A man in black armor walked about the encampment. His men moved out of the way as he passed. Either out of cowardice or respect. That brought out an eerie chuckle from him. Those that considered him an abomination hurried away. He couldn’t blame them. It looked like Death was walking among the living when he returned. That instilled fear for the pawns to obey.

Whatever their opinion was about his looks didn’t matter, as long as they did their jobs. He would not allow the mistakes that cost the war to be repeated. Mistakes that allowed Talon to suffer such a disgraceful defeat.

Though a nasty grin appeared across his face, unseen by the death mask that covered it. Only one other person knew the truth. It was him that killed the previous leader to take over and restore Talon to its former glory under better leadership...his leadership.

“Gabriel.” A seductive voice rang behind him.

Speak of the devil and she appears. Gabriel grinned more. “Moira, I was just thinking of you.”

Her chuckle gave off a melodic tone as she spoke. “Always the charmer.”

Gabriel reached up and cupped her chin. His gaze traveled upwards. For she towered over most of the men. Although she had a head over him, Moira was beautiful to him. With shoulder length blood red hair and pale skin. Though what attracted him most in looks was the fact that her eyes were two shades, one red-ish orange and one purple. Mostly because of her connection to what she called the fae.

“Only for you.” Gabriel said. His tone was playful. “Are you here for me or need something else?”

“Can it not be both, leannn?” Moira said, scratching her long nails along the hand that held her face. “Though first, business before pleasure. May we talk privately in your quarters?”

He wanted to make some snappy remark, but kept it to himself. Head nodding before leading her back to the place she requested.

They reached the makeshift cabin that was considered his quarters. Gabriel locked the door behind him, stripping off the armor and the mask. The only light sources were candles. After his resurrection, the sun pained him if it touched any part of his body. 

None of Talon knew what he looked like except Moira. His once dark brown skin was now bleached to a near sickly gray and scars that covered every inch. Eyes turned to a weird shade of golden red, much like hers.

He grabbed a goatskin and slid into his chair in front of the fire. Gabriel drank wine straight from the skin before offering it to Moira, but took it back when she declined. “Might as well have some pleasure in between.”

“Soon. It will not take long.”

“So, what was so important?”

“I finished applying the runes on the armors. They will only activate by a command word spoken by one of us. I do not trust these uncultured pions to do anything but waste magic on idiocy.“ Moira said, rummaging through something on her desk.

“It’s not exactly easy to get capable people that agree to be fodder.“ Gabriel said, downing another gulp. “The assassin archer we acquired is the only one worth her weight in gold we pay.“

“Soon we’ll have something even more powerful. If the ritual continues without hitches.“

Gabriel raised an eyebrow in curiosity as Moira turned to face him. In her hand was a glass jar with a strange white orb floating within its confines. A satisfied smile creeping along her sharp features.

“You did it?“

Moira put the jar back down on the table. “This part of the ritual worked. The sacrifice of the pawns that fought that wolf man was worth it, it seems. Originally, that was my target, but this will be simpler.“

“Though what exactly is that?“ Gabriel asked, poking at the bottle’s cork

“A wandering spirit, caught between the veils. Holding on to vengeance, hatred.“ Moira said, moving his hand. “I just need to create a corporeal form. Much like I did for you. Though I was fortunate to have your body on hand.“

“You’ll never cease to amaze me.“ Gabriel chuckled, but that turned into painful grunts and coughs.

“It’s acting up again, isn’t it?” Moira said, taking a small vial from the pouch on her leg before straddling Gabriel’s lap. 

“I can handle it.” He said, grunting again as the pain in his chest grew worse.

Moira took a swig from the vial and forced him to face her. Their lips met as she made him drink the liquid. It made him a little agitated when she forced that disgusting stuff down his throat. Even if it calmed down the spasms.

“Better?“

“As much as I hate to say, yes.“ Gabriel muttered, though the burn and faint throb remained. A small price to pay to continue his revenge.

“Any side effects besides the usual?“ Moira asked.

Gabriel closed his eyes and shook his head. His nails trailed up his lover’s bare leg as the painful throb turned into another sensation. Opening his eyes again, Gabriel bit into Moira’s neck with a low growl.

“Impatient as usual.“ Moira said, grinning. “But I promised to sate your needs.“

-----------

The arrow landed in the tree with a loud thud sound as another one joined it in quick succession. The wielder of the bow’s face was expressionless. As her lithe body strode across the field to retrieve the spent arrows. Her mind went off to the carnage the wolf archer had left in the wake of their attacks. A rare grin appeared, thinking that she would love to test his skills against hers. Though the grin quickly turned to a disgusted scowl formed on her pale-colored lips while brushing her raven hair away. A crimson tattoo in the shape of a red hourglass adorned her nape. Which attributed to her assassin name as the Widowmaker. Surrounded by these dirty, annoying buffoons ruined her mood, but a contract was a contract.

“Arañita~“

And there was the biggest annoyance right on its way. With a death glare, Widow turned and faced the smaller woman. “I told you never to call me that.“

A dark purple cloak shrouded most of the other woman's form. She pulled the hood down to reveal dark skin complimented with purple hair and eyes. “You really need to learn to relax.“

“And you need to learn to keep your tongue still before you lose it, rogue.“ Widow said, reaching down to the knife at her hip.

“All I wanted was some intelligent conversation amongst this. You know how boring it gets.“

“Go play your childish pranks somewhere else, little girl.” Widow said. If looks could kill, Sombra probably would have dropped dead on the spot. 

Sombra watched Widow walk away, making mocking motions once her back turned. Guess she would have to occupy her time elsewhere. Gods, she was so bored. So incredibly bored. The only reason she stayed was because, after the upcoming raid, she’d be handsomely rewarded. Though she was using them as much as they thought they used her. Easily playing dumb to get away with more things.

If it wasn’t for her, they wouldn’t have even picked up the scent of the ‘wolf man’ like that witch wanted so badly. From what Sombra could catch, behind locked doors, the wolf man held a power pertaining to gods or whatever. She had to admit it intrigued her, but as long as she got paid, it wouldn’t matter. Because whatever that witch was getting involved wasn’t worth her life.

Until then, she was stuck here. To kill time, she thought, to go have a little fun. She pulled up her hood to scout out who would be her victim.