This fanfiction is set between Skulduggery Pleasant and Playing with Fire, and after the events of The Sorcerer's Apprentice.

The Case of the Prime Merlinian

Chapter One

"They were supposed to be back yesterday, Balthazar!" Veronica said as she paced around the lab.
"Veronica, calm down. There twenty years old, what do you expect?" Balthazar said distractedly as he studied the Incantus.
"I know, but that doesn't stop me worrying," She replied as she sat down beside him.
"Mmm hmm,"
"You're not listening are you?" Veronica muttered, raising her eyebrows. Balthazar didn't reply.
"Right, why don't you tell me why you're not the slightest bit concerned that your apprentice isn't back yet?"
"I can feel... something. It's almost like any other sorcerers powers, but it feels... different." Balthazar sounded confused when he said it. "It's like nothing I've ever heard of,"
"So what do you think it is?" Veronica asked, leaning over to look at the Incantus page he was on. It was one of the many pages Merlin had added. This particular page explained the differences between each sorcerer's unique powers. Every sorcerer had a different feel to their power, usually due to their strengths, but very few ever learnt how to tell how powerful another sorcerer was. It was one of the things Merlin had taught herself, Balthazar and Horvath.
"I don't know, but I'm going to find out," Balthazar told her as he closed the Incantus and stood up.
"Alright, I'll see if I can locate David," Veronica said as he climbed up the stairs and out the door.

A young girl was walking through the streets of New York. She was tall and held her head high, as if to disguise the feelings that were raging inside her.
Balthazar saw her and knew instantly that she was the source of the strange power. As her crossed the street to speak to her, she turned and saw him looking. Her eyes widened and she sped up her walk until it was close to a run. He realised she must already have some use of her powers, whether or not she knew it was a different matter. He didn't bother running after her, knowing he could locate her fairly easily now.
He looked ahead and through a small break in the crowd saw the girl glancing behind her. He cast a quick spell that made him invisible to a person of his choice. She seemed to relax when she didn't see him again and slowed slightly. Balthazar dropped the spell and quickly caught up to her just as she was about to cross the road. He touched her arm lightly and she jumped and turned to face him. She looked him in the eye and where Balthazar had expected to see nervousness, or possibly even fear, she just looked determined and annoyed.
"Why were you following me?" She demanded, pulling away from him and stepping away from the road.
"I'm sorry if I frightened you, but I needed to speak with you. My name is Balthazar Blake," He said, stepping after her.
"Balthazar?" she said in disbelief, taking a step back again.
"Yes. A strange name, but it's the only one I have. And might I ask your name?" he replied, trying to keep his voice even.
"You can ask all you like but that doesn't mean I'll tell you," The girl replied, arrogance obvious in her voice. "But maybe if you explained why you needed to talk to me so badly I might reconsider,"
"Very well. You may not believe it but-"
"Let me guess, your some important person from some important business, blah blah blah," she interrupted.
"Well, your right about the important part, but I don't work for any business. I'm a sorcerer," Balthazar said, waiting expectantly for her reaction.
"Right. You expect me to believe that." She replied, raising a single eyebrow.
"Yes, I do. Now you owe me your name," He said, smiling at her but she just glared.
"Fine my name is Ha- I mean, Kaeldra," She said, "And unless you plan on saying something slightly believable, I think I'll be going,"
"I think that you have potential to be a sorcerer. It's as simple as that. If you want to learn more you can come with me now, or just continue on your way,"
"Yeah, you don't actually expect me to go with you, do you? You could be just another one of those freaks they show on those stupid T.V shows."
"I suppose I won't be able to change your mind, so if you do decide you want to learn more, just come to this address," he handed Kaeldra a piece of paper with an address scribbled across it.
"Yeah, that's not going to happen," She replied, but stuffed the paper in her jeans pocket all the same. She walked off and disappeared into the crowd.

The next day, there was a hesitant knock on the chain wire door, just as Balthazar had known there would be. Veronica looked at him and smiled.
"I thought she would have had more sense," Veronica almost ruined it by laughing.
"She's almost like you," Balthazar said as he climbed up the stairs and opened the door.
"Before you say anything, I am not putting one foot inside that door until I see some real proof, something to show me your not just some old creep," Kaeldra said, her arms folded over her chest.
"That's understandable. But I can't show you anything out here, it's one of our rules," Balthazar replied.
"Right, but one thing I think is common knowledge, is that a sorcerer, or magician, or whatever you want to call them, are always bound by their word."
"That's true in most cases. I, and my partner, are unable to break our word, but that is a choice. When you become a sorcerer you take certain vows about things like that,"
"Yeah, I might be more likely to believe you if I could talk to your partner," Kaeldra scowled at his confusing answer.
He smiled and turned around to call down the stairs. "Veronica, why don't you come up and see if you can convince Kaeldra,"
"Veronica?" Kaeldra said in disbelief.
Veronica came up behind Balthazar and she grinned at the stunned girl on the doorstep.
"So Kaeldra, you're not very trusting person are you?" She said, her voice light and friendly.
"I can be. Just not when a complete stranger follows me on the street and tells me he's a sorcerer, and that I might be too,"
"I can understand that. At least you didn't get told when anything to do with sorcerery was punished by burning," Veronica said, laughing at her tone.
"Fine, but I still want proof, or I'm leaving," She answered, leaving no question as to whether she was serious or not.
"Correction. She's worse then you, Veronica." Balthazar muttered. Both of them ignored him.
"Look, Balthazar's right when he said we can't show you anything out here, but if you come in, I swear that we'll tell you anything you want to know, and show you that were telling you the truth," Veronica said, reaching for Kaeldra's hand. The girl stepped back, shying away from Veronica's hand. Kaeldra pursed her lips, considering for a minute, and then nodded. "I'll come, but only if you leave the door open and I can leave whenever I want,"
"Done. Now will you come in?" Balthazar said. He held the door open and gestured for her to walk in. She stepped past Veronica and Balthazar and went carefully down the stairs. Veronica did a quick spell to hold the door open and followed Balthazar down after the girl.

"You know, I think you've caught on the fastest to magic. It's been two weeks and you've almost mastered the basics already." Kaeldra grinned and sat down on one of the seats she'd just been levitating. "Of course, there's a lot more after the basics but you're doing well so far,"
"You have to ruin every complement don't you, Balthazar?" Kaeldra said.
"I try." He replied from his position on the walkway above her. Kaeldra laughed at him and he said, "I think I preferred it when you weren't so arrogant,"
"Oh, I was always arrogant, you just didn't know me," She replied. Kaeldra studied the ring Balthazar had given her that day when she had first entered the lab. It was silver with almost an 'X' on the front, surrounded by black. It wasn't what she had expected but it was a gorgeous ring.
The door opened and Veronica came down the stairs looking worried.
"Balthazar, there's still no word from Dave. I really think we should go find him. Its been almost two months!"
"I agree. He's been gone too long. He didn't really have a plan for where he was going did he?" Balthazar replied, taking Veronica's hand and bringing her down to where Kaeldra was sitting.
"No. You know what he's like better than I do. He's not really the 'run-off' type,"
"This is David, the Prime Merlinian right? Don't you think that some people might find that a bit tempting? I mean, if he's that powerful, then there are going to be people who'd want that." Kaeldra put in.
"True... I have a friend who may be able to help us. He lives in Ireland, but I think he'd be willing to help if we went over there," Balthazar said, rubbing his chin as he thought.
"What does this friend of yours do? And who is he?" Veronica asked.
"Well, I can answer your two questions with one reply. He's the Skeleton Detective,"