is only the struggle. Because tides do what tides do, they turn."

Sophie tilted her head and a smile formed on her lips.

"If a naughty boy breaks your heart one day, I'll break his face. That's another promise."
Sophie gurgled, and Skulduggery smiled.

The door to the Medical Wing opened and Gabrielle and Tyrell walked inside.

"Hey!" Gabrielle greeted.

"Hello," Skulduggery replied.

"We heard you talking to Sophie," she told him, taking a seat on the chair next to her brother. Tyrell didn't sit, he just stood behind Gabrielle.

"You did?"

She nodded, and smiled.
"You're really good with her."

Skulduggery looked down at Sophie, who was still staring at him.

"Of course he is," Tyrell said. "He already loves her to pieces."

"I loved her before she was born." Skulduggery corrected.

Gabrielle grinned.
"How's Valkyrie?" She asked.

"Tired," he replied. "She's been asleep for an hour."

Gabrielle looked over at her friend, watched as her chest rose and fell in an even rhythm.

"Gabby," Skulduggery said, and the blonde girl looked up. "Would you like to hold Sophie?"

Gabrielle's blue eyes sparkled.
"I'd love to."

Skulduggery handed her the baby, and Gabrielle cradled the little girl in her arms.

"Hello gorgeous," she cooed, and Sophie coughed. Skulduggery smiled when Gabrielle giggled.

"She's adorable. You know what?"

"What?" Skulduggery asked.

"She's got Valkyrie's eye colour, and your hair colour. It's not as dark as Val's."

Tyrell stroked Sophie's cheek and the baby grabbed his finger. He smiled.

"Hello sweetheart," he said softly. Sophie blinked, and Gabrielle tickled her tummy, making her squirm.

"Have Tanith and Ghastly come to see you yet?" Tyrell asked, and Skulduggery nodded.

"They were here for over an hour."