Chapter 36

I turn to look at him, shifting Silver on my lap in the process, “There is a barrier around the house that extends to just inside the edge of the clearing. We encountered it as we were returning earlier. It is strong enough to keep even Demon Lords from entering without being invited in.”

Chase looks from me to my grandfather, “It was able to keep you out?”

Tribus nods, “Indeed it was, until my grandson graciously invited me within its boundaries that is. In time I may have been able to force my way in, but at a considerable use of my power.”

Jasmine looks between me and my grandfather asking, “Why did none of us know about it then and why did it not stop Ebony the first time he was brought here?”

Tribus rubs his chin in thought, “It could be that it is only designed to block those of a particular level of power, or one of you had invited Ebony into your home before arriving.”

I snort softly, “The later is unlikely, as I was dragged here bleeding and unconscious by Chase.”

My grandmother looks at me with a stern look, “Unconscious?”

I wave a paw, “It was the last time Agerex found me.”

She looks up at her husband with a glare which he just shrugs off saying, “If you were unconscious and physically carried across the barrier then that could be counted as giving you permission to enter.”

Rick lets out a soft snort, “Well it is nice to know we have had a magical invisible shield all along that we didn’t know about. But who put it here?”

Tribus holds up the journal answering, “I would imagine who ever it was, was the same person who originally built this house and wrote this journal. Perhaps they erected the barrier to protect this house and its contents as well as prevent invasion from outside. It would explain why the house and journal were in such good shape having been forgotten for so long. As for the journal itself, from what I have read it seems it may have been a member of one of the oldest demon hunter clans who left the profession after writing this journal, or because he wrote the journal perhaps. But that is all I have been able to gather, the writer was very keen to keep their identity a secret.”

Before I can stop myself a question tumbles from my mouth, “How can we know for certain it wasn't another demon lord?”

That causes my grandfather a moments pause before he answers, “I believe the writer of this journal was a hunter based on some of the earlier passages. But I see what you mean. The knowledge and power required to craft a shield this powerful, as well as to protect the house itself for so long would be far beyond that of any single hunter.”

A small giggle draws my attention down to Silver who has grabbed one of Chase’s paws and one of mine and is trying to tug them together. I watch him tug a couple of times before relaxing my arm enough for the cub to move it. As I do he moves it so my paw is on top of Chases before he pats it and looks up at me smiling. I tilt my head a moment before he pats it again before his attention shifts towards Ranger and he reaches for the hellhound who quickly pads over and presses his big head into the boys grip.

For a moment I stare at the cub as he hugs on Ranger before a thought forms in my mind and tumbles out before I can finish, “They were working together….”

All eyes shift to me as Tribus asks, “What do you mean?”

My gaze follows Silver a moment longer before turning back to my grandfather, “It could have been a hunter AND a demon lord working together.”

Tribus’s gaze grows thoughtful, “It’s not without precedent. But there is only one such pairing that I am aware of and they are alive and well. Who ever did this managed to keep their partnership completely secret.”

I press forward, “But it does make sense doesn’t it? The power needed to protect this place and the abilities to see the future so clearly? No normal mortal would ever be able to do that.”

Tribus and Celeste share a sharp gaze with each other before he nods solemnly. Clearing her throat Celeste answers me, “It isn’t widely know, even within in the hunter clans themselves, but a big part of their success over the centuries is the ability of a select few of the older bloodlines being able to have visions of potential futures involving demons.”

I look at my grandmother in confusion, “Hunters can see where demons are going to be?”

She gives a half nod, “To an extent, they can see how likely a demon is to be somewhere at a given time. But it is not certain. Although the more powerful the demon in question is the more often they are correct about it.”

I look from her to my grandfather, “You knew about this?”

He gives a half smile half grimace before answering, “Very few out side of the demon lords know about it and even fewer of us have any evidence of it. I myself did not even believe it was real until I met your grandmother.”

The two of them exchange looks of understanding before Richard asks, “Ok so what does that mean for the people who wrote the book?”

Before either of my grandparents can speak Chase raises his voice, “It means that who ever wrote that book and built this house kept their existence hidden from the only other hunter demon couple around. The most powerful demon lord and the oldest hunter.”

He looks first at Celeste then at Tribus, “The two of you.”

Mouths all around the room drop open, mine most of all as I stare at my grandmother who is watching Chase with a raised eyebrow and a glimmer of pride in her eyes as she says, “You are very clever Chase. Yes I was a demon hunter before I met Tribus. In fact I was assigned to hunt him directly.”

At that Tribus chuckles, “As I recall you did a fair more than that my dear.”

She waves a hand at him in a shushing motion, “They don’t need the details.”

I close and open my mouth several more times before asking, “You were a demon hunter grandma?”

She smiles at me indulgently, “That I was Ebony. Did you think all of your skills and prowess in combat came from your grandfathers side of the family?”

Taken a bit aback at the sudden revelation of my lineage I sink back into my chair as she continues, “Yes I was tasked with hunting down Tribus. At the time we didn’t know he was a demon lord only that he was an unusually strong demon. I was laying in wait for him to come to a village where the seer said he was likely to appear when something happened that changed my entire view of demons.”

Jasmine speaks up this time just as enthralled in the story as much as anyone, “What was that?”

Tribus snorts and turns his head, “It was more of a misunderstanding than anything is what it was.”

Celeste gives a small laugh, “Oh there was no misunderstanding about what happened. I was waiting in the village when a small girl screamed from just outside the walls. When I got there all the villagers and I could do was watch in horror as a young child, maybe seven years old, was being chased down by a large pack of dire wolves.”

 Shifting in her seat Celeste continues, “Well there wasn’t anything any of us could do, she was too far out and the beasts were gaining on her fast. Just before the lead animal was within striking range of the child however, a great shadow flew across the plains and a large three headed dragon landed on the back of the lead animal crushing it with its front claws. Several others in the pack were hit as well with the impact sending them scattering in all directions. In a single blow the attacking pack had been decimated and the child was saved.”

 All of us turn our gazes on my grandfather who lets out a grumbling huff, “I have told you before and I will tell you again. I was simply hungry that day and the beasts running through the field looked like an appetizing snack. I had no idea when I started my attack the girl was even there.”

Celeste smiles warmly at him, “Then why did you ever so gently pick her up from where she had fallen and carry her back to the gate and place her in the waiting arms of her father?”

At that Tribus simply crosses his arms and averts his gaze before saying, “You must be thinking of someone else, I would never let another demon see me carry a child in my teeth like that.”

With a smirk Celeste replies, “No one said anything about you lifting her with your teeth.”

At that Tribus glares at his wife letting a small trail of smoke drift from his nostrils before he looks away with a huff.

My grandmother chuckles softly to herself before addressing the room again, “If any of you tell anyone outside this room about this story it will be denied by him, but my husband, despite his bloodlines and appearance, really is a very good person at heart. It’s why when I saw him save that little girl, I knew what I had been taught by the demon hunters was not the entirety of the truth about them.”

I let out a bark of a laugh as I roll my eyes. In response my grandmother nods, “Ok, so it may be true about the vast majority of demons, but there are exceptions to every rule. You yourself Ebony are an example of that.”

I feel all eyes turn on me as my fur grows uncomfortably warm and Silver tugging on Rangers ears suddenly grows very interesting.

From beside the fire Tribus grumbles, “You know very well having a good heart is dangerous for a demon Celeste. Going around telling others that we do, will do neither Ebony nor myself any favors.”

She waves a hand in the air, “Oh hush, last I checked the only demons within ear shot of this conversation are the two of you. I will tell whatever stories I damn well please. So you can either accept that or I will tell them about the first time a demon lord had to change a diaper.”

That causes another glare from Tribus to be met with a series of chuckles around the room which die out gently. Eventually Chase speaks up, “So what else does that book say?”

All eyes turn to look at the small book still clutched in my grandfathers hand as he answers, “Oddly enough not much. There is a great deal of words and stories in here just as Ebony said when he brought it to my attention the first time. It is more a personal journal than anything. But it inconveniently omits any form of identification to the author and the passages that do act as prophecy only serve more as a way of identifying the persons being talked about and nothing else.”

Silence begins to grow before Jasmine asks softly, “So there is no way of knowing what dangers could be coming or when? Just that they exist?”

Tribus nods solemnly, “That’s right. I felt that it was necessary to tell you in person what I have learned from this book, especially when we were told it concerned a child so young.”

All eyes turn to look at Silver who has crawled halfway on top of Rangers head and is holding onto his ears with both paws. When he notices we are looking at him Silver turns his small head from person to person with a confused look before he looks at my grandfather again for the first time since entering the room. 

For a moment I expect him to show fear again as his vision allows him to see my grandfathers true dragon form. But to my surprise his gaze just shifts from spot to spot around my grandfather until with a small barking huff Silver lets go of Ranger and reaches for his mother. As she leans forward to pick him up Silver lets out a large yawn and snuggles up close to her before falling asleep almost instantly.

Laughing softly Celeste says, “Oh to be young and care free, able to fall asleep so easily.”

With that she stands and addresses her husband, “Tribus dear it’s beginning to get late, perhaps we should let the young family have some peace before bed.”

Looking to the window I see where the sun has indeed set fully and stars now shine in the sky. Tribus clears his throat softly, “Very well but before we leave there is something else I would like to give you Ebony.”

I turn to look at him with surprise, “Something else?” Reaching a hand up I grab at the pendant now hanging from my neck, “Besides this?”

My grandfather smirks a bit, “The pendant was your grandmothers idea and will only be useful until you learn to create portals quicker and more efficiently. No my gift is something a bit more practical. A bit of knowledge and power.”

My good eyebrow raises at the mention of power but experience tempers my excitement, “What kind of knowledge and at what cost?”

Tribus chuckles softly, “Nothing dangerous and, for a change, at no cost. It is simply a gift from a grandfather to his grandson. Nothing more nothing less.”

I study him for a moment before asking, “Ok what is it?”

With a small smile my grandfather raises a finger in the air and begins to trace a series of runes in a circle between us, “I noticed both times that you have come to see us you have dressed in a toga, while practical it is hardly fashionable. Those went out of style with the Greeks after all. No I have decided that since you have yet to learn how to shift without needing separate sets of clothing for each form I will teach you how to create them as you shift forms like I do.”

As he keeps carving the runes in mid air Chase asks, “What do you mean create clothes as he shifts?”

Tribus glances at him a moment before saying, “Many of our kind can learn how to change our shape without destroying the clothing we are wearing at the time. We do this by using our magical abilities to change the clothing we have on to match which ever form we take. I can take this ability even farther.”

As he speaks he finishes the series of runes and they begin to spiral into each other shrinking down to a single point of fire hovering between us, “What I am offering Ebony is the ability to create clothing at any time that will fit whichever form he has taken. This way, no matter the situation, he can be properly attired.”

I look at Tribus with a bit of awe as I ask him, “You mean you create new clothes every time you shift? Not just changing existing ones?”

As though to explain he holds his arms out to either side and the fur lined jacket he had been wearing since we arrived shifted into a red and gold dinner jacket with fine silver threads. Making a slow turn to show the change of clothes he locks gaze with me and his clothes return to the fur lined set from before, “You won’t have the level of control I do at first mind, that will only come with practice. But you will be able to keep yourself presentable at all times.”

Beside us Celeste chuckles, “Your grandfather makes it sound more simple than it is. What he’s offering you is rather complex magic, but very useful. In fact, if your skilled enough at it you can even create clothing for others as well.”

Fighting hard to keep my excitement from coloring my voice I ask one last question, “Can I create any kind of clothing?”

Tribus nods, “Eventually, yes. Though at first you likely won’t be able to do more than one or two styles and none of it will be any better in a fight than normal clothes will be.”

I nod my understanding then look at the glowing flame between us, “So how does this work then?”

With a flick of a finger my grandfather sends the small ball straight at me where it impacts my head right between my eyes before I can react. For half a heartbeat nothing seems to happen then my head explodes.

Blinding white pain sears a spiderweb of pathways through my brain causing me to shut my eyes tight as I grip my head hard with both paws letting out a grunt of pain. Then as quickly as it hit the pain vanished leaving in its place a new understanding I never had before.

Slowly I open my left eye again blinking it a few times to get the stars to fade away before looking at my grandfather, “That hurt like hell….”

My grandfather smirks at me a bit, “That short cut does have a downside. Most beings can’t even utilize it without getting knocked unconscious or being killed. The pain you felt was from a relatively small amount of knowledge being imparted. The more I share that way the higher the cost.”

Rubbing my head with my paws I grumble, “Yeah lets not do that again thanks.”

Chuckling he continues, “Don’t worry, it’s not something I’m in the habit of doing. Now why don't you stand up and try it out. Im kind of curious what your first outfit will be.”

Standing up I think for a moment about how to do just that when the answer pops to my mind with no effort at all. Using my right hand I trace a short series of runes into the air which quickly flash then vanish. 

For a moment nothing happens as Chase says, “Uhm… nothing’s hap..”

His voice is cut off as a flash of bright red flames erupts all over my body from the neck down turning my sheet turned toga to little more than a puff of smoke. Just as the warmth of the flames begins to penetrate my fur they vanish starting at my neck and traveling downwards leaving a new outfit in their wake. 

A deep crimson button down shirt covers my arms and chest while a pair of deep black jeans cover my waist and legs to just above the ankles. Around my waist is a black leather belt with a silver engraving of flames running the lengths of it with a simple silver buckle. Over all of this is an ankle length black leather trench coat with fine silver thread forming various runes along the edges and seems.

Holding my arms up I make a single turn for the room, “Well how does it look?”

 A low whistle comes from Richard, “Damn Ebony, that is one nice set of clothes.”

A chorus of agreements comes from everyone else before Jasmine asks, “Uhm, Tribus? Is it possible for non demons to learn that? Would make laundry day much less of a hassle.”

Celeste chuckles before she answers in place of my grandfather, “If you have strong enough magical potential it is possible for us non-demonically inclined to learn something similar. But it would take you many years of practice before you got even something as simple as a pair of pants down.”

Nodding slowly with a slightly concerned look on his face my grandfather adds his own voice, “Even most demons would take many months to learn the basics. In fact, even with the boost to his knowledge I gave Ebony just now I am surprised at just how well he did.”

I raise my eyebrows at his words, “You are? I just did the spell without thinking of anything in particular and this is what came out.”

It’s my grandfathers turn to raise eyebrows as he mutters, “Indeed? That’s unusual. You must have a greater affinity for creation magic than I thought, interesting.”

I cross my arms across my chest noticing how the perfectly fit clothes move over me like silk, “What is so interesting about that?”

Tribus looks at me with a bit of hurt in his eyes that I would never have thought to see there before he answers, “Only that I have seen so little of what you are capable of and what I have seen was geared more towards physical and destruction is all.”

Chase steps up beside me and rests a paw on my arm. I turn to look at him and see a small twinkle of sadness in his eyes, “What I think he is trying to say Ebony is that he hasn’t been able to see who you have become since you left home. None of your family has. They only know what they have been told about you since then and the two short visits you have shared in recent weeks.”

He turns his gaze on Tribus who has a look of embarrassment and shame on his features, a look I have never before seen on the ancient demon lord, and asks, “Isn't that right?”

Tribus takes a long moment studying me before nodding in Chase’s direction, “You’re right, as much as I hate to admit it. Ebony I should have looked harder for you from the very beginning. If I had then perhaps you would not have been left alone all this time and perhaps your father…”

My whole body goes rigid at those words, “What about my father? You have never said what happened to him after I left.”

Tribus and Celeste look at each other with confusion before Tribus continues, “I’m sorry Ebony we keep forgetting how little you know about what happened after you left.”

He lowers his arms and moves them behind his back before continuing, “After your awakening your father was deeply wounded and beside himself with grief. Your mother was dead, you were missing, his entire world had been shattered. I know the two of you were never really very close but he did care for you greatly. Once his wounds from the fight had fully healed he went off in search of you. The last we saw him was when he left my realm nearly seven hundred and ninety years ago.”

I look back and forth between my grandparents as I ask, “And you have heard nothing in all that time?”

Shaking his head my grandfather answers, “Not a word. I have tried reaching out to him a few times the way I did with you but even my best spells and tracking creatures all failed. If he is even still alive he has managed to hide himself more completely than any demon I know of.”

Lowering my gaze I let out a short breath, “Well if he hasn’t made contact with me by now then either he can’t or won’t. If he is dead I won’t be shedding any tears for him and if he is alive then he can just stay where he is and never bother me again. Of the two options I think I would prefer him to be dead.”