A/N: Thanks to refya and JunoMagic for betaing this for me!

Disclaimer: Characters, settings, or basically anything you recognise are not mine. They belong to the amazing Derek Landy. I make no money from this. I didn't even come up with the title - that has been nicked from the Rolling Stones song by the same name.

Chapter 2

Skulduggery had pulled some strings and made some phone calls and assured Valkyrie that once they had Tanith, they'd be guaranteed seats on the Coach-a-Bowers. Valkyrie didn't ask whom he'd talked to; she had other things to worry about.

"What we're not guaranteed is a safe return," Skulduggery said. He was half-sitting, half-lounging on the window sill in Valkyrie's room, his long legs dangling over the edge, and looked utterly comfortable. "Once we're there, it's up to us to make our way out. However, since we don't really need Nye, and thus have no need to let it cut us up, and there are two of us, I doubt there will be any problems. Even if Nye is a sick, twisted freak."

"And even if it holds a grudge after I hurt it," Valkyrie muttered.

"Even so, yes. It was alone, wasn't it?"

"I think so… To be honest, I didn't pay that much attention to my surroundings. It was difficult to focus on anything."

Skulduggery nodded. "It's something we have to take into account. At least we know how being dead affected you – and we also know that you have enough sheer determination to pull through it. We don't know how it will affect me, seeing as I'm dead already. If we're lucky, and I'm rather counting on that, I will be as unstoppable and awesome as always."

Valkyrie rolled her eyes. "And if we're not lucky, you'll be a walking skeleton zombie."

Or worse, her mind added. She ignored that thought. She didn't want to think about how entering the realm of death could affect someone already dead. He'd be dead twice. Would leaving bring him back to life? Back to being a living skeleton? Could he even leave at all?

She didn't want to ask Skulduggery if he'd thought about those other possibilities.

"I'll talk to Ghastly," Skulduggery said. "I think it's time to put the plan in action. I'll leave Fletcher to you."

xXx

"You have a plan." Ghastly stared at Skulduggery, not believing his ears. "A plan to save Tanith."

"Yes."

"It's not possible."

Skulduggery looked at him. "It may not work. There's a good chance that she may not survive."

"But there is a chance that she will?"

"Yes. It's never been done before, so it's hard to be sure, but it's a pretty good plan."

"But you're not going to tell me what the plan involves."

"I'm afraid not, no."

"Is it your plan?"

"Valkyrie's, in fact. But it's a pretty good plan."

"Oddly enough, that fills me with more confidence. Why doesn't Val want you to tell me the details?"

"You'd have to ask her that. Don't expect her to give you an answer, though. All I can say is that I know her reasons, and that it's not my secret to tell. Also, two people will be more than enough to carry out the secret part of the plan. We only need your help in capturing Tanith. I mean, I could do that on my own, but we don't want to harm her too much, and it would be better if you were there, too. Just in case Sanguine is hanging around."

Ghastly winced. He'd heard that Tanith was usually seen together with Sanguine. It was not something he liked to dwell on.

"Also, we need to use the room in your basement. We may need to keep Tanith secured for a few hours – no more than a day or two – before we can proceed with the next stage."

"I'll get the room set up and bound. I don't think we can make it Sanguine-proof, but if it's only for a short time…"

"We can just stay down there and keep watch, yes."

"Fair enough."

A chance to get Tanith back. Ghastly's heart leapt.

xXx

Fletcher was not happy about being excluded. He didn't actually say anything, which Valkyrie was glad about, but he didn't need to. His sulking made it more than obvious.

"I'm sorry, Fletcher," she said after a few moments. "I wish I could tell you more, but… It's something you can't help with, anyway."

"But Skulduggery can."

"Well, yes."

Fletcher shrugged. "Whatever. I'm in, of course."

"Thanks." Valkyrie stepped closer and pulled him into a hug. Experience had told her that with Fletcher, a good snog was usually enough to put an end to the sulking. As usual, she was right.

xXx

Valkyrie had been a bit worried that having her home watched would keep Tanith away. Skulduggery assured her that Tanith would never even realise there was anyone there, and after a few days, Valkyrie had to admit he was right – he and Ghastly were obviously very good at this sort of thing.

Working out the schedule had taken a while, but based on her previous experience, they'd eventually agreed that Tanith was most likely to turn up when Valkyrie was home. Valkyrie only hoped that her parents and baby sister would be out at the time; the last thing she wanted was a fight on her doorstep when her family was in.

When Tanith did finally turn up, luck was on their side. Desmond Edgley had gone to work, and Valkyrie's mum had taken baby Rachel out for some fresh air.

xXx

She had come alone.

Valkyrie stood at the front door and made a show of looking around. "No psycho boyfriend with you today?" she asked, making sure her voice was loud enough.

"Don't tell me – you're missing Billy-Ray," Tanith said, her voice heavy with mockery. "He's busy today. Work to do, people to kill, you know."

Valkyrie sighed. "Why are you here? I mean, I've been asking you this every time, but I still don't get it. Don't you have anything better to do?"

She kept her gaze on Tanith, but from the corner of her eye, she spied some movement behind her. Skulduggery was sneaking closer, making no sound, with Ghastly not far behind. With nothing else to occupy their time today, they'd both been keeping watch this time. They'd decided not to alert Fletcher until Tanith was captured and secured; a phone call could have been overheard.

"Oh, but it's fun to come around for a little chat now and then." Tanith smirked.

Valkyrie wished she could wipe that smug smile off her face. She wanted her friend back. Their plan had to work. It just had to.

A skeletal hand emerged from behind Tanith, tapping her lightly on the shoulder. Ghastly was standing a little further away. It was clear from his stance that he was ready to jump into action any moment.

"Hello!" Skulduggery's voice was cheery. "It's been a while, hasn't it? So… Still evil?"

Tanith whipped around, her hand snapping at Skulduggery's neck in a blur, but Skulduggery had been waiting for the attack and had already moved away. He pushed at the air, sending Tanith flying – right to where Ghastly was waiting for her. Ghastly wrenched Tanith into a choking hold with one arm and locked her arms behind her with the other.

Tanith struggled, kicking back with her heels and trying to wriggle out of Ghastly's hold, but Ghastly was too strong for her.

Skulduggery strolled over, a pair of handcuffs dangling from his fingers. A moment later, Tanith's hands were securely fastened.

Valkyrie blinked. The whole thing had taken perhaps a minute. Maybe even less. She'd expected bloodshed.

"A life of evil doesn't suit you," Skulduggery mused. "You've gone all soft. You didn't even hear us sneak up on you, did you?"

Tanith spat at him. Black lines were spreading out on her face, turning it into a horrifying caricature.

"What are you going to do to me?" she asked. There was a spot of spittle in the corner of her mouth. "You're still not dreaming of 'rescuing' your dear friend, are you? It's not going to happen. I'm Tanith, and Tanith is me. And if you put me in a cell, well… My boyfriend may still not be in perfect shape thanks to our friend Darquesse here, but he can dig his way in if needed."

Ghastly's eyes widened. Valkyrie felt faint. She put her hand on the door jamb, to avoid losing balance.

Tanith smiled. It was not a pretty sight. "Oh, don't tell me you hadn't told Ghastly yet, Val. Hmm. I wonder who else doesn't know. Your pretty, if pathetic boyfriend, maybe? Where is he, by the way? Have you dumped him for the vampire at last?"

"None of your business."

Skulduggery pulled a handkerchief out of a pocket, together with a piece of tape. "I think you've said enough. I really hope you don't have a cold – wouldn't want you to suffocate to death."

He put the gag on Tanith, keeping a watchful eye on Ghastly at the same time.

"I think we need to have a chat later," Ghastly said quietly. He looked over at Valkyrie. The wariness in his face was more than she could take, so she closed her eyes.

"Yes. Later," Skulduggery said. "I think we should get Fletcher now. Valkyrie?"

"What? Oh. Right."

She took out her phone and dialled Fletcher's number. "We have Tanith. Can you come over now?" It was a struggle to keep her voice calm, but somehow she managed. Ghastly would understand. He wouldn't tell anyone else. And Fletcher… Fletcher didn't have to know. Skulduggery had made sure of that. They only had to keep Tanith gagged for a few hours.

xXx

Skulduggery walked in, phone still in hand. "We have a rendezvous with the Dullahan at exactly half past nine," he informed Valkyrie. "The place is just outside Dublin. I know where it is; it'll take us maybe half an hour to drive there, so we should leave just before nine. That leaves us with," he checked his watch, "four hours of keeping Tanith safe. And quiet."

Valkyrie massaged her temples. "Right. So… I suppose we should have a chat with Ghastly."

"It can wait. We can tell him once we're back. If we succeed, he might take it better."

"He hasn't said a word to me since we got Tanith."

"I'm sure he'll have plenty to say to you once he's got over the shock."

"That doesn't sound very encouraging, you know."

"It doesn't? Oh."

"Maybe I should just go and talk to him."

Skulduggery shook his head. "He needs some time. He already knows that I know, so once he's thought about it for a while, he'll realise that it cannot be all bad. "

"Okay."

Skulduggery crouched down next to where she was sitting. "It will be all right."

"Promise?"

"Cross my heart and hope to die."

Valkyrie smiled in spite of herself. "You've said that before. You still don't have a heart, you know."

"And I'm already dead. Although I suppose that technically, we're almost even there."

"Are you going to tell Ghastly now where we're going? Now that he knows the worst of it already?"

"I don't think so. He'd just worry. And insist on coming with us. And I'm afraid I only booked us three seats in the carriage."

"Okay. Good."

Skulduggery stood up again. "You should get something to eat. You'll need your strength. And I need to go and gather up some supplies, and then I'll go down and see how Ghastly is getting on with Tanith."

"I'm not sure I can eat much."

"You don't have to eat much. Just as long as you eat something."

"I've never known you to be this fussy about my eating habits."

He tilted his head slightly. "We've also never actually made preparations for walking straight into death."

"So it's some kind of an old soldier belief or something? Don't die on an empty stomach?"

"Something like that, yes."

Valkyrie got up, too. "I don't feel like raiding Ghastly's cupboards; not today. I might go out and get some chips, maybe."

Skulduggery nodded. "Try not to get kidnapped. And don't stay out long. Sanguine's out there, somewhere. We don't know if he's noticed yet that his girlfriend is missing."

Valkyrie shuddered. "Ugh. I really don't want to think about Sanguine and Tanith together. She'll be horrified when she finds out."

"Quite likely, yes."

She wondered for a moment whether she should phone Fletcher. She did have time, and she could think of ways to spend what might well be her final hours… Skulduggery would understand – especially if she made sure to let him know she hadn't been kidnapped. But in the end, she decided against it. She'd already almost had an argument with Fletcher over this whole thing, and Fletcher had left immediately after taking Tanith and Ghastly to Ghastly's basement room. He wouldn't be in the mood for anything anyway.

Chips in the little place around the corner it was, then.

xXx

Valkyrie made her way down to the basement at about quarter to nine. Skulduggery was there with Ghastly, leaning against the wall, his hands crossed over his chest. There was a tense silence between the two men. Valkyrie felt a pang of guilt – the last thing she wanted to do was to put their friendship at risk.

When Skulduggery had first told Ghastly about their plan, he had a sturdy cage installed in the room. Tanith was standing in the middle of the cage, her mouth still gagged and her eyes burning with hatred. Her hands were cuffed behind her back and Valkyrie noticed shackles around her feet, too.

It hurt to see her friend like that. She could only hope that Tanith wouldn't remember this part, once she was safe again.

For a fleeting moment, she wondered if they were doing the right thing. If the plan didn't work… She looked again at the woman she'd come to see as her big sister. There was nothing left of the Tanith she knew in her face now, but during some of their unwanted meetings, she'd seen a glimpse of something else in her eyes. Tanith. Imprisoned in her own mind. She'd never choose a life like this. Valkyrie was ready to bet her head on that.

Skulduggery looked over to Valkyrie. "Ready?"

"Yeah."

"Let's get going then." He stepped closer to the cage, motioning to Ghastly to give him the key. Once the door was unlocked, and he'd made sure that Ghastly and Valkyrie were on his sides, keeping their eyes on Tanith, he pulled a short piece of chain out of a pocket and attached one end to Tanith's handcuffs.

He fished out another pair of handcuffs (Valkyrie wondered how many pairs he had stuffed in his pockets) and attached the other end of the chain to one of them, fastening the cuff around his own wrist. He was taking no chances.

He checked the handcuffs and shackles. Obviously satisfied with the results, he said, "Come along, then."

Tanith glared at him but did as she was told. Valkyrie wondered if she would be foolish enough to try and escape. She wouldn't get very far.

"We'll let you know once we're done," Skulduggery said, activating his façade. "We might need to be picked up."

Ghastly nodded, not saying anything. His eyes were fixed on Tanith.

Skulduggery led them upstairs and out. "Do you have everything?" he asked Valkyrie. She had to think for a moment, but then realised he must have meant the staff, and nodded. It was probably a good idea not to mention any specific weapons they might have on them in Tanith's presence.

Once outside, Skulduggery looked around quickly to check if anyone was watching. The street was deserted, in spite of the evening being warm and lovely.

"I can take over," Valkyrie suggested, realising that it might be difficult for Skulduggery to drive while being chained to their captive – especially one who was likely to try and do everything in her power to distract him from his task. Skulduggery seemed to have come to the same conclusion as he didn't argue.

"Get in," Valkyrie said. Tanith stood still for a moment, her posture defiant, but when Skulduggery made a show of reaching for his gun, she rolled her eyes and got into the Bentley.