“First of all,” said Valkyrie, “I told you to shut up about that. Second, Vile is hard to control. Third, even if Skulduggery could control Vile, Darquesse is just too powerful. We need all the heavy hitters we can find.”

“And what happens to me when it’s over? Providing I survive, of course? I’m put back in my cosy little coma?”

“No. You’ll be set free, but …”

“But what?”

Valkyrie hesitated. “But we’ll need to cut you off from magic.”

Melancholia was already pale enough, but now she went paler. “Permanently?”

Valkyrie nodded. “I’m sorry. I wish there were another way, but everyone I speak to says the same thing. Craven’s experiments on you resulted in a level of power that is just too unpredictable. Once Darquesse is taken care of, China’s people will try to contain as much of your magic as they can, and Sensitives will put up walls in your mind. Your memory will be altered and your personality will be slightly … rewritten. They’ve been doing that a lot lately and—”

“You’re talking about killing me.”

“No, we’re—”

“Yes, Valkyrie. Changing my memories and my personality until I’m no longer the same person. That’s killing me.”

Valkyrie sat forward, her hand on Melancholia’s. “The alternative is worse. The alternative is putting you back in that coma, or you walking around with your fluctuating power. You’d be a danger to everyone – yourself included. At least this way you’ll be able to live a normal life.”

“A mortal life,” Melancholia said. “What do I know about living as a mortal? They pass you in the street, these dull-eyed cattle, going about their grey little lives, rushing home to watch their favourite television shows, inane people doing mundane things … and you want me to be one of them? You want me to give up the magic that makes life worth living? Tell me this, Valkyrie – if this is such a wonderful opportunity, would you do it? Would you give up magic?”

“I didn’t have to.”

“But if you were in my situation and had my—”

“It was taken from me.”

Melancholia frowned. “What?”

“When they pulled Darquesse from my mind, she took all the magic with her.”

“You’re … mortal?”

“It’s not so bad.”

Melancholia looked at her. “You’re lying.”

“I’ll get used to it. So will you.”

“I … I don’t think I’ll be able to.”

“I’ll be there to help when you need it.”

“But I hate you.”

Valkyrie smiled. “No you don’t.”

“No, I do. I want to kill you and stuff.”

“We actually became friends in those caves.”

“That’s not what happened,” said Melancholia.

“We’re pals. We’re buddies.”

“If my wrists weren’t in shackles, my hands would be round your throat.”

“You want to hug my throat because we’re friends.”

“I really hate you.”