Skulduggery Pleasant - Night of the Dying Rose

Chapter Five-The Fate of Cain

Valkyrie awoke. She didn't know where the hell she was. She groaned, raising her head, only vaguely aware that she was chained to the wall. She sorted out her fuzzy head, and then became fully aware of a small child crouching in front of her, grinning. Little Rose.

"Good evening Sleeping Beauty." Little Rose chirped.

Valkyrie narrowed her eyes, but said nothing.

Little Rose didn't seem to notice. "I would welcome you, but a dungeon isn't a very welcoming place, now is it? So I'll settle for a friendly hello to you." 

Valkyrie still kept her mouth shut, with a considerable amount of effort.

Little Rose raised an eyebrow. "Well, aren't you going to give me a friendly hello back?" She enquired.

"It would quickly turn into a threat you little shit." Valkyrie mumbled.

Rose huffed, gripping Valkyrie's chin and forcing her to look into Little Rose's eyes. The grip was incredibly painful. Valkyrie tried not to wince. 

"I keep you alive, and you repay me by insulting me? Hardly a wise move now is it?" Rose huffed.

"I'll forgive that, for now." Rose released Valkyrie's chin and stood, spinning and dancing around the cell. "Of course I did give you the best dungeon in this place, I wouldn't want you to feel unimportant, but I doubt that would ever be the case since you always feel so confident about yourself don't you Miss Cain?" 

"Why don't we cut to the chase you brat, what do you want with me?" Valkyrie snapped.

"Two things, first, is for to lure your beloved partner to me so that I may keep his bones as a collection, and then to examine your powers and use it for myself."

Valkyrie frowned. "You're a collector of magic, just like Nefarian Serpine." 

For the first time since Valkyrie had met her, Little Rose scowled. "Yes, but I do it much better than that skinless handed fool, it was due to his failure that he's dead." She brightened, and smiled again. "But I'm not like that, I'll be sure to surpass even Darquesse and Mevolent."

"But for what purpose? You're a child, you could live your life to the best without hurting anyone."

Little Rose shrugged. "Darquesse tried to kill the Faceless Ones yes? But she failed, well I plan to fufill the goal, but alter it a little."

Valkyrie's eyes narrowed. "Alter it how...And why would my power add to that."

Little Rose: "You're a vessel, your magic has no limits, to have your power would be a dramatic idea, as for the altering...I want to take over the Faceless One's world, and they will serve me."

Valkyrie's eyes widened. "You're insane."

Rose's hand smacked into Valkyrie's jaw and Valkyrie cried out as her jaw broke.

"I'm far from insane, I'm not overly bothered about this world, I don't see the whole point of destroying it, I just want to be the best, anyone would. So, I would advise against calling me insane, it may not end well for you." Rose said breezily. 

Valkyrie sagged, groaning, she managed to mumble something, "What will you do to me to get this power..."

Little Rose, "That fate Miss Cain, has yet to be decided....until then, rest well, you're in for a hell of a lot of fun when Mr Pleasant arrives."

Valkyrie glared as Rose bobbed a curtsy, and left the dungeon, leaving Valkyrie alone in the darkness.