I know this is going slow… but things are going to start speeding up. I've also got a lot of schoolwork right now, so forgive me if I'm not speedy Gonzales with the updates right now. But hang in there, and drop a review!
-Sonya
Chapter 9
"Who did this to you, Phoenix?" Tanith asked, walking calmly up the wall and then sitting on the ceiling so she was face to face with the spirit- girl.
Phoenix sniffed, and turned her head away. "I don't know," she snapped. "That's what you people are here to find out, aren't you?"
"It does seem so, doesn't it? Has any one seen my hat?" Skulduggery interrupted.
"Yes, I have. I'm sitting on it," Tanith replied, and laughed as her friend's shoulders sagged.
"Kidding, Skulduggery. Valkyrie's sitting on it."
Valkyrie jumped up off the hat and threw it to Fletcher, who instantly teleported, and was back in a second.
Phoenix was watching their antics, perplexed, but a small smile was creeping to her lips.
Skulduggery planted his hands on his hips. "Where'd you put it, Fletcher?" he demanded.
"Pumpkin mobile," Fletcher said offhandedly, and Tanith and Valkyrie exploded into extremely loud laughter.
Maybe the tears forming in the corner of her eyes and the way she was doubled over with her hair in her face was the reason Tanith didn't notice the ceiling crumbling next to her.
Even if it wasn't, she didn't notice. But Ghastly did.
"Tanith!" he yelled as a pair of hands wrapped them around Tanith's leather-clad torso.
She only had time to scream before they hauled her back into the ceiling after them.
Valkyrie turned to Skulduggery, but he was still focused on Phoenix.
"Who was that?" he asked her.
She shrugged her ghostly shoulders. "No clue. But also not my problem."
Ghastly frowned. "We're here to help you, you might as well cooperate," he pointed out.
Phoenix swooped down through the air to face him, standing several inches off the ground so she was eye level.
"I'll make you a deal," he added as she continued to stare. She cocked an eyebrow.
"You'll what?" Skulduggery demanded?
"You help us find our friend, and we find out who killed you," Ghastly proposed.
Skulduggery sighed. "Why does this always happen?"
Phoenix analyzed Ghastly. "You're going to be asking questions about how I got this way," she said.
He nodded. "Probably."
She turned away, walked for the wall. "Bring me the man that killed me, and you've got yourself a deal." She walked through the wall and was gone.
"What about Tanith?" Valkyrie instantly demanded. "She could be hurt."
Ghastly smirked. "If she's hurt, I don't even want to imagine being the other guy."
