Hi guys! Sorry its been a while but here is an extra long chapter for you! I hope you like it, don't forget to R&R! Oh and to answer some questions the events of this story take place before the third book, so in my mind Valkyrie has just turned 13. Hope to update again soon! x


Meetings

Sanura left them at the docks, she had shrugged on a long dark coat, placed a trilby style hat over her red hair and disappeared into the darkness but not before inviting them to her home later the next night in order to discuss 'tactics'.

Now sitting back in the Bentley on her way home Valkyrie mused about this new found alli, she had certainly been a blast from the past for Skulduggery,

"what did she mean?"

Skulduggery switched the high beams on as they turned onto the unlit back roads,

"What did who mean about what?"

"Sanura, about what happened the last time!", she spread her hands in a theatrical gesture and deepened her voice to be as dramatic as she could, Skulduggery laughed lightly,

"Nothing"

Valkyrie folded her arms,

"Oh come on don't be a spoil sport"

He hesitated a moment then sighed,

"Fine...Sanura has a very...er foggy past, nobody really knows much about her, she is a very secretive and proud woman, not an easy character to fathom. Anyway a few years back it was thought that she had gone to the dark side, there were a few suspicious deaths across Europe and I was one of the 'agents' for want of a better word, put on the case to solve them. Each one had a similar MO, no evidence, nothing at all to work with, until one day the killer messed up. One victim, an Italian gentleman was left alive after the killer was disturbed. He said his attacker had been an animalistic being that walked on two legs...a felinoid. So that ruled out werewolves plus the attacks never happened at the full moon, so we looked into registered Animages both in Europe and the rest of the world, there aren't many, only a few with the ability to carry out the attacks and only three that specialised in feline forms. One was a 72 year old woman who lived in Wyoming and had 13 grand children, none of her off spring had her abilities, the other a young man who had been shot by a poacher whilst out running on a reserve in Africa. So..."

"That left Sanura" Valkyrie concluded.

Skulduggery nodded,

"Yep, anyway to cut a long story short, I finally caught up with her in Alaska, in the middle of a tundra and surrounded by caribou. I tried to stop her and got my butt kicked then she went all white tiger on me and caused a stampede, so I nearly got my butt trampled. By the time everything had calmed down she was long gone. Later on I was invited back across to the Italian Sanctuary, the injured italian gent had disappeared from hospital, but before we could work on it I was introduced to the head of the special branch of the MIBPF - "

"MIBPF?"

"Magical Investigations Bureau and Policing Force, they're a bit like MI6 but cover the globe, anyway, who should he introduce me to but Sanura Bast. Turns out that Sanura was on contract with multiple Sanctuaries around the globe and worked as a special commissions agent for the MIBPF at times."

"So she was a contract killer?"
"Of sorts yes...the people that she had...dispatched were all part of a magical narcotics trade, some of these drugs were being sold to non mages and the daft sods were dying, the ring of dealers and suppliers was getting too big, major problems were starting to arise and the drugs were spreading as a last resort a number of Sanctuaries had contracted Sanura to get rid of the major players in the field"

Valkyrie nodded,

"Cut of the snake's head and the body dies"

Skulduggery turned onto the pier and stopped the car,

"Exactly"

"So does she still work for the MI...thingy?"

"No idea...I had a couple of dealings with her after that, she is truly a rather amazing woman but definitely someone you want to be friends with"

Valkyrie nodded and checked her watch, 8.45. Her mum and dad should have gone to work and the reflection to school, still she would have to give it a few more minutes for the street to become clear enough for her to make her way into the house.

"Why the animals then?"

Skulduggery adjusted his scarf and wiped an imaginary speck of dust off the dash board,

"Well apart from the fact that its illegal trade, she's an Animage, they are fiercely protective of animals and won't see any harm done to them plus they have a real affinity with them. Its almost natural for her to get involved and be really angered by it aswell"

"So no squashing bugs around Sanura" Valkyrie half smiled,

"I wouldn't...just to be on the safe side"

The smile slowly faded,

"Right then" she said checking the street once more...all clear,

"See you later"

"Yup"

She got out the car, trotted across the road and let her self in the front door. Time for a bite to eat and a few hours sleep before the folks got home.


Around five o'clock Valkyrie slid out of bed and headed for the shower, leaving the reflection doing her homework. Her parents were out for the evening and wouldn't be back until long after she had left. Having a quick shower she tied back her dark hair and pulled on a fresh pair of work clothes that Ghastly had just finished for her. They had beautiful amethyst purple woven into the lining and a large hood that gave her some anonymity and kept the rain off, she had never really been one for clothes but she really did love this set. Leaving instructions with the reflection she made her way to the pier to wait for Skulduggery. Ten minutes later they were on their way to Sanura's home and darkness was falling.

Conversation in the Bentley was fairly muted as Skulduggery was concentrating on where he was going, he had never been to this area before and was on the look out for signs and land marks that Sanura had written down for them. Valkyrie had often mentioned him getting a sat-nav but Skulduggery always dismissed the idea, he preferred to rely on a little magic and pigeons instinct. Valkyrie just thought he was being a typical man.

Sanura's house was on the outskirts of a small village, a beautiful brick built house with a well looked after cottage garden and an old fashioned lamp post at the bottom of the cobbled path. It was like one of those houses you saw on Christmas cards. Sanura opened the door before they even knocked, she was wearing jeans and an off the shoulder deep blue jumper,

"Good evening Sanura, thank you for inviting us"

Valkyrie rolled her eyes, typical Skulduggery always suave with the ladies,

Sanura smiled warmly and stepped away from the door,

"Go right through"

The house was warm and inviting, paintings and ornaments of different animals were artfully arranged around a mix of antique furniture, in the hall way there was a display case containing what looked like ancient Egyptian artefacts. In the living room a large book case occupied one side on the room with a a beautiful wood burning fire at the other, the large picture windows framed by red and gold curtains looked out onto the quiet road. Comfortable looking leather furniture occupied the space in front on the fire, a white and grey cat lounged on the rug, basking in the fires warmth and a barn owl sat on a perch in the corner, one dark eye opened slightly to regard the visitors. An exotic looking woman lounged in an arm chair. She had deeply tanned skin with long, thick, dark golden hair and striking violet eyes. She stood to greet them, she was tall and athletic and wore a fitted black cocktail dress and gold sandals, a thick bar of gold graced her slender neck and diamonds hung from her ears.

"Valkyrie Cain, Skulduggery Pleasant, this is Cassandra Adaeze, shes from the South African Sanctuary"

Cassandra extended a elegant hand,

"Pleased to meet you, are you going to help us?"

"If Sanura will let us of course we will help" Skulduggery doffed his hat to her then set it on the back of a chair as Cassandra looked at Valkyrie,

"Er I'm with him" very smooth Valkyrie she thought to her self. Cassandra seemed happy enough and treated her to a dazzling smile"

"Please sit down" Sanura motioned them towards the sofa, "The others should be here soon"

Valkyrie settled on the sofa, rubbing the smooth dark burgundy leather with her fingers,

"You can ask you know Valkyrie"

She looked up sharply. Sanura was standing by the fire, watching her with amused eyes. The cat, Valkyrie noticed, was gradually worming its way across the rug to rest its head on Sanura's foot,

"Ask?"

Sanura smiled,

"Why an Animage would have animal products in her home, yes?"

Valkyrie nodded,

"Any animal products that I use I...research. For example I know that the cow that that leather came from died of natural causes and lived a long happy life. I will only eat organic meat and only use cosmetics etcetera that are not tested on animals"

"Oh I thought you would be a vegan or something"

"It's not in my nature, even if an Animage specialises in herbivores they still have to eat an omnivorous diet it order to remain healthy"

"And she is a fabulous chef" Cassandra put in her, accent exotic and musical. Sanura looked slightly embarrassed for a moment, then she straightened and made her way to the door, leaving the three of them alone.

"So" started Skulduggery, "are you an Animage as well?"

Cassandra laughed lightly,

"My Lords no! Sanura is the only Animage I know. I'm a Tracker"

"Tracker?"

Cassandra lifted a hand and her eyes glowed slightly, vague shades of light cascaded around the room, murky figures drifted around the space and in and out of the door. Valkyrie recognised her self and Skulduggery walking in and the figure of Sanura walking out, as each figure moved they left a trial of violet phosphorescence behind them like mist.

"I can locate and track individuals, groups, animals, vehicles and if necessary incapacitate them by knocking them unconscious from a distance"

She lowered her hand and the glowing figures faded away.

"Impressive" Skulduggery said,

Cassandra gave him a sultry smile and recrossed her legs,

"Why thank you Detective"

If Skulduggery could blush he would have. Just then Sanura returned followed by a man and a woman. The man was shorter than Skulduggery with a medium build and wide shoulders. He had bronzed skin with black hair, a little goatee beard and dazzling molten gold eyes. He wore a black suit with a gold coloured shirt loose at the collar, his features were chiselled but he had an air of arrogance about him. Valkyrie noticed his eyes followed Sanura across the room, then widened appreciatively as Cassandra stood. The woman who followed him in couldn't have been more of a contrast, while Sanura and the others filled a room with their presence, this woman shrank into the back ground. She had very pale peachy skin and short mousy brown hair that complimented her pixie like features, a small smattering of freckles dusted her nose and she was petite but her eyes were silver grey and mirrored like that bloke out the film Valkyrie had seen...Riddick. She wore clothes similar to Valkyrie's but while Valkyrie's were black and purple, this woman's were white and grey.

"This is Midas Verdantez and Shy Grey" Sanura said, motioning to the man then the woman. Midas went straight to Cassandra and kissed her out stretched hand, Cassandra raised an eye brow but smiled,

"It is my pleasure to meet you Miss?"

"Cassandra Adaeze, South African Sanctuary"

"Cassandra" Midas positively breathed, he had a latino accent,

"I myself work for the Brazilian Sanctuary"

"That's nice"

Midas paused for a moment, considering whether he had been dismissed from this goddess's presence or not then turned to Skulduggery,

"I'm Skulduggery Pleasant and this is my partner Valkyrie Cain" Midas shook Skulduggery's hand then regarded Valkyrie with some scepticism. After a moment he took Valkyrie's hand and kissed her knuckles,

"Pleased to meet you both, you are from the Irish Sanctuary?"

"Yes we are"

"I look forward to working with you then" and with that he moved away and sat down in a vacant chair. At this point everyone looked a Shy who waved and smiled in a manner accustomed to her name,

"Pleased to meet you all" she said in a small voice, then sat down on the edge of the sofa beside Valkyrie.

"Midas is an Alchemist, meaning he can turn himself and objects around him into solid gold, and Shy is a Phaser and Mindwalker, meaning she can pass through solid objects and read minds, to put it simply" Sanura added helpfully. Suddenly to little barn owl, who Valkyrie had been watching making its way around the room from its perch, in as secretive manner as it could manage landed on Skulduggery's tie and proceeded to peer at him closely. Skulduggery sat back slightly,

"Erm"

"Obi" Sanura reprimanded, "Be polite", for a moment longer the owl stared, then winked at Skulduggery and hopped down onto Valkyrie's knee, hooting quietly,

"He would like you to stroke him"

Valkyrie looked to Sanura, who nodded, then gently laid her hand on the owls soft back. Its dark eyes closed in satisfaction.

"I might as well get the rest of the menagerie in here" Sanura whistled and Valkyrie expected a dog to appear at the door. What actually appeared was a large black panther, that gazed at them all with sleepy golden eyes before making its way to the fire, nudging the little grey and white cat out of the way, receiving a miaow of protest in return and lying down to continue its nap.

"Right that is Obi" she pointed at the owl,

"That is Bailey" she pointed to the cat,

"And that is Themba" she motioned to the panther.

"Hope" Cassandra translated,

"He is indeed" Sanura bent, loving rubbing Themba's ears, then looked to them all,

"Right, now that we're all here, lets talk tactics"