Sorry for the wait guys, but I've been really busy with school and… (continues on with a load of other half-assed excuses) But here's chapter eleven! Enjoy… y'all.

-Sonya

Chapter 11

"What are you doing here, Sanguine?" Valkyrie demanded, as Sanguine continued to smirk, and Tanith continued to snarl and try to escape Ghastly's grasp.

"Just one good smack, and I swear that'll be it," she pleaded, wriggling in his grip.

"You know that's not true," Ghastly sighed.

Tanith glared, craning her neck around to try and make eye contact. "Since when are you two buddies? Why does it matter if I turn him into a mushy pulp?"

"He hasn't attacked us, so we give him a chance," Ghastly reasoned.

Tanith gaped at him incredulously as best she could. "He attacked me!"

"So you're hurt?"

"No, of course not."

"So then we hear him out."

"But you're fine."

"Of course I'm not fine, I was attacked by a psychopath!"

Ghastly and Skulduggery both sighed.

"Women," they agreed.

Meanwhile, Valkyrie planted her hands on her hips. "What do you want with us, Sanguine?" she demanded, glaring at the Texan.

"Well, I myself got some business with Miss Lands, so if y'all will s'cuse me…" he tried to push past Fletcher and Valkyrie to the door.

"Don't even think about it," Fletcher glared.

"What do you want here?" Skulduggery demanded, stepping up behind the two teenagers, and resting a hand on each of their shoulders.

Sanguine gulped. "Well, y'all know… jus' a job…"

"You killed Phoenix Lands, am I right, or am I right?" Fletcher snapped.

"Scapegrace said it was an elemental," Valkyrie informed him.

"Oh…"

Ghastly released Tanith, and crossed his arms. "Tell us, or we'll have to use alternate… methods," he said, and Tanith twitched her eyebrows threateningly.

"S'not all that complicated really, none of your business, matter of fact," Sanguine continued to prattle.

The five comrades glared at him.

"So do we throw him to Tanith, or save him for China?" Valkyrie asked, turning to Skulduggery.

"A very good question, Valkyrie, I say"-

"All righ', all righ', calm down, I'll tell ya," Sanguine drawled, holding up a hand.

He looked up, grinning, and slid his sunglasses down a few inches on his nose.

"What's so funny?" Tanith demanded.

Sanguine smirked. "I'll tell y'all on the grounds that Blondie there gives yours truly a great, big kiss."