Ghastly and Tanith were both laughing, if a little uncertainly. Valkyrie didn't know which was worse - a faceless and formless evil no one had the first idea how to stop, or a businessman who shouted when you messed up his clothes. One was certainly more amusing, but it was also easier to imagine Satan as a general evil like a Faceless One instead of something... almost human.

Okay. So Satan was definitely coming here. And he was coming because Gabriel was here. He would be gunning directly for Gabe, and this safe house, and for anyone in the way, and God wasn't going to lift a metaphorical finger to help. Yesterday, Valkyrie wouldn't have thought twice about this - she put herself in danger's way all the time. Just another day at the office. But this morning... this was Satan they were talking about, and her mother was pregnant. Suddenly, Valkyrie very much cared about the world her little sister would grow up in. And she didn't want it to be a world Satan had any kind of a handle on.

The sooner Gabe was home again, she decided firmly, the better. It was a logical conclusion, but it still caused Valkyrie a twinge of guilt just thinking about it. Because she couldn't help wondering if the sentiment was partly born out of a stupid and petty jealousy that Skulduggery might be replacing her as a partner.

"So now that we're all properly scared out of our wits," Skulduggery said with a look towards Ghastly and Tanith, "and understand that we can't actually do anything yet, the question remains. What are we doing for the next few hours?"

"Panicking?" Valkyrie suggested half-seriously.