I entered the mist of the portal unafraid how could this be any different than what i had already faced? In here somewhere was another spirit who would through some trickery attempt to defeat me and so I entered my eyes slowly adjusted I relaxed and let myself become part of the room if anything moved I would know it or so I thought

it happend quickly I was knocked to the floor and kicked repeatedly then lifted and hurled into the wall then punched repeatedly in the skull before being kicked and falling back to the floor

"So slow a true hound would have stopped me in seconds but you you are the puppy no wonder you fell well I will wait go ahead get back on your feet I stumbled back up and looked about I saw nothing but the laughter continued ha ha ha hes up good!

This attack came first at my chest knocking the wind from me I dropped to my knees and was promptly kicked in the throat I fell and a heavy foot stomped down on my wind pipe "You know this is very boring the voice chided at least most of my opponents offer a challenge why don't you just admit you aren't ready and go back to the play ground where you belong I am sure Emora has some low class soul for you to fight Loco Lesser Son

I grunted and grabbed what I thought was a leg and twisted the creature fell I jumped up and looked still I saw nothing I was hit this time from the back it felt as if the punch had gone right through me I had never felt so weak before

"You know what your problem is? you think just because Emora pulled you out of an alley and said you were powerful you think you are listen I could break you now

but I am giving you a sporting chance this will be your last attempt at me miss and the Old One will pull you out and send you back to your training room and who knows how long it will be before he calls for the puppy

I was sick of being called puppy and half breed and lesser son as this rage grew I could feel my eyes change they burned in their sockets I opend them they flashed and at last I saw it a Hound his hair was black and wild his claws long and menecing he moved to attack I dogged and kneed him in the jaw

then hit the back of his neck knocking him down

"Well well your mortal eyes have died

he attacked again his arm came forward to hit me I took hold of it and closelined him down I stomped on his head and stepped on his wind pipe "who are you? I said

you ask to many questions he tripped me and pounced I brought my leg up and kneed him reversing and holding him down and jamming my claws into his eyes he shreiked in pain but he fought on he sent his claws across my face I fell back A true Hound never surrenders do not forget that he spoke to much I jumped and knocked him down

head butted him twice and bit down on his neck ripping it open

I AM ENYO I SWORE NEVER TO BE DEFEATED BY ANY PREY!

you talk to much he rammed his fist through my chest we both fell neither moving

that was the greatest battle I had ever had and I didn't even know my opponents name

Slowly, the room faded and I was once again before Darmoth strange I was compleatly healed

"Your fight was too slow how could you take so long? A hound must always be ready and you let your pride blind you yet I shall allow you to now call yourself a Hound and have my blessing but I give you this advice let not your pride blind you it will destroy you in the end"

Darmoth who was

"that was Emaish he was once a Hound but he was to wild and free in killing so we restrain him here to train fools like you

Now then Hound Enyo comes your final power wear the guise of a mortal for me

I can't I said

I looked like this always

poor boy remember what the mortals look like and focus on it

you shall become one at least in apperance you will keep this until battle

I thought about the mortal men I had seen slowly my apperance changed my hair became silver my eyes flashed a deep black my hands looked normal I was now wearing black clothing and a trench coat

This is the gift of your father you may hide among them and thus be able to find souls much easier your eyes will see them as they saw Emaish for they will glow red as fire and your garments shall fade

leave now go to Emora you have my blessing go now

oh and Enyo know that this is not the last time we shall meet

I left and found Emora waiting so you passed he said good

Now it is time for you to return

he led me back to the gate there stood Nameless he seemed so weak and frail I could kill him with a look he froze for a moment and said are you ready to go see the pretty ones again?"

"Silence you blood dog do not assume that I am of my former intelect I know a mortal when I see one and I know a mortal puppet as well

I smiled and bared my fangs he shivered and lead me back to the door through which we had first come I saw the alley and smelled the alcohal smiling I stepped through I was once again among the mortals

I no longer needed sleep my body seemed ever alert ever rested and ever strong in my home on this day as mortals call it for time is as strange as all things in the Dark Realm I was again endvering to capture an elusive and powerful soul or at least it would be thought that should a mortal face it this one was a creature who had according to Emora been put to death for crimes against mortals he weilded a power over lightning and would have easily dispatched a lesser opponent but I was Enyo and I had sworn never to be beaten by any prey and this one was no exception

I decided to have a bit of fun with this spirit offer it sport and the opertunity to feel it was my better as it fired light bolts at me I feined pain and suffering watching with delight as it grew ever bolder and drew ever closer

thats it come closer just a little closer I won't hurt you

at last the moment was ripe as it fired another bolt i leaped and flipped over it grabbing its head as i came down and removing it with the greatest of ease the spirit faded I didn't need to eat it

I smiled and kicked the head to the other side of the room

"Well you have certainly improved since your first battle Enyo and shall I add you have become a bit of a show off I must caution you against that for some spirits will see that as a weakness and thus destroy you with it"

It was Emora my friend and teacher for the time I had been home he had been my closest companion and though not always present he had watch over me at all times

"And why should I not show pride in my power I asked am I not Enyo does my father not rule this realm and all its domains?"

"Power Emora chuckled is that what you call it? well then if indeed you are so powerful then perhaps you are ready to meet Darmoth he will judge how powerful you truly are

"Darmoth I began...What have I told you about questions I must in twenty mortal years that tounge of yours never ceses to asail me with questions

Come with me

We walked down several hallways until we reached a set of stairs leading down

go Emora said I am not meant to follow you beyond this point

I began the journey down this place felt ancient as if it had been here long before the world existed at last I came to a chamber and seated at its center was a hound not unlike myself though much older and silver haired

his claws were long and black and his eyes shown like ice his robe fell about him

black and silver I bowed

and began to speak Darmoth I am...

"Loco he began the half breeded hound the puppy yes I know of you I have known of you always your true name is Enyo but you are in no way fit at this time to use that name for it strikes no fear in the heart of the spirits I hear their voices and I tell you now your prey only laughs at your comming"

"With all due respect Darmoth I have killed many..

Shadows and puppets yes I have watched you in the training hall those are but toys Emora has given for you to play with I grow weary of your life and its past for I know all

you have come to me because you feel yourself worthy of a true hunt and the answer to the riddle of your birth these I can give you the first before the later

beyond my chambers you will find it a true spirit an embodiment of all that the hunter must face meet this challenge and you shall indeed be Enyo fail and I shall turn you once again to Emora and you shall not come unto me again until I seek you out

He pointed to a portal in the wall

Enter there and prove you are a hound

Emora continued to lead me down the winding and mishapen halls of what was supposed to be the realm of my ancestors, why hadn't he presented me to my mother or father did they not care about me was I just another solider to them? if I took you before your parents now you could not withstand the fire they are bathed in and you would die nor could your mortal eyes even see them for more than a flicker of a candle now no more questions focus what awaits you in this next room will test your body and mind it was Emoras voice he was talking in my head as we aproached a door way he just smiled and gestured for me to enter the room it was dark and dank like the city after a hard rain yet I could sense everything perhaps Emora had told the truth and my vision was improving I could see through the gloom as if it were perfectly lit and i could sense that I was not alone as I ventured deeper and deeper into the room I became aware of a shape seated in the darkness it looked human huddled in the corner of the room and crying "why why why? it whispered why why why you you you? I stood closer it looked up to my shock it was mother! how did she get here?

She grinned "Well well devil boy looks like you found some more filth to be your friend aint it? you dog you bad bad dog!"

I am a good boy mother I whipered a good boy I never meant to eat you I just wanted my real name Ed-

"Edward she hissed Edward is dead you killed him when you got all your devil parts she stood up slowly her hands began to change her left becomming sccisors her right becoming a file "commer devil boy I'm gonna fix you damn good!

I began to move back she laughed and began to stalk me commer commer mommy wants to help you help you ha ha ha just help you!"

The images of the cage and the beatings began to fill my mind hate and sadness began to fill me she had been evil she and those like her were devils pure evil convinced that because of their fair apperance they were good looking on me and my people with hate she was close now "devil boy she hissed as she reached for me...Mother I breathed I HATE YOU! I grabbed her with a clawed hand and drew her in "I am gonna bleed your hate right out mother my eyes burned like coals slowly her image began to melt like ashes until at last I saw it a black shapeless creature staring at me through pale white eyes I sank my teeth and claws in without mercy this creature had used my pain as a weapon it had no right to exist I Enyo would teach it justice and the meaning of fear!

as I ripped it to shreds Emora appeared you have survived a hate spirit in short it is a spirit that brought pain in life it posseses the ability to shift into that which one fears or hates most and slowly it will draw you in and torture you to madness as a hound you must see through their disguses and destroy them

I am Enyo to mortals Loco and I will never be beaten by my prey!

Emora patted my shoulder a brave hound indeed welcome home

I awoke in the Dark Realm and for the first time in my life I felt safe and welcome, at length Emora entered the chamber in which I had slept and bade me follow him "Sleep he said such a mortal concept in time I am sure you will develop beyond your need for it" I paused for a moment Emora I said if it had been better for me to be raised here then whydid my parents place me among mortals?"

He smiled there is one hidden talent that you posses that no other hound is capable of in time you will know it" "But I began"

"No more questions he said your meal awaits we entered a large room to my supprise it contained no chairs or tables or even food I was dumb founded had we made a mistake?

"You didn't think that your food would just be arrayed for you now do you? Emora chuckled you must find it and kill it this you will do each day until your eyes develop their skill"

I looked about I was becoming irratated and even considering what Emora may taste like then I saw it at first it was nothing more than a shapeless mass darting about the room but as my eyes adjusted I began to see that it was a creature resembling a human only the eyes were larger and its limbs were more gaunt and sickly I chased after it at first it evaded my every attack incresing its speed with every miss my desperation was growing I was starving!

"calm down it was Emoras voice you will never catch it if you do not relax"

I breathed and allowed my eyes to just focus on the creature I made no movements it continued to dart about as my mind relaxed I began to realize I could predict its movements much as I had done to the man in the alley it was moving towards the celing I beat it there for fun I let it dart down towards the floor leaping from the wall I caught it in my mouth and swallowed it whole despite its size I felt compleatly full

"Excellent Emora said finally a little slow starting but you did quite well for a first try"

"What was that? I asked

"Well in short its what happends when humans take their own lives it becomes a greif soul this one was quite young and for the most part harmless though some are larger and more menecing their greatest talent however is possesion they enter the souls of mortals and cause a madness that leads to an end not unlike their own

you will find them when you begin to hunt your next challenge will make this seem light follow me"

This was no alley everything around me seemed warped like it had once been something and then became something else

"Dazzled my boy this is the Dark Realm I believe your mortal counter parts call it Hell though it is not the resting place of the quote un quote devil no you see my boy even hell posseses spirits which it cannot often times control those spirits are sent here to be maintained and dealt with by a more capable group of staff

Hence your family they are the..."That's enough Preacher you have already over stayed your welcome in this realm go back to your oak trees and leave this to me"

It was a creature he was like nothing I had ever seen before he looked a lot like me but his teeth were more numoruse and his eyes glowed like fire flies

Emora I should have known Denio would send you you know you should thank me after all it was you that sent me looking for this alley hound having trouble keeping track of the children these days?" He chuckled

"Preacher if my master had wanted me to abbandon my duties as Watchmen of The Gate then I would have found him in much shorter a time it took you a year don't forget now be off Oak worm your presence is no longer need!"

Very well though I tear to leave this boy in so terrible a company as yourself I must do as I must" He smiled and vanished

I was now alone with this creature he looked at me for a long time as if he were mesuring me or deciding what to do with me at last he spoke

"Well you are definetly a Demon Hound though you seem a bit weak and under feed I am not supprised considering you have been dining on the flesh of mortals this past year well Enyo I welcome you to The Dark Realm your home and true birth place

"I am not Enyo I said I am Loco mother called me Edward then said Edward was dead"

Well in truth Edward never was you are now and always have been Enyo however if you wish to keep your title I am sure your father will not mind now open your mouth let me get a look at your fangs

I opened my mouth he took my jaw in his hands and looked in hmmmmmmmmm yes still very young not quite as sharp as I hoped haven't learned how to hide them either tell me did your host parent attempt to file these?"

"Yes mother said they were evil and tried to get rid of them I tried not to make them grow but they always did"

The creature looked down I told him not to place seed among mortals I told him oh well no matter"

"Loco I am Emora I am guard of the Gates and you have been placed in my charge now if you will follow me there is much you must learn both of your line and of yourself".

He lead me down a long hallway everything had that warpped look funny I liked it it made me feel happy and safe

finally we came to a room with chairs and many paintings on the walls of creatures that looked just like me!

"It's me I shouted me I am on the wall!" Emora smiled Well it is not you per se only others that have come before you and believe it or not these very creatures still live today in our realms version of retirement

he laughed

"You see Loco The Dark Realm was created by the Over Lords of hell to house overly disobedient souls who even in death were to dark to control unfortunatley some of these souls do mange to escape from time to time and return to the mortal realm to cause havoc and distrupt the natural order of good and evil hence your line

Your father was the first of the Demon Hounds a race bread by Lucifer himself to hunt down and recapture these renegade souls it was a century ago that the council decided to plant seed among mortals to see if the Hound traits could still develope outside The Dark Realm and it appears they can though not to the degree they would have had you been raised here There is no need to worry though Loco with my help and the help of other hounds you will learn fast and become what you were born to be

I cried all my life I had been thought of as nothing a mistake to be shoved in the corner and forgot about now I knew I was home and while the mortals may always call me Loco

my true name was Enyo and in time the fell souls that pleaged the earth would know it.

I had not eaten for days I really didn't need to I felt full and more so I felt as if I was in some sort of great dream and was scared if I woke up I might be alone again.

And so the days went on and I stared off at Mr. Moon and smiled something I rarely ever did, then the night came I was sitting as I always did off in the alley just staring at Mr moon and enjoying my warm happy feeling when I heard it foot steps soft and gentle on the pavement, I paid it no mind probely just another real man making love to bottled demons no need to care. then I saw him he was a clean real man not like the others he looked so calm and relaxed even in a dark place like this he just looked like he was taking a walk without a care in the world

almost as if by after thought or accident he glanced at me I just stared off at Mr moon I didn't care about him or what he wanted I was happy and thats what mattered

"Half breed" he whispered so human and yet so demon and you don't even know it how sweet"

I looked up "What did you say are you talking to me?"

He laughed slightly "No I am talking to the other demon over there well I should say half demon after all your mother was human was she not? And if I am not mistaken you ate her no less than a year ago and have been eating people ever since haven't you Edward?

"No no I stuttered mother said Edward was....

"Dead is that right? he answered quietly she said he was dead and so you are Loco a childish name really but I suppose one can't always choose their title I for example was given the title of Nameless One though my true title and name under the Goddess is Preacher

"I don't understand I said you have three names? So which one is your name are you not sure and thats why you say Nameless one? or maybe your mother was in a big hurry and forgot to name you?"

"Charming he said softly very charming so simple and yet so powerful...odd that one of such great power could be so simple of mind...oh well enough chit chat on with the show

I still didn't understand this real man was weird he must have had some bottled demons before he found me and thats why he was talking like this but what he did next really supprised me he walked over and lifted me up and threw me against the wall!

"Why did you do that? I asked confused I didn't do anything to you!"

"Well my boy you had better do something and quickly or you will not last long

I am not so fragile as those mortals you dine on"

He moved real quick but I could still feel him I knew where he was gonna hit he was gonna hit my stomach next I guess he wanted to fight me ok I moved his fist hit the wall

"Bravo my boy you do have demon sense after all its not every eye that can follow a quick step now then let us see if you can avoid this or rather if you can prevent me from attacking again!"

He vanished again this time he was gonna drop down on me from above and slit my throat I turned and grabbed him out of the air I had had enough of this I leaped up and kneed him in the stomach then head butted him knocking him down

then strange but my nails grew longer as I placed them under his chin they grew into his throat causing it to open I thought I had him then but he shocked me by causing one of his nails to burst through my chest that was it!

I grabbed his arm and ripped it from his body then I tossed him into the air and seized his throat as he fell I began to maul him I didn't care about secracy or any of that I just wanted to make sure he wouldn't hurt me anymore

I ate his flesh and smiled "I got you" I said when I had finished I began to walk away

ha ha ha! laughter I looked behind me there he was standing perfectly unharmed and smiling"

"How did you? I ate you"

"Oh my boy you did indeed or at least you thought you did smoke and mirrors my boy smoke and mirrors though I must say Enyo you are quite brutal when provoked

"En who I muttered no no I am L- I am loco yes yes he breathed"

"But your true name the name your true parents gave you is Enyo and you my friend are the son of Deino and Demonas

I scratched my head I was really confused first this thing had died and gone in my tummy and then he came out and called me names

"I can see you are perplexed well no need to worry though I do not serve your family directly I am an Emassary of Darkness which means in a slight way we are related

He looked at me "oh dear let me put this in terms you can understand Mr. Moon likes me too and if you come with me I will tell you an extra special secret about you and the you that you are dosen't that sound like fun a little trip?"

"Will Mr. Moon be there?" I asked "Oh he will my boy he will"

Well ok I said good now then he stomp his foot on the ground and a door appeared this way my boy quick now we are late as is"

I followed him through the door un knowing of what was waiting on the other side

I had been running for what felt like a real long time I wasn't quite sure where I was going because I knew I wouldn't be easy to find I never really wanted anyone to notice me I made people scared and when they got scared that meant I had to eat them but I never really wanted to it was just the nature of things and how things had to go...So I dashed off into the night searching for me wondering where I might turn up I really wanted to find the other me and ask it what it was like to be like me and play with Mr moon and hunt the "real men and the pretty ones"

Then I stopped for a momment and thought real hard my favorite thing in the world was Mr. Moon he always lead me to the things I needed or wanted he would know where I was he could lead me to me easy.

Excited by this I looked up and prayed Mr. Moon had thought tonight might be a good night to come and play but no he wasn't there he must have been tired and wanted to rest or maybe he didn't want me to find me or maybe there really wasn't anyone else like me and he was just letting me know it?

So many question my stomach hurt I was hungry again I hadn't eaten anyone all day and I was starving!

Normally I ate those that needed help or that Mr. Moon had sent to me but this time I just needed to eat and that was all so I started to look around this must have been a really bad alley because no one was there no one at all I was alone

I fell and began to cry I thought about eating my own arm or leg but I needed them so I just laid there and cried I was hungry, I was lonely and I had just about had all I could take of everyone

I must have cried myself to sleep that night because all I can remember is

a face and a few words

Your mother fucks like an angel but in the end she loved a devil none of them are you because you are not like them your line sits in the dark find them in the blood of your next kill

I didn't understand

but woke up feeling strangley full

I would be patient this time the blood of my next kill would show me myself at last!

I was Loco I had a mother and she looked like one of the pretty ones her hair her skin and nails were just like other pretty ones all nice and safe made not to hurt anyone

and she had me and I wasn't like her no I was all hair and made for hunting and killing made for playing with Mr Moon and letting him take me places and give me nice gifts of things that are sweet to eat

but if I wasn't like mother I had to be like someone cos everyone and everything had something like them and so someone had to look like me but how to find them?

I didn't know I sat down in the alley and put my head in my hands If I were me where would I hide the thought spiraled in my brain where was I?

Well I had never left the alley very much so I had to be there some where

I must be hiding somewhere in the alley

I grinned and jumped up I looked off into the direction of a part of the alley I had never seen before maybe I am in there I ran off

you are in here somewhere loco you are in here somewhere!

The moon was hot that night for some reason I couldn't shake the feeling that something special was gonna happen that night in all the stories mother had told me before when she had called me Edward the moon always brought special things to all the good little boys and girls, "but you not a good little boy are you loco her voice echoed in my head no you a naughty devil boy that moon is gonna suck you up and spit you back out just like I did when you was born right out my pussy you little fuck"

I looked up at the moon its clear white surface looking down on me so perfect and gentle up there in the black sky smiling down I prayed on me and everyone else

Sure I had ate mother and ate Jack but I was an animal mother had told me so I was a dog and dogs hunted and did their best hunting under the moon, that had to be it this moon was special because it was a hunting moon and it was gonna bring me something sweet to eat yes that had to be it!

I chased after it like a child running after his mothers apron strings "something sweet to eat my heart kept repeating the moons gonna bring me something sweet to eat mmmmmmmmm real sweet and then maybe Loco can be as happy as Edward was!"

I followed it it ducked behind buildings darted behind clouds, it was playing a game with me no one had ever played a game with me before I think it was called t-ag tag and I was supposed to say you are it at least thats what I remembered from the stories

"Your it I screamed your it Mr. Moon ha ha ha I laughed it felt strange I had never laughed before I liked it finally the moon and I stopped in the middle of a street I had never been before I smiled "Where now Mr moon are you still it or is it my turn?"

"Who are you talking to? a voice a voice I had never heard before I turned it was a pretty one it was standing on a curb just across from me and she was showing her teeth but not in a mean way not like mother no this way seemed nice

was this Mr. Moons present? maybe it was

"Well who are you talking to? she was walking towards me now I coward memories of the cage and mother flooded my mind I wanted to run wanted to hide but what if this was Mr. Moon present it would be very naughty of me to leave without finding out I stood still she was next to me now her hair was black and her skin was really white like Snow Whites skin

"are are you Snow White I whispered did Mr Moon bring you?"

she laughed it sounded like music

I could just imagen how good something that sweet sounding might taste

her teeth showed again in that nice way

"Mr moon she said softly is that who you are talking to the moon?

"mmmhmmm was all I could manage hes my friend"

And whats your name I am Mary and you would be?

L-loco

Oh I am sure you are not insane

whats your real name

"Edward I mumbled and I am very hungry

oh you poor dear you are hungry why don't you step out into the light so I can see you better maybe we can go get something to eat?"

I coward but stepped quietly into the light

her face went white d-demon she whispered and began to mumble those strange words I had heard before

"I am not a demon I mumbled I am a Saint and if you don't stoppit I am gonna have to help you be all better"

she screamed and cried I had no choice I pounced and sank my teeth in

she did taste really good

I looked up and smiled at the moon

"Thanks friend I whispered Thanks very much"

Although I had helped the real man named Jack feel better I was left with this strange feeling a want I guess to know what I was I really couldn't call myself a pretty one or a real man all I knew was I was what mother had called a "devil boy"

a creature who had fallen through the stars and landed a mistake in the arms of a woman who loved me with the back of her hand despite this I was still filled with a feeling of wanting to know who I was beyond my mothers ideas so I stepped out of the allies and looked around someone out there had to know what I was someone had to have the answers I looked all around until my ears led me to a voice it was a real man and a group of pretty ones and they were standing around a building waving a small book about and screaming how it held the answers I smiled people moved I didn't understand why but I walked towards the building and the people around it.

I stopped in front of the real man and smiled "I want answers" I said tell me who I am

abomination! they screamed you are a mutant a fallen seed of god! get out of here!

they began to splash me with water and mumble some strange words I didn't understand they sounded like mother I wondered if they tasted like her too I guess they didn't know who I was but I could find out how they tasted I leaped up and grabed the arm of one of the pretty ones and ripped it off they all screamed I ran off into the ally holding the arm

it tasted wonderful the meat was sweet and delicate and yet I hated it with each mouth full I cried all these people had a place and those who loved them I was loco Son of Devil and I was alone