At Eddie's
"So how long was I gone?" Skulduggery asked, eager to be filled in on everything that had happened.
"You don't know?" Ghastly's eyes widened. Skulduggery shook his head as he grabbed a chip. "Just a little less than two years... You taught Valkyrie well."
"Jesus these are good..." Skulduggery muttered. "I never understood the hype. And of course I taught her well. How else was I going to teach her?"
Ghastly laughed. He had known Skulduggery for the guts of two centuries. It was good to know nothing had changed his outlook on life. He was still amazingly optimistic and not to mention arrogant. If that had somehow been stripped away the only two emotions that Skulduggery would have been able to show would have been rage and the unimaginable grief of losing his wife and child all those years ago. Ghastly was relieved he hadn't changed.
"I'm not used to this hair malarkey anymore," Skulduggery said, managing to sound irritated and pleased at the same time. He tied his hair back with an elastic band he had grabbed from Cerya's desk back at the cinema. "So as we were saying before we were sidetracked by my brilliance- Anything interesting happen? End of the world plots? New hairstyles? Important celebrity deaths? Any new Elders? That sort of thing." He ticked them off on his fingers.
"End of the world plots? No. Not quite. Maybe 'end-of-our-way-of-life-as-we-know-it'. Yes, there definitely was one of those. After that there were... hairstyles. Not that I can put my finger on. Michael Jackson died. And Guild is still the only Elder after Bliss' death," Ghastly took a breath allowing Skulduggery to absorb all the information.
"Michael Jackson's dead?"
"Yeah."
"Homicide, suicide or natural causes?"
"They're thinking homicide on a Monday. Accidental homicide on a Tuesday. Aided suicide on a Wednesday and suicide on a Thursday. The rest of the week the authorities just speculate."
"I see... so Crux is heading up this investigation I take it?"
They both laughed.
"So what's going on with Guild's finest anyway? Bet he's ecstatic to hear I'm back."
"Yeah probably. He's in jail."
Skulduggery's eyes widened. "Why?!"
"I'm not allowed to say- it's about the 'end-of-our-way-of-life-as-we-know-it' thingy. Tanith and Valkyrie would kill me if i told you without them."
"Couldn't you just give me the Cliff Notes version?"
"Nope. Not even if I wanted to."
"Where is Tanith?" Her name reminding Skulduggery that he had been gone for nearly two years.
"At the English ambassador's Sanctuary. She's finally getting her reward for catching Spring-Heeled Jack."
"But he escaped, didn't he?"
"Hence the reason it's taken so long."
"I see," Skulduggery rubbed his chin. A habit he had completely forgotten about. Quickly he was grinning again. As a detective, disguises sort of came with the territory, but he was glad he could finally step outside in the daylight without a scarf, sunglasses, hat and a wig. "So when'll she be done?"
"Well she'll probably head over when she hears you're out of hospital. You should also see Valkyrie. She's going out with Fletcher Renn now you know?"
Skulduggery nodded. "I guessed it'd happen sooner or later. He's the only other magical teenager she knows. How are her powers coming?"
"Can't say," Ghastly said simply.
Skulduggery sat back, his meal finished. He looked at Ghastly incredulously and folded his arms. He's getting used to gesticulation again, Ghastly thought.
"Right Ghastly," Skulduggery half smiled and allowed his voice to drip with scepticism. "What can you say?"
"I can say that we could go back to yours, grab some beers get pissed out of our skulls and when we come to it'll be tomorrow and time to see Valkyrie and Tanith. What do you say?"
"I say where's the nearest off-license. I always wanted to try Alco-pops."
Oh my God guys. Thank you so much for the great comments. I was nearly crying when i found out people liked what i wrote. So i would like to say that this chapter is dedicated to those people who gave those amazing reviews. But please constructive criticism is always welcome. Again thank you!
Yours Rena'i Tsuki
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