Shadow Demon: Book two of Unknown Hybrid series

Chapter five

Up on the dais was a beautiful woman. She had milky white skin, hair the length of her body that was the color of the moon. Her eyes were such a brilliant shade of blue, I was sure that it was the only of its kind. She wore an elegant shimmery silver dress that glistened like diamonds when the light hit it just right. She looked to be my age, not old enough to be a grandmother.

The man, well he was beautiful. Yes, I know he is my grandfather, but his features were hard to ignore. He had short jet black hair, sharp cheek bones, a square chin that had a little stubble on it. His eyes were the color of honey and it looked like it swirled around his iris. He was the complete opposite from my grandmother in every way. He wore black slacks, with sleek shiny dress shoes. He wore a long sleeve black dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up his forearm, a red silk tie being the only color in his outfit. 

As I studied them, they looked down on us expressionless. I had to admit, as beautiful and young as they looked, I did not like that they were sitting up on their thrones and looking down on us as if we were peasants. It just did not sit well with me. I crossed my arms over my chest and narrowed my eyes at them. I said nothing, I didn't plan on saying anything, at least not until they did. I will not be the first one to break, no way. 

Kaos lips twitched just slightly as he looked at me. I could see the amusement in his eyes as he fought to either not laugh, smile or smirk, I didn't know which. I raised my brow and started tapping my foot, my impatience getting the best of me. Erebus was fighting not to laugh at my antics while Nyx was staring at me in desperation. I shook my head at her, I refuse to give in to these stuck up, self absorbed gods. They have not earned my respect so they do not have it. 

The door behind us suddenly sprang open. Reflexes kicking in, I called my shadows, pulled my Angel blade and was on the intruder, all within the span of two seconds. Gasps was heard around the room, and I finally looked and saw the intruder was no one. Just a wide eyed servant, who was shaking and crying in fear. I let out a relieved sigh as I pulled my shadows back to me and placed my blade back where I kept it. "I'm sorry." I told the frightened servant as softly as I could. 

"Gabby, leave us." Kaos's voice boomed. The girl flinched and ran out the door. I closed my eyes and sighed, I hate that I had caused the girl so much fear, I didn't mean to. But after everything I've been through I jump and ready myself at every unexpected sound. "Are you ok Ariel?" Adam asked as he slid his arm over my shoulders. I looked up at him and smiled. "Yea, I'm ok, jumpy I guess." He nodded and smiled as he led me back over to where Erebus and Nyx were staring at me as if I were a ghost. 

I scrunched my brows together in confusion. I checked myself, looking at my legs, abdoman, back, butt, nothing seemed out of place or different. I then looked over to Adam who was chuckling under his breath. "Ariel, why were you checking yourself out?" He asked, stifling a laugh. I crossed my arms over my chest and huffed. "Well they were looking at me like I've grown three heads, so I was checking to see if I sprouted an extra arm or leg or something."  I said. I mean seriously, like why looked at me like that?

Finally I just got tired of it, all of it. Kaos and Gaia staring me down like I am some kind of science experiment, Nyx and Erebus looking at me like I have just killed a damn queen. Adam laughing at the whole situation. So I exploded. My wings burst out of my back with a pulsing wave and darkness and light. "ENOUGH!" I screamed, shaking the walls and rattling the windows. "I will not sit here and be looked down on like I am some kind of peasant." I looked to Gaia and Kaos. Then turning towards Nyx and Erebus I said "And I will not be stared at like I am some kind of criminal. I made a mistake, I mistook a servant girl for a threat, I'm sorry. But I will not apologize for being on guard." 

Nyx, Erebus, Gaia, Kaos and even Adam, all stared at me like I've lost my mind. "What?!" I demanded. "Pull yourself together child." Kaos's deep voice rumbled. I turned to look at him. His eyes held pride, but something else I couldn't quite place, fear? No that couldn't be right, he was a god, why be scared of me? I narrowed my eyes at him. "Why, should I calm down? I come to this realm with my mother and my uncle to meet my infamous grandparents who look down at me, dose not introduce themselves nor speak to me until I lost my temper. I will calm down when I am good and ready." I retort sternly. 

Kaos and Gaia both look at me in shock, while Erebus and Nyx inhale sharply. "Ariel, you will respect your grandparents." Nyx tries to repremand me. I scoffed. "I will not." I say turning to her. "Respect is earned, not given. And they have done nothing to earn my respect." I lower myself to the ground, but kept my wings spread. Having them out made me feel more at peace, they brought me comfort. 

"I must hand it to you child, you're a brave one." Kaos says, stepping down from his dais and walking towards me. Adam quickly placed himself at my side, and I widened my stance just in case he tried to attack. Kaos only rolled his eyes and smirked at me. "Calm yourself. I mean you no harm granddaughter." 

My body froze and my eyes widened. Did he just call me granddaughter? Kaos laughed, it echoed out across the throne room. He completely shocked me when he pulled me into a tight hug and said "welcome to the family Ariel." I slowly and hesitantly put my arms around him and patted his back akwardly. "Uh, thanks." I pulled away, stepping back and next to Adam. "Is this your mate?" Kaos asked smiling. "No, he is my bonded warrior. My three mates stayed behind." I told him. 

Kaos raised a brow and looked over to Nyx. "Three mates?" He questioned her. "Yes father. She has three. One is a werewolf alpha, one is an Archangel and the other is an Archdemon. Since one of her mates is a demon he could not come along, so Ariel decided if one of her mates couldn't come, none of them would." She explained to Kaos. "I think not." Gaia chimed in. "No granddaughter of mine will have a demon for a mate." I turned to her and growled. "You do not tell me who my mate is." I seethed. 

Gaia's eyes widened slightly before narrowing into slits. I felt the ground tremble before the vines appeared. The darkness came to me easily, ready to defend me against her attack. My angelic light turned all her vines into ash, while I shot my darkness out towards her. It wrapped itself around her throat, lifting her into the air. Her eyes were wide with shock as she clawed aimlessly at my darkness. 

My wings raised me into the air and I flew closer to her. "You may be my grandmother, but you do not and will not tell me how to live my life nor who I am or am not mated to. Do you understand?" I knew my eyes were red with anger since everything was tinged in red. Gaia nodded frantically. "Good." I said.

I pulled my shadows away from her, but let them swirl happily around me. When I placed myself back beside Adam, Kaos was laughing. "You my granddaughter are something to be reckoned with. You have great power. You have somehow gained not only Erebus's power over darkness and shadows but also Nyx's power to transform into creatures of the night. You can also walk the shadow world and control its occupants. But I must ask, where does the light come from?" 

I looked over to Nyx who pleaded with me with her eyes. "From my father, whose name I will not disclose." I tell him simply. Kaos rubs his chin and nods at me. "Very well. What did my children bring you here for?" I hold my breath for a few seconds before letting it out in one long huff. "Well, it turns out that after I started, finished and won a war with the angels, I am now being targeted by a creature from another world. One no one has yet been able to stop." Kaos's features hardened. "Who?" I looked over to Adam who nodded curtly. "The shadow demon." I said. 

Kaos and Gaia's head snapped up, fear and anger crossed their features. "Nyx, if that creature is after her, why did you bring her here? Why lead that thing here?" Gaia asked. Amara surged forward and growled menacingly at her. "I am here to train to beat the son of a b***h you heartless piece of shit." She growled. Kaos smiled at my outburst while Gaia, Nyx and Erebus jaws were on the floor. "Ariel!" Nyx yelled. I turned to her. "No mom, I will not put up with it. You and Uncle Erebus might put up with it but I won't. She is a heartless woman who has lived so long her heart has turned cold." Turning back to Gaia "You, need to go back to earth and learn what it means to be a goddess." 

"Ok, ok, that's enough." Kaos said stepping in between me and Gaia. "ANTHOS!" Kaos screamed. Not two minutes later a large burly man covered in scars burst into the room. "Yes?" he asked standing tall, hands clasped behind his back. "This is Ariel. Take her and train her. In combat, magic, anything and everything. She will not be here for long. Train her hard and train her fast, she has a very dangerous battle ahead of her." 

Anthos lowered his head slightly. "Yes sir. Come." He said looking to me. I looked over to Adam who shrugged his shoulders. So without another word, we followed Anthos.