A hooded figure touched down in a flight of shadows on a building in Dublin, Ireland. The hood was tilted to cover the face and the rest of the robe swirled to the floor making it hard to see whether the figure was male or female. No one saw this figure and if they did they would run with one look at the figures face. This person is the most feared non-criminal mage in the world, walking the thin line of good and bad. This person hadn't been seen by some for ten years and it was time for a reunion, whether good or bad.

XxX

Skulduggery Pleasant strode into the sanctry with Valkyrie at his side. The Bentley had been lovingly parked outside and dirty glares were given to the mages of Roarhaven just encase they even dreamed of touching his baby.

Valkyrie picked up their file and they moved to their office. The office was a place of peace and was requested only to give them an even greater air of importance; it's also where they think of ways to control Vile and Darquesse.

The heavy wooden door with their names written in gold open with a turn of Skulduggery's skeletal hand, he crossed to the luxurious red velvet couch that was probably as old as he and Valkyrie went to the side board to make a cup of coffee. Once she was seated in the desk with her coffee leaning back on the back two legs of the chair they opened the file of their latest investigation.

"Yesterday a four year old girl by the name of Hopeful Plans," Valkyrie began reading to and attentive Skulduggery "killed her parents. Nice child. She was last seen running around her house stark naked, oh dear lord, screaming empty threats at the voices in her head which supposedly told her killing her parents would mean she could live with Santa Clause."

"I see said the blind man to his deaf dog," said Skulduggery.

"Why should we be called in for this? Don't they have anyone else?"

"What on earth do you mean Valkyrie?"

"I mean it's just a four year old. Why can't they give us a case more worthy of us? I mean we killed Serprine, Barren Vengous, Faceless Ones, we stopped Scarab and his Vengeance squad, remnants, the death bringer and a handful of others."

"People take murderous four year olds very seriously," skulduggery said with a hint of sadness in his voice.

"Why?"

"Let's go catch a four year old," said Skulduggery ignoring Valkyrie's question.

They drove away in the sleek Bentley. The drive was relatively silent and stillness hung in the air. Once they arrived Skulduggery turned to get out but Valkyrie had taken the keys and locked the doors. Skulduggery sighed and turned to face a Valkyrie with her arms folded.

"You didn't answer my question before." Said the stubborn eighteen year old.

"Valkyrie please..." he started.

"No! I'm sick of finding out things that I should have been told ages ago in the heat of a battle. So just tell me ok."

"Fine but you asked."

He stared at her to see if she'd change her mind. She didn't.

"Well it started after the war with Mevolent at a time of peace and this was twenty two years ago before you were born. There was a mage born into a family of magic a daughter, the first born. She grew up as an ordinary girl she was on the path of elemental magic a lovely beautiful kind child. Then one day a little girl in a red dress with a black sash was standing in the rain outside a corner shop. Erskine's mother walked out and asked the little girl how she was and she responded as "I'm fine my parents aren't though because I just killed them," and then she saw that it was that nice little girl and the girl grabbed the shadows and killed her and wrote something on Erskine's mother in blood."

"What did she write?" Valkyrie asked wrapped in the story.

"Her name or at least her new name Princess Horror. She was more terrifying than Mevolent, Barren Vengous and Serprine put together. She would win in a fight against Lord Vile. She was and Adept, Elemental and a Necromancer. Her reign of horror went on for six years. At the age of ten she was about to wipe out another city when Lord Vile descended from the sky. He told her to come that there was help for her and that he would take care of her and they flew of together and Princess Horror hasn't been seen since."

"You as Lord Vile went and offered her a home and help?"

"Yes I did. I calmed her down. It was like having my old family back."

"Then what happened?"

"She left me."

"Oh. That would be disappointing."

"It was," said Skulduggery. "But don't worry my niece showed up after that and I raised her."

"Your niece?"

"Haven't I ever told you about my lovely niece Shadow Irate?"

"No you haven't"

"Well her parents were murdered by the Princess of Horror herself, my poor elder brother and his wife. he always looked up to me, wanted to be just like me too. She's like us. A rouge with more than one branch of magic to use. She started as an Elemental too. The apple of my eye and Ghastly and Gordon helped raise her. Ghastly made her clothes and Gordon helped her writing skills. She held you when you were a baby. So did I actually, you were so small."

"Wow. You never told me about her," Valkyrie said.

"Sorry about that. Can we maybe hurry up this sentimental moment? We do after all have a four year old to catch."

"Right let's go."

They got out of the Bentley and turned to face the house. They could hear the child within but there was yet another distraction. A figure in a cloak had their back to them. While they were doing nothing wrong they seemed to radiate a sinister energy.

Then the figure turned.