The Faceless Ones (Skulduggery Pleasant - Book 3) Read Online Free

listen."
    Her mother left the room. Valkyrie stuck her feet into a pair of battered sneakers and, leaving the
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    reflection under the bed for the moment, clumped down the stairs to the kitchen. She poured cornflakes into a bowl and opened the fridge, sighing when she realized that the milk carton was empty. Her tummy rumbled as she dumped the carton into the recycling bag.
    "Mum," she called, "we're out of milk."
    "Damn lazy cows," her mother muttered as she walked in. "Have you finished your homework?"
    Valkyrie remembered the schoolbooks on the desk, and her shoulders sagged. "No," she said grumpily. "But I'm too hungry to do math. Do we have anything to eat?"
    Her mother looked at her. "You had a huge dinner."
    The reflection had had a huge dinner. The only things Valkyrie had eaten all day were some vanilla cremes.
    "I'm still hungry," Valkyrie said quietly.
    "I think you're just trying to delay the math."
    "Do we have any leftovers?"
    "Ah, now I know you're joking. Leftovers, with your father in the house? I have yet to see the day. If you need any help with your homework, just let me know."
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    Her mother walked out again, and Valkyrie went back to staring at her bowl of cornflakes.
    Her father walked in, checked that they weren't going to be overheard, and crept over. "Steph, I need your help."
    "We have no milk."
    "Damn those lazy cows. Anyway, it's our wedding anniversary on Saturday, and yes, I should have done all this weeks ago, but I've got tomorrow and Friday to get your mother something thoughtful and nice. What should I get?"
    "Honestly? I think she'd really appreciate some milk."
    "The milkman always seems to bring her milk," her dad said bitterly. "How can I compete with that? He drives a milk truck, for God's sake. A milk truck. So no, I need to buy her something else. What?"
    "How about, I don't know, jewelry? Like, a necklace or something? Or earrings?"
    "A necklace is good," he murmured. "And she does have ears. But I got her jewelry last year. And the year before."
    "Well, what did you get her the year before that?"
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    He hesitated. "A ... a certain type of clothing ... I forget. Anyway, clothes are bad because I always get the wrong size, and she gets either insulted or depressed. I could get her a hat, I suppose. She has a normal-sized head, wouldn't you say? Maybe a nice scarf. Or some gloves."
    Valkyrie nodded. "Nothing says 'happy anniversary' more than a good pair of mittens."
    Her dad looked at her. "That was a grumpy joke. You're grumpy."
    "I'm hungry."
    "You've just eaten. How was school, by the way? Anything interesting happen? "
    "Alan and Cathy broke up."
    "Are either of them anyone I should care about?"
    "Not really."
    "Well, okay then." He narrowed his eyes. "How about you? Do you have any ... romances I should know about?"
    "Nope. Not a one."
    "Well, good. Excellent. There'll be plenty of time for boys when you leave college and become a nun."
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    She smiled. "I'm glad you have such ambitious dreams for me."
    "Well, I am the father figure. So, anniversary present?"
    "How about a weekend away? Spend your anniversary in Paris or somewhere? You can book it tomorrow, head off on Saturday."
    "Oh, that's a good idea. That's a really good idea. You'd have to stay with Beryl though. Are you all right with that?"
    The lie came easily. "Sure."
    He kissed her forehead. "You're the best daughter in the world."
    "Dad?"
    "Yes, sweetie?"
    "You know the way I love you so much?"
    "I do."
    "Will you go out and get some more milk?"
    "No."
    "But I love you."
    "And I love you. But not enough to get you milk. Have some toast."
    He walked out of the kitchen, and Valkyrie sighed in exasperation. She went to make some
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    toast, but they were out of bread, so she took some hamburger buns and slid them into the toaster. When they popped up, she covered them with freshly microwaved beans and took the plate up to her room, closing the door behind her.
    "Okay," she said, putting the plate on her desk, "you can