The Demon stared at Shade in the frozen time. It did not speak to Shade again. After a brief pause, it stood and walked to the neighboring table. It reached out, grabbed one of the apples hanging in the air, took a bite, and tossed it aside.
It turned to look at Shade, who had also risen, then picked up a wooden spoon from the table. Gripping the front end of the spoon, it aimed the long handle at the eye socket of the man at the outermost edge of the table, who was happily clapping, and thrust it forward.
"Wait."
Shade stopped it and asked in confusion:
"Are you saying that if I pull any tricks on Friday, you'll deal with me like this? But I can resist your Power of Time. Have you forgotten even that?"
"No, what I mean is."
The Demon released the spoon, leaving it suspended before the man's eye socket:
"If you dare pull any tricks, I'll kill a hundred people. If you don't show up on Friday, I'll kill a thousand people. If you fail to drive the sword or dagger into Osenfott's chest, I'll kill ten thousand people."
Shade took the spoon from it and placed it back on the table.
"What does killing other people have to do with me?"
"I know people like you too well. You act as though you don't care at all, but you can't deceive yourself about what you truly think."
The Demon lightly patted Shade's shoulder.
"Friday night, Osenfott Manor. Duel Osenfott. Then: Undying Flame, Life-Extending Relic, Philosopher's Stone Alchemy Item, Never-Empty Wine Bottle, Demon's Book of Knowledge, intelligence on Desire. Six options. Choose whichever one you like. I won't lie."
Shade snorted and sat back down.
"I know."
The Demon clasped its hands behind