Playing with Fire (Skulduggery Pleasant, Book 2) (22 page)

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"I'm Valkyrie Cain," Valkyrie said, shaking his hand. He wore many rings.

"Valkyrie Cain," Finbar said, rolling the name around in his mouth. "Nice one. My name's Finbar Wrong. I'm an old friend of the Skul-man's, isn't that right, Skul-man?"

"Not really."

Finbar shook his head. "Nope, wouldn't call us
friends,
exactly. Associates, or ... or ... not colleagues, but... I mean, we know each other, like, but. . ."

"I'm going to have to hurry you along," Skulduggery said. "I gave you a small case to keep for me, and I need it back."

"A case?"

"A black case. I told you I needed somewhere to keep some supplies, in case of emergencies."

"Is there an emergency?"

"I'm afraid so."

Finbar's eyes widened, and his piercings glittered in the sunlight. "Oh man. I'm not gonna die, am I?"

"I hope not."

"Me too, man. Me too. I got so much to live for, y'know? Hey, did I tell you me and Sharon

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are getting married? Finally, yeah?"

"Finbar, I don't know who Sharon is, and I really need that case."

"All right, man," Finbar said, nodding. "I'm going to see if I can find it. It's got to be somewhere, right?"

"So suggest the laws of probability."

Finbar wandered back into the shop, and Valkyrie looked at Skulduggery.

"What's in the case?" she asked.

"My other gun, a few bullets, various bits and pieces, a spike bomb, an old paperback I've never read, a pack of cards-- "

"Spike bomb?"

"Mm? Yes."

"What's a spike bomb?"

"It's a bomb with a spike in it."

"You gave a bomb to
that
guy? Is it safe?"

"It's a bomb, Valkyrie. Of course it's not safe. The case, however, is
very
safe. Whether he's been using it as a coffee table or a footstool, or even if he's simply spent the last few years throwing it down a flight of stairs, its contents will be in no way damaged. Providing he
can find
the thing."

Finbar reappeared. "I'm getting warmer, man, I

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know it. It's not in the front, so I'm thinking it's in the back, yeah? So I'm going to check out the back right now. You guys want to come in?"

"We're good out here," Valkyrie said politely.

"Okay, cool. You sure? Skul-man? Sharon's in there, man. Why don't you say hi?"

"Because I don't know her, Finbar."

"Right, yeah, okay."

Finbar wandered off again.

Valkyrie checked the clock on her phone. If she were home right now, living a normal life, she'd probably be figuring out what to wear to the reunion. Not that it would take long. She had one dress in her entire wardrobe, which she wore rarely and with great reluctance. She figured that the Toxic Twins would have already started their beauty regime by this stage, applying eighty-four layers of makeup and figuring out which color lipstick made them look the most trashy. Valkyrie was glad she had a reflection to go instead of her.

"Oh hell," she said suddenly.

"What's wrong?"

"The reflection. It's still in the back of the Bentley."

Skulduggery's head tilted. "Oh. Oh, we seem to

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have forgotten about that."

She closed her eyes. "Mum's going to go mental. I promised I'd be at the reunion."

"Look at the bright side. If the world ends, none of that will matter."

She waited a moment without speaking, and he nodded.

"That's probably not a great consolation," he admitted.

Finbar wandered back, holding a black case. "Found it, man. Reason I couldn't see it, it was on the floor, and there was someone sleeping on it. Y'know, for a pillow. It's good, though. So, here."

Skulduggery took the case. "Thank you very much, Finbar."

"Absolutely no problemo, man. Hey, this emergency thing-- it's serious?"

"Yes it is."

"You need some help? It's been a while since I was, y'know, in the field, or even out the door, but I still got it."

"I'm sure you do, but we can handle it."

"Oh right. Okay. Probably a good thing. I don't know if I got it anymore, y'know? Don't know if I ever did, but. . . what were we saying?"

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"We were saying congratulations on your upcoming wedding to Sharon."

"Oh, thanks, Skul-man."

"I'm sure you'll be very happy together."

"Yeah, me too. I mean, I've only known her three days, but sometimes you just gotta . . . get married ... to someone. . . ."He trailed off and looked puzzled. "I think."

"Well," Skulduggery said, "thank you for keeping this for me. Stay out of trouble."

"You got it. Hey, who's that with you?"

Skulduggery tilted his head. "This is Valkyrie. She introduced herself."

"Naw, man, not her. The guy in black."

Valkyrie stiffened, and fought the urge to look around.

"Where is he?" Skulduggery asked.

"Across the street, doing a pretty good job of keeping out of sight, but you know me, Skul-man. Eyes like a feathery thing. Whatchamacallit. Hawk."

"And he's watching us?"

"Yep. Wait, no. Not watching you. Watching
her."

"What does he look like?" Valkyrie asked.

"Black hair, pretty pale. Ugly scar on his face. Looks like a vamp."

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"You should get back inside," Skulduggery said. "Lock the doors."

"You got it, Kemo Sabe. I'll keep my crucifix close."

"Vampires aren't scared of a crucifix, Finbar."

"I don't plan to wave it at him, I plan to hit him with it. It's really heavy. I figure I can do some considerable damage to his head."

He stepped back and closed the door.

Skulduggery and Valkyrie walked back through Temple Bar to the Bentley.

"Is Dusk still following us?" Valkyrie asked, keeping her voice low.

"I think so," Skulduggery answered. "This is the break we've been looking for. Dusk has a grudge against you. We're quite lucky, in fact."

"Very lucky," Valkyrie agreed dryly. "Very lucky that a vampire wants to kill me. Are we going to lure him into a trap?"

"Indeed we are. But not here. He won't get close enough. He has to believe you're alone."

Valkyrie narrowed her eyes. "That sounds suspiciously like a suggestion that I should act as bait. ..."

"You have to go to the reunion."

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"No no no . . ."

"You can't be around me, or Tanith, or any sorcerer. Dusk wouldn't risk it. He'll strike only when he thinks you're alone; that way he can take his time when he kills you."

"You're not making me feel any better about this."

"You're going to the reunion."

She sagged.

"Tanith and I will wait nearby. The moment Dusk tries anything, we'll step in."

"But my family. My aunts and uncles and cousins and second cousins and-- "

"We'll protect them."

"What? No, I mean, my family is really,
really
annoying. When they're drunk, they all start dancing, and that's just. . . that's just
wrong."

"You'll have a wonderful time."

"I hate you."

"I know."

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Chapter Thirty

FIGHT

SPRINGHEELED JACK stood on the roof of Clearwater Hospital and looked down at the creature, admiring the beauty and the savagery, the sheer power he could feel, even from where he was standing.

"Quite a thing, ain't it?"

Jack wiped any hint of admiration from his face, and turned as Sanguine strolled toward him.

"You lied to me," he said.

Sanguine nodded. "That I did. How'd you find us?"

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"You told me where you were stayin', remember?"

"I did? Me an' my big mouth, I swear. ... So, you seen the critter down there. What do you think?"

"This all has to do with the Faceless Ones," Jack said, and hit Sanguine.

The Texan stumbled back, and he was straightening up when Jack kicked him off the edge of the building.

Jack jumped, flipped, and landed on the ground beside Sanguine.

"Ow," Sanguine said, flat on his back. His sunglasses had come off, and Jack looked at the holes where his eyes should have been.

"I don't like being used," Jack said.

"If I'd apologized before, would you still have kicked me off the roof?"

"Probably."

"Figured as much."

Sanguine struck out with his leg, his boot cracking into Jack's knee. He rolled up and launched himself forward, forced Jack against the wall, driving in punches. Jack's hat fell.

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Sanguine punched and Jack ducked. Sanguine's knuckles hit the wall and he howled. Jack shoved him away, giving himself enough room to maneuver, and he jumped and kicked, and Sanguine went sprawling.

"You can't beat me, Yank," Jack snarled.

"Yanks are from the North," Sanguine muttered, getting up. "I'm a Southern boy."

He came forward again and Jack ducked and dodged, flipping himself sideways. Sanguine growled in frustration. Jack smacked him and gave him another kick in the head, and once more Sanguine hit the ground.

Jack looked down at him. "So where is he? Where's Vengeous?"

"Ain't here right now," Sanguine said, not trying to get up.

"It's just you and him, is it? You and him and that thing?"

"We got vamps, too. You know Dusk?"

"Met him in London once. He didn't realize the rooftops was
my
patch. We got into a bit of a scuffle, you might say."

Sanguine sat up and groaned. "Well, I'd love to watch you two kill each other, but he ain't around

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either. He's off on one of his vendettas, goin' after a girl in Haggard."

"You used me, Sanguine."

Slowly, Sanguine reached out, picked up his sunglasses, and got to his feet. "You came all the way to Ireland to berate me, that what you did?"

"I came here to find out what you're up to."

"And then what?"

"If I don't like it? I'll stop it."

Sanguine's sunglasses were back on, and he laughed. "That critter out there,
that's
what we're up to. You wanna stop that? You go right ahead, my ugly little friend." The ground at Sanguine's feet started to crumble. "Go back to London, Jack. You can't do anythin' to hurt us here. We're too strong, buddy. What could you possibly do to upset our plans?"

Sanguine grinned, and he lowered into the ground and disappeared.

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Chapter Thirty-one

THE EDGLEY FAMILY REUNION THING

VALKYRIE CHECKED that her parents had gone to the reunion and the house was empty, and then walked outside and waved. The Bentley drove up, Skulduggery got out, and together they lifted the reflection's body out of the trunk and carried it into the house and up the stairs.

They positioned the reflection in front of the mirror, and then let it drop gently forward. It passed through the glass, slumping to the mirrored room within. After a moment, the reflection stirred and stood up. It turned to them, its face placid and

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blank. Valkyrie fought down an irrational feeling of guilt for what they had put the reflection through. She started to imagine that it had a reproachful look in its eyes. She reached out and touched the glass, and the reflection's memories swarmed into her mind.

She clutched her chest and took a step back. "Oh God."

Skulduggery steadied her. "Are you okay?"

"I just remembered what it was like to be shot."

"Was it fun?"

"Amazingly, no."

She stood up straighter. The reflection in the mirror was normal now. "I'm all right. I'm good."

"Then I shall leave you. You're going to have to walk to the golf club, I'm afraid. But don't worry, we'll be watching."

"What if I go to the reunion and Dusk doesn't fall for the trap? Then we're all just wasting our time."

"This is the only option we have, Valkyrie. Are you going to wear a dress?"

"Are you sure I can't go like this?"

"He'll be cautious enough as it is. You have to appear completely unaware."