Chapter Fifteen.
Cell Company.
"Great, just great!" Whined Detective Spite. "Just when I thought I had them at my palm, you, Skulduggery Pleasant had to go and act hero!"
Skulduggery would, at that moment have punched Spite across his annoying, little face if shackles weren't tying his hands back.
"Now, now Spite, how would Skulduggery had known that you knew who Elsa Wild and Theodore were in the first place?" Rowan Envy tried to keep the peace.
"Well, I thought he was in on the act too when he was investigating with them." Spite admitted. "But it isn't my fault we're in this position!"
Skulduggery laughed, "So sorry to disappoint you but I am the good guy." he was quiet, then he wandered. "Why did you ever suspect me of being a Warlock?" Skulduggery sounded offended.
"It was New York Sanctuary business, I couldn't tell anyone, else it would have blown my cover. But I didn't trust you. You're fishy, no offence."
"Non taken." Skulduggery lied.
"So," Piped up Envy. "You knew that Riddle wasn't dead from the very beginning?"
Spite hesitated until he said, "Not actually. But I knew Elsa and Theodore were up to something."
Skulduggery sniggered, "Beat you there Detective."
They sat there for a few minutes. Skulduggery leaned against the slimy, wet bricks with his hat low down across the hollow of his eyes. He was deep in thought.
His first thought was of Valkyrie. How was she? Was she safe at home, tired after her hard day at school? Nope, he was probably wrong. Knowing Valkyrie and her luck she would have been in trouble. Then he remembered her phoning him at the moment he and Ghastly were chased by the huge Serpent in Riddle's Manor.
He kicked himself. If only he had at least answered it and heard a bit of what was going on. Maybe she would have alerted the Sanctuary sooner?
He hoped she was well and wasn't stuck in the same position he was in. Did she know where he was? Certainly she would inform China or anyone about what was going on? Then he remembered something Elsa had said. What Elsa, the traitor, had advise him.
"Detective, she is still a child, a child who should be in school…"
"No!" Skulduggery bellowed. Both Envy and Spite jumped at his sudden yelp.
"What's the matter?" Envy's face was growing a deeper shade of red since he was chained to the cell.
"Valkyrie. She's in trouble. I just know it!"
Spite scorned, "Oh, so you're a psychic as well as an freak, are you?"
Skulduggery ignored him and attempted to get out of the shackle spell.
"Detective Pleasant, I think you're overreacting here." he said calmly. "Why do you think Valkyrie's in danger?"
"I don't think. I know!" Skulduggery looked around, trying to find something which would break the charm chain.
Spite sat there, uselessly.
"That girl? Why are you fussing about her? She's hardly Warlock priority."
"Shut your mouth just for a minute will you." Skulduggery snapped threateningly.
"Skulduggery, maybe you're underestimating her. She seems like an intelligent and strong girl."
Skulduggery paused, did he trust her? Well, he just didn't want anything to happen to her. He knew Elsa and Theodore had led her into a trap.
Spite rolled his eyes and laid back on the hard and uneven floor of the cell. He turned his back to them.
"Well I'm going to sleep, there's no way Detective Pleasant will ever get out of here."
Just then, footsteps echoed down to the cell from the corridor.
Elsa Wild came into view from the other side of the bars. She was dressed differently, she wore a ceremonial gown of some sorts.
Her hair was spiked up and newly dyed in a bright, shocking red for the occasion and her face was plastered in dark make up.
She placed her small, heart shaped face between the bars and looked at the prisoners. Skulduggery stood up high and unthreatened.
"Almost time, guys. I promise you, you won't have to wait any longer." She announced brightly.
Spite turned over and frowned, "And we're suppose to believe you?" He exclaimed.
Elsa grinned coldly. "Lets just say that you are going to see a start of a new beginning. I and certainly Major Riddle wouldn't want you to miss that. Plus, we need Skulduggery, of course."
Skulduggery didn't like the sound of this. "What do you mean? Why do you require me?"
But Spite spoke before Elsa could.
"What ever you're planning to do would be stopped before you can say 'Good Morning' to you're ruddy new age!"
"Ouch, Fighting talk. I like that. But sadly, that doesn't mean I won't kill you."
Spite's cocky face turned upside down.
Skulduggery stood up and marched to the bars, the chain restraining him from stretching his arm out of the bars, but his face was inches from Elsa's.
"What are you planning? And why do you need me?!" He tried again with something far darker in his voice now, something cold and slightly unnerving for the hero.
Elsa smiled enigmatically. "You will soon find out for yourself, Detective."
And with that she waltzed away, leaving the three detectives nervous.
"What on Earth was that all about?" Spite flustered. "She is going to kill us, right?"
Skulduggery ignore him and turned to Envy, "I think we need to come up with a plan, don't you?"
Envy nodded.
"Oh, Yippee. The Great Escape." Cried Spite unconvincingly.
Ten minutes had gone pass, and Skulduggery, Envy and Spite had talked it through numerous of times.
"You know your role, Spite?" Skulduggery asked.
Spite rolled his eyes, "Of course. I have been in this business for a few hundred years."
"Fair enough." Answer Skulduggery. He addressed them. "I think we're ready."
Suddenly they heard a slam of a door and voices of the Warlock officers. Chains
rattled and heavy footsteps thumped.
Two, rather threatening, burly Warlocks wearing leather jackets appeared.
"'Awight Gentleman, let the Apocalypse begin!" And one of the officers bowed before them.
The other one laughed, "Time for us to take control!"
They opened the locks and the three stood still, waiting for the right moment.
Two of the officers undid the chains to Envy and Spite and cuffed them as Skulduggery waited patiently. Posed.
"Haha, don't pull off any funny business!" The Warlock warned Skulduggery as he approached him.
Skulduggery was turned around aggressively and was held in position.
Suddenly, when the officers were making a transition of shackles to cuffs, he yelled. "NOW!"
Spite thrashed a blow to the second officer's shoulder, and he collapsed immediately. The one holding Skulduggery was caught with a kick to the chin. He was thrown backwards but before the three could escape, his eyes glowed red.
A flash of red came from his eyes and smashed the three into the wall, crumbling at the bottom.
The officer stood up and whammed a button on his wrist watch. Suddenly a alarm sounded. Skulduggery was conscious enough to knock the officer back with the air and continuously cast fireballs to him. But it was no use. As soon as he had sounded the alarm. More officers, including Theodore came who appeared out of nowhere and he was at Skulduggery side as soon as Skulduggery was dragged to his feet.
"Time for your punishment." Theodore declared.
Skulduggery glared at him. "You've got her, haven't you?"
"Who?" His eyes were bright and playful. He knew who Skulduggery meant.
"Valkyrie."
Theodore lied, "Yes."
"What have you done to her?"
"Nothing...yet. But if you help us, she would maybe get away with her life. Deal?"
Skulduggery looked square in Theodore's face, "Deal," he sighed.
Wait until you know who really has Valkyrie…
Hope you're liking them.
Rhos Furey