So, this is my first fanfiction. I tried to make it canon, as that what i think makes a great story. so because its my first, there might be a few mistakes, but i hope you review and favourite :)
Also, a few tips on how this website works would be nice, in a newb. anyway, here is Skullduggery Plesent: A Distant Echo.
The man in the blue and white waistcoat stood and watched as the girl fell onto the church's parapet. He grinned as he remembered a similar experience he had the first time he discovered this wonderful, magical world around him. 'Rookies… he thought to himself, the skeleton sure knows how to pick 'um.' The man sat on the edge of a rooftop, his auburn hair flickered in the breeze of the Dublin skyline. The rooftop he was perched on was not too far away from the church, close enough to get the attention he wanted anyway.
The man looked as if he was from a 1950's mobster movie, his waistcoat and fitted tweed trousers not much helping this look. His skin however was almost the colour of olive, and his grey eyes still glistened in the darkness of dusk. Almost all his features where defined yet seemed artificial, like plastic surgery but highly professional, almost life-like but not quite. The man opened his mouth to suck a drag from a cigarette, when his mouth open, the shining sight of a silver tongue shone like a mirror in light, without there actually being any except for the moon. The man then blow out the smoke and spoke to the night.
"You took you bleedin' time Pleasant. Thought you might at least try and be punctual for once." He had a thick old fashioned British accent. His voice seemed almost perfect, never wavering a single octave, yet again it seemed put-on, not quite normal.
The dark spoke back, "Well there are only so many delusional wizards to catch at this time of night, thought I might get my priorities straight." From the shadows behind him a literal skeleton of a man approached, skull and all, walking like he had ligaments and muscles which actually weren't there. He wore a black suit and tie. 'Very stylish, for a skeleton anyway… thought the man.'
The Brit put out his smoke, turning to the skeleton in the fedora. "Your priorities don't include saving your apprentice?"
"She's handling herself just fine." Just as he said this a scream pitched across the air, turning they saw the girl hanging from the church roof, a tall figure standing over her laughing.
"He dangerous?"
"If he was why would I be up her talking to a prominent member of the British sanctuary?"
"A foreign liaison officer to be precise."
"What a surprise a siren becomes an overseas interrogator, the English cease to amaze me." The skeleton adjusted his tie and put up his gloved hand, "welcome to Ireland Mr?"
"Helling, Rome Helling." The man refused Skulduggery's shake and simply stared into the black holes of his eyes, "We have actually met. Many times, in fact."
"Oh I do remember, I just wondered which name you'd choose this time. I do much prefer your actual chosen name, the last one, Bokker, was it?" he took Rome's silence as a yes, "He wasn't very nice you know, kept pestering me about how an Elemental managed to melt an entire shopping mall without the knowledge of the British Sanctuary."
Rean stood there trying to pass his urge to frown out of frustration. The skeleton had always been difficult to deal with, and he was smart, cunning. Rome has tried to erase his memory of him, as he always did, as part of his job, using his Siren powers. He had his adapt power from his mother, she was from a Greek island only know to the magical community, and after she moved to England and met his magician father, the British sanctuary thought him invaluable. Siren-speak was a dying teaching, and he took great pride in his power, it was useful for his job after all. The way his power works depends on the person he is using it against, and Skulduggery knew his stuff.
"So then you know why I'm here." Rome intensified his gaze, his voice can out of his mouth almost like song from a music box, "We want to know about the Book Pleasant, the Book of Names. Its loss caused a great deal of trouble, tell me what happened."
Skulduggery played with a spark he conjured in his hand, mockingly. "Well once you read it so many times it kind of a spoiled ending, you know how it is."
"The book was protected by powerful magic, detective, so no one should be have been able to even get close to it. Every true name of every magician and adapt in the world was in your sanctuaries hand and they tell us nothing about the most destructive weapon in the world being destroyed in your care."
The detective stood, unfazed by Rome's attempted to control his mind. "Come on Helling, you know me better then that. Siren speak wont work, I have no heart to be lifted into the cloud by your words." He mocked. He knew how Sirens work obviously.
The Siren sighed, "Look Skulduggery, if I had my way, I'd be home by the coast, watching the waves, as I always do. But, as always, I have no choice." Rome paced slowly, pulling out another cigarette. "My superiors are very concerned. This isn't the first mishap to happen in Ireland recently, and the British Sanctuary are getting suspicions. We trusted you with powerful objects, and then suddenly one appeared, one lost for centuries, in fact, and one is destroyed. Not only that, but suddenly Nefarian Serpine returns and all three of your elders where murdered. This doesn't look good for you, now does it?"
The skeleton just stood there, his bone fingers in his pockets, his blank eyes following the Siren as he spoke. "The case was dealt with carefully and professionally by me and my associate." At that moment, the said 'associate' screamed as the huge man got closer. Both men continued without interruption. "The elders have been replaced and the Sceptre is made redundant."
Rome stopped pacing to light his smoke and take a drag. He let out the thick smoke slowly, allowing it escape from his mouth before his speech blew it away. "I trust you, detective. I was there during the war. I watched you and the Dead Men fight to the bitter end. But The Sanctuary is quick to forget who our friends are." He turned to the face the white skull. "I however, remember the good guys. I want to help."
Skulduggery tilted his head slightly. "Oh?"
"Trust me with the information about what happened last year. I will have to report my findings to the Elders, but my report will be… vague. I will get information for you. I have my own sources to catch up on." He stepped closer to the detective. "I'm on your side, Skulduggery. Dark times are ahead. You need friends." Rome spoke with as much truthfulness as he could muster. He was being truthful, as much as he liked his job, the way people spoke about the Irish within the magical community sickened him. Using a powerful idea such as Truth enhances his power, since he doesn't have to try and convince he wasn't lying. Plus, he had other reasons to trust the detective, no matter what the Elders say.
"Alright then" the skeleton said finally. "We are in agreement."
"Good. One last thing, before your apprentice might take you away." He said, noticing the shadow reaching the edge of the church roof. "My superiors said should I need to use force to extract the information from you I should do so." He smiled slightly. "Being in your work you must know interrogation rarely stays at chitter chatter."
"Would be unprofessional to let morals stand in your way of a promotion." Skulduggery retorted.
"it seemed as though the suspect was withdrawing important information."
"Proper action had to be taken I assume?"
"Unfortunately the suspect would have resisted."
"I assume a right hook was retuned with a block and a counter attack?
"A left, actually." As he said this he carried out the action. Rome swung a left, only to have Skulduggery block with his left, and countered with a right elbow to the ribs. He staggered back, but stood back up.
"I assume resistance was no accepted." The detective continued, his voice not wavered by the conflict. "I assume the full report included medical information?"
"In all, mild bruising, a broken rib and nose, and a concussion. Bang to the 'ed, nasty business."
"Much obliged." Skulduggery swooped low at the same place he struck before. Rome tried to block, his attempt in order to make his injury's more realistic, full knowing he would fail, but was to slow, and was almost lifted from his feet. Then the detective struck another elbow at his nose. Rome, feeling it, making his eyes water, managed a hard blow to Skulduggery, but he came off far worse, with bruises appearing from where he hit his bones.
"Thank you, detective, I look forward to our next encounter." The Siren lunged forward for the last time, attempting a low kick to the knee, but Skulduggery moved so he only caught the shoelaces of the detective's shoes, untying them. Falling over his own feet (on purpose.), Helling landed with a thud, knocking his head against the wall of an adjacent building, unconscious.
"And I too, Helling." He said to the unconscious man, just as a scream pitched the air. The Skeleton turned to the direction it originated, seeing his apprentice hanging for dear life on the church roof. He started towards her, but stopped, noticing his untied shoe-lace. Once done, he started making his way through the nigh towards the Church.