The Shadow Realm

Chapter Six

"What do you mean?" 

Not as strong anymore, the words thudded against me, like stones plummeting to the bottom of a lake.

His smile faltered for a fraction of a second, confusion flashed out as fast as it had appeared.

"How else could I have been released? Your seal is broken. Were you to weak to keep me down?" His voice challenged mine.

But it was impossible. I had not lost any strength over the years, for if I did, I'd have felt it.

"My powers are stronger than ever," I hissed out fiercely, letting a whisper of my darkness bound forward, the monstrosity of my nature corrupting the very ground beneath my feet. Even the rocks became powder that blew with the wind.

He did not seem in anyway concerned, but instead began to excitedly say, "Whatever the case may be, I am free!"His hands stretched out, as if to take the world in his hands- my world.

A held back the guttural hiss that would have torn the air around me to shreds.

My being twisted away from the presence of him- no it. I couldn't let the mask confuse me, because as dark an unearthly as I was, it was just plainly wrong.

"Not for long," My breath shuttered as I spoke words I knew would shake everyone, including me.

"Kellios, The Cursed,"

As it's name left my mouth, the ground shivered and the crowd began to startle.

For who hasn't heard of the story of The Cursed One?

The being who nearly destroyed every supernatural under the stars? Plucking them from the sky with it's dark wings that shadowed the sky, blocking the sunlight, sucking the souls and energy of all it touched.

It was a tragedy that happened so long ago, before my people, and the Others had flourished into what we are today.

A beast brought by dark magic, by a great Mage looking for the secret or immortality, unwittingly created something that would destroy him, and hunt everything down in it's wake.

This happened nearly 2,000 years ago.

No one could forget the most hideous bloodshed that had ever occurred. It made the current tensions and fighting mere child's play to the war I was forced to wage to put Kellios down all those years ago.

"He's real?" I heard Dawn say, pure terror and disbelief in her voice.

I could not risk sparing her a glance, and making myself open to the enemy.

"Who would invent such a grueling tale?" Was my reply.

"I never thought I'd be so famous for that," He smiled now at Dawn, before returning his crazed gaze back to me.

"I was hoping to be remembered for other things I'd done." 

It was like I was a new being, fresh from the womb of darkness. Inexperienced and unknowing.

I flinched at his words.

An unspoken curiosity amidst the fear suddenly spread over everyone.

"Oh, my Love, don't tell me...you haven't told anyone the real story now have you?" He smirked, looking around at everyone.

"Leave her alone," Dante said quietly beside me.

He'd somehow come close to my side without me knowing. 

My attention had been so focused on the threat before me, I had lost track of all else.

Kellios' onyx eyes roamed Dante with great distaste, his lip curling.

"Who are you?" He asked, but before Dante could answer, he waved his hand dismissing the thought.

"Never mind that, you'll be dead soon anyway." He said nonchalantly.

My body froze, and for the first time in a long time, since the last time I faced down Kellios, I felt a tremor of fear.

Before I could have calculated a better response, I uttered, "What do you mean by that?"

The Cursed One's gaze turned to the night sky, right to the very moon I'd been under, freely, just a few hours ago.

With his arms out stretched in an embrace, and his elongated hair fluttering in phantom wind, his body raised into the air slowly.

"I am here to finish what I have started, and take what is rightfully mine." He did not look at me, but somehow, I felt his words reach out to me.

"I've been summoned, it seems, by a like-minded individual."

He flung himself into the night at a rapid speed and vanished.

Some made to follow him, but I put out my hand.

"It's no use, you won't be able to track him," I said numbly.

Dante's tendrils reached out to me, but I ignored them.

Dawn moved towards me, her face a look of deep concern.

"What in the blazing realms was that?!" She demanded.

Dante growled, but I stopped him with another raise of my hand.

My gaze looked upward towards the moon, and I decided to answer the she-wolf.

"That, was the beginning of something terrible. And it's also the answer I needed," I answered cryptically.

"Oh, don't start with the poetic bull you Vamps pull-" I stopped her by looking directly in her eyes. I saw in hers, fear, frustration, and grave concern. Hopefully mine communicated the same, if not, more intensely.

"What will we do now?" Dante asked quietly from my side, his arm reaching out to support me, but I just waved it away.

The injury at my side would definitely need care, but after everything, I couldn't look any more weak than I already had.

My gaze shot to his, my eyes hardening with a new resolve. 

My instincts had lead me to see this. To know this. I now knew some of the puzzle. But that did not completely answer all my questions. 

I had no time for anything, except two things:

"We need to meet my friend sooner than expected." I said to Dante.

To Dawn: "You're coming with me Alpha, looks like fate as written you an epic story,"

At her confused look, I answered again with, "In order to defeat Kellios, we're going to have to employ a tactic I used many, many years ago: unite the species."

Her eyes lit up like stars.

Let the war plans begin.