Playing with Fire (Skulduggery Pleasant, Book 2) Read Free Page B

could find the armor and retrieve this mysterious missing ingredient. He tracked the Baron to a known enemy hideaway and brought him to justice, in what became one of the most talked-about battles of the entire war. Skulduggery was badly injured in that fight, if I remember correctly."
    Valkyrie looked at Skulduggery and he folded his arms.
    "This is a history lesson," he said. "Why are we going over this?"
    "Because," China said with a smile, "I have heard that this final missing ingredient-- whatever it is-- has at last been recovered, or at least
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    located, by the Baron's associates."
    Skulduggery's head tilted. "Who are these associates?"
    "I'm afraid not even I know that."
    "So if Vengeous now has the missing ingredient," Valkyrie said, uneasily, "can he revive the, uh, the Grow Thing?"
    "Grotesquery," China corrected.
    "And no," Skulduggery said, "it's impossible. He'd need Vile's armor, which he doesn't have."
    "But if he did, and he revived this thing, what would it do? Would we be able to stop it?"
    Skulduggery hesitated for a split second. "The threat the Grotesquery would pose is a little bigger than that. Theoretically, it would be able to summon the Faceless Ones back to this world, by opening a portal through realities."
    "A portal?" Valkyrie said, a little doubtfully.
    "Yes, but the Grotesquery would have to be at full strength to do it, and that's not going to happen."
    "Why not?"
    "A heart had to be provided for it, but the only one suitable was the heart of a Cu Gealach."
    "I'm sorry?"
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    "Cu na Gealai Duibhe," China said, "to give it its full Irish title. They do still teach you Gaeilge in school, yes?"
    "Yes, it means . . . it's 'Black Hound of something,' right?"
    "Almost. Hound of the Black Moon. Terrible creatures. They're virtually extinct now, but they were ruthless, savage things."
    "Ruthless, savage things," Skulduggery said, "that were only ruthlessly savage for one night every few years, at a lunar eclipse. So no matter how much power Vengeous pumps into that thing, the Grotesquery will not be strong enough to open a portal until the Earth, moon, and sun line up, which won't be for another-- "
    "Two nights," China said.
    Skulduggery sagged and his head drooped. "Well that's just dandy," he muttered.
    They were on the motorway, heading to Haggard. "So," Valkyrie said, "a legendary battle, eh?" Skulduggery turned his head to her. "I'm
    sorry?"
    "The battle between you and Vengeous, the legendary one. What happened?"
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    "We had a fight."
    "But why is it one of the most talked-about battles of the war?"
    "I don't know," he said. "Maybe people had nothing else to talk about."
    "China said you were badly injured. Is that why you don't like him? Because you were injured?"
    "I don't like him because he's evil."
    "So it's got nothing to do with him injuring you?"
    "It's because he's evil," Skulduggery said grumpily.
    They stayed on the motorway for another five minutes, then took the off-ramp. The roads became narrower, and curved between darkened fields and lone houses, and then orange streetlights appeared on either side and they were driving into Haggard.
    They reached the pier, and the Bentley stopped.
    "Tomorrow's going to be a big day," Valkyrie said.
    Skulduggery shrugged. "Maybe. Maybe not. If we can keep Vengeous out of the country, we've got nothing to worry about."
    "And if we can't?"
    "Then we have a whole lot to worry about, and
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    I'm going to need you rested and alert."
    "Sir, yes sir," she said, raising a mocking eyebrow. She opened the door and got out, and moments later the Bentley's taillights disappeared into the darkness.
    Valkyrie stood beside the pier for a moment, watching the dark sea churn at the rocks and play with the small boats moored nearby. She liked watching the sea-- its power made her feel safe.
    Back when Valkyrie Cain was known as Stephanie Edgley, she didn't know much about life outside of Haggard. It was a small town, tucked into the east coast of Ireland, and