A/N: I'm really going to town here! Whoo! Drop a review!

Chapter 2

"You're late."

Ravel looked up from juggling his morning coffee mug, today's paper and a stack of papers that had been dumped on him unceremoniously by Madam Mist as soon as he stepped through the door.

"You think I don't know that?" Ravel snapped as his mug tipped precariously towards his white shirt.

"I was early today. You know why? Because I never left."

Ravel rolled his eyes. "Anton, if you really wanted a ride, you should have behaved yourself. We've been over this."

Shudder smirked. "You can't tame the untamable."

"Please. You run a hotel for goodness sakes."

"That's right. A hotel. You know what some people do in"-

Ravel stopped short, managing to hold out a hand towards Shudder. "Do not finish that sentence. I honestly don't even know why I'm friends with you."

"Well I know why I hang out with you," Shudder countered. "Next to you, I look like a catch."

"Why." Ravel asked himself as Shudder disappeared around the corner. "Why do I put up with him."

"I'm irresistible!" Shudder yelled over his shoulder.

"Oh do shut up."

His only answer was a laugh.

Ravel craned his neck forward to slurp up a sip of coffee, but just as he was about to, somebody slammed into his back and the entire mug of coffee cascaded down his shirtfront.

"Dammit!" he cursed, wiping at the dark stain.

"Sorry, pardon me… coming through, make a hole…" Valkyrie Cain continued down the hall.

"Oh, hi Ravel! Looks like you got a mess. Did you hear the good news? Ghastly found you a Secretary!"

Ravel looked up from his brushing just in time to see Valkyrie disappear into the crowd. Figures.

He straightened his papers, hooking his empty mug around his finger. He was just about to take a step when the top paper fluttered, and then took off down the hall.

"What in the…"

As he watched, the rest of the papers lifted, flying erratically about his head.

"Skulduggery!" he grouched, grabbing fistfuls of paper out of the air. "Not a good time."

The Skeleton stepped out from behind him, a single paper in his hand. "Good morning to you too. Looks like help is on the way… oh is it ever. Ghastly's sure a clever one, isn't he?"

Ravel frowned and made a grab for the paper Skulduggery held in his hand. "What are you on about?"

Ravel got the impression that if he had a face, Skulduggery would have been grinning rather mischievously. "He hasn't told you… oh this is going to be good."

"What's going to be good?" Ravel demanded, snatching the paper and shoving it into his pocket.

Skulduggery ignored him. "My telling you would ruin all the fun. You know, you were a lot more fun before you took this job."

"You voted for me," Ravel grumbled, keeping pace with the detective as he headed down the hall towards his office.

"A moment of mental instability," Skulduggery said. "Have you seen my assistant? I wouldn't want her to miss the opportunity to see you in a rage."

"A rage? What are you on?"

"I'm a Skeleton, Erskine. I can't consume anything, much less illicit pharmaceuticals. Honestly, I would have thought more of you."

Ravel groaned. "What is everyone talking about this morning?"

As if on cue, Ghastly stepped out of Ravel's office, blocking his way into it.

"Good news," he said. "I have found you a secretary. This is where you thank me."

"Thank you. First thing that's gone my way this morning." He made to enter his office, but Ghastly side stepped, blocking his path.

"But…"

Ravel deflated a bit. "I hate the sound of that."

Ghastly looked incredibly uncomfortable. "Well, Erskine… not just anyone has the Security clearance to be secretary to the Grand Mage…"

"Spit it out, Bespoke."

"No, I don't think that would be a good idea here. You see, it takes a certain kind of person who would be willing to work with someone such as yourself as well"-

A disgruntled snort-

-"But luckily the young lady who will be assisting you had been working in the Vault- ample clearance. I believe you two used to… know each other…"

A tingle started to spread through Ravel… part excitement, part doubt… but mostly dread.

"Ghastly… who exactly did you hire?" he asked slowly.

"Maybe you should see for yourself."

Ravel thought he saw a flash of auburn hair, and that was enough incentive for him to plunge his hand into his pocket and pull out the discarded paper.

The top said Secretary request.

And underneath that was the name Evangeline Rue.

Slack jawed and utterly horrified, Erskine looked up to meet the gaze of a flaming red haired, bespectacled woman.

"Been a long time, hasn't it Erskine."

His coffee cup dropped to the floor and shattered.