SKLUDUGGERY

When I got back, Shadow and Valkyrie had convinced Fletcher to stay. Siren looked him over and then walked off. Caspian looked after her, his forehead creased. He then stood and walked out, with Dimitri looking after them. Shadow looked at the door and his brow creased.

"Where's Maxi?" he asked. I opened my mouth to try and tell him, to explain that his brother left but I could see by his face he knew. "He wouldn't just leave not like that, Skulduggery. I know my twin. He would've told me where to meet him an-" Shadow choked on something and closed his eyes. When they opened they were sad, heartbroken. "Excuse me, please." He bowed low and walked out, raking a hand through his hair.

Fletcher and Valkyrie flinched away from the heartbroken scream that echoed down the halls. Ghastly took in a deep breath and walked down the hall after him.

"What happened?" Valkyrie asked softly.

"We have a mission," I told her.

"Where's Maxi?" she asked.

"Gone."

"Where?" she asked.

"We'll talk about it later," I said and she looked at me confused. But I watched as Siren walked down the stairs. She was concentrating, so I tried to keep my thoughts, secret, to lock them in a box. Siren's head shot up and she stared at me. I nodded my head and grabbed both Valkyrie and Fletcher, pulling them out of the house. Not long after, Dexter joined us.

"Ghastly told me," was all he said. He then sighed. "Siren's not happy. But Robin is going to come anyway. Saracen will keep us updated. So, off to get China."

"No,"I shook my head. "We ask China but we don't bring her."

"Ehm, okay," he nodded. We took off in the other direction to the undercover car that was following us.

"Ready Feltcher?"

"As I'll ever be," he grit out. The car almost seemed to spin and we were outside the library. We held hands and then disappeared into the door that lead in.

The door swung open to reveal China who smiled demurely. I saw Fletcher shake himself.

"You're friend is here," she said and opened the door. Robin appeared around the corner of a bookcase.

"We need you to go to the Hotel," I told her.

"If I have somewhere to keep my library, then I shall go," she said.

"It can be arranged," Robin said. She nodded.

"May I ask where you are leaving too. I heard they sent a small group to attack part of the Diablerie. One of your new wards went."

"So?" Dexter asked stiffly.

"It's been going through the grapevine that the Diablerie are expecting them. They're planning an ambush," she said idly. Robin tipped his head, amused.

"Noted," he mused and took a book out, thumbing through the pages.

"You're friend told me that I was to join you at the Midnight Hotel," China said. "But I cannot go. I have my library. I have all the protection I need here."

"We never really said you had a choice China," Dexter pointed out. She ignored him and turned to me.

"In two days, the Diablerie will move and most likely kill all the young mages. If not they'll torture them. And I may not know what this young man's power is but I do know that there will be trouble without him."

"Of course," Valkyrie sighed. "You know what will happen now?"

I looked at her, amused. I found the resignation in her voice, relative to how I was feeling right now. "Go on then."

"Maxi's gonna get captured, we're gonna have to get him, something stupidly avoidable like Scapegrace will come up and then someone will die."

"Do you have a notion as to who that will be?"

"Well not me or you," she said. "I'm too pretty and you're too clever. Fletcher's in trouble though."

"That's valid," I shrugged

"Hey!" he yelped and glared at her, then me. I gave him a look that said 'What do you want me to say?' Or at least, I hope it did. That was what I intended it to be. Fletcher turned, sulking and I knew he got it. I looked at China.

"We're not giving you a choice," I told her. "You can come, of your own free will, or, I can arrest you and bring you in to the Sanctuary for conspiring against the elders."

"Very droll, Skulduggery," China smiled and I fixed her with a look. Her eyes darted to Dexter who spun the handcuffs around his finger. "I will be back once I have some clothes."

"Good," Dexter grunted and pocketed them. "I can't be bothered to fight anyone today."

"You might have to," Robin muttered. "You were still followed. I can disguise the library. I cannot help you."

"Helpful," Valkyrie murmured. So we stood and waited.

It was a SWAT team... of sorts. Five men, all trembling with riot shields faced us and waited. A man strolled in and we watched him.

"I have no intention of telling you my name," he started. Fletcher disappeared and came back with a baseball bat and Valkyrie's stick. They stared at him and I heard the telltale sign of electricity crackling. China's arms lit up and Valkyrie's fingers snapped. I kept my arms folded. They shuffled back but the guy stayed where he was.

"Good idea," Dexter grinned. The man raised his eyebrow.

"Dexter Vex," he said. "I do wonder about you. You're in a few photos through history. A rather fetching photo of you during the revolution. You should be in a museum really, shouldn't you?"

"Should I be offended?" Dexter straightened and looked at me. "I feel like I should be. Doesn't that mean I'm old?"

"It does," I nodded and he scowled.

"I appreciated your bravery and sharp sense of dress," he muttered. His hand lit up again. This time, instead of retreating, they moved forward, only making Dexter raise an eyebrow. "Now I'm insulted. Do you think after all that I have lived through, I would be scared of a measly crew of riot police? Please," the sparks in his hand grew lighter and his eyes were dead now.

"I would suggest you stop," the man said. "We have enough explosives to kill a small country packed under this house. The surrounding area has been cleared. I'm not afraid of taking you all down."

"Good luck with that," China snorted.

"And why might that be?" the man asked.

"Why you have Skulduggery Pleasant and Valkyrie Cain here," China said and gestured to myself and my young protogée. I could feel Valkyrie smirking and I rolled my eyes.

"Thank you for inflating her ego," I said and the man froze and stared at me.

"Skulduggery Pleasant and Valkyrie Cain. There are whispers of you from the few that we've caught. They call you the Skeleton Detective. I can not see why."

I sighed and reached up and touched the sigil. I watched as they recoiled and some screamed. The detective flinched.

"Am I more of a skeleton now?"