Until the end.

Who is Listening

"What do you mean Ghastly's paying for dinner? That's awfully nice of him." Skulduggery asked.

"Me and him had a bet that I could get your attention, I won, so he has to pay." Answered Valkyrie.

"Oh, well, you're lucky I had finished thinking."

"Did you come up with anything, Skul?" Asked Ghastly.

"As a matter of fact, I did." Skulduggery started as the waitress came around with their food. "It doesn't make any sense for China to be helping Phineas."

"Um, Skul, I hate to burst you bubble, but we'd already come to that conclusion." Interrupted Ghastly.

"I hadn't finished. It doesn't make any sense that China would help Phineas, so, it got me thinking, what else doesn't make sense?"

"Oh, I know his one! People that put pineapple on pizza!" Valkyrie joked, "Just hurry up and spit it out already!"

"Well, Valkyrie said it in the car, what is the one thing that someone like China would have to be in order to give up all of their money, power, and titles?" They all stared at Skulduggery expectantly, awaiting an answer to what they thought was a rhetorical question, but Skulduggery just sat there looking mildly disappointed that nobody was answering. "In love, guys! She's in love with Phineas, come on, I thought we had a thing going here!"

"No hun, you had a thing going, we were just trying to eat our burgers." Valkyrie answered, patting his shoulder reassuringly.

"Wait, so you think, and let me make sure I'm hearing you right, you think that China, AKA the stone hearted bitch, is in love with an insane serial killer, who is over 1 million years old? Actually, now I've said it out loud it sounds JUST AS INSANE AS IT DID BEFORE!!" Ghastly shouted the last part making Valkyrie jump in her seat and a lot of people turning to look at him, who were just trying to eat their meals. "I just feel like you're not taking this seriously."

"Of course I'm taking this seriously, think about it, in the world of magic, age doesn't apply, I mean, to a certain extent it does (no children, that's just wrong man) but once you are both adults, age doesn't really matter, just look at me and Val. And maybe the reason China won't let anyone in, is because she has already let someone in and doesn't need anyone else."

"Now you've explained your thinking, I can see where you're coming from." Valkyrie commented with half a mouth filled with burger. "But do you think Phineas is in love with her too? That's the question, because if he is, we could just kidnap China and use her as bait to catch Phineas."

"Okay, first, do you remember how smart that guy is, that would never work, and second, I have no idea if he is in love her too. Ghastly, did it sound like they were in love over the phone?" Asked Skul.

"Not really, as far as I can tell, but I only caught the end of the conversation, maybe he was mad at her because you guys are onto him?"

"Maybe, are you guys about ready to go, I've got a feeling something bad is going to happen."

"Like what?" Asked Valkyrie.

"I just, I have no insides to become inside out... so that means either I am immune, or it's going to have a much different effect on me, and I'd rather not find out which."

"You're right, I'm done, Ghastly?"

"Yeah, I'm about ready to go, I'll go and pay."

"Ok." Was Valkyries short reply. Skulduggery didn't say anything, he just waited until Ghastly was out of ear shot.

"Show me your arm." His voice was low and intimidating, so she did what she was told. Skulduggery visibly relaxed when he saw the black S on her forearm.

"Now you show me yours." Valkyrie countered. Skulduggery lifted up his sleeve and Valkyrie just caught sight of the V through is façade. "Now, what's this all about?"

"I just, I feel uneasy, like someone is watching, or listening."

And they were, a micro recording device China had planted on Ghastly when he was in her office had caught the whole conversation... 

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A/N - So, here it is. Umm, yeah, enjoy, I guess. :)