A/N: By the way, my friend Miss Crazina Pleasant and I are writing this fanfic, taking turns writing chapters, so who knows what might happen next! She wrote the last one, so now it's my turn. Hope you like it, and any reviews would be awesome :)

CHAPTER TWO

"So what did China say about our gambling killer?" Valkyrie asked when they were back in the Bentley on their way to the sanctuary.

"She said we're in luck." Skulduggery replied.

Valkyrie waited for him to elaborate, and when he didn't, she sighed. "Let me rephrase the question. What does she know about Salpiglossis?"

"Ah. Yes. Until last week, that wasn't a whole lot. She's a rather sly and cunning character, you see. She is very sneaky, and doesn't associate with just anyone. She works for and with no one. All she ever leaves behind in any murder is a single domino, by the body. She doesn't leave any traceable fingerprints, nothing. All we've been able to gather about her is that she is one of the very rare mages who can switch between practices, what is called 'magically ambidextrous', and we only know that from rainbow dust. She is mostly an adept, specialising in symbols, necromancy, and illusions, but has been known to switch to elemental when in need of a quick getaway.

Last week, she struck again. The victim's name was Nico Marino. His body was found in the holiday house he was staying in courtesy of the sanctuary's resources. He was a representative from the Italian sanctuary, who was supposed to be meeting with the Australian representative, but never showed up," Skulduggery finished as they pulled up to the sanctuary.

"What was the meeting to be about?"

"That's what we're about to find out. Hey Ghastly," He greeted.

"Hey Skul. Interrogation Room 3," He replied somewhat grimly.

They walked into Interrogation Room 3 to find a boy of about 10 years old sitting at a table with his back to the door. Skulduggery went and sat opposite him, and Valkyrie stood in the corner.

"Before you say anything, let me explain." The boy said with an Australian accent before either Skulduggery or Valkyrie could say otherwise.

"Go ahead," Skulduggery prompted.

"My name is Kyle Densley, and I'm the representative from the Australian sanctuary. I was supposed to be meeting with Nico Marino on Tuesday afternoon, but he never showed. We were just meeting up purely as old friends having a coffee. Nico and I go way back, we met in Venice during the war with Mevolent, some colleagues and I were helping out when Baron Vengeous was trying to overthrow Italy. Anyway, when he didn't show up, I contacted the Irish sanctuary, and he was found dead a few hours later, so here I am! And I guess you're wondering why I'm a little boy."

"That's what our question was all along."

"Yeah you really could have left the rest till later," Valkyrie added.

Kyle rolled his eyes and sighed. "I was a normal mage, as normal a mage as I can be in this world, anyway, up until about 5 years ago. Nico and I got job offers to travel Australia to search for unaware sorcerers- it's a program we run over in all the capital cities, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart and Darwin. We gather them and train them up so they don't expose us. So I got an offer to round them up, and I accepted it, but Nico declined. They weren't very happy, usually they send agents out in pairs, but they worked with what they had. They wanted to give me a façade, like Skulduggery's here, but to make me look like a young boy so I could make friends and earn the kids' trust before recruiting them, but something went wrong. The façade didn't fade, or go away. They don't know why, or for how long it will last. They ditched me after that, said I was bad luck and didn't want me in the program. So here I am," he finished, his voice bitter.

Valkyrie and Skulduggery looked at each other.

"Who's the head of this program?" Skulduggery said.

"A man who you probably don't want to cross," Kyle said.

"His name, Kyle."

"He goes by the name Darryon Toile."

"Thank you. Why would we not want to cross him, anyway?" Valkyrie asked.

"He is very… persuasive."

"Thank you for your co-operation." Skulduggery picked his hat up off the table and got up, Valkyrie following.

Kyle looked at them darkly. "Good luck… you'll need it."

So who is this mysterious Darryon Toile? What's in store for Skulduggery and Valkyrie? ;)

And if you don't like it or have any suggestions feel free to PM myself or Miss Crazina Pleasant :)