“Cheerful?” It was difficult to take his comment seriously. Even in her state, it was easy to see that he was still figuring out the boundaries of his new cage--he didn’t really know what he was talking about, one way or the other. Shifting the arm that sat across her midsection, she said, “When they were fresh, these injuries killed me. But I can’t die, so this is the aftermath. This is hardly anything in comparison.”

There. She could say it out loud and it only squeezed her heart a little.

Since Yomi couldn’t very well conceal the fact that she was nursing injuries, what was the point in trying to hide them? The truth was the truth. She had been dead and now she… wasn’t. Telling a stranger didn’t change anything. In fact, saying the words aloud almost made the entire process seem more normal.

She had played into Landel’s hand and he had resurrected her. End of story.

All the same, Yomi didn’t know how to answer him. On another day, at another time, the words would have come easily to her. Gleefully, even. But with the memory of Landel’s smiling face still pinpoint sharp in her mind, what could she say?

Her eyes wandered to a point somewhere over Skulduggery’s shoulder. At first she simply frowned, but after another pause of her own she started to speak. “He runs this place. It’s full of creatures he’s captured from all kinds of places and times, like me. And now you. Sorry if you were hoping for good news--there is none. You’re his prisoner now, and soon he’ll start tormenting you like he does everyone else. That’s how it is here. I guess consider this your official welcome.”