Lost Flame: Chapter Four

Skulduggery Pleasant: Lost Flame

Chapter Four: The Jealousy Begins

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Valkyrie sat down painfully; her little excursion was costing her more than she was willing to pay.

It had been two days since she had overheard the conversation between Skulduggery and Alanna. She still found herself crying at random intervals; thinking about the little girl that had died so painfully. And she would picture what the three of them must have been like, as a family. She imagined a small girl, of around seven or eight, with long red hair like her mothers'; and Skulduggery's eager, yet stubborn attitude.

"You really are Skulduggery's sidekick."

Valkyrie looked up her thoughts abandoned and saw the mage who had been referred to as Luny. She wore a new shirt today, with a large smiley face that was missing some of it teeth. Today her neon top hat was missing. Displaying a messy mane of hair, that was cut unevenly and dyed several different colors. She looked extremely amused by something.

"Why do you say that?" Valkyrie asked.

"You are seriously wounded, to the point where you almost die, and two days later, you're walking around." She explained look impressed. "There are only a few people I know that would pull a stunt like that. And they are all crazy."

Valkyrie didn't reply. She had been called many things in the past but never crazy. She didn't quite know how to respond.

Luny read her look and began laughing. "You should take that as a compliment Cain because I am at the point of madness." She said her eyes widening.

Valkyrie laughed with her. "So you consider Skulduggery crazy?"

Luny paused for a moment thinking about the question before she answered, saying nothing more than. "Nah."

"No I am not insane." Skulduggery agreed entering the living room.

"It explains why you're so uptight." Luny said blowing a raspberry at him and winking at Valkyrie, which made the young sorceress snicker uncontrollably.

"Please you two don't fight?" Alanna said joining them, and walking over to Skulduggery. "Now is not the time or the place for it."

"We weren't fighting Lann." Luny assured her. "It was merely playful bantering. Right Skully?" She said turning to Skulduggery with a toothy grin.

Skulduggery gave her one of his famous stares, and cocked his head slightly to the side.

"I wasn't bantering; I was agreeing with you that I am not crazy."

Luny nodded in agreement. "You are many things bro. But one thing you are not is, crazed."

Valkyrie noticed that when Luny said the word bro, Skulduggery visibly flinched. And then it hit her.

"You two are siblings?"

Luny smiled at her, "Yep. Skully here is my twin."

Valkyrie turned to the Skeleton, "You never told me you had a twin."

"You never asked." He said smoothly, turning away from her, and grabbing one of the many books, from the shelf nearest to him.

"He wouldn't tell you about me on purpose." Luny said sitting down next to Valkyrie with a flourish. "I'm too strange for him to comprehend."

"You are not that hard to understand Luna. Just think of the most random thing, and you'll do it." Skulduggery replied as he found the book he wanted. He flicked open to the index and browsed over the chapter titles.

"Don't be formal on my account Skully. Luny is just fine by me." Luny said, smirking.

"Luna Bird." Valkyrie said, letting the name run over her tongue. "I like Luny better than Luna."

"That makes two of us." Luny said, crossing her legs.

Alanna was reading over Skulduggerys shoulder and look somewhat worried. Her brow was furrowed, and her hand gently brushing Skullduggery's back. This made Valkyries' stomach clench so violently that she felt like throwing up.

"You okay Cain?" Luny asked looking at her stomach. "Sounds like you got a whole army in there."

"I'm fine." Valkyrie lied. In truth she wasn't fine. She was feeling a weird emotion she couldn't define, and it was making her body sick.

Alanna sighed, as she finished reading. Skulduggery finished moments after her, and closed the book.

"What do want to do?" Alanna asked him, her voice barely above a whisper.

"What I do best," he said smiling at her. "It could be what we're looking for."

"What are you two love birds talking about?" Luny asked as she began to snap her fingers to a tune only she could hear.

Valkyrie's stomach shuddered again. What the hell was wrong with her?

"A new case," Skulduggery replied, as he and Alanna headed for the door.

"What happened?" Valkyrie asked.

"An old friend was murdered early this morning. And we owe it him, to find his killer." Skulduggery answered.

That was enough information for Valkyrie. She stood up quickly and fell almost immediately crying out as she did.

"Slow down girl." Luny warned her, as she helped her up.

"But I have to go." She said, hobbling over to the doorway where the two older mages had stopped.

Skulduggery looked at her, "You are in no condition to leave this house Valkyrie. Kenspeckle would kill me if I brought you back to him this soon with an injury."

"You can't do this on your own." Valkyrie objected.

"Your confidence in me is astounding." Skulduggery said shaking his head.

"Valkyrie I will make sure no harms come to him." Alanna promised, patting her on the shoulder gently. "I know you wish to help, but you would only get hurt in the state that you are in."

"If the murder victim was a friend of yours I want to help you find his killer." Valkyrie said stubbornly.

"Tomorrow if you still wish to help you can come with us." Alanna bargained. "We will share all the information we receive when we return."

Valkyrie glared at her, feeling a strange loathing bubbling up in her chest. And she suddenly realized what the strange feeling in her stomach was. She was. . . jealous.

"Fine," She mumbled hobbling back to the couch. "But I'm coming tomorrow."

Skulduggery and Alanna Memoria left, leaving the two girls alone.

"Don't be too pissed Cainey." Luny said still snapping her fingers. "You and I will have more fun than they ever could."

"I hate this," Valkyrie said slouching back on the couch. "He needs my help."

"Let's play Roulette!" Luny said ignoring Vakyrie's comment and suddenly jumping off the couch and wiggling madly.

"What's Roulette?" Valkyrie asked cautiously.

"You know Russian Roulette?"

"Yeah."

"It's like that except it's with magic!" Luny said jumping up and down with excitement. "You throw some type of magic at me, and I pray I can block it. It will enhance you magic skills."

"Let's go." Valkyrie said standing up once more, a smile playing on her lips. She would be ready to go by tomorrow. And she would show Skulduggery that she was more capable than that goody-two- shoes Alanna.

"YAY!" Luny said shaking with anticipation. "Start when eva you are ready!"

Valkyrie concentrated all her energy and threw a large fire ball at her. Luny didn't move, she merely caught the flame in her hand and smiled.

"Again."

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Alanna smiled as they drove away in the Bentley.

"She reminds me of Celina." She said quietly.

"I know." Skulduggery said, his eyes never leaving the road ahead of them. "That's why I love her."

Alanna leaned over and kissed the place where his cheek would've been. "That's why we have to find this murder?"

"Yes. Ghastly says the psychopath left a note. 'One down three to go. Last of all Valkyrie Cain.'" Skulduggery quoted in disgust.

"Villains used to have imagination. Now it's all the same." Alanna said, smirking.

"No you're just more tuned into the world," Skulduggery replied reaching one of his hands up to ruffle her hair.

They were silent for a while before Skulduggery said quietly. "I can't lose her, Alanna."

"You won't," She promised him. "I won't let you lose another daughter. "

Skulduggery didn't say anything else. Though he wasn't sure he thought of her as a daughter.

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