"Right on time as always," Gadreel said with a brief raise of a hand as the door to the main hall of his castle opened and 20 or so men walked in.

The men seemed to all be in the 30–50 age range, and each one carried the air of a veteran. They wore tidy black uniforms that had a target circle right above their hearts.

"Thank you for allowing us this visit," the man at the head of the group said with a nod.

Gadreel crossed his legs as he sat on the throne of gold and silver that was set on an elevated platform at the end of the room. "Of course. Now what can I do for you, Izir?"

Izir was one of the youngest in the entire troop, but his presence weighed the most out of anyone in the troop by far. He had short and neat black hair as well as a prominent jawline, and his dark skin matched his eyes to a tee. "Oh, I expect you knew what it was I wanted before I even requested to see you."

Gadreel leaned his cheek into his palm and smiled faintly. "Have I ever told you how fitting I think your name is? Izir. It's so sharp, as are you."

Izir lowered his chin but kept his dark gaze on Gadreel. He looked at Gadreel's forehead like he was ready to put a spike through it. Sherridan appeared by Gadreel's side that second. Next five figures, wearing black masks and hoods, came out of hiding. They were called the Five Shadows. A lazy name, in Gadreel's humble opinion, but they were of the utmost competence. They situated themselves in front of the stairs that led up to the throne's platform, standing between Izir and Gadreel.

Gadreel stood up and raised his hands. "I apologize for my personality. I should take this more seriously."

"I don't want to fight you, nor do I want to interfere with your plans," Izir as he slowly made his way forward, leaving his troops behind. "But you owe me a debt, Gadreel. I suppose it is time for you to pay."

Gadreel made his way down, but the leader of the Five Shadows stopped between him and Izir. Gadreel tapped on his shoulder. "Move," he said, and the masked man peered into his eyes for a moment before peering into those of Izir and stepping back.

Gadreel and Izir stepped forward, and stood within hand's reach of one another. Izir was a head taller and had a lean but muscular frame with round shoulders that made Gadreel look somewhat like a child.

"You know, you could kill me here and now, and just get what you want without problems," Gadreel said, poking the target circle symbol on Izir's chest.

Izir raised his chin and breathed deeply. "Could I? Or would you do to me what you did to William?"

"But you're stronger than William," Gadreel said, leaning his head back a bit.

"And William was stronger than you. That doesn't change what I saw that day," Izir said, trying to meet Gadreel's eyes. Gadreel, however, was too busy aiming his silver eyes elsewhere, looking around without a care in the world.

Finally, he turned to Izir and smiled as he looked into his dark eyes. "Your heart seems to be beating faster than usual." Gadreel tilted his head, feigning worry. "Have you been smoking?"

Izir pursed his lips. He clearly didn't want to be in contact with Gadreel. But he wanted something so much that he had to come. Gadreel respected that.

Gadreel's expression turned serious. "Your words hold true. I do owe you. However, I have my own plans for the kid."

Izir gritted his teeth. "This is all I want from you. You can't deny me."

Gadreel raised his brows. "I can't? Sure, I can. And I am doing so at this very moment," he said, mockery lacing his words.

Izir's hands squeezed into fists. In the same, Sherridan was about to launch. Gadreel put out a hand, though, and Sherridan relaxed.

Then Gadreel laid his hand on Izir's shoulder briefly. "Don't worry, friend. I will fit you into my plans."

"I have to be the one who kills him," Izir demanded.

"And I will give you the opportunity to do so. I just won't give it now."

"When?"

"When it is time." Gadreel said with a slow nod.

"I won't wait more than a year."

"It is up to me how long you wait," Gadreel said, sharpening his gaze. "Go after him before I give you permission, and I will have your Evaporation Squadron slaughtered before you even catch a glimpse of golden hair."

Izir swallowed and exhaled. Then he extended his hand.

Gadreel smiled and grasped his hand tightly. "I'm glad we could come to an agreement. Also, don't worry about the kid dying before you get to him. Just worry about what you'll do once you get to him."

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Izir freed himself of Gadreel's grasp. "Why are you giving him time?" Izir continued with an annoyed question.

'I thought we were done here already?' Gadreel thought as he cracked his neck a little to soothe himself. Then he sharpened his gaze.

"Why are you so hungry to kill an immature brat?" Gadreel asked in return. "Seek him out now, and you'll deal with him, no problem. Is that what you want? Will it bring glory to your father's memory if you kill the teenage son of Ares?"

Izir sealed his lips and looked down.

Gadreel looked down as well, an exaggeratedly baffled look on his face. "What? There's no golden hair strand down there. Look at me and answer the question... Look at me!"

Izir looked up and stepped closer, glaring straight into Gadreel's eyes as he ground his teeth.

Gadreel didn't back away and instead leaned his head a bit forward, meeting Izir's sharp gaze with a pair of calm, expectant eyes. He then articulated his question again. "Do you think it is better to kill him when he's a pathetic imitation of his father, or when he's grasped his potential?"

"That could take decades!" Izir snapped.

Gadreel shook his head while keeping his eyes steady. "It won't. I'll make sure of that. You have my word."

Izir breathed, managing to calm himself a little.

"That's right. Breathe and think. I am giving you an ample opportunity for revenge, and you just whine. I promise to deliver you a battle that'll honor your father, so thank me, shake my hand, and get out!"

***

After the meeting was over, the Five Shadows were tasked with escorting the Evaporation Squadron. As soon as they made it out of the hall and the door closed behind them, the leader of the Shadows took his mask off, revealing a pale face and a head of blonde hair. He then looked at Izir who was beside him, and blinked his deep-green eyes a few times. "Good to see you, Izir."

Izir nodded at the man and kept walking.

"Come on, give your old pal even a few words."

"Why did you leave the Evaporation Squadron to work for that guy, Leonardo?"

"You know why," Leonardo answered. "I always wanted to lead, but ended up just being a co-leader. Then Gadreel offered me a leading position, and he didn't ask you first."

"He deliberately didn't ask me first."

Leonardo nodded. "Probably. The guy probably figured out my exact thinking process after our first meeting. He knew exactly what I wanted."

"And you like that about him?"

"I love that about him. He always puts on a show. I've never had as much excitement in my life as I've had while working under him."

"That's because he's reckless."

"What is recklessness to normal people is certainty to geniuses. And he's a genius among geniuses."

Izir snorted and shook his head.

Leonardo shrugged. "Say what you want, but you know it's true. He's one of a kind. I've never seen anyone rag on you like that. It was hilarious."

"Shut up," Izir spat with narrow eyes. "You were tense as hell the whole time."

"No, I wasn't. I knew you wouldn't touch him."

"Yeah, right. You would've stopped me if I did?"

"Sherridan would've."

Izir tilted his head slightly. "I've seen her fight. She's just really fast. I could handle her."

"She may not be particularly strong, but she can decapitate you before you realize that she's in the same space as you. There's no chance you could handle her," Leonardo said with a laugh before turning to Izir as they made it to the gate. "It was good to see you. And don't worry. Gadreel always keeps his promises. You will get your chance. You have my word on that as well."

Izir nodded and shook Leonardo's hand. "Thank you. I'll make the most of that chance."

Leonardo smiled. "I know you will. Be patient. I would hate to have to kill you."

"You think you'd be able to?"

"I don't know, but if Gadreel wanted you dead, you'd die for sure. You bore witness to his overtaking, the same as I did. You know what he's capable of."

Izir sighed. He didn't want to remember that time. It was all chaos for everyone except for one person. And they way it ended. The duel. It was a sight from which one wanted to look away but couldn't, for it was the truth. The truth presented by the devil himself.