The Descendants; The Return of the Unnamed

Kenspeckle Grouse

Alice strode through her army and with a flick of her wrist she freed her friends and Vivi opened a portal for them. They looked at her hesitantly before Skulduggery decided to trust her and walked through it. The others followed suit, with Ellion hesitating to look over his shoulder at Alice. No, she was Azealia now. Azealia Raven. And she had saved him. She had done all of this for them. He looked at her and he knew who she was. And he loved her. He walked through the portal and Vivi pulled Alice in as well. They emerged on the top of the wall and gazed down at where Azealia's army and Hansard were nose to nose, awaiting the command to attack. Azealia took up the front and Vivi took up the rear and they walked the rescued prisoners to China Sorrows.

"I hope you can forgive me for what I've done and take me back." She said confidently and locked the Grand Mage in a steely-eyed gaze. She was no longer the conflicted, manipulated, scared little girl she once was. She was a strong, intelligent young woman who would not back down.

"Do you know what you've done? Bringing back all these villains? All the people who have almost destroyed this dimension - this world – before?" Aria Shade stepped forward and Azealia expected the Elder to go off on a tangent. "That's a bloody badass move, bitch. I like you." She smiled instead.

"Thanks." She chuckled. "There's nothing to worry about, no risk involved. The balance always has to be brought back into check, they'll all die again in this battle. They don't know that, of course. Not all of them, at least. They think I've promised them things, bargained with them. They won't get any of it. I have planned everything, and I know what I need to do. That is, if you'll take me back." She looked back to China.

China only called on Saracen Rue who nodded to the Wolverine standing beside him. The Wolverine made a phone call and it was quiet until the steady beat of rotors filled the skies and a battalion of air force flew in and hovered over the city, all with the X symbol of Charles Xavier embellished on the smooth metal. It was now that China smiled at Azealia.

"Welcome back, Miss Raven." She nodded.

"You should have brought more Faceless Ones." Tanith laughed and taunted Hansard, leaning over the wall and clutching Ghastly's hand in hers.

"Don't you worry your pretty head, that can be arranged." Hansard narrowed his eyes at her and one of his warlocks opened a portal.

Valkyrie's eyes focused on a figure entered the field through the portal that was shining like solid ice, the place on the other side resembling a frozen over castle room with tapestries of Faceless Ones. No doubt it must have been a very medieval-looking place. Before it turned into a giant fridge, that is. The figure stood perfectly still, appearing deader than even Skulduggery. Hundreds of shadow figures gushed past him and were let loose on Hansard's army, clinging onto the faces of the soldiers. Faceless Ones. When the torrent of pure evil insanity stopped, and the portal closed Valkyrie got a better look at this figure. It was missing a shoe and crazy patterned, vibrant coloured mix-matched socks. Even though the outfit the figure wore was utterly ridiculous and would have been too lively for even a circus he still frightened Valkyrie to the point where she felt like there was a heap of snow piled up like a small mount Everest in the bottom of her stomach.

The clothing was made up for with its terrifying face. The features were all melted shut in a blank expression except for the eyes. But the eyelids had been burnt away leaving red and black-charred flesh around the dark eyes. The thing couldn't even blink, it's gaze was unwavering and continuous. Valkyrie immediately knew this was the Unnamed. A chilly tsunami of fog rolled away from him all over the field, not being able to penetrate Alice's – no, Azealia's - barrier in front of her army, leaving everything blue, frozen over in jagged spikes of ice and distorted by vapor. The entire place looked devoid of life. Valkyrie had seen this once before in the vision and only now she recognized the outfit her father had on in the caves when he had been killed and the ice seemed to spread through her heart. It was her Father's body. They marinaded him in the pool of the caves and used his body for the Unnamed to possess. The tears pricked at her eyes, but she held them back. This was war and she would avenge him. She felt Dexter's eyes on her, but she ignored the urge to look at him.

With one tilt of the head, the Unnamed pushed at Azealia's protective wall and she staggered as the magic smashed against her own, pulling back with shock. The possessed were released upon Azealia's army and Darquesse and Vile took up the front, slaughtering many effortlessly. Anyone who got past them were left to deal with the rest of the army. Azealia nodded to Vivi to open up a portal and as planned Mantis and his soldiers came up to the wall to fall under Saracen's instruction with Kenspeckle shuffling through behind them. Valkyrie smiled at him as he stopped in front of her with a proud grin. He didn't object when she hugged him tightly.

"I missed you." She whispered.

"I'm surprised to see your head is still attached without me being here to keep it on." He patted her cheek fondly and scowled at Skulduggery. "I don't think I have enough time left on this earth to scold you a sufficient amount after everything you've undoubtedly put her through. But you've kept her alive, so, good job detective."

"It's good to have you back, Professor." Skulduggery nodded.

"Professor Grouse," China nodded to the man. "Andena Deandria, and Fletcher Renn will escort you to the medical wing." 

"That boy is still around then." Kenspeckle rolled his eyes. "I see the hair hasn't changed."

Kenspeckle was lead away by Andena and Fletcher and China walked up to Skulduggery as Sapphire embraced Ophelia and Saracen joined his fellow Dead Men after dismissing General Mantis to the Sanctuary to plan a way to get the Unnamed close to Azealia and Vivi without the rest of the army overcoming them. Dexter and Saracen laughed as they clapped hands and drew each other into bone-crunching hugs. The reunion was short-lived as the sound of battle below dampened the mood.

"I was beginning to doubt the accuracy of Cassandra's letter when Vile was about to cut you to ribbons." She smiled.