A thin spike emerged from the ridge on the underside of the Grotesquery's wrist and jabbed into Tanith's side. She cried out and the spike retracted, returning to its sheath. Skulduggery caught Tanith as she collapsed. He backed away.

...

Valkyrie and Kenspeckle ran up. Tanith was unconscious. Her veins were visible through her skin and they were a sickly green colour.

"She's been infected," Kenspeckle said. "Helaquin poison. She has maybe twenty minutes before she dies."