"So tell me," Skulduggery asked as him and Pip descended the stairs, "anything I should know about? Has anything exciting happened in my absence?" Pip laughed and nibbled on her lip, honestly trying to think of certain events that she could inform him about. He obviously already knew about her uncle's new position, how Valkyrie and her had been working as detectives for quite some time. Pip could've told him little personal things that had happened to Valkyrie, her breakup with Fletcher for instance but she figured that if they ever got around to talking that Valkyrie could tell her himself. It would give them something to discuss instead of Skulduggery having to avoid Valkyrie's fists.

"Nothing much really. Ghastly probably already told you everything that's happened. Dr Nye is the new Sanctuary doctor, did you know that?" His skull snapped to stare at her and he didn't need to have facial features for Pip to know that he was surprised and no doubt furious.

"That's ridiculous! How could of the Elders agreed to this?"

Pip decided to leave out certain details. Like how she didn't mind being in its presence or how she would sometimes laugh at its dry humour and some of the insults it would throw at her.

"His skills are almost as good as Kenspeckle's," She soothed, lightly patting his shoulder. "Kenspeckle doesn't wish to work for the Sanctuary. Besides, Madam Mist was the one who brought him in and I can assure you that it took her days to even get them to consider." Her phone started to buzz in her pocket and she answered, half expecting it to be Valkyrie but was surprised by the private number that flashed.

She spoke into the phone quietly while trailing behind Skulduggery, following him to his sleek and beautiful Bentley. She hung up.

"I would love to ensure that Valkyrie doesn't kill you but that was my mentor. He's requested to meet me somewhere."

"Solomon Wreath, no doubt?" Skulduggery mused.

Pip laughed. "How did you know?"

"Solomon still teaches Valkyrie doesn't he? He no doubt convinced you to be his student as well." He took out his car keys. "Need a lift?"

"Yes please!" She beamed. "Bus service is so awful these days." Skulduggery opened the door for her than went around to his own side.

"If it's any constellation, you were a better teacher."

"I believe you but you're only complimenting me because I'm giving you a lift," He said as she buckled up.

"I could always catch a bus..So you could...Maybe stop stalling and visit Valkyrie?" She asked hopefully.

"I'll see her later. It's one of those days were I feel I'm going to have to punch someone in the face sooner or later. Besides, I haven't seen Solomon in a long time."

The sun was already touching the horizon by the time Valkyrie said goodbye to Fletcher. She had already checked her phone several times and was a little concerned when nothing appeared. Pip hadn't checked in yet which meant she was either caught up chatting with China or she had gotten her nose stuck in a book.

Luckily Fletcher had offered to teleport her home and Valkyrie took comfort in something that use to be so familiar, travelling from one place to the next in a blink of an eye. Valkyrie was halfway up her driveway when she noticed something, something that shouldn't be there.

Her front door was jarred open.

Instantly she tried not to panic. Either the intruder was clumsy and had accidentally left it open in their hurry. Or something had left it that way on purpose, inviting her into their trap. She almost hesitated but the familiar weight of her sword gave her confidence. Creeping into her own house, Valkyrie was relieved to find that they hadn't trashed the place. Valkyrie gripped the handle on her sword, and scooped out her living room before peeking into the kitchen to make sure it was safe. It was almost as if someone had their gaze on her as she did this and Valkyrie couldn't help the goose bumps that had risen on her skin. It was deathly silent and Valkyrie intended to keep it this way as she climbed the stairs. The corner of the hallway rug had been flipped over and the door to her uncle's study was wide open, the light switched in.

On the count of three, Valkyrie burst into the room. Fire in hand, ready to defend with sword if necessary. She was once again met with silence. Just as she begun to relax, a hand reached out from behind her and attacked.

The Bentley drove off and Pip waved goodbye, watching as it drove off into the sunset. It had started to drizzle with rain and Pip grumbled for not remembering to bring an umbrella. However that didn't matter, because as soon as it touched her it stopped because someone was holding an umbrella over her head. She looked at the owner's hand, the black colour of their suit and then looked up into the face of Solomon Wreath. Pip beamed up at him.

"Perfect timing!" She cheered. He didn't exactly smile but Pip swore he saw his lips twitch.

"Indeed. Was it just my imagination or was that Skulduggery's Bentley driving off into the sunset?" He mused.

"It most certainly was. You should consider yourself lucky; I think he wanted to punch you." She warned.

"Me? Whatever for? Skulduggery and I are the best of comrades," He mocked a light tone to his voice.

"Yes because normal friends greet each other with punches."

"We're not exactly normal." Pip laughed but had to stop. She always got caught up around him and Pip worried about the bubbly feeling she was getting in her chest.

"You wanted to talk," Pip quickly said.

"Well, we are already doing that part," Pip elbowed him, "but there was a certain topic I wished to discuss."

If it wasn't for the protection of her collar, her attacker would have no doubt tried to snap her neck. Valkyrie twisted, knocking the hand away from her and jumping back to give herself some room and to observe her intruder. They didn't give her a moment to gather her wits and tackled her into a bookshelf, books being knocked over, one of them even hitting her on the head. Valkyrie growled and pushed at the space between them and hurtled the person halfway across the room. But they twisted mid-flip and landed gracefully on their feet. A grace that was only capable by...

Vampire! Valkyrie thought. No doubt the one that was responsible for the murders! The vampire was slim and lanky, ragged black hair covering his face, covering his wicked grin. He leaped and Valkyrie didn't have time to raise her arms before he firmly planted his hands on her shoulders and smashed her into her uncle's desk. Valkyrie used the surface to roll away from the vampire and slashed, her sword almost slicing his palm open. He dodged and maneuvered away from her attacks but he underestimated the space he had away from her sword and growled when it sliced up his arm, blood trickling down his pale skin.

"You sneaky wench!" He howled but had to dodge to avoid Valkyrie's fireball. He picked up her lamp and ditched it at her. Valkyrie dodged it but noticed the distraction to late when the vampire tightly clasped her wrist, pulling the sword away from his face and roughly shoved her into the wall. With both hands in his grasp, he shoved a knee between her legs.

"I can't wait to taste your blood," He sneered.

"Just like you did with the others?" She questioned. He gave her a bitter laugh.

"I wasn't the one who did that but I've heard you've been looking for them. Can't have you puttin' away my poor friends."

"Don't worry. Once I've finished with you I'll be sure to go greet them." She spat sarcastically.

"Oh my, you are a feisty one Miss Cain. We know everything about you."

"Everything?" Valkyrie mumbled, wiggling her wrists. "So you're aware I'm not just an elemental?"

"What?" He hissed and looked at her hands, realising his mistake to late. Valkyrie flicked her wrist and tendrils of shadows wrapped around his ankles and flung him halfway throw her window.

"You should really keep a track of time," He hissed, blood spilling through his t-shirt. He gave her a crazed smile and Valkyrie looked behind him, through the window as darkness finally took over.

Valkyrie could only watch in horror as he shredded his human disguise in one smooth motion, only to reveal the hideous beast underneath. The vampire snapped his jaws at her and Valkyrie had to duck and roll to avoid its claws. He rebounded against the wall, chased after her but Valkyrie turned around to face it and just as it snapped near her face a fireball was hurtled into its neck. He roared and backed off. Valkyrie turned and ran towards the door. She needed bigger space to fight the vampire and the study was to cramped for such a fight. Unfortunately she forgot how fast they were and realised too late when it knocked her down onto her stomach, clawing into her back, searching for blood. It dug its claws into her hair and repeatedly started to bang her face into the floor, trying to knock her out.

She began to feel dizzy, darkness creeping at the edge of her vision. But then the door banged open and the weight on her back was removed. She tried to look up at her savior but her vision was beginning to blur and then she was finally engulfed in black.

"How goes the investigating?" Solomon asked later. Pip was still processing everything he had just informed her about, whether she should discuss it with Valkyrie. Maybe even confide in Skulduggery about it. Solomon must have had means behind why he only requested her but she needed to know. When Pip realised she had yet to answer his question she replied with,

"I'm not sure. We think we have a connection but the identities are still left unsolved."

"A pity. However not something you can't solve." Pip nodded and offered him a smile without saying anything in response. When it started to turn awkward, Solomon slowly reached out and touched her shoulder. It gave her tingles.

"You will consider what I said," It wasn't a question, but a firm statement. One that Pip would definitely need to go over later.

"I don't understand why you couldn't tell Valkyrie," She questioned, completely aware that he was still touching her.

"With the return of Skulduggery, she will no doubt be…occupied soon, especially with the investigation. He will no doubt want to help her."

"Oh? What about me? Isn't this my case to?" He gave her a gentle squeeze.

"You're so fragile, I would very much prefer if you went with me on this. Than get risked of being killed by a vampire." He softly stroked her cheek. Pip wanted to flinch, thinking that he was calling her weak but was too distracted by his surprise touch.

By the time she finally came too, Solomon had disappeared, mist of shadows left in his wake.

"Well," Pip mumbled, "that sucks."

"Thank god you called!" Pip exclaimed. She hurried over to Valkyrie's unconscious body and sighed in relief. There weren't any fatal wounds but her poor friend's face had been badly beaten and bruised. Pip softly stroked her cheek and then turned towards her friend's savior.

"Perfect timing as always," Pip mumbled.

"Of course," Skulduggery Pleasant said. "I called the Sanctuary. They will be here in around ten minutes to come and collect the vampire." He titled his head towards the corner of the lounge room. The vampire was slumped there, unconscious, bones broken in several places.

"He's definitely connected to our case," Pip confirmed, sending the vampire a glare in her friends defiance. "He must have found out we were looking for suspects and decided to get her before we got him."

"We can question him tomorrow," He said with a firm nod. Pip observed as he walked over to his unconscious friend and how he softly placed a stray hair behind her ear. He stroked her bruised cheek and Pip felt that she was intruding on a moment.

"She looks peaceful but I doubt she will be when she wakes up." He touched her cheek one more time and then headed up stairs, Pip following him up.

"I'll try and fix the window," He suggested. "Seems that's all I do at this house." Pip didn't understand the inside joke but laughed anyway.

"Maybe when Valkyrie sees she'll forgive you," Pip said lightly.

"One can certainly hope."

"It's you," Their now consciousness friend mumbled from the doorway.

I'm sure some of you saw this coming right? I was really tempted not to end it like this but oh well.

I've already begun writing the next chapter but I can't promise when I'll update it. Or though I did have this chapter finished right after I published the last one

But I thought I'd leave you guys hanging for a bi-

*Ducks* Sorry!

Lots of love! :D