Shadow Demon: Book two of Unknown Hybrid series

Chapter four

Considering it was so late we waited until the following day to make any plans. I went to bed with far more hope than I had ever had withing the past couple of days. Athena, Helios and myself have trained relentlessly lately and knowing that Nyx, who I know knew was my mother, Erebus who was my uncle, Kaos my grandfather and Gaia my grandmother were all going to train me to be even more capable was more than enough to raise my spirits. 

Something that didn't sit well with me was that Asmodeus couldn't go because he was a demon. I decided if one of my mates couldn't go, none of them would, so I'd only be taking Adam. Adam was my bonded guardian, so it only made sense for me to take him with me if my mates couldn't go. They were not happy about me decision, but who could expect them to be? I wouldn't be gone long, a month at most, but time here may pass differently than in my families realm. One month here could be one year or a thousand years there. Ya, that would be more beneficial to me seeing as how I would get more training in, but it would also be hell to be away from my mates that long. 

Adam was beyond excited however. He was thrilled I was allowing him to accompany me to another realm, and was excited because my family had decided it would be in my best interest if they trained Adam themselves, since he was my protector. After speaking with Adam we agreed once we have returned he would teach the other what he had learned, that way all of them would be more able to protect me. Like I really needed it, I could take all of them and not break a sweat. But that was beside the point. 

*****

The next morning was the best and worst day of my life so far. I hated saying goodbye to my dad and all my mates. I hated that I would not be able to see, hug or touch any of them for the next month. Even though I knew this trip was for the best and I knew I would be getting more extensive training it was still hard. I had already gone six months without them, I didn't want to go any longer. And it was the best day because I finally got to meet the family I never knew I had, the family my father had been keeping from me. The knowledge that I was a demigod was a shock, but it wore off quickly after finding out I had an actual family, one that wanted me. 

On another note Athena and Helios hadn't given my mother and uncle a choice, they were coming along rather they liked it or not, Ares was coming as well. They happily obliged my dragons, not wanting to upset them because their fire could kill them as well as anyone else. A dragons fire could kill any living creature, god, Angel. Archangel, it didn't matter, it could incinerate them all. Upon hearing they could kill gods I was curious to know if they could kill the Shadow Demon. Though it honestly was a dumb question, they couldn't burn something that wasn't in it's physical form, but them again we had already discussed this before. 

"Ariel, it's time to go." Erebus told me, placing his hand gently on my shoulder. I looked up to him and smiled. "OK, give me a minute please." He nodded and backed up just enough to give me space. As I looked over to my father and my mates I had tears in my eyes. "I'll be back soon, I promise." I told them in a broken whisper. They all crowded around me, hugging and kissing me softly. "Be safe Ariel." They asked me. I tried to give them a reassuring smile, though I knew it didn't give the effect that I hoped it had. 

I turned away from them and made my way across the room and out the door without looking back because if I looked back I knew I wouldn't go, I wouldn't be able to leave them. Adam placed his hand on the small of back and gently led me away, he knew what would happen too. I wrapped my arm through his and rested my head on his arm. "Thank You Adam." I whispered to him. He softly kissed the top of my head. "You're welcome Ariel." 

"Are you ready child?" Nyx asked me. I wiped the remaining tears from my eyes and smiled. "As ready as I'll ever be." I tired to assure her. This seemed to be the only answer she needed. She turned from me and started whispering some kind of chant and weaving intricate designs in the air that seemed to glow in thin silver threads. The ending design was beautiful. It was a cross between a crescent moon and a pair of massive wings. The design began to get brighter and brighter until the only thing remaining was a bright light, it looked like a portal made of pure light. When I cleared my mind and looked at Nyx's and Erebus's auras they were as pure white as the portal. Nothing tainted their aura, there was no darkness in it like there was with any other living being. All living beings had darkness in them, all of them capable of great goodness and great evil. But looking at these two, they were pure good with no evil to be seen.

As we stepped through the portal I had to shut and cover my eyes for fear of being blinded. The light was so bright and so intense I wondered how Nyx and Erebus handled it. As we came out on the other side what I opened my eyes to was stunning. A castle, like the ones you see in mid-evil times stood tall and proud. Towers rose into the sky, the cobblestone exterior was moss covered, large forests surrounded the castle and birds sang from every tree, animals ran around chattering and playing as if there was nothing to fear. Flowers and plants from what seemed to be every corner of the world adorned the grounds, I was stunned. 

"I assume you like what you see?" Nyx asked as she looked at me lovingly. I just nodded as I kept looking around at the beauty around me. She chuckled softly and waved for us to follow her as she began walking towards the castle entrance. Something I didn't notice before was the castle was surrounded by a large moat and there was a drawbridge was the only entrance or exit to the castle. This truly was something out of a middle age novel. I had to stifle a laugh as we crossed the bridge into the court yard of the castle. 

"I know it's a little cliche but our parents refuse to go modern. They say the modern world rely too much on inventions of today, though they did upgrade to indoor plumbing and electricity. They said that is two of the things the modern world got right." Erebus said laughing. 

I couldn't help but laugh in return. For one his laugh was contagious and for another I now knew my grandparents were stubborn and stuck in their ways, and I never wanted anything less. Everything I've read, everything I've heard grandparents were stubborn, stuck in their ways, unable to compromise. I laughed under my breath catching the attention of Erebus. He raised a brow at me at which I just shook my head, telling him it was nothing. 

When we walked inside words could not describe what I was seeing, seriously no words could describe it. The interior was beautiful, magnificent, wonderous. None of those words were even big enough to describe it, so I gave up. Nyx led us through the castle through so many twists and turns I was already lost and I was now dreadful of staying here a month. I would get lost and spent the next month trying to find my way to the kitchen much less outside or wherever we will be doing our training. 

Finally after walking for what felt like hours we reached a grand set of silver double doors. Engraved into the door was the same symbol that got us here, along with swirling designs and runes. Nyx stood there frozen for a minute. Her hand was on the beautiful door knob, and they trembled slightly. "Is everything alright Nyx?" I asked cautiously. She sighed heavily before turning to me. "Yes child. My parents know of your existence, they know you could possibly be my child. What they don't know is who your father is. I was very careful to keep that from them for fear of their reaction to it. They are not very forgiving." She admitted. 

I gasped, shock at her reveal. How could she not tell them who my father was. Surly they were not so biased that believed he was evil? They have been around much longer than he has, has seen so much come and go throughout their time. Could they possibly be so easily swayed? Shaking the thought from my head I looked at Nyx sternly. "I'm sure they will get over it." I said a bit more harshly than I intended. Nyx regarded me shocked. I closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose. "I'm sorry Nyx." I said lowly. "But surly in all their time, they couldn't possibly believe one sterotype the humans have placed on my father." 

Erebus placed a reassuring hand on Nyx's shoulder before smiling and nodding at her. Her shoulders heaved as she breathed in deeply and slowly let the breath out letting her shoulders fall back into place. Her posture was impeccable and perfect as she slowly opened the door. We stepped in as one, standing side by side forming a line. But what I walked into was not what I was expecting, and the two people sitting up on the dais was definitely not what I was expecting.