months. And what is the result of your investigation? Has my house been involved in any illegal activities? Has it robbed a bank? Has it mugged anyone?”
“No…”
“Has it moved, even a little?”
“I don’t…think so…”
“Made a prank phone call?”
“No.”
“I see. And just now, did I run you off the road? Or did you crash, all by yourself?”
“I suppose I, uh, crashed.”
“And I pulled you from the wreckage, did I not? That car could have exploded for all you know. I saved your life and now you want to arrest me for it?”
“Well, not any more…”
“I’m glad to hear it. Do you want to stand up?”
“Yes, please.”
“Stand.”
Weeper stood.
“My friends have been taken into custody,” Skulduggery said. “Ghastly Bespoke and Tanith Low. What do you know about it?”
“Just what I heard on the updates. They broke into the Sanctuary and one of them assaulted Detective Marr.”
“Marr,” Skulduggery murmured. “Davina Marr? American?”
“That’s her,” Valkyrie said.
“Oh, she hates me,” said Skulduggery. “For no reason, I might add. At least no reason that I care about. Snivelling boy, will you tell the Grand Mage that I have returned, and from what you have seen, I have been slightly unhinged by my dreadful experiences in an alternate dimension? Could you also tell him that I would appreciate it if he released my friends at his earliest convenience?”
“Yes. OK. Sure.”
“And then threaten to shoot him.”
“Uh…I don’t know if that’s wise…”
“Nonsense,” Skulduggery said, patting him on the shoulder. “The Grand Mage hates getting shot. It’s quite funny. You’ll be fine. Run along now.”
“Can I…can I get back in my car?”
Skulduggery pondered the question and shook his head. “No.”
Weeper sagged.
“I am,” Valkyrie agreed.
“Are you in awe of me?”
“Something like that.”
Skulduggery nodded. “You’re in awe of me.”
“How are you feeling?”
“Splendid,” he replied.
“You sure frightened him,” Valkyrie said.
“Who, the boy? Did I?”
“For a moment it looked like you were going to kill him.”
“It did?”
“It did.”
“Fancy that,” he said.
“You said you were unhinged.”
“Hmm? Oh, yes, I did. Quite clever, yes? You see, if they think I have been driven mad, they will struggle to predict my actions. I become very, very dangerous to them, and hopefully, that will make Guild do what we want.”
“And you’re not, right?” Valkyrie said cautiously. “You’re not unhinged?”
“Oh, God, no,” he laughed. “No, I’m perfectly sane. Now then, do you want to tell me about that ring you’re wearing?”
“Oh,” she said. “That.”
“Solomon Wreath is teaching you Necromancy, isn’t he?”
“I needed the extra strength to get you back,” she explained. “I’m only a trainee Elemental – I need all the help I can get, you know?”
“And now that I’m back?”
“Sorry?”
“You said you needed that ring to get me back. So now that I’m here, is that it? Are you going to throw it away?”
Valkyrie felt the cold metal around her finger and how comforting it had become lately. “If you want me to,” she said slowly.
“What do you want to do?”
“I don’t know.” Skulduggery didn’t say anything so she had to continue. “I suppose throwing away another set of powers, I mean, it doesn’t really make sense. It’s a weapon I need to get the job done.”
“And being an Elemental isn’t enough to do that?”
“When I’m powerful enough, sure, and especially with all those new things you can do, but I’m still learning. And I’ve got another few years before my magic settles, right?”
“That’s true,” Skulduggery nodded. “You’ll probably be twenty, maybe twenty-one, before you have to choose one style over all the rest.”
“And after that, I can’t switch?”
He hesitated. “It’s not impossible. But it is rare.”
“But I can keep using the ring until I’m about to settle, can’t I, and then give it back?”
“As easy as that?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
“Strength is addictive.”
“I can handle it.”
“Solomon Wreath is not to be trusted.”
“He saved my life last night.”
Skulduggery snapped his head to her. “What happened?”
“Uh, Crux got into my house and tried to kill me. I could have handled it. I don’t mean Wreath saved my life, but he, you know, he helped. China’s people set up a perimeter around Haggard though, so nobody magical can get in
