Skulduggery Pleasant - Night of the Dying Rose

Chapter 10- What's in store

Little Rose sat down on her little throne, crossing her legs and humming to herself and she thought about all the ways she could pulverise The Skeleton Detective's bones. Or how to make His Combat Accessories death as enjoyable as it could be. She had an answer for one of them. She grinned to herself as she relished in her beautiful visions of a perfect death, she was still grinning when the door opened and The Cloaked figure and the Man walked in. They stood before Little Rose, wisely saying nothing, wisely allowing her to speak first.

Little Rose clapped her hands together excitedly together as she surveyed the two oddballs. "Oh good, you came right on time, you said you were coming at this time and you did! A perfect time to make me report to you too, I'm in a good mood and my patience is intact!""

The Cloaked Figure dipped their head in wary respect to Little Rose. "It would be wrong to keep you waiting Miss Rose due to your efforts." They replied softly.

Little Rose nodded. "Oh yeah of course, it would be very wrong. So glad you decided to choose to do the right thing, and since you are here, I can now tell you that the hunt to kill Mr Pleasant and Miss Cain is a slow one, but I have full optimism that I'll dispose of them soon enough."

The Man shook his head. "We expected you to kill them far sooner Little Rose, your failures are wearing our patience thin."

Little Rose shrugged. "I admit that they surprised me, but have a little faith. I have something in store for Mr Pleasant already."

The Cloaked Figured tilted their head. "Do tell...or do show in your case."

Little Rose giggled. "Oh you know me too well, now, observe."

Little Rose turned her head towards an old skeleton corpse that was lying in a heap within a cold, mouldy corner. She raised her hand, clenching it ever so slowly, and the bones of the skeleton began to groan as they cracked and splintered, slowly breaking apart and being crushed to dust. The Man and The Cloaked Figure couldn't drag their gaze away as the Skeleton crumbled to dust with barely any effort.

Little Rose grinned, lowering her hand, drawing The Man and The Cloaked Figure's attention back to her. "As you can see, there will be nothing left of the Skeleton Detective by the time I'm through with him...I'll be sure to take my uttermost time with him...that, Is what I have in store for him."

The Man nodded, silently impressed but professionally keeping it hidden. "And what of Valkyrie Cain? Will you do the same to her bones."

Little Rose shook her head. "It's too hard to do it when there's skin in the way, however, I plan to get into a full on fight with her while the Skeleton Detective watches. I will go easy to make her become more confident and angry, and then...well." Little Rose gripped her head and pretended to pull it off, making a sickening RIP noise with her mouth. She lowered her hands, laughing in glee.

"So." She continued once she had calmed down. "My dear bosses, as you can see I have this perfectly planned. What's in store for the Damned Duo is a world of hell and pain and eventual death, so sit back and let Little Rose do her work."

The Man and The Cloaked Figure looked at each other silently, before nodding to each other, they faced Little Rose again, bowing their heads, before turning and walking out. They left as if they had never been there in the first place. Little Rose smiled.