“Valkyrie can protect him if they meet one of Star’s friends and, to be honest, we need you and the Sceptre to stay with us.”

“Right,” Stephanie said, unconvinced. Darquesse wished she’d put up more of an argument. She didn’t want to miss out on the fun.

As the others went on, Fletcher walked over to her on shaky legs. He looked pale. “You might have to carry me.”

“I’m not carrying you.”

“What if I fall over?”

“I’ll drag you.”

“That sounds painful.”

They started walking back the way they’d come. He walked so slowly.

“Can you teleport yet?” she asked.

“I’ll try,” he said, and took a moment. “Have I teleported?”

“No.”

“What about now?”

“No.”

“I don’t think I can teleport,” he admitted. “I need a clear head. My head isn’t clear. It’s ouchy.”

“Maybe I will carry you.”

“Really? That’d be cool. I don’t like walking. It’s boring and it takes forever.”

He talked on, but Darquesse wasn’t listening. There was someone up ahead. Someone with bubbling, boiling power. Male. Big. Strong. Darian Vector, maybe. Darquesse allowed herself a smile. Looked like she wouldn’t be missing out on the fun, after all.

They got to the weird elevator thing. “Up you go,” said Darquesse.

Fletcher looked confused. “Weren’t you supposed to take me to a doctor?”

“No. I was to take you as far as here, and go on by myself. Up you go now. We’re going to need you to teleport us home when all this is over.”

“I think Skulduggery meant you to stay with me.”

Darquesse took Fletcher’s arm, led him into the elevator, and stepped out. “There,” she said. “Get well soon.”

The doors closed before he could respond.

Darquesse continued down the corridor. It was dark here. Quiet. Empty. Perfect.

A slight sound behind her, and she turned.

Darian Vector loomed over her. Handsome. Unshaven. A gleam in his eyes that was bordering on insane.

“Look who we have here,” he said. “You’re either the reflection or the real thing. Doesn’t much matter which. Only thing that matters is that you’re not her.”

“Darquesse,” said Darquesse.

“What’s it like,” said Vector, “to go from being that powerful to being … you? What’s it like to go from killing everyone in sight to quivering in fear?”

“I’ll let you know when I start to quiver.”

“Still talking tough, eh? Let’s see how tough you talk when I pull your arms and legs off. You killed some friends of mine.”

“Do I look scared? Do I look the slightest bit intimidated? Even someone like you, Vector, even someone as obviously stupid and intellectually stunted as you has to be wondering why that is. Am I bluffing? Am I expecting back-up to arrive in the nick of time? Am I as stupid as you are?”

“Stop calling me stupid.”