Ronald (Duke’s residency, London)

Ronald contemplated his parents expensively framed pictures. His aunt was calling for him, announcing that the limousine was already here, broke his concentration. At the bottom of the stairs stood the driver waiting for him. He started for the stairs, grabbing his backpack. It weighed next to nothing; the only thing it contained was the black book that the Duke had given him.

As he climbed slowly down the stairs, he watched with sorrow the gallery of family pictures hanging on the wall. His gaze snagged on a photo of his dad, smiling as he struggled to catch a blue needlefish. Suhail and Ronald stood next to him, helping him and laughing, while his mom surveyed the scene, making a face of disgust.

In the middle of the overpowering sadness that consumed him, a spark of anger incensed him. We were happy, thought Ronald, We were so happy until those bastards killed my parents. I swear I will take revenge, even if it's the last fucking thing I do.