Astound. That is how I feel after what I heard from mom. In all honesty, a person like her would be appalled or horrified to hear that news. She should be getting away from that person, standing back wondering what to do and how should she handle this. But that is not what my mother done; she just sat there on that couch looking at me like if I had a pet dog, and I kicked its but or shaved off its tail.

Which I will never do, I love dogs. I wish we had a pet in the house to make the environment friendlier.

As far as my mother is concern, trying to understand that her precious son is a demon suppose to be frightening and maybe dramatic not sitting down a bit startled, and feel everything is alright. Moreover, the most shocking twist of it all is that she knew I was this Devos all along and never told me anything.

The real question is how much she knows.

I look over to mom as I still try to comprehend her previous comment about knowing I was this demon.

“Mom, when you knew?”

“Since you were born.”

“You knew I was this thing and you never told me!”

“Caden you had to understand Dan did not want you to be in harm’s way.” She lays her right hand over her heart like she felt she did wrong and try to amend it.

“Dan? You mean Dantailon.”

“Well it was Dan when I first met him, but his demonic name was Dantailon.”

“Just like Mal being Malphas.”

“Yes. However there is more to the story that you did not know, and this was because it was in the best interest for your safety.”

“Mom?!”

“Yes, I’m your mom, but you didn’t come from here.” She glances at her belly indicating I was not in her when she was pregnant? Or was she?

She continues. “I’m not your birth mother, Caden.”

I stood back shellshock that it cannot be possible. She is my mom, but she is not my real mother. Was I really adopted by her, who nurtured me since I was a baby?

“Why you never told me about this?” I ask as I feel lost and confused.

“Because Dan told me it was the best way.”

“So my father told you to do what.”

“He somehow knew I wanted a child cause I couldn’t get pregnant. I couldn’t ovulate.”  She says stumbling on those last three words. Getting upset, she starts tearing up. I could see tears coming down her face. This is really emotional for her confessing that she is not my real mother.

“Dan found me when I was finishing my last year in nursing school. He told me that he has a baby boy, but couldn’t be able to take care of him.”

“What happen to my birth mom?”

“Dan told me that your real mother died during childbirth.”

Taken by that shockingly, did I cost my birth mother’s life? Despondent over hearing that info about my real mom died when I was born.

“What happened to her?”

And then I hear a familiar voice that seems it was coming from behind me.

“She lost the will to live.”

I turn around to see it was Mal reappearing once again.  What happened to him? How is Karina and Aris?

“Caden, it wasn’t your fault. Your birth mother didn’t know Dantailon was a demon. He told me that he met your mom seventeen years ago.” Mal says as he continues. “He wanted to survive like all demons, but when he met your mother somehow he fallen in love with her. From a sudden meeting ended up to you being born.”

“So why you mean her will to live was lost.” I say.

“When your parents made love, Dantailon was foolish because he never wanted to tell her he was a demon. He loved your mother.” Mal says.

“And what when I was conceived, my demonic side was too much for her? That is what you meant by ‘lost the will to live’.”

Mal refuses to answer that without any falter or budge.

“Mal, did my demonic side kill my mother?”

“Caden!” My adopted mom screaming my name with authority trying not to learn much more than I need to.

“I want to know!” I yell back.

“Caden, I understand you are hurting. Everything that is going on right must be tearing your mind apart.” She says.

I undoubtedly agree with everything she just said. It is hurting me, the confusing truth plus my demonic side trying to take over me.

“Listen to your mom.” Mal says.

Mal tries to help in, but I quickly reputed back, “She’s not my mom!”

“Caden?!” She says depressingly still having tears coming down from eyes. “I wanted to tell you, but equally wanted to keep the promise I made to your father just as Mal did.”

“We are here for you. We are trying to protect you!” Mal states.

“But are you really?’ I ask.

I both look at them trying to see if they really are doing this for my best interest or really to fulfill to a man, or should I say demon who I never met. He may seem trustworthy to them, but not to me. Now is the time to find out where is my father once and for all.

“Okay, so where is Dantailon. Where is my dear father?”

Mal look over to Anne—my mom, as they both look at each showing a bizarre stare if like they are keeping his location a secret for me. However, I need to know. I’m his son, so I have a right to know where my father is. He must have sent the journal to me, so I could understand the knowledge of the threats and what to expect. Mal begin to turn his sights towards me finally hopefully to give me the answer that I want.

“Your father is…dead.” Mal responds.

“Dead!” I say loudly as my heart just sank more and more. Can this day get more unnatural than most. The man-demon who wrote the journal and soon turns out to be my father is dead.

“What happened to him?” I ask wondering.

“Your father was killed by Asmodeus.” Mal quickly responds.

“Him again.” I say.

“Purson was just one hellion; Asmodeus is much worse.” He says. “I told you before that when Asmodeus grew in his power, he took over control over the Underworld. Your father and I had to escape. We became what are known as outsiders, demons who were willingly to go into exile.”

“I remembered you told me about you Karina, Aris, and my dad being outsiders.” I state

“We didn’t want to be part of those Acolytes.” He says.

“Acolytes?” Mom says.

 “What is an Acolyte?” I piggy back mom wanting to know as well.

“Acolytes are demons who followed the Sovereign.” Mal replies.

“Sovereign?”I ask as I also glance to see mom starting to get confused over this stuff.

“Its name is just the Sovereign.” Mal states.         

The Sovereign is yet another name I remembered from the journal. Dantailon really wanted to me to follow up all the names quickly.

“The Sovereign is what…a demon?” Mom asks as she gets up from sitting down on the couch.

Mal look to see her and respond that question. “The Sovereign is an entity that is solely evil. Full of darkness.”

“So Asmodeus and other demonic hellions are after me, why is that?” I ask wanting to understand why are they trying to get me.

“I have no specific ideal what Asmodeus and the hellions want you.”

“Is getting other demons part of their nature?” I ask.

“You mean half-demon, don’t forget you’re also half-human.” Mal replies. “And yes in desperate times or other aforementioned times, demons do hunt other demons.”

“So you have no clue why they want me?”I question with high concern.

“No, Caden. In fact that is why I been trying to survey your house from nearby to try to sense any demonic disturbance. Karina and Aris is that doing right now. So far there are none.” Mal says.

Mal wants to protect me and I respect that. I suddenly shift my focus onto the journal after numerous words Mal told me and I learned to know if he knows anything about it and if he has possession of the journal.

“I need the journal.” I declare praying for its immediate return.

“Wait! The journal you said went missing.” She says.

“Yeah.” I reply.

“That journal was written by Dantailon for me. It contains info for the trials.” I say.

“If you remembered them, it won’t be that hard.” Mal says.

“Did you put it in my room the first time I seen it?” I ask.

“Yes.” He answers

“Caden, I didn’t know Dan wrote that journal.” She says.

“It’s still missing.” I say. “I was wondering Mal if you took it.”

“No!” He states forcibly. “The last time I saw it was it when you had it in your hand. And you say it’s lost?”

“Wait, if you didn’t have it nor did my mom. Who did?” I say it quietly.

Thinking about the possibilities, one of them is those demons. Somehow one of them must have it. I clinch my right fingers as I raise it to my cheek, placing one finger to my cheek and the one right next to my thumb. As I’m doing this, I’m contemplating in rather if a demon must have broken into my room and stole the journal.

“Do you think another demon has it?” I ask.

Mal look at my eyes thinking I must be on something.

“You’re probably right, but to make sure I’m going to find out.” He responds

“Please do.” I say.

“I need to because that was for you.” He tells me.

“Do you think the demons know what my father written for me could be damaging for them? “ I ask.

“It might. I have to find out.” Mal replies.

I turn around to see my mother. Seeing her eyes still tearing up, she already wipes her tears away. Getting a little bit frustrated over the birth truth, I’m starting to have that pain again; allowing that potential opening for my demonic side to get out. I need to calm myself down. It can happen. I know it will. I will not allow this other side of me trying to mess with my life. It already ruined Mr. Cross’ prized plant and my ceiling lights.

 My mom soon comes right by me trying to apologize.

“Caden, I’m so sorry.” She says.

I want to accept it, but now knowing she didn’t gave birth to me, it is hard. However, she raised me. I’m the only child she has. I never knew neither of my birth parents, so honestly Anne Abele is my parent. She is my mother. Figuring out that even though she is not my real mom, she has been my mom since I was born; that I will not take away from her.

I step right by her left side and I whisper three words to her ear that I know she would understand and find this as my acceptance. As I get to her ear, I tell her, “I love you!”

She smiles, showing her grin as tears starts flowing through her eyes once more, yet this time she reaches over and hugs me. We embrace in the hug. While her right arm is by my back and her left arm comforting the back of my head, she says something to me.

“You are my son. That will never change.”

We soon end the hug. It really was good because I felt relieve because I needed that. I was off because of discovering my birthright being a demon and knowing it caused my birth mother’s death—which I do not even know her name.

Before I get the chance to tell mom who was the woman who gave birth to me and if she ever had a chance to see her, Mal approaches and tries to tell me something important.

“Caden, I really need to you be okay.”

“Mal, what is it?” I ask “Are you sensing trouble?”

“It’s something that I need to do.”

“Can you tell me what I can do?”

“For one, protect your mother.”

“How long do you think it will be?”

Mal cannot even reply as he turns around facing his back in front of me.

“Mal!”

He turns around, “I’ll be back. I’ll make sure of it. Just be safe and make sure Anne is safe as well.”

Not trying to argue with a man who can throw fireballs at you, but I do not know what powers Mal actually has. Either way, I nod back at him letting him know I’d listened to him and will follow his directions. And just like that same swoosh sound I heard hours before reprised.  Mal is gone again.

He said he will be back. I’m hoping; I still have a lot of questions I need to ask him, but maybe today is enough. I notice mom walking in the kitchen right to the coffee maker as she begins to make tea. I thought for right that minute I was heading back to my room, but I decide to stick around here for a little bit. I stand near the half-wall bar that is separating the kitchen and the living room. The ivory wallpaper layered throughout the living room to this half-wall I’m standing. As mom fixes her some hot coffee, I try to see if I can get her to tell me what were her experiences with my father and if by any chance my mother.

“Hey mom!”

She takes a cup of coffee mix out of the bag to put in the maker. Before she grabs hot water, she looks to me. “What is it Caden?”

“I just want to know if by any chance Dan did tell you anything about my birth mother?”

As she stares at the mixer putting in the hot water, she looks back at me to respond.

“I honestly have never met your real mother. She is a mystery to me.”

“Do you know her name or at least did Dan tell you her name?”

“It was a rush. He found me a floor away from the nursery and literally gave you to me. Not once he mentioned her name to me. So since that day I had you, I never knew her name.”

I start to pout as my eyes descend a bit to glance at the molding. I’m visibly upset. I thought at least my mom could have had the info about my other mother.

“I understand you want to know her similar to how you want to know Dan.”

“And they both are dead. Guess I really won’t know who they are.”

Somber and disappointed I had not learn any more info about my other mom besides she fallen in love with my dad and they had me. Still do not explain why I’m this Rare One. With Mal gone to do demon killing I believe, I’m literally stuck with no new facts just that my birth mother has no name and dead; my father is a demon and dead; I’m a half-demon; and I got other demons out to get me for some apparent reason.

 It is likely I desire to do something different. And that is the first trial. I need to find that Alpheus prophecy. It is time to know what this prophecy really says about me.

The trials have started.