Читать книгу Skulduggery Pleasant: Books 10 - 12 - Derek Landy - Страница 48

“Hello.”

His voice. Deep, and smooth. Like velvet.

Valkyrie sat hunched over on the bed, her phone to her ear. Elsewhere in the clinic, beyond her room, people were talking and machines were beeping, but in here Valkyrie was trembling. Her whole body shook.

“I know you’re there,” he said. “I can hear you breathing.”

She stared at the wall.

“That’s OK,” he said. “You don’t have to talk. I can do the talking for both of us. You’re probably feeling very alone right now. This is understandable. You’re afraid and you’re confused and you’re panicking.”

“It fades,” she managed to say.

“I’m sorry? What was that?”

“Smoke’s corruption,” she said. “It fades away after forty-eight hours.”

“That’s what you’re hanging on to? That’s what you’re pinning your hopes to? Valkyrie, whatever makes you think that I would want this to wear off?”

“Because you’re not yourself.”

“This doesn’t change who I am. I’m still me, Valkyrie. I’m just a more efficient version of me. I’ve left behind so many little rules.”

She shook her head. “Smoke controls you. You’re a slave.”

“I could see how you would think that, but I’m afraid you’d be wrong. The only time in my life, such as it is, when I’ve felt more liberated than I am right now is when I wore armour. You should try this. You should join us. I’m sure you’d be a boon to the anti-Sanctuary.”

“Help us,” she said. “Lethe … Smoke … they think you’re on their side.”

“I am on their side.”

“I don’t … I don’t believe that.”

“Yes, you do. Can I ask you something? Are you worried about your family? Are you worried that I’m going to kill your dog? Or your sister?”

“No,” she said.

“Really? Are you being honest?”

“You won’t go after my family or my dog. You don’t want me wasting my time worrying about the things I love. You want me focused.”

“Yes,” said Skulduggery. “Yes. You know me well, Valkyrie. I’m going to have fun with you. Your death … it isn’t going to be quick. And your life isn’t going to be painless. From this point until the end, it’s going to be … excruciating.”

She hung up.