Ghastly slid his hands into the pockets of his jogging bottoms as he walked. He kind of wished he was wearing something else in front of Tanith, but it couldn't be helped. His usual clothes were in the changing room near the training room, but China didn't like to be kept waiting. frown crossed his face. He didn't know the mage that was leading them by name, but he had the feeling he had seen him before. He let the man lead them away because he knew that people liked it when they felt like they had authority. He had never seen that man before, but assumed that it was one of China's old correspondents that she'd managed to get back in her service now that Eliza Scorn had been "taken care of". He didn't really know how she'd succeeded in getting her old informants back, but he imagined it was something despicable. Ghastly kept himself aware and cautious, but wasn't worried. The mage wasn't the most intimidating of people and seemed at ease, but that didn't mean that Ghastly should be off guard. However a man of the sorcerer's size didn't stand a chance against Ghastly and Tanith. Tanith had her sword, which could take a man's head faster than an eye blink. But Ghastly still stayed on guard; it was an old habit that refused to fade.

In his peripheral vision, he saw Tanith's head turn towards him. He glanced at her and she smiled softly and he smiled back. She turned away, not out of rudeness, and walked on. He carried on watching her, his smile not fading. Ghastly loved her. He knew that now. The thrill of getting her back and being able to be with her confirmed his suspicions. He didn't know if she loved him or just liked him, but he knew that he loved her and that was the only thing that could ever matter. He loved the way she walked lightly on the balls of her feet, soundless. He loved the way she was strong and could defend herself better than most men could. He loved the look of her toned arms, and her lean legs. She was fierce but still managed to be funny at the same time. Almost unconsciously, she reached up and took her hair from its ponytail, and it tumbled down her back. She shook out her hair. Tanith's gaze turned to Ghastly and he averted his eyes. She raised her eyebrows and smiled. He shrugged.

They walked to China's room of mirrors and the sorcerer held the door for them, a polite smile on his face. Tanith smiled back and Ghastly nodded. The door shut behind them. Ghastly didn't feel China's "pull" anymore. He still knew that she was beautiful, and nobody could deny it, but ever since Tanith had been back the effect had been dulled.

Tanith walked in and raised her eyebrows as she looked at the room. The mirrors reflected every single corner of the room towards China. Now that the Black Cleaver was gone, she had carved invisible sigils into every available surface. The room looked harmless enough, but it was a fortress.

China surveyed them for a second, her eyes lingering on Tanith's new clothes. The corner of her mouth curved upwards slightly and she looked at them with a hint of amusement in her eyes

"You wanted to see us, China?" said Ghastly.

"Grand Mage Sorrows, Elder Bespoke." China said.

"I still want to know how you managed that." said Tanith, smiling and putting her hands into her pockets.

"I managed it how I usually manage things," replied China, "With an abundance of wit and style."

Tanith rolled her eyes, and waited for China to elaborate on why she called them here. She didn't say anything. She just crossed her arms and waited.

"Ummmm?" said Tanith,

"Are you going to tell us why you called us here?" asked Ghastly.

"Yes. We're just waiting for Detectives Pleasant and Cain."

"But they left before me?" said Tanith, frowning. "What happened?"

"I'm not sure." said China, her face flickering into a frown for a second before returning to its normal perfection. Ghastly knew that she didn't like not knowing things. Tanith fell silent and they all waited.

Seconds later the door behind them opened and Ghastly didn't even have to turn to see who it was because of the excessive amount of mirrors. He looked at the mirror to the left of China and saw Skulduggery walk in and hold the door for Valkyrie, who was walking with a slight limp. She grinned at them as she entered.

"What happened?" asked China, straight to the point as usual.

"Uh, complicated." said Valkyrie, her voice croaking slightly.

"We got followed as we left Tanith's house," said Skulduggery, "and we were attacked. Valkyrie didn't get hurt-"

"Valkyrie did get hurt." interrupted Valkyrie, frowning and looking at him.

"-seriously." finished Skulduggery, spinning around to Valkyrie. "Why did you refer to yourself in third person?"

Valkyrie opened her mouth to say something but was cut of by China clearing her throat. They turned to her again.

"Who attacked you?" she asked.

Skulduggery answered, "Avas Void and a few other people I didn't recognise.

China raised her eyebrows, "Avas Void? You're sure? I had heard he was dead."

Ghastly fought of a smile, China hated incorrect information.

"We're sure." said Valkyrie before Skulduggery could say anything, "Look." She removed her jacket, turned around and lifted her hair from the back of her neck. Tanith walked to her and glanced at the scar peeking out from under Valkyrie's shirt. She pulled her T-shirt down a little so she could see more clearly,. Her eyes widened. Ghastly came forward and winced slightly at the marks on Valkyrie's skin. It looked painful.

"Ouch?" Tanith asked,

"Ouch." confirmed Valkyrie, nodding.

China's face was impassive but she stood and walked forwards. Being very careful, she examined the mark. She stepped back and sat down. Valkyrie put her jacket back on.

"Void's work?" asked China,

"Yeah" said Valkyrie.

"Hmm." said China.

"China," began Skulduggery, but hesitated when she glared at him. "...Grand Mage Sorrows, why did you call us here? Myself and Valkyrie were about to work a case."

China stood and clasped her hands in front of her. "I received a message this morning from one of my informants that told me something interesting about Erskine Ravel."

Everyone's faces darkened, and Skulduggery's head tilted slowly.

"As you are aware, he was, in a way," she glanced at Skulduggery, "executed for the murder of Anton Shudder, and the attempted murder of Elder Bespoke. After Ravel died, I sent out teams of people to try and track down the people that were working with him. Those teams had to be called off because of the Darquesse threat, but now she's gone. I sent out those teams again after we defeated her, and they came back with something interesting. Over the years, the allies of the child of the spider searched for people to recruit to their cause. These people had to be magical, of course, but they had to be people that disappearances would not be noticed by ordinary mages. They went after people who had magic, lots of it, but did not know of it. The people they found were mostly young adults and children, and they took them from their homes and used sensitive to remove them from their parent's memories. These people went through several stages of training, in magic and in combat, and when they were done they were hidden away. They were, if you like, frozen in time. Several of these people were sorcerers that people had forgotten about. Who were powerful but had chosen to live lives away from crowds. They took them by force and removed their memories. They then trained them and then hid them away and gave them mortal lives. These people need to be rescued, and the sorcerers need to be returned to their own world."

"Wow." said Valkyrie. "That's... unbelievable."

"It is. But I assure you that the informant is completely reliable."

"How do we recover their memories?" asked Skulduggery.

"This has been going on for a few centuries. The mortals families will long be dead. The mortals themselves will predictable be in the same state physically and mentally, and I think it will be better if we give them new lives. The sorcerers however should be easy, my source tells me, all you would need to do is say their taken name to them."

"That is rather easy." said Tanith, "Too easy. Do we know who they are?"

"We know their names." said China, "And where they are. But not who is who."

"Oh," said Valkyrie. "So we just have to read some names of a list and they should be okay?"

"I believe so."

"Right." said Ghastly, "And you want us to track them down? All of them?"

"If you wouldn't mind." said China, smiling at him. It didn't have the same effect as it used to.

"Just us four?" said Tanith.

"We have a dozen cleavers at your disposal and I'm sure you can call in The Monster Hunters to help you if you can drag them away from their dragon hunting."

Ghastly frowned, "But dragons don't exist?"

Skulduggery went to speak but was cut off by Valkyrie. "But we saw one! We found it in the caves beneath Gordon's house. It was huge and angry and it was so cool! It breathed fire and everything and its name is Gordon!"

"Really?" said Tanith, grinning. "You named the fearsome dragon after your uncle? Cool."

Ghastly turned to Skulduggery, "A dragon?"

"Yes."

"Cool." Ghastly said, shrugging.

"But how did they get down to the caves?" asked Valkyrie, "How did they kn-" she paused and looked at Skulduggery, "Oh."

"What?" he said,

"You told them."

"No I did not."

"Why?"

"They were really excited and asked really nicely."

Valkyrie glared at him. "You told them where to find Gordon The Dragon."

Skulduggery hesitated, "Not the exact location."

Valkyrie frowned, "What if they tame him before I get the chance? What if they come out riding him and I'll look stupid because I found the dragon but am not riding it?"

"Uh."

"What if they find it's cool dragon eggs and they hatch and they raise the baby dragons as their own?"

"I highly doubt that will happen."

"It could! If they come out riding a dragon then I will never forgive you."

"Right."

There was a pause. Ghastly glanced at Tanith. She grinned.

"Do you have a list of places and names for us?" asked Skulduggery.

"Yes." said China, stepping forwards and handing him some paper. "However first I recommend that you find the Monster Hunters and either work with them or just let them know about what is going on. Just find them."

"Yes!" said Valkyrie, "I mean...okay, yeah. We'll find them."

"You won't be going near the dragon." said Skulduggery.

"His name is Gordon." said Valkyrie.

Skulduggery sighed. "Yes, of course." he turned to China, "We'll be on our way then."

"Good luck." she said, as they turned to walk away. "Dragon's aren't allowed in the Sanctuary, Valkyrie."

Valkyrie turned around and smiled, "Now that's just mean." she said as she and Skulduggery walked out of the room. Ghastly could hear her excited babbling about dragons as the door shut behind them.

"Same for us then?" asked Tanith.

"Yes." said China, passing Ghastly a folded piece of paper.

"I'll need to get changed first." said Ghastly, gesturing to his training clothes "But it won't take long."

"I see." said China, "Would you mind contacting Dexter Vex and Saracen Rue, and inform them of the situation?"

"Not at all." said Ghastly, "They've had had enough time for their 'Lives Of Adventure'. It'll be nice to make them work for a change."

China smiled. "Good. I shall see you soon, I hope."

"Goodbye." said Tanith, and China nodded

They walked towards the door, and Ghastly passed Tanith the list of names. She glanced at it, and passed it back. Tanith raised a hand in farewell.

"Good luck." China called as the door shut behind them.