The Faceless Ones. by Derek Landy

Author:Derek Landy
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Juvenile Fiction, Horror & Ghost Stories, Fantasy & Magic, General
ISBN: 9780007302161
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's
Published: 2009-07-31T17:00:00+00:00

"Is that what you told Baron Vengeous when he asked you? "

"Something along those lines, yes."

"But he was alone, and unaware that Batu was orchestrating everything. Things are different now. This is a chance for you to come back to the Diablerie. Batu is a good leader. He has his plan. But he's not you. He could never be you."

"You want me to take over, just when Batu's plan is coming to fruition?" She smiled. "Why, Jaron, how delightfully treacherous of you."

"The Diablerie is yours, China; it always has been. Your family has been devoted to the Dark Gods for a thousand years. It's in your veins. It's in your blood. It's in your heart. This isn't something you can just shake off."

"My brother managed it."

"Mr. Bliss is ... unique."

"And Batu?"

"Will die by your command."

China strolled to the middle of the room, thinking about it. Finally, she stopped and looked at him. "The offer is, admittedly, somewhat tempting, but the fact of the matter is inescapable: I am a traitor to a race of sadistic gods who loathe humanity. Why

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would I want them to return?"

Gallow sighed. "That is unfortunate. I really didn't want to have to kill you."

"And I really didn't want to have to be killed. I don't suppose you've developed a sense of fair play since last we met?"

"You mean, would I free you from those handcuffs? I'm afraid not." He picked Crux's gun up off the floor. "I'll make it quick, though. I promise."

China stamped her foot. "How gracious of you." She took a step back and stamped her foot again.

He frowned. "No one's going to hear that, China."

She moved again, stamping her foot a third time. Gallow looked down at the carpet, and his eyes narrowed when he recognized the three symbols she had just stamped on. She stepped out of her gorgeous shoes and stood in the middle of the triangle. She smiled as the floor gave way beneath her.

China dropped through the trapdoor, landing awkwardly in the second-floor corridor. The ceiling closed up above her just as Gallow was about to follow her down. She rolled to her knees and got up and ran for the stairs.

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There'd be someone out front waiting for Gallow to emerge. It would either be someone in a car-- Gruesome Krav or Murder Rose--or someone capable of their own kind of travel, like Sanguine. She didn't want to find out which.

She got to the first floor. Gallow's footsteps were heavy on the stairs above her. She ran the length of the corridor, the floor sticky beneath her bare feet. She had built a lot of escape routes into this building, and she ran for the nearest one.

Once again, events beyond her control had dragged her into the middle of things. China was not impressed.

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Thirty-two

***

T he Trade

The Liffey Bridge is a bridge with three names.

It is a pedestrian bridge a little over 130 feet long, spanning the river Liffey from Ormond Quay to Aston Quay. Steps on either side lead

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