Valkyrie managed a strained smile that looked odd to Fletcher somehow. The assistant finished up and Skulduggery helped Valkyrie stand.

“You’re coming home with us?” her mum asked.

“I will,” Valkyrie said. “When I’m cleared here.”

“Steph, please—”

“Mum. Fletcher will take you three home now and I’ll be there as soon as Doctor Synecdoche says I can. I still have things to do here, and I want to check on a few people. I won’t be getting hurt any more today, though, I promise.”

Melissa hesitated, then nodded, and looked up at Skulduggery. “I owe you an apology.”

“No,” he said, “you don’t.”

“I said some pretty horrible things.”

“Entirely justified.”

“Oh, I know they were,” Melissa said, “but I’m beginning to think that your good points outweigh your bad. Steph says it’s because of you that she’s alive today.”

“That may be so. But I’m only here today because of her.”

Melissa looked back at Valkyrie. “Can I hug you? Would it hurt too much?”

“You can hug me a little,” Valkyrie said, an actual smile poking through. Both her parents gave her the lightest of hugs, but they both spent ages doing it. When her father was done, he stepped back.

“Gordon would be so proud of you,” he said. “I know I am. You helped save the world today, sweetie. The kid I raised helped save the world. In a way … in a way, I suppose that means I saved the world.”

“If anyone’s still listening,” Melissa said, “I would like to apologise for my husband.”

“I’m going to get a T-shirt printed up. Maybe a mug.”

Melissa turned to Fletcher. “When you take us home, are we going to throw up again?”

He couldn’t lie. “Probably,” he said.

She sighed.

Desmond poked his finger at Alice. “And don’t think I’m forgetting about you, young lady. Your big sister saved the world today. What the hell have you done?”

Alice giggled, and Fletcher took them home.

106

Valkyrie and Skulduggery left the Medical Wing. The Sanctuary was in chaos. People ran, shouted at each other. Emergency crews took over. Valkyrie and Skulduggery ignored it all. Valkyrie and Skulduggery had had enough.

“Are you sure you’re OK?” he asked when they entered the peace and quiet of the Old Sanctuary.

“I’m fine,” she said.

“You’re bleeding internally.”

“A little internal bleeding never hurt anyone.”

“That’s not strictly true, though. Do you want me to carry you, or …?”

She gave him a look. “Am I slowing you down? Is that what it is? Would you rather be walking faster?”

“To be honest … yes.”

“Well, tough.”

They walked along in silence for a bit.