Chapter 33

For several long moments the three of us simply stare at each other with frozen expressions. I feel my right foot slip slightly on the floor as my body prepares on instinct to fight or flee when a sudden movement draws my attention. 

Celeste quickly moves from her throne and moves in my direction, “Oh, Ebony, I am so glad you finally admitted it, and a godson to boot!"

My brain freezes as she wraps her arms around me for the second time as she continues, “I knew when you came here with Chase you had found a home and family to protect, but you were still unwilling to admit it. I'm so happy for you."

My mouth opens and closes a few times as my gaze moves to my grandfather who is giving me a knowing smirk as he says, “I thought it was odd you would come back here for a stranger, but coming back for your godson… that makes a lot more sense."

I swallow hard as I keep my gaze on the demon lord, “I….. Yes the reason I came back was to find answers to protect my godson, and I won't let anything… or anyone harm him."

Tribus nods slowly, “I fully understand that, and if it makes you feel better, then consider him and the rest of your pack fully under my protection, the same as if they lived here with your grandmother and I."

He holds out the amulet to me again, “Do you accept that Ebony? Can you trust my word as a Lord of Demons and as your grandfather?"

I look down at my grandmother who has released her hug on me and is smiling happily up at me. Closing my eye for a moment I nod before looking back to him and saying, “I suppose I can accept that."

His eyes shine with happiness as I reach out and take the pendant in my claw. When I touch it I feel a strange energy pulse within it. For a moment I look down at it then up at my grandfather, “And just what do I do with this?"

He chuckles slightly, “That will allow you to create a two way portal from wherever you are back to here, or from here back to where you last came from. It will only connect to here so you can't use it as a free ticket anywhere in the world and it takes two days to recharge between uses. But you can use it to come back here should you have a need to."

I look down at the pendant again before carefully clasping the chain around my neck, “Thank you."

With a shrug he says, “It was at your grandmothers request, she informed me that you have no way of creating portals except with blood runes. This is much better for your health long term."

My grandmother pats my arm still giving me that happy smile before she says, “Well now that is all settled, how about the three of us go meet that sweet little cub your so worried about."

At that I stiffen up again and my eye goes wide, “But we can't! Only Chase and the cubs parents know what I really am or that demons even exist. There is no way I can just walk into the house and introduce my demon lord grandfather and not have a disaster happen."

Tribus clasps his hands behind his back while my grandmother lets out an exasperated sigh as he says, “Ebony, you have hidden who you are from the world for far to long. That time has come to an end. You are the heir to my domain, and as such you will be challenged sooner or later. The rest of your pack will find out the truth as well. That is inevitable. The three who know the truth have accepted you have they not?"

I open my mouth to argue but find myself only nodding in silence before he continues, “They have accepted you fully, even named you a godfather of their cub. Though I think demon guardian would be a better title myself."

Celeste gives him a half swat causing him to flinch ever so slightly, “The point I am making is, they know what you are and have made you a part of their family. What makes you think anyone else in the pack would feel any differently about you?"

“But I…." My voice catches in my throat as I fully consider my grandfathers words. Slowly my mind goes over everything that has happened the last several months. From being found by Chase in the woods and nursed back to health, teaching the pack to read and write, watching as Jake goes from kitchen menace to excellent cook, meeting Rick and Silver for the very first time, realizing they have become my pack and family, to falling in love with Chase and claiming him as….

I look back at my grandfather and can feel a tear forming in my left eye as he says, “Ebony, I knew the moment Chase started to draw your sword against me that he cared very deeply for you and would die for you. If the rest of the pack cares even half as much as he does none of them will reject you. If an old stubborn demon like me can see that in just a few minutes, why did it take you so long?"

Looking down I feel the tear slide free as I answer in a soft voice, “I just never thought I could find a family again. Not after loosing mom."

Celeste grips me tight in yet another hug as Tribus steps closer and places a hand on my shoulder saying, “Your mother's death was a horrible tragedy, but it was not your fault. You have punished yourself for far to long over that. Just because you're a demon does not mean you don't have a heart."

I wipe the tear off my face with a slight chuckle, “I'm still trying to come to terms with that I guess." Looking back up I continue, “Ok fine, I guess it would be best to get everything out in the open at last. This is going to be a fun conversation."

I pry myself free from my grandmother and immediately change forms into my normal wolf form before looking at my grandfathers raised eyebrow, “What? Only three wolves would recognize me with scales."

He nods silently conceding my point as my grandmother, much closer in height to me now reaches up and readjusts the torn strip of fabric she made into a bandage over my eye before saying, “I see you also hide most of your scars as well."

Shrugging I answer, “It gets old telling the same stories over and over, plus it draws less attention this way."

Tribus lets out a soft snort, “Well you should consider displaying them more often. Tells other demons you have the power to fight back."

I roll my good eye as I grasp the pendant in my paw and hold it up looking at it and ask, “So how exactly do I use this thing?"

After a brief explanation from my grandfather on how to use the pendant I hold the stone up with my left paw and begin tracing in the air with my right. As I move my claw scratches of fire appear in the air forming a rune. Once I'm finished it flashes bright once then moves off a few paces in front of me before remaining still. When the rune is complete I feel a flow of energy pass from the pendant into my arm, across my chest, then back down my other arm as I begin the next rune. 

Five more times I repeat the process until six flaming runes are floating in a circle before me. When the final rune takes its place they all flash in sequence then collapse into a single point at the center. For a moment I fear I made a mistake then, with a soft ripping sound, a vertical tear forms in mid air that quickly opens into a round black circle ringed in flames.

For a moment I stand there watching the portal making sure it was stable before I turn to my grandfather who nods, “Very good, shall we go?"

Turning back to the portal I swallow had then after a brief moment of hesitation I step through followed closely by Celeste and Tribus.

………

The winter cold hits first as my paws crunch into the snow before my vision clears to show the house ahead of me. The late afternoon sun shining brightly into the clearing and glittering snow left from last weeks late winter storm. As I regain my bearings my grandmother lets out a soft gasp, “Oh Ebony, it's a lovely home. You should have told me it was so nice here."

As she finishes a grumble comes from my other side, “If you had told me it was still winter here I would have invited your pack to my realm… such a stupid season."

I turn to see him just in time to witness him tracing a rune in the air and fur lined trench coat with hood appears which he quickly puts on. Suppressing a chuckle I turn to my grandmother, “At least we know where I get my hate of cold from."

She gives me a light swat on the arm, “Now, Ebony, don't tease your grandfather. You know dragons don't like cold weather."

Snorting I start moving towards the house, “You don't say. Well lets get this over with."

I step into the clearing followed by my grandmother but we only make it a few steps before Tribus calls out, “What the hell?"

We turn around in surprise to see what's wrong only to find my grandfather doing his best impression of mime with his hands held up against an invisible barrier. Staring I ask, “What's going on?"

He raps his fist against the air with soft thumps before saying, “There's a powerful ward here that even I can't pass through."

Looking around with a bit of panic rising in my throat I say, “I have no idea what your talking about, I have never encountered anything like that before."

He places his hand flat against the barrier which is a few inches inside the clearing, “Well its right here and is blocking all of my attempts to enter."

I look at my grandmother with a wide eye and she just shrugs before looking back at Tribus, “I have never seen your grandfather have issues with any kind of wards before."

Turning back to Tribus I ask, “But aren't wards and barriers only supposed to keep out unwelcome visitors? I brought you here myself and invited you to our home…"

As soon as the sound left my mouth my grandfather stumbles forward slightly as though someone opened a door he had been leaning against. All three of us stare at the area where he had previously been stopped. Reaching out an experimental hand he waves through the area again with no hint of resistance.

With a raised eyebrow he looks back at me and says, “I think there are more things here for us to discuss than just one cub my boy. Only another demon lord could create a barrier that strong against someone of my strength and skill."

I raise my paws in a surrendering gesture, “I swear I have no idea where that came from or how long it has been here. I have come and gone through this path several times with nothing blocking me."

Tribus studies me for a moment before saying in a thoughtful voice, “I suppose it could be set to activate against demons of certain levels of strength, not being a pure blood demon you may not qualify, or it could be due to how you have locked away most of your demonic powers."

I look at my grandmother who asks, “Then why did it suddenly let you through?"

At that Tribus smiles, “That's easy, Ebony officially invited me in. He had never actually said the words out loud before now. We had just decided to come with him."

I glance past my grandfather to the area where the barrier was with a sudden unease mixed with a bit of hope fluttering around in the back of my mind, “I wonder…."

Celeste places a paw on my arm asking, “What's that dear?"

Shaking my head I say, “Nothing grandma, just a random thought. Lets get inside before we get too cold."

Setting out toward the house I lead the way up to the front door pausing only a moment before knocking hard on the door. From inside comes a surprised yelp followed by a shuffling of paws before a voice calls out from the other side of the closed door, “Who is it?"

Smiling softly I answer loud enough to be heard through the thick door, “Hey Jake, it's Ebony. Would you go get Chase and Richard please?"

The door starts to open but I place a paw against it, “Hurry please Jake. I have important news for them."

In a confused voice he answers while letting go of the other side of the door, “Uh… ok Eb, just a minute."

The sound of running paws echoes deeper into the house before Tribus asks, “And why are we waiting out here instead of going on in?"

Before I can answer Celeste swats him on the shoulder, “Because Ebony is being polite by letting the alpha of the pack decide to invite strangers into his home or not. Just because you're a lord doesn't mean you have the right to be rude."

He lets out a large huff that steams in front of him as he crosses his arms against the cold, “Ebony lives here as well, he can invite us in just the same."

Celeste rolls her eyes, “Sweetheart after all these years do you still understand wolf packs so little? Even in the most relaxed packs you still give the alpha the right to welcome or dismiss visitors no matter who brings them."

My grandfather mumbles something under his breath I don't quite catch but which earns him another smack from my grandmother just the same. Fighting hard I keep the smile at watching the most powerful demon I know of getting knocked down a peg by his wife.

When the door starts to open I turn back to see Chase looking out the gap before he pushes it fully open when he sees me, “Ebony what are you doing out here, we were waiting for you up…."

His mouth stops moving when his gaze moves past me to see my grandparents. Several emotions flicker across his face before it hardens and his voice grows firm as he finds his voice again, “What is he doing here?"

I let out a sigh before saying, “My grandparents have come to meet the rest of our pack and Tribus would like to extend his personal protection to the rest of you, as well as meet Silver and his parents. Things are a lot more complicated than I expected they would be."

Chase narrows his eyes at my grandfather before his eyes widen with warmth as he looks at my grandmother, “Celeste, good to see you again, come in out of the cold."

As she moves forward and kisses Chase lightly on the cheek she says, “Good to see you again my boy, you have a wonderful home."

When Tirbus moves to step in Chase addresses him, “I am not so happy to see you again. But if you give me your word that you are not here to cause my pack or my home any harm…." He glances in my direction for a brief moment before stepping aside to let him in, “…Then I will welcome you in. For now."

Tribus raises an eyebrow before saying, “I see you have been learning about how to invite demons into your home young wolf. Very well, I give you my word I will not willingly bring harm to your pack or your home. In addition I also promise to use my strength and power to defend all those here so long as I am present or able."

His words catch both me and Chase off guard as he follows my grandmother inside and makes a beeline for the fireplace where a roaring fire is heating the room. As the door closes behind me I say quietly to Chase, “Chase, we have a lot to talk about. First off the time for my secrets to be kept has come to an end. Its time to tell the rest of the pack about what I really am, because I get the feeling things are fixing to change drastically for all of us. But I would like to tell them my own way please."

Chase looks from my grandparents who are warming up by the fire to me before saying, “No kidding, it would be a little hard to hide the fact there is a demon in the living room right now. But first I have a much more important question for you."

I look at him with my left eyebrow raised, “Whats that?"

He grabs my muzzle with his paw and forcibly turns my head so he can see my right eye and the bandage around it that is slowly turning black with my blood, “WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO YOUR EYE!?!