Short Story - WARNING FOR NON-VALDUGGERY FANS!

Happy Birthday My dear Mithria <3

The gleaming Bentley looked so out of place against the old backround of the city as it glided through. The people of Dublin still stared but as they got closer to Harogen, the townspeople have gotten used to the unusual sight. They give a quick glance and go back to their business, they don't even try to see who the driver is anymore, they've given up. Valkyrie hated coming here since the reflection took over her life but there was only one place that still calmed her. The port looking out to the dark blue Ocean, her and Skdulduggery sit for hours, staring out at the choppy water, just talking. They stopped there now, moonlight shining and reflecting off the car, Skulduggery got out, took off his shades and scarf, throwing them on the seat and pressed on his collarbones where the hidden symbols China drew were. A face appeared over his skull and she grabbed the handle of the door tightly to stop herself from going over to him. The face he wore had chestnut brown eyes, plush pink lips and soft flowing brown hair that falls just past his ears. That beautiful face turned towards her and she froze.
"Are you getting out?," he noticed the expression on her face, "what is it?"
"Skulduggery...your face..." she gasped
He looked at her, confused, then looked at himself in the side mirror. He looked in closer and suddenly stopped dead, his expression unreadable.
"Skulduggery...is that - is that your face? your real one?" Valkyrie asked, still staring.
After a long pause, he looked at her again. "Yes...it is"
Skulduggery looked at that mirror and thought back to the days when he looked like that, before he died, before his family died in front of him, before Vile. The man he used to be.
"You're beautiful..." Valkyrie muttered then quickly covered her mouth.
Skulduggery turned back to her, here with his partner, here with this wonderful women he has watched blossom since she was 12, he wouldn't have changed a single thing.
"As are you." He said.
Valkyrie blushed and got out of the car and walked over to the edge of the port and had her legs dangling over it. He walked over and sat beside her.
"You know...you remind me of her sometimes..."
"Your wife?"
"Yes...she liked watching the moon rise too."
"What was she like?"
"A lot like you. She was funny, very stubborn at times, beautiful and caring."
They turned to each other and the wind blew her hair across her face. He reached over slowly and tucked it behind her ear but didn't pull away. He cupped her cheek and leaned in close. Those lips. His lips, touched hers and he was about to pull away when she kissed him back, not wanting it to end. He hesitated, a bit shocked, then moved his other hand to support her back. Her arms went round his neck and pulled him closer. They kissed passionately under the glow of the moon as it rose higher into the night.
He pulled away. "Valkyrie...-" he broke off as she leaned in to kiss him again. He leaned back.
"Valkyrie stop, I shouldn't have done that...you're still a child." He looked out at the Ocean.
"Skulduggery, I'm 18, I'm not a child now, we're partners, we're best friends. you can trust me...but you can't leave it like this."
He leaned back so much that he now lay on his back, Valkyire leaned over him, hair tickling his face. He closed his eyes and clenched his fists, not wanting to push her off but not really wanting her to continue. She pressed another kiss on his lips and leaned down towards his neck. He tensed as he felt the warmth of her breath and screwed his eyes tighter as she kissed his neck. He lost control and flipped her on her back so fast she didn't even see it happen. He rested his head on her chest, still hunched over her on all fours.
"Why do you tease me so...?" He asked, almost a whisper against her ear.
"Because I love you Skulduggery." She said.
He shot up to look at her, laying there, eyes sparkling in the moonlight with fiery, playful eyes. "I love you too, Valkyrie."

Chapter 14

They followed China's lead to a strange little man called Forbis,
"Are you Forbis?" Skulduggery said from behind the 4ft old man.
"Who's asking?" he turned round and looked at them.
"I'm Skulduggery Pleasant, this is my partner, Valkyrie Cain." Valkyrie stepped out from behind him.
"And Dexter Vex" Dexter said as he got out of the car.
Skulduggery shook his head and Forbis nodded. "I've heard of all of you, saviours of the world, eh?" Forbis said.
"That's us" Valkyrie beamed.
"What so you want?" He asked, losing his polite, little old man tone.
"We need information about the Element 4." Skulduggery said.
"Well you certainly came to the right place, but what did the girls get themselves into this time?"
"You know them?" Skulduggery tilted his head.
"I'm their grandfather." He said gruffly.
They all looked at each other. Forbis took them all into his house and sat down.
"Why do you want information on them?" he asked
"Chione has became our friend but her sisters took her from us and we want her back." Valkyrie said
"I guess you want their hide out location then?" He asked
"That would be very helpful." Skulduggery said.
"Only if you don't kill them, they're my only family although they don't know it."
"They don't?"
"No, the only time I saw them was when they were born. Their father was an idiot, he kept them from me. I hated Tyron from that day, then he went and got my daughter killed."
"Wow..."
"Their old house, that's where they hide out. It's on the outskirts of Dublin in the middle of a forest. My daughter...she liked...nature..." Forbis started crying and Valkyrie couldn't help but reached out and touched his arm, He looked up at her with those big sad eyes, her heart bled for him.
"What happened to her...?"
"Tyron and my darling Amelia went on a car journey to a job thing he had whilst there was a terrible storm...a van flew into the car, killing them both instantly..." Forbis sobbed
"He doesn't sound like a very cruel man." She said.
"He was, did Chione tell you what he did to her sisters? he only wanted one child so he pampered Chione whilst her sisters were starving in the basement. My poor Amelia could do nothing, he was too strong for her, if she spoke out he would have killed her and maybe even the children."
"That's...horrible..." Valkyrie whispered, also with tears in her eyes.
"You better go..." Forbis said in a hushed voice.
"Thank you." Skulduggery said as they left.
"It's dark already...we'll go tomorrow." Skulduggery said.
"But she's not safe there...they'll torture her..." Dexter said
"Dexter, they have the advantage in the dark, we'll attack at dawn. Think logically, I know you care about her but wait." Dexter looked up and nodded. They got back in the car and drove to the Sanctuary. Dexter went in to get Tanith, Anton and Saracen. They all gathered outside in front of a big black van.
"We know where they are, we'll attack in the morning, i'll make up a brilliant plan once we get there." Skulduggery said.
They all got into the van and Skulduggery drove off. Dexter sat next to him and Anton, Saracen, Tanith and Valkyrie were in the back.
"He loves her Saracen, I can see it, everytime they look at each other. Anton smiled.
"It's too soon though...they've known each other for 2 days..." Saracen replied.
"There is such things as true love."
"I know that but still..."
"Oh you do? how so?"
"I've been in love before Anton"
"Oh? was it love at first sight?"
"Yes..." Saracen glared
"Was it a girl?"
"I'm not gay!"
Anton laughed "I'm sure you're not. I was just saying that in case it was food or something."
Saracen sneered at him and sat in a huff.
"I'm happy Dex has found a girl, he needs someone to care for."
"A 20-year old?" Saracen said grumpily
"Time and age does not matter to people like us."
Saracen sighed "Fine, you're right, I'm happy for him. Yipee..."
Dexter opened the hatch and said "We're here"
Anton burst out laughing, Saracen smiles but then realised he was angry so frowned again. Dexter looked at them, confused.
"Right then, brilliant plan Skulduggery?" Dexter said. He looked around at the clearing where the house was and the trees around it.
"No surprise attack...Valkyrie and I will go straight to the house, Dexter and Tanith come from the left, Saracen and Anton from the right and we all walk in happily together." He said.
"Terrible plan" Saracen huffed.
"We're doing it anyway." He replied.
They all went into their positions at the tree line and waited for morning to come.

SP chapter 13

The screaming had finally stopped the next morning. A full 24 hours of constant screaming and pain. Mithria got up from the grass and walked back to the house. She went down to the basement to find only a single body chained to the wall, no Star, no September. Chione's skin was torn, some pieces hanging off, blood everywhere. She didn't move. She probably couldn't. Mithria ran down the stairs to her. She pushed the hair from her blood covered face and raised it. She gasped and fell back and fell back. Her sister was hardly recognisable. Her pale skin was red and covered in ripped pieces of flesh, her pale blue eyes were blood shot and baggy from no sleep, tears were dried in as well as the blood.
"Oh sister..." Mithria cried
Chione looked at her, without moving her head, she tried to say something but her torn lips only let out a wailing sound.
Star and September came down the stairs laughing with wine glasses in their hands. Their eyes fell on Mithria crying and stopped dead.
"What have you done..." She said.
"She deserved it Mithria, think what we went through." September spat.
"Never anything like this! she helped us, cared for us, she never had a life of her own because she was trying to make up those 6 years to us. She did come down with food and was scared if father caught her, she would be beside us and we would all starve. She finally had a life of her own and you took her away from it to do this!" Mithria shouted.
For a slight second, doubt crept into the back of Star's mind, seeing her little sister this upset. Mithria always had a way with people...The spark grew into a flame.
"We can't take her back...they will kill us." Star said.
Chione had regained some of her strength and looked up at her to see if she was joking. Satisfied, she gave a twitch of a smile, which was as much as she could manage. Star unchained her and they went upstairs, helping Chione and being careful not to cause her more pain. Star and September went outside to let off a little steam whilst Mithria tried to sooth her wounds.
"Thank you Mithria, I fear they may have killed me down there." Chione said, looking into her eyes.
"Sister, I would never let them do that...even if it costs me my own life, I like you the most, don't tell them that." Mithria giggled and Chione tried not to laugh as her wounds healed.
"They didn't want to kill you anyway, they wanted to kill your...boyfriend? in front of you." Mithria said.
"He's not my boyfriend," Chione blushed, "and they certainly knew how to make me suffer."
"So you love him?" Mithria pushed
"Yes, I do. I think he feels he same way...I hope he does...I can't stop thinking about him Mithria. Even when I was down there, all I could picture was him and he soft of...took some of the pain away." She said happily.
"What's his name?"
"Dexter Vex."
"Ooo, mysterious."
"He is, and gorgeous."
"Can't wait till I meet him, he'll hopefully drop you and pick me instead." Mithria teased.

None of them knew anything about Chione or the family so they had to start from scratch.
"Are you sure she never told you anything about where her sisters and her hid out or something?" Valkyrie asked.
"I'm sure," replied Dexter sternly, "What about you? you seemed pretty friendly with her."
"Why would I ask you if I knew something?" Valkyrie spat.
"No time to be getting angry at each other." Skulduggery said. The car journey was long and they were all still annoyed Chione had been taken in the first place. They just met the girl two days ago and Tanith, Valkyrie and Dexter were trying so hard. Anton and Saracen stayed at the Sanctuary and researched from there with occasional help from Ghastly. They stopped outside China's house. Valkyrie got out but Skulduggery, Tanith and Dexter stayed inside. She gave a sad look to him then went to the door. China must have heard them pull up because she opened the door before she knocked.
"Skulduggery drove you?" Chine asked, She was wearing a silk bath rope and a pair of white slippers."

"Yeah, he won't come in though." She said.
"No wonder, he should have killed me for what I did...I don't expect forgiveness." China sighed, "Come in."
Valkyrie walked through to the living room and sat down on the couch.
"What can I do for you?" She asked
"Have you heard of the Element 4?"
China pursed her lips. "I have, the last time I heard of them they were in Greece, before that Japan. They travel all over the world for these assassinations, whatever they get paid, it must be a lot."
"They don't get paid, they do what their father asks them."
"So you know one of them? you know more about them than me I'm afraid."
Valkyrie sighed. "Alright, we just wanted to know where they lived. Chione, the oldest, has been taken by her other sisters and we want her back."
"Sorry, I don't know where they are, but I may know someone who does." China smiled.

SP chapter 12

Chione tried to scream but Star covered her mouth.
"Nu uh", she waged her finger and tapped her nose, "Don't want any of your pesky friends coming running."
Chione tried to make an armour but Mithria and September cuffed her hands, sealing her magic.
"You were always the favourite, the prettiest, most talented. Just because you were born first. But now father has turned to me to take charge and we're going to make your life a living hell." Star smiled. She took the dress out of the wardrobe and Chione's eyes widened in alarm.
"Don't!" she cried then September and Mithria covered her mouth again. Star lit the dress on fire and all Chione could do was watch it burn into ashes as a single tear fell.
"Whoops, were you going to wear that? oh well." Star laughed. Father told us you have a little boyfriend. I'll make sure I burn him in front of you too."
Chione's heart sunk. If she even touched him...
"Time to go" Star smiled. Her sisters hauled her out the window into a black van. Star drove and Mithria an September sat in the back with her. 'sorry' Mithria mouthed to her. Chione gave a weak smiled and nodded but went back to staring at the floor. It was morning before they reached their parent's old house on the water's edge, the other end of the country from Draco's villa. They dragged her in by her arms and Star walked in front like she was some sort of Goddess. Chione hissed.
"No point in hissing sister, you will only bring yourself more pain." Star said. Chione knew she was right but she still didn't want Star to be able to control her. Chione stayed silent but glared at the back of her sister's head instead. They took her down to the basement which was shrouded in darkness and the smell of blood lingered in the air. The three pairs of chains still nailed into the wall, stained red.
"Remember what happened here Chione? oh wait, just because you were born first, Mithria, September and I had to live In poverty whilst you shone in the full glow or our parents, pampered little princess. When we were down here starving, we heard you playing music with father and singing with mother...over those 6 years before their death, my hatred for you grew stronger." Star snarled.
"I came down with food whenever I could! if I did come down all the time I would have been sitting next to you and none of us would have had any food! is that what you wanted?! Chione screamed.
"Enough!," September shouted, "Chione we've heard that story hundreds of times throughout the years and we still don't believe you tried to help us."
Star and September shackled her wrists and ankles to the wall, Mithria stayed far back.
"Mithria, go get salt and a knife from the kitchen" September said.
Mithria nodded and went upstairs. She hated this. She had always believed Chione was only trying to help and she didn't want to hurt her, but nothing could stop September and Star now. She took a kitchen knife and a bag of salt and handed them over then went back upstairs and to the garden. The screaming started. Mithria walked further away where her sister's screams could not be heard as clearly and sat in silence.

September cut along Chione's arm slowly, a trickle of blood running onto the metal. Star grabbed some salt and rubbed it onto the wound. Chione thrashed and kicked and screamed but nothing would happen. September and Star smiled then repeated the process over and over for hours.

Skulduggery drove Tanith and Valkyrie to Chione's apartment early the next morning. Valkyrie quickly ran up to the door and knocked. She jumped up and down with her hands in her pockets, both with excitement and cold. She knocked again. She frowned at the door and turned round.
"She's not answering, Tanith, go to the back windows." Valkyrie chittered.
Tanith got out of the car, went round the back and looked through the windows. When she came to the bedroom window, it was open. She gasped and quickly climbed through to open the door for Valkyrie. They walked back into the bedroom along with Skulduggery. Skulduggery bent down over the pile of ash.
"It's silk." he said
"The dress we got Chione yesterday..." Tanith said sadly.
"It must have been Star...they found her." Valkyrie said. Skulduggery nodded in agreement.
"Let's go back to the sanctuary and inform the rest." He said.
They ran back to the car and drove to the sanctuary. During that time, Valkyrie called Anton, Dexter and Saracen to meet them there. They rushed to the conference room where Ravel and Ghastly were already sitting. They looked up from their work.
"We need to borrow this room." Skulduggery said.
"Why?" Ravel huffed, "I thought you were getting Chione."
"Because Chione has been taken by her sisters."
Ravel and Ghastly stared at them then Ghastly got up.
"We're not doing anything important anyway." He said.
"Actually we are, special sanctuary stuff." Ravel said.
"Which we can do elsewhere." Ghastly strained. Ravel sighed and got up.
"Thank you" Skulduggery said
 Ghastly and Ravel left and the three of them sat and waited for the rest to come. Twenty minutes later, Dexter, Anton and Saracen were sitting round the table too.
"What is it?" Anton asked.
"Something about Chione?" Saracen added
Dexter turned pale.
"Her sisters took her" Valkyrie said.
"Someone should have been guarding her...we knew this was a high possibility that they would come after her and no one bothered keeping her safe?" Dexter said, frustrated.
Everyone stared at him, he sank back into his chair, with his head in his hands. They stayed silent for a while.
"We knew this might happen, true but we thought she was safe where she was as only us three knew where her apartment was..." Tanith said finally.
"They must have been watching you all day" Anton said.
"Do you know where they took her?" Saracen said
"No, we have no idea." Valkyrie sulked.
Dexter looked up. "Then we better get started."