『Chapter Sixteen』
『the start of the hunt for the half-breed』

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Throughout space, there were whispers of a man, whispers of a man who was a hired demonic assassin and finder—a huntsman if you will. A man who most would avoid, a man who most would only hire if they wanted to get the job done, he was someone that once called couldn't avoid him. He was ruthless and dangerous, and yet no matter how wanted he was, no law enforcer could hold him—as soon as he went in one prison, he'd either escape or someone would bail him out. He never stayed in one place for long and if he did then it was because his next target was there waiting to be killed for whatever reason. He never asked, only for the name he needed and their recent sightings.

What people observed about him was that he was quiet, someone who kept himself to himself, he hated to be around people for long periods of time. He was the person who no one wanted to get involved with, someone that no one wanted to get close with, to some he seemed unlovable—though why would anyone fall for an assassin? Who would choose to love someone like him?

He knew that he didn't need anyone, he had a job that he needed to do ant things like romance and love was something that distracted him from what was needed. The only thing that mattered to him was his job and how to efficiently kill someone without getting caught. There was something about the idea of love and romance that he didn't like, not because he didn't understand love but more in the case that relying on someone other than himself was something that wasn't ideal for him. How could something like love be useful for someone like him?

Adrian set foot on a planet which he had always wanted to visit, a place where the castle was gold, where the people seemed ageless, where the stories and legends of Gods came from. It was a planet where it connected nine realms into one, a planet that always interested him more than anything. The thought that there were people who could live a long life was something that interested him, the way that these people held powers was cool. There was always that small part of him which had hoped that he would get a job either from the king or from someone else to assassinate someone on the planet.

Though now he seemed to smirk to himself, all around him were guards who stood point all down the hall and all protecting the king. Adrian knew that if he were to even strike or make a move for the king, the guards would attack him. Adrian wondered whether or not he'd be able to beat the kings guard, he wondered whether or not they'd be able to kill him within an instant. Something about the way that all of them seemed on edge with him being here, and he didn't blame them. He loved the feel of being able to make people afraid.

The echo of his steps were something of which he could hear throughout the hall and room—he ought to be afraid, he ought to be terrified that he was going to be in front of the great king of Gods, but he realised that he wasn't, he knew that emotions were nothing but a distraction to what needed to be done. When he was in training in his childhood, he learned that emotions were nothing but dust, so he always put up a front—a wall if you will—blocking out everything and keep everything in. He never allowed him to feel, never allowed him to do anything of the sorts.

When he came to the throne, he noticed how guards were standing there by the stairs which lead up to the throne and the king. When he was closer, they lowered their spears which stood taller than themselves, Adrian paused and clicked his heels together, hands joined behind his back as he stood tall. His covered head had stared at the gold in front of him, the sight of gold around him was something that made Adrian know that whatever this job was he'd get paid good, probably paid better than any other job he had done.

Money was always a good motivation for anything that Adrian did. From the looks of this palace, he knew that he'd get paid very well, the thought of how much he would get paid was something that made him realise that he could go into an early retirement. He hoped that it would be enough to put him into early retirement. He didn't care who he had to go after, he didn't care who he would have to kill, if it was good money then that was all that mattered to him.

"Adrian Sanguis," the King spoke. "Lower your hood."

Adrian wore his usual leather suit, it seemed like a jumpsuit however his jacket hid that. There were buckles which went from one shoulder to his waist, and a holster running down one leg. It was almost like a straitjacket, it was comfortable for him to wear. His gloved hands had been shoved into the pockets of his pants, though he still kept his head down. His hood—always covering and had never come down—had always been a way of which no one saw his face, he could just wear a mask, but he had always preferred the person who he was killing to see his face before they died.

That and the fact that he used to be forced to wear a mask when he was in training so the thought of wearing a mask was something that made him uncomfortable. He liked the idea that when it came to it, someone could stare at the face of the person that was killing him.

Adrian shook his head. "With all due respect, your highness, I'd rather keep my hood up." It was only then that he rose his head slightly to see an elder man sitting on the throne. The King had an eye patch and held a spear in his hand that was a few inches taller than him.

The king tilted his head slightly. "Very well." He shifted slightly. "I wanted to discuss a proposition for you, Sanguis, I want you to find someone for me. A half-breed."

Adrian gave the man an odd look. He never thought there to be half-breeds of these people, he had always thought that they kept themselves to themselves—never mixing with other people. He never thought that there would be a half-god running around the universe that didn't get brought here. From all the legends which he'd been told, the only thing of which these people had done was cause war and sign peace treaties. He'd even heard tale of the eldest son protecting Terra from another of their people. Yet to hear that there was a half-breed, somewhere out there, it made him wonder what kind of threat this halfling held.

He wondered what kind of power this being could hold for the king to summon him of all people. Was this demi-god that powerful that the king, himself, would hire a demonic assassin after him? Adrian wondered whether he'd have the pleasure of killing the demi-god, he knew that it would be a fight he'd like to have. Now that he knew that the person he was after was a demi-god, his desires to fight a god might come true.

"And what is this half-breed's threat on this planet?" Adrian asked, there was some form of amusement which laced within his voice. He couldn't help but feel amused by the entire situation and thought that there was a demi-god out in the universe.

There was a pause. "We do know that he's dangerous, he's able to take on the force of an Infinity Stone, his threat his high to us."

Adrian tilted his head slightly. "If he's this dangerous, then why not send one of your own? Like your son, for example?"

"My son," the king seemed appalled by the thought, "has other priorities to attend to, the welfare of my people and the safety of the Nine Realms."

"No offence, your highness, but if this Half-breed is a bother, then shouldn't that be a priority?" Adrian asked, a little bitter. As much as Adrian grew excited about looking for this demi-god, there was a part of him that wondered as to why it was him who was going after him. Not that it would be an issue with Adrian, it was just mild curiosity that blossomed in his thoughts.

The king let out a sigh. "As I said before, I will not be sending my son on this task, where you—with your skill set, will be placed with this task. I've heard that you're the best at what you do."

Adrian knew how to tell when someone hated to admit something of the sorts, he could hear it in the King's voice, in the way that he said the words. Adrian knew that the king hated the thought of hiring someone like Adrian to do the task. There was a part of Adrian that wondered as to why the king didn't send someone else from this planet to fetch this demi-god, if it was that important, why get a third party involved in getting this demi-god?

He briefly noticed how a woman made her way to the throne, she was wearing a uniform that Adrian hadn't thought would be in use for centuries. Valkyrie. From what Adrian learned there wasn't that many Valkyries to defend the throne, of course they existed, he'd met one on Skaar, but to know that there was an active Valkyrie still here was something that made Adrian feel almost excited. This Valkyrie was pale, her brown hair was up in a warrior's braid, her hand was on a sword that was at her waist.

Adrian turned his attention back to the king and cocked his head to the side. "What's in it for me?"

"Riches, gold, any thing you'd like," the king offered.

It was tempting, though he would have to find out more. "This half-breed, do you know it's sex? The people they'll know or have been in contact with?"

"The half-breed is male, and from what I am aware—he would be in contact with a Ravager called Yondu Udonta," the king informed. "From what I imagine with mortal aging, he should be twenty-eight."

"Name?" Adrian asked, hands moving from his back to his side.

A slight smirk appeared on the kings' lips at Adrian's interest. "His name is Jace Taylor."

Adrian nodded, that was all of which he needed. A name and the people who might know him. "Terminate or bring back?"

"Bring him back, it is then that I shall decide his fate," the king informed. Aidan nodded, again and had gone to walk away, though was stopped by the king. "I would like to say, I sent for that halfling nineteen years ago, if I am to wait any longer it is then that I shall send my people after you and the half-breed. If you are to fail, you'll be sent to the dungeons of this palace."

"My King, if I am allowed to speak." The Valkyrie said, cutting in. Adrian could see in her eyes how much she hated all of this, how she hated that she wasn't the one being sent to do such a task.

The king gestured for her to speak. "You may, Erika."

"Forgive me if I speak out of turn, your grace, but as the defender of the throne of Asgard, it should be I that brings Jace into custody. After all he's her brother." Erika stated. "And he's Sol's son. Someone with a lot more care and with a lot more experience should handle the capture and return of Jace Taylor."

"And that's exactly why you shall stay here." The king said. He sounded tired, like it was a conversation that he already had with the Valkyrie. "I've spoken to you at great length about this. Adrian Sanguis will collect the half-breed and bring him back, you'll stay here."

Erika looked as if she wanted to say something though stayed silent. Adrian hadn't said anything while they talked, enjoying the show, though after a moment, he smirked. He was amused by what he just said. The threat that Odin gave him rang though his head, there was a small part of Adrian that wondered whether or not the king knew just how many people would kill to bail him out just to ask him to work for them. There was no way that Adrian Sanguis was ever going to rot in jail.

This job, though, there was something which bloomed within Adrian—it seemed as if this might end up being the most difficult job which he might end up doing. Erika just gave Adrian the right information that he needed, if this Jace was the son of Sol, then it could be more dangerous than he originally thought it to be, but if he was raised by Ravagers then there was a chance that he didn't have to worry.

The more that he thought about it, he realised that there were nerves that grew within Adrian, he felt as if this job will come out bad—after all he had no idea what kind of strength this Jace truly had, who Jace had allied himself with, what kind of person he is. Though he supposed he'd have to try and find that out. He knew that he'd have to find everything out about this Jace Taylor.

This was not the place for Adrian to think about any of this, but he couldn't help himself. There was something exciting about not exactly knowing the kind of person who Jace was—it was unlike anyone else he had hunted, which made the game more entertaining. And that's just what Adrian Sanguis need, an entertaining game of hunting this half-breed, no matter who was in the way, no matter how much blood had to be spilled in the process. For a moment, Adrian wondered just how much fun this truly would be for him.

All he had to do was make sure that he got his hands on Jace Taylor, and he'd get the money he wanted.

"Yes, King Odin." Adrian smirked. "Jace Taylor will be brought to you." He bowed slightly and with that he then turned and left. Jace Taylor, half-breed, a man who Adrian was going to enjoy hunting down.

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I am so excited to introduce Adrian to this story and excited that I have just finished Act One of this book!