Prologue

" Remind why i'm here again," Valkyrie Cain asked bluntly. Skulduggery fixed her with what she supposed was a disapproving stare, but it was a bit hard to tell.

" There's been mysterious animal attacks in the area," He said. Valkyrie nodded slowly.

" And i'm guessing that these aren't really animals, yes?"

" Well, obviously Valkyrie, do you think i would pull you to another country for a few normal animal attacks?" Skulduggery shook his head, or skull. " Good god, that would be far to stupid of me."

" Because i would hit you, hard," Valkyrie told him.

" I have no doubt you would."

They drove on through the rain in the Bentley.

" Do you know where your going, Skulduggery?" Valkyrie asked impatiently. Skulduggery nodded vaguely.

" Of course i do," He said confidently. " It's somewhere around here."

" Somewhere around here?"

" Valkyrie, have a little faith, if you please."

" But we've been driving for the past hour!"

" Correction, the last 26 minutes."

" See, boring!"

" What does it take to entertain young people nowadays?" Skulduggery shook his head sadly. Valkyrie crossed her arms and stared ahead of her silently.

" Are you sulking?"

" Yes," Valkyrie remained with her arms crossed.

" Why, may i ask?"

" I'm not a young person!"

" O.K then, your young to me. Happy?"

" A little."

They arrived eventually at a small little house. It was an off white colour, with peeling paint on the door and one window boarded up.

" Ah, home sweet home," Skulduggery got out of the Bentley, wrapping his head in a scarf and hat. Valkyrie dragged her small bag up to the front door.

" Home sweet home?" She looked at the house sceptically.

" Well, it's the closest we've got," Skulduggery shrugged and opened the door. It came off it's hinges." Ah, right, that may be a bit of a problem."

" A bit?"

" Alright, a lot of one," Skulduggery said irritably." Stop being so negative, i'll think of something."

There was a pause in which Skulduggery fitted the door back on it's hinges.

" There," He said proudly." Good as new."

Valkyrie opened it and it fell off again with a crash.

" Good as new, right?" Valkyrie and Skulduggery looked down at it.

" Oh well, who needs doors," Skulduggery shrugged and went inside. Valkyrie followed, sidestepping the broken door. A strong smell of must greated her.

" Is there any light?" Valkyrie called. She heard a rustle and a flame appearred, illuminating Skulduggery's face. She dropped her bag and did the same.

" So, is there one?" She repeated. Skulduggery fumbled at the wall and a small flickering light came on.

" Well, if you call it a light exactly," Skulduggery surveyed the floor. Valkyrie did the same.

" So, this is where we stay for the next month or so?" Valkyrie glared at Skulduggery.

" Umm, yes," He said bravely. Valkyrie looked around everywhere.

" It's like broken... everywhere," She studied a cupboard.

" Oh, it isn't that bad," Skulduggery protested. Valkyrie opened the cupboard experimentally. It creaked and fell off onto her foot.

" Ow!" Valkyrie jumped backwards. She overbalanced and fell over.

" Not that bad?" She asked him, glaring. " Not that bad?"

Skulduggery looked down at her.

" I'll get it repaired in a week, 5 days, maybe 4... definitely 2, i should think," Skulduggery managed to look ashamed, though it was hard to know how he did it.

" Oh, right," Valkyrie said.