Skulduggery Pleasant - Night of the Dying Rose

Chapter 11- Traffic Resources

Skulduggery and Valkyrie sat in Bentley, waiting for the endless traffic to move the hell forward. Drivers were blasting on their horns, others were cursing to themselves, and the most rude ones were yelling out of the window. Valkyrie hated the most rude ones, well, the most.

"This isn't one of our finest moments." Skulduggery murmured.

"Yeah, you got that right, we're meant to be heading to some mysterious friend you've been going on about since we left the bloody sanctuary, and we were meant to enter with our usual perfect timing and grace. But instead, we are late, and stuck in traffic." Valkyrie mused grumpily.

"You make it sound very depressing." Skulduggery said.

Valkyrie shrugged. "Making things sound depressing passes the time."

Skulduggery glanced at her, his hazel eyes full of amusement. That facade of his was usually wasted on him. "I fail whatsoever on seeing how that passes the time."

"It may now pass the time for you, but it does for me." Valkyrie grinned, and Skulduggery laughed. "So Skul, who uh...is this mysterious friend?"

Skulduggery shrugged, his facial expression casual. "A new friend actually, someone I befriended in the quiet."

Valkyrie raised an eyebrow. "Why keep it a secret from me then?"

"Because, you have the habit for making assumptions when you first see someone, which aren't always accurate, so I took it upon myself to get to know them so that you don't have to become suspicious of them the moment you cast your eyes on them."

"I...I don't know whether that was an insult or not, but I guess that makes sense." Valkyrie frowned. "What's their name?"

"Artemis Steele." Skulduggery replied.

"Wow, sounds both elegant and terrifying, is it a male or female?"

"Female, Valkyrie."

Valkyrie grinned. "Oh I get it."

Skulduggery frowned. "Get what?"

"Oh you know...secret date?"

Skulduggery huffed a nervous laugh. "Uh no, just a new friend I'm afraid."

Valkyrie's grin vanished. "Aw that's a shame, I'm sure she's nice."

"Oh yes, very much so, I just don't have an interest in her in that way."

"Oh." Valkyrie sounded disappointed.

"Not that I don't want to find someone like that again." Skulduggery said quickly.

Valkyrie blinked. "Wow, okay, anyone in mind?"

Skulduggery went silent for a moment, then stiffened, as if coming to a stark realisation, and his face tightened a little. "No, not at all."

Valkyrie frowned. "You okay?"

"Fine. Just deep in thought."

"Oh, okay then."

Skulduggery pulled him something together, keeping his eyes on the road. "Now anyways, about Artemis Steele, as I've gotten to know her, she's become a very valuable resource when it comes to information about new mages, if anyone knows anything about Little Rose, it'll be her."

"Well great, is she as good as China?"

"Don't tell China I said this, but she's even better."

Valkyrie grinned. "Now that's a strong assumption, you should totally date Artemis."

Skulduggery glanced at her. "I'll...think about it. You should get some sleep, we'll be here for a while."

Valkyrie shrugged. "Alright then." And that was that.

But as Valkyrie slept, Skulduggery gripped the steering so tightly that if he had proper flesh, his knuckles would have turned white. He hated himself at that moment. For his feelings about Valkyrie had been wrong. No...he did not love her. Realising that he was interested in Artemis made him see that.

No, he was not in love with Valkyrie. He was jealous of her.

And he hated himself for it.