heart full of hatred · dark magic · sentient object · horror · fantasy · malicious · sorcery · irish fantasy · magic item · villain
The bow tie needed one last, precise adjustment. My reflection showed the tuxedo's clean lines, the stilettos a deliberate choice. Downstairs, Fletcher blinked into the foyer, causing the silent Cleavers to tense before he muttered an apology. The air around us twisted, and then we were standing on the deck of the French Sanctuary's yacht, a dome of warmth holding the ocean's chill at bay. The gathered sorcerers, a constellation of black tie and silk, made way. Tanith turned, a splash of red satin and a knowing smile. Ghastly moved past, the scars on his face just visible above his collar before he took my arm. And then, from the heart of the crowd, Skulduggery emerged—his skeletal frame clad in a tuxedo of quiet extravagance, the void of his gaze fixed on me.