Skulduggery Pleasant: Death's Dawn

by Skellyb0nes

"I grabbed the axe off of one of them, snapping it with a sharp crack, twisting around and driving it into the skull of another. These guys were easy to kill, but we were being overwhelmed. I was almost at Tihana's side again, when I felt the rock hit my head. "Oh bollocks." Blood trickled down the side of my face, and then I passed out." THIS IS A COLLAB. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED :3

25. Chapter 24

Sword Lord - Tyrian

WHAM! I threw my fist at Skulduggery, aiming for the gap between his neck and shoulder. He grabbed my wrist and threw me over his shoulder. I kicked off of his skull, my foot squeaking against the bone. I rolled into a standing position, fists at the ready. He stood completely still, waiting for me to make the first move. Fine, fine! I can wait out all day, buddy. He turned, as if to walk out the room, and then swung round, his heavily booted foot swinging through the air in a roundhouse. I caught it, and swung it back round. He spun, expecting for the blow to hit me, but when it came round, I wasn't there. He looked around, bewildered, and I tapped him on the shoulder, before burying my fist into his face. If he had a nose, it would have sunk into his face. As it was, a small crack appeared in the bone, and he stumbled backwards.

"You did well. I will admit, I expected a lot less of you." He seemed to grind the compliment out of his teeth, as if it pained him to say it.

"That's what dedicating your whole life to staying alive tends to result in." I said to him coldly, and began to walk out the padded training room.

"Wait!" He rushed towards his suit jacket, thrown across a chair, and rummaged in a pocket, before pulling out two cans of cider. I cocked my eyebrow at him.

"Really? You're gonna win me over with alcohol?" He shook his head at me and offered one up. I took it reluctantly and opened it, drinking in the cold, sparkling liquid. He looked at me again.

"You know, you're not such a bad lad. Hot headed, irrational, but not such a bad lad."

"Oh wow, thanks for the compliment."

"You're also a smart-ass."

"Oh, I'm the smart-ass? What about you, huh? I've heard some of your 'taunts'!"

We stayed up long into the night, bantering, debating, talking. I felt myself warming to this skeleton, despite wanting to hate him. He had his reasoning for everything, and I can't hate a rational man.