Do you believe?

Chapter 3

"Hello Valkyrie." the girl said and smiled while Valkyrie remained in silent shock "You don't have to be scared." said the girl and she swept away the fallen strands of black hair away from her pale face "Y...you can see me?" Valkyrie whispered at last "I can indeed! Now are you going to get up or just sit down there?"

"Um...yeah." Valkyrie slowly rose from the floor and stood up straight "W...who are you?" she asked and the girl smiled her wonderful bright smile "I'm Arabella Aelin Pleasant!" she said and Valkyrie looked shocked "Pleasant? Your last name is Pleasant?"

"It is indeedy!"

"But, that's Skulduggery's last name."

"Oh, I know!"

"What a coincidence."

"Yeah...coincidence." Arabella said unsurely and Valkyrie's eyes narrowed "What are you not telling me? Do you know Skulduggery? I deserve to know, he is my best friend! He said it himself, that I was the most important person in his life." she said and crossed her arms and Arabella looked hurt "H...he said that?" her voice barely a whisper "Yes! He did! Now tell me who you are!"

"I...im his daughter." Arabella said and Valkyrie's eyes softened "Your...your his daughter?"

"Yeah."

"I'm...im sorry I yelled...I didn't know." Valkyrie said sympathetically

"Its ok."

"But...Skulduggery does say he misses you and your mother both so much. He would do anything to have you back." Valkyrie explained and smiled at Arabella who's face lit up with delight "Really? He says that?"

"Of course he does! He loves you!"

"So he does still love me! I thought he would have forgotten me,"

"What? Of course he wouldn't forget you." Arabella smiled and Valkyrie could have sworn he saw tears glisten in her eyes but she brushed it of "But...where am I? Whats happening?"

"You are dead."

"What! I cant be! No I'm not dead!"

"I'm sorry Valkyie..."

"No! I cant be! I need to get back to Skulduggery!"

"I know you miss him, but you cant go back."

"No! I need him!"

"I know you do! But think of how I felt when I died! He is my dad. When I died the last thing I heard him say was 'You are my everything Arabella.' and when I woke up, I was dead. You don't know how much I wanted to go home and tell him I was ok." Arabella said and a single tear rolled down her cheek "I...im sorry it was selfish of me..." Valkyrie said and Arabella wiped away the tear "No, its alright. But you didn't let me finish what I was saying before."

"Oh, ok."

"Well, when some people die, they are dead. There soul is transferred into another body, but some people become Guardians."

"Guardians?"

"Yes! A guardian is a protector of the magical world. And if your lucky enough you are chosen to be one."

"A...are you a guardian?"

"Yes...I was the second guardian!"

"Am...am I a guardian?" Valkyrie asked disbelievingly "Yes. Valkyrie Cain you are a guardian."

"I...I am?"

"Yes you are!"

"B...but why?"

"A guardian in chosen when a person does something that everyone in the magical world has heard of or you have done something incredible for the world. In your case you have saved the world on many occasions. To be a guardian you must have a good soul."

"So...how did you become a guardian?"

"Everyone knows the story of how the great skeleton detectives wife and daughter were killed by Serpine."

"So...you have a good soul?"

"I do!"

"But what about Darquesse?"

"Darquesse is a separate entity in your body. But Valkyrie Cains soul....is a very good one."

"Really?"

"Yes, all Guardians agree!"

"Theres more?"

"Of course there are!"

"B...but will I ever see Skulduggery again?"

"Yes, when he dies he will become a Guardian!"

"Really! So I will see him again!"

"Of course! You can see him anytime you want infact, you are free to roam the world as a Guardian and protect the people of the world!"

"So...I can see him now."

"Well,  not now you need to meet the other guardians first!" Arabella said and grinned.