Not much Happens in this chapter, sorry. it's just a way to carry the story forward a little bit.
Valkyrie sat on a bench in the Bullring in Birmingham, with Lisa and Mia, while Gideon, Luke, Spook and Dax talked outside a shop, Tom and Lucy sat together at a smoothie bar and Owen, Tyrone, Clive and Barry ate at a nearby restaurant. Anna and Alex were in normal clothing, but had big backpacks on, which contained their armour and weapons. They stood pretending to advertise a game, with the Rippers standing like promotional statues. Twice, official looking men had walked up to them. Both times, Valkyrie had realised that they were Sorcerers, and a quick word or two had put their unease at rest.
Valkyrie received a text and stood, silently motioning Lisa and Mia to follow her. Realising that something was happening, Dax and Owen led their groups after her, followed by Tom and Lucy. Owen waved away the waiter, placing a few notes in his hand that totalled about twice as much as the bill was. Anna beckoned and she, Alex and the Rippers moved after them. They walked towards a door, and Valkyrie went to open it.
Passers-by were surprised when a door from the Bullring into the street opened, but no-one came through.
Nineteen people stood in an alley in Moscow, Capital of Russia. Fletcher took his leave. Eighteen people walked out of the alley, led by a tall man in a tailor made navy blue suit and a pale girl in her late teens, wearing dark clothing. After them came two adult men, then ten people in their mid-teens. Lastly came four figures in armour, helmets covering their heads. Two in black armour, each with two sickles, and two in dark green armour, with giant hammers with a point on the opposite end strapped to their backs.
Money wasn't a concern for Skulduggery, and he'd had a couple hundred years to build up a fortune. Whilst searching Moscow with Fletcher, he'd come across a hotel that was for sale. It wasn't the cleanest place on earth, but there was clean water, hot and cold, and electricity. It was also one of the few places for sale big enough to house eighteen people.
"There's eleven usable rooms, so if me, Owen, Tyrone, Anna and Alex get a room each, that leaves six rooms to share between eleven of you." Skulduggery told the others as they walked through the Hotel door.
"What about the…Rippers?" Owen asked, flicking on the lights.
"They don't actually need sleep. Not much, at any rate. If they do, they can sleep on the sofas here in the lobby." Skulduggery replied. "Now, I trust that Dispel gave you something containing all the information and leads he had into where the cult is based?"
Owen pointed at a small suitcase that Tyrone had been dragging. "All his notes, newspaper cuttings, etcetera are in there."
Skulduggery took the suitcase and thanked Tyrone. "I'm going to talk to the Russian Sanctuary. I might be some time, so just sit tight here until I return. Oh and Valkyrie, the case is in my room, top floor, room three."
Valkyrie nodded. She started up the stairs as Skulduggery made the others write down which rooms were useable.
Sorry again for lack of stuff. More in next chapter. Also there might be a few numerical errors (I was tired when i wrote this bit) so just to confirm there are Eighteen of them, including the two Rippers, Anna and Alex, and Tom and Lucy.