Skulduggery Pleasant: Raising Cain

Chapter 81 - A turn of events

Skulduggery – Crow

Anton – Bear

Ghastly – Panda

Dexter – Wolf

Saracen – Weasel

Erskine – Snake

Solomon – Raven

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Chapter 81

"How was the scan?" Militsa asked her as they walked to the old staff room after study time once more. Their daily routine. It was nice.

"It was good. Ghastly cried about his beautiful baby and Tanith did too, and I did a little as well, and the doctor laughed at us all and we got to eat all their food and tea. It's such a nice place, honestly, I don't know why all maternity places aren't so pretty, it was so relaxing. I couldn't even hear babies crying but I know there at least a few there, and there was a common room and babysitters to help mums recover and a playroom for any older kids. It was amazing," Valkyrie grinned, a hop in her step. Every time she thought about the baby recently, she'd get excited and walk really bouncy. "I'm so excited. Tanith said she wants me to be there when she has the baby."

"Will her mother not be there?" Militsa asked, opening the door for Valkyrie since Valkyrie was carrying her bags for her.

"I guess so, but she hasn't told her she's pregnant yet. I just hope she says something before they find out from a rumour or something. I'm sure Tanith knows what she's doing. She's acting like she's super pregnant, always eating, super emotional, always tired, forgetful. She's only three and a bit months."

Militsa grinned and shrugged her robe off at the same time as Valkyrie. "Different people act differently for each pregnancy. But it is funny, I suppose."

"I think it is. It's driving Ghastly around the bend," Valkyrie laughed. "So, what did you do yesterday while I was out in the open air?"

Militsa's smile went away a little but she held it just in time. She had a sad little look on her face. "It was alright. I just studied and spoke to one of the teachers and went to my room."

"Sounds like there's something else."

Militsa shrugged, flattening the folds of her pleated skirt carefully.

Valkyrie sighed and walked directly in front of her so Militsa's knees were on Valkyrie's shins. "What's up?" She asked. Militsa looked right up at Valkyrie and blushed. Valkyrie put her hands on her hips.

"I, er, I spoke to some other students. They weren't very nice so I went to my room. Don't worry about it though, I can handle it," she said quickly. "Really. Because if you get involved it'll be even harder once you go. I've had this happen since I got here. I don't want it to get worse."

"I don't want it to happen at all."

"Well, neither do I," Militsa said bitterly. "But this is how it is now. And I don't want to make it worse, alright?"

Valkyrie hummed and sat down on her knees and rested her chin on Militsa's leg. She blushed harder. "If you say so. But you know I'm always there to start a fight."

Militsa smiled. "I know. Trust me, I always remember."

"I'm glad."

There was a moment where they said nothing, just looking at each other, Valkyrie through her eyelashes up at the older girl, admiring the little strands of hair that were so vibrant she could see the fiery colour in each one. Slowly, Militsa reached out a finger and pushed Valkyrie's own hair out her face behind her ear with a little smile. Before she really thought about it, Valkyrie turned her head and placed a kiss on Militsa's palm.