Dexter Vex dodged a stream meant for him, and there was Stephanie, searching through the rubble, looking up just as Charivari fired at her. There was a bright flash and she was gone.

“… and what she died for.”

Skulduggery dragged the video back a few seconds, and paused it. “Yes,” he said. “This isn’t footage of her death.” He turned the laptop and it slid back to the other side of the table. “Look in the background, on the left. What do you see?”

Valkyrie’s mum peered at it. “People fighting.”

“Look!” her dad said, pointing. “That’s Fletcher! I’d know that head anywhere!”

“Press play,” said Skulduggery, “and watch what happens right before the massively scary gentleman fires at Valkyrie.”

Her mum glanced up. “Her name is Stephanie.”

“Of course,” Skulduggery said. “My apologies.”

Her parents clicked play and Fergus crowded in.

“He disappeared!” Fergus cried.

“Fletcher is a Teleporter,” Skulduggery said. “He saw what was about to happen and he teleported your daughter to safety.”

Valkyrie’s mum looked confused. “Fletcher’s one of them? I mean, one of you? He’s … magic? Really?”

“That would explain the hair,” her father mused.

“But he seemed like such a nice boy.”

“He is a nice boy,” Valkyrie said. “He’s also a sorcerer.”

Her mother closed the laptop, and looked at her. “How did you do all this? When did you find the time? Steph, you never leave the house.”

Now was not the time to tell them about the reflection. There would never be a time to tell them about the reflection. “I sneaked out,” she said. “I skipped some school. Not a lot, but some.”

“You almost got killed.”

“Mum—”

“No, Steph. You almost died. Does … I don’t know, does this happen often? When did all this start? How long has it been going on?”

“A few years.”

“Years? And how many times has your life been in danger in those few years? And you, Mr Pleasant—”

“Call me Skulduggery.”

“I don’t think I will. How can you justify bringing a child into all this?”

“Mum—” Valkyrie started, feeling the heat rise in her face.

“Stephanie, quiet,” her mother said sharply. “You’re eighteen now. You can argue that you’re an adult. But a few years ago you were very much a child. I want to know what the hell is going on. Well, Mr Pleasant? You dragged a child into harm’s way again and again from what I understand. What’s your excuse?”

Skulduggery tilted his head. “Excuse?” he said. “I don’t have one. I don’t need one.”

“I think you’ll find you bloody well do.”

“Valkyrie is my partner.”

“Her name is Stephanie.”