Chapter One
The man sat grinning in the darkness, clutching his mobile. The double-agent would ring soon. Soon enough, the phone vibrated in his hand and the man jumped.
"Hello?"
"Hello, Billy-Ray. I can confirm that you will be getting that payment from your boss very soon."
"Well, ain't that just dandy! So the girl had a vision?" asked Billy-Ray Sanguine eagerly.
"Yes. She told us she had seen a new vampire coming to us for help. It must be the guy you're after. You'll need to get on a plane as soon as possible."
"Thank you, oh, thank you, old friend! My master will be very pleased!" Billy-Ray was shaking with excitement.
"Any time. Oh, I have to ask you a favour. Get one of your adept... friends to kill Alice. She could make things very difficult for us. But be careful, her family will try to protect her. But with your kind's strong powers, they will be crushed. On second thoughts, better just kill them all. It'll get them out of my way."
"Of course!" Billy-Ray knew he couldn't lose someone like that vampire. Living with the Cullens, having incredible vampire powers... the double-agent would be very handy in getting rid of his enemies.
"Thanks. Also, there is the matter of where to go after the Cullens have been destroyed. I have taken care of our 'cousins', the Denali clan already. Any suggestions?"
"I am honoured to be your partner in crime, friend. But I know people in Ireland that I've wanted dead for a long, long time. Skulduggery Pleasant and Valkyrie Cain. I'm sure you've heard of the... 'Skeleton Detective' and his sidekick?" He spat on the wooden floor.
"Yes. I've also heard you've had many problems with them in the past." Billy-Ray knew the vampire was smirking.
"Yes. The plan is to kidnap the girl, and then the damn skeleton will hand over himself; we kill him then kill Valkyrie. Easy. Won't take long. Then I suggest good old Texas."
"Texas." The vampire agreed, and then hung up.
Billy-Ray Sanguine grinned, held up the picture of Caelan and tore it to shreds.