Skulduggery didn't even take the time to chastise himself for not realizing sooner how much of a toll this would have taken - for not realizing that Gabe was, for all intents and purposes, briefly reaching back into that turbulent ocean. The guilt would come triple-fold later, as it always did; right now, time was of the essence.
"What happened?" Finbar stumbled back to his feet and almost collapsed against one of the kitchen counters trying to keep his balance.
Skulduggery already had his phone out and dialing. "He was attacked by Faceless Ones on the way here. He was still recovering. He should never have done this."
"Hey, man. You do what you have to for family." Finbar winced; whether in sympathy or in pain, Skulduggery didn't know and didn't particularly care. "What can I do?"
Infernal smartphones. Skulduggery's fingers wouldn't have registered on the touchscreen at all if it wasn't for Gabe's disguise, and it required a finesse based off a prior knowledge of smartphones that Skulduggery didn't have. He cursed uselessly at it, and then tossed it to Finbar. "Call Ghastly. Tell him to send Fletcher over right away."
Finbar nodded and, within three seconds, had the phone up to his ear. "Where are you gonna take him?"
Skulduggery didn't answer. That wasn't something Finbar could know. Not because he wasn't trustworthy, but because there were plenty of sorcerers out there capable of putting together the facts surrounding Gabe, wanting some of that power for themselves, and dragging the location out of Finbar. Solomon Wreath sprang instantly to mind, and then faded just as quickly.
Skulduggery's hand was on Gabe's shoulder, though how much help that small gesture would actually be remained a mystery. Gabriel might not mind the darkness Skulduggery's soul brought, but he couldn't imagine it was doing much for the Archangel right now.
"Need me to come along?" Finbar asked, concerned. "I can be useful. I can get, I dunno... crosses or something. Oh hey, Ghastly. No, it's Finbar. Listen, Skul wants you to..."
Skulduggery tuned the rest of the conversation out. If Fletcher hadn't been to the parlour before, he would need Finbar's help carrying the Archangel out to somewhere he had, but apart from that... Finbar's presence might actually be more of a hindrance to Gabe than a help.
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Damn.
Skulduggery didn't even take the time to chastise himself for not realizing sooner how much of a toll this would have taken - for not realizing that Gabe was, for all intents and purposes, briefly reaching back into that turbulent ocean. The guilt would come triple-fold later, as it always did; right now, time was of the essence.
"What happened?" Finbar stumbled back to his feet and almost collapsed against one of the kitchen counters trying to keep his balance.
Skulduggery already had his phone out and dialing. "He was attacked by Faceless Ones on the way here. He was still recovering. He should never have done this."
"Hey, man. You do what you have to for family." Finbar winced; whether in sympathy or in pain, Skulduggery didn't know and didn't particularly care. "What can I do?"
Infernal smartphones. Skulduggery's fingers wouldn't have registered on the touchscreen at all if it wasn't for Gabe's disguise, and it required a finesse based off a prior knowledge of smartphones that Skulduggery didn't have. He cursed uselessly at it, and then tossed it to Finbar. "Call Ghastly. Tell him to send Fletcher over right away."
Finbar nodded and, within three seconds, had the phone up to his ear. "Where are you gonna take him?"
Skulduggery didn't answer. That wasn't something Finbar could know. Not because he wasn't trustworthy, but because there were plenty of sorcerers out there capable of putting together the facts surrounding Gabe, wanting some of that power for themselves, and dragging the location out of Finbar. Solomon Wreath sprang instantly to mind, and then faded just as quickly.
Skulduggery's hand was on Gabe's shoulder, though how much help that small gesture would actually be remained a mystery. Gabriel might not mind the darkness Skulduggery's soul brought, but he couldn't imagine it was doing much for the Archangel right now.
"Need me to come along?" Finbar asked, concerned. "I can be useful. I can get, I dunno... crosses or something. Oh hey, Ghastly. No, it's Finbar. Listen, Skul wants you to..."
Skulduggery tuned the rest of the conversation out. If Fletcher hadn't been to the parlour before, he would need Finbar's help carrying the Archangel out to somewhere he had, but apart from that... Finbar's presence might actually be more of a hindrance to Gabe than a help.