“That’s what you get,” says Gant from outside. “That’s what you get.”

Danny wants to scream and scream, but he locks it down, he keeps the screams clamped inside his chest, and he breathes fast and shallow. He can smell the woman’s coconut shampoo.

Car doors close, and the engine starts, and the Cadillac reverses into a three-point turn and heads back the way it’s come at a gentle pace.

When they get to the road, they stop, and Jeremiah comes round and opens the trunk again. His face is red from exertion. Dribbles of sweat run from his forehead. Glaring at Danny, he takes hold of the woman’s torso and hauls her out. He lets the body fall at his feet, and looks in at Danny, his nose wrinkled in disgust.

Then he closes the trunk.

60

FREAKS

inally, the pain went away.

They ran a few more tests, then OK’d her release. She eased herself out of bed, her joints aching, and dressed slowly. She was zipping up her jacket when Skulduggery stopped by.

“Clarabelle tells me I’ve had the Surge,” said Valkyrie.

“We’ve all gone through it,” he responded. “It’s not nice, but it’s necessary. And at least you have magic again. How do you feel?”

“Tired. Sore. But most of all … different. I can feel the magic inside me, but it’s not like it was. And I don’t feel the air like I used to. I don’t think I’m an Elemental any more.” Valkyrie clicked her fingers. No sparks flew.

“They have a Nye over there,” she said, carrying on clicking. “It’s a professor. Still skulking around in the shadows. While you were being held by Mevolent, I was delivered into its delightful hands. After a few tests, it came up with a theory. When Darquesse was pulled out of me, I was left as an empty vessel. The Surge filled me back up but … with what?”

“Magic.”

She stopped clicking. “But what kind? Nye said there could be all these different kinds of magic that even sorcerers don’t know about.”

“That’s true,” Skulduggery said. She joined him as he walked from the Medical Wing. “I’ve come across a few such examples. So have you, for that matter. The Jitter Girls. We have no explanation for them at all. We don’t know how or why they exist. They just do. I don’t know how you’re going to turn out. You don’t have a true name any more, Valkyrie. You’re not bound by our rules. The magic that’s within you right now has come directly from the so-called source, with no filtration.”

“I could turn into a Jitter Girl?”