The Gnarl reared up on its hind legs and almost snagged her foot with its teeth. She flew up, burrowing through the cavern ceiling. She changed direction, carving a large circle through the rock. She kept going, the circles getting gradually smaller and smaller as she picked up speed, and then there was a rumble and a roar and the ceiling fell in, knocking the Gnarl to the ground and smashing its skull as it was buried in rubble.

It was almost disappointing.

Darquesse glared at the dead creature as she landed, then turned and squeezed through the tunnel. It widened and she could walk quicker. There were lights now. And steps. She followed them to a platform that took her upwards. When she stopped, a door slid open, and she stepped into Zafira Kerias’s private quarters.

She took a shower, washed herself and her clothes. While she dried, she held up her jacket, examined how the reinforced fabric needed to knit back together. It wasn’t easy. Ghastly’s clothes were phenomenally complicated as far as armoured clothes went, but she had put people back together atom by atom. She could handle a jacket and a pair of trousers.

When she was done, she dressed, made sure she was presentable, and left Zafira’s quarters through the window. She re-entered the Sanctuary and managed to blend in with a crowd that included Skulduggery and the others, hauling two shackled prisoners after them.

“How’s Fletcher?” Stephanie asked in among the confusion.

“He’s going to be fine,” Darquesse told her. She thought for a moment, and offered a reassuring smile. Stephanie seemed to accept it.

They met another group of sorcerers, American this time. Adrasdos in the lead. They had Darian Vector in shackles. Vector looked up, saw Darquesse. She stared at him, but didn’t react. He looked away quickly, and she gave another smile, but this one was for herself and herself only.

While they waited for Fletcher to be cleared by the doctors, Darquesse went for a stroll. She noted the growing alarm when the sorcerers around her failed to locate their Grand Mage. She could have told them what had happened, could have come right out and said it … but she didn’t, and that interested her.

Obviously, she wanted Argeddion’s location and, if possible, a chance to peek at the Hessian Grimoire, but there were easier ways to achieve both those things. She could kill everyone who tried to stop her and just take the book. She could promise to end Ravel’s suffering in exchange for Argeddion’s new name. There. Simple. But here she was, pretending to be Valkyrie Cain, working alongside Skulduggery and the others like she was part of the group. Like she belonged.

She stopped walking.

Did she want to belong? Was there some part of her that wanted Valkyrie’s old life? Did she want people to like her?