Her insides went cold, and began to churn. “I’m sorry,” she said. “But that was Darquesse, that wasn’t—”

“You killed him here, during the battle. Four weeks ago. Back when you were Darquesse.”

“I wasn’t in control. Krull, I’m sorry, I am, but—”

He grabbed her broken hand and squeezed and Valkyrie screamed.

“A few of us have been wondering why exactly Sorrows let you back into the fold,” Krull said in her ear. “We think it’s because she likes you. You and the Skeleton Detective. You’re her favourites. Makes us wonder why the hell she’s in charge anyway. Who the hell elected her? Who voted her in? I certainly didn’t.”

“Please, you’re hurting me.”

“You’re damn right I am.”

“You know I’m not Darquesse,” Valkyrie said through gritted teeth.

“I know no such thing.”

She tried to turn into him, but he slammed his whole body weight into her and she cried out again. That was too much for her dad to take, and he threw open his door. The Cleavers grabbed him when he got out. Now that they were distracted, Vex reached forward, slid open the side door to make his escape with Alice. He clearly figured his plan was falling apart. But Valkyrie’s mum dived on him, and they tumbled out of the minivan and then Valkyrie was pulled away from the window.

She twisted, rammed her shoulder into Krull’s chest. She kicked at his knee, got his shin instead. She heard him growl in pain and he hit her and bright lights flashed and she fell to her knees. Then he grabbed her hair, started dragging her backwards, and through the tears in her eyes she glimpsed something on the wall overhead, and it was dropping and spinning, and Tanith landed beside her.

She didn’t even see the strike, but she heard it connect, and Krull went stumbling against the minivan. Tanith stalked up to him, her hand closing round his throat, her fingertips digging in behind his windpipe. She pinned his head against the corner of the vehicle and he gagged.

“Key,” she said.

Krull fumbled in his pocket, fished out a small key. Tanith snatched it from him, smacked him in the jaw and he dropped. Tanith helped Valkyrie stand, and unlocked the shackles.

“See to your folks,” Tanith said. “I’ll take this little charmer to cool off in the cells.”

Valkyrie nodded, not even waiting around to watch Tanith drag Krull off by the ear. Clutching her left hand, she hurried round to the other side of the minivan. The Cleavers were just allowing her father back to his feet. A pretty lady, Korb, was with them, apologising profusely.

Her mum was on her knees, her back to Valkyrie.

‘Vex,” said Valkyrie. “Where is he?”