Attack and Retreat

Valkyrie, Sapphire and Obsidian teleported into the Accelerator Room of the Old Sanctuary. The Engineer turned to them. It knew about Obsidian but agreed to keep it secret.

"Miss Cain, Miss Phoenix, Mr Blackfire. How good of you to come in" an explosion nearby caused the room to shake "quite the commotion outside"

"You mean you don't know who's attacking?" Asked Valkyrie

"Of course not. My place is here, not out there. But Mr Pleasant was here two minutes and thirty five seconds ago. He told me to tell you he's going outside to fight. I suppose you'll be doing the same"

"Correct. And don't let anyone else other than use, China and Skulduggery in here unless we say different. Ok?"

"Of course"

The three then ran out the room. They quickly made their way out the Old Sanctuary and into the New Sanctuary. A small squad of Cleavers were running at full pace towards the exit. Another explosion erupted. This one closer. A part of wall bust into rock and dust, crushing the Cleaver. Obsidian ran to the hole and looked out. He saw carnage, the city was a war-zone. His auditory of the future had come true.

"Sense anything?" Said Valkyrie. Obsidian knew she thought he was scanning

"Can't get a fix" Obsidian lied, some secrets were best kept, "I'll need to get closer"

"Alright. Teleports us down. No sense in secrets anymore"

And with that Obsidian grabbed the two girls by their shoulders and teleported them both into the heart of the carnage. They saw civilians running from a military group and aircraft. It was obvious that these people were mortal. The solider's and aircraft all had the same logo. Sapphire recognised the 'X' and then the organisation. An organisation that doesn't exist.

"Department X!" She screamed

"Impossible" said Valkyrie she saw soldiers running towards them, she sent bolts of white lightning towards them, not strong enough to kill but enough to enough to hurt. More soliders turned to them. Obsidian ran towards them. Sapphire close behind him. Obsidian jumped and kicked the first soldier in the chin and struck another with a energy beam. Sapphire summoned a wave of shadows and used them as extensions for her arms. Allowing her to strike more troops.

It didn't take long for the two to defeat the small platoon of troops. They looked over to Valkyrie who seemed to do the same thing but on her own.

"Why aren't we that good" said Obsidian smirking

"Maybe you're not" said Sapphire as the they both ran over to help Valkyrie "but I am"

The two ran over to Valkyrie as she finished off a solider. They had to find Skulduggery and soon. As they reached Valkyrie a gunshot rand through the air and Valkyrie stumbled forward, the bullet hit the protective clothing she wore. They all looked to see a blonde woman, she had a gun in her hand, she looked shocked.

"How" she said "How are you still alive?"

"Magic" said Valkyrie as she sent a bolt of white lightning at the woman, she hit the ground and fell unconscious.

At that point an aircraft flew over head and open fired at the three. Obsidian was able to create a shield of energy to protect them and the unconscious troops. He clicked his fingers and summoned a ball of Black Death. When the strike was over he aimed at the aircraft.

"Obsidian!" Said Valkyrie

"I'm not aiming for the craft" he through the ball and it hit the wing, in seconds the wing was dust, Obsidian clenched his fist and the flames died down "I'm aiming for the wings. And like you said, no more secrets" he smiled

"Ok" said Valkyrie "just try not to kill anyone, that'll make things worse"

The three then ran down the street. Five more troops saw them and open fired. The bullets, only seemed to hit the protective clothing. It's seems the troops need more target practice. Valkyrie jumped onto a nearby car and used the height to jump onto one of the solider's shoulder. Allowing her to spin around and dull him to the ground. Obsidian sent a wave of telekinetic energy towards two more soldiers, sending them into a nearby wall. Sapphire shadow-walked behind the last two troops and smashed their heads together.

"We can't stop" said Valkyrie "we have to get as many civilians out as possible"

"Not possible" came a voice behind the three. They all turned to see Skulduggery Pleasant, his suit torn and his hat long lost "all the civilians are either dead, captured or long left. Some of us need to evacuate Sanctuary personnel"

"I'll go" said Obsidian quickly

The sound of a second aircraft filled the air as it got closer and closer. Valkyrie knew there was no time to debate "fine" she said before turning to her daughter "Sapphire. Go with him, me and Skulduggery will hold the fort"

"But" said Sapphire "Mom..."

"Sweetie. We'll be fine. Go to London. Tanith and the Hidden Blades might be able to help"

Sapphire sighed "ok" she ran and hugged Valkyrie "good luck mom"

"You too" Valkyrie smiled

Sapphire ran over to Obsidian, who just gave a solum nod to Skulduggery who returned the nod. And the two ran from the street. They turned back to see the the duo run back to the Sanctuary as the aircraft followed.

As the two made their way through the streets Obsidian pulled out his phone. Sapphire couldn't see who he was calling but right now it didn't matter.

"Aura" he said "grab the potions from my room and stay put, if anyone other than me and Sapphire come over, get to the safe house. I'll explain when I get there" he ended the call.

"Friend of yours?" Asked Sapphire is sing-song voice

"Now is not the time. We have to move"

"What about the escaped civilians?"

"If they have sense, they hide. And Sorcerers know how to hide very well"

Sapphire sighed "ok, we'll pick up your friend, then we help them"

"Good idea. And I know just the people who can help us"

Obsidian grabbed Sapphire's arm and they vanished before a group of soldiers walked down the street. In the blink of an eye they were back in Edgley manor. A girl with ginger hair and a suitcase in her hand quickly ran down the stair. Obsidian ran to her and hugged her.

"Are you ok" he asked

"I'm fine" she replied before turning to Sapphire and holding out her hand "hi. I'm..."

"Aura" interrupted as she shook Aura's hand "I know. But what I don't know is why I've never met you before"

"We thought it was for the best"

At that point three vehicles dulled up onto the drive way of the manor. Obsidian observed the window as a small squad of armed men and women approached the house.

"Can we talk about this later" he said "we have to move" and with that he grabbed both ladies and they all vanished just as the troops burst down the door.

London

Blake Knight and Fenrir Covaci sat in the black car outside a flat. Blake was focused on the apartment on the third floor. Fenrir was sniffing next to him.

"Why do you have to sniff?" Asked Blake "can't you just use Eolas? Or don't you have it?"

"Of course I have Eolas" said Fenrir "all wild wolfbloods do. We just can't do it in non-nature areas"

"Must suck"

"Yeah, that why I try to stay away from these places"

"And yet you're here"

"Words got around of a group of people wit a crusade against all things supernatural, I had to come here to help defend my pack"

"What's it like?"

Fenrir looked at the apartment to see the closed curtains move as is wind was blowing at them.

"A story for another time" said Fenrir "it seems our friends have arrived"