BOOK 1 - The Beginning: Chapter 1

*It was written in days of old that there existed a cunning Daemoni, the first created, that grew tired of the chaos of Lucifer’s reign. He couldn’t challenge the Dark Ruler so he plotted. He convinced those around him to divide up Hell into realms they could each control as Princes and order could be established. So slowly the Daemoni built his realm up. He plotted and he manipulated until his realm was the largest and most powerful of all the Dark Realms. As his realm grew so did his power and his legions until even Lucifer dared not challenge him. Then one day, the great Daemoni Prince discovered love…*


The great Ikisat seer, Galena, her steps purposely quiet on the stone flooring that lined the halls of the Palace of Ikisat, approached the entrance to her private chambers. Her door was open several inches so that she could observe her brother as he stood rigidly in silence watching one of the many seeing-mirrors that lined the dark walls. As she got closer she noticed the perplexed look on his face, as if whatever he was observing truly had him confused. Being the first Daemoni, confusion was an emotion he felt only rarely.

The clean soft scent of the room washed over her as she approached and looked over her brother’s shoulder. She watched the scene that her brother seemed to have on repeat. Smiling, she appreciated the scene of a man and woman in love. As she watched it play out over and over in silence, she couldn't help the longing that filled her heart. The tall muscular dark-haired man gave a woman of exquisite beauty flowers he’d gathered for her and was rewarded with a kiss on the cheek. The scene itself was simple and sweet.

“Mikael is Lucifer’s son. He gave up his power and became mortal. I do not understand it,” Damian stated to her, confusion filling his voice as he finally acknowledged her standing quietly behind him.

“His mother, Innara, cursed him so that he could only exist in his Daemoni form, to prevent him from ever leaving the Dark Realms. Nira saved him, she released him from his curse by falling in love with him, no matter his form. Mikael learned to love, dear brother. Humans long ago learned that love truly is the most powerful thing in the universe. Without love, we simply exist.”

“It was true unselfish love that broke the curse and did what I could not do, save Mikael from his torment,” he muttered to himself, not quite understanding how something as simple as an emotion could be so powerful. He knew powerful, he had seen powerful, he was powerful. Love... how could love be more powerful than all of that? Suddenly a thought came to him that compelled him to ask, “Will they be happy?”

Galena closed her eyes and opened her mind to the essence, or auras as some humans even called it, that filled all the realms and all the universes. The essence that gave all beings life, that linked them to a destiny, to a path that they may or may not choose. It was her ability to gently tap into that essence that gave her the ability to see what may still be. It was never guaranteed and could always be changed but usually the greater the destiny, the more powerful the essence.

In this case, the essence was unusually powerful, appearing in bright strong colours, but she couldn’t see why. What she could see she told to her Prince, her brother, who waited patiently in quiet observation for her to answer him. “They will have a child and will know joy for a time. Beyond that I cannot see.”

Sudden, inexplicable worry filled Damian, as the implications of Galena's last words took hold in his mind. Being blocked from viewing the future could very well mean death for them. The love that Mikael and Nira shared showed Damian and many other Daemoni that love could exist for them. They weren't doomed to only see the ugliness and horror of the realms. Love was a possibility for all of them, even those that were cursed. A love so special and so powerful as theirs had to be protected. Vanishing from the room, Damian went to Nira and Mikael. He had to do what he could to preserve the beacon of hope for him and all Daemoni.

Galena closed her eyes and opened her mind so she could tap into the essence of her Prince. The essence had once again changed. In recent years, it had slowly begun to darken as the ugliness of the Dark Realms began to take hold and corrupt him. Now it was bright and filled with a pink light, a light similar in color to the powerful essence she saw around Mikael and particularly around Nira. While she could only see so far for them, somehow the essence was also inexplicably linked to Damian.

She couldn't help but smile and feel joy by letting her mind gently tap into that essence and for what she saw for the future of the Great Daemoni Prince of Ikisat. A future filled with adventure like none other, filled with the one thing he had never before known, true love. If the Great Dark Prince of Ikisat could feel love then she knew there was hope for all of them, even herself.

Damian, forgetting to change into his human form in his haste, appeared in the home of Nira and Mikael Daniels. His large size and even larger wings nearly destroyed everything around him. As quickly as things were damaged he made sure to repair them, but before he changed forms he overheard them laughing as they cooked dinner.

Fascinated by what he saw and the feelings of happiness that surrounded him, he found himself simply watching them. A strange desire that he didn’t understand started to bubble forth in him. He realized he wanted what they had. He wanted it with every fiber of his being. The dark voice in his head screamed that he was not, nor would he ever be, worthy but for the first time in hundreds of years, a joyous, light feeling of hope drowned out the dark voice.

Realizing he’d once again become lost in his own thoughts, he shook off the feelings he felt and changed to his human form. Looking around at this small home they had, he smiled. It felt warm and homey with all of its photos and trinkets they’d collected. Gone was the cold feeling of the Dark Realms. Here this simple home was filled with love. Looking over at Nira and Mikael once again, he smiled as the savory aromas of steak filled the air. “When did Mikael learn to cook a human meal?”