It’s because of him that I got back in one piece. He can handle himself, OK? Which is more than either of us have done lately.”
“He’s a kid.”
“So were you.”
“And look at me now. Seriously. Look at what all that action and adventure has done to me. I’m a frickin’ basket case. My best friend has been taken from me and I’m barely holding it together. I’ve got parents who worry about me and a little sister I never see because I don’t deserve her love. My life is a mess, Omen. For the last five years, I’ve cried myself to sleep and practically every morning I’ve woken up screaming. I feel myself dip into these pits of sadness and I can see it coming, but I can’t do anything about it, and every time it takes me just a little bit longer to climb back out. Is that what you want? Is this the kind of adventure you’re looking for?”
Omen didn’t respond.
“Have a normal life,” Valkyrie said. “Please. Just walk away. Leave it all behind. Leave magic behind. Live as a mortal. That’s what I’d do, if I could do it all over again.”
“I don’t believe that,” said Temper.
“And it’s a good thing I don’t care what you think.”
“We could do with his help, Valkyrie, seeing as how we are so vastly outmatched as it stands.”
“Well, why stop there?” she asked. “Why stop with a fourteen-year-old? Why not get a couple of toddlers to draw enemy fire? Why not have an entire brigade of babies and idiots?”
“I’m starting to feel a little insulted,” Omen said quietly.
“And where did this we business start, anyway?” Valkyrie demanded. “We’re not a team, Temper. Skulduggery and me, we were a team. But I barely know you, and I hardly trust you.”
“Skulduggery trusted me.”
“Did he? You sure about that?”
She brushed by them both, heading for the exit. Her leg was getting better, her limp less pronounced.
“Lethe told me that Smoke’s power corrupts the soul,” Temper said, “not the mind. I couldn’t tell the difference, to be honest, but that’s how they got Skulduggery, in case you were wondering.”
Valkyrie stopped. “He got you, too?”
“Of course,” said Temper. “Why torture me for information when they can turn me and just ask? I told them whatever I knew, which wasn’t a whole lot, and then they put me in chains.”
Valkyrie turned, switching on her aura-vision, taking in the glowing warmth of Temper’s aura. “You’re clean,” she said.
“Sorry?”
Her vision returned to normal. “Smoke’s corruption, it’s not affecting you any more.”
Temper frowned. “I know. It only lasted two days or something. Wait, you can see that? You can see my soul?”
“I can see … something,” she said. “An aura. It’s colour, mostly.”
“What colour do you see?”
“Orange.”
“Is that good?”
“I don’t know if it’s good. But it’s normal.”
Temper came forward. “I’m sorry that you don’t trust me, and maybe you’re right not to. I’ve done some pretty questionable things in my life. But I don’t need to see auras to know I can trust you. I know they’re looking to use Doctor Melior to bring back someone called Abyssinia, and I doubt that’d be good news for anyone but her, so I’m here to help however I can.”
“I’m here to help, too,” said Omen. “I know you think I’m a kid, and I know you want me to go away, but I can be useful. I need to do this. You said your parents are worried about you. Mine barely even notice me, and when they do it’s to criticise me and call me names. I’ve never been a part of something like this. Please, let me continue. I’ll stay out of trouble, I swear. I’m not going to get hurt.”
“You don’t know that,” Valkyrie said. “For all you know, this is the first step on a journey that will end with you dying in a street somewhere, in your brother’s arms.”
Omen swallowed. “If that’s my destiny, then that’s my destiny. But at least I’ll have one.”
“You’ve got our help,” Temper said, “whether you want it or not. So what do we do?”
She frowned. “Why are you asking me?”
“You’re Valkyrie Cain, aren’t you? If Skulduggery Pleasant isn’t here, you’re in charge. What do you think, Omen? Does that appear to be the hierarchy?”
“It does,” Omen said, his voice cracking as he came forward. He blushed, and cleared his throat. “I mean, yes. It does. Skulduggery, then Valkyrie, then you.”
Temper nodded. “And then you.”
“Me? Really?”
“Of course. You’ve earned your place as fourth in command.”
“Wow.” Omen beamed. “Thanks.”
“You’re fourth in a group of four,” Valkyrie pointed out. “You’re in charge of no one.”
Temper slapped him on the shoulder. “Don’t you listen to her, slick. You’re in charge of yourself and, in the grand scheme of things, that’s the only authority worth having. So, Valkyrie, what’s our next move?”
Valkyrie took a deep breath, and let it out. “I don’t know. What would Skulduggery do? He’d kick down a few doors until a lead presented itself.”
“And where’s the first door we kick down?”
“I suppose … San Francisco? Maybe? If we can find out where Richard Melior and Savant Vega lived while they were there, we might find someone who knew them, and knew Lilt, back when they were all friends. If we find a lead to Lilt, we’re closer to finding a lead to the anti-Sanctuary.”
“Huh,” said Temper.
Valkyrie sighed. “It doesn’t make any sense, does it?”
“No, it does.”
“But it won’t work, will it?”
“There’s no reason why it shouldn’t.”
“Listen, if you two have any better ideas, please share them. Any ideas at all. In the slightest. Either of you. But maybe not you, Omen.”
“Yeah,” Omen said.
“You probably wouldn’t have anything useful.”
“Probably not.”
“Don’t
