Skulduggery Pleasant: Raising Cain

Chapter 39 - Sanctuary party

Skulduggery – Crow

Anton – Bear

Ghastly – Panda

Dexter – Wolf

Saracen – Weasel

Erskine – Snake

Solomon – Raven

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Chapter 39

The thirteenth of December crept up on them and before Valkyrie even knew it, she was getting ready for the ball with Tanith.

"I still can't believe he hasn't asked," Valkyrie said, helping tie Tanith into her dress.

"Me either," she said, standing straight and looking in the mirror. "I figured he'd do it when he gave me the dress."

"Me too." She tied it in a loose bow at the bottom and tucked the excess in the dress, then took the sash that went around the middle and tied that in a more elaborate, pretty bow over the little hole the corset ribbons had just gone into.

Tanith's dress was beautiful, and they had already decided it was something Panda very specifically wanted to see Tanith in. It was deep blue, with a corset top and sash, and had hand sewn sparkles and silver thread making vines from the floor right up to the sweetheart neckline. The royal blue was perfect with Tanith's blonde hair, which was still in curlers.

Taking the large shawl they were using to protect the dresses from makeup, Valkyrie threw it over Tanith. Then it was her turn. She had a black dress this time, with pink heals below, though she doubted anyone would see. The dress was a ballgown, like Tanith's, and the skirt had a layer of netting over the top with sparkles over just like stars in the night sky. She had helped design and make it in her free time.

Hers was easy to get in and after the corset had been done up, she wrapped up in her own shawl in hopes of not getting any hairspray or makeup on the black as night dress and went to putting on her makeup.

They had planned on nails and hair and everything, but they had ended up watching a movie, and then they had a nap, and then they were attacked and had to get a shower and now they only had a little while left. Tanith had woken up and immediately put her hair in rollers, so she would look a lot more done up than Valkyrie would.

After a thin layer of makeup, Tanith put Valkyrie's hair up in pin rolls and Valkyrie only had a little bit she had to use the hair curlers on. She helped with Tanith's hair, which just needed taking out of rollers and curling one or two loose bits, and they were done. Only half an hour late.

They ran in their bare feet downstairs and jumped into the car they were using – Gordon's old one – and Tanith drove them to the Sanctuary Ball, which was being held in an old, large building they had rented. Unknown to the other guests, it was also a trial run to see if people liked the building and area, so they could buy it as the new Sanctuary. In the car, Valkyrie and Tanith put their shoes on, hopped out, nodded to each other with as much dignity and elegance they had, and with arms hooked, walked to the door.

"Co-Head Detective Valkyrie Cain and Miss Tanith Low," Valkyrie said to the man at the door. He was very posh looking, and Reapers stood on either side of him personally.

He started searching through his notes for their names, which was stupid because they were personally invited, but they waited none the less. Finally, he found their names and ticked them off. "There – have a nice night ladies."