"I happen to know that this church could use a lot of help," Paddy said, offering his own suggestion alongside Merlin's. He spoke with the innocence of an ignorant bystander, as if he had no idea what the suggestion would mean to Solomon or what his reaction to such an idea might be. "I could put in a good word for you."

Erskine Ravel visibly stiffened at the mention of a web, but no one else in the circle did. Skulduggery, from his position leaning back against the golden-eyed sorcerer, let the bell Dexter had conjured drop from his hand and bounce back up on its ribbon. Over and over again, in a rhythm that alternated between a fast jangle and a pleasantly slow tinkling sound. Ghastly glanced over to watch the bell, and before long a slight frown creased his brow. "Having fun there, Skul?"

Skulduggery caught the bell and held on to it long enough to answer. "That noise used to irritate me. I never paid attention to it, because I've gotten very good at ignoring feelings like that." He dropped the bell again, watching the ribbon it was tied to swing back and forth. "Now, I don't feel anything. It's incredibly disconcerting."

"It annoys the rest of us," Saracen said curtly. "Stop it."

He was thrown at least one surprised look, and that surprise was echoed very quickly on his own face a moment later. Saracen grew pale and hastily backtracked. "Please."

Without a word, Skulduggery let the bell go. Paddy cringed in anticipation of the loud noise it would make when it hit the floor, but to his surprise, it didn't fall. It hovered, held buoyant by the air itself. As Paddy watched, the bell was gently let down to the floor, until it made barely a sound upon its landing. He stared at it, mildly impressed that even after witnessing a living skeleton he could still muster the awe to be astonished and impressed at such an obvious display of pure magic.

"Show-off," Ghastly muttered with a small smile.