Shadow Demon: Book two of Unknown Hybrid series

Chapter two

To say things started to get side tracked was an understatement. After so long without any signs from the Shadow Demon the guys started to get slack with keeping an eye on me. I didn't mind, I was actually thrilled I was finally getting some time alone. Even Ares started his roaming once again. I never knew where he went when he wondered away, but he always came back. 

Gabriel had went back to his pack, which was understandable. They needed him and he was Alpha. He came back at night and sometimes throughout the day as much as he could, showing me he could juggle both me and his pack and it warmed my heart to see him trying so hard. Michael and my father had been spending a lot together. Planning and strategizing about any possible direction the Demon could attack from.

Asmodeus, well he was nervous, maybe more so than myself. He has been jumping from country to country researching the Shadow Demon trying to get any and all information there was about him. He even went and spoke to the book keeper of the gods, looking for the gods information on it. He couldn't go to the Angels seeing as how we defeated the majority of them in our battle. 

And me, I kept training. I trained my powers, my mind and my body. Gaining more control over myself than I ever thought was possible. I didn't know how it would work against the demon seeing as how I haven't had anymore contact with him, I could only hope it was enough to suffice. Athena and Helios has been helping me gain more control over my fear. They have been taking me places I never knew were real. They took me to visit purgatory, the underworld and no not hell. the realm Hades rules over. We didn't see Hades himself, but he was there somewhere. 

I visited a place called the Vail, where ghosts lingered until they are ready to be lead by the Reapers into the next life. Another place called the empty. I did not like that place at all. It was dark, and the chill it sent down my spine was unreal. It was filled with demons and Angels that had been killed. And coincidentally a being called the Shadow ruled over the place. No not the same being, but one that was hellish all the same. It didn't have one physical form. It could take on the form of any being within it's realm. 

Each realm held its own kind of scary, each was awful and scary. No it didn't trigger the same fear the Shadow Demon did, but if any of them were close it was the empty. That place was something I never wanted to experience again. It was cold and so very dark. You could hear screams and moans of pain coming from seemingly no where. The Shadow that ruled over the place was not happy we paid their realm a visit either. His form kept changing and shifting. Never staying in one form for more than a few minutes at a time. And he made one thing very clear, he wanted me. He wanted to be able to take on my form, to take my power. Thank heavens since I was not dead he couldn't but the potential new threat did not escape my ears. 

Day by day Athena and Helios trained me. They trained me hard and relentlessly, determined that when I faced the Shadow Demon again I would stop him. To be honest I didn't have the same faith they did. Yes, I was stronger, had more control. But just remembering the reaction the creature got out of me cause me to swallow hard and look over my shoulder, just to be sure it wasn't there lurking in the shadows. We already knew that it wouldn't come out in the day, it needed shadows and darkness for it to have strength. Now that's not saying it wouldn't come out in the day, just that it would be weakened and we all knew it wouldn't take that chance against me. 

After training was finished, I lay back on the grass and stared into the cloudless blue sky. I was left to think. And that always triggered a reaction. How did the Shadow Demon get loose? Was it let out? Or during its long captivity did the barrier weaken allowing it to break through? It didn't seem likely. The gods built tartarus, the prison that locked the titans away, and they haven't been able to break out. Was the Shadow Demon stronger than all the titans put together? If so there is no way I could win against it. It took the three original gods just to lock up the titans. Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades. Though Zeus destroyed Cronus, him and his brothers locked the others away, never to be seen or heard from again. 

Maybe I could find tararus and make a deal with the titans. If I let them loose, they help me destroy the Shadow Demon. It might work, but then I'd be putting the entire modern world in perilous danger and I couldn't so that. The shadow world couldn't help me, and I wouldn't call on the fae or vampires again after all they have already sacrificed. Something tells me they would be of little use anyway. The only thing they would serve was an appetizer for the creature. 

Could the gods help again? It took them and the Angels to do it last time, but maybe with my power and the help of the gods we could do it. There are more gods now than there were before. There is Erebus, Nyx, both children of Kaos and Gaia. All four of them could ally with us. 

Thing is, how the hall can I find Olympus? That is where Zeus and the others would be. But where could I find Kaos, Gaia, Nyx and Erebus? They wouldn't be in Olympus. Before Zeus, there was Kaos and Gaia, who left earth to live in another realm where they had Nyx and Erebus. They ruled over their own realm, but that realm has never been named no matter how many stories were told about them. 

what I knew was Kaos was the god of the void. It was the place that existed before heaven and earth met. He ruled over the void that was earth, before earth became what it is today. Gaia, is the goddess of the earth. Born as the earth was to care for it and keep its natural wonders safe and intact. When Kaos saw Gaia, he took her to the realm he fled to since his void was no longer there. Between Kaos and Gaia they has Nyx the goddess of night, and Erebus, the god of darkness. Together they make four powerful gods. 

With a heavy sigh I pulled myself off the soft grass and onto my feet. I had lost track of time, getting stuck in my thoughts and the sky now glowed a beautiful deep purple, orange and yellow. The sunset took my breath away. Never had I seen a sunset as beautiful as this. 

As darkness settled around me, I closed my eyes and breathed in the night air. The calmness the night brought me was exactly what I needed to calm my thoughts. I didn't move to go to the house, I just stood there smiling as I looked into the endless vastness of space. That's when a darkness unlike any I have ever seen settled around me. It blotched out the moon and stars, surrounding me in a cocoon and darkness. 

But it wasn't like the Shadow Demons darkness. No whatever this was, it meant me no harm. It wrapped around me, rubbed against my exposed skin, leaving goose bumps on my body. This darkness cleared my mind, brought me serenity, calmness and safety. What is this? And why was I relishing in the feelings it triggered in me? I would be lying if I said I didn't wanted whatever it was to stay, to continue to surround and encase me. I smiled, letting out a small giggle as I raised my arms straight out from my sides and spun in circles. I know it was childish, but this feeling was too much to ignore, and too beautiful not to appreciate. 

"I see you enjoy the darkness I bring with me." A deep male voice chuckled behind me. I whirled around, the smile never leaving my face to see who had approached. I however did freeze when I saw him. He was at least two foot taller than me, his sun kissed skin glowed in the darkness. His deep golden eyes looked like lakes of molten gold as they swirled. His hair was as dark as night as it fell to his shoulders in soft waves. He was gorgeous, there was no doubt about that. 

"Who are you?" I asked, dropping my arms back to my side. I kept my shadows close to the surface. His presence didn't make me feel like he was a threat. If anything he was laid back and relaxed. His features held a smirk and raised brows. "You summon me and you don't know who I am?" He asked amused. "Um, I never summoned anyone. I don't even know how to summon anyone." I replied honestly. And I didn't, even if I did why would I summon whoever this is? 

The man laughed as he looked at me. "My dear child, you have no idea the power you hold within yourself. Your training has been helping you grow your power, but not nearly the power you will need to defeat the Shadow Demon." My brows shot up so high and so fast I'm sure the disappeared into my hair line and I gaped at him. How did this person know what I was doing? What I was preparing for? 

This time, I had no issues calling my shadows to me as I narrowed my eyes at him, carefully watching and analyzing him. "Who are you?" I asked again, non to nicely I might add. As my shadows swirled around me caressing me and wafting off of me. 

"Child, put those away, I mean you no harm. I have just been watching you. Well, actually my whole family have been watching you." He corrected himself. I drew my shadows back to me but kept my guard up. "Again, who are you? and why have you been watching me?" My voice was hard and it held authority. The man shook his head and sighed. "I am Erebus, the very same as the one you were just recently thinking about." 

My eyes widened and my jaw dropped. "No, it's not possible. How did you hear me?" I questioned. Erebus rubbed the back of his neck as he looked at me. He looked nervous, awkward even. "Well, people can't usually summon us with just a thought. Not even immortal hybrids such as yourself. We, I mean my family and I have reason to believe that you are not who you think you are." I was growing irritated with him being cryptic. "Can you please just get to the point here? I have my mates, my guardian and my father waiting for me. We have plans and training to do, and I have to eat and rest to start all over again tomorrow. I don't have time for games." 

The man sighed and stood to his full height. "Fine, we have reason to believe that who you know as your mother, truly isn't your mother. Not your biological mother anyway." I gasped, covering my mouth with my hand. No, it can't be true. "Th..then...Wh..who is?" I managed to stutter out through the lump forming in my throat. "I am sorry Ariel, but we believe your mother is my sister, Nyx." I shook my head, tears welled in my eyes. "No, no. It's not possible. How can I turn into a wolf then?" I asked in a whisper. 

"Well, Nyx is the goddess of night. Werewolves were once tied to the moon, to the dark. So as part of my sisters ability she was able to shift or transform into any creature of the night in order to blend in. That means wolves, vampires and even those once tied to the night but now reside in the shadow world. Which is why we believe you can walk the shadow world. Because your mother once being tied to them needed someone new, someone moldable to reign over them since Nyx can't. And because of her you could shift into a wolf to fit in to the pack you were raised in and the pack that now calls you Luna." 

I backed away stumbling. It all makes so much sense now. My shadows and light may have come from my father, but the darkness my shadows have, the connection I feel to the night. My ability to walk the shadow world, command it's residents. All of it made so much sense now. "Can you give me a little time? I need to speak with my father. And could you please bring Nyx? I want my father to tell me the truth. No, more lies. Listen from the door with Nyx, and if he lies, come in and bring her with you. I'll let Nyx correct him." 

Erebus laughed a full belly laugh. "Will do niece." He teased before he disappeared. I shook my head. Confusion, anger, betrayal, everything had taken root in my head. And I would find out the truth one way or the other. He will tell me if I am demigod, archangel hybrid. If he don't. I'm sure Nyx would step in. I sighed heavily as I made my way to the house. Everyone stared at me as I stepped in the door, my emotions rippled off me in waves, causing them all to step out of the way as they followed close behind. When I approached my father, he was in the dining room getting the table together for supper.

"Father!" I shouted. When he looked up at me his eyes widened. I stared hard, as I watched him straighten and stop what he was doing. "Yes, Ariel?" His voice had a hint of fear in it, but I couldn't process that right now. "Who is my mother?"