Hellhounds

“Malia… Would you please focus on the task at hand?” asked my frustrated mother as she lifted a box from the truck and carried it into the new house.
“Aren’t the movers going to do that?” I asked.
“Yes. So get your tree and the two boxes that you have left for your room.”
I looked at the neighborhood as the autumn breeze caressed through my hair and along my cheek. Such a nice place. It smelled like autumn. Every house was different. There were kids playing across the street in front of a gingerbread house. The mother was out front tending to her flower garden outside their front window. A couple two houses over from them were staring at us. As I looked at the homes next to us I noticed another woman staring as she got into her little blue Smart Car. It was parked next to a black BMW.
My mother had to pick the two story manor with a very old Ash tree in front. It was as bright orange as the sun. The house was old. 1800’s old. So that with the fact that it was haunted meant a very good deal for us… At least financially. I was sick of moving.
“Now, Malia.” my mother demanded.
I went into the truck and picked up my potted Rowan tree then followed her inside.
“You haven’t seen inside yet, but you’re going to love it. Such an authentic beauty.” The first thing I smelled was moldy wood.
“Authentic lung problems.” I corrected her as I looked around the front room. Old faded wallpaper lined The walls. The stairs were wound and old dark wood like The floor. Someone had carved them… They were beautiful. The ceiling was leaking… I’m guessing from the bathroom above.
“They’re going to tear that out and start fixing it tomorrow.” she sat down her box and nodded towards the stairs. “I’ve already had your room done so you don’t need to stay in a hotel while we renovate.”
I felt relief and gratitude. “Thank you, mom… It would have been fine if you didn’t.”
“No, it wouldn’t have. The room was a poster for tetanus and cancer caused by asbestos inhalation.”
I looked back at her before I headed up. “Mom, you bought this place?”
She nodded. “I hope you like it here.”
“We’re staying?” my heart sped with excitement.
She smiled brightly and nodded.
I sat down my tree and hugged her. “Thank you, thank you!”
“I want you to be out and about tomorrow while they start working on this place. Start getting familiar with everything.” she encouraged as she hugged me back.
I moved back with a nod. “Okay, but what about-“
She cut me off. “I already did multiple protection and warding spells. The Ash out front is nealy ancient, no Fae can enter without permission let alone anything else.. Make sure you get a blessing before you use it. Your little tree is healthy enough that it can part with a few twigs and leaves. Make the Mountain Ash. Keep it on you just in case.”
I nodded and picked up my tree before heading up the stairs.
“Honey, there’s a young ghost in the house. She’s very sweet so be careful not to banish her by accident.” my mother called up before going back outside. She knew I couldn’t accidentally banish the spirit.
I looked through three rooms and found my mother had given me the master bedroom. It was beautiful. One of the other rooms was done but she was probably going to take downstairs. Mom likes being closer to the ground. I put down the tree by one of the Windows. I had a small balcony. The Ash spilled onto. I could see the sky and the neighbors across and to the right of us. Mom had put a small table and cushioned chair out for me. I went back inside and looked up at the brand new skylight. She had made it pretty large for me. My canopy bed was in the corner of the room. The cover was tan and my sheets were turquoise blue. I had a black tall bookshelf against the wall next to the entertainment center. All of my books and crafts were there in a box next to it. My dresser was on the other wall by the window and my walk in closet had quite a few boxes in it. I went into the bathroom. It was a large old bathtub that my mother had refinished and added a shower curtain. There were shelves for towels and a large cabinet. The bathroom had another large window. It was Smokey glass cut into the design of a large rose. I couldn’t clearly see anything outside but it was still beautiful.
I looked for my speakers and plugged in my phone so I could listen to some music while I unpacked. I did my tree blessing and made some ash as I was instructed. The ghost paid me a visit as I was hanging up my clothes. She didn’t all but she listened and watched. She lingered quite a bit longer than I expected then knocked over one of my boxes on her way out.
The next day I went to the library looking for books on demons, Fae and other supernatural beings. I’d been avoiding reading about demons out of fear of what I would find but it would be better than not knowing anything. I wanted to know what creatures were in the immediate area which was usually my mother’s department. She never wanted to tell me Because she feared me getting involved with any of them. If I used my power, they would find me anyway. I had only slipped twice which caused us to move 2 of the 20 times. I was only a child when that happened. My mother had used magic to deal my powers until she could teach me better control. I could use magic without issue or detection as long as I didn’t do anything too powerful. The types of spells that would usually require a coven were off limits. That was fine because why would I ever need to do that kind of magic anyway? A lot of times I didn’t have to go through the rituals or preparation to cast. The laws didn’t apply to me. Still, my mother taught me to show respect and gratitude to nature and the gifts I’d been given. Gifts that I didn’t want. Gifts that changed my life, kept me isolated and alone.
My mother was Almeria Valerian. One of the most powerful Casters next to the Council and her own bloodline. Valerian was an ancient, royal bloodline. They were special. Our bloodline had the ability to blend with others. It didn’t happen all the time and it was rare to be a success but it was possible. Which had caused a war a long time ago. The elders had tried to keep it secret. And once my great, great, great, great, great grandfather found out by accident. He made it his mission to end the confines placed on us. All to save his Weretiger and Caster hybrid daughter. After a 200 year long war, he succeeded in just that. My great cousin Akita was one of the Council members now. Casters and in humans lived longer than usual so she had created a family and a place in history as the first hybrid on council. She made it a priority to make sure I was safe. I had a uncle who had mixed with a High Elf and had joined as one of the Fae military captains. We heard from a cousin that shed given birth to a Vampire hybrid. That was very new. My mother was half Fae, and happened to be one of the princesses of their realm. So when demons started showing up on the planet it was a shock to everyone. An even bigger shock when one of the 3 kings of hell got a hold of my mother and raped her, repeatedly(according to the council). Yeah, that totally makes me feel like shit. She explained to me a long time ago that his power was different than ours. He had taken her heart and made it his. She never told me his name or what he looked like but she did tell me that because of that her love for me broke his hold on her. The council hid us both. She never have me details of her pregnancy or what I was like as a baby. She had no photos and refused to tell me which king he was. His name. Let alone what he was like or what he wanted.
Sometimes I felt like she missed him. I learned to leave it be… Even though it was getting harder to do so. I was 20 now. My mother was 22. I hadn’t felt my demonic power for over 4 years and I hardly remember what it felt like. She told me I was a beacon to all supernatural beings when I was not under a seal. They were drawn to me whether they knew it or not. They kept me in the dark about what was really happening. I know there was more to the story. I was sick of asking and tired of waiting. The seal felt like a block. It would flare up when I got upset and I never really felt like I was whole. Something was always missing. The council would be calling us in for a refresher soon. I could always tell when it was getting weaker. It was like it got easier to breathe, my vision was clearer.
Maybe we weren’t going to run anymore. But I was tired of not knowing anything. I wanted to know who he was… Why was everyone afraid. The demonic activity seemed to have been calm for the passed 4 years.
“You’re into some dark stuff.” said a man next to me as he looked over my books.
His eyes were bright, deep green. He had unbrushed dark blond hair that fell across his eyes. His 5 o’clock shadow was actually not dirty looking. He was very tall. At least 6.4″ and we’ll built. He wore a long black dress jacket and black pants and boots. He was so handsome and his voice was so deep. The energy to it was intense. I stared at his lips for a moment then rose my gaze to his. My heart sped and I felt nervous.
“Why are you talking to me?” I asked softly.
He didn’t seem to even care that I had been rude. “You look lost.”
I shook my head. “I’m not lost… And I don’t need your help.”
“You’re not very friendly.”
“Should I be?” I asked as I lowered my book to the others.
“When you’re new to a location, it helps to make friends.”
I almost told him I was not going to be here long but I realized that I was. “You’re a friend I’d want to have?”
He nodded.
“Unless you know about demons then I think I’ll just go.” I began to walk away when he said, “What if I do? Would you want to talk then?”
I stopped and looked back to him. “…I’m listening.”
“Those books can tell you about some of them but sorting out which ones are real and which ones aren’t starts to get a little rough.”
I sighed then looked at a small group of kids as they passed. “Lets go to one of the study rooms. If you’re wasting my time then I’m going to leave.”
He smiled a bright dazzeling smile that have me butterflies. What the he’ll was wrong with me? “That’s the furthest thing from my mind.”
We had gone up to the old westerns floor into one of the study rooms. As he slid the glass door closed I pulled out a chair and say down.
“What’s your name?” He asked as he sat across from me.
I kept a soft tone and less attitude. “No names. Tell me about the demons.”
He nodded. “Fair enough. There are the low level shadows. The scouts, the named, Princes and the kings.”
I sat my bag on the ground as my heart sped.. I wanted to jump right into the kings but I stayed calm.. “Tell me about the
Shadows.”
He seemed very interested in me. “Shadows are almost not demons. They do the tracking and grunt work. Scouts are the enslaved lower level. They have minds but they are owned by the Named. Those would be the major demons with power and sway. They are The ones with their names in those books. The princes and kings are in their mixed among the named. There are a few princes but only 3 Kings.”
“Who are the kings?”
“Osiris, Lucifer, and Hades.”
I tensed. “…could they come to earth?”
“You think they are real?” he asked with no expression.
I shook my head. “No, but if they were.. Would they be able to come to earth?”
“Of course. The princes and named can possess a body. I imagine if they ever decided to come top side that they would be more than capable.” he leaned forward. “Why do you want to know so much about them?”
I was trembling. This is the most information I had gotten before and it was scaring me.
“College paper.” I answered as my phone vibrated. My mom texted.
*Code Black. Get your ass home now!
I felt dizzy suddenly and picked up my bag. She could reach the council. That’s never happened before. Did someone know?
I stood as anxiety hit me. “I have to go.”
“You should stay with me.” He replied smoothly. “I have much more to tell you.”
“I can’t. Thank you for your help.” I ran out of the room as quickly as possible. Why was I feeling so off? I could hardly focus as I ran out of the library. I made it to the park and stopped by one of the trees to catch my breath. I pulled out a bottle of mountain Ash from my purse. I noticed that the kids and parents expressions went vacant and they began to walk away. The area got darker and dark figures formed out of shadows. I shook as I pulled the top off the bottle and put a circle around myself. They figures had glowing red eyes and they really were shadows. They had class and sharp teeth and moved unnaturally. I felt like they were familiar. They weren’t attacking me. They just stood right outside the Mountain Ash. More and more came until I could not see anything outside them. They were all different from one another. Different shapes and sizes. Their energy was like a miasma. I was breathing it in. My knees went weak and I fell into a sitting position. My seal began to heat up on the back of my neck and spread down my spine. I held the back of my neck and looked at the demons.
“What do you want?” I shook.
One of them slowly reached for me and hit the invisible barrier. It sizzled and burned but didn’t seem to feel any pain. One by one they all joined. The ones behind them climbed up and did it. They were piling onto the orb of my barrier. Killing themselves in order to break it. There were so many. So much energy. The heat crept into my face and down my arms and chest. I saw the markings. A language is never seen. It was the first time I ever saw my seal. The demonic energy was pulling it out. I couldn’t make them stop. Damn…
What would they do if they got inside? Why was I reacting to them?
My eyes began to sting and I started to rock back and forth. “Witches from across space and time. Ancestors and Ancients that made the Nine. Keep me safe from the harm to come, help me do what must be done.” I hated making my own chants but I was beyond desperate. I tried to make them move and nothing happened. Spells inside the ash should work. I’d never had it fail before… I’d never called upon the ancients either… Not had I been attacked by shadows.
My body went hot and I cried out in pain as tears filled my eyes. “Mom!”
The world spun and I collapsed into my back as I writhed in pain. “Help me!”
The demons suddenly set on fire and burned away. They shrieked in agony as they faded. The burning became a bearable heat. The man from the library walked through the ash with fiery eyes as he leaned down and picked me up. My body cooled and his eyes went green. He held me close as he left the park. I knew he was special… He felt like he was mine and I had been waiting for him a long time.
“If you would have stayed with me this wouldn’t have happened.” he said with a frown.
“Everyone left… They just got up and walked away. They didn’t even try to notice.” That was something right out of a horror movie. How was that even possible?
“The shadows emit a miasma of sorts that makes any human leave without memory of why. They may get a light headache later but that’s it.”
“How did you get through the ash?” I trembled fearfully.
“Don’t worry. I’m not a demon.”
“Then what are you?” I asked trying to keep my eyes open.
He leaned down and spoke in my ear. “We can get intimate later, when you’re safe.”
I wanted to swear at him but my vision faded and I fell into darkness. I woke in my bed with a gasp and sat upright. My skin was hot still.
I remembered everything. My hand went to run the back of my neck as my eyes watered slightly. I was really attacked by shadows. My seal was damaged.
“Where is My mother?” I looked around and everything seemed normal. Everything except the man from the library standing by my dresser looking at my jewelry.
“She’s resting downstairs. As far as she knows you just came home late and the text never happened.”
“I don’t understand..” I slipped a hand under My pillow and pulled out a four inch enchanted blade, holding it against My side under the covers. He was so handsome…even turned away from me. He was far more powerful that I thought it he could walk through Mountain Ash just like that.
“What’s a code black?”
I was going to lie but as I opened My mouth to do so, something else came out. “Demonic activity.” My brows creased as I spoke and he turned to face me. “My mother wouldn’t be sleeping right now.”
He nodded once and stepped forward. “The demons you ran into were shadows. They have their orders and by the looks of it They were just wanderers. Unless they report back then no more will come. I wiped your mother’s recent memories of anything to do with demons. You’re safe. It’ll be like nothing ever happened.”
I felt fear of him as he explained and the more he spoke the more afraid I became. “…Who are you and why did you do this?” My voice was steady but more vulnerable than I meant for it to be.
“My name is Anubis and I am very pleased to finally meet you.” he said as he sat at next to me on the side of the bed.
I frowned even as I found myself trembling. “Anubis? Like the jackal in Egyptian mythology?”
He smiled. “Not like.” He took a deep breath, closed his eyes’ and exhaled. “I am one of the guardians to the gate of the underworld.”
I knew what he was. “You’re a hellhound.”
“Yes… More or less.” he shrugged.
I went to get off the bed and he leaned over. Placing a arm across my upper thighs as he leaned over and looked into my scared eyes. “You called to me… In dreams and nightmares. I do not answer to the Kings. They may have a hold on a couple of the others but not me.”
My fear urged me to get away but my fascination demanded I stay. I looked back into his green eyes, “How do I know you’re telling the truth?”
“You’re the one that brought me here. Would you like me to prove it to you?” he seemed to hope I said yes.
I knew he wasn’t lying… How did I know that? “….yes…”
He took my chin firmly and I grabbed onto his wrist. The moment I touched him my heart sped and my body cooled. He couldn’t be that ancient creature in mythology and movies. His eyes turned a fiery red and orange and the whites of his eyes went black. I felt claws pressing lightly against my skin before his hand released my chin and caressed My cheek before taking hold of the back of my head firmly. His tan skin began to turn deep dark grayish black. The change crept up his cheeks and his hair went black and grew longer. I saw his sharp canines up close as he spoke.
“Shall I continue? I can’t promise I won’t hurt you if I continue to change.” he licked my lower lip and I felt a rush of heat and energy. Old was the wrong word…it was ancient.
I looked up to his eyes and I felt his need like I had been in a desert for days with no water.. “No…no more.” my voice shook and His other hand caressed over my shoulder.
Anubis… He was Anubis. His power both frightened and enthralled me.
He smirked faintly, “Just a little more. Touch me, Malia.” His voice was deep and thick with seduction.
I rose a hand to his black cheek and his lips brushed mine. A gasp passed my lips as I felt ancient Sand dunes under my feet, the scorching heat of the sun on my bare body, then he was there with a cooling touch as his arms wrapped around me. He pushed me into the sand and forced my legs apart as his naked body moved over mine.
“Stop!” I shook violently as I came back to reality and held the knife to his throat. “What are you doing?” I trembled with anger and fear. “Why would you do that? I read that you had a mate. Anput…”
He growled and grabbed My wrist. “She’s been dead for a very, very long time…and it’s been a very long time since I heard her name.”
“I’m sorry.”
His eyes went back to beautiful green and his appearance returned to normal. “There’s nothing to be sorry for.”
I began to lower the blade but he brought my wrist back up so I would keep the blade there.
“You must understand. I am not human, in fact I’m sure I am more animal at this point. I’ve craved companionship not with demon and not with mortal… Something in between. You may have forgotten our time in dreams… but I have not. It is you I crave… Being near you in person, to smell you, to touch you, I may not stop next time…”
I pressed the blade to his throat, “Did you rape me in my dreams too?”
“Of course I did.” he said as if I should know that.
I frowned and even as my hand shook I didn’t lower it. The pressure of his gaze on me was nerve wracking. How could I forget something like that? No, I wouldn’t keep thinking about it. They were just dreams… I noticed dark blood oozing from under the blade. It was black!
“Yet you claim to protect me?”
“You belong to me. I protect what is mine.”
“I don’t know you and I definitely don’t belong to you…” I glared angrily.
He completely disregarded my words with a growing hunger in his eyes. “You’re so afraid of me… It smells wonderful.” Anubis ever so lightly pressed his cheek against mine. “You know me. You don’t remember me yet but you will. Rape is such a basic term. What we have is much more than that. So much more.” he said and I felt a chilling shudder run through my body. His left hand slid around my back and his right easily pushed my hand away and I didn’t resist. I felt overwhelmed and completely over powered. I was. My blade would not have killed him and I couldn’t have really done it.
“Why don’t I remember?” I asked in a soft voice as he held me close. I liked being in his arms. I liked how His smell reminded me of desert rain. Then why was I so afraid? How could this be happening?
“Dreams are funny that way. You remember when you are ready to remember. With practice you will learn not to forget them.” he caressed my hair. Why did he make me feel so relaxed? The way he talked about our relationship in my dreams should have been more than enough to make me call the cops, get a restraining order, and use a forbidden protection Spell… Yet I was hugging him like I had missed him, like I knew him.
My mother knocked at the door and I drew away from Anubis quickly. I stood and spoke. “Yes.”
She opened the door and stood in her grey sweats and pink t-shirt. I waited for her to look at the creature on my bed that was bleeding black. Waited for her to get angry and start Casting…but she looked through him like he wasn’t there. “Honey, I fell asleep…I’m sorry about that.” Almeria didn’t even notice Anubis on my bed right in front of us. “Chinese or pizza tonight?”
I felt so confused but I answered, “Chinese.”
She smiled. “Perfect.”
I glanced down at Anubis who was looking out the window.
“I’ll go order. Still want your usual?”
“Yes, thank you.” I replied as I quickly looked back to her. I didn’t really feel like eating but I’m sure I would at some point.
She nodded and left.
“Why didn’t she see you?” I asked.
“I didn’t want her to… So she didn’t.”
I shook my head in disbelief. “You said I called for you?”
He nodded.
“Only you?”
He shook His head. “Cerberus, Keme, Black, Dip and many others heard your call.”
I stepped back as he moved off the bed and stood menacingly tall over me. “Why are you all in my dreams?”
“Wrong question. Try again.”
Anxiety hit me like a freight train. This was not happening…Why was this happening? “Get out! I’m not playing your games… Thank you for your help but I don’t need you to do anything more.”
“You do need me.