[Skulduggery nods at Kratos's guess. Serpine. Two vibrant, wonderful people killed just so Serpine could have a chance at killing Skulduggery himself.
The locket comes as a surprise. Skulduggery brushes the bottom of it with a finger in an arrested attempt to hold it so he can look more closely. There are two pictures inside, not just one. There's a pang of old jealousy that Kratos has anything like this to remember his family by, because Skulduggery doesn't. Big paintings were expensive back when he and his family were alive, and anything smaller got lost in the war.
Their names, as well -- 'Anna' and 'Lloyd' could be English. 'Colette', 'Genis', and 'Raine' less so, which probably means the similarity of 'Kratos' to the Greek god is coincidental.]
Yes. I killed Serpine.
[After far too long, but Skulduggery will take his hollow victories where he can.]
Only after he made himself immortal, though. It's a funny story. That was the same night I destroyed two artifacts that were supposed to be indestructible.
[The momentary cheerfulness fades rapidly after Skulduggery finishes speaking. In an effort to, once again, change the subject, he points to the newer picture, and speaks clearly so Kratos will understand the words he's already learned.]
Where are they? Your planet?
[And, added as an afterthought, because otherwise the question will bug Skulduggery for a very long time:]
no subject
The locket comes as a surprise. Skulduggery brushes the bottom of it with a finger in an arrested attempt to hold it so he can look more closely. There are two pictures inside, not just one. There's a pang of old jealousy that Kratos has anything like this to remember his family by, because Skulduggery doesn't. Big paintings were expensive back when he and his family were alive, and anything smaller got lost in the war.
Their names, as well -- 'Anna' and 'Lloyd' could be English. 'Colette', 'Genis', and 'Raine' less so, which probably means the similarity of 'Kratos' to the Greek god is coincidental.]
Yes. I killed Serpine.
[After far too long, but Skulduggery will take his hollow victories where he can.]
Only after he made himself immortal, though. It's a funny story. That was the same night I destroyed two artifacts that were supposed to be indestructible.
[The momentary cheerfulness fades rapidly after Skulduggery finishes speaking. In an effort to, once again, change the subject, he points to the newer picture, and speaks clearly so Kratos will understand the words he's already learned.]
Where are they? Your planet?
[And, added as an afterthought, because otherwise the question will bug Skulduggery for a very long time:]
Are they also angels?