The Dying of the Light (22 page)

“Welcome back,” he said, and Darquesse hugged him. He smelled of pine needles and fresh air. She could have tightened her grip and crushed his spine, and all of those tightly-bound muscles underneath his shirt would have been for nothing. But she didn’t. She behaved.

Saracen Rue, though. She was curious about how he would react to her.
Saracen Rue knows things
, that was what people said, after all. She wondered if he’d be able to see through her act. But he just came over, wrapped her up in another big hug, said nice things and gave her a lovely, happy grin.

So she didn’t crush his spine, either.

She got hugs off Gracious O’Callahan, clad in a Captain America T-shirt, and Donegan Bane, clad in extraordinarily tight jeans, and she got a friendly nod from Dai Maybury. Poor Dai. So cool, so aloof, and so recently an only child. She wondered how he’d react if she told him what she’d just done to his brother. Probably not well, she figured.

Skulduggery walked in, followed by Stephanie and Fletcher.

“Six renegade sorcerers are hiding out in the New York Sanctuary,” Skulduggery said, adjusting his cufflinks. Little black skulls that Valkyrie had bought him as a Christmas present. “If these renegades are being monitored, if they’re secure, we leave them alone. If they’re roaming free, however, they present a clear and present danger to the sorcerers around them and the public at large, and we
will
take them down. Questions?”

“What do we do about Zafira?” asked Vex.

“If Grand Mage Kerias is harbouring these renegades because she doesn’t think they’ll be treated fairly by us – that’s fine. If she has some other agenda, we’ll take that into account. Kerias was one of Ravel’s staunchest supporters, remember. We do not turn our backs on her for a moment.”

Nods all round. Even Darquesse nodded.

“Everyone link up,” Skulduggery said. “Fletcher, teleport us straight into the lobby area, if you please.”

Darquesse held Vex’s hand and Donegan’s, and she had time to blink once before they were in New York.

Sorcerers jumped back in surprise and two Cleavers started forward. Skulduggery turned his head to them and they stopped, and resumed their positions by the door.

“What the hell do you want?”

They turned to the young woman with the scowl on her face.

“Adrasdos,” Vex said. “It’s been a while.”

Adrasdos. A Necromancer. Darquesse looked her up and down. There was a sword hilt in a sheath on her hip, and to Darquesse it pulsed with cold power. That was her object, clearly, the same way that Valkyrie’s had been a ring, and Solomon Wreath’s was a cane. That little hilt contained all her power. Delightful.

Adrasdos was looking at Vex with a confusing mix of emotions on her face. Anger at their presence, but a secret delight at seeing him in particular, it seemed. Did they once have a thing? They probably once had a thing.

“Dexter,” Adrasdos said. “It’s … good to see you. It’s nice. But you can’t just teleport into the lobby like this.”

“We were going to call ahead,” Skulduggery said, “but we thought Grand Mage Kerias would appreciate a surprise visit. Is she in? We need to speak with her. I’m here to extend an invitation to a celebration.”

“I’ll make sure she gets it.”

“Apologies,” Skulduggery said. “Grand Mage Sorrows insisted we deliver it in person.”

Adrasdos chewed this over. “Sure,” she said. “Follow me.”

They went deeper into the building. Darquesse brought up the rear, taking her time. She smiled at everyone she passed. She didn’t care about appearing friendly, she just needed to practise smiling without menace.

“Valkyrie!”

She turned. A dark-haired girl ran up, excitement bouncing in her eyes. Darquesse had only seen her once before, when Valkyrie had gone up against her in London.

“Hello, Ivy,” she said.

Ivy’s eyes widened. “You know my name?
Seriously?
”

“Of course,” said Darquesse. “It’s not every day someone beats me in a fair fight.”

Ivy giggled. “Aw, I didn’t beat you! You’re the one who knocked me out, remember?”

“Only because you talked too much.”

Ivy giggled again. “That sounds like me, all right! Hey, heard you were Darquesse all along. What was that like? I bet it was amazing. Like, scary and deeply, y’know, unsettling, obviously, but I bet it was just … wow. Was it wow?”

“It was wow.”

“I knew it! I knew it! But I was delighted you came back. I mean, I heard that last night and I was, like, oh, cool! I know I’ve said this before, but, literally, I am your biggest fan! So what’re you doing here? You here for long? Can I introduce you to some of my friends?”

“Flying visit,” said Darquesse, resisting the urge to punch her neck.

“Aw, that’s a shame. Hey, d’you think, y’know, maybe some day when you’re not busy—”

“I’m busy a lot.”

“Right, yeah, OK, gotcha. You probably have to go off now, yeah? Could you do me one favour? Just one, I swear, and then I’ll go away!”

“What kind of favour?”

Ivy dug around in her pocket, pulled out a thick black marker. “Could I have your autograph?”

“Uh … sure.”

“Oh, you are the best!” said Ivy. “And could you sign my face? Just across it. From one side to the other. Thank you
so
much!”

Darquesse hesitated. “Sure,” she said. Ivy did her best to stay still, and Darquesse wrote Valkyrie Cain from the left cheek to the right. Navigating over the nose was tricky, but she managed it, and handed the marker back.

“Oh my God, that is so cool,” Ivy breathed, crossing her eyes in an attempt to look down at her own face.

Stephanie appeared at the corner. “Hey,” she said, “we’re waiting for you.”

Ivy’s eyes almost bugged out. “Two of you? There are two of you?”

“It’s a long story,” Stephanie said.

“We could be triplets! Oh my God, this is the coolest thing ever!”

Darquesse nodded. “We need to go away now.”

“Thanks, Valkyrie!” Ivy squealed. “Thanks, Other Valkyrie! Love you both!”

“Sure,” Darquesse said, and joined Stephanie as she walked quickly away.

They continued in silence, and caught up to the others as they were entering the Hall of the Elders. Adrasdos glared at them, but Stephanie ignored her and Darquesse didn’t take it personally. Adrasdos was glaring at practically all of them, apart from Vex.

Grand Mage Zafira Kerias sat alone in the middle of the three chairs, the light illuminating her from above. It was all very impressive.

“This is a rare honour indeed,” Zafira said, smiling benevolently. “It’s enough to make one wonder what I could have done to deserve such esteemed attention. Surely it can’t be for a mere invitation to a party, as Adrasdos tells me you’ve claimed?”

“I’m afraid we misled her to gain an audience with you,” said Skulduggery.

“Such chicanery, Detective Pleasant.”

“Indeed. And of course we apologise. Our real reason for being here is these renegade sorcerers we’ve been looking for. Six of them. You’ve been sent the list of their names, I trust?”

Zafira nodded. “I received the list, yes. I can’t remember who was on it, but I’m sure I’d have—”

“We know they’re here,” Stephanie said, and Zafira’s eyes narrowed at the interruption. “We know you’ve been hiding them. Just tell us the truth and we can go.”

“And which one are you, I wonder?” Zafira said, looking from Darquesse to Stephanie and then back again. “Are you the reflection or the real thing? It’s all very confusing. I must admit, I’m stumped. Flummoxed, even. Detective Pleasant, please help me out.”

“That’s Stephanie,” said Skulduggery. He turned. “And that’s Valkyrie.”

Darquesse smiled to herself.

“The reports were right,” Zafira said. “It could almost pass for human, couldn’t it? If I hadn’t known that one of them was a fake, it might even have fooled me. Nevertheless, please remind the reflection of its manners. It is not polite to interrupt when real people are—”

“Stephanie is polite enough,” Skulduggery said. “She just has very little patience for the games people play.”

Zafira observed them without speaking for a few moments. “The sorcerers on your list did come here, seeking refuge,” she said. “They were in fear for their lives after Grand Mage Sorrows sent her death squads after them.”

Donegan put up his hand. “I am not a death squad.”

“And neither am I,” said Gracious.

“Those sorcerers are not refugees,” Skulduggery said. “Their powers are unstable. They need to be isolated and closely monitored until the effects of the Accelerator wear off.”

“So you claim you’ve not been sent here to kill them? How can I believe that you’re telling the truth?”

“I sincerely don’t care what you believe,” Skulduggery said. “If they’ve turned themselves in to you, if you’re taking responsibility for them, then our work here is done. Deal with them as you see fit.”

He turned to go, and Zafira sat forward. “I could turn them over to you.”

Skulduggery looked round. “Why would you do that?”

“I heard some of them killed sorcerers as well as Warlocks, when they were out of control. Maybe you have some criminal charges against them? If you can guarantee their safety, we will of course hand them over. Providing you reciprocate.”

“And what is it you want?”

“You have Erskine Ravel in a cell, do you not? Erskine and I have a … history. I would greatly appreciate it if he were transferred to one of our prisons here, where we can monitor his condition.”

“His condition?” said Vex. “His condition is twenty-three hours of untold agony a day, followed by one hour of respite, where he gets to eat, drink, and look forward to the next twenty-three hours.”

Zafira nodded. “And what have you done to alleviate his suffering?”

“Ravel’s pain is a result of a direct link to Darquesse,” said Rue. “It can’t be alleviated.”

“But really,” Zafira responded, “how hard have you tried? He killed your friends, after all. You can’t be feeling overly concerned about his well-being, now can you? Have you run any more tests since Darquesse was captured? Have you found out why the link is still active, now that she’s trapped in a Soul Catcher? It shouldn’t be active, should it? My experts tell me so. The moment Darquesse was pulled into that Soul Catcher, the link should have been severed and Erskine’s pain should have ceased. There’s a mystery to be unravelled there. Let us solve it for you.”

Skulduggery’s head tilted. “How close were you? In the run-up to the war, I mean. Were you by his side when he hatched his plans? Were you there when he decided to betray and kill his friends and overthrow mortal rule on earth?”

“Of course not,” said Zafira. “I knew nothing of—”

“Don’t insult our intelligence and we won’t insult yours. The only reason you’re not in chains right now is because Grand Mage Sorrows thought it prudent not to issue arrest orders for
everyone
at the same time. We know what you did, but as long as you do what we tell you, we’ll pretend that we don’t. Do I make myself clear?”

Zafira reddened. “You cannot speak to me like that. I am the Grand Mage of—”

“Do I make myself clear?” Skulduggery said, louder this time.

Zafira glared.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” he said.

“I had hoped this conversation would be a little friendlier,” Zafira responded, “but fair enough. We both know where we stand now. That’s something, at least.”

“I’m glad you think so. We’ll be leaving now.”

Zafira waved a hand dismissively. “Give my love to China, won’t you? You know, when I think of how far we’ve come, I can’t help but feel proud of our forgiving attitude to people who’ve wronged us. Why, now we have one of Mevolent’s most fanatical followers running the Irish Sanctuary, and bullying every other Sanctuary into doing her bidding. It truly is a great time to be—”

The door burst open and a sorcerer Darquesse had met once ran in. What was her name? Vinette, or something? “Grand Mage,” Vinette said, her face flushed with alarm. “We have a situation.”

haos reigned, and Darquesse was enjoying every minute of it.

Alarms went off. Sirens screeched. Teams of sorcerers were sent into different parts of the New York Sanctuary. More teams were coming back, bloodied and carrying injured comrades. The renegades were going nuts and it was seemingly impossible to figure out where they all were. Darquesse sat with Skulduggery and the others in the lobby, and they made themselves comfortable. It was only when Zafira Kerias stalked up to them that this changed.

“Detective Pleasant,” Zafira said, panic biting at her words, “we seem to have an emergency.”

Skulduggery looked around, then nodded. “Yep.”

Zafira grimaced. “I would appreciate any … assistance you could give us. Most of my operatives are at least twenty minutes away.”

“You’re officially requesting our assistance?”

“Yes, yes, whatever. Will you help?”

Skulduggery stood up. “We’d be delighted. Where would you like us?”

“Lower levels,” said Zafira. “We sent two teams down there and we’ve yet to hear anything back.”