Secrets

25. The Wedding's Off!

Valkyrie was having a panic attack. Something was wrong with Skulduggery? Wrong how? She tried to keep her breathing under control as she passed the pier and then her phone beeped again. She pulled over and checked it. Another text from Tanith.

Val something is terribly wrong. Get here quick!

She started hyperventilating and quickly typed back a reply.

I'm on my way. What's wrong?

She got a reply almost immediately.

We don't know. But I'll explain everything when you get here.

Valkyrie didn't like the sound of this one bit. She put her phone back in her pocket and stepped on the accelerator.

***

When she finally got to the Sanctuary, she could see that the Bentley was still in the same spot as where Skulduggery had parked it. She locked the Oompa Loompa and rushed into the Sanctuary. Mages stared at her and she went directly to the Medical Wing.

She rounded the corner and saw Tanith, Ghastly, Erskine and China all sitting outside one of the rooms. They all looked up when she appeared. Tanith had tear stains on her face.

"Val," she whispered, standing up.

Valkyrie looked around confused.
"What's wrong?" She asked.

Ghastly sighed and got to his feet, approaching her. Valkyrie looked at him but didn't move.

"Valkyrie," he started. "We don't know what's wrong."

"Well what happened?!" She demanded.

"We were in Ghastly's office," Tanith explained. "I followed Skulduggery inside after he stormed away from you, and found him yelling and throwing things everywhere. Me and Ghastly managed to calm him down, and he explained what had happened in the car between you two. I told him that you'd run off and I think he almost punched me he got so angry. Ravel made tea and we eventually got him talking about other things."

"And then he said that he was going to go after you," Ghastly took over. "And he got about halfway down the hall before he collapsed."

Valkyrie's hand went to her mouth to stop herself from crying out. It felt like her heart had been torn in half.

"He collapsed?"

Ghastly nodded.

"Oh god. What do you think caused it?"

"That's what Reverie is trying to find out now."

Valkyrie slumped against the wall and ran her fingers through her hair.

"He'll be okay Val," Tanith said, putting an arm around the dark haired girl's shoulders. "I know he will."

"I hope you're right."

***

Valkyrie waited with Ravel, Ghastly and Tanith outside the room for another twenty minutes. Tanith was holding her and Valkyrie had almost fallen asleep with her head resting on the blonde woman's shoulder. That was until, the door opened and Reverie stepped out. Valkyrie jumped quickly to her feet.

"Is he okay?" She asked.

"He should be fine," the blonde doctor replied.

"Do you know what caused it?" Ghastly asked, also getting to his feet.

Reverie shook her head. "No, I have no idea. It's as if he just suddenly felt faint, but..."

"But what?" Valkyrie pushed.

"But, he looked really bad when you brought him in."

"How bad?" Valkyrie asked.

"Like someone had fed him arsenic poisoning or something."

"Really? He was that sick?" Valkyrie asked. "Oh god can I see him?"

"Sorry Valkyrie, no."

"Why not?!"

Reverie met her eyes.
"Because he doesn't want to see you Valkyrie."

Valkyrie's blood went cold, and she took a step back, slumping against the wall and sliding down it. She put her head in her hands, and tears rolled down her cheeks. Did he really hate her that much?

Reverie gave her an apologetic look, that she didn't see, and walked back inside the room.

"Oh Val..." Tanith started. Valkyrie looked up with red eyes.

"Save your breath Tanith!" She cried. "You and me both know what's happened okay! The wedding's off!"

Tanith stumbled backwards and Valkyrie stood up, and sprinted back out through the doors of the Sanctuary.

***

Um....