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At his throat
The sky was as dark as his heart.
Murlox Grimm stood under the eaves, on a platform of an old railway station. He checked the watch on his wrist, which was as expensive and elegant as the rest of him. He was not a man to be trifled with, and his accomplice was late.
"You were looking for me?" Grimm turned. The lady walking up to him was tall, with long, flowing, dark brown hair. Her eyes glittered in the light of the mon, which hung low and pale in the night sky.
"You're late."
"It couldn't be helped."
Grimm avoided her gaze. "The sands of time are shifting. Minutes are precious."
"Not for some of us. My target for example. Ten years, he was been in hiding, and ten years he had eluded me."
"The Sanctuary would surely have the information on his location. But they have brought the skeleton back in."
"Skulduggery Pleasant? I thought I'd seen the last of him."
"He's had a rough time as of late; a little more torture wouldn't go amiss."
"Do you know where the item I seek is?"
"The new Grand Mage has returned it to its former home."
"Then let us find out where that is."
Grimm looked troubled. "But you are a wanted fugitive, Skella. Do you want to risk is?"
Skella Voss smiled. Her eyes seemed to grow brighter. "I would. I have been thirsty for revenge for far too long."
"The new Grand Mage Is both powerful and influential. You would have a hard time getting past her and her council."
Grimm suddenly gasped as something with a vice-like grip closed around his throat, blocking his airway. He looked down and saw it was a hand of hinged gold. It was Skella's hand, He ran his eyes over her features, which were now gold also, and coughed as she threw him down.
"I will not let someone like you stand in the way of my dreams," Skella said, in a voice made hoarse and menacing by that gold. But as Grimm watched the metal melted off her features, retreating to her right hand. A gold ring in the shape of a gecko surrounded one of her cruel white fingers, and this was where the last patch of gold disappeared.
Grimm massaged his throat. "I was just making a point."
"There is no need to make points. I will succeed, Murlox. That is all there is to it."