Lost Flame: Chapter One

Skulduggery Pleasant: Lost Flame

Chapter One: A Waitress to Remember

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Valkyrie collapsed into the nearest chair, wincing. It had been a long night, and she was feeling the after effects. Her body was covered with bruises, and she felt shaky.

Skulduggery sat down silently in the chair next to her, and motioned for a waiter.

"What are you doing?" Valkyrie asked.

"I'm getting you a drink Valkyrie."

"Why?"

"You've had a rough night, and you need a pick-me-up. Besides the fact that we need to celebrate."

Valkyrie thought a moment before she said aloud, "Of course. Tonight we triumphed over the bad guys."

Skulduggery nodded, "Exactly."

Valkyrie smiled, as the waiter arrived. She was a large woman that didn't look happy with her lot in life. A permanent scowl lined her face, and she wore a skirt that was far too short for someone of her size. The woman positioned her pencil to her pad of paper, awaiting the couples' order.

"Hi my name is Tina, I'll be your server this evening." She turned to Skulduggery. "What can I get you?"

"Hello Tina it's good to see you again. You can get us two black coffees. One with sugar, lots of sugar, and the other plain. And can we get a plate of your Fettuccine Alfredo pasta please."

She growled at him, "Will there be anything else Detective?"

"No nothing else, thank you."

Tina the waitress stalked away to the kitchens, leaving the two alone.

"You shouldn't rub it in you know." Valkyrie said quietly.

"What shouldn't I rub in?" Skulduggery asked innocently, his empty sockets staring at her.

"You shouldn't be all chummy with her. After all we did recently put her little brother behind bars." Valkyrie sighed impatiently. "She probably is holding a pretty nasty grudge."

"You shouldn't be worried Valkyrie. I've known Tina for years and she wouldn't harm a fly. She's really a nice woman when you get to know her." Skulduggery said taking off his coat, and laying it on the booth seat next to him.

"That doesn't mean she doesn't want to kill you." His partner pointed out.

"You've become paranoid."

"I have not! I'm just cautious."

"No, I take that back. You've become jumpy."

"I am not jumpy!" Valkyrie said defensively her finger itching to summon fire.

Their argument was thankfully interrupted by a very disgruntled Tina. She placed the coffees down on the table and left.

Valkyrie picked up her cup, and drank the warm liquid. She tried to calm down, before she did something drastic. The coffee burned her throat, but she didn't care. It felt good after being outside in the cold air for hours on end.

Skulduggery placed his long skeletal fingers around his own cup, and held it. He seemed to be enjoying the feel.

"Why do you get a drink, if you can't drink it," She asked.

"It feels good, the warmth." Skulduggery said. He almost looked sad, as he traced the brim of his cup. "I can almost taste it. Through the moisture I can summon the beverage and bring it into myself."

"Through water," Valkyrie asked as she took another sip.

"Yes."

"Being an Elemental certainly has it ups." She said, as she chugged the last of her strongly sugared coffee.

Skulduggery remained silent his thoughts remained his own.

Just then Tina came out of the kitchen again. But this time, she had nothing in her hands. And there was a crazy gleam in her eye.

"Skulduggery. . . ." Valkyrie sat up straight, summoning a small flame in her hand under the table.

Skulduggery looked at her and slowly pulled out his revolver, "Valkyrie?"

"I think Tina the waitress is pissed."

Skulduggery cocked his head, his pistol still in his hand. "What makes you say that?"

"She looks crazed." Valkyrie said fingering her flame, as Tina approached.

Tina stood in front of their booth, with a strange smile on her large face. She leaned on the table top, "Do you know what the meaning of pain is Mr. Pleasant?"

Skulduggery brought his gun up and aimed it right between her eyes. "Don't make any sudden movements please."

Valkyrie breathed a heavy sigh. At least they weren't in any infinite danger. At least that's what she thought until the large woman started to laugh loudly.

"You think a gun can stop me?" Tina asked, between her gales of laughter.

Skulduggery smiled back at her, "We're about to find out." He fired two bullets into her skull and kicked her hard with both of his feet sending her flying backward. She hit the opposite table hard, and crumpled to the ground.

Both the Detective and Miss Cain stood directly and walked over to the body. Valkyrie nudged it with the tip of her foot carefully. When she didn't move she looked at Skulduggery anxiously. "I think you killed her."

Tina hand shot up and both Valkyrie and Skulduggery were enveloped with a searing pain. It felt like knives slicing them in countless places, simultaneously.

Tina sat upright blood trickling from her lips as she watched her dirty work. "That's right Mr. Pleasant. Feel pain."

Skulduggery grimaced but didn't make a sound, no doubt trying to figure a way out of this predicament.

Tina smiled and brought her other hand up and held it high. With the motion Valkyrie was lifted into the air, and her pain intensified tenfold. She screamed and writhed in agony, her body starting to bleed now.

She could hear Skulduggery calling her name, but she couldn't answer. She was going to die.

Tina smiled at Skulduggery even wider than she had before. "Now Mr. Pleasant, I'll ask again. Do you know what the meaning of pain is?"

A new voice answered the crazy waitress. "Yes. The meaning of pain is loss."

Tina lost her concentration, and Valkyrie fell to the floor with a sickening thud. Her right leg broken, but she was too delirious with the pain from the thousand cuts to notice.

The person who had spoken was standing not five feet away. She was tall, and thin, her hair a fiery red, that almost hurt to look at. And her eyes were a light green. Currently she had a small smile on her lips.

The last thing Valkyrie saw before she blacked out was the lone figure running towards Tina, a white light dancing from her gloved hands, as she pulled back her fist to strike.