Gabriel knew about the anger - knew better than anyone else Skulduggery had ever known, without ever having experienced anything close to it himself. But Skulduggery had to wonder if even the Archangel knew how close that dark rage came to spilling over just with the simple implication of innocent, gentle speeches like that. Because if he did, he might not bring up Skulduggery's redemption so often.
With that much raw emotion always burning under the kettle, it wasn't just difficult for Skulduggery to see that he could be redeemed right then and there. It was impossible. He was never free from the memories, or the fear that it someday might happen again, because his own subconscious wouldn't - couldn't - let him forget. He didn't look away from Gabe or make any indication that he'd understood the deeper meaning of those words, because he knew he wouldn't have to. Instead, Skulduggery fell back onto the easiest way of burying those memories - humour.
"Marr doesn't even acknowledge my obvious brilliance." Skulduggery readjusted his hat and crossed over to the driver's side of the Bentley. "Somehow, I don't think she'd ever admit she's evil."
Humour with a light touch of arrogance. Same thing, really.
"Skulduggery?" Valkyrie piped up. "We have that too-many people problem again."
"Do we?" Skulduggery glanced around. "Ah. Yes. Fletcher, take Valkyrie and Tanith somewhere warm for the next couple of hours. As far away from Ireland as you can. Come straight back." In retrospect, they should have done that from the beginning, but no real harm done. "Don't do anything reckless," he told Valkyrie, "don't talk to strangers, and keep your phones on."
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Gabriel knew about the anger - knew better than anyone else Skulduggery had ever known, without ever having experienced anything close to it himself. But Skulduggery had to wonder if even the Archangel knew how close that dark rage came to spilling over just with the simple implication of innocent, gentle speeches like that. Because if he did, he might not bring up Skulduggery's redemption so often.
With that much raw emotion always burning under the kettle, it wasn't just difficult for Skulduggery to see that he could be redeemed right then and there. It was impossible. He was never free from the memories, or the fear that it someday might happen again, because his own subconscious wouldn't - couldn't - let him forget. He didn't look away from Gabe or make any indication that he'd understood the deeper meaning of those words, because he knew he wouldn't have to. Instead, Skulduggery fell back onto the easiest way of burying those memories - humour.
"Marr doesn't even acknowledge my obvious brilliance." Skulduggery readjusted his hat and crossed over to the driver's side of the Bentley. "Somehow, I don't think she'd ever admit she's evil."
Humour with a light touch of arrogance. Same thing, really.
"Skulduggery?" Valkyrie piped up. "We have that too-many people problem again."
"Do we?" Skulduggery glanced around. "Ah. Yes. Fletcher, take Valkyrie and Tanith somewhere warm for the next couple of hours. As far away from Ireland as you can. Come straight back." In retrospect, they should have done that from the beginning, but no real harm done. "Don't do anything reckless," he told Valkyrie, "don't talk to strangers, and keep your phones on."