A/N: Alright, I admit it, this is out of nowhere. But having reread the first book, I felt really sorry for Skulduggery's ex partner. You never even know his name for crying out loud. So this is my reason for his silence. I don't own Skulduggery Pleasant.
October 1894 A small group of children were playing in the streets of one of London's many slums. The girls were playing with an old length of rope, possibly filched from the docks. Among them, a dark haired girl sang happily. "Judith, Mary, time to come in!" A woman called from her doorway. Two of the girls broke away, waving goodbye to their friends. Soon every little girl was in her house, except for the dark haired one. Nancy, a washerwoman for the slums, motioned her over. "Need me to walk you home little 'un?" "I'll be fine, thank you." Giving a little skip, Lottie collected her basket over flowers, heading for home. Nancy called out a warning to her, "Be on guard, the Ripper might be about!" Rolling her eyes, Lottie turned into the next alley, murmuring about knives and doxies. Her small rant was cut off by a large man stepping in her path. "Heading home, little one?" "Yes, sir." Even as she squinted, Lottie couldn't make out his face. "I have to go now, my mother's expecting me." "Surely she can wait a little longer?" As the figure advanced menacingly towards her, Lottie squealed at the top of her voice. Several heard, and all came running, the first spotting a man take flight. All attention was on Lottie, and her bloodied neck.
A week later
Skulduggery Pleasant walked quickly through the rain, hoping nobody would notice the water did not touch him. The Irish Sanctuary had sent him to help the English Sanctuary with rumours of a monster. They had given him the file, and pointed out the location he could find the target at, but when he turned into an alley, there was nothing there.
Nothing, except the crying figure of a six year old girl. She had curled up near a gutter, her pink toes poking out. No monster here.
Skulduggery made to turn back, but the dead rat by the entrance changed his mind for him. A good chunk of his neck had been pulled away, and upon further inspection, the little girl had blood on her hands. He walked closer to her, eventually bending down. "Hello."
"Hello, sir."
"Those are lovely manners, what's your name?"
"My mother told me never talk to strangers unless they're policemen." Skulduggery laughed and pulled out his badge,
"Can you read?"
"Skul...duggery Pleasant."
"That's right, I'm a detective. What's your name?"
"Charlotte Dawn."
"Well, Lottie, I'm going to ask you a serious question, and I need you to answer it honestly. Did you kill that rat?" Lottie swallowed, then nodded.
"Am I in trouble? I didn't mean no harm sir, my throat felt strange when I ate and that rat just scampered along…." Skulduggery stood up and held out a gloved hand.
"Come with me Lottie, I'm going to take you to the Sanctuary. Do you know that word?"
"A safe place."
"That's right. There are people there who can help you. Will that be alright?" Lottie hesitated, but stood up and took the detective's hand. Together they walked down the road, past suspecting eyes and into the Sanctuary.
June 1903 Several people were carrying on with their busy lives, too preoccupied to notice the young woman slowly walking towards the side of the bridge. The Thames rushed by hurriedly, reflecting the bright sunlight above. Charlotte Dawn shrugged away her shawl, letting the wind catch it. For a second she watched it fly away, until her back was to the stone separating her from the harsh river. No-one noticed her tip herself back until they heard the splash.
Without hesitating, she took a seat on the bridge wall, emerald eyes blinking in quick succession.
September 1903 Charlotte Dawn's grave was easy to find. Next to her mother's, hidden under the weeping willow. At least, that's how she found it. The shadow slipped between the gravestones, almost reverently. Despite the overcast sky, she did not remove her bonnet, nor her shawl. Carefully laying a wreath down, the girl took the time to tug at the weeds gathering. "I'm going to find him, Lottie. I just have to follow the glow." Giving a nod, Charlotte Dawn pulled herself back to full height, treading back to her cab.
Later that week Skulduggery Pleasant had an odd habit. Every time he entered his office, he never went past the opening before checking a mirror to make sure no one was around the corner with a gun. Satisfied that he could walk in without getting shot, Skulduggery continued in, nodding at the woman seated by the window. A split second later, he rechecked himself. "A clever trick." Lottie congratulated, putting away her needlework. "But it's ineffective against foes without reflections, am I right Mr Pleasant?" "Hello Charlotte. Might I ask what you're doing in Ireland?" Lottie smiled, gesturing at the tea set, then remembered he was a skeleton. "I'm sorry, I completely-" "Miss Dawn." "Straight to business then." Skulduggery seated himself across from Lottie, putting his hands together. "The last time we met, if I recall correctly was 1894, when you were six years old. Why the sudden desire to see me?" "I don't suppose you know of my mother's tragic death. Soon after that, I jumped into the Thames and was buried at the end of August. Ever since my reflection died, Mr Pleasant, should I look at a map then a very distinct glow would mark the paper. I was hoping you could help me understand?" Sitting back in his seat, Skulduggery mulled it over. "You are in Ireland on the advice of a glow? I'm sure the English Sanctuary would be better suited to your questions, Charlotte." The warm smile disappeared, "They still detest me. See me as nothing more than a growing monster. I'm sure you're familiar with this?" Pulling her dress collar away from her neck, Lottie revealed an ugly mess of scars. Vampire bites. "They haven't caught him yet, but they do believe my magic is what slowing my age. Not the venom I was unlucky enough to receive." Gently taking her hands, Skulduggery asked, "What do you ask of me?" "I want to be your assistant. Skulduggery Pleasant, I, Midnight Shadow am incredibly pleased to make your acquaintance." At first the Skeleton Detective froze. "I don't require a partner." "On the contrary, Grand Mage Meritorious found me to be an acceptable hire. So as sure as my hair is dark, I'm to be your assistant." For once, Skulduggery was speechless.