"I swear, if you drop that in my car you will never be allowed in here again," Skulduggery warned Satya who was precariously balancing three cups of coffee that the skeleton had finally let her bring into the car.
"Oh, stop being so melodramatic," Satya groaned, taking one of the cups and sipping. Ghastly reached over and grabbed one of the takeaway cups. "You should be more worried for me- I left my car with Robin of all people."
They pulled into the Sanctuary carpark and went inside only to be met by Cleavers.
"No one is allowed past this point," One issued. "It's okay," Mr Bliss stood out, "Let them pass."
Satya, Skulduggery and Ghastly went through, Bliss by their side.
"How is she?" Satya asked him.
"Being stubborn- As soon as Grouse left her alone she ran off."
"Typical," She muttered, shaking her head. Skulduggery said nothing.
Dexter stood outside the door to the war room, his expression one of pure pissed-offness.
"Dex," Ghastly was the first to reach him, "What's happening?"
Dexter looked up, straightening to meet them, "Crow's becoming Grand Mage on one condition."
Skulduggery tilted his skull, "Well?"
Dexter sighed, "She said she'll only do it if one of the Dead Men join as an Elder."
Satya stared at him aghast.
"Are you kidding me?" Satya exclaimed, storming into the war room, "We're a war unit- Not politicians!"
In the room sat Hopeless who took one of the cups of coffees in Satya's hand, Saracen who stood against the wall next to Tanith Low who had sheathed her sword. Elder Crow sat at the head of the table, Tome on her right. By the door, Erkskine stood, rubbing his forehead tiredly.
Elder Crow was smiling a twisted smile, "Those are my conditions."
Satya shook her head with a glare. "Having a Dead Man as Elder is a terrible idea," Ghastly said.
"Actually, it's brilliant," Skulduggery commented, "It might be nice having someone who doesn't totally hate me being in charge."
Crow cleared her throat, glaring at the skeleton.
Satya sighed, "I nominate Hopeless."
Hopeless spat out his coffee, "What?"
"Think about it," Ghastly took a seat, "Robin and Dexter act more like four year olds-" Dexter tossed a scrunched up paper at Ghastly, "-Skulduggery has more enemies than friends, Anton barely leaves the hotel and Saracen-"
Saracen raised an eyebrow, "Watch yourself, Bespoke."
"Saracen is a know-it-all, Erkskine's too busy gallivanting the world in his spare time and if Ghastly was too busy to make suits then Skulduggery would throw a fit," Satya finished.
"And you?" Elder Tome asked, his lip curled, "I noticed you haven't stepped down."
"I have too much of a passion for my liquor," Satya said bluntly before turning to Hopeless, "So, how goes it, Dead Man?"
Hopeless swallowed, looking down, "I think it's a terrible idea," He confessed, "But any of the others in my stead would probably mean the end of the world."
"All in favour for Hopeless to join the Council of Elders, say aye," Bliss said.
A chorus of ayes went around the room.
"Then it's official," Morwenna Crow announced with a smile that belonged to someone who had got their way, "Hopeless is now an Elder."
"I swear the barista spiked my drink," Satya muttered, shaking his head.
"Now, that is all out of the way," Tome cut in, "Where is Serpine?"
Skulduggery finally spoke, "I received a call from a gentleman who supplies me with information from time to time. A distinctive silver car was seen on Denholm Street, near the docks. I made a call or two, established that almost every building on that street is being leased by a reputable firm. The one exception is a warehouse that has been leased to an individual, Mr. Howard L. Craft."
Tome frowned. "So?"
"L. Craft. Lovecraft. Howard Philip Lovecraft wrote a series of stories commonly referred to as the Cthulhu Mythos, about dark gods who wanted to rule the Earth. Some historians claim that Mr. Lovecraft based his creations, in part, on legends he had heard about the Faceless Ones."
Tome grimaced. "That's your only lead? A trick name Serpine may have used? We don't have time to be wasting on such vague half clues; we've got to act on what we know!"
"Well, what exactly do we know?" Morwenna asked. "We know he has a lunatic scheme to bring back the Faceless Ones, but we don't know how he intends to do it."
"He doesn't just need Fergus to charge the Sceptre but to open the portal to the Faceless Ones," Saracen said.
"That's ridiculous," Tome exclaimed, "He'd need the Grotesquery for that."
"Turns out there is more than one way to open up a portal," Satya grumbled, "Courtesy of some late night reading recommendations from the late Gordon Edgley."
"First order of business," Crow said, ignoring them, "Take a group with you to this warehouse- Stake it out and if you find Serpine or the mortal there, then you have the support and might of the full Sanctuary behind you to go after Serpine."
"We'll have to act now," Skulduggery said, "Fergus is only human and I don't want to be the one to tell Valkyrie that her uncle has been used as a human sacrifice."
"We owe Gordon that much," Hopeless said softly.
"I don't care about your debts," Crow said bluntly, "Just get it done."
Skulduggery wrapped the scarf around his face and put on his hat, then looked at the serious faces around him. "Cheer up, everyone," he said, a new brightness to his voice. "Since we're all going to die horribly anyway, what's there to be worried about?"
Satya and Ghastly threw their coffee cups at him.
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Valkyrie watched as Anton and Robin explained the rules of poker to her cousins. Crystal was being bitchy and impatient while Carol listened as Robin explained the rules, eager for the distraction that the game offered.
Beryl had fallen asleep after breaking down half an hour before. She had suddenly began sobbing, ugly shaky tears that had forced Desmond to leave the room so he didn't break down in laughter at the awful sight.
Melissa had glared at her husband before sitting next to Beryl, rubbing her back and murmuring soothing words.
Beryl had eventually fallen asleep.
Valkyrie was shocked out of her daze as her phone went off. She let go of Robin's hair which she had been plaiting and picked it up.
Everything okay? It was Satya. Valkyrie watched Crystal huff, getting up before muttering something about needing some air.
Beryl kinda broke down, Crystal's gone for a smoke break and the boys are teaching Carol how to play poker.
Satya's response was almost immediate, Tell them to hang in there. Skulduggery got some info re Serpine's possible location. This could be over before the night is.
Valkyrie nudged Robin with her leg, showing him the text. He looked over before flashing her a smile, "See! I told you to stay optimistic," he whispered before shuffling the deck of cards he held.
Valkyrie put down her phone and continued plaiting his hair. It was an oddly calming exercise, something Robin had claimed that all the Dead Men did when they got bored or jittery- Including Skulduggery which Valkyrie wasn't sure she believed.
After a few minutes, Carol looked up, "Crystal should be back by now," She said worriedly.
"I'll check on her," Anton said, getting up. Valkyrie dropped Robin's hair and got up as well, deciding to go to her parents.
"Ever played horse?" Robin asked Carol, gaining her attention with a wild grin.
Valkyrie left them to it, walking towards her parents' bedroom with a heavy heart. She could her parents' low voices from outside their bedroom door which was slightly ajar.
She knocked lightly, pushing it open. Immediately, their voices ceased. "Hey, honey," Melissa said tiredly. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, Desmond lying on it with a pillow covering his face. Melissa reached out a hand.
Valkyrie took her hand and let her mum lead her towards the bed, allowing her to pull her into a hug. She relished in the warmth for a moment before pulling away, "I think we need to talk."
"That's what we're supposed to say!" Desmond sat up, his tone accusing, "Mel, tell her- It's the parents' job to say that."
Melissa shot her husband a glare. "Yes, dear," He replied sullenly, hugging the pillow.
"But yes," Melissa sighed, "We should talk."
Desmond shuffled over so he was next to Valkyrie, wrapping an arm around her, "Yes, we should."
"I'm so sorry for not telling you about the break-in," Valkyrie said quietly, looking down at her hands, "I should've told you but Skulduggery and the others came and saved me and I just got sucked in to the magic and I couldn't-"
"Sweetie," Melissa soothed, "It's okay, it's okay." She rubbed her back, "I always said you were too much like your uncle," She said with a wry smile, "Always looking for an adventure- This boring place was never good enough for you."
Valkyrie said nothing to defend herself. After all, hadn't she been thinking the same thing just days ago? Haggard had always been too dull. She had lived vicariously through her uncle's wild stories and fiction, too enamored by the glamour to bother with the real world. And when the living skeleton offered her the chance to leave the boring world of reality, she took it in a heartbeat.
"I just can't believe all the stories were real," Desmond confessed before tilting his head, "And I can't believe I've been so blind."
Valkyrie rested her head on her dad's shoulders before biting her lip, "Maybe after all this is over... I could keep learning magic? Satya offered for the Dead Men to take me on as their apprentice."
Melissa swallowed, "Maybe we should talk about this once we get Fergus back."
Valkyrie nodded glumly, her head still resting against Desmond's shoulder.