Shadow Demon: Book two of Unknown Hybrid series

Chapter ten

What I saw when I saw home my blood ran cold. My home, the one we had fixed and turned into our home, our haven was in ruins. Black scorch marks lined the the building where it had burned. Other parts of the structure looked as if boulders had somehow been thrown into, completely decimating that portion of the building. The surrounding lawn wad completely barren, no signs of life in any form, rather it be animal or plant life. 

I dropped to my knees and tears filled my eyes. "What happened here?" I choked. Adam placed his hand on my shoulder. "I don't know Ariel, but we need to check the ruins, see if we can find their bodies." I shook my head, the tears falling freely now. "No. No they can't be dead." I sobbed. "I would have felt it. Even in another dimension, I would have felt the bonds break."  I was trying to convince myself of that. I really didn't know if I would. About a week after I first contacted Gabriel I couldn't reach him again. I really didn't think anything of it. Convincing myself it was because we were in different realms. 

Not wanting to think of it anymore I let my wings burst free and I was in the air. I flew over every part of the ruins, desperately trying to find any kind of life within. Finally with a heavy sigh I dropped myself into the ruins. "Nicole. Can you smell anything?" I asked. She whined in the back of my mind, pacing in agitated circles. "Come on Nicole, we need to know. We need to find them." I begged. 

She snorted but came forward and I shifted into my white wolf. Nicole covered half the mansion before she curled into a ball and whined. Quickly shifting back I dug through the ruble without thought. No, they can't be here, they can't be dead. Please, please, don't let them be here. As I continued digging I found it. One lay arm hung motionless against the ruble. "ADAM!" I screamed sobbing. I couldn't so it, I couldn't continue digging. I didn't want to see who lay just beneath the rocks, I wasn't strong enough. 

Adam landed gracefully beside me and squatted down. "Ariel, what is it?" Adam asked with concern. I couldn't speak so I pointed to the arm that I couldn't take my eyes off of. But I could see him from the corner of my eye. He looked in the direction I was pointing and gasped, before pulling rocks and brick off whomever lay just beneath them. I squeezed my eyes tightly shut, not willing to see who it was. "He's alive." Adam yelled. 

My eyes snapped open, hope blooming in my chest. If he was alive I could heal him. Crumpled up and broken in Adams was none other than Asmodus. I screamed and lurched forward. Wasting no time in placing my hands on him and rushing my light into his body to heal him. I sobbed and cried the entire time. Trying to talk soothingly to him as I healed him. What I didn't know was every tear that landed on him helped in the healing process. "A....Ariel?" Asmodeus rasped. "Sh, now don't speak. Save your energy." I whispered. "Adam. Get him some water." Adam nodded and took to the sky. "You're alright." I whispered. "I'm here now. You'll be healed in no time." 

I tried to sound hopeful, but by the look he gave me I knew I didn't succeed. I shook my head and smiled. "You will be alright." I assured him. He winced as he nodded and fresh tears fell from my eyes at seeing his pain. Who did this? And why would they do it? Was it the Angels? The Shadow Demon? Someone else? No, I had to stop thinking right now and concentrate on healing my mate, he could tell me what happened when he was better. 

Hours after beginning healing him he was completely healed. His eyes were closed as he slept peacefully. I however was completely drained as I slumped by his side. "Adam? I am too drained. Can you conjure us a small home please? We all need somewhere to rest." Adam nodded and made his way through the ruble. When he came back he was smiling. "I was able to get us a small home in the basement of the mansion. The home is completely covered by rubble, so no one will know we are here." I smiled lazily. "That's great Adam. Thank you. Carry Asmodeus for me?" I asked standing wobbly to my feet. 

I had to brace myself on a wall that was still somehow standing to get my barrings. I stood there until the world stopped spinning. Adam was looking at me with concern in his eyes. "I'm fine Adam, I just need to rest." He nodded tensely and led the way to the basement home. It was nice and cozy. A small living room with decent off white furniture was the first thing I saw. A small magically lit fireplace was roaring in the middle. A kitchen was connected with everything we would need while we stayed, and two bedrooms were just off the living room. 

Adam placed Asmodeus on one of the bed while I dropped heavily onto the couch and curled my knees to my chest. "Where do you think the others are?" I asked Adam as he sat across me in the recliner. He sighed heavily and closed his eyes. "I don't know." He replied. "We will ask Asmodeus what happened when he wakes. As for now, you need to eat and rest." 

I nodded and yawned as I lay on the couch. "I'll make you some food, just rest." Adam said soothingly as he made his way to the small kitchen. I was too tired to nod as my eyes drifted closed and I slept. The days events must have caused it because a nightmare met me as I slept. Gabriel, Michael and my father were there. Their hand bound together as they dangled in chains from the wall of some kind of cellar. All of them looked beaten, like they'd been tortured. Their bodies covered in blood, sweat, and bruises. Some Burns, gashes, cuts and Michael and my fathers wings dangled at odd and broken angles. 

I cried at the sight of them, as both anger and agony seared through me. "Gabriel!" I shouted. "Gabriel wake up!" I cried desperately. His eyes cracked open as he looked around the room weakly. "Ariel?" He croaked. Hope bloomed in my chest. "Gabriel my love, Where are you?" A weak smile spread across his face. "Oh, what a wonderful dream. To hear your voice one last time." Sorrow crashed over me. "Gabriel, please. Tell me where you are." I cried. 

At this point I knew this wasn't a dream or nightmare. This was out bond connecting me to them through dream scape. "Gabriel, this isn't a dream. It is our bond connecting us. I am at the ruins of the mansion. I found Asmodeus. Now please, tell me where you are." I begged. Recognition crossed his features as he fought his binds. "No Gabriel, don't fight. I'll come for you, I just need to know where you are." I pleaded.

"Ariel, we...we were ambushed." His voice was raspy from dehydration. "Several packs formed against us. They had allies. Giants, trolls, demons." He winced and shook his head. "We are being held..at...at." Gabriel's eyes started to drift closed and I panicked. "Gabriel! No, Gabriel. Stay with me. Where are you?" I screamed. "A...a ware...warehouse." He whispered so low I almost didn't hear it. "Two towns..over from...from ours. Tri..trinity. Is...is the name." 

He was fading fast. Unable to heal because of the silver bonds. Agony, sorrow, and anger raged within me. Praying this would work I walked over to him and placed my hands on the sides of his face forcing the light into his body. One at a time I healed them the best I could, noticing right away it was working. "I'm Coming my loves." I whispered before I was jerked awake. I opened my eyes to one of the most wonderful sights. There he was, my Asmodeus. He stood over me with relief and pain etched into his features. "Asmodeus!" I shouted. And threw myself into his arms. I sobbed as I buried my face into the crook of his neck. "I thought I lost you." Asmodeus petted my hair as he held me tightly to him. 

"I know where they are." I said pulling away. "We have to go get them, we have to save them. Gabriel is fading and I couldn't connect with the others. Please we have to do something." I begged. Asmodeus eyes widened as he stared into mine. "Where?" He asked angrily. "A town called Trinity, in an old ware house."  He nodded turning to Adam. "We leave in a few hours." Turning to me he caressed my face gently. "You need to get some more rest. We can not win this unless you are at full strength." 

This time I nodded and grabbed his hand dragging him behind me. I pulled him to the bed and all but wrapped myself around him, refusing to let him out of my sight. Kissing my forehead Asmodeus smiled. "Sleep now my flower." I nodded and nuzzled into him, this time drifting into a peaceful and restorative rest.