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

Author:Derek Landy
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Action & Adventure - General, Humorous Stories, Magic, Action & Adventure, Fantasy, Juvenile Fiction, Children's Books, Children: Grades 4-6, Fiction, Science Fiction, Horror & Ghost Stories, All Ages, Fantasy & Magic, General
ISBN: 9780061240904
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2009-08-14T07:00:00+00:00

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either. He's off on one of his vendettas, goin' after a girl in Haggard."

"You used me, Sanguine."

Slowly, Sanguine reached out, picked up his sunglasses, and got to his feet. "You came all the way to Ireland to berate me, that what you did?"

"I came here to find out what you're up to."

"And then what?"

"If I don't like it? I'll stop it."

Sanguine's sunglasses were back on, and he laughed. "That critter out there, that's what we're up to. You wanna stop that? You go right ahead, my ugly little friend." The ground at Sanguine's feet started to crumble. "Go back to London, Jack. You can't do anythin' to hurt us here. We're too strong, buddy. What could you possibly do to upset our plans?"

Sanguine grinned, and he lowered into the ground and disappeared.

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Chapter Thirty-one

THE EDGLEY FAMILY REUNION THING

VALKYRIE CHECKED that her parents had gone to the reunion and the house was empty, and then walked outside and waved. The Bentley drove up, Skulduggery got out, and together they lifted the reflection's body out of the trunk and carried it into the house and up the stairs.

They positioned the reflection in front of the mirror, and then let it drop gently forward. It passed through the glass, slumping to the mirrored room within. After a moment, the reflection stirred and stood up. It turned to them, its face placid and

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blank. Valkyrie fought down an irrational feeling of guilt for what they had put the reflection through. She started to imagine that it had a reproachful look in its eyes. She reached out and touched the glass, and the reflection's memories swarmed into her mind.

She clutched her chest and took a step back. "Oh God."

Skulduggery steadied her. "Are you okay?"

"I just remembered what it was like to be shot."

"Was it fun?"

"Amazingly, no."

She stood up straighter. The reflection in the mirror was normal now. "I'm all right. I'm good."

"Then I shall leave you. You're going to have to walk to the golf club, I'm afraid. But don't worry, we'll be watching."

"What if I go to the reunion and Dusk doesn't fall for the trap? Then we're all just wasting our time."

"This is the only option we have, Valkyrie. Are you going to wear a dress?"

"Are you sure I can't go like this?"

"He'll be cautious enough as it is. You have to appear completely unaware."

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"Fine," she growled. "A dress."

"I'm sure you'll look lovely," Skulduggery said as he left the room.

She called after him. "If anyone starts a sing-along at this thing, the world can fend for itself, all right?"

She heard his voice as he walked down the stairs. "That's fair."

Her eyes narrowed. The reflection's memories had mixed with her own, sidled into position like they always did, but there was something else now. A feeling.

She shook her head. The reflection was incapable of feelings. It was a receptacle, a thing that absorbed experiences, ready to be downloaded. There were never any feelings, any emotions. Valkyrie wasn't even sure if this new thing was an emotion. It hovered in her mind just beyond her reach.

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