Skulduggery – Crow
Anton – Bear
Ghastly – Panda
Dexter – Wolf
Saracen – Weasel
Erskine – Snake
Solomon – Raven
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Chapter 52
Valkyrie made it through nearly six weeks without being critically hurt, mostly by getting Raven to join in on their cases. She had expected some resistance from Crow, but he seemed happier about the situation than her.
"Solomon," Crow said warmly, shaking the man's hand in greeting. They'd seen each other less than twelve hours ago. "How are you today?"
"I am well," he said, shaking it back with a massive grin. His happiness warmed his face up considerably and she could see a handsome, young man beneath it all. "And yourself?"
"I'm the usual," Crow said, standing back a little. "Dead."
Raven laughed and bowed them into the coffee shop they were meeting a client of his in. It was a training situation for Valkyrie but also a genuine case for them. She merely needed to observe how a professional dealt with information and decide if a case was, firstly, something they could handle, and secondly, technically legal to carry out.
The café was nice, a dark cubbyhole of a place with brick walls and vinyl's acting as art pieces covering the walls. The tables were reclaimed wood. The chairs mismatched. It was a nice place although nothing Valkyrie had expected a man like Solomon Wreath to pick. She decided the client must have chosen it.
"Here," Raven said, gesturing to a table for four. They sat down, Valkyrie making sure the men were sitting together so they wouldn't stare and chat the whole time like the last time they had gone out. She felt frustrated just thinking about it. They were annoying her. She kind of preferred when Crow hated Solomon, at least she was listened to then. "Valkyrie, what would you like to drink?"
"Um, a coke?" She asked him.
"Anything to eat?"
She glanced over at the counter and picked a slice of a lemon drizzle cake she could see. He nodded and went to get it.
"You don't look happy," Crow observed when Raven was out of earshot.
"Don't I?" She said.
"You were happy earlier," he said mildly. "Talking to Nadia."
"Yes, well, Nadia is a happy person," she smiled at him. "You're just annoying."
He hesitated and sat forwards a little. "Am I upsetting you? Our routine has changed. We're not alone as much anymore."
Valkyrie shook her head quickly. "No, no, of course not. I wanted you to resolve your issues."
"Exactly," Crow said. "Which is why I was confused when you looked upset when I started speaking to Solomon. You suggested doing another case with him after all."
"I did," Valkyrie nodded. "I did, and I'm glad I did. I didn't mean to look upset, don't worry about it. I'm sorry."
"Valkyrie–"
"Really, I'm fine," she said, and went quiet as Raven sat back at the table.
"Is everything okay?" Raven frowned, looking between Valkyrie and Crow. "What happened?"
YOU ARE READING
Skulduggery Pleasant: Raising Cain
Fanfiction(This story is written as a fanfiction, but can be read as a story without having read any of the books.) Valkyrie Cain, the adoptive daughter of the Dead Men, has had a life full of love and magic. But as she gets older, times become scarier and sh...
