Shadow Demon: Book two of Unknown Hybrid series

Chapter twelve

I wanted to take my time flying home, but on the other hand I wanted to get home to my mates and father as fast as possible. I wanted to hug them and kiss them and smother them. The fear and pain I felt when I stepped through the portal still felt raw. Still felt raw, still felt as if it was being ripped into millions of little pieces that could never possibly be put back together. All of them were taken, tortured, Amosdeus was almost killed. And when I saw the others in my dream was nothing compared to what I saw when I saw them dangling in front of me. Just thinking about it made my chest feel like it was cracking, like my heart was being ripped out. I had to get home I had to see them. 

I pushed myself as hard as I could. I needed to reach them, I needed to see they were okay, needed to see them together. Tears blurred my vision but I still pushed. A flash of white caught my attention ahead of me. I knew who it was I could feel him. The closer he got the more his emotions hit me. Pain, fear, anger, worry, regret. But I didn't focus on that right then as I barreled into him mid air. Our wings keeping us in the air as I clung to Michael. I couldn't hold him close enough, couldn't cling to him tightly enough. I still wasn't sure he was real. Either way I held him to me, not willing to let him go right now. 

"I was so scared I'd lost all of you." I cried into his chest. "I found Asmodeus all but dead, and I couldn't find any of you anywhere, couldn't sense you. I thought all of you were dead. I never want to go through that again. I never want to feel that pain again." I was sobbing now, letting my pain out as he held me. 

"I am so sorry my love." He whispered brokenly into my hair as he held me. I sniffled as I pulled away just enough to see Michael's beautiful face, look into his deep blue eyes. Eyes I never thought I'd see again. I cupped his face between my hands and kissed him slow and tenderly. "Come on love." Michael whispered pulling away reluctantly. "The others are waiting." I nodded taking his hand as we flew the rest of the way back to the small underground home Adam had conjured. 

Ares, Athena and Helios were all outside guarding the front of the house and I couldn't help but smile. I ran my hand through Ares fur. "Thank you for guarding the door." I said to them. 

"You have been through much young goddess. We will protect you and your mates. Go and make sure all is well." Athena said gently. I nodded and ducked through the small door. 

I was tackled the second I stepped over the thresh hold. Michael was the only reason I remained standing. Gabriel, Asmodeus and my father all surrounded me and clung to me in some way. I couldn't get my arms around all of them so I spread my wings and engulfed them in them. The strength in them holding them firmly to me. I kissed Gabriel and Asmodeus before moving and pulling my father to me in a tight embrace. He may be Lucifer, but he was still my father and I loved him dearly. 

"What happened?" I asked pulling away from everyone. "How did all of you get captured and almost killed?" I was all but pleading with them for answers. My heart was still broken, but healing slowly with all of them surrounding me. "We were caught off guard." My father started. "Giants came and destroyed the mansion with boulders. Asmodues was caught in the rubble and we were unable to help him. We had no choice but to leave him, though we tried to get him out." My father was seething by now. 

"I told them to go." Asmodeus said. "I couldn't let you lose me and them. So I asked them to leave for you." A sob escaped me as I grabbed Asmodeus's hand. "When we made it out of the rubble, bloodied and weak, werewolves and those creatures, the goblins poisoned Gabriel with wolfsbane, Michael with demon blood and got to me by using a holy artifact. Though I don't know how they manged to get something like that." My father growled. 

"I know how." I seethed. "The shadow demon got to them. Whispered in their ear what to do and how to do it. He is coming after me by coming after all of you. He knows I've been training, been preparing for him. I'm guessing he thinks if he takes all of you out it'll make me weak and vulnerable. Little does he know that'll make me vengeful, evil and bloodthirsty. I'd be out for his blood, his pain. I'd laugh and relish in hearing his cries." My vision hazed over with red as I thought of what the shadow almost cost me, what he already put me through. 

"Ariel, calm down please love." Michael said from behind me. He squeezed my shoulders, massaging the tension away that has been building there. 

"I'm going to kill him. There will be no trapping him, no holding him away for him to escape another day. No, I'm going to completely destroy him." I said through clenched teeth. 

"How do expect to do what the gods couldn't?" My father asked. 

"The other gods didn't have dragons, didn't have the original gods to train them. If I can get the shadow demon to make himself corporal, then my dragons can turn him to ash. Even he isn't immune to dragon fire." I responded. 

"I hope you're right." Gabriel sighed throwing himself in the empty spot beside me. "Because he won't stop coming after us." I hung my head and sighed. Why did this damn demon have to come after me? Why is he so power hungry? What is anyone's obsession with power? It don't make any sense to me. I'd rather be happy and lead a peaceful and simple life with the people I loved than be in a constant battle for power. Hopefully when all this over we can lead that life. Live peaceful, immortal lives together with out children and grandchildren. Watch as they grow into their own unique person.