GHASTLY POV

Sylvester dropped to the ground and started screaming. Siren walked towards him, slowly. Stopping every few step to stare, her head tilted to one side. She looked back at us and I swallowed. Her eyes were complete black, like a remnant.

"Fuck off," she growled and walked in. Shadow pulled away from Maxi and smiled tiredly at us. We walked back inside and Caspian was waiting for us.

"I don't want to be here," he said. Siren nodded.

"If it's okay with Ghastly, it's okay if you go," she said gently. He smiled up at her. "But you have to say goodbye to everyone."

"It's okay, we can go. It's getting late anyway," I said. Caspian gave me a toothy grin before running off.

"We'll be off too," Skulduggery sighed. "I have to have Val home. Some sort of party thing," he flapped his hand.

"Our ride is with Ghastly and Skul," Hopeless smiled. He looked down at Dimitri, who was standing slightly closer to him. Larrikin grinned and shrugged. "Ready Anton?"

"I always am," Shudder replied steadily.

"We'll stay here for tonight," Maxi said.

"Okay then. That'll give Siren a chance to settle in," Dexter nodded. Caspian ran back and we went home, the small boy looking lost as we drove in the Bentley. Anton took my van to take the other three home. Caspian peeked out the window as we drove through Dublin.

"Wow," he breathed and I grinned. I still found it hard to believe that Amelia Loss chose me for the little boy. But he found wonder in everything and it was refreshing. "Never been here before."

"Really?" Valkyrie asked surprised. "Your mum never took you out?"

"Nope," Caspian chirped, clasping his hands. "I was supposed to start going to dinner parties of business associates and stuff but then stuff happened and now I don't have to go."

"You've never been to MacDonalds?" Valkyrie asked, her voice dropping slightly.

"Is that bad?"

"We need to make a pit stop," Valkyrie commanded and Skulduggery gave a long sigh. He turned and I raised an eyebrow, well aware that the others were following us. I watched as Dexter drove away from us, while Larrikin followed, making a face at me. We stopped and Skulduggery sat back.

"Ten minutes," he told her. "Eat your food and then come back out."

"Okay," Val rolled her eyes. "C'mon Caspian." The boy got out and they went in with Rover hot on their heels.

"Should I say it?" I teased and Skulduggery glared. I held up my hands and shrugged.

"Larrikin went in. They'll be fine. I worry about her."

"She can handle herself."

"If anything happens it's my fault Ghastly. She's only fifteen. How could I sit here and let her off on something if she could get hurt?"

"Get her training," I shrugged and then frowned. "I'll take her a few times. Dex and Saracen will help, so will Larrikin. You have nothing to fear."

"Her being around me? I have everything to fear, if not more. It wasn't long ago she was fighting vampires. I hate it."

"She chose it," I sighed. Skulduggery turned to watch as Valkyrie and Caspian walked back to the car.

"Where are we going now?" Valkyrie asked.

"I'll drop you home for that party. Then I'll take Ghastly back. When does that thing end?" Skulduggery asked and drove off quickly. We got to the pier and she got out winking and waving to Caspian before jogging down the road. Skulduggery waited and then drove after her until we got to the end of her road. He watched her go in a house and then drove away.

"Wow, you worry," I grinned and he shrugged.

"She's important to me. You'll understand soon enough," he glanced at Caspian casually.

"Maybe," I shrugged. I could imagine Skulduggery raising an eyebrow.

"Definitely," he corrected. We got turned onto my road and Caspian wrinkled his nose.

"This is a weird place to have a shop."

"That's because Ghastly only has certain clients," Skulduggery said. Caspian's eyes widened and he nodded.

"I get it... why is there no sign?"

"They know where to find me," I said. He nodded then frowned.

"There's someone in there," he said slowly.

"What?"

"There's a person in the shop. They're curious. A little scared. I don't think they're magical," Caspian muttered. He peered at the shop. "Nope, definitely mortal."

"How'd you know?" Skulduggery asked.

"I can feel their emotions," Caspian wrung his hands and looked in. "It's safe to go in."

"Stay behind me," Skulduggery ordered. We crept in and we stopped upon seeing what looked like a detective. She turned and stared. Her eyes raked over me and then stuck on Skulduggery. I suddenly realized he had his facade on.

"What is the meaning behind this?" he asked straightening, lowering his gun.

"Mr Bespoke, you are under arrest," she said. I frowned.

"Under what charges?" I asked, trying to think if I had done anything.

"It has come to the FBI and CIA's that you are part of a cult that practices... magic," I watched her lips curl. "You are coming with me, to be detained, tested and then micro chipped so we can keep an eye on you. I suppose the boy is one of you. He'll make a great test subject."

"I'm afraid you can't," Skulduggery said smoothly. The woman raised a gun and two other guys walked in.

"Resist and we shoot you dead." Caspian started giggling. She turned her gun on him and he cocked an eyebrow. "What are you laughing at?"

"Skulduggery," the boy grinned. "He's already dead."

"I see your children are idiots too. Shut up, or I'll shoot you," she hissed.

"Do you know who I am?" he asked. She glared. "I am Caspian Loss. Of Loss Enterprises. Big benefactors in a lot of governments. Where are you from? I bet we're the ones who actually pay you."

"Nice for you," she sneered. The boy grinned.

"My sister is Siren Loss. Owner of Loss Enterprises. My brothers, Maximilian, Shadow and Dimitri Loss And if you harm a hair on my head, you will have hell come crashing down around your ears. I hope you know our power. The hold we have on the world is huge. You are nothing to us." The woman leveled her gun.

Caspian disappeared. Skulduggery cocked his head to one side.

"Interesting," he grinned. A hand seized mine and suddenly I was at The Midnight Hotel. Standing cradling Caspian in his arms was Emmet Peregrine, looking worried.

"He fainted," was all he said, his eyebrow creasing. "Should I get Kenspeckle?"

"It's his first jump," Hopeless said, suddenly beside the Teleporter, who jumped but didn't teleport. I took Caspian away and we walked in.

"Mortals know about us," I said slowly. "She tried to arrest me. Almost shot Caspian in the head."

"Arrest you?" Larrikin demanded. "Dimitri's in his room. I let him stay up and read. Bring Caspian down, will you?" Hopeless took Caspian away and walked down to a room near the back.

"They want us to experiment," I said dully. "Did you contact Dex?"

"They got home okay," Anton said. "Saracen already knows. They won't strike the apartment for three days."

"What about Val?" Hopeless asked, walking back in.

"Maxi's gone out to her," a voice said. I jumped and turned to see Cyrus. "I was told to come make sure everyone's okay."

"We're fine," Skulduggery said, walking into the foyer. Cameron stood beside him, looking anxious. "What I want to know, is why are you two around?"

"There's a new Teleporter. He needs someone to keep an eye on him," Emmet sighed.

"What else?" Skulduggery said.

"The Diablerie are going to try to open the portal again. They failed last time but..."

"But what?"

"They know what the final key is now," Cameron said. "I heard them talking about it. Blood sacrifice. And the mortals know about us."

"What happens now?"

"We wait. We lie low. And we hope," Skulduggery said. The Teleporters glanced at each other, than back at him. "We also get this new teleporter under control."