Chapter 14
Walking in I’m in awe the field is huge and split into different sections it’s the perfect blend of the demon realm and the mortal realm. I can smell the moisture in the air so there’s water here. As the pack walks in I stand to the side taking it all in.
“HADES” the sweet tinkling bell sings out rolling my eyes as Nyx jumps on my back. “Hey princess. Where have you been?” “Hiding?” “From who now?” “Daddy?” Dropping my head shaking it trying not to laugh. “What did you do to dad brat?” Mars huffs out. “Nothing, yet” she giggles. “spill” “well okay so you know how Tul said I can’t test new potions on fur color?” “Please don’t tell me you are using our dad as a lab rat?” “okay” “just okay?” Ares raises his brow. “Well, you did say don’t tell you sooooo.” I can feel the eye roll.
“so big brother will you take me for a run after your shift?” “what do I get out of it?” “ill clean your room for a week.” “a month and you will clean it now magic” “two weeks and nope no magic at all.” She says in a pouty almost annoyed voice. “with your hands not the hands of pack mates?” huffing she drops her chin to my shoulder. “you are the meanest brother ever.” “and that’s saying something with Ares as your brother.” Ravenana chuckles.
“aweee” dropping Nyx off my back pulling my shirt off patting my shoulder. It felt like it was burning and itching at the same time. Mars laid his hand on my shoulder pulling water from the air and pooling it under his palm soothing the burn. “fuck what was that?” “language. And a red outline of some kind of bird or something burned itself into your back” a hoarse voice comes from behind. Looking back to see my flame master. “why?” “your soul flame-bird.” He said matter of fact. “my what?” looking at me tilted his head thinking hard “did I not tell you? Oh well, when you hit your sixteenth season you become an adult. Your soul flame-bird mark outline will appear. Are you sure I didn’t mention that I remember saying the next we meet will be to call him out? The stronger your flame the better connection and control over the soul flame bird. When the marking is complete the soul flame bird and you will reach full maturity.” He gruffs out. “well thanks for the warning.” I huff patting my shoulder he walks off chuckling. “don’t mind that one he’s old and looking for ways to tickle his knee.” Zyaire says coming up next to me. “it will be a nice size flame-bird it should be powerful.” “Zya Zya where is ammy at?” Nyx pouts. Rolling my eyes as the most powerful demon turns into a big softy. “he should be a long soon princess. He had some last-minute potions to finish for your mother” she jumps up and down hugging him and then me “okay tell him I’ll be with mama and papa until Hades comes to give me a ride.” Kissing his cheek before she’s off. “that girl is trouble with a super capital T” Ares grumbles. “and every one of you would protect her with your lives.” Ambrose said coming up behind Zyaire. Crossing my arms I start to shake my head when they both tilted there heads the same way with the same glowing orange eyes. “okay okay just stop with the creepy twin thing.”
So here’s the thing if I didn’t know Ambrose was not raised by Zyaire I would think he was a clone of him. They have their differences but the similarities are a lot more. So that whole nature versus nurture thing I guess. Are we like them because they are part of us or because we are raised by them? Filing that away for later.
“What did mom have you working on now?” “you know your mom would have my hide if I told you and I like my skin right where it is. Better hurry it’s almost time you don’t want to be late do you.” Staring at him confused. I go to ask when raven tugs my arm. Letting her pull me along I want to know how I can be late for my own shift.
With a clap of her hands, the room falls silent, and turns to my mother. While she gets the room's attention as they file in around the large fighting ring in one of the sections. This section feels like out in one of the pastures. The velvet green grass covers the ground. A small breeze dances in the air the scent of our fields washing over me. “it's like standing at the back pasture where we give the riding lessons.” Raven whispers. With a sharp nod, I agreed with her.
“just a few more things and then it will be time. So as you can see the area is split up into sections so each class of halfling, imp, or pup with gifts has a safe place to practice their talents. There is a run track around the room that is like a tunnel that reads what you need or desire to see when you running. So say you wish to run on the beach that’s what you see. No two will see the same thing unless it’s a shared memory.
The tunnel can not be accessed until the doors are shut. And then the doors will not open if someone is in the tunnel. This could be a problem but when the door code is put in the tunnel flashes. The panels will start to slide up so the door can open. Once shut the tunnel will lower again. Every ten feet is a button to open the door in that panel. The same button is on the other side of the door. Just press it and the door swings open. “ my mother finishes as she points to the back. Max stands next to the door and nods. He pushes the door shut. And it disappears. A wall slides down I can’t tell if it’s the same wall or a glass wall. It looks and feels like we are outside. But we are not.
The crowd is whispering excitedly when my back breaks with a loud snap. Screaming out in pain as I fall to the ground. My body pulls in different directions the rush of blood pounds in my head. My skin rips apart and heals. My bones breaking healing and breaking again. Panting it stops long enough for me to catch my breath. Looking over to find a ball of black smoke hovering over ravens clothes. Not smoke shadows. How odd. I think before I’m ripped apart again. I hear raven scream out a few times before the crowd claps. My head flies back a loud roar leaves my throat first sounding like my human annoyed growling to a deep earth-shaking snarl growl. Shaking my head that feels big and heavy. Blinking I start to see the crowd around me. Trying to stand I can’t get my legs or to work right or my arms. Like a new calf, I wobble and fall a few times before I find my balance.
Shaking I notice no one is saying a thing. Looking out I see my mom she has a smile but my dad looks concerned. I start to panic trying to see what’s wrong spinning all I see is my dark black tail. Whimpering slightly confused. My mother was there in an instant.
“Hade's dear it’s all right I promise. You are just so beautiful my love. Your back has a red outline over your shoulders and the back of a bird. And you have small spiked horns between your ears. But it’s your eyes that leave us all breathless.
