Skulduggery Pleasant: Books 7 - 9. Derek Landy

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      “No, it won’t. You’re talking about changing human nature. It can’t be done. There will be no kingdom of enlightenment. The rot will start early, and it’ll spread. There’ll be war and horror and death. Your Summer of Light will turn into a Summer of Darkness. The human race will wipe itself out.”

      “You’re blinded by your own limitations.”

      “And you’re blinded by your lack of them. You’re a better person than I am, Argeddion. You’re a better person than most people. That’s the problem. You have no idea how most people will react.”

      “I trust. I have faith.”

      “You’re deluded, and we will stop you.”

      “You could have stopped me,” Argeddion said. “You could have donned the armour of Lord Vile and come after me. With your natural strength and vicious nature, you might even have defeated me. But a quick peek into Valkyrie’s mind tells me exactly where you’ve secured it...”

      He vanished, and a moment later, he was back, holding a thick metal case. Skulduggery tensed.

      “You can feel it from there, can’t you?” Argeddion asked. “The pull? Like a magnet to you. But I’m afraid you won’t be donning this armour any time soon.” The case disappeared. “And now that Lord Vile is out of the picture, there is only one threat remaining.”

      Skulduggery stood in front of Valkyrie. “You don’t have to hurt her.”

      “I have no intention of hurting her,” said Argeddion. “I don’t want to see any harm come to her in the slightest. But Darquesse is a problem that I have to address. Valkyrie, if you’re able to access that power, you’ll tear me apart, won’t you? You’re not as strong as I am, not yet, but where I would keep looking for a non-lethal way to stop you, you wouldn’t feel the same need for restraint. Darquesse is a cold-blooded killer. And I can’t let her emerge.”

      White pain flashed and Valkyrie cried out, stumbled, and Skulduggery spun and caught her as she fell. And then the pain was gone.

      “My apologies,” said Argeddion. “I didn’t think that would hurt as much as it did.”

      “What did you do to me?” Valkyrie gasped.

      “Think of it as putting up a wall between you, the sweet girl called Valkyrie, and Darquesse, the cold-blooded killer. You can’t hear her voice any more, can you?”

      Valkyrie stood by herself, her head still spinning.

      “She will never bother you again,” said Argeddion. “Not while I’m alive. You’re safe from her, Valkyrie. You can still access your magic as you always have, but that level of power is now blocked off to you.”

      “She’s gone?”

      “She’s still there, she’s just... imprisoned. Your terrible future is now averted. All those fears you had about killing your parents, killing the world... They are no more.” Argeddion smiled gently. “And yet I sense your loss.”

      She glared at him. “What are you talking about?”

      “I can read your mind, remember. All of those guilty little secrets you’re so ashamed of, they’re spread open for me. Your private moments, your not-so-private moments, your doubts and your fantasies and your thoughts... Oh, Valkyrie, save your blushes. The only thing you should be ashamed of is how much you enjoyed being Darquesse.”

      “That’s a lie,” she shot back.

      “You didn’t enjoy the killing,” Argeddion said, “but you loved the power. It’s a shameful thing to love, but you’re young. You’re allowed to make mistakes. We’re all only human, aren’t we?”

      “Are you?” Skulduggery asked.

      “What else would I be?”

      “Some people would say you’re a god.”

      “That doesn’t mean I’m not human also,” Argeddion said, laughing slightly.

      Lament’s sorcerers were stirring. One by one, they rose up into the air, turning slowly. Their eyes were closed.

      “I’m afraid I must ask you to leave,” Argeddion said. “My friends will escort you back beyond the force field. For your own sakes, please don’t try to break through it.”

      The sorcerers started to drift towards them, herding Skulduggery and Valkyrie to the door.

      “Talk to us,” Skulduggery said. “Convince us that what you’re doing is right. Give us the chance to explain why it’s a mistake. You’ve been gone for thirty years, for God’s sake. You don’t even know what the world is like any more.”

      “And this is where I change that,” Argeddion said.

      And then the emptiness swallowed him and he was gone. Vanished.

      “He learns,” Skulduggery said. “He may not have been conscious when Fletcher teleported us from the mountain, but he was aware.”

      “That’s all it takes? He just has to experience something once and he can do it himself?”

      “He knows his true name,” said Skulduggery. “He can do anything.”

      Lament’s sorcerers kept coming, pushing an invisible barrier before them, forcing Skulduggery and Valkyrie out of the room. Valkyrie tried pushing back but there was no strength behind it. She felt drained, like losing Darquesse had robbed her of her determination.

      “Lenka,” Valkyrie said. “It’s me. It’s Valkyrie.”

      Lenka smiled. It was disconcerting, seeing her smile with her eyes closed. “I know that, silly.”

      “How much of you is in there?”

      “All of me is,” she said. “I haven’t gone anywhere.”

      “But Argeddion’s controlling you.”

      Lenka shook her head. “That’s not how it is at all.”

      “Then why are you doing this?”

      Lament drifted closer. They were being forced back up the corridor, to the energy wall. “Because Argeddion deserves to be free,” he said. “He never hurt anyone. He never wanted to hurt anyone. We took it upon ourselves to imprison him without him ever giving us a reason to do so.”

      Skulduggery tried pressing back against their energy, but it was no use. “So you feel bad, and now you’re making up for it?”

      “Yes.”

      “Then why are you all hovering on tiptoe and going around with your eyes closed?” Valkyrie asked.

      Lenka laughed. “What are you talking about? Our eyes aren’t closed.”

      “Yes, they are, Lenka. I’m looking at you right now and your eyes СКАЧАТЬ