The pipe wouldn't exactly be useful for Skulduggery either, but he took it when Gabe offered it. Preparation was the key.
He was also only slightly more used to being dizzy than Gabe was, but at least there Skulduggery knew how to keep his balance. It wasn't the first time he'd been Teleported, and it wasn't even the first time he'd been Teleported while alive. He knew what to expect. There was a slight stumble as Skulduggery caught his balance, arms out, but he remained stable enough to help Gabe find his.
The ballroom was as empty as before, and it echoed as much as before. Gabe's quiet words seemed to fill the empty space, resonating with such calm confidence that Skulduggery could well imagine they'd just stepped into a holy place. A church, perhaps - a proper one, not the all-faiths demonic chapel from upstairs.
Skulduggery shook the sensation away. "As good a reason as any," he murmured. "And it's good enough for me." The air was still in that direction, or as still as Skulduggery was able to tell; he wasn't going to put much stock in that, but it was a wonderful confidence booster while it lasted.
He eyed the silver wall brackets holding candles as they approached the large brown double-doors. It might be possible to wrench one of those from the wall, and it would certainly be enough metal for what he wanted. But it would probably require magic, and Skulduggery wanted to save that for whatever they might encounter down here. The detective settled for quickly pricking his finger on one of the brackets, the same way Gabe had last night, and letting his blood drip onto the ring so it would take them back to the ballroom again tomorrow.
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He was also only slightly more used to being dizzy than Gabe was, but at least there Skulduggery knew how to keep his balance. It wasn't the first time he'd been Teleported, and it wasn't even the first time he'd been Teleported while alive. He knew what to expect. There was a slight stumble as Skulduggery caught his balance, arms out, but he remained stable enough to help Gabe find his.
The ballroom was as empty as before, and it echoed as much as before. Gabe's quiet words seemed to fill the empty space, resonating with such calm confidence that Skulduggery could well imagine they'd just stepped into a holy place. A church, perhaps - a proper one, not the all-faiths demonic chapel from upstairs.
Skulduggery shook the sensation away. "As good a reason as any," he murmured. "And it's good enough for me." The air was still in that direction, or as still as Skulduggery was able to tell; he wasn't going to put much stock in that, but it was a wonderful confidence booster while it lasted.
He eyed the silver wall brackets holding candles as they approached the large brown double-doors. It might be possible to wrench one of those from the wall, and it would certainly be enough metal for what he wanted. But it would probably require magic, and Skulduggery wanted to save that for whatever they might encounter down here. The detective settled for quickly pricking his finger on one of the brackets, the same way Gabe had last night, and letting his blood drip onto the ring so it would take them back to the ballroom again tomorrow.
[To here.]