Three days later and the team was back together again. Anton, Sam, Saracen, Nasri, Rania (and their ten guards) were at the sanctuary, safe and sound. It was time for a meeting, and it was going to be a big one and Valkyrie hated meetings of any kind. Everyone was present except Ezra. Ethel, Valkyrie corrected herself, Everyone was present except Ethel. In a sick and twisted way Valkyrie was glad so much was happening. She was glad they all had such a big, looming distraction of impending doom because they were keeping it together for that specific reason. She dreaded to think what they would be like otherwise. They were all seated at a big, rectangular table in a vast, open room. China Sorrows cleared her throat.

"It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all back. I'm very glad that you are all in one peace. We have much to discuss, I'm sure. So much to discuss I'm not entirely sure where to start." China said, glancing down at the single piece of paper in front of her.

"We have a month and half left before our deadline with Hades." Skulduggery clarified. Valkyrie nodded, a small knot forming in the pit of her stomach.

"Macon is going to be angry you're all alive and together." Lila continued. Valkyrie nodded again. The knot in her stomach got bigger.

"Macon is also going to be after me for helping Dexter escape." Kaden added sullenly. The knot got bigger still.

"And then there's Ezra." Dexter said.

"And then there's Ezra." China echoed. Valkyrie wasn't sure but she seemed to be having an anxiety attack. Her palms were slick, her heart beat was hammering so fast and so loud she was sure it was going to burst. An overwhelming feeling of nausea overtook her. She couldn't catch a breath. Skulduggery softly tapped her thigh, raising an eyebrow. Valkyrie forced herself to swallow, to take a deep breath. She nodded once, subtly. She gripped his hand under the table, feeling the solidity, focussing on it, anchoring herself to him.

"So let's talk strategy." Milo insisted.

"I think in a week we should storm the castle." He said simply.

"A week?" Ghastly asked.

"Just a week?" Saracen added.

"We can catch him by surprise. As far as we know, he doesn't know we found our way back. He doesn't know Kaden was powerful or smart enough to pull something like this off. No offence..." Anton said.

"None taken, its true." Kaden confirmed.

"This... is a good idea." Rania said, calculating it in her head.

"He isn't expecting you all, much less us." Nasri added, smirking.

"Back to basics, front line is The Dead Men. Flanked by our friends, if they are willing. There is no pressure. Then we send in cleavers." China speculated.

"The Dead Men... including Ezra?" Saracen questioned.

"Yes." China said, at the same time as Dexter said "No."

Their eyes met.

"We need Ezra." China insisted.

"No, no. The deal was we get her back on her feet. A week isn't enough time. She only just rediscovered magic. She doesn't know her own power, she can't fight. She isn't trained. Ezra had centuries worth of experience. Ethel doesn't. Absolutely not." Dexter fired back.

"We can't bring her in blind." Ghastly agreed.

"Then you have a week." China hissed.

"China, we can't." Valkyrie interjected for the first time.

"We must. We are being fools if we think we can have anyone down. Macon and his filth are strong and powerful. Maybe more so than us. We need every hand on deck." China demanded.

"She won't be ready. You're sending that girl to her death." Zafaria claimed evenly.

"She never let you down, China. Never hurt you. Betrayed her. She was the only person you could say the same about until now." Skulduggery said, standing abruptly and leaving.

Valkyrie stared at China, stunned.

"Is this a power trip?" Valkyrie sneered.

"No, Valkyrie. But needs must. This is a desperate time." China soothed.

"He has something on you, doesn't he? Macon?" Saracen questioned, his eyes boring into China. Her face remained calm as she spoke; "Yes. He does. He came to me in a dream. Told me his plans for the sanctuary once he's finished with all of you. We can't risk it. We can't risk him surviving this." Then she got up and left.