“You can read my mind,” Valkyrie said, “so you tell me.”
Argeddion smiled. “You think you’re a bad person. You think that behind the heroic acts and the bravery and the good deeds, you’re evil. It’s the only thing that makes sense to you, the only way you can explain it. You think every good thing you do is part of an act that you use to fool yourself. That’s what you think.”
Valkyrie didn’t answer, and Argeddion looked at Skulduggery. “I can’t read your mind. Your thoughts are configured in such a way as to confound my attempts. But I know you. I have seen you through Valkyrie’s eyes. Do you want to tell her the small and simple fact that she is overlooking?”
Skulduggery hesitated, then looked down at her. “It’s all an act,” he said. “For everyone. We’re all acting good and noble because acting good is what makes us good.”
“And now she’s wondering, If that is true, why has Argeddion used his power in a peaceful manner and I have used mine to kill? The answer, Valkyrie, is because I’m special.” Argeddion laughed. “I’m a pacifist. Non-violence is what I believe in above all else. But you believe in violence. You believe that, as terrible as it is, it’s necessary. And in your world, dealing with the things you deal with, you might be right. In my world, it is not, and I refuse to allow it to be.”
“If you’re a pacifist,” Valkyrie said, “explain Kitana and Doran and Sean. They’re killing people with the power you gave them.”
“And that is regrettable,” Argeddion said, “but I must see this through to the end.”
“See what through? What’s all this about?”
Skulduggery tilted his head. “They’re test subjects. This is an experiment.”
“Indeed it is,” Argeddion said. “And most of the mortals I picked have not hurt anyone – at least not intentionally.”
Valkyrie frowned. “But why are you doing this? What’s the point?”
“Maybe someday you will be able to see what I have seen,” said Argeddion. “In fact, should you ever find peace within yourself as Darquesse, I would love to be able to show you. Then you can glimpse, as I did, the realm of magic. It is a breathtaking experience. It will change everything within you.”
“Sounds lovely. You didn’t answer my question.”
“Magic is a wonderful, joyous thing, and it should be shared, but sorcerers have been hoarding it since the birth of mankind. If the mortals knew of its existence, tests could be carried out to identify those who could wield magic. They could be trained, taught. We would have hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of mages and they could elevate this world to a true Age of Enlightenment. No more wars. No more pettiness. Peace and love and the search for knowledge. Paradise.”
“Your idea is not new,” said Skulduggery. “But if you were to prove to the world that magic was real, mankind would tear itself apart. The mortals would feel threatened and they would fight back with everything they had.”
“Only if there were any mortals left.”
Valkyrie paled. “You want to kill them? You said you were a pacifist.”
“I don’t want to kill the mortals,” Argeddion said, chuckling. “I want to change them. My test subjects are paving the way for the entire mortal population of the earth to be gifted with magic.”
“You... you could do that?”
“By myself, no,” Argeddion said. “But with the Accelerator and the help of my surprise guest, it will happen.”
“Your surprise guest?”
Argeddion smiled gently.
“This is insane,” Skulduggery said.
“You can’t see what I can see, Skulduggery. Heaven on earth. Can you imagine it? Once all my tests are run, once all the results are collected, magic will permeate every single person. They will evolve overnight, transforming the planet into a kingdom of enlightenment and peace.”
“The Summer of Light,” said Skulduggery. “That’s what it is, isn’t it? You’ve planned this so that everything will be ready to go on May the first – Greta Dapple’s two hundredth birthday. That’s when you’re going to change it all.”
“It will be glorious.”
“No, it won’t. You’re talking about changing human nature. It can’t be done. There will be no kingdom of enlightenment. The rot will start early, and it’ll spread. There’ll be war and horror and death. Your Summer of Light will turn into a Summer of Darkness. The human race will wipe itself out.”
“You’re blinded by your own limitations.”
“And you’re blinded by your lack of them. You’re a better person than I am, Argeddion. You’re a better person than most people. That’s the problem. You have no idea how most people will react.”
“I trust. I have faith.”
“You’re deluded, and we will stop you.”
“You could have stopped me,” Argeddion said. “You could have donned the armour of Lord Vile and come after me. With your natural strength and vicious nature, you might even have defeated me. But a quick peek into Valkyrie’s mind tells me exactly where you’ve secured it...”
He vanished, and a moment later, he was back, holding a thick metal case. Skulduggery tensed.
“You can feel it from there, can’t you?” Argeddion asked. “The pull? Like a magnet to you. But I’m afraid you won’t be donning this armour any time soon.” The case disappeared. “And now that Lord Vile is out of the picture, there is only one threat remaining.”
Skulduggery stood in front of Valkyrie. “You don’t have to hurt her.”
“I have no intention of hurting her,” said Argeddion. “I don’t want to see any harm come to her in the slightest. But Darquesse is a problem that I have to address. Valkyrie, if you’re able to access that power, you’ll tear me apart, won’t you? You’re not as strong as I am, not yet, but where I would keep looking for a non-lethal way to stop you, you wouldn’t feel the same need for restraint. Darquesse is a cold-blooded killer. And I can’t let her emerge.”
White pain flashed and Valkyrie cried out, stumbled, and Skulduggery spun and caught her as she fell. And then the pain was gone.
“My apologies,” said Argeddion. “I didn’t think that would hurt as much as it did.”
“What did you do to me?” Valkyrie gasped.
“Think of it as putting up a wall between you, the sweet girl called Valkyrie, and Darquesse, the cold-blooded killer. You can’t hear her voice any more, can you?”
Valkyrie stood by herself, her head still spinning.
“She will never bother you again,” said Argeddion. “Not while I’m alive. You’re safe from her, Valkyrie. You can still access your magic as you always have, but that level of power is now blocked off to you.”
“She’s gone?”
“She’s still there, she’s just... imprisoned. Your terrible future is now averted. All those fears you had about killing your parents, killing the world... They are no more.” Argeddion smiled gently. “And yet I sense your loss.”
She glared at him. “What are you talking about?”
“I can read your mind, remember. All of those guilty little secrets you’re so ashamed of, they’re spread open for me. Your private moments, your not-so-private moments, your doubts and your fantasies and your thoughts... Oh, Valkyrie, save your blushes. The only thing you should be ashamed of is how much you enjoyed being Darquesse.”