Free Playing with Fire (Skulduggery Pleasant, Book 2) by Derek Landy Page B

usual, about here." He gestured to his own ribs.
    "If it does come back, would destroying its heart be enough to kill it?"
    "Oh yes. Kill it stone dead."
    "Then . . . that's how we kill it, right? Simple."
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    "Not quite. Because most of it is comprised of a Faceless One, it will heal quickly. The stronger it gets, the faster it will heal, until it suffers no injuries at all. It would take an awful lot to damage the Grotesquery while it's at full strength, I'm afraid. Have you found it yet?"
    "No, we don't even know where to start looking."
    "You should ask the Torment."
    "Who?"
    "A few years ago, I heard a rumor that a man called the Torment might know where the Grotesquery is hidden."
    "The Torment? Not, like, Joey Torment, or Sam Torment? An actual the?"
    "An actual the, yes. He's probably dead by now, if he even existed at all. It was just a rumor. You should ask Eachan Meritorious if he knows him."
    "Um, actually, Meritorious is dead. So is Morwenna Crow. Sagacious Tome, too, but he betrayed the others, so I'm not sorry he's dead."
    "Oh dear. Meritorious and Crow? That's a lot of people dead. Is there anyone who isn't dead?"
    "Uh . . . Ghastly Bespoke is a statue."
    "Well, that's something, at least."
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    Valkyrie glanced at her watch. "I better go. Tanith's waiting downstairs."
    "Tanith?"
    "Tanith Low."
    "Oh, I've heard of her. Never actually met her, but I've heard of her. You know my tale 'The All-Night Horror Show,' from my short story collection? That was inspired by something I heard about her."
    Valkyrie smiled. "I think she'd be delighted to know that."
    Echo-Gordon gazed fondly at Valkyrie. "You're suited to all this, you know. I helped Skulduggery for a time until I realized I didn't like putting my life in danger. Sometimes I regret taking a step back. But you ... I always knew you'd be cut out for this adventuring lark. It's why everything was left to you in the will."
    "Thanks for that, by the way. It's . . . amazing."
    "Think nothing of it. How did Serpine die, anyway?"
    "Painfully."
    Echo-Gordon grinned. "Oh good."
    The Bentley pulled up outside Gordon's house just as Valkyrie was closing the door.
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    "Are you all right?" Skulduggery asked as soon as he got out.
    "I told you on the phone, I'm okay. Tanith arrived just in time to save the day."
    Skulduggery looked at Tanith. "Thank you."
    "Val had it handled," Tanith said with a shrug.
    "How did your top-secret sneaky business go?" Valkyrie asked, eager to change the subject.
    Skulduggery hesitated. "This is a sensitive subject."
    "We're all friends here, aren't we? So where'd you go?"
    "Well, I... I broke into the Sanctuary."
    "I'm sorry, you what?"
    "What you were saying earlier, about how Thurid Guild is like a politician with people to please. It got me thinking. So I broke into his private chambers. I had a hunch."
    Tanith stared at him. "That's . . . that's pretty dangerous, Skulduggery. If the Cleavers had caught you . . ."
    "I know. It would have been an interesting fight. But I had to risk it, really. I was curious."
    "About what?" asked Valkyrie.
    "There may be reason to believe that Thurid
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    Guild was involved in Vengeous's escape."
    "Involved how?" Valkyrie asked, her eyes narrowing. "Is he a traitor?"
    "My illicit investigation is just beginning. It's too early to-- "
    "Just like Sagacious Tome," Valkyrie interrupted. "And China!"
    Skulduggery tilted his head. "China is not a traitor."
    "But she used to worship the Faceless Ones, didn't she?"
    "Well, yes, but we've all done things we're not proud of."
    "Even you?"
    Skulduggery looked at her but didn't say anything.
    "How could a traitor be elected as the new Grand Mage?" Tanith asked, and he shook his head.
    "These are my suspicions, nothing more. I liberated some files belonging to the Grand Mage-- "
    "Liberated?"
    " -- and I'll need some time to go over them. Until then, Thurid Guild is innocent until proven guilty. That said, obviously we still don't trust
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    him. That would be