Nightslayer: Part one

The shadows curled and danced around the small cell bars, weaving in and out of the metallic strips, like a fast flowing river. Flame Phoenix smiled to himself quietly. He had seen this once before, but didn’t know where. The other three captives stood by the walls, standing still and quiet, not having the energy to speak. ‘God, zombies were exhausting,’ he thought to himself, realising his own him exhaustion. Star Inkbright looked across at him, staring slightly at his smiling. Lynxia Lost looked at him too aroused by Star’s slight movement of her head. Last in the line, standing a little way across from the others, was Ivy Animosity. She cocked her head at him. Flame instantly knew Ivy was trying to read his mind. He smiled at her and waved. He had weaved a mental barrier in his mind earlier, disallowing her to read it.

     “He’s hiding something,” Ivy muttered pointing towards him. Flame was amazed they hadn’t noticed the shadows.

    Flame raised his hands in defence, “No I’m not.” He received a glare from Ivy. “Honestly.” He said defensively.

The shadows sparked now, growing thicker and darker, going from thin graceful tendrils to thick waterfall like strokes. Flame glanced at the moss covered stone walls. It was ugly, really, it was.

Lynxia moved towards him, stepping across the small stone cell in three large steps. “You’d better be telling the truth, Flame Phoenix!”

   Flame nodded repulsively, looking at her funny. He opened his mouth to speak, but Ivy cut in.

“He’s not; he has created a mind barrier. I saw that part by the way; you aren’t very good at keeping the information within the barrier.”

    “You solely live to annoy me, don’t you?” Flame said rhetorically.

    “You and everyone else, well, those I don’t like that is,”

     “Who’d that be?” Flame questioned, “Enlighten me.”

     “That’d be you.” Ivy answered, grinning slightly.

Star sighed and flicked both Phoenix and Ivy on the ear.  They spun annoyed. Ink laughed weakly and smiled. “Seriously, as exhausted as I am, I’m getting even more exhausted by looking at you two arguing. What’s the plan for getting out of here? “

  Flame shrugged, and then looked at Ivy, who shook her head. He reason why there were trapped was because they had gate crashed a private party, looking to arrest the owner. Unfortunately, they themselves were caught in a predicament. The owner, a man named Ivan Curiosity was a highly trained necromancer had been expecting them. He had raised an army of the dead-zombies- who had filled the hall in swift groups. They had had no chance. They fought hard, but failed to overcome the army. Now they were exhausted and magic less, held in a cell under the mansion of Ivan Curiosity.

     Star peered at Flame and scowled. “You are hiding something. What is it?”

    “Nothing,” Flame said again unconvincingly

“Yes you are!” Ivy and Star chorused, looking at each other then and shuddered.

   “Potty Crock.” Flame avoided them once more.

 “Now, do not call crock mad. That isn't very nice, Flame. You should know better.”

Phoenix laughed shakily. “Fine then,” he pointed to the cell door, “Notice anything?”

All three of them looked slowly and confusedly and shook their heads, looking confused, “There’s nothing there but metal…” Lynxia spoke quietly.

Star asked then, “Are you ok Flame?”

Flame nodded, looking confused. There were shadows there. He knew it. Ivy then walked over to him and looked at Flame curiously. Then touched his forehead, “Are you sure you’re ok?”

   Flame slapped her hand away, and then looked at the cell bars again. The shadows sparked off now in small black shards, disappearing before they hit the floor. The shadows kept curling, until finally they broke apart like a sea being parted and a man stepped through.

  The man was tall and he wore shadows that resembled the ones on the bars.  The man had a hood pulled down over his face and you couldn’t see anything except a grey, cracked mask made of bone.

He stepped across and spoke to Flame through the mind barrier, sending a message that chilled the great Phoenix to the bone. Flame didn’t know where he’d seen the shadows before, but he instantly knew just when the man spoke to him. It was the man who had haunted his dreams when he was younger; the man who had sole fully ruined his life for numerous years. “Phoenix.” Was all he said, and then disappeared? Why?

   The cell bars fell. They just collapsed, falling in on themselves. The latter of people gasped then, without thinking they ran from the small cell. First, Lynxia vaulted through the doorway, closely followed by Star. Ivy stopped and looked at Flame. “You coming?”

   Flame nodded, then reluctantly got up and followed.

The Destiny Heirs: Chapter 3

Chapter three:

Livanna sat on a hard stone boulder outside Dublin city, looking out upon the country side. She was eating a loaf of bread she had taken from a shop. The country side was beautiful. Different types of flowers grew, all bright all cheerful. The birds chirped cheerily, singing a merry song. She was in awe.  The blue stone lay on her lap as she ate. Livanna wondered why Arax had given it to her. She wondered what the voice was. She had so many questions that she herself could not answer.  She finished off the loaf of bread and sighed. The chain dangled off her lap, swinging slightly. Livanna picked it up and put her head through the chain, letting it fall onto her chest.  She glanced at the sword in her belt and picked up a satchel bag she stole in town and opened it. It was empty, as if now but she thought best to hide the sword in it. So, she did. Livanna jammed the sword to the bottom. She tied the bag shut with a piece of string.

       Livanna then looked back on the city and saw a huge black shiny carriage leaving the gates. There were six white horses pulling it. Livanna recognised it immediately as the carriage that stopped the men in black suits following her. She stood up and gasped at it, staring straight at it, then stupidly walked onto the middle if the road.

      The driver of the carriage, a man named Phoenix, rode on despite the blonde teenage girl in his way. He snapped the reigns and the horses gained speed, galloping, in perfectly synced strides.  Phoenix wore a silver suit, a matching top hat and a white frilly blouse. A cane lay beside him in the carriage and a monocle sat perfectly around his left eye.  He smiled mischievously, snapping the reigns more and more, making the horses go faster. Livanna was about six feet away from the carriage.  She had second thoughts about standing in the middle of the road, but stayed there. The horses had just about reached her, when Phoenix pulled the reigns and they stopped. Livanna could feel the horse’s warm breath on her face. Their nostrils flared when they let breathed.

     Phoenix looked at her curiously. “You’re brave girl, you’re very brave.” He remarked.

Only then, when the horses were fully up close, Livanna recognised their beauty.  The horses were pure white and had thick gold manes. They were majestic, standing tall, about four feet high from the ground. She raised her hand to touch the horse nearest her, but the horse batted her hand away. Livanna looked at the man in the cart and asked, “Why do you think that?” Livanna spoke curiously. She looked around and saw nothing but fields and flowers. She sighed and looked back to the so-called Phoenix.

    Phoenix smiled and nearly chuckled. “Anybody that does know me, well, they would think twice before standing in front of a carriage driven, by… me. Everyone knows I’m on the verge of mental insanity. But, I’m not. You’re very brave.” Phoenix nodded and smiled.

   Livanna thought very differently, but smiled in agreement. Another carriage left the city of Dublin, a big oak coloured one and headed down the road Phoenix’s had.  It was travelling slowly, being carried by only two small black horses, not strong enough to go any faster, trotting at their own painfully slow pace.

  Phoenix looked back and smiled, looked at the horses on his carriage and then towards Livanna again. “It’s going to rain soon.” He said as a matter of fact.  

   Livanna peered at him strangely, seriously wondering if the man in front of her was alright in the head. He was a strange being and she had to give him that. She liked strange. It was different. Livanna liked that. Then, true to the Phoenix’s word, the sky darkened and it rained. First small droplets spilled hopelessly in a light drizzle and soon it gave away to thundering rain. Livanna yelped and looked at Phoenix.

  “Do you want to take shelter in the carriage? I’ll take you to the next town. You probably want to get away, don’t you?” Phoenix’s voice was muffled by the thundering rain.

    “How did you know it would rain?” Livanna shouted.

     “I’m friends with mother nature! Now, get in!” Phoenix demanded.

 Livanna walked to the carriage door and opened it, looking in. The interior looked expensive and extremely comfortable. There were red leather seats with gold rivets holding them in place. Red curtains covered the back and side windows. Livanna climbed up and got in, seating down. She opened the curtains and looked out the window. She saw the carriage with the small horses approaching ever closer, slowly.  Then something caught her eye. Something moved just underneath the window on a small ledge. She leaned against the glass and saw a scrawny boy, lying on the ledge wrapped in a woolly blanket, getting wet.  She smiled softly. Livanna called out to Phoenix.

   “Hey, do you know there’s a boy asleep on the back of the carriage?”

  Phoenix dropped down hanging upside down, smiling happily. The reigns of the carriage were tied around his legs. He laughed and said, “Yeah, of course I do.”

   Livanna looked at him. “Do you want me to wake him?”

   “No,” he replied simply.

    “Why?” Livanna asked.

      “It’s because I have plans for him, plans for him and you.” Phoenix muttered, swinging back up onto the seat and whipping the reigns. The horses pulled forward and began into a hard, fast gallop kicking up dirt as they went. The horses soon were well away from Dublin city, smashing through the heavy, dark rain.

The Destiny Heirs: Chapter 2

The scrawny sixteen year old boy was thrown into the damp, smelly alleyway by his master. He tried to turn and run, but was grabbed by his raggy, dirty shirt and was plunged deeply- head first- into the murky waters of the drain. Jonah Sanfrics was his name. He took in a mouthful of water, his lungs cringing. Then his master- a horrible old man named Drailic Flecks, pulled him up and laughed cruelly.

  “Ye scrawny little orphan ye Thinkin’ ye can do wha's ye likes", he said angrily "You's took meh grandmother' ornamental plate to sell for yerself". He punched Jonah hard and repeatedly, winding him just above the waist.

     Jonah cried out in agony, doubling over, falling back into the water. He spluttered and kicked out, trying to hit Drailic away, but failed. Drailic grabbed Jonah by his thick black hair and pulled him up at arm’s length. A knife pressed into Jonah’s neck and he winced, then head-butted out backwards. Drailic pushed him against the wall and punched him in the stomach. The force of the blow made Jonah double over. His emerald green eyes shed tears that rolled down his face, leaving streaks of white skin under a heavy mask of dirt.

   Jonah pleaded, “Please sir, please, I didn’t take it. I didn’t…” Drailic spat in his mouth, pulled him up and threw him against the alley way floor.

    Drailic was a heavy drunk, he always had been.  He smelled of whiskey and rum, and couldn’t walk or talk properly. He took the knife from his pocket and got ready to fling it at Jonah. He didn’t though. Drailic fell over, slipping on the grimy muck that lay on the alley floor. He made a squelch when he collided with it and rolled about, like a headless chicken, yelling out in agony. The dagger flew down into a drain, sinking to the bottom.

      This was Jonah’s chance to do something. Without thinking, he took action. He plunged for the dagger Drailic had dropped in the drain. He landed roughly beside the murky waters. Jonah reached for the dagger that was lying still on the drain floor. He reached further, putting his shoulder in the water, and then taking a risk, Jonah lowered his face into the grimy water. Jonah couldn’t swim, like most his age, he hadn’t learned how to.  He had just grasped the blade end of the dagger when a hard rough hard grabbed his ankle. Jonah grunted, twisted and kicked, trying to get Drailic to loosen, or maybe even drop his grip.  Jonah faltered and grabbed the dagger, barely grasping it by the tip of the blade. He threw it up and clasped it by the hilt, and in one swift movement thrust it through the waters murky surface.   Jonah twisted a tiny inch and reached down, slashing Drailics closed fist.

       Drailic screamed intensely, out of mere pain. His grip faltered, but he didn’t let go. Jonah kicked again, and again, his upper body still in the drain water. He struggled furiously to get up, kicking out, wasting his precious energy. Jonahs foot collided with Drailic’s face making his neck snap back. Jonah pulled his head from the water and rolled over in muck and filth. He got up and peered at Drailic angrily. He raised the dagger and flung it at his master’s heart. It struck home with an unhealthy twack! Drailic slumped to a still. He didn’t move. He was dead.

    Jonah gasped. He had just killed; he nearly collapsed to the floor in disgust and shock, but also fears. He had killed. Blood ran down the alley, pouring into drains. It hit his shoes and he nearly got sick. He had killed. Jonah hadn’t meant to kill him, it was just, the heat of the moment. He thought no more and quickly bent down, picking up the dagger. He searched Drailic’s pockets, finding a gold pocket watch.  The pocket watch was gold, encrusted with shining white diamonds. There was a small chain coming out of the top of it and he linked it around his neck, tucking it in to his raggy shirt. He quickly took off Drailics white coat and put it on himself, tying it up. He looked at it. Fortunately, there was no blood.  Jonah looked around cautiously. He couldn’t leave the body there. He tried to heave it, but it was too heavy. He suddenly wished he had some strength. His thoughts strayed to the silk factory Drailic owned, and all the kids he had had enslaved, then he stopped. The body was too heavy so with a disappointed sigh, he dropped it. Jonah looked at the opening of the alleyway. He ran quickly towards the exit, hoping he could get away, to forget about all that had happened in the past few minutes.

          Joanh reached the cobbled street of Dublin, and looked around, seeing horses and carriages and rich, fancy people wearing bright and colourful clothes. It was a sunny morning, and his eyes hurt from the change of the darkness within the alleyway. He went to cross the road and a carriage flew past, nearly killing him. Jonah jumped back, startled. He landed on the footpath in a puddle. He got up and dusted himself off, soaking wet and mucky. Jonah sighed then saw another carriage, a huge black shiny one with six white majestic horses pulling it. He made a run at it and jumped onto the back of it, landing heavily on a small ledge at the back of the huge carriage. He turned and looked to see if the driver had noticed anything, but he couldn’t see that much. All he could see was a silver top hat. Jonah sat back making himself comfortable on the small ledge. It was just about big enough to hold him. He rustled back into what seemed like a fur blanket. He didn’t care what it was, but it was warm. That’s what mattered. He settled back and soon fell asleep.

The Destiny Heirs: Chapter 1.

Chapter one:

There the stone was, sitting perfectly on its bed, the purple velvet cushion.  It was sapphire blue, beautiful and looked very precious. Livanna Recren sighed. She wasn’t even going to try and steal it. Arax Filate was the proud owner of ‘Jem’s magical objects and repair shop.’ Arax was a man of caution and took pride in his lifetime business.  Livanna was a thief. A magical one, only she didn’t know that part. Livanna didn’t know about her magic, she had run away from home at the age of seven. In order to survive, she had become a thief.  She was known throughout the world as the best and only as the best. But, ‘Jem’s’ was way too heavily guarded to even attempt a job on. She entered anyway.

               Arax jumped up from behind the solid oak counter and smiled cheerily, “How may I be of service?” He spoke with an ancient kind of ancient air to him.  His features scared Livanna. His face was burned and he had three scars running parallel to each other, straight down his face.

           Livanna fixed her dark, scarlet red hat with a feather protruding out of the top of it.  She wore a plain white blouse with lacy, brown leather pants. She brushed herself down as if dusting herself off.  She smiled back and asked, “How much is that stone on the window?”

  He answered. “Livanna Recren?” She was busted, “You can have it!” Arax reached across the counter and grabbed the stone from the window, hastily, as if he was in danger and had to hurry. He looked at her and thrust it into hands before she could react.

  Livanna was stunned. She couldn’t move, she was frozen with fear. Thieves were usually hanged when caught. The part she didn’t understand was why he was just giving it to her.  Livanna finally decided to run. So with a messy roundabout turn, she made a break for the shop door. A rough hand grabbed hers.  Livanna spun to see Arax’s un- delightful features glaring at her coldly. He asked her to go into the back of the shop with him. Livanna protested and tried to run again, resulting in a failure.  She couldn’t break his grip and fell, her hat falling off.  Luckily, there was no one in the shop. Arax half pulled, half dragged her into the back of the shop- making the coloured beads hanging from the doorway dangle.

     Livanna was dumbfounded by the man’s strength, and tried once more, resulting in the same, to pull away. Arax shook his head and muttered something. “What?” Livanna shouted.

    Arax shook his head once more. “Livanna Recren, Daughter of Elise Evelyn and Darveckle Claw?” Livanna gasped with surprise and nodded and opened her mouth to reply. Arax cut in.  ‘How did he know this?’  The sentence ran through Livanna’s mind repeatedly.  “You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Arax chuckled, “Sit.” He said beckoning to a chair. Livanna slumped into the ornate wooden chair Arax had told her too.

      “I know you ran away when you were younger, Livanna,” Arax continued, “And you probably don’t know this, but, I was a friend of you parents.” The front door to the shop opened, causing the wind chimes hanging from the ceiling to chime softly and melodically. It was beautiful.  Livanna made to speak, but Arax cut in again. “Hold that thought.” He walked back into the front door of the shop. Livanna looked around. The back room was full of not only magnificently crafted swords and daggers and other weapons, but also of ancient looking artefacts and objects like vases and chairs. She got up and walked to a small katana sword, in a black sheath with a gold dragon coiled around the handle. It hung on the wall by two gold hooks. She grasped it in one hand and held it up, examining it closely. It was magnificent, really. Then there was a loud bang from the front of the shop. It was like something big had fallen. Livanna yelped and hung the sword back on its hooks carefully, trying not to make it look out of its place. She quickly sat back down on the ornate chair and listened, not making a sound. The stone inside her pocket glowed, and then burned her. Livanna pulled it out and saw it shining, luminously blue. There was a thin silver chain dangling from a hole in the top of the stone, which Livanna threw around her neck. The stone stopped glowing. She wondered why it was glowing in the first place.  It was a mystery to her.  Livanna sat still listening to a conversation.

      “Where is it?” A loud, strange voice bellowed.

       “I don’t know, it was sold this morning, a man in a suit bought it.” Arax sounded frail compared to the stranger.

      “I think you are lying,” the stranger remarked, “I think you are. Now, tell me where the stone is!”

            Livanna gasped and held the stone Arax had given her tightly, holding into her chest. The argument outside continued, but she wasn’t listening anymore. She was too busy trying not to make noise. Livanna could feel her heart pounding, beat after beat; it was like it was trying to get out of her chest. She took deep breaths and then the shop door slammed. Arax ran into the back room, looking ever so slightly older and concerned.

       “So,” Livanna said trying to get a conversation started, and maybe some answers, answered, “How did you know my parents?”

     Arax waved the question away and he became more serious. It all showed in his tone, he was anxious. “They’re coming, all of them, I need to leave. And so do you, get out of here. Run, and take the stone with you. Grab a weapon, and remember. Trust no one.  They’re coming….” He repeated.

     Livanna made to ask him who, but Arax ran through the doorway with the beads hanging from it and dashed madly to the door.  Livanna shrugged and got up. She walked out to the front room. It contained vials of every shape and size and vases and other items. There were weapons hanging on the wall, all looked heavy.  She kept looking around until she got to the centre of the shop.  It was a disaster. Livanna took the banging noise as the wardrobe that was smashed on the ground in smithereens. She gasped.  A blinding white light soared from within Livanna’s head and she nearly fell over. Then she suddenly remembered something.  ‘Run’.

         The word was clear in her mind, and it surged inside her, she wanted to run, but didn’t.  The voice was strong and dubious. It certainly wasn’t hers. It spoke again.’ Run, get out, and run. ‘Go, quickly. Remember, trust no one. Get a weapon, you’ll need it.’ Livanna rushed back into the store room and grabbed the sword with the dragon handle. She stuck it through her belt and returned to the front of the shop. She looked for her hat which had fallen off her. She saw it lying, folded in half beside the counter. She frowned and went and picked it up, straightened it out, put it on and fixed herself.  Livanna ran and vaulted over the smashed wardrobe and opening the shop door, and dashed through it quickly. 

Part 2 of my new story which might have a name now! But im not sure..

“I whink bou bwoke my boogh.” Ryder said from the floor, in pain. He spat out blood and a tooth and said again, “Actually, you broke two teeth, knocked one out and I’m bleeding. Thanks.” He looked up and saw the olive skinned boy.  “Hey, Nico.”

 “Hey Alex, how’s it going?”

 “Not great, “Alex admitted, “Definitely could be better.”

Jasmina Rocaine looked at the olive skinned boy named Nico. “Who are you?”

Nico smiled showing big white teeth. “I’m Nico Wild, and this has been  Nico and Alex kicking your butt.” He spun the metal staff and smacked it down hard on the giants head. The giant had been running towards him.  The giant slumped, unconscious his head bleeding in several places. Nico smiled happily.

  The smaller man was making a dash for Alex who was in the procedure of getting up. Alex looked up, and then jumped backwards landing on his hands. He snapped both his legs around the small man’s neck and twisted his body, pulling the man onto the ground. Alex stamped down on the mans nose hard.  He turned to Nico and the two of them walked over to where Jasmina was trying to get the fire door open, without success.

  “You have just been beaten by two teenagers, Jasmina. How do you feel?” Nico laughed at the woman’s failed attempts.

   Alex shrugged and smirked, “We’re going to leave now, ok? You never saw us…” He waved his hand in front of Jasminas face and she fell too, unconscious.

“What did you do?” Nico asked.

“Erased her memory, Why?” he answered.

“Dude, you used magic?”

Alex flicked Nico’s ear and walked on, climbing the stairs up to the ballroom door. “Yeah, I had to erase her memory. I can’t have the agency know I was here.”

Nico followed him, out onto the corridor of the large vessel. “Why is that, exactly?”

Alex turned and spoke disappointment clear in his voice. “I got discharged this morning. For disobeying orders, but it’s no biggie.”

“That’s why you’re locater chip isn’t showing. Did they take it out, or did you?”

“Well, if they took it out, would I be standing here talking to you? No, I’d be dead. You know how they fell about discharged agents running free. They’d have killed me.”

  Nico walked past him and sighed. “You’re an idiot, a complete and utter idiot.”

Alex laughed lightly “I’ve been called worse.”

Nico opened his mouth to respond but closed it as they both heard sirens. He reopened it to say, “Your use of magic alerted every agent in this state you-“ They were in America, in Florida.

Alex put up his hand. Voices swept over them from downstairs, a woman’s voice and two men’s.  

  “Come on Corbier! Jerome! Quickly, before more cops get here.”

Alex rushed over to the banisters and shone the light down.  The three people who were in the ballroom were trying to rush out the door, three abreast failing.  Alex couldn’t help but laugh and when Nico joined him, he laughed too.

“Come on you blubbering idiots!” Jasmina roared pushing out in front, walking- slipping and nearly falling- down the walkway.  The latter followed.

  Alex turned to Nico. “We can’t go that way; there will be too many agents. And plus, they’ll know us. We need to get out of the country. Like, now.”

 Nico sighed and replied, “We can’t use magic, and they’ll be able to trace us! And where would we go anyway? It’s not like we can just go to absolutely anywhere…” He trailed off.  

    “London.”

“What?” Nico said, utterly surprised.

 “Let’s go to London. C’mon.”

  “We can’t! That’s the city with the highest population of magical beings! We’ll sure be traced.” Nico hardly took a breath.

  “Look, ok? I’ve a friend there that can take your chip out. Fake your death. Then I can get properly sorted. I kinda took my chip out on the run with, like... a stone.” He pulled up his sleeve to reveal a massive cut wrapped with a make do bandage made out of a torn up t-shirt.

  “Like I’ve said before, and will say many more times. You’re an idiot.”

  “Whatever,” Alex said playfully and grabbed his hand, teleporting to London. They landed in a tattoo parlour where a man was getting a tattoo from a woman who looked nineteen. He was getting a skull with flames going through the eyes on his back. He was whining like a baby.

   The woman looked up. “Hey…” She seemed unsurprised that two fourteen year olds just teleported into her tattoo parlour. “I’ll be with you in a sec, Al. Go through to the waiting room, will you?” And Alex and Nico did just that.  

Part 1 of a new story which hasn't a name yet!

The rain pelted down as the young man who seemed to be in his twenties walked across the old boat yard. He was dressed in a dark black trench coat which seemed to reflect the water from his body. He edged ever closer to the rusted grey metal ship, picking up speed. His body language was calm as he hurried as the beaten, grimy yard. A black hood hung over his face, covering it from anyone seeing it. On top of the hood a hat of the same colour lay hanging sideways. The man finally got to the ugly vessel and hopping up onto the boarding plank he hurried up to a rusted metal door. The rain had gotten heavier since he had entered the yard and he was damn glad of the coat he had on, keeping him dry. By now, it seemed a small river had appeared ankle deep. The man grabbed onto the door and pulled but it wouldn't budge. One side looked melted and it was jammed onto the side of the boat blocking entrance. He pulled again, deciding it was fruitless when it didn’t budge. He stepped back and snapping his leg up, he kicked the door. It moved slightly, half an inch inwards. He repeated the motion and the door collapsed backwards, falling straight towards him. The man had to backflip and crouching on his knees, slid down the boarding plank narrowly missing the doors wrath.  He did things like this everyday though, narrowly avoiding death. It was his job, after all. The man slowly creeped back up the metal plank and cautiously as it creaked loudly and hopped in through the door.

          Spinning around slowly the man took out a flash light and switched it on. It beamed forward showing the entrance room to once a mighty vessel. He walked over to nearest wall and admired the beauty of once a magnificent sailing ship. There was a huge gold chandelier hanging from the ceiling, held up by a long massive chain. It once held numerous lights but now only light holders. The remainder of the bulbs lay across the ground in a sheet of broken glass. The light from the torch bounced off the broken glass and reflected onto the ceiling. Shadows bounced only making the man jump and be only more cautious of his surroundings.  He took another step and was more aware of the silent crunch of the glass from underneath his feet. He shone the torch towards the wall, showing what used to be gold wall paper, intricately designed.  The remnants of it now were just torn and cut. Blood lay on the walls which just added to the creepiness level. The man stalked slowly to where he saw a staircase and latching his hands on both the banisters, placing the torch in his mouth he slowly climbed.

From the perfect viewpoint in the bridge of the large grey vessel, Jasmina Rocaine saw the young man enter the deserted ship. He had crossed the yard thinking he was undetected. Jasmina laughed a cold laugh and turned from the window picking up her phone. “Agent Jerome, Corbier. He’s coming.” She hung up and crossed to the desk table where she had most of her work. Jasmina had set up a base on the ship and had never been bothered for t east fifteen years. Of course, she was just waiting for this day. She circled around the desk, picking up her cardigan from the swivel desk chair and draped it over her shoulders. She looked at herself in the computer screen and smiled, her dark red lips curling into an unsettling feature. Her high heels set her up three inches taller and she fixed her hair. Her grey dress with big black buttons was made from cotton. She had matching shoes. She turned and walked out of the room, her shoulders held back.

The young man entered the vessels room, a huge ballroom centred exactly in the middle of the ship. He looked around to the bar, then to the floor and finally across to where a woman in a grey cotton dress sat, legs crossed. “I’ve been expecting you.”
    The hooded man laughed deeply. “No you haven’t.” His voice sounded mechanical.

     The woman got up and crossed the room until she got to the bar. She looked back and smiled. “Would you like a drink?”  The man held his hands up in reply. “Fair enough,” Jasmina said.

 The man was unsettled by her. He was scared almost. He looked up again as she continued talking. “See, I’ve never been interrupted in all my years here. Either, you are a very good spy or just a simple fool who thought it would be fun to come exploring.”

Again, the man laughed. “You have me well studied, don’t you?” She nodded, smiling. “But not that well studied.” He turned to walk back out and walked into a massive brute of a man. He was at least seven foot tall and had long wild hair. He looked as if he were some giant. Beside the brute there stood a smaller man, around six foot who had a gun. His short hair was close shaved to his head and he had a goatee. They both smiled.

 The hooded man laughed again. “Nice.” His next movement was a blur. He snapped his hand up, grabbing the gun and pulled hard on it, releasing the safety trigger then pulled down again and the gun shot: hitting the massive giant in the leg. The hooded man punched the smaller man hard then spun, snapping his leg up to kick the now crouched giant. His foot connected with his face and the giant fell, cracking the floorboards. The hooded man pulled a knife and threw it at the woman across the ballroom. It flew into the wood just above her head.  It wavered back and forth, until finally coming to a still. The woman smiled at him.

 “Tut-tut. Now, that’s a bit mean.”

  “No you’re mean, trying to out number me. Well guess again, Jasmina.” Jasmina gasped, and then smiled.

“Look behind you.” The hooded man spun and halfway, just after seeing that the giant was back up, he was hit hard in the head with the gun. “As I said, I’ve been expecting you Mr Ryder.”

The hood fell as the man did- or boy- as the hood fell, it revealed that person hidden was not a man but a boy.  He had thick blond hair and blue eyes, just placed on top of high cheekbones.  A small white box fell from where the hood was- a voice modulator. The woman smirked, just as a tall olive skinned boy entered the room, holding a metal staff.  

My Skulduggery Short Story Entry!

Valkyrie groaned, and sat up. "I told you it was a trap," she said.
"No, you said it looked like it was a trap," Skulduggery corrected. "That's completely different."
He helped her up as a door opened behind them and Sadistica Tortura walked through, an unsettling smile on her lips.

     Skulduggery stiffened and cocked his head sideways, fixing his hat.  He casually reached for his revolver, subtly slipping his left hand into his jacket. Sadistica saw him and shook her head. “Please, don’t. Let’s not make this harder than it has to be,” She spoke, well pronounced. Sadistica Tortura was wearing the attire of a tight pinstripe dress that came down to her knees, which surprisingly, didn’t make it hard for her to walk. Her black hair and icy blue eyes made her look as if she were scolding someone. “It is nice to see you again, detective.”

       Skulduggery sighed, one of his more dramatic ones. “I would say the same but, really it isn’t.  Trouble follows at your heels. What do you want?”

       Valkyrie subdued a giggle and looked at Skulduggery. “Who is this?”

        Skulduggery looked at the walls, which were now covered in what looked like metal bars, in fact, they were metal bars. “It was a cunning trick Sadistica. Not your usual style, simplicity made it hard to be obvious, yet, still cunning.  Making the room into a cell that restricts magic. I give you due.” Skulduggery turned to Val, “She’s Sadistica Tortura. She was on Melevolants side in the war. She is a dangerous foe, cunning, smart and a brilliant actress. I spent years chasing her, yet somehow she always got away. And now, she has us trapped.” Skulduggery stood up tall and smiled, hands behind his back.

“Oh.”

Sadistica laughed, “Oh, you make me feel so… What’s the word?”

“Powerful?”  Skulduggery smirked.

      The woman smiled and continued, “That’s it, powerful. But you obviously do not know why I have trapped you. Do you?”

   Skulduggery shifted uncomfortably. “Would it have anything to do with… a dog by any chance?”

    Sadistica ignored him and continued her rant, “I know your secrets.  I have proof, that what happened on O’Connell Street the other day were entirely both your faults and I want you to do something.” She smiled and repeated, “I know your secret.”

Valkyrie gasped and couldn’t speak. Skulduggery just stared unmoving down to the ground.

“How’d you find out?” Val muttered calmly.

     “Who cares?” Skulduggery said. “Sadistica Tortura, I’m afraid you are finally under arrest.”

     Sadistica laughed, “You are in no position to make an arrest, remember, I’m in control.”

       It was Skulduggery’s turn to laugh. “Let me give you your first lesson in detecting: never leave a man with his hands behind his back, as it will always turn out worse for you.” He revealed his phone and laughed. “Cleavers,” he called.  A group of five Cleavers entered the room and grabbed Sadistica and they dragged her out uneasily, as she kept kicking and screaming.