Chapter One – First Encounters

DISCLAIMER~~ We do not own anything from the Skulduggery Pleasant series! Derek Landy is the rightful and amazing owner of the awesomeness that is Skulduggery and Valkyrie, and all the other characters!

Hey nuggets. This is our first fanfic, and this one's been done by moi, Jess! Shan will be doing the next one. This is set after Gordon's will hearing (or whatever), with a new meeting of Val and Skul.

ooOoo

Stephanie leaned against the desk in her uncle's study. She had been reading through his notes when she had a feeling that someone was watching her. She turned for the window and looked out.

In the pathway stood a tall, thin figure with a hat covering straw-like hair. The figure was wearing sunglasses, a thick scarf and a long, brownish coat. She felt slightly unnerved, but she'd seen him before.

She left the study and made her way through the groups of people and out to the pathway. She stood in front of the figure.

"You must be Stephanie Edgley," the figure had a smooth voice, clearly male.

The male figure stepped closer to Stephanie and grabbed her, lifting her up so that they are face to face. She now had a better look at the man. Through the shades of his large sunglasses, she could make out the empty eye sockets. Her eyes widen with fear and she stammered, "H-how do you know my name? Who are y-you?!"

The man laughed, and said in a low tone, "Me, my dear.. I am your worst nightmare."

Stephanie's eyes grew impossibly wider and she opened her mouth to cry for help.

"MU-"

The man swiftly placed a hand over her mouth and tilted his head to the side slightly.

"Shut up, I was kidding."

Stephanie frowned and bit his gloved finger. Instead of biting down on soft skin, her teeth hit something hard.

The man pulled his hand away, shaking it as if it had hurt.

"Mind where you put your teeth!" he said.

Stephanie backed away and pointed at him. "You're a skelly."

The man sighed and lowered his head. "Here we go again.. Yes, I am, as you say, a skeleton. I have been for a few years now. My name is Skulduggery Pleasant and I need you to come with me before you scream again, or, possibly, faint."

He held out a thin hand towards her.

Stephanie stared at it for a moment, then looked at him and raised an eyebrow. "Mr Pleasant, are you seriously asking me to move from the safety of people and walk away with a complete stranger, who happens to be a skeleton?"

"..Yes."

"Well, okay then."

Stephanie ignored the hand and walked past him. Skulduggery shrugged and walked after her. He led the way round to the back of the house and towards a black Bentley.

"Nice car," Stephanie commented. For a skeleton, she added mentally.

"Of course. This is a Bentley. One of the very few originals made."

Stephanie stopped walking and turned to face Skulduggery.

"What's going on?"

"What do you mean?"

"What do you mean what do I mean? You're a talking skeleton. Why are you here?"

Skulduggery tilted his head again and stared at her. Or, assuming he was staring at her. It was hard to tell.

"There's someone after you and I can't let them have what they want."

Stephanie raised an eyebrow. "And what is it that I have that they want?"

"I don't know."

"So.. You don't know what they want, yet you're sure they want something from me?"

"Yes."

"Right.. So, where are you taking me?"

Skulduggery opened the passenger door to the Bentley and looked at her. "Somewhere safe."

"If I'm going somewhere with a strange skeleton, I'm getting my phone first."

"Why would you need your phone?"

"In case you're an insane murderer. I'll be back in a minute." Stephanie turned and walked away, back to the house.

Skulduggery shook his head and watched her go, clearly confused by the girl.

As she approached the front of the house, a hand tapped her on the shoulder.

"I can go by myself, you know," she said, turning around.

A man with dark, messy hair was standing behind her with a creepy smile on his face.

Stephanie raised an eyebrow, turned back around and kept walking. Suddenly, the man's arm was around her neck and was pulling her back wards. Stephanie struggled and tried to break free of the man's hold, but only irritated him.

"Will you stop struggling? Just give me the key and I'll let you go!" the man hissed in her ear.

"I don't know what the key is!" Stephanie gasped as the hold tightened around her neck.

"Don't play stupid with me, missy. I know you have it."

Stephanie kicked backwards and hit his shin, making the man yell and let go.

Just then, Skulduggery came running in to view and sent a punch for the man's face.

The man stumbled backwards, holding his nose. "What the heck!"

Skulduggery clicked his fingers and a flame appeared in his hand. Stephanie gasped and stared in amazement at the flame. Developing the flame in to a ball, he threw it at the man, catching fire to his shirt.

Flailing madly, the burning man shredded his shirt off and threw it to the ground. He was covered in raw burns, and he was breathing heavily, glaring at the two.

"That was.. Amazing! Oh my god! You set him on fire!" Stephanie was staring, amazed, at Skulduggery. Skulduggery straightened his tie and nodded, somewhat smugly.

"This isn't over, Skeleton Detective!" the burnt man screeched and ran away down the road.

Stephanie glared after the man, then turned to Skulduggery. "I was just saved by a fire throwing skeleton.." she said, feeling dizzy.

"Are you going to faint?"

"I think so. Will you catch me?"

"Of course."

Stephanie smiled faintly, and the last thing she saw before she blanked out was Skulduggery lunging forwards to catch her.

ooOoo

I know, some of the lines are from the actual Skulduggery books, but hey, makes it better, yeah?

I'm sorry if it's rubbish, but please review! And ideas are welcome for future chapters!

Again, I do not own anything to do with Skulduggery. All respect goes to Derek Landy.

Ciao, fellow nuggets!