LITMIR.BIZ

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      Fighting back the tears, Valkyrie glared but said nothing.

      “Good girl,” Marr said, her eyes narrow. “Now apologise.”

      Valkyrie clenched her jaw.

      “I said, apologise. There’s no one here but us. You’ve got no one to impress. Apologise and I’ll let you up and put you in your cell. If you don’t apologise …”

      Marr slapped her again and raised her hand for another strike.

      Valkyrie worked to ignore her pride and the anger that humiliation brought. She swallowed. “I’m sorry.”

      Immediately, Marr softened. “OK. OK, Valkyrie, that’s all I needed to hear.” The pressure on her ribs was removed. “Now ask me to let you up.”

      Valkyrie took a moment then, “Can I get up?”

      “Say please.”

      “Please … can I get up?”

      “Of course.”

      Marr stepped back and Valkyrie turned on to her hands and knees, and started to rise. Suddenly the air was pushing down, keeping her hunched over.

      “Say thank you,” Marr said, controlling the air with her hand. Valkyrie looked up at her. “Say thank you, Detective Marr, for letting me stand up.”

      And Valkyrie said, “Thank you, Detective Marr, for giving me back my ring.”

      Marr’s eyes flickered to the ground where the ring had fallen, but it wasn’t there any more, and before she could do anything about it, Valkyrie sent a fist of shadows slamming into the detective’s chest.

      Marr stumbled and Valkyrie straightened, reaching out through the air for the desk. It shot forward and slammed into Marr’s legs, and she flipped and fell over it.

      Valkyrie opened the desk, snatched the keys up and ran to the cells. She unlocked Ghastly’s door and he emerged, tackling Marr as she came at Valkyrie.

      “Prisoners are escaping!” Marr roared.

      Valkyrie unlocked the second door and Tanith came out, just as Cleavers appeared around the corner.

      “Get Fletcher,” Tanith said in Valkyrie’s ear, “then get Skulduggery back,” and she launched herself at the Cleavers.

      Valkyrie unlocked the last cell and hauled Fletcher out.

      “Stop them!” Marr screeched. Already the Cleavers had Ghastly and Tanith on the ground, arms locked behind them.

      “Guild’s office,” Valkyrie said to Fletcher. He nodded and closed his eyes, forcing himself to calm down and picture their destination.

      Then they were outside Guild’s door. Valkyrie barged through. The office was empty. The shelves groaned with heavy books and artefacts, and the desk was made out of what appeared to be solid gold. Beside the desk was a cabinet. Skulduggery’s skull lay inside.

      Shadows curled around her fist and she punched through the glass and grabbed the skull. She felt Fletcher’s hand on her shoulder and she blinked.

      They were now standing in the maze of bookcases in China’s library.

      Fletcher looked at her. “Are you OK?”

      “Don’t worry about me,” she said. She could feel the side of her face burning from where Marr had repeatedly slapped her. “We have to get to Aranmore Farm.”

      “We’re opening the portal?” Fletcher asked, concerned. “Just you, me and China? So who goes in with you?”

      “No one. I go in alone.”

      “No.” He shook his head. “It’s way too dangerous.”

      “We don’t have time to waste!” Valkyrie said, suddenly angry. “We have to do it now before they find us again and lock us away! This is my only chance to get him back!”

      “Our only chance,” he said.

      “Yes. Yes, that’s what I … Fletcher, listen, China has to stay with you, on the farm. She has to make sure that you’re able to reopen the portal for Skulduggery and me to get back. I’m going in alone and that’s all there is to it.”

      Fletcher looked at her, his jaw clenched. “Fine,” he snapped and led the way through the maze.

      Valkyrie didn’t know any of the sorcerers they passed among the stacks, and none of them raised their eyes from their open books. The library was considered to be a neutral place, where privacy was paramount.

      China Sorrows was waiting for them, dressed in black trousers and a simple blue shirt. As usual, her unnatural beauty elevated her outfit to something beyond the ordinary. A delicate chain hung around her left wrist. Her hair, black as deepest sin, framed her face while her eyes, as pale a blue as her brother’s had been, watched them approach.

      Valkyrie fought down the feelings that were stirring within her. Fletcher wasn’t quite so successful.

      “I love you,” he whispered and was ignored.

      “The plan didn’t work,” Valkyrie told her. “In fact, it probably made things worse. Ghastly and Tanith are under arrest, and agents are coming here to take you in.”

      China sighed. “And we’re going to rescue Skulduggery now, I take it? With the full might of the Sanctuary bearing down on us?”

      “Yes. Sorry about that.”

      China shrugged. “You make life interesting, Valkyrie. Just give me a moment, I have two annoying spies to deal with.”

      Valkyrie looked behind her as a man and woman advanced, shackles in hand.

      China tapped her forearms and glowing tattoos rose to the surface of her skin. She flung her arms wide and a wall of blue energy slammed into the agents, knocking them back. They were unconscious even before they stopped tumbling across the floor.

      An elderly sorcerer peered round a bookcase and scowled.

      “My apologies for the disturbance,” China said gracefully. “They wouldn’t pay their late fees.”

      The elderly woman shrugged and went back to her reading.

      China held out her hands and both Valkyrie and Fletcher took one. “These shoes will probably be ruined,” she said, “but I’m sure one of you will inform Skulduggery of the sacrifices I have made getting him back. Take us to the farm, Mr Renn.”

      The library vanished and the afternoon sun was without heat. A cold wind blew in across the fields of Aranmore and howled softly through the ruined walls of the farmhouse.

      “This boy is handy to have around,” China said, but for once Fletcher didn’t seem to be taking notice of her. His eyes were on Valkyrie as they walked.

      “Have you said goodbye to your parents?” he asked.

      “Shut up, Fletcher.”

      “I just thought you might like to, that’s all. One last goodbye before you get yourself killed.”

      “The only way it would be a last goodbye is if you don’t have that portal open for me to get back.”

      He laughed bitterly. “You’re walking into a world run by a race of evil gods. And for what? If Skulduggery isn’t dead, he’s insane. One glance at a Faceless One is enough to drive you nuts. He’s been there for almost a year, Val. How many glances do you think he’s had?”

      “You don’t know him. He’s alive and he’s waiting for me.”

      “We’re taking a big risk here, aren’t we? Like, a major risk? We’re opening a door to a universe of unspeakable evils and hoping they don’t notice. Is Skulduggery worth it if this goes wrong?”

      “If you’re not going to help,”

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