I stirred when I heard soft murmurs around me.

"How is that even possible?" A quiet whisper inquired. I immediately recognized it belonged to Elliot.

"It’s beyond me..." Maximillian said "But this brings me a great joy," his voice broke with emotion at the last word.

"I thought they were only created, not born," it was Daniel who spoke this time.

"Well, we had no record of this happening nor there was a case in the history, but it doesn't mean that it's impossible," Maximillian answered him, his voice laced with hope and excitement.

"I will call in the others," said Daniel, as he swiftly exited the room.

"Korina," Maximillian gently nudged me, his cool fingers touching my over-heated clammy forehead.

I grunted, my body plastered against the hard, cold floor. The pain subsided, but I still felt awfully tired. My eyelids fluttered as I opened my eyes, looking around.

Panic arose in me as I saw Maximillian and Elliot sitting beside me. "What are you doing? You shouldn't be here! I might hurt you!" I tried to push myself further towards the walls of the cage.

"You won't. Besides you can hardly hurt me. I am much stronger and older than you," Maximillian smiled at me, his gentle hands touching the side of my face.

"How can you be so sure I won't try?" I didn't believe him, or rather, I didn't trust myself, not after what happened to me. There wasn’t a single speck of doubt left in my mind about what they’ve told me.

"Because as it turned out - you are nothing like your father Korina. I hoped even if it was impossible, but your mother was right all along. You’ve become just like her," he said, his voice shaking with raw emotion.

My brows furrowed in confusion. "Like my mother?"

"A Soul-Cerberus," said Elliot. He edged toward me with a small compact mirror and pointed at my left shoulder blade. Surely there was a new, unrecognizable mark, shaped like a flame, only slightly darker than my skin tone.

"Your birth mother had the same one,” Maximillian squeezed my shoulder, continuing with excitement in his eyes. “When you were resting, I needed to check, just in case her prediction could turn out to be true, and it did. It's a miracle Korina, Creator has granted you a soul!" His expression was a picture of amazement and bliss.

I was drowning in bewilderment, my eyes darting to both of the men standing in the room. My mouth was opening and closing as I tried to speak, but I didn’t know what to say.

"A long time ago, your father and other Cerberuses wished to mate. Belial promised them mates, destined to procreate. But they were used, tortured and raped, as they were weaker than males," Maximillian stopped and stared into the distance. "Creator wanted Cerberuses to pay for they ruthless deeds and killings, so He used all His power to make first demons with a soul ‒ a Soul-Cerberuses. Your mother was one of them," his eyes were gentle as they landed on me. "They are powerful creatures, equally capable as their male counterparts or even more. They were able to avenge oneself for the cruelty as their souls were with filled with light. Soul-Cerberuses are usually granted powers equally or more potent of those of Seraphim and are the perfect weapon to hunt down and kill other Cerberuses," he explained.

There was too much of everything. Somewhere in this cruel, yet magical world once existed my real family, long forgotten and buried underneath the veil of the bloodshed. The light fought against the darkness as the mystical creatures, which I believed existed only in books battled to free the world. However my mind kept returning to the only true thing I had ever known, clutching at the slippery edges of the reality. "So will I be able to return home? Now that you know that I am harmless?" My chest filled with intense hope.

"I am sorry Korina, but that does not mean you are harmless. Your fate lies here and we need you to help us to protect the innocents," he said to me, squeezing my hand. “And as Daniel mentioned before, you will be hunted by Cerberuses, therefore – you’ll be putting your family in danger.”

"But how would I do that? I am powerless!" I said, disbelieving what they were saying.

"You are most definitely not, but you do need time to fully develop," Maximillian answered. "Every being has a maturing phase in which he or she develops the necessary skills. It starts around the age of twenty-three and ends at twenty-five, after that the aging stops. In the meantime, the person needs to be trained and properly mentored."

"Every being? There are others like us?" I said baffled.

Elliot and Maximillian shared a knowing look.

"We’re all different here Korina. Every single one of us," Elliot smiled at me. "This building is full of mages, Skinwalkers, Trackers and we also have one Torok'quar and Aerukhan."

"Excuse me, Torok‒what?" My jaw hit the ground and my mind spun with the overload of information they sprung on me.

"Who is talking shit behind my back?" A deep sound rumbled as a huge male stepped into the room, with a wide grin resting on his lips.

Lord of Heavens, the guy had to be at least 6.8 feet tall. His frame was enormously wide and covered in thick, bulging muscles, without a doubt he was the envy of every bodybuilder’s dream. I noticed that his skin was almost brownish, resembling a dark desert sand and looked rough on the touch. His eyes were bigger than those of others, almost cat-like, with orange pupils that were nearly translucent. His nose was considerably more flattened than human's. Beautiful dark long dreadlocks were cascading to his waist, decorated with golden rings, which made a soft jingling noise every time he moved. Even with his unusual looks, he was quite pleasing to the eye.

I really thought I've seen it all by now, but boy was I mistaken. Fear shot through my veins and I instinctively stepped closer to Maximillian, away from the brute stomping toward me.

"Oh!" The huge guy felt short his eyes widening as he noticed my retreating form "I'm Traxx, and I'm at your service my beautiful madam," he bowed deeply, placing his left arm on the small of his back and with the right one, he captured my hand, pretending to kiss my fingers.

I was sure my face reflected pure horror and bewilderment, as I slowly withdrew my hand from his.

"Jesus Christ, big guy. Leave her alone, don't terrorize her!" A breathtaking brunette entered the room, rolling her eyes at Traxx.

"You are just jealous that you aren't the object of my affection," he accused her, his lips pouting like a child's.

"Why would I be jealous? I pity the poor girl. Get of my way, idiot," she playfully nudged him away so she could step closer and openly gawk at me. "So, you are the Cerberus girl. My name is Ria, short for Raina," her eyes twinkled as she introduced herself. She slowly bent forward as she assessed me, like I was some kind of a rare bird specimen.

Ria was the same height as me, but truly stunning. Her hair was long and curly, reaching to her waist. She had a heart-shaped face with attractive full lips and eyes so dark they were almost black. Her figure was skinny but curvy in all the right places. She appeared harmless enough compared to the others, counting off the kind doctor. But there was some kind of no-nonsense vibe about her and a direct, almost invading forwardness of her behavior was a little unsettling.

Traxx mockingly stabbed his heart to show how she hurt him, revealing his sharp teeth doing so. I tried to focus on everything else, except his shark-like fangs, but my eyes kept wandering in the same direction.

"You are a child in a grown man's body Traxx. Don't mind the ogre, you are with me from now on, “she grabbed my arm, pulling me next to her like a rag doll. “I am the eyes and the ears of this place. I know everyone and everything, trust me."

"Are you for real?" He lifted his eyebrows. "I am the boss here baby," he pointed at himself and dismissively waved her off.

"The last time I've checked I still run this division," said Maximillian from behind me, shaking his head in disapproval.

"Of course, Sir. I kind of forgot you were standing there!" Traxx called out. His eyes were smiling, but his cheeks were slightly flushed with embarrassment. “Sorry, sorry! You’re the boss!” As he lifted his arms adorned with numerous golden ornaments they slid down, almost reaching his elbow. I couldn’t help but think he resembled some kind of a desert pirate. Even his attire called for attention. He wore a knee-long brown leather coat, with tight-fitting pants underneath it, fastened with a thick, red armor belt decorated with small golden spikes. His enormous feet were buried in brown combat boots, surprisingly plain with his obvious love for striking accessories.

I had to laugh at his silliness because Ria described him well, he indeed behaved like an overgrown child.

"Traxx here is one of the Torok'quar race. His people were born on Torok, a planet mainly covered with desert. They are trained from an early age and become excellent warriors when they reach maturity," Maximillian told me. "And Ria is a Tracker. They are similar to demons, but instead of feeding on human souls, they drink energy from lesser demons. Trackers are a nomadic race, living all over the universe."

Maximillian must have seen my astonishment "Humans are not the only species in the universe Korina. But they are one of the weakest, so they need protection. That's why we play an important role in keeping the right balance."

"Impossible," I whispered.

"Well this handsome guy right here is the proof it isn't he?" Traxx pointed at himself. "Meanwhile her-" He tilted his head towards Ria "Well yes, I would be doubting too," he gave her a once over with a falsely mocking expression.

Ria bared her own wicked canines at him, growling. "Watch me suck out your soul asshole!”

"Enough you two!" Maximillian commanded, lifting his hand in the air. "We have an important matter to discuss. Korina like every other newcomer needs a proper mentor. I would take over that job, but I’m afraid I’m too busy between training and running this place.”

"Naturally I am the perfect choice!" Traxx's chest puffed.

"Dear God, like that would turn out well," Ria pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Under no circumstances!" Maximillian's eyes widened in horror "I cannot imagine what would become of her."

"Hey! What the hell are ya’ll talking about? That is not fair!" Traxx lifted his chin, a sulky expression resting on his face.

"I would appoint Daniel, but just like me, he is preoccupied, besides-" He appeared deep in thought "-It would be better if we gave her someone who is not from the warrior sector. This way she could meet different people, show them they need not fear her."

"Who do you have in mind?" Daniel asked, and I noticed that he wasn't as wrathful anymore. He was still weary of me, keeping a safe distance between our bodies. I guess his behavior made sense since I wasn't posing a threat to their well being any longer, but I was still a stranger among them – a stranger with unknown abilities. That being said I was relieved at not having him as my mentor. Honestly, his arrogant unpredictable attitude was scaring me the most.