Synecdoche clenched her jaw, but nodded to an assistant who hurried forward with a roll of bandages. While he wrapped, Synecdoche busied herself with applying a clear gel to the cut on Valkyrie’s forehead. Valkyrie looked around as best she could. Donegan Bane lay three beds away. She couldn’t see Gracious.

The door opened and China strode in. She was dressed in black. Her eyes were alive with worry. “What happened?”

“The explosion was Darquesse’s doing,” Valkyrie said. “There was a light, she was holding it, and then … I don’t know. I don’t know what it was. I didn’t see what happened to her.”

“I’ve heard reports that Lord Vile was seen in the area,” China said.

Valkyrie nodded. “He was working with Melancholia.”

“What about Skulduggery?” Tanith asked.

“I … I don’t know,” Valkyrie answered.

China’s face was anxious. “Vile,” she insisted. “What happened to Vile?”

Valkyrie looked at her. She knew. Somehow she knew.

“I don’t know that, either,” Valkyrie said. “He was closer to the explosion than I was. I don’t know what happened to him.”

China hesitated, her face no longer betraying any emotion, then nodded and walked out.

Valkyrie slipped off the bed as gingerly as she was able. She couldn’t move her left hand in its bandage, her right leg was stiff for some reason, and when she prodded her side, it felt rigid. She stifled another cough, tasting blood again.

“Chew these when the pain returns,” Synecdoche said, passing her a packet of leaves. Valkyrie nodded, stuffed them in her pocket and left before the doctor could find a reason to keep her here. With Tanith following behind, she glimpsed China talking with Cassandra and Finbar, and ran to join them, ignoring the ugly jolts that rang throughout her body with each step.

Cassandra had her eyes closed when Valkyrie reached them. “Darquesse is alive,” she said. “She’s weak, but recovering. At this rate she’ll be back to full strength in twenty minutes.”

“Fifteen,” Finbar corrected.

“What about Skulduggery?” Valkyrie asked before China could.

Cassandra shook her head. “We can’t sense him, but then we have never been able to sense him. His thoughts are constructed differently to ours, and this difference hides him from us. We were able to take a glimpse at Melancholia as the event took place, however – but I’m sorry to say that she didn’t make it.”

“She’s dead?”

“The girl means nothing,” China said. “Can you see Vile?”

Cassandra frowned. “Lord Vile is there? We’ve seen no sign of him. Are you sure?”

“What about anyone else?” China said, ignoring the question. “Any survivors?”

Cassandra nodded. “Some injured. Many scared. They’re running from the blast site … apart from …” She tilted her head, stayed quiet for a few moments, then, “Your parents, Valkyrie. Your parents and your sister.”

Valkyrie went cold. “They’re outside?”