The Conduit (Gryphon Series) (15 page)

“Was that a ‘yeah me’?” I asked.

“I’m pretty sure that was a ‘next time keep your emoting to yourself
,’” Kendall said and crossed her arms over her chest.

“Will do
,” I agreed. “Once again, so sorry.”

Keni shrugged; her wings bobbed up and down. “Whatevs. So Alaina, when do I get to, like, fly and stuff?”

“Right now, if you are ready.” To me Alaina added, “Would you please act as our look out while she practices? Keep a vigilant eye out for the panther. If he appears, warn us immediately. We will need to get you out of here at once.”

I was used to fading into the background while one of my siblings shined in the spotlight, but it never bothered me as much as it did right then. I moseyed over to a nearby rock and sat down. Inadequate seemed too weak a word to describe how I felt as Kendall flit up to the treetops. She was the embodiment of angelic beauty. Silken feathers framed her while her blonde hair cascaded around her shoulders. Based on sheer principle alone
, this was cosmically unjust.

***

Sprawled out in our bedroom, Keni and I filled Gabe in on what he missed. More accurately
, I tried to fill him in while Keni gushed over what it felt like to fly.

“…the wind was in my face. I could see, like, the entire mountain range. It was amazing.”

“No you couldn’t,” I snipped. “Alaina didn’t let you go above the tree tops.”

“Well, you wouldn’t know, being down on the ground and all, but from where I was
, I could totally see everything.” She rolled onto her back on her bed and made Mr. Hoofington “fly” over her head.

“Did the Seeker make an appearance at all?” Gabe
asked while giving me a “does she have a mute button” look.

“If he was anywhere around, I totally would have seen him. Did I mention I could see everything up there?”

“It came up,” I snapped and squeezed the pillow in my lap a little tighter. “He didn’t show. Hopefully, it wasn’t because he was busy feasting on express-line customers.”

Gabe threw himself on my bed. The bed springs screamed as his enormous frame landed. “I doubt there was any bloodshed. Small town like this
, we would’ve heard about it the second it happened.”

I feared he would break the frame and swatted him off my bed. He groaned, but settled onto the floor. “True. Plus, Kendall just became a big neon sign pointing him to us. He won’t wast
e his time in town much longer.”

A knock on the door, then Grams poked her head in. “Gang
’s all here, huh? What are we talking about?”

“The panther in town
,” I answered truthfully. “Did you hear anything about what happened today?”

Fired up for a good bit of gossiping, Grams threw open the door with gusto. “Yes! It was really somethin’! They had that critter cornered up there on the roof. Animal rescue shot it with three different tranquilizer darts before it finally went down. Or at least they thought they hit the panther…” She paused for dramatic effect. “But when they got up on the roof—no panther. There was a man up there that somehow got caught in the crossfire. No one knows who he is or what he was doing there. All they know is he was in the worst possible place at the worst possible time and got himself darted in the rump for it. They carted him off to the
hospital in Nashville. Hopefully when he wakes up, they’ll get some answers. Poor fella. Scared by a panther and then shot in the butt. That’s a bad day, right there.”

If all evil creatures are this incompetent, this saving the world thing might not be too tough.

“Wow…just wow.” Gabe marveled.

“Excitement like that is even better than my stories!” Grams gushed and waved her freshly polished
fuchsia nails in the air. “Anywho, I came up here to let ya’ll know I’m off to Casino Night at the Bingo Hall. Gonna try my hand at Blackjack. Grams needs a new pair of shoes! Ha! You kids have a good night.”

She planted bright red lipstick marks on each of our foreheads before she disappeared down the stairs. We waited until we heard the front door click shut be
hind her before we resumed our “other” identities.

“Am I the only one that expected more from the Dark Army than some spaz that gets darted by the local law enforcement?” I asked.

“Maybe he’s new to being evil,” my sister shrugged, then struck yet another Superman pose and giggled to herself.

“This may’ve bought us some time though. If he was unconscious
, he probably missed Kendall’s powers being activated.” I ran my finger along the ridges of the Gryphon statuette on my nightstand and wished he could answer our questions directly.

“That’s good. That gives us more time to prepare.” Gabe seemed lost in his own thoughts as he stared out the door. “But what if they come here? What do we do about Grams?”

We all fell silent. The idea of Grams being harmed was unfathomable.

“She’s never left alone
,” I declared.

Kendall and Gabe nodded in agreement. If the Dark Army wanted to come for us, let them come. But hands off the Grams.

CHAPTER 18

“No way. Unh
-uh. I’m not doing that.”

“What do you mean ‘no way’?”

“I mean I’m not doing it, and you’re not big enough to make me.” Gabe folded his arms and scowled like an overgrown three-year-old.

Under her breath Alaina muttered, “I have powers, boy. I could make you dance like a puppet if I wanted to.”

She must’ve forgotten his cat-like hearing. “Bring it on ‘cause I’m not doing it any other way. I started gaining all this muscle mass while I was training with the team. Being active. Not sitting on my butt, chanting.”

Alaina closed her eyes and sighed. Her wings sagged from her frustration. “You could have made that point first. What exactly did you have in mind?”

“Uh…I don’t know.” By the way he stammered he obviously hadn’t thought that far ahead. “I could go for a run or something.”

Alaina’s auburn waves bounced as she shook her head. “That will not work. We have to awaken the lion. That is why I suggested the meditation; you could find the emotional connection to it. Running will not have the same impact.”

“Well, I’m not doing it,” Gabe huffed.

“I have an idea.” I squeezed the bridge of my nose, having passed the point of annoyance at their bickering about twenty minutes ago. “Why don’t we smack him on the nose with a rolled up newspaper? See how his inner cat feels about that.”

“Let’s call that Plan B.” He glared and then nodded in the direction of Kendall. “Hey, I could spar with Tweety.”

Keni was completely unaware of our conversation. Alaina had her practicing take offs and landings. Judging by the way she spun three times in a pike position and landed gracefully on her tip toes
, I’d say she was getting the hang of it. With a satisfied grin, she spun toward us, noticed we were all staring at her, and froze.

“What?”

“It could actually work.” Alaina rubbed her chin with the tip of her finger as she mulled it over. “It is the nature of the beast to stalk and attack.”

“Whoa!” I positioned myself between Gabe and Kendall. If he had to go through me to get to her, so be it. “Think about this, Gabe. If your plan works
, our little sister is going to be up against a lion. Are you okay with that? ’Cause I’m not!”

Gabe grabbed me by my upper
-arms, lifted me off my feet, and set me down out of his way. “She can
fly
, Cee! I’d have to catch her first.”

“You must also remember that her wings are impenetrable.
She would be in no real danger,” Alaina tried to reassure me. It didn’t work.

“Hello? Over here! You guys are obviously talking about me. Wanna clue me in?” Kendall marched over with her hands on her hips and her enormous wings arced up behind her.

Gabe’s eyes flashed. “You get to help me activate my powers.”

“How?”
She asked, her unease evident.

“Gabe wants you to spar with him to help bring the lion out.”

She cocked her head and gazed at me with narrowed eyes. “You realize I don’t actually have the brain of a bird, right?”

“Come on, Keni!” Gabe groaned and threw his hands up. “I’m not going to hurt you. Even if I do turn, it’s still me. Right?” He addressed that last part to Alaina.

“For the most part, yes.” Her tight-lipped smile made me wonder if she was being entirely truthful. “There are animal instincts you will have to learn to control, but it should not be a problem.”

“Plus you have the ‘force field’ feathers, remember?” Gabe prodded.

Kendall’s shoulders and wings slumped. “Fine. But if you bite me, and I have to get stitches, you’re explaining it to Grams.”

“Agreed
,” Gabe said with a wide grin.

As they walked to the center of the clearing, I was once again assigned
the role of lookout. Bitterness oozed off of me as I plopped down on what was fast becoming “my rock.” Gabe and Kendall each assumed their fight positions; he struck a standard wrestling stance while she stood ramrod straight with her wings curled in protectively around her.

“Ready to get your feathers plucked, Keni?” He swayed side to side as he prepared to attack.

“Noo!” She whined.

Ready or not, Gabe charged. He dropped his shoulder, fully intending to plow our dainty sister right over. I covered my eyes. Kendall squealed. There was a loud thud; something scooted across the ground, followed by a “
hhuuuuffff
!”

I peeked between my fingers. Gabe was sprawled in the dirt, flat on his back. As he pulled himself up
, he let out a sharp laugh. It may have been my imagination, but it sounded a bit like a snarl. Immediately ready for round two, he crouched down. A fire building behind his eyes. He rushed her. Her wing shot up. This time Gabe expected it. He ducked under it and lunged for her legs. With one forceful flap Kendall lifted off the ground and out of reach. Gabe’s couldn’t stop his momentum and tumbled to the ground—again. He got up, brushed himself off and backed away. With the wave of his hand, he invited her to land.

Her feet no sooner touched the ground, then Gabe launched at her again. He jumped up and tried to dive over her wing. It didn’t go well. Keni canopied both wings over her head like any umbrella. He hit her impassable
, feathered fortress head first. Dazed, he flopped to the ground. I hid my laughter behind my hand. Gabe had to shake it off and regain his bearings before he could stand up. Kendall gave me an uneasy look. I grinned and threw her two thumbs up.

Try as he might, Gabe couldn’t engage Kendall in the fight. She could dance her way out of anything he threw at her. The lion had yet to make an appearance, but Gabe’s irritation had.

“Come on, Kendall! You’re all defense, no offense! You want to try actually being in the fight?” He growled as he kicked up a cloud of dirt and pebbles. “If I wanted no challenge at all, I would’ve fought Celeste!”

“Hey!”

“No offense, Cee.” I wouldn’t have taken offense had he not rolled his eyes when he said that. “But this is pointless. I’m not getting anywhere.”

Alaina stepped forward from the perimeter of the clearing. “I was
afraid of this. As a creature of love, she will not attack her own brother. Perhaps I can come up with something else for us to try tomorrow. I think I will venture into the Spirit Plane in search of other ideas.”

I hop
ped to my feet. “Wait! You can just go back and forth between the two worlds?”

“Yes.” Alaina rolled her shoulders and released her wings.

“When you go there, you can talk to the Gryphon?”

“Yes.”

“Maybe on this little trip you tell him that I’m ready, and he can go ahead and upload some super strength into me. What do ya think?” I asked eagerly.

Her face fell. “I am very sorry, Celeste. However, that is something he just will not do. The truth is
, he very much hopes he will not have to give you any powers.”

Those words sliced into my heart like a knife. “Why? He doesn’t think I could handle it?”

“No. That is not it at all.” She laid a comforting hand on my shoulder. “I had hoped to prolong this conversation for as long as possible, yet it seems your inquisitive nature will not allow that. It is not known what it will mean for your human life if these powers are bestowed on you. To live as the lion or the eagle can be done. It can be suppressed and managed to make a normal life possible. However, you are the very first Conduit of the Gryphon. We fear that the more power is channeled through you, the less human you will become.”

“Being human hasn’t been a barrel of laughs so far
,” I grumbled. “I’d be okay giving that up.”

A shadow of pain made Alaina’s golden eyes fill with tears. “Things have been very hard for all of you
. I understand that. But please keep in mind that there are beautiful experiences in this world. Experiences that only humans are fortunate enough to embark on. Do not be so eager to turn your back on them.”

I was a horrible person. She had given up everything to become our guide in a moment when she felt she had no other options. And here I was rubbing salt on her wound. I made a weak apology.

She blinked rapidly and forced a smile. “Just try not to be so eager, Celeste.”

I nodded. “Okay.”

“You three head home. I will research our situation.” As soon as the last word left her mouth, she morphed into the eagle and blazed off into the horizon.

“Wow.” Gabe’s eyes widened in mock awe. “You must really feel like crap right now.”

“Yes. Yes I do. Can we go now, please?” As much as I wished he would leave this alone, I knew he wouldn’t.

“Sure.” A smile played at the corners of his lips as he motioned for me to lead the way. We made it all of fifteen paces before he started in. “I mean, you just made an angel cry. I can’t say for sure that you’ll go to hell for that kind of thing, but it doesn’t look good.”

“Shut up, Gabe. And she’s not really an angel.”

“Keep telling yourself that. I’m sure you’ll find it very reassuring while you’re burning in the eternal hell fires, right next to the puppy kickers.”

I muttered a few expletives under my breath but kept walking.

Gabe matched me stride for stride. “I gotta ask, Cee, is it out of your system now? Or do you need to track down good ole Saint Nick and kick him in the crotch?”

“Leave her alone, Gabe,” Kendall said as she trailed us. “She’s got a lot on her mind right now!”

“Thank you, Kendall.”

“Yeah. She’s busy trying to find the Easter Bunny, so she can rip his fuzzy, little tail off.”

I glared over my
shoulder at her. “Et tu, Brute’?”

Their tittering laughter echoed through the forest.

I thought I had gained a good distance on them when Gabe jumped in front of me. With his back to me, he kept his gaze locked to the north of us.

“What now? Oh, ha, ha, ha. Is the Gryphon coming to settle the score for me making his BFF cry?” I tried to push past him, but he blocked the way with one enormous arm.

A hand locked onto my shoulder and pulled me back. I turned. Kendall silently motioned me to come to her. A low, rumbling growl escaped from my brother’s chest. All the hair on the back of my neck stood at attention.

“What is it?” I whispered.

“We’re not alone.” Gabe’s voice came out a deep, disturbing rumble.

“The panther?” Kendall asked
, her tone surprisingly calm.

Another menacing growl confirmed it.

“We’ve got to go! We aren’t ready yet for him to report us to Barnabus!” I grabbed Gabe’s arm and tried to yank him toward the parking lot.

Gabe’s head snapped around. To my astonishment, yellow slit cat eyes bore down on me. “Do you th
ink you can outrun a panther?” He snarled.

I’m kind of worried about outrunning you right now.

Instinct made me release his arm. Despite my trembling voice, I tried to reason with him. “Gabe, you’re getting ready to change. That’s pretty obvious. If he sees that, he’s gonna know. I am asking you, please, calm down and come with us. Now!”

The tall weeds beside us rustled. We were out of time. Gabe growled. His lip curled up to reveal sharp fangs emerging from his top and bottom jaw. Whatever was in the grass halted.

“Kendall, take Celeste and go,” he rumbled.

I started to object. To demand that he come too. Then I caught sight of his skin. It rippled as if something crawled beneath it. Stretching. Churning. Preparing. As revolting as it was, I couldn’t look away. Gabe hit a crouch just as the black panther slunk out from the reeds. As soon as it saw Gabe
, its ears went flat to its head. It snarled and showed its teeth.

A mighty “king of the jungle” roar tore out of Gabe and shook the ground we stood on. The panther flinched. Its feline eyes widened. Its ears perked. No mere human could make that noise. Gabe just gave us away. With a roll of his neck, the panther turned his yellow eyes to Kendall and
me. Did you know panthers can smile? They can. It’s terrifying.

Gabe entered the next, more gruesome, part of his transformation. Beneath his seemingly elastic skin, his skeletal system began to shift. With sickening snaps and pops
, his bones dislocated, then reconnected in their new formation. Hair sprouted up on him, everywhere. As awful as it was, my masochistic eyes refused to look away.

Gabe’s head swiveled to Kendall and
me, as the bones in his face separated and locked outward to form a wide muzzle. “Rrrrrun, dammit!” He yelled in a barely human tremor.

That was it. It was time to go. I grabbed Keni’s arm and scrambled down the path. Roars, lashes, and snarls quickened our pace as the two
cats collided in battle. True to form, I tripped and went face first into the dirt. Air whooshed behind me as Kendall freed her wings. She hooked me under the arms, and we went airborne. Careening at top speed, we made it back to the parking lot in no time. A distressed yelp resounded from the direction of the ferocious felines. There was no way to know if it was our lion or the Seeker in trouble.