The final book.
The last Skulduggery.
I've been writing these books since 2005, so for me it's been nine years of living with these characters, in this world. I knew saying goodbye was not going to be easy...
But I haven't had to say goodbye yet. Not really. I wrote the book. I edited. I went through it again and again. I decided on covers, on approaches. I approved tour schedules and special events. I prepared. I tweeted. I blogged. I kept busy. I kept looking forward...
But now... now (most of) the preparation is done. I just have to turn up now, and talk, or sign, or talk and sign, and meet people and go places.
It's going to sink in NOW. I can feel it.
No more Skulduggery Pleasant.
I'm going to give my usual "No Spoilers" speech now. So, like, no spoilers, people. The comment section above is for spoilers, not this one.
But even outside of this blog, please be considerate of your fellow Minions. Don't go blasting spoilers on Facebook or Twitter or Tumblr. Be subtle about it, and if you can't be subtle, go LOUD with the spoiler warning.
And when I say spoiler I don't just mean" "Oh my god, I can't believe THIS CHARACTER did THAT to THAT OTHER CHARACTER!"
I also mean spoilers in a more general sense. For example, saying things like: "Derek, I can't believe you did that! I'll never forgive you! How could you?? That was my favourite character!!"
Or: "I'm so delighted! I loved it and the ending was just what I wanted!"
You have friends, Minions, who know your hopes and dreams. They know your favourite characters. They know what you're dreading. So don't confirm any of these things when you comment, even if you make sure not to get too specific. If you love the book, tell me. If you hate the book, tell me that too. But keep in mind that other people will be reading, and if you give away what kind of ending the book has, you've just cheated them out of finding out for themselves.
I love your enthusiasm. Your enthusiasm makes these books what they are. So while you're being considerate of your friends, be sure to revel in your enthusiasm, and your excitement, and your dread, and your horror, and your happiness and your despair.
I hope you like it.
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«Oldest ‹Older 3801 – 4000 of 4719 Newer› Newest»(I'm at the ball! Soy sauce for the Poof!)
(Yay! Thanks Fabi!)
*wanders over to the food table*
I wish something would happen!
Orpheus: commander? Sounds important.
*sighs and turns, walking back to Ed and Flick*
Gtg, sorry.
((*angry swearing*
I gtg, bye. Dammit....))
(Hey Sil, this is gonna sound carzy but could you let Erica and James do something? Not horrible but it can be bad....
I want something to do...)
*strts getting nightmares*
*sees her whole pack slaughtered ruthlessly*
*- I couldn't save them...-*
*comes across her father...with his guys hanging iut*
*wakes up screaming*
Just...another...nightmare...
Yeah it's fun
Welcome back silente
Sophia: *shrugs* I suppose it is. I presume you have magic?
(Bye Messy!! Bye Fabi!!)
Oh, hello sil
Nightmare?
Yes ... No biggie *smiles*
(James: with pleasure.)
Orpheus: I do.
Erica: this is boring. *her eyes settle on Dug* hmm..play time.
*the seed she placed in Dug during hide and seek blossoms and grows into an intense hatred of Ashlea*
Let's go back.
Very well *they appear back on the bridge*
Sophia: What can you do?
I agree! I'm in the mood for dancin!
And I'm in the mood for a drink
(... what did I get myself into...)
*grabs a piece of cheesecake and begins plotting how to kill Ashlea*
The Little fake.
Orpheus: very little. I'd rather keep it private.
Thanks Ed.
*walks back to the ball*
*shivers* we should go back
Sophia: That's fair enough. It's nice to meet you.
I might get something to eat. Maybe a piece of cheesecake.
*goes to where the food is*
*stretches and yawns as she wakes up*
Ashlea: *accidentally fell asleep on Leri*
*murmurs something when Leri starts moving*
... Ashlea, are you alright?
*goes back inside*
*walks past bar with great reluctance*
*waits by dancefloor*
*heads to bar and orders a bottle*
Ashlea: *shivers and mumbles something else*
*her legs are twitching quite a bit*
*gets a glass of wine and walks over to Dug*
Sorry bout leaving.
*sways along with the music *
*starts humming along*
*tail starts wagging*
... Ashlea? *nudges her gently*
*drinks bottle, sneaks out of ball and opens door to other dimension police station*
*steps through and closes door*
Ashlea: *shivers again and her hands twitch, curling slightly*
*her body is tenser than usual*
*scans the room*
*cant see Ed*
Ed?* Goes to bar *
*cant pick up his scent*
Has anyone seen Ed?
... Ashlea? *nudges her a little more* ... Are you alright?
Ashlea: *curls in on herself slightly*
*the trial is quick and the punidshment begins shortly*
... Keelah... *calls out* ... There's... there's something wrong with Ashlea...
*lowers ears* he wouldn't... No...
HAS ANYONE SEEN ED?
*smiles*
That's ok!
Do you know where the fake went?
*looks at Leri*
*walks over*
What's up?
Manuel: no inky I have not.
... She's... she's not waking up properly... *nudges Ashlea more*
He... I think he went off... To his trial... I have to stop him!
*hears Leri*
*smiles evily*
Oh there it is...
I'm gonna pay the fake a visit.
*grabs a drink and walks to Leri and Ashlea*
*slips poison into the drink*
Leri, have her drink this! It should help..
She fell asleep? Its okay Leri. She's having a bad dream. Manuel?
Manuel: *walks over and crouched by Ashlea, closing his eyes*
Ashlea: *screams and her eyes fly open*
*blinks*
... Are you alright, Ashlea?
*looks at Ashlea*
Are you feeling ok?
*hold out the drink*
Here, try this.
Ashlea: S-s-s-s-sorry. I..sorry. I fell asleep..
She's fine.
Manuel: *walks off*
*The tortures vary but the result is the same*
(So I was outside on the hammock when I felt the urge to go inside so I did and then after I've been inside for a bit it starts pouring rain. I have good instincts! :P)
... I was trying to wake you... Was there something wrong?
Ashlea: *looks up at Dug*
What is it?
Please?! Does anyone know where hiss trial is ?
*the glass 'slips' out of her hand and shatters on Ashlea*
Oops.
*turns and walks away*
*shrieks* ... Dugglyn!
*holds Ashlea close* ... Are you okay? *tries to avoid the broken glass*
Ashlea: *cries out as glass buries itself in her skin*
Erica: *smiles and the hatred grows stronger*
*shouts impatiently* does anyone have the faintest of clues where eds trial
Is being held?!
(Well done, Dugglyn! :P)
Manuel: No inky we don't.
*pulls out the glass, activating her computer and applying medical gel on to Ashlea*
*silent for a few secs * okay
*sits down* dammit Ed, why did it have to be in another dimension? Now what?
(Sorry 😅 I kind of have to go to bed now
I'll be happy to
Continue tomoz f you want)
Ashlea: *looks after Dugglyn, hugging Leri*
W-why did you do that?
(Ok) bye inky
I have to go now, bye
(bye Edwin!)
*hugs Ashlea* ... Are you alright?
Ashlea: *nods and hugs Leri back*
... I... I don't understand...
Ashlea: neither do I...but its okay....I'm fine...
(Sorry I haven't been here fir a while....two more hours til I'm going home...-Zaf
*snuggles against Ashlea* ... Why would she...?
*holds her hand* ... Why wouldn't you wake up?
*glares at Ashlea*
I don't have to justify myself to a fake.
(So soy sauce! The WiFi glitched out. Idk why...)
(XD thanks Star!)
... You... You did that on purpose?
Sophia: What's happening here?
Ashlea: sorry. I was having a bad dream.
*looks at Dug?
A..fake? I'm not a fake....
Erica: *grins and the hatred twists and writhes like a wild beast inside dug*
*laughs cruelly*
Well, duh. She's been asking for it.
*smiles at Sophia*
Nothing exciting.
*walks away*
*stops*
*turns around her eyes full of hatred*
*slips her hand into the secret pocket of her dress and pulls out her sword*
*jumps at Ashlea, her sword aimed at Ashlea's throat*
... She's been asking for nothing you heartless bosh'tet! ... Don't come near us again!
Sophia: *draws her pistol* Wait, Dugglyn.
(heu Deathy. Heu Zaffy.)
(Hey Deathy!)
Sophia: *throws Dugglyn across the room*
Ashlea: *screams and falls backwards out of the chair away from Dug*
*pauses*
*looks at Sophia*
Why? Why should I wait? We need to get rid of this thing.
*gestures at Ashlea*
I don't know why you haven't done it already.
*laughs at Ashlea but stops laughing as she hits the wall*
Ow....
(Join the ball Deathy! Fight started by Erica!)
*pulls Ashlea away* ... We should go...
Sophia: *aims her pistol at Dugglyn*
Ashlea: *gets to her feet, looking at Dug*
P-please just leave me alone...
*looks at Sophia*
Please don't shoot me.
James: *plants an idea in Dug's head* kill her to fix Sil...
*when Ashlea talks her eyes fill with hatred again*
Just kill yourself.
Sophia: You can't just attack someone then ask me not to shoot you. What the hell is wrong with you?
Nothing. I'm trying to fix Sil. If we kill the fake then it will fix Sil. The real Sil. That's all that matters. Not that pathetic excuse for a person.
*She walked in, hads raised, an unamused smile plastered on her face*
No one is killing anyone. Now, before I get angry, someone tell me what the Hell is happening.
*She flicked her hand, the pistol flying from Sophia's grasp and into her own*
*just watches Rose*
*stands up*
Sophia: I can kill someone with by biotics if you prefer.
Dugglyn has been attacking Ashlea. I am attempting to stop it.
Ashlea: please don't kill me...i-im not a fake...
*holds Ashlea close* *encases them in a bubble of energy*
*snarls at Ashlea*
Yes. You. Are.
You just get in the way, and stop us from fixing Sil. If we just get rid of you Silente will be normal.
Well, my dear Sophia, you touch Dugglyn and you'll feel pain like you've never felt before. Or I could fling out out this window right this second if you prefer.
Dug, why were you trying to hurt Ashlea?
*The pistol never wavered from its aim, right at Sophia's head*
Sophia: Oh, don't worry, the idea behind biotics is that I would never touch her. Not once. Give me back my pistol.
Ashlea: *presses into Leri's side, hiding*
Manuel: Miss Carzainia trading one life for another is wrong.
... Its okay... Nothing can hurt us here... Nothing can get through... *hugs Ashlea tightly*
*at Rose's question she pauses*
*a flicker of doubt enters her mind and the hatred tries to fight it*
*her head begins to hurt, she doesn't know what she's doing*
*-why...? Why do I hate her...? Why should I-*
*passes out*
How about this: We make a reflection of Ashlea, return the normal one to Sil and Leri keeps the reflection?
And no. You're not getting this back until this problem is over, Keating.
"Miss Carzainia trading one life for another is wrong."
That just brings up so many thoughts of situations and arghhhhhhhhh sad feels. :/
Erica: *cuts off the hatred quickly*
... No! She's not going anywhere... You can't take her...
Sophia: Problem solved.
*She repulsed the gravity beneath Dug, a lot more gentle than the previous times, and slowly placed her on the ground. Then she turned back to Keating and Leri*
A can take whoever the Hell I want. At least I'm not taking a life. Ashlea will still be alive, but as a reflection.
Ashlea: *hugs Leri back* *doesn't talk so as not to draw attention to herself*
... You'll be killing her! Silente said sorry to me... She's... She's changing by herself... You don't need her...
Sophia: Unless you want me to rip you apart, give me my pistol and back down, Rose.
(That's an awesome quote...
I need to remember that.)
*the hatred fades from her head and it stops hurting*
*opens her eyes slowly, wondering why she's on the ground*
Wha...?
What happened?
Why am I on the ground?
Keating, you couldn't dare kill me, not unless you want a very, very angry God after you. And I can kill you very simply right now. I could glare. Glaring at people makes them feel unimaginable pain. I've killed people just by glaring. Or I could make your own body weight crush you before you blink.
Or I could shoot you. But that's no fun.
You passed out, Dug.
Ashlea: *quietly* please don't kill anyone Rose...
*looks at Rose, confused*
Why?
Why would Deathy kill anyone?
Sophia: Don't test me, Rose. Loki is a joke. If you expect me to be scared of him, think again.
*her arm begins to glow blue*
All it would take would be a wave of my hand, and all that would be left of you would be a few glowing particles. If you think killing me will stop that, you can think again on that, too. Now back down.
Ash, I've killed more people than you'll ever see. Another life ain't too bad on my list.
Dug, because I have no clue. You just passed out. I asked you why you were trying to hurt Ash and then, plonk.
Ashlea: *looks at Dug and presses further into Leri's side*
... Rose, please... I thought you were my friend...
*She took a step forward, her other hand raised, making the gravitational force around Sophia stronger, so strong that her joints would be aching from force. Then she added a glare into it, enough it would make Keating feel as if someone was hacking up her body*
*her eyes widen in horror and shock*
I was trying to hurt Ash?!
Oh my god, I'm so sorry Ash!!!!! I have no idea what happened! I don't even remember it! Are you ok?!
Leri. You made friends with the me who had no fight. Well, this is the real thing. Defending my friends. Dug is in the right.
Rose stop! Don't kill each other!
*stands up*
Ashlea: *looks at Dug, eyes slightly fearful*
Please don't kill me..
Sophia: *falls to the ground, screaming in pain* *waves a hand, and a blue aura surrounds Rose, her skin beginning to peel away into glowing blue particles*
*pushes her hand forward, sending all the furniture in the room flying at Rose*
*convulses on the ground*
Stay out of it, Dug.
*Her voice was a growl. She flicked the hand with the gun at Dugglyn, sending her against the far wall with gravity*
*turns to Ashlea*
*she is very confused*
Why.. why would I want to kill you?! We were friends right?
*She cried out as her skin started to peel and held up both hands, stopping the furniture before it hit her*
Bloody 'ell...
*She kept the glare on Sophia*
*her eyes widen and she hits the wall with a thunk*
*she crumples to the ground and groans*
Ashlea: Sophia! Rose! Stop! Please please stop...don't hurt each other....stop.....
One... Down... Sophia... To go...
Sophia: *clenches her fists, screaming* *the walls begin to crack and crumble* *the blue aura remains around Rose, more of her being turned into glowing particles which drift away from her*
*sits up*
*weakly call out*
Sophia! Death! Stop!
*cries into Ashlea's shoulder*
*She remained tall as more of her body was turned. When the walls started to crack, she managed a laugh*
The... Asgardians... Will have you... Killed...
*Her knees have out and she fell to the floor. She didn't drop the glare. She wouldn't...*
*cries into Ashlea's shoulder*
Ashlea: Stop! Stop it! Please! *sobs* please!
*wanders in smelling of roses and cleaned of the sick*
*pauses at the scene before her*
*looks between rose and Sophia*
What the hell is going on?
(I dedicate to lazy weekends...)
*sits on the ground her head spinning*
I have no idea Sil...
Sophia: Rose... Stop the glare, and I'll stop ripping you apart. Otherwise we will both die. If I die, you will just continue to be torn... Apart.
*the walls crumble more*
(Here! Here!)
*stalks over to Rose and Sophia*
Hey kiddie winks. Break it up.
I... Don't... Care!
*Her breath caught in her throat and her eyes started to drift, going dark, glazing over. Her body relaxed, the glare replaced by a glassy stare*
(I presume that stops the pain, Rose?)
Rose!
*she tries to stand up but then everything starts spinning and she sits back down*
(Yep. And the gravity control.)
Shoot!
*runs to Deathy*
Gods sakes. Sophia fix her!
(I just thought of something.
We're all fighting in nice dresses... XD)
(I like jeans more anyway! XD )
Sophia: *hisses angrily, getting to her feet*
*stops ripping Rose apart, and instead throws her across the room*
*collects her pistol from the floor*
Bitch.
*the walls stop crumbling*
Sophia! For gods sake fix her bitch!
(XD)
*stands up ignoring the headache*
*walks over to Leri and Ashlea*
Can you guys tell me what happened?
*cuddles Ashlea* ... We're okay... We're okay... *sobs quietly*
Sophia: Fix her? You expect me to fix her? Hell no. I'm getting a whisky.
*She didn't know whether it was the fact that her body was slowly tearing itself apart, the shock of not being able to breath, the loss of magic, or a combination of all three, but she found herself in a familiar, dark, endless abyss of nothing. Nothing except that dark an that one tiny little spec of white. Right there.
Ran ran towards it*
*crosses to Sophia as a blur, sending her flying*
Fix. Her.
Ashlea: *hugs her back* is...is she dead?
I hope not...
*She was there. She was right in front of the light in the dark. She found it. She experimentally put her arm through and shivered at the warmth. Maybe, maybe it wasn't so bad on the other side. Maybe it was warm. Maybe it was heaven. She didn't see a way back now. Everything was white*
Sophia: *lands on the ground* With what? What do you want me to fix her with? You can't bloody use medi-gel to fix getting ripped apart.
... Dugglyn you... You tried to hurt Ashlea...
... I don't know...
*runs over to death*
*taps sigils all over her body, lighting herself up like a Christmas tree*
*lays her hands on Roses head, shocking her and healing her*
*the shock should restart her brain and heart*
Deathy!
*runs over and crouches beside her*
Deathy, come back! Thank of Loki! And the twins!
*She stepped through to the other side, favouring warmth and light over eternal cool and dark*
Sophia: *downs a goblet of whisky*
**think
...
Oh gosh I'm so sorry Ash!
(Gtg.)
*When she stepped through, she felt something tugging er back. She turned, expecting to see the great big gaping hole of black, but there was nothing. The tugging stopped*
Rose you bitch get back here!
*snarls and pours more energy through herself into Rose*
*taps more sigils and shocks rose again and again*
Do NOT make me come after you.
Sophia: You know, I did actually warn her. And I told her to back down. She brought it on herself.
The final death... Is this what they ment...?
*She looked around, expecting to see people frolicking around in clouds, laughing, smiling, but it was like the eternal dark bliss behind her. Expect warm and white*
Gracious, you're all killing each other again. Are you even capable of doing otherwise?
Sophia: *sighs* I was trying.
*glares at Sophia*
Tell Viv I love him.
*smashes one hand against the sigil on her forehead making sure her other hand is on deaths head and screams as her conciousness is ripped from her body and thrown into when Rose's conciousness is*
Sophia: Sure. *mutters something about throwing a wall at her next time*
*She shrieked when she heard a mouse to her left and darted away. She turned to look at what the noise was and cursed when she saw Sil*
Now what the Hell are you doing here!?
*She didn't notice the tears falling down her face until the made rapping sounds on her dress*
*clutches her head*
That hurts. Ow. Ugh.
*gets up shakily*
Get back in your body.
*looks up at Death, her features twisted in pain*
Now.
Sil, I don't know what kind of afterlife you're sent to, but this is mine. I can't. I'm stuck right here. My body no longer has any attachment to me. I've gone through. I'm on the other side...
Tell Loki and the twins that I'm sorry... And that I love them...
*clenches her hands as the pain grows more*
*she's really not meant to be here*
No. Get a grip and go back. Cause I'm stuck here till you do.
... Are you alright, Ashlea?
Ashlea: *is looking at Sil and Roses bodies*
What's...I don't...Leri what's happening? What did Sil do?
... I don't know... I... I'm not sure...
Well great, Sil. You're going to spend the test of eternity right here. Damned along side me to this Hell hole.
*She dropped to the ground, her head in her hands*
You shouldn't have come... Now you're stuck... It's all my fault... I'm sorry...
Ashlea: I don't...i don't remember that sigil...
... Maybe it's new? ... Whatever you do, don't touch your forehead...
*grunts*
Eternity? Please. This place is burning me up. I'll be gone in under and hour and thrown to my resting place. Which isn't very nice I must say.
*looks at Rose*
Go back to your body. I don't have the time or the energy to force you
I've done once before something similar to what the vampire's just done. But if her method is anything like mine, she'll die when Death does.
(Hey Noelle...how are you?)
Ashlea: I won't..
(Hey Noelle! How are you?)
Hello, my darling Noelle.
(Oh. I hope the feeling passes.)
My condolences, then.
(Hey Noelle!
*Cuddles*)
Sil.
*She looked at her, eyes wide, terrified, but truthful*
I'm stuck. I might have if I was back in the dark. Now I'm in the light. I'm stuck and there is absoltey nothing I can do.
You've got to get home.
So Rose is dead? Then I'm leaving.
Sophia: *sighs* I'm in a good mood... What the hell... *activates her computer, and sends an energy pulse into Rose's heart*
When I say I'm leaving, as in for good.
I. Can't.
*she already looks less solid than when she first appeared*
So you're stuck. Get unstuck. Find the way out Rose. Please. I'd send you packing myself but that wastes energy. I need energy to last. Go back. Fight. Concentrate.
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