Shadow Demon: Book two of Unknown Hybrid series

Chapter eight

I woke to a blinding white light. Squinting my eyes I tried to let my eyes adjust to the light. After what felt like hours, but in reality was mere minutes I was able to open my eyes and take in my surroundings. I was in some kind of make shift infirmary. White walls surrounded me, white tiled floors ran the length of the room. And by my side was a sleeping Adam. His breathing seemed labored as he struggled to breath in his painful position. His head and neck seemed to be lolling at an unnatural angle and I knew right away it was painful and cutting off his air supply while he slept.

"Adam? Adam wake up." I urged as I gently shook his shoulders. Adam jumped from his chair, instantly alert as his eyes looked over the room for any danger. When his eyes finally reached me, they softened and a smiled spread across his face. Before I knew what happened I was in his arms. "Ariel, I am so glad that you're ok." He breathed into my neck. I nestled into his warmth and sighed. "I'm sorry I worried you." I whispered. 

Adam pulled away from me and gave me a hard look. "You have no reason to apologize." Adam scolded me. "If anyone should apologize it should be that bastard Anthos. He didn't warn us of what cold happen. Your companions took hours to calm down. Their roars caused chaos throughout this realm." Adam told me.

At his words I jumped out of bed and ran towards the door. "Helios? Athena? Meet me outside." I said as I burst through the front doors. Both my dragons descended on me in seconds, wrapping around me and encasing me with their bodies. "I am so sorry." I whispered as I hugged them the best I could. "I got trapped in my mind when I dived into my mind to strengthen it." I explained. "Your people told us what happened." Athena assured me in her soothing tone. 

Ares squeezed his way into the barrier my dragons made and made his way to me. His massive form rubbed against me aggressively. "I'm ok Ares." I soothed as I ran my hand through his soft mane. It warmed my heart that I had people and companions that cared so deeply for me. "Your mind is stronger, harder than it was before." Helios told me. "That's good right? I mean that's why we came here, to strengthen my mind and body." I questioned. Helios let out a large breath, smoke streamed from his nostrils. "Yes it is." Helios said, uncertainty in his voice. 

"I need to go find Nyx and Erebus. I'm sure they're worried as well. I just wanted to let you all know that I was ok first." My dragons nodded their massive heads and I made my way inside, Ares on my heels. When I finally reached what I was calling the throne room Anthos stopped me. I gasped as I looked at him. His face and arms looked like they were mauled. Slashes and cuts covered his body. Gashes so deep any normal person would bleed out from.

Anger coursed through me. "Take your shirt off." I demanded him. He fought but was powerless against my power. With a heavy sigh Anthos lifted his shirt over his head and I saw red. His chest and back were almost completely torn to shred. Skin hung from his wounds as his skin was torn open. "What happened to you?" I questioned. "After the gods found out what happened to you they had me whipped. They didn't care where they hit, and they didn't stop for hours." They whipped this man for hours? Nonstop? 

Anger consumed me, but before I voiced my anger I needed to heal Anthos. I put my hands on his torn body and closed my eyes. Forcing my energy into his and urging it to heal his many wounds. His gasp let me know he felt my power and that it was working. When I opened my eyes again his body was unmarred, smooth and wound free. I gave him a sad smile. "I am sorry they did that to you." I told him gently. 

He grabbed my hands tightly in his. "Thank you." He said sincerely bowing his head. I nodded in recognition. "If they try and do this again let me know." I told him sternly. "I will young queen." He said bowing his head. "Now, come with me." I ordered 

I shook my head, I can't even imagine the pain they put that man through. My anger rose again as I burst through the door in a fury Anthos close behind. Thunder clashed loudly outside and the wind whistled and roared as it rattled the windows of the throne room. "Who ordered the whipping of Anthos?" I roared. I didn't care how old these gods were, didn't care what power they held.

Shadows gathered around me pulsing and rippling as they fed off my rage. All of the gods stared at me wide eyed. I knew what they were seeing. My skin was glowing with angelic light as shadows danced around me, my eyes as red as fresh blood glowed with my anger. "Calm down Ariel." Nyx implored me. I turned to her and laughed darkly. "You whip an innocent man, for hours and you're telling me to calm down?" My wings erupt from my back spreading to their full length. 

Erebus walked towards me and glared at him. "Ariel, he caused you to be stuck in your own mind for am entire week. He needed to be punished." He tried explaining. His explanation however only fueled my rage. "He done nothing." I roared. "It is my mind, my journey. One I had to take. Anthos never even had a chance to explain things to me. I was sucked into my own mind immediately upon sitting in the garden." I growled. 

I don't care who it is, what they've done. Until someone knew the entire story no one should be punished the way Anthos was. "Ariel please calm down." Erebus pleaded. "And tell me why I should? You all punished an innocent man, whipped him for hours on end, never even giving him a break from the pain you inflicted upon him. Is it not fair to do the same to you?" I questioned. Erebus's eyes immediately widened in fear. "Ariel, please." Erebus said, fear evident in his tone. "Young queen." Anthos said from behind me. 

I whirled on him, causing him to take a few stumbling steps away from me. I softened my eyes as I looked at him. "Yes warrior?" I asked, trying to soften my voice but knowing I failed miserably. "Leave them be, please. You do not have to defend me though I greatly appreciate your gesture. I am fine now, you've healed me. I am in pain no longer." 

I nodded at him and turned back towards my so called family. "You are lucky I brought the warrior with me. He has spared you of the punishment I intended to inflict. You may be my family, and I love all of you already but no one is spared when it come to protecting the innocent." I told them as I calmed the storm outside and pulled my shadows back to me. 

My wings folded back behind me as I calmed myself. "Ariel, you are more powerful than even the original gods." Erebus said, pride and fear lacing his voice. Looking to him I knew my eyes had gone back to their intense blue. "I will not apologize." I told them sternly. "Ariel, you were protecting an innocent man." Nyx said softly as she made her way over to me. I stiffened as she wrapped her arms around me in a tight hug. After a few minutes I returned her gesture, squeezing her to me. "I will always protect those who need protecting. That includes all of you." I whispered into her hair. 

"Thank you my child." Nyx said warmly as she pulled away from me. Gaia was staring daggers at me, my eyes flashed red at her display of disrespect. "Gaia." I said sternly. "Unless you want to be held by your ankles while my shadows do to you as they please, because I warn you, I may command them but they have a mind of their own when I release them. I suggest you show me some respect." I seethed. 

Kaos looked over to Gaia and smirked. He had no intention of stepping in should I release my shadows on her. To display I was serious, I let a small amount of shadows out and sent them over to her. They lashed out at her aggressively, causing her to release such a high pitched scream I felt like it would make my ears bleed. The shadows cover her mouth muffling her screams. "Will you show respect?" I demanded. She nodded her head furiously. I smiled menacingly as I pulled my shadows back to me. The caressed me and swirled around me happily before returning to where they hide. 

Gaia brushed herself off and looked at me with fear in her eyes. Serves her right. I thought amused. "Ariel, I don't think you'll need any combat training." Kaos said chuckling. "The shadow demon may be strong but now that you have full control over your mind, your sheer force of will is stronger than anything I have ever witnessed." I smiled at that. Maybe I could defeat this shadow demon. But something in the back of my mind told me that it wouldn't be that easy.