SARACEN

Seven mages were dead. It was small,considering the amount of mortals that had been killed. The Diablerie were massacring towns.

Skulduggery, Valkyrie, Fletcher and Dexter had disappeared to find a book. Ghastly was setting up a war council with China. Larrikin and Hopeless were with the two boys and Shadow, who had gotten very ill since Maxi had left,was in his room.

Siren was somewhere near the library, locked up tightly. As soon as the others left she had retreated. Erskine was trying to coax her out to eat and see her brothers.

I was in the map room.

It had a bloody history. During the war, people were executed just outside the door. The blood ran into the earth deep here. Shadows were sharp here and the air was sour.

"Your happiness will turn to ashes," a dull voice whispered. I closed my eyes and fought the shiver. It was a strong memory. "You're family will never die but will suffer forever."

I wondered why it was now they were deciding to fight against a curse. Generations had submitted before them. It was probably imprinted in their minds that this is what would happen. But now they were deciding this would not be their destiny. And I was glad for it.

"Ready to go to the Sanctuary? Larrikin asked, blinking sleepily as he walked in. I smiled at the man who had saved my life more times than I could count. Dexter and I were very close but Larrikin was the third to our little trio and I wouldn't have it anyway other way. But there was no way he would separate himself from Hopeless, who was the reason Larrikin was in the Dead Men.

"Who's going?"

"Myself, Ghastly and Anton. We figured if Erskine stayed here, along with the three guys they'd be fine. But we wanted to bring Siren with us."

"I'll go up," I told him and walked up the stairs following the sound of scuffling. Erskine was sitting with his back leaning against the door, telling war stories. I knew Siren was listening.

"I don't think Saracen will ever live down rolling into the enemy camp," he said and I cringed. Erskine caught my eye and smiled. "C'mon, you're needed."

"They can go without me," a voice said. It was stubborn and so obviously Siren.

"I don't care," I told her. "I know all your hidey holes, and all the ways into that room. I'll tell Erskine. He seems very keen to see you."

Ravel's ears went red and the room went still.

"Come closer," Siren said. I took a step forward and was yanked through the door.

"Warning next time, maybe?" I asked and flinched back as she slapped my arm.

"That was not funny," she hissed, her ears red. She activated a sigil and fixed me with a glare. "That was very inappropriate."

"But true?"

"NO!"

"So what if it is? He's a nice guy an-"

"One of my guardians," Siren waved her hands in the air and then fell on her face on her bed. "It's not right."

"If I remember," I said looking up at the ceiling. "Dex is your guardian, right? What's the deal?"

"Fime-humhead-mear-hifferenth? came the reply and I stifled my laugh and sat on the bed. I picked at the lace on her sleeve.

"No I don't the the five hundred year difference will do anything."

"Meally?"

"Really."

"We have to go now," Erskine sounded grumpy and I knew it was because I was in here.

"Somebody's jealous," I muttered and laughed at Siren's indignant hand wave. I helped her off the bed, as she was struggling in the dress. "Why do you wear those things?"

"They're pretty," she mumbled and smoothed out the skirt. She opened the door and smiled uncertainly at Erskine, her ears a little red. I winked at Erskine who's eyes darted between us.

"Bring her down in a second. She needs help with the buttons on her sleeve," I said. Siren looked startled but Erskine, to his credit, only gave a little gulp and took her hand gently and started to do up the sleeves.

The others were waiting at the bottom.

"What are you up to?" Ghastly said wearily.

"I am Cupid and I'm just amazing," I trilled. Hopeless and Larrikin exchanged looks of amusement.

"What?" Caspian looked between us, confused, his eyebrow furrowed, while Dimitri looked slightly resigned.

They came down the stairs and my lips twitched. They were a sight to behold.

Erskine had a habit of wearing slacks and a button up shirt. Today, I couldn't be more happy that he did. His hair was slicked back tidily and his eyes glittered. He didn't seem to notice that he was staring, his lips curled into a smile.

Siren had her eyes down and you couldn't see her ears. Her free hand trembled slightly. The other gripped Erskine's hand softly. As she reached the bottom, Dimitri passed her a cane and she smiled, prettily.

"Shall we?" she said.

"I think," Larrikin said suddenly, "that myself and Hopeless shall stay here. Erskine can go instead." We all looked to Hopeless who shrugged. "There it's settled, see you all later." There was no arguing.

Half way there, the phone rang. Siren listened and then nodded, before snapping the phone shut.

"They got there safe," she told us. "They just arrived at the manor. Dex said they were going to talk to a couple of the Sanctuaries, make sure everything is okay."

"There've been a couple of ambushes," Erskine's eyes scanned his phone. He glanced at Siren. "Have you heard from Maxi?"

"No," she shook her head and frowned. "I wouldn't expect it though. He never has time."

"We should try get in touch with one of them," Ghastly looked into the rear window and he scowled. "They're following again."

"Resilient, aren't they?" Siren's eyes sparkled and Erskine tipped his head and looked at her curiously.

"Stop the car and we'll find out."