Until the end.

Soul magic

*3 hours later*
"So... we have a surprisingly long list of people who have checked all of these out." Skulduggery stated.
"Maybe, the books all have something else in common?" Valkyrie offered. "Here, like, these two both have chapters on shape shifting. It says in this one it can teach you how to turn into animals. And this one says it can teach you how to look like other people!"
"Val, you are a genius, and you know I don't use that word to describe anyone other than myself. I could kiss you!" Skulduggery exclaimed, clearly excited.
"I don't understand two things that just happened." Valkyrie stated.
"Phineas was obviously transforming into loads of different people and checking out the different books so it didn't seem suspicious. Val, he could look like anyone and we wouldn't even know it, he could work at the sanctuary, or at that little cafe down the road, hell, he could be your father for all we know! Then imagine finally catching him, we would never know for sure if it was even him, but he could transform into animals as well, he could turn into a bear and maul us, or if we managed to arrest him and put him in a cell, he would be able to just turn himself into an ant and crawl out under the door. You've got to hand it to him, he's pretty smart."
"Smarter than you?"
"Oh, nowhere near. See, if he were as smart as me, he would have burned all of these books and changed into someone else to avoid the debt."
"It must get lonely." Val commented after a moment of silence. "Think about it, I was only on my own for 5 years and I felt alone, I mean, that was kind of the point, but even then I wasn't completely alone, I had Xena and the guy who delivered my groceries, but he could never form an emotional attachment. He could never fall in love, or have a family or a dog, I'm just saying, I would be lonely."
Skulduggery went quiet. He hadn't thought Valkyrie had been that lonely. She always seemed fine whenever he brought the topic up, she would sort of just, brush it off... But the more he thought about it the more he couldn't shake the feeling, that maybe, just maybe, when Valkyrie had been gone, she'd felt just as alone in the world as he had. That maybe, she'd felt that the only person who really understood her had gone too, and maybe, she'd felt that her best friend had left her. Just maybe...
***
After 10 minutes of silence, the two arrived at China's office to tell her their findings.
"So, let me get this straight. You two just spent 8 hours at the library and all you've come up with is "he could be anybody" I fear you may have lost your touch" China spoke softly.
"Actually, it's my fault, I haven't worked a case in a long time."
"Oh I know sweetheart, but - "
"Hey Val, I need to talk to you outside quickly." Skulduggery had grabbed her arm and dragged her out before he'd even finished his sentence.
"What are you doing? China already hates me for leaving for so long and - "
"Shhhhh"
"What is it with you and cutting people off lately?!" Valkyrie whisper shouted "And why am I whispering?"
"Think about it... we're on our own, Phineas can turn into anyone, even China or our close friends, he could even be you... Quick say something only you would know."
"You sleep with your socks on because you have intimacy issues."
"Ok, ok, its you, ummm, give me your arm"
"Uhh, why?"
"Just give it to me!"
"Jeez, ok, relax"
"Ok, now, do you have a maker pen?"
"Yeah, here."
"Ok..." Skulduggery took the marker pen and drew an 'S' on her arm "Here now I can know it's you, just make sure to keep it concealed, I'm hoping that if he can't see what he's trying to copy, he wont be able to."
"Oh, I get it, so because he cant see the mark on my arm, he wont know to copy it, interesting theory. But how do I know that you are you? Tell me something only you would know."
"You have a spot just under your ear that you love for me to kiss"
Valkyries cheeks heated up at his words. "Ok, it's you, give me your arm" Skulduggery dropped his arm in her hand and she pulled up the jacket and drew a 'V' on his bone making her smirk. "Good luck getting that off, sharpies rule!"
"Ok, so, know we have that sorted, let's get back to the Bentley and discuss our next move, it's too open here."
"Wait, Skull?"
"Yeah?"
"We've done all of this and I still have no idea what soul magic even is."
"Well, you've seen it, soul magic literally rips the soul from the body, turning the person inside out in the process. It's pretty nasty business, and luckily, there aren't that many people left alive who can do it, so we need to catch this bastard before he hurts anyone else."
"But what happens to the souls?"
"Once you've started using soul magic... you have to eat them to stay alive. Now, come on, before anyone can see us!"
Little did they know, China had been listening from the other side of the door...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------A/N OMG GUYS!!!! 1k views!!!!! Wow, this is honestly more than I could ever as for. I want you all to know I appreciate all of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Also, sorry for not updating in a while, I've been super busy with school, but it's the summer holidays in 2 days so hopefully lots of updates!!!! Fingers crossed!!