Skulduggery Pleasant: Raising Cain

Chapter 196 - Is it a bird, is it a plane...

Chapter 196

One week later

Valkyrie laid exhausted and drained in her cot bed. She knew she was dehydrated and hadn't eaten enough, but the food sat badly with her stomach and the water was starting to make her nauseous every time she had so much as a sip. Solomon had explained that the change in culture and environment made that all fairly normal and the more she drank and ate, the more used to it she'd get, but was hard when everything she put in her mouth made her feel ill. The added headaches from dehydration and the effort of working on her traumas didn't help the situation. To make her life even worse, she also started her period and was getting pains from that.

The one nice thing about the Necromancer Sect was that anyone on their period did not have to work, get up or do literally anything. In fact, it was forbidden. Some of the Sect members had caught Solomon trying to talk to her to continue her therapy side of the preparation and gotten told off. He wasn't allowed to see her for another few hours as both punishment and as a precaution.

Valkyrie didn't feel any better mentally whatsoever, nor any closer to being ready to start the Ritual. She couldn't have any type of pain medication for her head, stomach or uterus, she missed Nadia and the worst part of it all, talking about her mother and her past made her cry a lot. All she wanted to do was cry herself to sleep every day. She had woken the day before and burst out crying immediately. It wasn't hormones, she was just so emotionally drained from talking and releasing her feelings. She was glad her body was letting her have a break, in its own twisted way.

She felt a tap and lifted her arm from her eyes to see Norma and Helena smiling kindly.

"Hey," she groaned, feeling the pressure behind her eyes. She'd never had migraines before, but she was beginning to suspect that was what the throbbing pain in her head was. She'd heard people could grow into them later in life. "Do you think I'm getting migraines?"

"Migraines? I mean, maybe," Norma said, obviously thrown by the question. "It's probably just stress induced, whatever it is."

"We brought you some food," Helena said, putting the bowl of whatever nastiness on the small table that had been dragged next to her. "It's fish."

"Thanks," she sighed. "Is Solomon in confinement still?"

"No, but he has been forbidden from seeing you," Helena told her. "Are you in pain?"

"Yes. My head mostly, but my stomach is sick too. And period pain. Joy." She sighed again. "I'm always in pain now. I don't get it."

"As I said, it's likely the stress. You've been working hard and going through a lot," Norma said quietly. "We'll leave you to eat and rest. Do you want us to bring you some tea? You have to drink."

Valkyrie nodded, knowing the nasty tea was at least better than the nasty water. She pulled herself up and scarfed down her disgusting, unseasoned fish puree, fought the urge to throw it all up immediately, downed the almost boiling tea, almost threw up again, and then put the little leaf of mint in her mouth when Helena gave it to her.

It helped with the gaging a little.

.*****.

Nadia's POV

One week later

"I'm really sorry," Aine repeated.

"It's not your fault, seriously," Nadia smiled, trying to keep Aine calm. "You did all you could, it's really not your fault."

"I know, but I feel so awful! I can't believe Mum and Dad would do this," Aine fretted. "Valkyrie isn't even here!"

"It's just an excuse to have two parties, that's all," Nadia said reasonably. "When Val gets back, she'll try organising another for the two of us, just you watch."