Embrace (The Gryphon Series Book 2)

by Stacey Rourke

  Becca tried to shake her head, but all she could manage was a frantic twitch. Tears streamed down her face as she mouthed the word ‘please’. My heart ached and my mind swirled with the terrible question of ‘what-if’. I had to tear my gaze away from her pleading eyes, before I caved and raced over there to free her. Instead I focused on the hulking demon that was staring at me like it was high noon and we were waiting to see who’d draw first.

  “Think this over, girl,” he snarled.

  “You’re stalling for time, demon.”

  A sinister sneer tore across Caleb’s formerly handsome face. “So be it.”

  With a quick pulse of his hand he administered the fatal squeeze. I heard the crunch of her windpipe and my head swam. Her eyes rolled back, as her head fell limp to the side. Black dots danced in my vision. He let go and she fell to the ground with a thump. The world spun around me in a nauseating blur. Someone screamed. It may have been me. An enraged roar sliced through the night. My knees buckled. I fell to the ground, unable to catch my breath.

  Tears poured down my face and pooled on the ground. “God forgive me. I … I was wrong.”

  CHAPTER 30

  “What did you do, Celeste?! What did you do?!” Kendall shrieked as she shook me.

  Gabe-lion flipped his head and gnashed his teeth as if he could somehow shake off the image now burned on all our brains. Across from us Caleb stood in a state of suspended animation, like someone had hit his pause button. As for me, I sat folded on the ground. My feeble mind had waved a white flag and detached itself from the horrifying result of my mistake.

  “Tsk, tsk, tsk. Now you’ve done it,” said a silky smooth voice.

  My head snapped up. A not-so-dead “Becca” rose up off the ground. Her appearance altered as she stood. The peaches and cream drained from her complexion. Underneath it was skin as stark white and flawless as polished marble. Fire red color seeped over her formerly brown locks as they spun into curls around her face. Two quick blinks and the brown vanished from her eyes. Blood red irises replaced them. Her cotton t-shirt melted away. Its absence exposed a black corset with red boning that hugged her ample curves. Billowy fabric the color of red wine poked out of the top of her corset and covered her arms from her elbow to her shoulder. Black and red leather snakeskin pants looked as though they’d been spray-painted on her long legs. She stood up on tiptoe just as a set of black stiletto heels appeared on her formerly bare feet. The Countess. Beautifully terrifying in a nightmarish kind of way.

  “Naughty-naughty! Look what you’ve done.” She smirked full red lips and wagged a finger at me. “You may have forever jaded their opinions of you.” Se jerked her thumb toward Keni and Gabe. “I, on the other hand, was incredibly impressed. All this time watching you bumble your way around, I thought you were just an awkward adolescent girl trying on powers way too advanced for her. But now I think I may have misjudged you. You, my dear, have a fair share of darkness in you. I’d love to cultivate it and see just what you are capable of. Any chance you’d consider switching sides?”

  “Never.” I rose to my feet, my strength quickly returning. I’d been right. What followed was an over-acted, grotesque show. Gabe and Kendall tightened up their positions beside me, ready for a fight.

  “Pity,” she said, with a slight lift of her narrow shoulder. “But, can’t blame a girl for trying.”

  “Speaking of girls.” My hands balled into fists. “Where is the real Becca? Dark Army bootcamp?”

  With a stride Grams would refer to as having a “hitch in her get-along” the Countess sauntered over to Caleb. He stood slack, like a shelved puppet. She placed a finger under his chin and raised his face up. I bristled. Her head tilted as she gave him a brief inspection. The smug upturn of her lips displayed her pride in her handy work.

  “That was my original intention.” She dropped her hand and pivoted on her easily six-inch heel back toward us. “Then she started that incessant whining and pleading for her life. No way could I spend an eternity enduring that.” She rested her hands on her hips. “Do you have any idea how taxing that is to listen to?”

  Beside me Gabe growled. I held out a hand for him to stand down.

  “The nerve of some people,” I replied sarcastically.

  She threw one elegant hand, adorned with –surprise, surprise—blood red nails, in the air. “Exactly! See? You get it! It really is a pity you won’t join us. You do realize it’s the only way you and this dreamboat could ever be together, right?” She grasped Caleb’s chin between her thumb and forefinger and waggled his head side-to-side. “Otherwise I will make him kill you.”

  I held my head high and squared my shoulders. “You do what you have to do, and so will I. Now, where’s Becca? Did you kill her?”

  Her painfully perfect features creased as she furrowed her brow. “What is it with you and that girl? You said it yourself, she’s insignificant. But if you really must know, no I didn’t kill her. I wanted to—believe me. But I couldn’t. I had to keep that annoying little twit alive, so she could tell me what I needed to know to keep my disguise believable. Although, I suppose now her usefulness has expired.”

  She raised one slender arm and snapped her fingers. The real Becca materialized in the center of the parking lot. She looked exactly as the Countess had when she first appeared beside Caleb. Just like her doppelganger before her, sheer terror etched deep into Becca’s face.

  The seconds that followed passed in slow motion. The Countess raised her hand and made a slicing motion at the air with one wicked long fingernail. Becca screamed and grabbed her neck. Blood oozed between her fingers. Kendall pulled her wings back and rocketed to Becca’s aid. With her palm raised at Keni, the Countess caught her in mid-air and held her there. Gabe charged. He snarled and snapped his bone-crushing teeth as he ran.

  The Countess gave him a sultry chuckle. “How funny. As if you could stop me.” Throwing her head back, she chanted. “Obscurum audite mihi, subsist thee quisnam opes mihi vulnero.”

  An unseen force slammed Gabe to the ground. His legs splayed out to his sides. He growled and clawed at the ground, but couldn’t get up.

  The Countess then turned her menacing eyes my way and lifted one crimson eyebrow. “Two out of three.” She taunted.

  I don’t respond well to taunting. I lifted my hand and mind shoved the Countess’ arm that held Keni in place. Free once more, Kendall flew to Becca’s side.

  “Get her out of here!” I screamed as I braced my feet and mentally wrestled to keep the Countess’s arm back. I was well aware I had only bought us seconds.

  Becca recoiled as Kendall approached, until she saw those magnificent wings. Then her eyes widened and her voice quaked. “Am…am I dead? Is this Heaven?”

  “No to both. You’re back in Nashville.” Keni wrapped Becca’s arm around her neck and held tight to her waist. “Hold on tight.”

  Becca squealed as they lifted off into the air. My sister’s wings slapped against the air as they streaked out of sight at a speed I didn’t know Keni could achieve.

  I dropped my hand and released the paltry hold I had on the Countess. She gave me a bemused grin. I knew very well that they only escaped because she let them. She was toying with me.

  “Wow!” she marveled. “Faced with your arch nemesis, and you send your shield away? You are either incredibly brave or kind of stupid.”

  “Honestly, I think I’m a little of both,” I admitted. I thought Barnabus was scary until I met the Countess. Compared to her, he was the equivalent of a schoolyard bully. Power emanated off of her with a tangible force. Its magnitude undeniable.

  “You’re funny.” She grinned and tossed her waist-length curls. “I do like you. I wish you’d reconsider joining us. You’d be a refreshing change. No one in the Underworld has much of a sense of humor anymore.”

  “Well, ya know centuries of torture, pain and a blatant disregard for the value of their lives can do that,” I countered. My eyes flicked to Gabe, who was still fighting fo
r his freedom. “Plus, from what I hear, you need to spend a little less time recruiting and a little more time boosting the morale of your soldiers. I’ve picked up on some serious dissension in the ranks.”

  Her head cocked to the side, and she folded her hands in front of her. “Now why on earth would you think that? Unless maybe a certain smoldering blonde has been whispering in your ear?”

  Her dead on remark caught me off guard. “Uh…well, yeah.”

  “Silly girl.” Her eyes narrowed in a look that was almost playful. “You think you have it all figured out.” She flung her arms out wide. Her palms turned up to the night sky. “Rowanous, procul meus mando adeo mihi!”

  Next to Caleb, Rowan materialized in a puff of smoke. He finally looked the part of the pirate he claimed to be. Loose fitting brown pants were tucked into calf-high brown leather boots. His slack beige shirt was left open just enough to give a sneak peek at his muscular chest. Sun-streaked blonde hair waved out from under his black bandana.

  Something flashed across his face when he saw me. Guilt? He quickly focused on the Countess. “Rowan, once again you have surpassed my expectations. I really am sorry to see you go, but a deal’s a deal.” She waved her hand as if shooing away a fly. “You’re free.”

  So it was guilt. My anger flared. While I never trusted Rowan completely, I hate being lied to. “Everything you said to me about helping those people? It was all a set up? Why?”

  “Sorry, Poppet.” He shrugged with a wry smile. “It’s nothing personal. Just a means to an end.” His boot kicked across the gravel as he stepped up to the Countess and extended his hand. “The coordinates?”

  She glared down at his hand as if it were disease ridden. “I’m granting you your freedom. Don’t get greedy, pirate.”

  His hand balled into a fist as he dropped it back to his side. His chiseled jaw tensed. “We had a deal.”

  “I’m being more than generous!” Her words came out crisp and sharp. The tone of those not used to having their commands questioned. “Take what’s offered now. The offer will not be made again!”

  “Aye.” He stepped back and peered at her with pure hatred. “Rid me of the burden of you, and I’ll find him myself.”

  “Be gone, Rowan Wade,” she said noncommittally, as she fluffed her curly hair. “I release you.”

  Rowan’s body gave a spastic jerked. His head snapped back like a PEZ dispenser. Black smoke that crackled with electricity gushed from his eyes. The force yanked him up off the ground. When the last of it drained out, it cast him aside like a broken toy. He blinked rapidly as he pulled himself up onto one knee, then pushed off the ground to rise up on wobbly legs. As unsteady as he seemed, he kept his eyes locked on the Countess. I couldn’t help but think he didn’t want to show a moment’s weakness in her presence.

  “Good to be all by me lonesome in my head again.” He glanced my way. Regret creased his forehead as he gave me a brief nod. I glowered at him until he vanished into the night. Guess he didn’t lose the ability to teleport.

  “Why?” I fired at her with a heaping dose of venom. “Why did you send him? Just to mess with me?”

  “So you would learn the truth, of course,” she said, as if the answer was so simple she couldn’t believe I hadn’t figured it out myself. “That I can take anyone you care about and make them one of mine whenever the mood strikes me.” She brought one finger up to her chin. The wickedly sharp tip of her nail made a slight dimple in her skin. “Speaking of which, how’s your mother these days? All by herself up in Michigan…”

  I stepped forward, assuming my most threatening stance, fully prepared to end this right then. “Don’t even think about touching her, you evil bitch.”

  She was in my face before I could blink. Composure gone. Rage contorted her face. Her scent the spicy exotic blend of incense. “Evil am I? What do you know of evil? Do you really believe everything is so black or white? There’s a gray area in life, girl. And if you’re not careful that very area could be your undoing. You follow the Gryphon so faithfully. Yet what do you really know about him? I wonder if you’d feel compelled to protect him if you knew the truth about his past.” She leaned in. Her hot breath assaulted my ear as she whispered, “He’s nothing but a monster.”

  As much as I wanted to know what she meant by that, I couldn’t ask. I couldn’t risk allowing her to goad me into another set up. Yet she had such hatred for the Gryphon I couldn’t help but wonder what spawned it. Obviously this wasn’t about power for her but revenge. There was more to this than anyone was telling me.

  “His past doesn’t matter.” I didn’t flinch. Didn’t blink. Didn’t let her see in any way that she had rattled me. “The cause we both fight for does.”

  The Countess stepped back and licked her glossy lips. “You don’t truly even understand what it is you fight for.” She shook her head as though she pitied me. “I’d suggest that you ask your precious Council for the truth, but you won’t be alive long enough for that.” Her curls bobbed as she flicked her head in Caleb’s direction. “Suscitatic. Hic mihi!”

  Up came his head. His heart shaped lips hardly moved as he muttered a barely audible incantation over and over, as if stuck on repeat. I didn’t know what he was saying, but I was fairly certain it didn’t involve rainbows or puppy dogs.

  Gabe exerted every ounce of strength he had in his effort to get off the ground and protect me. Bloodied claws dug deep into the gravel. His muzzle curled and teeth bared from the strain. But he couldn’t budge. I assumed a fighting stance for a battle I was nowhere near prepared for.

  “Caleb!” I pleaded in a last ditch effort. “I know you’re in there somewhere. You don’t have to do this. Fight her, please.”

  “Aw.” The Countess’ smile was equal parts belittling and coolly calculating. “You poor, sweet girl. Haven’t you figured it out yet? I own him. Any interest he showed in you, any sweet words he whispered, any loving gazes he cast your way, were all because I ordered him to.”

  “That’s not true.” The ache in my heart brought the words to my lips.

  “Oh, but it is.” Her grin widened to exhibit all her perfectly straight and brilliantly white teeth. “I’m sure you’ll come to terms with that as he’s killing you. Goodbye, Celeste. Your death will bring me one step closer to my ultimate revenge. Pity you won’t be around to witness it.” She laid one hand on Caleb’s shoulder as she boomed, “Slave! Luguolo suus! Kill her!”

  She vanished in a silver mist. The battle began.

  CHAPTER 31

  In the general scheme of fights, this one could’ve been going better. The Countess’s absence had freed Gabe, who immediately got his paws bound together by a pair of ice cuffs that Caleb shot out of the palm of his hand. Caleb then turned his focus on me. Earlier that night I had wished I could fight alone. That wish had been granted, and it sucked. Caleb manifested balls of fire between his hands and whipped them at me one after another. I spun, flipped and turned to avoid most of them. The rest I lobbed back telekinetically. Defense like this wasn’t easy, and relied primarily on luck that could run out at any second. I found out just how true that was when Caleb released an exceptionally fast flying flame missile. A split second was all I had to tuck into a tight side-flip before the flames careened past where my face had just been.

  I landed on the edge of the stone fountain, which wobbled slightly under my weight. An idea formed. With one leap high into the air, I came down as hard as I could on the edge of the fountain. It tipped straight up on its side. The ice-cold water that sloshed over me hit me like a thousand knives. My nerve endings screamed out in pain from the bitter cold. Despite the quaking chills that wracked my body, I pushed on, and sprinted to Gabe’s side.

  “Sorry, brother. This isn’t going to be pleasant.” With one hand I grabbed his tail and dragged him butt first behind the fountain. The other hand I kept up to block any incoming fireballs.

  Temporarily safe behind our stone barrier, I released Gabe and then slumped down beside
him. The orange flames that flew past seemed to taunt my icy skin with their fleeting warmth. Occasionally, one would hit and chunks of stone would break free and skitter across the parking lot. I brought the side of my fist down on Gabe’s icicle shackles to free him. He rumbled his appreciation, then hunkered down beside me. I never appreciated my big, hot, and furry brother more than I did in that moment. I leaned up against him gratefully for his warmth.

  In an instant the trajectory of Caleb’s strikes changed. They arced wide into the night sky narrowly missing the beautiful winged vixen that flapped down beside us. “So, what’d I miss?” Kendall grinned and winked her mile long lashes.

  “Oh, you know. Same old, same old,” I deadpanned. “Where’s Becca?”

  “I healed her and then dropped her off at the hospital. Told her not to mention sorceresses, demons, or flying people when they ask her what happened.” Keni risked a peek over the edge of the crumbling fountain and nearly got her platinum locks set ablaze for it. “Any chance you guys have come up with a plan yet?”

  I rubbed my purple arms with numb hands. “Not yet. But maybe you could cover us? Then we could try to figure out how to take him down without hurting him.”

  Keni and Gabe exchanged matching ‘she’s an idiot’ looks. That look on a lion would’ve been laughable if my face wasn’t a chunk of pure ice and incapable of moving the muscles needed to laugh.

  “Is there a problem?” I tried to sound assertive despite my shaking.

  Kendall gave Gabe an uneasy look. He poked at her with the back of his paw to prod her on. She cleared her throat and picked at the hem of her shirt. “Celeste, we just don’t think you’re thinking real clearly. You like Caleb. He’s trying to set you on fire. Fundamentally, your relationship is flawed.”