Chapter 8

Darius Deus paced nervously in his office as he waited for everyone to arrive. What he'd heard so far from his informants wasn't good. He worried about his granddaughter, he worried about the Dark Realms, and he worried about the Earth in general. All of his worrying was producing a headache as he rubbed his hands up and down his face in frustration. He hated being this much on the outside. He hated being this helpless. He wanted to jump in and take control and protect everyone and everything he cared about.

He was only one man, though, and as he collapsed down on the couch in his office, he mostly worried about his granddaughter, Theanna. If she were to be killed or even seriously injured he knew he wouldn't be able to hold back his dark side that would want revenge. That didn't even include what every other one of her subjects, Daemoni and non-Daemoni, would do.

Darius was so stuck in his own thoughts that when there was a knock on his office door, he jumped. As Kira Brown, Lilith and Liam James, and Samyael entered he sighed deeply to try and calm himself. Kira looked at Darius in surprise as he looked up.

He looked... haggard. His dark hair was a mess and his suit jacket was across the coffee table, half on the floor. His dress shirt was wrinkled and partially unbuttoned. His violet-colored eyes were filled with worry and he had an air of danger about him. The only time she'd seen him even remotely looking like this was when they'd nearly lost Thea to the Ahriman. “D.. you ok? Is Thea ok?” she asked nervously.

“I'm fine. All I've heard is that there’s an intense pitch battle with high casualties going on outside of the main gate,” Darius sighed worriedly.

Sam approached and put his hand on his shoulder as he told him, “Don't worry. She's well. The battle is over and our Queen was victorious. She even captured one of their Generals. Hezin informed me that casualties were heavy but not as bad as they feared. He also told me to pass on a message from our Queen. 'She’ll come to see you as soon as she can but for the time being she can't leave the Dark Realms. Too many are wounded and they need to shore up their defenses.'”

“Thank you, Samyael. I admit I was rather worried about her. It doesn't surprise me that she was victorious. She's become quite the amazing High Queen,” Darius smiled proudly.

“She has indeed. I’m proud to call her my Queen and defend her honor to the death!” Samyael stated as he placed his fist over his heart.

“Do we have any idea WHY the Titans would attack the Dark Realms? I mean of all the realms to attack, that seems to be the one they would most likely fail at,” Liam asked as he and the others all sat down.

“No, I don't know and that worries me. The Titans are far from stupid. They attacked the Dark Realms for a reason. It's good that they were able to capture a Titan General because hopefully they can get some answers,” Darius responded.

“I know that the Titans and the Lycans have some sort of connection but I don't know what that is. I can contact my father, King Oberon, and see if he knows anything. If the Dark Realms were to fall...” Lilith refused to finish her statement.

“Exactly. The faster we find out what’s going on the better. I’ll see if Gaia knows anything that she can tell us,” Darius added.

At that moment a battle-weary looking Lazerin, still covered in blood and gore from the battle, appeared in Darius' office with a bow. “I apologize for appearing so suddenly. My Queen requests the help of Lady Kira.”

“Me?” Kira asked in surprise.

“Yes, my lady. She needs your help analyzing how the battle progressed and what we can do next time, should they attack again,” Lazerin explained.

“Are you ok?” Liam asked.

“I am. It was a hard-fought battle. If not for our Queen, the Dark Realms would’ve fallen. Our losses are many but not as many as we had feared would fall. Darius, our Queen was amazing in her skills. She alone is the reason we have a Titan General in our dungeons. If you’re ready, my lady, we must return.”

“Of course,” Kira stated as she stood up. Walking over to him she took his hand in hers and they vanished, Lazerin nodding at Samyael before leaving.

“I’ll check my sources and Lilith will check with her father. We'll let you know if we hear anything. Do you want Mythos to remain closed?” Liam asked Darius.

“No, thinking about it. It might be good to keep it open. It would allow the shadows to approach us without notice.”

“Agreed. My sources like to blend in by coming with their friends,” Liam said with a sly grin.

“Samyael, please have your Daemoni be extra diligent in watching Mythos,” Darius instructed.

“Of course,” Sam agreed with a nod before vanishing.

“We’ll be in touch,” Liam stated as he and Lilith stood.

“As will I. Be safe!” Darius stated while watching them leave. Once he was alone again, he collapsed onto his couch. He needed a drink, a rather strong drink.