Skulduggery Pleasant: Raising Cain

Chapter 58 - Caelan's past

Skulduggery – Crow

Anton – Bear

Ghastly – Panda

Dexter – Wolf

Saracen – Weasel

Erskine – Snake

Solomon – Raven

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Chapter 58

They decided to see Moloch first, that being Valkyrie, Tanith, Crow and Wolf, heading in the Bentley up to Ballymun, a district on the edge of Dublin. The vampire, Crow told her, was centuries old and had a deal with the Dead Men.

"We met him almost two hundred years ago. He was chained up and about to be slaughtered with his Infected but managed to break his chains. We expected him to rampage or escape, but he broke open the cages to his Infected and the other vampires and was protecting them so they could escape," Wolf recounted. "I remember him trying to bargain with his captures, offering himself in their place. We stepped in and we fought them together."

Crow continued. "After the battle, we made a deal, a truce of sorts. He had to have no involvement in the war and we would offer protection. When the war finished, we changed it so he couldn't hurt humans in exchange for us getting him land to live on. Ghastly and Hopeless never trusted him, but the rest of us trusted he'd honour the deal because it benefited him."

Valkyrie nodded. "I'm assuming he has then?"

"Yes."

"And if he's centuries old he'll know Caelan?"

"Perhaps," Crow said. "Moloch may be centuries old but he is rather reclusive. He'll either know him well or not at all."

They arrived at an apartment complex on the north end of the estate and got out the car. It was an overcast day and so much colder than the day before. They didn't waste time going into the building and right up to the top, twelfth, floor. They knocked and a few moments later it was opened by a vampire. Inside were several vampires and a young woman standing in the middle with a syringe. When she saw them she burst out crying and ran out the door, throwing the syringe on the floor.

Valkyrie watched her go with an uneasy feeling, glancing at Tanith who was looking just as unsure.

"Skulduggery, Dexter," a vampire said silkily. He had been sitting in a high-backed wooden chair, so Valkyrie assumed he was Moloch. "It has been so long since we last saw each other."

"Yes, quite," Crow said a little drily. "I see we scared away your dinner."

"The first time can be a little daunting," he said with a small upturning of his lips. "Will you introduce your companions?"

"This is our close friend Tanith Low, and my adopted daughter," Valkyrie couldn't help but smile at that, "apprentice Dead Man, and partner Valkyrie Cain," Crow introduced. "Valkyrie is the Co-Head of department at the Sanctuary and Second Detective."

Moloch inclined his head to Valkyrie. "You are doing very well for yourself, I see."

"I work very hard," she said quietly.

He stood and came forward with very normal movements compared to the hunched, stalking moves Valkyrie had imagined in her head. He held a hand out to her. "It is a pleasure to meet you. I am honoured to meet someone so young and talented. Come, sit with me."