Kenspeckle could be anywhere. Probably not still with Anton; the Professor's bedside manner left a lot to be desired. But he could be chasing after Solomon, or Clarabelle, because he never failed to remind Skulduggery at every possible opportunity that he really disliked having people wander around the labs without supervision, as if it was all Skulduggery's fault. Clarabelle, last he checked, was definitely not. Solomon, the point could be argued. And Solomon had recently taken to wandering as much as he could. Like a rat in a cage, that man. He couldn't stand being trapped in the Temple, and that was an underground structure many times bigger than the cinema.

Solomon, though, would be most likely watching the front door - and he hadn't been there. Maybe one of the other exits? Skulduggery began heading towards the one he'd helped Solomon discover earlier, keeping a slow pace for the benefit of an Archangel who may have been used to pain, but - as Gabe pointed out - had still been lost in the Cacophany for a while.

Skulduggery tried very hard to ignore that he was basically alone with a significant other's older brother. It was a strange thought, and it did strange things to his mind.

Instead, he focused on thoughts he knew for a fact came from him. Instinctive, habitual thoughts he'd had all his life. He remembered the relief he'd felt that Solomon Wreath, and now Valkyrie, were both giving up Necromancy. Recaptured the feeling of discovering exactly how Ghastly would react, and - much more importantly - that their relationship hadn't changed in any significant way. Corrival, too. Erskine.

It shouldn't have, but... it almost seemed to validate everything Skulduggery had ever worked towards. Even though he would never actually arrive there, it was a uniquely heartening feeling.

He hesitated. Frowned.

'You know, at least Gabriel asks permission beforehand.'