She called the reflection’s phone and arranged to pick it up as it made its way home from school. It got in the back seat and didn’t ask any questions. They pulled in a few miles later and Skulduggery got out of the car while Valkyrie and her reflection switched clothes. Ten minutes later they arrived in Haggard. The reflection sneaked around back to hide in the bushes while Valkyrie walked in the front door. It was an unusual sensation she realised, not to be coming in through her bedroom window.

“Mum,” she called, dumping her schoolbag in the hall, “I’m home.”

For three long seconds there was nothing but a dreadful, heavy silence, and then her mother appeared in the doorway to the kitchen. Smiling. Safe. Alive.

“How was school?” she asked and Valkyrie bounded forward and hugged her. Her mum laughed. “That bad, huh?”

Valkyrie laughed in return and hoped it was convincing. She hugged tight and then forced herself to break it off, moving immediately to the fridge to hide the tears that threatened to spill on to her cheeks. “School was fine,” she said, as brashly as she could. “School is always fine. Nothing interesting ever happens there.”

She opened the fridge, took a breath, and when she was composed, she shut the fridge door and turned. “How was your day?”

“Full of adventure and drama,” her mum said. “I just got back myself. I’m expecting your father home any minute.”

“He’s finishing work early? He never finishes early.”

Her mum shrugged and they heard the front door open.

“Is she back yet?” Valkyrie’s dad asked from the hall, as he stumbled over something, probably her schoolbag. “Yes, she’s home,” she heard him mutter. He walked into the kitchen and Valkyrie hugged him.

“You told her?” he asked.

“Nope,” her mum said. “She’s just in a hugging mood.”

Valkyrie stepped back. “Told me what?”

Her father looked down at her. “You grow taller every day, you know that?”

She made herself keep the smile. Suddenly she didn’t want to get any taller. She didn’t want to grow any older. Being taller and older and stronger meant being closer to the time when Darquesse would come for them. She wanted to stay the same height and age forever.

“We have news,” her mother said, wrapping her arm around her husband’s waist.

Valkyrie frowned. “What?”

“We’ve decided to get a pet,” her dad announced.

Valkyrie laughed, and it was a real and genuine laugh. After everything that she’d had to deal with over the past few months, having something so gloriously normal and fun as a new pet took on unimaginable levels of comfort. Plus, she’d always wanted a pet.