CHAPTER TEN:
The Girl Who Used To Be A Reflection
The main tent had a long table in the middle like in conference rooms. Valkyrie sat at the head with the others all around. Infinity End was glaring at Tanith who had just put It's The End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) in a CD player on full blast. She was laughing manically, but the rest of the tent's occupants didn't find it funny.
Valkyrie was finally realising why she and the others had been added to the list, none of them knew how to handle an army. Good way to maintain power.
She felt it there, as Lerk attempted to assert his authority. A nagging deep within her, a need pulling at her so strong that she almost jumped from her seat. She had felt it before, many times, a feeling in her gut pulling her toward something, something it had stopped, years ago, just before she had met Skulduggery Pleasant. It was so strong though stronger than ever before. Valkyrie cried out and lurched from her seat, just as Greaya and Creepy did the same, as one they swung towards the entrance to the tent, just as a tall woman with tanned skin, brown, curly hair and startling green eyes waltzed into it.
Ghastly gasped.
Tanith whistled.
Infinity gaped.
"Hi, I heard my little brother's gone and gotten himself stuck in hell."
The Girl Who Used To Be A Reflection watched Georgia Crate lock her car. She had been hunting her for a whole week. Watching, waiting. But tonight was the night. The night when Georgia Crate met her end. She pounced landing right in front of the woman, she grinned as Georgia jumped back.
"Who-who're you?" She stuttered, The Girl Who Used To Be A Reflection laughed, a high pitch echo of that of her previous self, her dark hair flapped in a sudden breeze.
"I'm your death." She croaked.
"What? N-no!" The Girl pounced.
"Georgie!" A boy ran down the stairs that led to the house.
"RUN JOCOSE! Greaya's in Ireland!" And those were the last words of Georgia Crate.
The Girl Who Used To Be A Reflection turned on Jocose Zero.
The young teleporter disappeared.
Billy-Ray Sanguine walked right up to the girl he was going to kill.
Her name was Anamelia Anamalia. Her brilliant red hair seemed to glow in the moonlight, her pale face held no fear, her brown eyes held nothing but pity for the damned soul that would bring her death. That face melted his heart.
"I'm not gonna hurt you love. I want you to come with me, you're not safe here."
"How-how can I trust you?"
"Because you have to."
He held out his hand and Anamelia took it reluctantly. "Hold on tight now, it's gonna be a bumpy ride."
"You must be Miss Cain, I've heard a lot about you, none of it from my annoying little brother though, just from my daughter who's his favourite niece." The woman smiled, Valkyrie gaped.
"Charlotte, Skulduggery's been missing for over a year, why haven't you come sooner?" Ghastly asked. The tent had lapsed into a stunned silence, the song had stopped, Crepella was hiding under the table.
"Simple. I didn't know Australia's pretty much cut off from the rest of the worlds sanctuary's and plus I was nowhere near the Sanctuary. Somehow that little no-good managed to find out before me. Yes, dear, I know you're there." She turned to Greaya. "Hello Greaya, how's Jocose?"
"Still in Australia ma'am." Was her response.
"I see." The woman turned back to Valkyrie a smile playing on her lips. "I do not believe we've been properly introduced, I'm Charlotte Watch, Skulduggery Pleasant's older sister."