Chapter 14

They followed China's lead to a strange little man called Forbis,
"Are you Forbis?" Skulduggery said from behind the 4ft old man.
"Who's asking?" he turned round and looked at them.
"I'm Skulduggery Pleasant, this is my partner, Valkyrie Cain." Valkyrie stepped out from behind him.
"And Dexter Vex" Dexter said as he got out of the car.
Skulduggery shook his head and Forbis nodded. "I've heard of all of you, saviours of the world, eh?" Forbis said.
"That's us" Valkyrie beamed.
"What so you want?" He asked, losing his polite, little old man tone.
"We need information about the Element 4." Skulduggery said.
"Well you certainly came to the right place, but what did the girls get themselves into this time?"
"You know them?" Skulduggery tilted his head.
"I'm their grandfather." He said gruffly.
They all looked at each other. Forbis took them all into his house and sat down.
"Why do you want information on them?" he asked
"Chione has became our friend but her sisters took her from us and we want her back." Valkyrie said
"I guess you want their hide out location then?" He asked
"That would be very helpful." Skulduggery said.
"Only if you don't kill them, they're my only family although they don't know it."
"They don't?"
"No, the only time I saw them was when they were born. Their father was an idiot, he kept them from me. I hated Tyron from that day, then he went and got my daughter killed."
"Wow..."
"Their old house, that's where they hide out. It's on the outskirts of Dublin in the middle of a forest. My daughter...she liked...nature..." Forbis started crying and Valkyrie couldn't help but reached out and touched his arm, He looked up at her with those big sad eyes, her heart bled for him.
"What happened to her...?"
"Tyron and my darling Amelia went on a car journey to a job thing he had whilst there was a terrible storm...a van flew into the car, killing them both instantly..." Forbis sobbed
"He doesn't sound like a very cruel man." She said.
"He was, did Chione tell you what he did to her sisters? he only wanted one child so he pampered Chione whilst her sisters were starving in the basement. My poor Amelia could do nothing, he was too strong for her, if she spoke out he would have killed her and maybe even the children."
"That's...horrible..." Valkyrie whispered, also with tears in her eyes.
"You better go..." Forbis said in a hushed voice.
"Thank you." Skulduggery said as they left.
"It's dark already...we'll go tomorrow." Skulduggery said.
"But she's not safe there...they'll torture her..." Dexter said
"Dexter, they have the advantage in the dark, we'll attack at dawn. Think logically, I know you care about her but wait." Dexter looked up and nodded. They got back in the car and drove to the Sanctuary. Dexter went in to get Tanith, Anton and Saracen. They all gathered outside in front of a big black van.
"We know where they are, we'll attack in the morning, i'll make up a brilliant plan once we get there." Skulduggery said.
They all got into the van and Skulduggery drove off. Dexter sat next to him and Anton, Saracen, Tanith and Valkyrie were in the back.
"He loves her Saracen, I can see it, everytime they look at each other. Anton smiled.
"It's too soon though...they've known each other for 2 days..." Saracen replied.
"There is such things as true love."
"I know that but still..."
"Oh you do? how so?"
"I've been in love before Anton"
"Oh? was it love at first sight?"
"Yes..." Saracen glared
"Was it a girl?"
"I'm not gay!"
Anton laughed "I'm sure you're not. I was just saying that in case it was food or something."
Saracen sneered at him and sat in a huff.
"I'm happy Dex has found a girl, he needs someone to care for."
"A 20-year old?" Saracen said grumpily
"Time and age does not matter to people like us."
Saracen sighed "Fine, you're right, I'm happy for him. Yipee..."
Dexter opened the hatch and said "We're here"
Anton burst out laughing, Saracen smiles but then realised he was angry so frowned again. Dexter looked at them, confused.
"Right then, brilliant plan Skulduggery?" Dexter said. He looked around at the clearing where the house was and the trees around it.
"No surprise attack...Valkyrie and I will go straight to the house, Dexter and Tanith come from the left, Saracen and Anton from the right and we all walk in happily together." He said.
"Terrible plan" Saracen huffed.
"We're doing it anyway." He replied.
They all went into their positions at the tree line and waited for morning to come.