Skulduggery Pleasant: Books 1 - 12. Derek Landy

China founded and led.”

      “China?” Valkyrie echoed.

      “She had a misspent youth,” Wreath smiled.

      Skulduggery ignored him. “When China left and became, to use her own word, neutral, Baron Vengeous took over, but it’s been 120 years since they’ve been considered a real threat. It’s been over 80 years since they were actually heard of.”

      “All that’s about to change,” Wreath said. “Jaron Gallow, Murder Rose and Gruesome Krav reunited two years ago. I have found evidence that they have since hired Billy-Ray Sanguine, to add to their ranks. The Diablerie are back, Detective, and they are killing Teleporters.”

      “And Batu? What do you know of him?”

      “I suspect Batu doesn’t even exist,” Wreath said. “It’s a name taken to divert attention. The real leader is Jaron Gallow. He just pretends to answer to a mysterious master. He’s been at it for years – it keeps everyone off balance.”

      “That still doesn’t make any sense,” Valkyrie said. “Batu, or whoever was using that name, killed Trope Kessel after he found out how to bring back the Faceless Ones. But since they need a Teleporter to open the gate, why kill them all?”

      “They need a Teleporter?” Wreath asked. “How many?”

      “Just one.”

      “And how many Teleporters are left?”

      “Two,” Skulduggery said. “Emmett Peregrine and one more. We’re not going to be sharing either his name or location with you, so don’t bother asking.”

      Wreath frowned. “You obviously haven’t heard. Peregrine is dead. He was murdered an hour ago.”

      Valkyrie’s mouth went dry. “What about Tanith?”

      “Who?”

      “The girl who was with him,” Skulduggery said quickly.

      “Ah, the English girl. I don’t know all the details, but from what I have heard, she was attacked by Krav and Murder Rose, and escaped with her life. Which is an admirable feat in itself.”

      Valkyrie closed her eyes. Thank God.

      “Now,” Wreath continued, “if there is only one Teleporter left, and since all the Teleporters I know about are dead, then he must be new. Which makes sense.”

      “How does it make sense?” Valkyrie asked.

      “None of the seasoned Teleporters would co-operate with the Diablerie,” Skulduggery said. “They’d be too experienced, too powerful. The chances of escape would be much too high.”

      “But why kill them?”

      “Because if the gate opens, they’d be able to close it. The Diablerie have taken out the biggest obstacles to their success before we even knew what was happening.”

      “Those in the Necromancer temples have taken an oath not to involve ourselves in the trivialities of your affairs,” Wreath said. “But there are those who share my view, that the Diablerie’s plans affect everyone, Necromancers included. You will have my help should you need it, Detective. Me and three others.”

      “I don’t trust you, Wreath.”

      “Of course not, but like I said, we have a common enemy. I think we should put our differences aside, don’t you? For old times’ sake, if nothing else?”

      Skulduggery hit him so hard and so fast that Valkyrie didn’t even register the punch; she just saw Wreath slamming back against the wall.

      Wreath wiped the blood from his lip. “You certainly hit as hard as you ever did, and that’s no mistake.”

      When Skulduggery spoke, his voice was even and without anger. “Solomon, so glad to have you onboard. Welcome to the team.”

      “A delight, sir, as always.”

      Skulduggery nodded his farewell and walked from the house, out into the rain. Valkyrie followed.

      “What was that?” she demanded as they approached the Bentley.

      “History,” Skulduggery replied.

      “You never told me you had a history with the Necromancers.”

      “I’m over 400 years old,” he said. “I haven’t told you a lot of things.”

      

      emus Crux knocked and the Grand Mage bid him enter. The office was crammed full of books, and maps covered every centimetre of the far wall. Thurid Guild was not one to become complacent just because he had reached a certain level of power. Crux admired that and was determined to follow his example. Together, they would make the Sanctuary strong again.

      “You idiot,” the Grand Mage said and Crux lost his little smile.

      “Sir?”

      “Do you know how many calls I’ve been getting? Our people are terrified, Crux. They’re looking at what is going on and they’re thinking, if someone can kill the Teleporters without leaving one single trace, then they can kill me too. That’s what they’re thinking.”

      “Grand Mage, I assure you, I am doing everything in my power—”

      “You assure me? I’ve assured them, Crux, that my best detective is on the case. And do you know what they say?”

      Inwardly, Crux swelled a little at this compliment, but shook his head.

      “They say, oh, I didn’t know you’d got Skulduggery Pleasant back.”

      Crux felt the blood rush to his face.

      “They are scared and they are looking for results. I brought you in to do the job, and you have yet to impress me.”

      “But, sir—”

      “There’s another Teleporter. Did you know that? The last Teleporter. A boy.”

      “Sir, yes, sir. His name is Renn, sir. He was last seen in a nightclub in County Meath. I have our agents combing the area. We’ll find him.”

      “Do not let me down, Crux.”

      “I won’t, sir.”

      “Leave me.”

      Crux bowed and hurried out, closing the door gently behind him.

      

      kulduggery had a home. When Valkyrie had first discovered this, her initial reaction had been surprise. Her second reaction, following hot on surprise’s heels, had been logical acceptance. Of course he had a home; of course he had somewhere to live. Had she really thought that he just drove around all day in the Bentley? A part of her actually had thought that, but that was a silly part, and not very bright.

      His house was the only residential building on Cemetery Road. There wasn’t an actual cemetery on Cemetery Road, but there were two competing funeral homes, situated directly opposite each other, and Skulduggery’s house sat proudly at the top, like a parent overseeing squabbling siblings. He told her stories