China quirked an eyebrow. "It's nice to see you again, too."
She decided not to point out that if anyone here was diminished, it was Bliss. Physically, at least. Mind you, Skulduggery could be considered diminished by that definition, and the skeleton detective was anything but. Being stuck in the construct of a Cleaver hadn't diminished Bliss's legendary strength, so China was willing to reserve judgment for the moment.
She also relaxed slightly - completely unconsciously, but noticeably nonetheless. She'd had enough practice of not immediately associating that now-common observation with the cause of it that China wasn't even unnerved by it anymore. Quite the contrary, the manipulator was enjoying having to work to sway peoples' opinions.
That wasn't to say she wouldn't welcome her magic back. Facing her brother without any of her usual defensive capabilities was not something she'd ever like to do again.
"Batu," China answered, "allowed himself to be taken over by a Faceless One. The remains of his body are, I imagine, still in their reality. Whether or not they're being used, I couldn't say."
Erskine nodded his agreement. "As I understand it, three Faceless Ones came through in the end. Two are dead, one dragged Skulduggery back through the portal with it, and Skulduggery beat it up before coming back home to us. The only Diablerie member who isn't dead is Gallow, and we haven't seen hide nor hair of him. Cut off his own arm, though, apparently."
China didn't particularly want to see Gallow again. Fortunately, she didn't think she would. While she was still proud of him, and of the Diablerie she founded, it was probably the same sort of pride as the one felt by whoever created the atomic bomb while witnessing its destructive force.
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She decided not to point out that if anyone here was diminished, it was Bliss. Physically, at least. Mind you, Skulduggery could be considered diminished by that definition, and the skeleton detective was anything but. Being stuck in the construct of a Cleaver hadn't diminished Bliss's legendary strength, so China was willing to reserve judgment for the moment.
She also relaxed slightly - completely unconsciously, but noticeably nonetheless. She'd had enough practice of not immediately associating that now-common observation with the cause of it that China wasn't even unnerved by it anymore. Quite the contrary, the manipulator was enjoying having to work to sway peoples' opinions.
That wasn't to say she wouldn't welcome her magic back. Facing her brother without any of her usual defensive capabilities was not something she'd ever like to do again.
"Batu," China answered, "allowed himself to be taken over by a Faceless One. The remains of his body are, I imagine, still in their reality. Whether or not they're being used, I couldn't say."
Erskine nodded his agreement. "As I understand it, three Faceless Ones came through in the end. Two are dead, one dragged Skulduggery back through the portal with it, and Skulduggery beat it up before coming back home to us. The only Diablerie member who isn't dead is Gallow, and we haven't seen hide nor hair of him. Cut off his own arm, though, apparently."
China didn't particularly want to see Gallow again. Fortunately, she didn't think she would. While she was still proud of him, and of the Diablerie she founded, it was probably the same sort of pride as the one felt by whoever created the atomic bomb while witnessing its destructive force.