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Description
The Bentley drove behind the two girls on the bike. They stuck close together on their journey into the city. The sun was setting by the minute as the sky was getting darker. They reached the outside of the museum at the southern side of town, opposite of Ghastly's shop location. It was 5:30PM now as the museum was quite with not many people from what they could tell. Small amount of cars in the lot and small flood of people at the entrance. Valkyrie got off the bike taking off the helmet and fixing her long black hair. As she walked over to the Bentley her the disguised Skulduggery stood with Ghastly.

"Well we made it here first, looks everything's fine" Valkyrie told him.

"So it appears, I guess this is the calm before the storm. The second those doors close all hell will break loose within" Skulduggery said looking at its surrounding.

"Can't we just go in there and ask for this thing nicely" She asked hoping to get out of this. He turned his to her looking straight at her. If his face wasn't covered, or at least on his skull he would probably be giving her a 'what do you think' look. "I'm sure if we explain to them the situation they'll give it to us" he still kept his look at her. She let out a long sigh giving up "so we wait".

"We wait" He responded with a nod. The four sat against the car watching as the time past and the people came out. Everyone would look over to them as the oddly shaped Skulduggery, the extremely ugly Ghastly, the out of place Valkyrie and the sword wielding Tanith. The clock was approaching six as Skulduggery nudged them indicating to move around to the side of the building. Valkyrie looked back and could see a group of bald pale skinned men in overalls walking to the museum. The vampires. They hid around the side waiting for them to go in and the workers to go out as the doors were closed and locked. Valkyrie looked at the sky were the sun was out of sight with the last of its light beginning to fade. Tanith went first as she focused her centre of gravity as one foot at a time, she planted her boot against the vertical wall followed by the other as she stuck to it and begun walking up it. The three elementals spread their hands against their sides as they focused the air manipulating it into ripples lifting their bodies off the ground and up into the air. Skulduggery and Ghastly reached the top as the trainee Valkyrie begun losing focus and force feeling like she was about to fall. But Skulduggery reached down and pulled her up the roof were they stood.

"You didn't need to grab me, I had it" She complained to him.

"Of course you did, I never doubt your abilities" He told her. They moved over the rooftop sticking to the casting shadows, but soon the shadows became darkness as twilight begun turning to night in the cold winters evening. They walked over to one of the skylights that would lead them below into the museum. Skulduggery told them it was the easiest way in without setting the alarm on and that he's done research, while Valkyrie knew for a fact that he's done this before when herself and him broke into Ghastly's family vault. Valkyrie starred down below as she and others slightly ducked their heads back as they could see someone directly below. She recognised it as one of the vampires, it has shear its human skin revealing its scale pure white skin, long pointy eyes and sharp fangs. It skulked around sniffing and searching the area with his black eyes. As it left the room it was time for them to start.

"Okay now one last time, what we're looking for is a white crystal shard. It famous for its illumination and lightning pattern and crystals inside" Skulduggery said to them as he took out his lock picking tools to open the it up.

"You realise I can get us in there in five seconds right?" Tanith said getting impatient.

"I am a master of lock picking, this thing will be cracked now" He said which was followed by a loud crack. Valkyrie thought he managed it when he pulled out his pick with the hook revealing to be snapped off. She let out a short laugh before covering her mouth with both hands, Tanith was even worse as she almost fell on her back and off the roof. She quickly got a hold of herself as she pushed Skulduggery aside.

"Time me" She said to him as she waved her left hand over it as purple vapour faded inside it as with her right hand she lifted the panel up and jumped straight down landing on both feet. She fixed herself up looking above given her usual smile to them.

Skulduggery stiffened up as he placed his broken lock pick in his pocket while Valkyrie still kept her grin trying to keep her chuckles down. The three focused as they jumped down pushing the air below them to break there fall as Skulduggery and Ghastly landed gently while Valkyrie landed with a slight thud falling to all fours.

"Okay let's go, we'll split up to find it quicker before the Baron shows up, If you find the artefact get yourselves out and send a message to us" Skulduggery explained.

"You said you did research, do you mean we have to search for it in this vampire invested place without a clue where to find it?" Tanith asked sounding frustrated.

"I did my homework, I'm one hundred percent sure it's here, my source confirmed it" he reassured them.

"And who is this source of yours?" Ghastly asked him.

"China Sorrows" He mumbled quietly.

"What? You can't trust her; she just wants you to fetch it for her. She's probably hunting down more pieces of the gem using more idiots" Ghastly told his with anger trying to keep his voice down.

"I'm not that dumb, she's not getting near it".

"Wait but you said earlier that the Baron knew of its location" Tanith pointed out.

"He did. He visited her looking for answers; it was her life for the information. And keeping to her neutral ways she rang me up to pass on the location. Now enough talk Tanith, you and Ghastly take the west wing. Me and Valkyrie will get the east, we'll work our way up".

"Wait I thought I was sticking with Tanith?" Valkyrie protested.

"Oh I'm sorry, go right ahead with the woman with the sword which can only help you when a vampire get's close to you with his razor sharp fangs instead of the guy with the superior magic ability and loaded gun" He said to her as they exchanged looks at each other.

"Fine you win, let's go" She said as they went their separate ways. If it was any added benefit the others took the route the passing vampire went out Valkyrie thought to herself. They walked slowly with their backs bent staying low and behind cover as much as possible. Valkyrie observed the area carefully. There was no sign of any of the vampires; she tried her best to memorize the way there taking. The last time herself and Skulduggery did this; she ended up running for her life with no idea how to get out. She wasn't making that mistake again. She observed the signs; they were currently in the main lobby with the directory and signs showing the direction to each exhibited. She was trying to think of the most logical place for a shard of a gem would be. Skulduggery seemed to have his own idea where to find it; they walked through a double door which Valkyrie guessed he was leading them to the geological section.

Skulduggery lead with his gun held in his right hand as he would check each corner gun pointed out first followed by his head sticking out. They slowly made their way through until Skulduggery indicated her to get down as they hid behind an exhibited poster. Before Valkyrie could ask what he heard she could hear it. It was the sound of glass smashing with wood and stone smashing onto the ground. The commotion was coming from the other side of the geological area. So close Valkyrie thought to herself. They snuck up the doors were they straightened up getting ready to charge through and attack. Whatever Skulduggery could see on the other side of the high window Valkyrie was too short to view, he thought they will be able to handle. With his left hand he clicked his fingers creating a spark which he developed into a fireball. He held his gun tightly in his right hand. Valkyrie nodded as she clicked her fingers into both hands and focused. She managed to form a fireball with her right hand but needed a second attempt for a second.

Skulduggery nodded once to signal her. A second time as he had his back to door opening it slightly. A third nod came as he burst opened the door as he ran through with Valkyrie right behind him. She saw her targets; they were vampires but not the guards. These vampires didn't have monster looking pale skin but had light human skin. They wore normal pedestrian clothes covered in blood with dead expressions on their faces. These were newly turned vampires, most likely bitten and turned by Dusk with them obeying his commands and doing his dirty work for him in finding the shard. They turned to face them as they ran straight at them going for the kill. Valkyrie tossed her two fireballs at the two closest vampires hitting one in the chest igniting the clothes they wore while the other one missed her target. Skulduggery had her covered as he hit it straight in the face making it collapse to the ground. The last one ran straight for Valkyrie as she panicked in creating another fireball to protect herself with no results. Skulduggery was hesitating to shot it knowing it's still a human being and can be cured as he ran at it. He dived at it forcing it to the ground as he threw a right hook on its head followed by a left and another right till the vampire was unconscious. The Vampire hit by Valkyrie's fireball extinguished itself as it ran at her. She held her hands next to each other trying to focus the air to throw it back. The air rippled striking the vampire throwing it off its feet before Skulduggery used the same magic as the air struck the vampire sending it into the air smacking the wall with great force as it stopped moving.

"Will you stop doing that" Valkyrie shouted at him. "How am I meant to learn if you keep taking away my opportunities to practise and train?"

"So you're saying you would prefer practising magic in a dangerous environment full of killer vampires then in a safer non harmful environment?" Skulduggery asked. They heard movement from above from the second floor landing as one of the vampire guards jumped from above to the ground below in front of them. He let out a loud roar as even more could be heard as more vampires descended from above forming a large selection of monster and human vampires.

"Yeah I have my answer for you and it's a no" Valkyrie said slowly with the fear being heard in her voice. Even Skulduggery was standing motionlessly. They made their move towards them as Skulduggery held his hands in front of him as the air ripples forcing them back as he continued it keeping the vampires at bay.

"Run! Find the others" Skulduggery ordered her.

"But I can fight them while you hold them" She said not wanting to leave him.

"There's too many of them. I'll keep them occupied while you find the shard. Go!" He shouted as she turned and ran. She couldn't belief this was happening. It was exactly what happened last time, at least she's learned from her mistakes and so has Skulduggery for bring the other two along.

Description
The Bentley drove behind the two girls on the bike. They stuck close together on their journey into the city. The sun was setting by the minute as the sky was getting darker. They reached the outside of the museum at the southern side of town, opposite of Ghastly's shop location. It was 5:30PM now as the museum was quite with not many people from what they could tell. Small amount of cars in the lot and small flood of people at the entrance. Valkyrie got off the bike taking off the helmet and fixing her long black hair. As she walked over to the Bentley her the disguised Skulduggery stood with Ghastly.

"Well we made it here first, looks everything's fine" Valkyrie told him.

"So it appears, I guess this is the calm before the storm. The second those doors close all hell will break loose within" Skulduggery said looking at its surrounding.

"Can't we just go in there and ask for this thing nicely" She asked hoping to get out of this. He turned his to her looking straight at her. If his face wasn't covered, or at least on his skull he would probably be giving her a 'what do you think' look. "I'm sure if we explain to them the situation they'll give it to us" he still kept his look at her. She let out a long sigh giving up "so we wait".

"We wait" He responded with a nod. The four sat against the car watching as the time past and the people came out. Everyone would look over to them as the oddly shaped Skulduggery, the extremely ugly Ghastly, the out of place Valkyrie and the sword wielding Tanith. The clock was approaching six as Skulduggery nudged them indicating to move around to the side of the building. Valkyrie looked back and could see a group of bald pale skinned men in overalls walking to the museum. The vampires. They hid around the side waiting for them to go in and the workers to go out as the doors were closed and locked. Valkyrie looked at the sky were the sun was out of sight with the last of its light beginning to fade. Tanith went first as she focused her centre of gravity as one foot at a time, she planted her boot against the vertical wall followed by the other as she stuck to it and begun walking up it. The three elementals spread their hands against their sides as they focused the air manipulating it into ripples lifting their bodies off the ground and up into the air. Skulduggery and Ghastly reached the top as the trainee Valkyrie begun losing focus and force feeling like she was about to fall. But Skulduggery reached down and pulled her up the roof were they stood.

"You didn't need to grab me, I had it" She complained to him.

"Of course you did, I never doubt your abilities" He told her. They moved over the rooftop sticking to the casting shadows, but soon the shadows became darkness as twilight begun turning to night in the cold winters evening. They walked over to one of the skylights that would lead them below into the museum. Skulduggery told them it was the easiest way in without setting the alarm on and that he's done research, while Valkyrie knew for a fact that he's done this before when herself and him broke into Ghastly's family vault. Valkyrie starred down below as she and others slightly ducked their heads back as they could see someone directly below. She recognised it as one of the vampires, it has shear its human skin revealing its scale pure white skin, long pointy eyes and sharp fangs. It skulked around sniffing and searching the area with his black eyes. As it left the room it was time for them to start.

"Okay now one last time, what we're looking for is a white crystal shard. It famous for its illumination and lightning pattern and crystals inside" Skulduggery said to them as he took out his lock picking tools to open the it up.

"You realise I can get us in there in five seconds right?" Tanith said getting impatient.

"I am a master of lock picking, this thing will be cracked now" He said which was followed by a loud crack. Valkyrie thought he managed it when he pulled out his pick with the hook revealing to be snapped off. She let out a short laugh before covering her mouth with both hands, Tanith was even worse as she almost fell on her back and off the roof. She quickly got a hold of herself as she pushed Skulduggery aside.

"Time me" She said to him as she waved her left hand over it as purple vapour faded inside it as with her right hand she lifted the panel up and jumped straight down landing on both feet. She fixed herself up looking above given her usual smile to them.

Skulduggery stiffened up as he placed his broken lock pick in his pocket while Valkyrie still kept her grin trying to keep her chuckles down. The three focused as they jumped down pushing the air below them to break there fall as Skulduggery and Ghastly landed gently while Valkyrie landed with a slight thud falling to all fours.

"Okay let's go, we'll split up to find it quicker before the Baron shows up, If you find the artefact get yourselves out and send a message to us" Skulduggery explained.

"You said you did research, do you mean we have to search for it in this vampire invested place without a clue where to find it?" Tanith asked sounding frustrated.

"I did my homework, I'm one hundred percent sure it's here, my source confirmed it" he reassured them.

"And who is this source of yours?" Ghastly asked him.

"China Sorrows" He mumbled quietly.

"What? You can't trust her; she just wants you to fetch it for her. She's probably hunting down more pieces of the gem using more idiots" Ghastly told his with anger trying to keep his voice down.

"I'm not that dumb, she's not getting near it".

"Wait but you said earlier that the Baron knew of its location" Tanith pointed out.

"He did. He visited her looking for answers; it was her life for the information. And keeping to her neutral ways she rang me up to pass on the location. Now enough talk Tanith, you and Ghastly take the west wing. Me and Valkyrie will get the east, we'll work our way up".

"Wait I thought I was sticking with Tanith?" Valkyrie protested.

"Oh I'm sorry, go right ahead with the woman with the sword which can only help you when a vampire get's close to you with his razor sharp fangs instead of the guy with the superior magic ability and loaded gun" He said to her as they exchanged looks at each other.

"Fine you win, let's go" She said as they went their separate ways. If it was any added benefit the others took the route the passing vampire went out Valkyrie thought to herself. They walked slowly with their backs bent staying low and behind cover as much as possible. Valkyrie observed the area carefully. There was no sign of any of the vampires; she tried her best to memorize the way there taking. The last time herself and Skulduggery did this; she ended up running for her life with no idea how to get out. She wasn't making that mistake again. She observed the signs; they were currently in the main lobby with the directory and signs showing the direction to each exhibited. She was trying to think of the most logical place for a shard of a gem would be. Skulduggery seemed to have his own idea where to find it; they walked through a double door which Valkyrie guessed he was leading them to the geological section.

Skulduggery lead with his gun held in his right hand as he would check each corner gun pointed out first followed by his head sticking out. They slowly made their way through until Skulduggery indicated her to get down as they hid behind an exhibited poster. Before Valkyrie could ask what he heard she could hear it. It was the sound of glass smashing with wood and stone smashing onto the ground. The commotion was coming from the other side of the geological area. So close Valkyrie thought to herself. They snuck up the doors were they straightened up getting ready to charge through and attack. Whatever Skulduggery could see on the other side of the high window Valkyrie was too short to view, he thought they will be able to handle. With his left hand he clicked his fingers creating a spark which he developed into a fireball. He held his gun tightly in his right hand. Valkyrie nodded as she clicked her fingers into both hands and focused. She managed to form a fireball with her right hand but needed a second attempt for a second.

Skulduggery nodded once to signal her. A second time as he had his back to door opening it slightly. A third nod came as he burst opened the door as he ran through with Valkyrie right behind him. She saw her targets; they were vampires but not the guards. These vampires didn't have monster looking pale skin but had light human skin. They wore normal pedestrian clothes covered in blood with dead expressions on their faces. These were newly turned vampires, most likely bitten and turned by Dusk with them obeying his commands and doing his dirty work for him in finding the shard. They turned to face them as they ran straight at them going for the kill. Valkyrie tossed her two fireballs at the two closest vampires hitting one in the chest igniting the clothes they wore while the other one missed her target. Skulduggery had her covered as he hit it straight in the face making it collapse to the ground. The last one ran straight for Valkyrie as she panicked in creating another fireball to protect herself with no results. Skulduggery was hesitating to shot it knowing it's still a human being and can be cured as he ran at it. He dived at it forcing it to the ground as he threw a right hook on its head followed by a left and another right till the vampire was unconscious. The Vampire hit by Valkyrie's fireball extinguished itself as it ran at her. She held her hands next to each other trying to focus the air to throw it back. The air rippled striking the vampire throwing it off its feet before Skulduggery used the same magic as the air struck the vampire sending it into the air smacking the wall with great force as it stopped moving.

"Will you stop doing that" Valkyrie shouted at him. "How am I meant to learn if you keep taking away my opportunities to practise and train?"

"So you're saying you would prefer practising magic in a dangerous environment full of killer vampires then in a safer non harmful environment?" Skulduggery asked. They heard movement from above from the second floor landing as one of the vampire guards jumped from above to the ground below in front of them. He let out a loud roar as even more could be heard as more vampires descended from above forming a large selection of monster and human vampires.

"Yeah I have my answer for you and it's a no" Valkyrie said slowly with the fear being heard in her voice. Even Skulduggery was standing motionlessly. They made their move towards them as Skulduggery held his hands in front of him as the air ripples forcing them back as he continued it keeping the vampires at bay.

"Run! Find the others" Skulduggery ordered her.

"But I can fight them while you hold them" She said not wanting to leave him.

"There's too many of them. I'll keep them occupied while you find the shard. Go!" He shouted as she turned and ran. She couldn't belief this was happening. It was exactly what happened last time, at least she's learned from her mistakes and so has Skulduggery for bring the other two along.