1785 A.D.

I gaze at the old woman before me. At her age, she should have one foot in the grave. Her gait should be wonky with arthritic joints and eyesight failing faster than my school grades. Was it not for the lines in her face I'd think her sixty at the most given her sharp mind and easy motion, but they are so deep? Theo's mother arrived late last night for a small visit with the Queen and to once again see her Granddaughter, she smiles at me. "Dear Gideon, I see the pain you hide. I am sorry but he is at peace knowing you stayed for the Queen," but her tone changed at the end, her brow rose.

I stood tall, she was creepy even when I was growing but she was my own mother's dear friend. "Thea, as I told my mother, I am fine. It never mattered why I've stayed just that I have. Why have you come, as far as it was told to me my little Princess was not to know of her being a witch?" my brow raised at her, challenging her to lie to me. Her eyes glowed with power but like always I stand my ground giving it as good as I got. My pride was worn on my sleeve, and any sort of blow to it could crush me in any moment of weakness.

I gave Queen Lenore a bow once she walked into the room with Princess Shaylee, "I am only here for moments right now Demons are taking over and my people need me so it will be after she stops aging that I will once again be graced with her beauty. It best she is kept hidden for the time so that she might grow," I planned on her growing and becoming the next Queen, she was the daughter of my friends.

But Thea gave me a stern look, "We will be watching my young Commander, we foresee the future and know what is to come. You play a great role, but it is our little Princess who will finally stop the war," she leaves us with that warning.

Queen Lenore smiled down at the girl who was playing with a figurine, none the wiser for our conversation. "Here Keziah seems I was right having you stay, you see this now my friend," she was beaming.

"Of course, I never questioned your wisdom, my Queen. Seems I will play a role in ending the war, but my worry is Princess Shaylee. She is the reason the war stops, drastic things will happen in the future," it made her look at Keziah who was ready to leave to take Shaylee to train, we start young because they take time to grow.

She sits in front of me, "I knew my Angel was meant for greater things, now this is confirmation. Somehow you play into this war ending, you belong here with us. When I go home to Michael and Theo, you will protect her in this I have great faith. She is my world and her safe is all I desire," the way she spoke was with such conviction, love was so powerful.

"I will protect Princess Shaylee until I ascend and even after," I promised as she held my hands in hers, I knew she wanted me to marry another Gargoyle to finally be happy.

I walked the halls after another session with Gale, he was as vigorous as myself. My body was on fire as the feast was close, I had to bathe and dress since I walked to my room in just my pants. Out the corner of my eye to my left, a small Amethyst Gargoyle trying to fly, but she bounced right off the wall taking fallen sashes with her. My heart raced as I raced to her side, now she was human looking her long blonde hair a mess as her knees bleed onto the stone floor.

I just sit next to her picking her up while she cried, "Princess, six is much too young to fly you don't have the coordination yet. Did you not see the wall?"

She cried harder, "I tried…tried hard," I just stood with her cradling her to me until her sobs eased off, she hiccups her eyes are glowing making her amethyst eyes look to be melting.

I gave her another look, "Princess, you will get lessons when you turn seven not till then. Now look at you, bleeding, hair a mess, and torn dress right before our evening feast," I chided her, trying to get her to understand me, she was so strong-willed and hardheaded.

She smiled up at me, "Keziah said Helena is going to marry you, is it true are you marrying Helena?" her face was a mask now, she was never one for personal questions and must have overheard this rumor.

I gave her a look as I located Ophir who was talking to the Queen, "No, demon. I am not," she beamed even harder. "I found this Princess trying to fly, she bounced off a wall. She will need new silks on, and her knees cleaned, where is Keziah or yourself, Ophir. Why was she not being watched?" I growled, she was our future and they were not watching her well enough.

Queen Lenore gave her daughter a look before taking her from me, "I need words with them, she was taking her mid-day nap. Keziah, she left for the night to tend to a matter in Istanbul. Helena should have caught her before she was able to escape,"

I looked to the left seeing Helena running up, her face flushed. "You have lost the honor of watching our beloved Princess, this is not acceptable. She was hurt on your watch, Helena. Ophir have Niraj start to watch Princess Shaylee, she is a mother as well and her daughter Kylie is but one and the last child born to us. She should be able to manage to rein in the Princess," I might have overstepped, but the Queen never contradicted me in any way.

Helena snapped out, "I am so sorry she can escape us all, she just poof vanishes in purple smoke. She doesn't even listen to you but yet you treat her like she is a tiny adult, she is a child and is acting as such. Willa will tell you all how hard Gideon was to raise," Ophir and the Queen watching us bicker.

I gave her a look that had her backing into the wall, "You failed in guarding her, not even I have managed that. You may take your leave," being too crude was not meant and later I would give her a better more suited job for her immense skill.

"And whoever has spread this lie, that I am to marry, Helena better not let me find out it was them,"

Queen Lenore smiled, "Commander, you should marry. You're not getting any younger," she was right, but none carried my heart, but she leaves Ophir and myself watching her depart with the Princess.

I just groan, "Woman,"

Ophir's booming laugh reminded me he was still standing beside me. "I agree with you my friend, but we could never live without them, one day you will learn but first you must be open to a woman carrying your heart,"

Smiling he leaves me to get to my room, the bathe was not in the cards as time passed. I just clothed myself before hurrying to my post to escort the Queen. She was great company as I placed my hand on the small of her back, her crystal eyes locked on her daughter who was now holding Kylie who was giggling which in turn made Shaylee giggle. But for now, Niraj had her under control. In the dining hall, the air is more delicious than any flavor. Somehow the aroma captures everything good in there: the roasted chicken, the various cakes, the Danish pastries. The blend is perfection, but as a mixture of flavors they would be terrible- "chicken-cake-pastry", I don't think so somehow.

My hands gentle as I helped the Queen to sit at her throne, Niraj placed the Princess into her throne right next to her mother who started to plate the young foolish girls' food. "May I have some cake, please," her eyes brimming with emotion, so wide and innocent looking.

Queen Lenore was wise, strong, and a great ruler because she was firm in her decisions and firm in beliefs but with this tiny demon, she was goo. "Yes, my angel you may," placing a small square of white iced cake on the girl's plate. But soon her real training would start, her rate of growth was already increasing as well. By 1795 she would stop aging and be ready to walk to her destiny, her mother was worried to much pressure would be placed on Shaylee's shoulders. But this is what Michael created us for, he blessed us with this little demon Princess and it might pain us but she will bring the end of the war.

I eat and watch for anything, my goblet to my lips tasting the red wine when I feel her staring at me, it was like I always knew when she was watching my every move. Amethyst eyes bore into me, her food done even the cake. "Princess, NO!" I called out but an evil little smile crept onto her face as she vanished in a small puff of purple smoke.

I ran through the list of places she could be in my mind, checking off the ones we had already searched. As I gazed around the hall, Queen Lenore was going to ask Thea to tie her powers until she stopped aging, right now Shaylee was so young and being able to vanish at will was costing us time. It was never the demons fault, she was young and not experienced yet. But with one wrong vanishment, she could land in the wrong hands, the Dark Prince would mold her into something evil.

I rushed by my chamber door, but something forced me to stop. It nagged like Helena for me to open the door, I did open my door not even I find myself above these signs.

There she was in the middle of the floor with the long box opened at her feet, the wrapping covered the floor as she held the blade. I had it made just for her but she was too young for such a weapon, I moved towards her. "This is mine, see my name," she smiled like she had not done a thing wrong, she was giving me gray hair and a death wish.

I sighed running my hands over my face, "Princess, I had this made for you. But right now you do not deserve such a gift. Only big Gargoyles have a weapon, you are still childish. Now hand it to me," my larger handout.

She snarled at me, her eyes glowing. "It is mine, see my name. You got me a gift," sniffling now her eyes filling with tears, I am much too hard on her. "I can be a better girl, I will stop vanishing I swear on Michael. I want to be like my mommy," I saw how she handled the blade, she was small and would always be, so it was small like her but she handled it with such precision and care.

I give, "I will make an agreement with you, Princess. I will allow you to keep your gift if you keep your word to act better and stop vanishing. But if it is scary, if hurt or need your mother, Keziah or even me vanish to us. All you do is think of us and vanish, okay," I tried to soften my tone as she gave me a level look, her father did the very same at times.

"I agree," her small tinkling voice echoed around the room.

Naul, he was scum to me as he stood to confront me. I smirk, "I am the servant of the Michael, the master of the strong and the enemy of the evil. Choose where you stand carefully because I always win; it is what champions do. So, ask for help, follow or run... the choice is yours,"

I would kill him one day, that was a fact.