How different things would have been if I had kept this in. There are plenty of deleted scenes I could include here, but most of them would ruin future plot revelations for those who haven’t read the books (and you really should, they’re really good). So I’m going to concentrate on Valkyrie’s home life.

In the books, you see, Valkyrie – or Stephanie, as is her real name – has a reflection that steps out of the mirror and takes over her life. It goes to school, does homework and watches TV with the family while Valkyrie is off saving the world. But in my first draft, there was no reflection, so Valkyrie was always getting into trouble. This led to a major problem, since I wanted her home to be a refuge from conflict, and I wanted her relationship with her folks to be warm and funny and loving. Which is why I came up with the reflection.

But just as a hint of what it could have been like, here are a few excerpts from my original draft.

WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN BEEN, PART 1:

(This scene originally stood right before Skulduggery and Stephanie break into the Vault.)

Skulduggery dropped Stephanie off at the entrance to Bayview and promised to contact her the moment he had figured out their next step. The night was drawing steadily in as she approached her house. She slotted her key in the door and twisted and pushed it open, and her mother was standing in the hallway, waiting for her. She wasn’t smiling. Her arms were crossed.

“Hi,” Stephanie said, closing the door behind her.

“Oh hello,” her mother responded. “Enjoy yourself?”

“Sorry?”

“Did you enjoy yourself this evening? Did you have a good time?”

“It was all right,” Stephanie said slowly.

“Oh that’s good. I’m glad.”

Her mother was glaring at her. Stephanie didn’t know where to look.

“Is everything OK?” she asked.

“We have visitors.”

As she spoke, Fergus and Beryl emerged from the living room. Beryl’s hands were clasped in front of her and she had a look of utmost piety on her face. Fergus didn’t quite manage to get the look of glee off of his. Stephanie looked back at her mother and waited.

“What were you doing in Mr Pleasant’s car?” her mother asked.

Stephanie’s thought process came to a sudden stop. Her mother was looking at her, her face angry but her eyes pleading, needing a reasonable explanation. Behind her, Fergus was almost cackling, while Beryl had a false look of deep concern.

“I wasn’t—” Stephanie began.

“Yes you were!” barked Fergus immediately. Then, with more control, “We saw you.”

“We saw you, dear,” Beryl echoed, shaking her head sadly. “We saw you yesterday in that dreadful car of his. It’s quite difficult to miss, the way it rattles. And then, just a few short hours ago.”