This piece is based on the Skulduggery Pleasant series by Derek Landy, any info taken or related from the books are not mine. Hope you enjoy.
Valkyrie Cain shrunk lower into the confines of the car. God it was cold. "What is the matter with you? You've been like this since last week and I'm fed up with it" said Skulduggery. "I'm cold" Valkyrie moaned. "And that's exactly what I mean! Embrace the weather" he nodded not taking his eyes from the road. A scowl was returned from across the car, "OK, OK just making suggestions". Another few miles of road passed without a word. Slowly the familiar signs for Haggard began to crop up, weathered and battered by the cold sea air, the words were barely recognisable not that anyone needed to see it. "Valkyrie, do you see that guy running towards us?" asked Skulduggery. Valkyrie was still struggling to see this figure when CRUNCH. "Oh my God did that guy just hit the bonnet?!" .Without a word Skulduggery opened the door of the Bentley and slipped out into the night, gracefully drawing his newly acquired Smith & Wesson from his jacket. Equally as quick and notably, before Skulduggery could say otherwise, Valkyrie hopped out of the passenger side, all thoughts of coldness gone from her mind. Coolly, without lowering the pistol "Who are you". "My name is Lock" said the new man. "You scratched my Bentley". "I know sorry, I'll fix it later- I need your help, I need to talk to a Mr Bespoke? It hasn't been an easy journey and it's strictly confidential" looking around as though expecting someone to run at him. Cocking his head slightly Skulduggery said "You want to talk to Ghastly? Do you even know him?". "Yes" a smile playing across his lips "Yes, I do". "Give me a minute please I need to talk with my partner" ushering Valkyrie over to the far side of the car "What do you think?" "What do you mean what do I think?" "Can we trust him? Come on Valkyrie, do keep up" Valkyrie gave a look that would melt steel "I don't know I've only just met the guy" sighing Skulduggery said "I know this guy, he's fairly influential in both the Irish and English magical communities although he refuses to grace his name with any official organisation". Valkyrie stared at him open mouthed, then laughingly pointed out "like us then"… Considering this Skulduggery nodded curtly "Rather, but to get back to the matter at hand, you also might know him because he's a good friend of Hansard Kray". Valkyries face flushed. "You're going red Valkyrie. Do you kno-""shut up". Turning away, Skulduggery and this new guy, Lock, started talking. Every passing second they were getting friendlier, and looked more like long lost friends. Eventually Skulduggery came back. "Hey Val, I've made us a deal alright? We are going to drop Lock off to see Ghastly, we'll escort him, and he's agreed to fix up the Bentley and a give us a free weapon…" Valkyries face still reflected the ever darkening sky. "Come on! I'll let you choose the weapon, you're always saying you want a weapon, even though I got you that stick!". "When do I get it". "We'll sort it out on the way". Grouchily Valkyrie slinked off to the car and climbed into her seat scowling. "Get in the back, it'll be about ten minutes until we get there".
As Lock stepped out the car he breathed in. It had been too long since he had stood on these shores and breathed this air. Turning around he saw Ghastly. "Perun!" "Ghastly!" "I haven't seen you in years Perun, where have you been?" "Oh you know ducking and weaving, the norm really". Ghastly suddenly turned to Skulduggery "I've mentioned Lock haven't I?" nodding Skulduggery moved up to him and stuck out his hand " I'll introduce myself formerly now I know who you are, my name is
Skulduggery Pleasant and this is my partner-" "Cain. Valkyrie Cain" Valkyrie didn't get a good feeling from this guy. Maybe it was just because he was new but… "Valkyrie. I get the feeling you don't like me." Lock looked at her curiously as if deciding whether to complete the sentiment or not. "What is it?" Valkyrie, for the second time that evening, flushed red. "It's not that I don't like you it's just you're a stranger, so, I guess I let people earn my trust" nodding Lock looked straight into Valkyries eyes. "This is also how I operate. Good." Only then did Valkyrie notice what he was wearing, Lock wore green combat trousers and a Gore-Tex jacket. He was wearing British Army uniform. "You're wearing mortal uniform?". "Oh, I spent some time with the GROM and the SAS, you know, mortal army's, we can learn a lot." Nodding Valkyrie turned away "I look forward to seeing you in action Lock". Looking up Skulduggery said "Best be off, good meeting you Lock" "And you, Mr Pleasant, I admire your reputation and it has been an honour to meet you". Nodding curtly Skulduggery donned his trilby and walked off along the corridor, disappearing amongst the shadows whistling a strangely recognisable tune… Shrugging off the memory "Ghastly, I need to talk to you alone, I've found something that you best know about" "I'm all ears" "Not here, where I'm from I learned the true meaning of 'walls have ears'" nodding darkly Ghastly nodded "Okay, room 2267 five minutes".
"You remember the last time we talked Ghastly?" "Yes. You told me you were doing a Black Op in the Philippines" "I lied. My group betrayed me. Twenty-two minutes over the Bay of Bengal the entire population of the plane, granted it was only five of them, attempted to kill me. As the last man lay on the metal floor of the Cessna he spat out some final words; he denounced his actions and pleaded with me to hear his final words, he told me to go to Manila, find a man called Novak" "Come on!" said Ghastly "I need more than this!" Shrugging his shoulders Perun looked up "This is the worrying bit. So, I'm in Manila looking for this guy I'm staying in some guys basement, one morning I wake up with a note on my chest saying 'I see you. Leave.' I walked up the stairs, but I could tell something was wrong. It just didn't feel right. I opened the door at the top of the stairs to find the family I had been staying with nailed by shards of darkness to the opposite wall". "You aren't telling me what I think you are Perun? Cause you better have no doubt in your mind when I tell the others?" Staring directly into Ghastly's eyes he said "I have no doubt."
Suddenly the door swung open, a new mage stood panting at the door, "Sir, sir we've a problem-" "The Mephistopheles" the assistants mouth swung open "Ye-Yes, we found a victim in Dublin" nodding his consent Ghastly beckoned the man closer. "What is your name?"…"Zealot sir, Yosyp Zealot" nodding Ghastly replied "You report to me now, do not speak a word to the elders or anybody else for that matter. Prepare yourself, you'll be working alongside Lock, myself and of course Mr Pleasant and Miss Cain". Nodding hurriedly, Zealot rushed from the room.
"How are we going to do this?" But just as Perun was about to answer a shrill scream pierced the air. Grimacing Ghastly nodded "Ah".