Thunder rattled the small rickety house that sat in the outskirts of Dublin, Ireland. The rain lashed down upon the earth. A young blonde haired youth lay inside the house, a hole in it causing rain to pour into the house. The boy opened his eyes, unsure of his new surroundings. The walls were bear, no wallpaper. The floor had no carpets or rugs' meaning the floor was uncomfortable. The boy rose to his feet and he looked around checking the area. There was nothing in the house at all. He cracked his back and groaned. He slowly walked to the window not even knowing where he was. A flash of lightning frightened him and he leapt back.

"What the hell?" Gasped the boy.

"That would be lightning," said a female voice from behind him. He turned to see a very pretty girl about his age standing there, her black hair flowing freely down her back. Her long black coat was zipped up but flapped in the breeze whirling around the house.

"Where am I?" Asked the boy.

"This is just outside Dublin," came the reply, her voice sweet and perfect in every way.

"Where's Dublin, I don't remember anything except falling through a black portal," said the boy, his voice cracked with fear.

"Hm, seems like you'll need help," replied the girl.

"Will you help me?" Asked the boy.

"I will, my name is Valkyrie Cain," replied the girl.

"I would tell you my name but I don't know it," said the boy.

"To begin with, have you got any belongings on you, example rings, bracelets or anything in your pockets?" Asked Valkyrie. The boy began emptying his pockets, finding a bar of chocolate and a small vial of liquid. He took the silver bangle on his arm off and looked at it. Valkyrie examined the bangle and saw weird marks on the inside.

"These marks look familiar but only one person I know can decode it.". As if by saying those words a man walked into the room, his face covered by a hat. He wore a brown suit jacket with matching trousers and a white shirt with a brown tie. Valkyrie handed over the bangle to the mysterious man, his gloved hand reaching over to collect it.

"So, you know what it says, Skulduggery?" Asked Valkyrie. The man raised his head and moved the hat away from his face. The boy recoiled in fear as he saw it was a skeleton.

"Relax, kid, he won't hurt you," said Valkyrie, her hand resting on the boys shoulder.

"How can a skeleton be moving about?" Asked the boy.

"Magic."

"Seriously, how?"

"Seriously, magic."

"Yeah, I hope I am dreaming," scoffed the boy.

"I thought that too the first time I knew about magic."

"Roxas," said the skeleton, his voice deep, but smooth, "his name is Roxas."

"Well we'll need to give him a new one, we can't have Roxas running about telling everyone his name," Valkyrie stated.

"You're right, so, Roxas what do you want your name to be?" Asked Skulduggery.

"Why can't I keep my name as Roxas?" He asked.

"People who know your given name can control you so easily," said Skulduggery.

"This place is crazy," groaned Roxas.

"A name, Roxas, we need a new name," urged Valkyrie.

"Nero Angelo," said Roxas, "Nero is black in Italian and Angelo is angel in Italian, I think."

"Nice to meet you, Nero Angelo," smiled Valkyrie, holding her hand out for him to shake.

"We'll take him to Ghastly to get him out of those tattered rags," spoke Skulduggery. Nero looked down and realised the clothes he was wearing were ripped to shreds and you could see his underwear through a cut in his trousers. Valkyrie put her hand on Nero's shoulder and helped him to the car out front. He stepped out the door and staring at him was the nicest Bentley he had ever seen, or remembered. Valkyrie sat in the back seat and patted the seat beside her. Nero sat on the seat beside her but looked away due his blush. The skeleton sped off into the unknown with the pair in the back.

"So you really don't remember anything, do you?" Asked Skulduggery.

"No, it's all just darkness. The only thing I remember is a black portal.

"That must've been the portal that Fletcher said was messing with his teleporting," said Valkyrie.

"Who's Fletcher?" Asked Nero.

"It's a teleporter who happens to be my ex-boyfriend."

"So, what's the situation?" Asked Nero, feeling like he was an army solider.

"You're not in the army, kid," said Skulduggery.

"I don't know where that came from," laughed Nero. The car began slowing down as it came up a small street.

"Don't look at his scars," warned Valkyrie.

"Huh?" Questioned Roxas.

"You'll understand," replied Valkyrie, playfully slapping his thigh. They all got out of the car and the wind hit Nero more than the others since he was almost bear. Skulduggery took point and walked into a tailors.

"Ghastly," laughed Skulduggery as he seen a tall, bald man with scars all over his body. His muscles were almost bursting from his shirt.

"Who's the kid?" Asked Ghastly, his voice deep and gruff.

"This is Nero," began Valkyrie, "he doesn't remember anything except a black portal."

"So he's the one that screwed around with the Teleporters powers?" Asked Ghastly.

"Yeah, seems I am," replied Nero.

"What can I do for you?" Asked Ghastly.

"I need clothes."

"I can see," laughed Ghastly, "it won't come cheap."

"Put it on my tab," said Skulduggery with what seemed like a smile.

"You have a very large tab to pay back, Skulduggery."

"I'll help you pick out fabrics, Nero," smiled Valkyrie. As the pair walked to the next room to find the right fabric for Nero, Ghastly spoke to Skulduggery.

"I hope Valkyrie doesn't get too attached to this kid," said Ghastly.

"I am hoping the same Ghastly, I don't think she'd be able to handle losing him when we get him home."

"You're not showing him the ways of magic are you?"

"No, I just met him an hour ago."

"Well don't, we don't need another Valkyrie Cain running around with you." Skulduggery laughed at Ghastly's comment.

In the next room Valkyrie was throwing squares of fabric at Nero, who was unsure what to do.

"Right, leather wouldn't suit your shirt so we could do it as a jacket instead," she smiled.

"I like the shirt I have on," said Nero, sheepishly.

"Yeah, well we can make another one, I don't want you freezing outside.". An hour later they had all the fabrics and designs they wanted and walked through to Ghastly Bespoke.

"This'll take at least 2 hours to make," said Ghastly walking to his sewing machine. He began working straight away and began sewing with amazing speed and precision. Valkyrie sat him down and Skulduggery brought some tea and sandwiches. Nero looked at the sandwiches hungrily and was due to jump on them until Valkyrie handed him tea.

"This is Irish tea, can't be beaten anywhere," giggled Valkyrie.

"Darquesse," blurted out Nero.

"What!" Screamed Valkyrie.

"Nero, where did you hear that name?" Asked Skulduggery, his voice darker than Valkyrie knew.

"When I was coming through the portal, I remember a voice saying 'kill Darquesse'," replied Nero. Valkyrie dropped her cup of creamy liquid and ran out the door. Ghastly had stopped sewing and looked to Nero, who felt he has said something forbidden.

"Nero, Darquesse is a dark witch who will try and kill us all. Sensitive have visions of her all the time,"

"Sensitive's?" Asked Nero, "why don't we find her and kill her?"

"Sensitive's are people who can have visions, and we can't kill Darquesse unless you want to kill Valkyrie."

"What?"

"And I know you have taken a liking to her.". Nero looked down blushing but also confused.

"Why would it mean killing Valkyrie?"

"Valkyrie is Darquesse, but only when she has a creature inside her.". Valkyrie came back inside and looked at the floor, it was obvious she had been crying.

"I'm sorry, Val, I didn't know," said Nero, bringing her into a hug. Valkyrie gripped him and held him tightly. Ghastly resumed his work and threw a pair of trousers at Nero. The denim jeans had pockets all around the left leg while the right leg was plain. He began making his shirt and Nero got ready in the changing room. Valkyrie smiled as he came back into the room. A shirt hit Nero's face and he went back into the changing room. He came out wearing a white shirt with black rims and a black collar. Suddenly a black mass hit Nero, flooring him. He raised his body with his arms and seen the jacket Ghastly had just finished on top of him. He slid into it and it fitted perfectly. The leather jacket reached down to his thighs and he zipped it up. Valkyrie skipped over to him and took him into the bathroom. Inside she got some hair gel and spiked Nero's hair up. He also washed his face and hands. Both stepped out the bathroom and Valkyrie waved her hands about like she was showing off a model.

"Thanks Ghastly," smiled Nero. A sudden ball of flames stopped their happy moment and hit Nero. He was thrown back by the force and jumped to his feet, patting out the flames. He looked at his clothes to see no scorches, burns, cuts or any damage at all.

"What is with these clothes?"

"They're magical," said Valkyrie throwing a ball of fire out the window attacking their assailant. Outside was a pair of black shrouded figures firing elemental attacks at the group inside the shop. A fireball made its way to Valkyrie and Nero stood in front of it. He raised his hands and a wall of water appeared. The fireball hit the water and sizzled into nothing. Skulduggery looked at Ghastly, who looked back at him.

"He already knows magic," stated Skulduggery. Nero turned the water into two icicles and threw them at the assassins. Both impaled them through the heart and the slumped to the ground.

"What the hell happened!" Yelled Nero, unsure of what his possibilities are.

"That was magic," said Valkyrie, stepping closer to the boy that saved her from a fireball.

"We have to go Ghastly," said Skulduggery, leaving to go to his car.

"Looks like it's time to see her, but don't worry just hold my hand and you won't feel the power," said Valkyrie.

"Who are we seeing?" Asked Nero.

"China Sorrows."