The tunnel wasn't very interesting. Though it was covered in a strange crystal that neither of them could identify. It eventually opened up into a large cavern, also covered in the strange crystal.

Skullduggery closed his hand over the fireball, putting it out. There were glowing crystals that lit up the cavern. Crystalline outgrowths that looked like furniture and entranceways to other sections of the cavern system showed obvious signs of purposeful design..

Valkyrie looked around, mouth agape, "There is no way she just found this place."

"Do you still see her?"

Valkyrie shook her head, "Whatever these crystals are, they're blocking my magic. We're going to have to find her the old-fashioned way."

Two voices were heard down one of the tunnels. Skulduggery tilted his head in that direction, "I propose we go this way."

Valkyrie rolled her eyes, and they went down the hallway. After only going a few feet, Valkyrie heard pacing .

"It will be fine Victory. I'm sure Jack is on his way right now. He might even be waiting at the docks for you."

"He shouldn't be. It was agreed that if anything ever happened to Umbra, we would meet here and then head to the docks." a beeping went off. "Shiitake Mushrooms. I forgot to take my pill yesterday."

Valkyrie and Skulduggery turned the corner as a girl with black hair and nearly black eyes was rummaging through a large duffle bag, oblivious to their approach.

A giant sword appeared in front of the two of them. "Victory, do you know these two?"

The girl, Victory, looked at the crystalline soldier, then at Valkyrie and Skulduggery.  She stood up and stumbled back. "You shouldn't be here. You should not be here." She started to panic. "Crys, we have to go now. If they found us, then . . ."

"Victory, right? We found you again, so-"

"No time! Run while you can." She grabbed her bag, zipped it up, and slung it over her shoulder when a dark wave pulsed along the crystal. Victory froze, eyes black and full of Terror. "They're here."

Crys appeared behind Valkyrie and Skulduggery and started pushing them forward, "Move!"

"What are you doing?" Valkyrie asked as she tried to push back against the figure.

"Following orders."

Valkyrie noticed Victoria standing in front of them, focused on the dark entrance to the cavern. Her skin was covered in black stripes. "What's happening to her?"

Crys took out her sword and pushed it into the ground, forming a protective bubble around all but Victory.

Three hooded figures stepped out of the shadows; the front one spoke, "Victory. I'm glad we found you. We were so wor-" His speech halted, "Who are they."

"That is none of your concern."

The front figure shook his head, clicking his tongue. "Tut, Tut. Victory, you know the rule. I'm afraid they are going to have to die. Especially them."

"Why did you ask me who they were if you know who they were. For your information, I have no idea who they are, but if you want them dead, then I will do all I can to keep them safe."

"It seems our rebellious savior needs a lesson." A gnarled hand shot out of the cloak, and shadows wrapped around Victory and squeezed. It looked like she absorbed them.

"These two made me miss. twice. So now it's my turn."

She lifted her hand and gently squeezed. the figure gripped his chest and gasped. "No one ever thinks of the shadows inside the body" She said with a smile in her voice. With her other hand, she pulled three objects from the necromancers. A broach, a dagger, and an amulet. "What are these?"

Valkyrie punched the crystal and hurt her hand in the process, "Let us out!"

Crys ignored her and instead turned her attention to Skulduggery, "You are familiar. Yet I can't place how."

Skulduggery was strangely quiet.

A cold wind ran through the cavern, freezing the three men. Victory put the objects in her bag and started walking toward the two arbiters and the crystal soldier. "You're late."

A teenage boy ran out of the shadows with a similar duffle bag, and the two reached the others. "I had a hard time getting off of work." He stopped, and Victory stomped her foot, causing the platform to rise. The boy turned, "I guess we should introduce ourselves." He held out his hand, "I'm Jack Frost."

"You're the bell boy!" Valkyrie exclaimed.

Jack chuckled,  "Yeah. it was a one-time gig. In and out, just long enough to tip you off, but not long enough to get noticed."

"So, you know who we are?"

"Of course. I was warned to stay away from you. So, of course, I want to help you."

"Victory Genisis." The girl said curtly.

They arrived on the surface, and shadows wrapped around the five of them. When they dispersed, they were at the docks. Victory, Jack, and Crys started walking toward an old rickety boat named the S.S. Rustbucket.

Valkyrie looked at Skulduggery, "Who were those people?"

"I'm not sure. However, it seems these three are in active opposition to them."

Victory tossed her duffle bag into the boat. "If you're coming with us, get in."

"Victory." more hooded figures appeared.

She didn't even turn around. "What do you want, Gerald?"

The one in front stomped his foot, knocking off his hood. He wasn't a very remarkable man. He was plump and looked to be in his forties. He was balding slightly. "I've told you not to call me that! It's Dark Vengeance."

Valkyrie snorted while Victory turned around, "I am never going to call you that because it's a stupid name."

He growled, "You are coming with us." 

Victory turned back to the boat and started to get in. Gerald moved surprisingly quickly for someone of his size and reached out to grab her arm. Her eyes widened, and she tried to pull away. "No!"

Gerald grabbed her and pulled her back onto the dock. She stumbled back, and a withered skeleton stood there where the man was. It slowly crumbled to dust.

Victory just stared, eyes wide. Crys and Jack jumped out of the boat. Valkyrie and Skulduggery followed suit.

Crys immediately started attacking the necromancers. Valkyrie also went in, blasting her lightning. 

The remaining necromancers immediately pulled out shadows. However, they were clumsy and slow. Both Crys and Valkyrie dodged them easily. Jack joined the fray and punched one of the men, freezing him as he fell.

A scream. Valkyrie turned and saw Crys, who had shadows sticking into her. However, she wasn't the one who screamed.

Jack whorled around, "Victory!"

Victory had a large blood stain on her light green tank top. A second one appeared as the shadow exited Crys's chest.

Skulduggery caught Victory as she fell, and Jack caught Crys. Jack then shoved Crys into Valkyrie's arms, "Get her in the boat. I'll hold them off!"

"You're kidding, right?"

"I'll be fine," He turned and made a wall of ice, "This won't hold them off for long." He pulled a key on a chain off from around his neck and put it in Valkyrie's hand "This is the key to the boat. You're gonna need it."

"Aren't you coming?"

"I don't matter. You need to go and save the world." The wall started to crack, and he turned, "Make it, so my father didn't die in vain."

Valkyrie nodded and ran to the boat. Setting Crys down. She was going to go back to help Jack when ice spikes started growing towards the boat. Each one bigger than the last.

Before they reached the boat, Skulduggery used his magic to push the boat out to sea, away from the fighting.

(I realize it's been a while.  I haven't been able to update anything lately because of school and extracurriculars. Though I'm pretty sure all of the views are mine so . . . yeah. If anyone else does read this, Sorry for the inconsistent posts. I am welcome to any tips.)