Skulduggery Pleasant_ Death Bringer - Derek Landy [110]
When Skulduggery had told her that it was to be only Fletcher and himself, Valkyrie hadn’t argued. Her insides wrenched every time she remembered the look on Fletcher’s face, and the last thing she wanted to do was make her ex-boyfriend hurt even more.
When they were ready, Skulduggery and Fletcher vanished, and Valkyrie waited with all the others. She didn’t like waiting. It annoyed her. Irritation added to the butterflies in her stomach. Ghastly came over, nodded to her, let a few moments slide by before speaking.
“So,” he said, “I heard you two broke up.”
“I suppose we did.”
Ghastly nodded. He had a look on his face like he wanted to ask something, but didn’t want to actually utter the words.
She frowned. “Fletcher talked to you, didn’t he?”
“He didn’t have anyone else he could go to,” Ghastly confessed. “He’s upset.”
“I know.”
“He cares for you a great deal.”
“And I care for him,” she said, surprising herself with how defensive she suddenly sounded. “Why does nobody understand that you can still care for someone and not want to see them at the same time? It’s not like I suddenly can’t stand him or anything.”
“Then why did you break up?”
“I just didn’t want that kind of relationship any more. It’s hard to explain.”
“He thinks it’s something to do with the vampire.”
Valkyrie hesitated. “How much did he tell you?”
“He said you’re with a vampire now.”
She groaned. “OK, first of all, he shouldn’t have said that. Second, it’s not even true, not really. Third, you and me? We’re not talking about it.”
“Vampires are dangerous, Valkyrie. They’re monsters, pure and simple. I’m surprised Skulduggery is allowing it to continue.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Skulduggery doesn’t have a say in it, and neither do you, and neither does Fletcher. It’s no one’s business but my own.”
“I’m just looking out for you.”
“I know. It’s appreciated. Up to a point.”
Ghastly nodded. “Can I ask a question, though? The last one, I promise.”
“Sure.”
“Did you take Fletcher for granted?”
Valkyrie was quiet for a moment. “I suppose I did. I knew he’d always be there for me so, like… where was the challenge?”
Ghastly nodded. “That’s what he figured.”
“Do you think he’ll be OK?”
“Of course he will. Just give him time.”
“How much time? I want us to be friends. You can’t spend all that time together and then all of a sudden not care if you never see that person again. I miss him already, you know? I don’t want to get back with him, but I miss him.”
“All you can do is wait, Valkyrie.”
“I hate waiting.”
“I’ve noticed.”
Ten minutes later, Fletcher and Skulduggery were back.
“OK,” Skulduggery said. “Most of the Necromancers are in a large, open room, so that’s where we’ll be teleporting. Very little furniture, very little cover. We’ll be dealing with thirty-five Necromancers, plus Melancholia, who will be on a raised stage directly in front of us when we arrive. You leave Melancholia to us. You stay away from the White Cleaver. Your job is to keep the rest of the Necromancers off our backs. Our aim here is to subdue Melancholia and teleport her out.”
“Subdue?” asked Kallista.
“We’re trying to take her alive.”
The collected sorcerers frowned.
“Not to be a pain,” said Rosella, “but wouldn’t it be easier to just kill her?”
Kallista nodded. “More fun, too.”
“It might come to that,” Skulduggery said, “but we’re not a death squad. We’ve issued a warrant for her arrest, and so we want to arrest her. It’s really that simple. Everyone clear? Then link up.”
They formed three rows and linked arms, Skulduggery standing between Valkyrie and Fletcher. At Skulduggery’s command, the factory became the Retirement Home. Big windows, lots of sunshine and open space, floors that may have once been used for ballroom dancing. One Necromancer saw them and the others turned,