Skulduggery had worked out what was in the jar long before Kenspeckle announced it. It didn't take a genius to put two and two together - Erskine's reaction, and the bandage over Solomon's eyes. Or, well. The sockets where his eyes used to be, at any rate. Erskine probably wasn't aware that he hadn't quite stopped staring at that bandage, even before Kenspeckle spoke.
And yet, Solomon didn't want his physical sight back.
Skulduggery was stunned, and for more reasons than one. Solomon had become everything Skulduggery wanted centuries ago; everything the detective expected, never gotten, eventually given up even hoping for. Except he wasn't as grateful as he might have been if the same thing happened all those centuries ago. Perhaps because he was still stunned. More likely because of the fury burning deep in response to Kenseckle's confirmation.
He didn't like the idea of someone out there choosing to do this. Evil for the sake of evil, Skulduggery could understand. Wanton destruction could be its own reward. But Tenebrae wasn't evil. And the idea of someone being able to look at a man whose withdrawal, by the looks of things, was painfully sped up in the Temple - probably broken and exhausted and just trying to stay alive - and decide that blinding him was a good idea... Not just blinding him, either, but removing any possible chance of granting his sight back, even by Professor Grouse?
Whatever Tenebrae had planned must have been worth the risk. Skulduggery made a mental note to find out what that was as soon as possible.
"Wait," said Valkyrie. She was paler than Erskine was, and visibly swallowing against the knowledge of what had been done to Solomon. "I don't understand. Your magic's taking over for your sight? So that means all you can see right now are souls?" Her fist clenched. "Are you crazy? Why would you want to keep what Tenebrae did to you?"
Skulduggery knew the answer, but he would let Solomon explain himself. The ex-Necromancer needed that right now. To Skulduggery's surprise, however, the image of Tenebrae in his own mind was slowly starting to fade away - and with it the anger.
That was the only reason he became aware of a comforting feeling surrounding his false skin, calmly and gently stabilising what needed to be stabilised, unobtrusive and pleasantly supportive. It was subtle, but it was there. For the first time since the group Teleported back, Skulduggery looked over at Gabe.
The question was in his eyes as well as his mind, but it was the unspoken thought he knew Gabe would hear.
no subject
And yet, Solomon didn't want his physical sight back.
Skulduggery was stunned, and for more reasons than one. Solomon had become everything Skulduggery wanted centuries ago; everything the detective expected, never gotten, eventually given up even hoping for. Except he wasn't as grateful as he might have been if the same thing happened all those centuries ago. Perhaps because he was still stunned. More likely because of the fury burning deep in response to Kenseckle's confirmation.
He didn't like the idea of someone out there choosing to do this. Evil for the sake of evil, Skulduggery could understand. Wanton destruction could be its own reward. But Tenebrae wasn't evil. And the idea of someone being able to look at a man whose withdrawal, by the looks of things, was painfully sped up in the Temple - probably broken and exhausted and just trying to stay alive - and decide that blinding him was a good idea... Not just blinding him, either, but removing any possible chance of granting his sight back, even by Professor Grouse?
Whatever Tenebrae had planned must have been worth the risk. Skulduggery made a mental note to find out what that was as soon as possible.
"Wait," said Valkyrie. She was paler than Erskine was, and visibly swallowing against the knowledge of what had been done to Solomon. "I don't understand. Your magic's taking over for your sight? So that means all you can see right now are souls?" Her fist clenched. "Are you crazy? Why would you want to keep what Tenebrae did to you?"
Skulduggery knew the answer, but he would let Solomon explain himself. The ex-Necromancer needed that right now. To Skulduggery's surprise, however, the image of Tenebrae in his own mind was slowly starting to fade away - and with it the anger.
That was the only reason he became aware of a comforting feeling surrounding his false skin, calmly and gently stabilising what needed to be stabilised, unobtrusive and pleasantly supportive. It was subtle, but it was there. For the first time since the group Teleported back, Skulduggery looked over at Gabe.
The question was in his eyes as well as his mind, but it was the unspoken thought he knew Gabe would hear.