Married To The Shadow Lord

"Gabby"

I grimaced as I bowed my head and looked at the board. Nothing about the brilliant light bouncing off the polished marble surface lifted my spirits.

The beginning of another unremarkable summer day. I was playing chess in the game room while the grownups of the house were hiding away in the study and having a quiet talk.

Alone.

I turned around in my chair and turned my face away from the light. The warm rays may have given me a sunburn if I had been human-or, entirely human, as I thought.

I paused and considered reentering the beams to get some blistering flesh. It would at least be something intriguing. Something unique. Something more to ponder.

I resisted the uncontrollable sigh that was about to come out of my mouth by pressing my lips together. Father would undoubtedly hear since demons have excellent hearing. The last thing I wanted to do today was irritate him.

I didn't care most days. Today was unique. I, at least, hoped things were different today.

I was too close to my father to even hint at irritation, as tempting as it was to act in a way appropriate for my age. There were cruel repercussions for upsetting the leader of the Petrov Family.

When something moved, I turned to see a butterfly flitting around outside the large bay window. The flying bug with hues of yellow and purple made a smooth landing on the stone ledge just outside the glass.

I focused on what I was seeing and wondered what it might have been like to have wings. There was no purpose that I could see. Even the butterfly didn't make use of its ability to leave this barren area of land. The foolish insect at least got to breathe some fresh air.

There was a lovely day outside. A very stupidly gorgeous day with plenty of stupid sunlight and freshly blooming flowers.

They were also foolish.

In months, I had hardly stepped outside the foyer. My father grew more stern as the solstice approached. With every year that went by, things became worse.

On this very first day of summer, I became seven years old. For supernatural entities, the number seven had special significance. Even some of the shifter tribes, including witches and fairies, thought it had real authority.

Well, that's what I was instructed to do. I had never spoken to a witch before. also a fairy. Also a shifter. Or anybody who isn't a member of my father's Fortis demon clan.

Despite my lack of knowledge, I had optimism. I had been asking any deity who could have been listening for this birthday to be unique from the others. not much to note. For once, it was sufficient for it to be recognized, ideally outside.

Maybe I could have a piece of cake or a scoop of ice cream instead of being prohibited from playing in the yard? A sweet treat? I don't think it was too much to ask.

Gabby, stop it, my inner voice said. I despised that voice and how accurate it was most of the time.

I groaned again internally and switched my attention back to the chessboard. It was quite challenging to play a game of strategy against oneself. I had heard a thousand times that I lacked the discipline required for such tasks.

When I heard Father's baritone voice resounding throughout the house, I was almost ready to give up.

"AGabbya needs to go out now."

As I heard footsteps coming, my heart sprang into my throat. There it was. I held my breath while maintaining my focus on the board and if I hadn't overheard anything.

I shouldn't have been shocked when the security chief, rather than my father, arrived at the doorway. In this home, hope was a hazardous thing. I ought not to have fed the obstinate beast, I knew better.

A regular cue for me to pay attention is when my throat clears. I swung around to face Uncle Gregor.

The muscular, towering man stood calmly and extended his hand. He had the characteristic night-black hair of the Fortis class of demons. His hair was pulled back, revealing an angry brow. His identical to my father's coal-black eyes were too big for his face.

I wouldn't describe him as unattractive. His silent demeanor was really overwhelming and quite terrifying. My hero was him.

I didn't resemble either my father or my uncle. I had inherited both my mother's naval eyes and her golden hair. Although I had never met the lady, I had been informed that I resembled her perfectly.

If I had modeled my life after the men in my family, it could have been simpler for me. If I had a different father, it undoubtedly would have been simpler.

Imagining what it would be like if Gregor had been my sire, I twitched my fingers. He didn't say much, but he had never been intentionally unpleasant to me.

Gregor waited while I daydreamed since he knew I didn't fear him and would finally obey his silent order. I have always. Eventually.

When dealing with me, he exercised considerably more control than his brother ever did. The evidence for this might be found in Gregor's calm patience as he stood there with his arm bridging the gap between us.

He seemed more militaristic than security in his black attire. On his right hip, he had his beloved pistol holstered, and his belt was decorated with many knives.

It had the appearance of something a frontiersman could wear. Except for the grenades and other little explosives that are concealed from view.

But what caught my attention were the two katanas fastened on his back. They were tightly held in each of Gregor's hands as he rushed as quickly as lightning. I had seen him use those swords to do hideous acts on the mannequins used for sparring.

I was envious of them because I wanted to learn that talent. Any talent will do. Any talent that would make my father look at me other than with contempt.

In any case, I hurried over to Gregor and let his big hand take mine. He kept my gaze for a little while without revealing anything. He turned and took me out of the gaming room without saying a word.

We exited the rear door after passing past the modern kitchen. Had Father bought me anything outdoorsy? I was hoping for a swing set.

My eyes began to moisten from the light's intensity. I struggled to blink as I desperately tried to get the liquid to go. I didn't want to seem to be in tears. It was a weakness to cry.

I turned my head around to survey the surroundings. Nothing had changed. For a birthday supper, there are no fixed tables on the terrace. Nothing wrapped. Zero balloons. not a single card.

Nothing.

Perhaps birthdays in real life were different from what I had seen on television.

I remained steadfast even when the skin on my face constricted. Tears demonstrated weakness. Father hated being exposed. I stopped crying when I learned that lesson two years ago.

Gregor said that one could choose one's mentality. Gabby, decided not to be a victim, he had advised. It was advice that was repeating over and over in my thoughts right now.

I have the option to see this walk as a gift. The closest thing to a gift I'd ever gotten was a brief period of illusory freedom. So I continued to walk with a proud attitude and in step with my uncle.

We strolled through what I thought of as the yard and into the wide area behind the substantial stone mansion. We climbed the hill to have a better view of the valleys and dips below from where the largest tree on the property stood proudly. It represented the apex of the estate.

We moved beyond the large oak and into the rear field, which I was not allowed to go into. My stomach sank. At the further end of this pasture stood The Primus Crossing.

I'd avoided looking at the gateway out of concern for the punishment I'd get if discovered. The majority of people who resided there also remained away from it. Fortunately, progress in technology made it possible for them to see activity from a distance.

Around the world, several crossings served as entranceways to regions where few people could survive. They needed to be watched as a result.

Since we were the most powerful species living in the Earth Realm, each had its own Gatekeeper, the majority of whom were once demons. The individuals picked as the heirs of the previous crosses had been transformed by marriages, alliances, and breeding with species other than our own. Father thought it was a mockery.

It struck me as strange that those with magic, particularly demons, were often portrayed as the villains in human movies and novels, even though they were the only thing standing between servitude and those who would and could consider people as nothing more than animals of burden.

Or the terrible food.

We were the Earth Realm's guardians. If Father received a thank-you note for his efforts, he would not be quite so irritable. I laughed as I imagined Fabian Petrov accepting a handwritten note of thanks from a little youngster.

"Shh," Gregor whispered to me.

My attention was drawn back to where we were going by his reprimand.

The tree line descended into a long depression as Gregor and I walked through the backland. This place was known as Deadman's Hollow by the locals. Or even Deadman's Holler, with their distinctive Kentucky accent.

I had previously tried to imitate the accent. I received two bleeding lips and one severe smack to the face as a result.

Large oak trees that were bending over the little ravine within the depression to form a tunnel of shadow seemed to defy gravity. In sharp contrast to the oppressive July heat that was resting on the field where we were standing, cool air rushed out from the dark corridor.

I had never previously been let to leave the home so far, so I questioned Father's decision. My exhilaration soon gave way to apprehension. He never acted irrationally, and he particularly enjoyed imparting lessons that could only be learned the hard way.

As we drew nearer, Gregor stopped us about 10 yards apart. I have goosebumps all over my body.

"Lie down, Gabby. Move only after receiving authorization.

I scowled at Gregor's strange order and looked up into his immutably stern face. His eyes sparked with something, but I was too young to get the message. He gave my hand a brief squeeze before letting go and walking away.

The wind came up as I was about to ask him why we were here, diverting my attention back to the crossing's entrance. There was something in the tube. I sensed the presence of a soul, yet I couldn't see what it was.

I searched out the danger and assessed it as I had been instructed, using what little magic a small child of my age could muster. When I bumped into something strange but not particularly menacing, I was taken aback. Instead of the menace I had anticipated, I felt... curiosity.

and strength. As much power as Father had simmered within and around the body where it was kept. This being's power was magnetic, as opposed to Father's magic, which often felt as unpleasant as his moods. I felt drawn to it. In this situation, I want a closer look or feel.

I closed my eyes and concentrated as I couldn't see through the crossing. It was perilous for any Other to hold onto so much energy. I examined the soul again, as gently as I could. I felt nothing bad.

Gregor could also sense him or her if I could. It would be a sign of danger if my uncle was pondering drawing his katanas. I gasped and opened my eyes to see his response. A few feet inside the crossing, I was standing.

How did I move that quickly?

To draw in oxygen, I had to struggle against the frigid pressure of the void between worlds. My ears started to ring loudly. Water began to pool, burning my eyes. I tried to get one of my senses to work by wiping the delicate skin with my knuckles.

My body was jerked backward before I could shout for my uncle. The breath I had battled so hard to get left my lungs as I fell flat on my back.

One hand was reaching towards me as my father's gloomy visage appeared overhead. His expensive cufflink, which seemed out of place in this rural setting, drew my eye. My hands were on his wrist. He swatted them aside while maintaining his hand moving slowly in the direction of my chest. I nearly considered trying to stop him with a dare.

His demonic sorcery grabbed my developing soul from inside my ribcage. He tugged and twisted it till just half of it remained in my trunk and the other half was in front of my face. Father's face was cast in a soft golden glow of clear light, highlighting those obsidian eyes that I so desperately wanted to despise.

Saying, "You want this back, AGabbya?"

Despite my extreme dread, I nodded firmly. I was still having trouble breathing.

Then you need to have followed Gregor's instructions. You entered the crossing as well as moving against the rules. Without my consent."

I didn't intend to. I never made a deliberate effort to move my feet. I spent too much time trying to manage my power. I didn't even realize Father was pursuing us outside.

"You will either learn or you will die, foolish child."

I froze in fear as I regarded him. They weren't made hastily by Fabian.

My face was on the verge of being covered in tears. I forced my eyes to close as his look pierced mine and I forced forceful blinks. He took a whole minute to restore my spirit to its place of safety. I sank with relief.

I only understood what he had given me during those few moments it took for my soul to calm down. Despite being just seven, I was no imbecile.

Father just forfeited a golden ticket. Learn was such an ambiguous instruction that it may have been interpreted as an all-inclusive input.

My subconscious has just made a significant decision in terms of mindset.

The order became ingrained in my entire being throughout the time it took for Jesus to restore my soul. Every cell and neuron went into overdrive, obedient, as he had instructed me.

Learn or Die

Learn or Die

Learn.

Or die.

I chose to learn.