"Everyone's controlled by some kind of revenge," Billy-Ray countered. "Vicious motivator. Look at the Ancients. Revenge on the Faceless Ones, revenge on each other. Actually, pretty much anyone who worships the Faceless Ones. Revenge on mortals and humanity, for some reason or other. I used to feel that way. Still do, occasionally, but I'm a lot more clear-headed about it now."
Namely, Billy-Ray had realised that the Faceless Ones taking over meant no more assassinations, no more money, and a distinct decrease of available people to do business with, or to kill.
His phone rang as they turned another corner, and Billy-Ray jumped. He'd been hoping there wasn't any reception down here, honestly. Calling other people was all well and good, but he still hadn't quite gotten the hang of other people also being able to reach him.
"I trust you're on your way back?" came Scarab's voice the instant Billy-Ray thumbed the answer button. "Distractions shouldn't take this long."
"Yeah, 'bout that. I'm actually in the basement. With a Sensitive friend of Pleasant's."
The way Scarab's voice lowered might have been intimidating, if it wasn't being directed at someone who was much too used to his moods. "You brought one of Pleasant's lot here?"
"Yup. A mind-reader. Figured he might be useful, if you know what I mean." Billy-Ray was careful not to actually think about what he himself meant, and while he wasn't sure he was entirely successful, it turned out not to matter when the silence on the other end of the line grew thoughtful. Man, did Billy-Ray love it when things went his way. It happened a lot, but not nearly often enough, and definitely not where Cain or Pleasant were concerned.
"Fine. Bring them up here, and then get going."
"Right now?" Billy-Ray's face fell as they walked. "I've been havin' fun watchin' him get lost."
"You have a job to do elsewhere. Or have you forgotten already?"
Oh. Right. Oops. "Course I haven't," Billy-Ray retorted, just to keep up appearances. "Be up in a moment." He flipped the phone closed and grinned at Gabe. "Sounds like you're gonna be here for a while. Might as well make yourself comfortable. I gotta head out, so we need to speed things along. If you'll just follow me..."
~~
A Necromancer student? A Necromancer student whose chosen names, both first and last, were heavily associated with death - and one of them with murder, specifically?
Suddenly, the name 'Skulduggery Pleasant' as belonging to a living skeleton sounded like the most innocuous and sensible thing in the world.
Nevertheless, Father O'Reilly took the number Solomon placed in front of him with a short nod. He wasn't about to go turning down help from the one sorcerer he knew he could trust. Better to have the number and never need it, than to be confronted in his own home by sorcerers from the Sanctuary and not have it.
"You're quite welcome." Even knowing everything he did now, Father O'Reilly would have done the same thing again if he had to. There wasn't even a question of that. "Good luck."
no subject
Namely, Billy-Ray had realised that the Faceless Ones taking over meant no more assassinations, no more money, and a distinct decrease of available people to do business with, or to kill.
His phone rang as they turned another corner, and Billy-Ray jumped. He'd been hoping there wasn't any reception down here, honestly. Calling other people was all well and good, but he still hadn't quite gotten the hang of other people also being able to reach him.
"I trust you're on your way back?" came Scarab's voice the instant Billy-Ray thumbed the answer button. "Distractions shouldn't take this long."
"Yeah, 'bout that. I'm actually in the basement. With a Sensitive friend of Pleasant's."
The way Scarab's voice lowered might have been intimidating, if it wasn't being directed at someone who was much too used to his moods. "You brought one of Pleasant's lot here?"
"Yup. A mind-reader. Figured he might be useful, if you know what I mean." Billy-Ray was careful not to actually think about what he himself meant, and while he wasn't sure he was entirely successful, it turned out not to matter when the silence on the other end of the line grew thoughtful. Man, did Billy-Ray love it when things went his way. It happened a lot, but not nearly often enough, and definitely not where Cain or Pleasant were concerned.
"Fine. Bring them up here, and then get going."
"Right now?" Billy-Ray's face fell as they walked. "I've been havin' fun watchin' him get lost."
"You have a job to do elsewhere. Or have you forgotten already?"
Oh. Right. Oops. "Course I haven't," Billy-Ray retorted, just to keep up appearances. "Be up in a moment." He flipped the phone closed and grinned at Gabe. "Sounds like you're gonna be here for a while. Might as well make yourself comfortable. I gotta head out, so we need to speed things along. If you'll just follow me..."
~~
A Necromancer student? A Necromancer student whose chosen names, both first and last, were heavily associated with death - and one of them with murder, specifically?
Suddenly, the name 'Skulduggery Pleasant' as belonging to a living skeleton sounded like the most innocuous and sensible thing in the world.
Nevertheless, Father O'Reilly took the number Solomon placed in front of him with a short nod. He wasn't about to go turning down help from the one sorcerer he knew he could trust. Better to have the number and never need it, than to be confronted in his own home by sorcerers from the Sanctuary and not have it.
"You're quite welcome." Even knowing everything he did now, Father O'Reilly would have done the same thing again if he had to. There wasn't even a question of that. "Good luck."