Jack took the following road cautiously. Skulduggery, Nymphetamine, and Elora right behind him. Satan's men had yet to give up the search for the four. "We'll have to find a place to rest for the night." Jack said feeling the effects of walking and running all day. "Agreed." said Elora. "Know any place?" Skulduggery asked. Elora nodded, "I have an old friend that lives down there." She pointed to the crowded slum area at the foot of the mountain, "It's in walking distance. The name who lives there is named Shield." "Well then let's get moving." Skulduggery said brightly.
"You into magic?" Nymphetamine asked Skulduggery and Jack. "I'm not, he is." Jack answered. Skulduggery nodded, "I'm an elemental." "You don't do anything Jack?" Elora asked mildly interested. "I used to have a soul robber, until um..." "Ah." said Elora bored once more. "Elora here is fluent in the art of fire." said Nymphetamine. "Oh?" "Ya very special talent of mine." she said gravely. "How'd you get done here?" Jack asked her. She arched an eyebrow at him before saying, "I killed people trying to get information about my parents." She began running her fingers over the pocket watch she carried.
"I'm sorry." said Jack sympathetically. "Eh no worries. Saw this coming anyway." They walked in silence before arriving at a run down small brick house. A man who seemed to be in his forty's was sitting on a chair outside. "Oh hell no." he said standing up, "What the f*** are you doing here?" Elora spread out her arms, "Nice to see you too Shield." "Who are these three?" "That's Nymphetamine, Skulduggery, and Jack. We're going to use your house as a place to stay." "Hell no!" "I think she means please." said Skulduggery joining Elora at her side, "Just for the night and we'll be on our way." "No!" Sheild spat.
"Do you know anywhere else?" "No!" he spat again. Skulduggery raised an eyebrow, "We'd really appreciate your corporation." "What are you going to do? Threaten me?" "Please sir, it'd really-" Jack began. "I said no!" Elora sidestepped around Sheild and walked inside. His face turned to a shade of red, "One night! And don't touch anything!" "Will do sir." Jack confirmed. Sheild muttered something to himself.
Later...
Jack stood outside gazing over the slums of Hell's city. The heated breeze Jack could almost tolerate. How he missed Sally. How he missed gazing at the moon with her. He looked up but there was no moon. Nothing but darkness. His heart ached. "Unique." Jack jumped at the sudden appearance of Skulduggery. "Sorry." he apologized. "No worries." gasped Jack. Skulduggery stared ahead.
"Do you think Sally and Valkyrie know where to meet us?" asked Jack. "I have no doubt." Jack heard a bottle cap pop off in the house. "Shield..." Skulduggery muttered. "Party guy?" Skulduggery nodded, "I wouldn't recommend joining them Jack. It would be kinda scary seeing you drunk." Jack laughed, "I never had been." "Ya sure. You just probably don't remember it from your past life." Jack rolled his eyes and took a step back, "Well? Are you coming or not?" Skulduggery raised an eyebrow at him then grinned. "It wouldn't hurt."
Hell's Mountain...
"What?!" Satan yelled in fiery rage, "They got away!" Vladmir stood as still as he could manage with Satan's sharp teeth inches from his face, "They slipped through-" "What?! They
slipped?" Vladmir was fixed to say something until they heard the clomp of heels revealing Lune. "What?" Satan hissed at her with such venom. She bared her teeth at him before saying, "I put one of my best mercenaries on the job of stopping Jack and Skulduggery." "Well that's one bit of good news." Satan pushed Vladmir to the side.
"Any other bright ideas?" Satan hissed. Lune made a face, "Actually I have a plan." Vladmir raised his eyebrows, "Really?" "Yes really. I'm a vampire not a clown, stupid." She turned her head toward Satan, "I'm undead. I can walk in the land of the living. Jack and Skulduggery are going back, or trying to go back," she corrected, "to see the people they love the most." Satan stroked his chin, "How do you know?" Lune tilted her head slightly, "I have my informative." "Very well." Satan turned toward his throne.
"I want you and Vladmir to go up, do what you have to do then come back down." "No," said Lune crossing her arms, "I want my freedom." "What?!" Satan slammed his fists down. "No whining. Yes or no." In the blink of an eye, he was standing in front of her. His eyes a brighter red then usual, "I can make your head roll across this floor right now. Don't push me." "Thought you liked my head." Vladmir made a sound of disapproval. The devil was silent for a moment, "Fine. Their lives for yours."
Lune smiled showing her fanged teeth. "I won't disappoint." She motioned to Vladmir as Satan teleported himself back to his throne. She and Vladmir exited the palace. Once they were outside, she pulled out a black mirror from her pocket. Vladmir snorted, "Still have time for make up I see." He grabbed a small bag from his shoe. Red powder was settled inside. Lune placed the mirror on the ground and Vladmir sprinkled a bit of the red powder over it. In an instant they were gone...
Swords Town Park, Dublin...
The sun began it's decent into the horizon as Norm pulled in. BJ jumped out of the car and closed the park gates once more. Once BJ joined them again Norm drove deeper into the deserted pedestrian area. "Why's the park so clear?" asked Valkyrie. Leah turned to her, "Construction work." After a few minutes of driving Iris said, "Here is fine." Sally and Valkyrie moved themselves under a nearby tree awaiting Iris's performance. "Oh we're so close." breathed Sally. Valkyrie nodded, a feel of excitement overflowing her.
Sally stood slightly dazed. She wondered how big Hell actually was. She wondered what time of day it was below them. If Jack wasn't there it would be understandable if they would have to wait. A sound behind her snapped her out of her thoughts. It sounded sorta like a pop. She turned around just in time to see a black blur into a bush. She touched Valkyrie lightly on the elbow. Valkyrie looked up at her, "What's wrong?" "We have company." Sally answered, reaching for her bow on her back.
At that moment, the mysterious figure revealed itself. A woman with long black hair. Sally had an arrow raised at her in a second. The woman raised up her hand and a lightning bolt split Sally's arrow in two. Valkyrie clicked her fingers summoning two growing flames and thrusted them in the newcomers direction. She dodged them gracefully. "Lune?" someone breathed behind Valkyrie. She turned to see Norm aghast. "Long time, no see Norm dear." she answered. His eyebrows scrunched in anger, "Why won't you just die!" Lune lifted her fingers again.
The movement was so fast Sally and Valkyrie couldn't keep up. The lightning bolt that would have killed Norm was deflected by was
was his steel cane. The steel had stretched above his head, protecting him. "Well this is unfair," said Lune lazily, "Let's level out the playing ground." A man took his place next to her and snapped his fingers. The crumbled under the mercy of the undead. "Who's that? Your sidekick?" Valkyrie taunted. "Vladmir." he hissed at her.
Everyone else stood at ready. We won't be able to kill Sally and Valkyrie until the others are removed, Lune thought to herself, this may take a little longer then I thought. She bared her teeth and charged.
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More to Come
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