A burst of feathers. Men crumbling to the ground. The roar of a lion, followed by another, and another. My deafening screech pierced through the night. Soldiers and villagers alike froze as a I flew over the burning town and landed in the heart of the battle.
The ball slipped from my fingers and landed on my father’s desk with a soft thud. Fear tightened my chest as an icy understanding shuddered through me. “I … have to go.”
“What did you see, Celeste?” For a moment my father, my real father, made an appearance. Concern creased his brow as his hand slid over his desk in search of mine. “I saw nothing.”
“There’s no time. I have to go,” I mumbled as I stood and forced my feet in the direction of the door. “I’ll … see you soon.”
“Cee-Cee, wait!”
Numb from shock, I paused at the door and glanced back over my shoulder.
“I love you. Please be careful.” The gold flecks in his eyes brightened with the tears he blinked back.
All I could manage was a weak nod before I fumbled out the door where Big Mike and Terin waited to escort me to my destiny.
Chapter 23
“Does everyone understand the plan?” I scanned the group before me without letting my gaze linger too long on any of them.
Kendall scooted closer to Grams. Her hands trembled as they closed around Gram’s in a white knuckled grasp. “I don’t know, Cee. It seems really risky. Are you sure you can control it?”
I shifted my weight from one foot to the other, bumping elbows with Terin and Big Mike in the process. “The Gryphon hasn’t let me down before, he won’t start now.”
Gabe ran his hand over his freshly buzzed head. “The Countess won’t be able to resist making an appearance, that’s for sure. I just hope you can maintain it. If not, it’ll be a bloodbath of such epic proportions it’ll make the history books.”
From the far corner of the living room a member of the Glee Club whimpered.
“This is it, isn’t it?” Grams wrapped an arm around a visibly quaking Keni. “What you’ve all been preparing for and trying to prevent?”
“It is.” I took a beat to collect myself then declared, “Which is why I need you and Alaina to run.” Gram’s face blanched in a wash of shock. I sped up my tempo to a high-speed rant before she could argue. “You each need to pack a bag and get to the airport tonight. Hop the first flight to Michigan you can get. I’ll tell Mom you’re coming …”
“And if they attack there first?” White lines appeared around Gram’s tangerine painted lips under the weight of her potent scowl.
My jaw swung slack. How had I missed that crucial detail? My family in Michigan would be unprotected …
“I’ll go.” Big Mike turned his head and rumbled down to me, “They’ll be safe.”
I swallowed hard and rasped a meek, “Thank you.”
“No!” The palm of Gram’s hand slapped down on the end table with a loud crack! “Young lady, I am seventy-two years old and this is my home. I’m not going anywhere.”
I matched her fiery glare with one of my own and forced the words through clenched teeth. “If you stay I can’t protect you.”
Her features softened. Anger relinquished its hold to understanding. “Baby girl, when have I ever given you the impression I needed protecting? Whatever’s coming, I’ll be right here with my family to face it.”
Even though every fiber of my being was telling me to protest, I knew it was pointless. Like it or not, Grams had made up her mind. Instead, I jerked my chin at Alaina. “What about you?”
Gabe sat on the couch and stroked his bride’s knee as she perched on the sofa arm. “I think it’s a good idea, Lani. You’re mortal now. I’d kinda like to keep you around as long possible.”
Her hand hovered over her stomach protectively as she nodded, “I’ll go.”
At least someone here is thinking straight, I bitterly mused. “Good. Now to the rest of you …” I let my gaze sweep over the room but pointedly avoided eye contact with Caleb or Rowan. Those were two landmines I would avoid setting off as long as possible. “Really think on this. Don’t sign up out of obligation. I don’t want—”
“I’m pregnant,” Alaina interrupted. Her eyes bulged as if she shocked herself with the declaration.
A chorus of gasps sucked the air from the room. It rushed right back in trills of laughter and joyful shouts.
I watched the celebration with sad detachment. Gabe gathering his wife in his arms and peppering her face with kisses. Caleb giving Gabe a congratulatory slap on the shoulder then pushing his way past him to squeeze his sister tight. The Glee Club breaking into a rousing mash-up of baby themed songs. Grams immediately spouting off about effective stretch mark preventative creams and the importance of Kegel exercise—gross. Kendall, bouncing on her toes and claiming the task of decorating the nursery as her own.
Positioned between Terin and Big Mike, I realized my role here was now the same as theirs. We were the warriors, present for the happy family’s big moment but not really a part of it. Tears welled behind my eyes. I bit the inside of my cheek hard enough to taste blood. Would I ever see the baby’s face? Would I learn its name? Watch it grow?
“You need to wrap this up,” Terin whispered, her face full of a compassion I didn’t know her capable of. “Say you’re tired, make an excuse. Then get your mind right for what’s to come.”
“Sorry, was I emoting at you?” I huffed a humorless laugh and swiped at my eyes with the back of my hand.
“You didn’t have to.”
“Ahem …” I stepped forward and adopted an all-business tone to put a quick end to their jubilance. “You all have reasons to retreat. None of you have to make this fight yours.” I saw shadows of indecision that hadn’t been there before and rejoiced in them. If nothing else, Alaina’s announcement reminded them all of their mortality and how much they really stood to lose. “If you want to run, do it now. Those that decide to stay … live the next twelve hours like they’re your last. Because they could very well be.”
I turned on my heel and strode for the door as a low buzz of conversation swelled behind me.
“Celeste, lovey, wait!” I made it as far as the foyer before Caleb caught my upper arm and spun me to face him. “If I only have a few hours left …”
Whatever heart-wrenching declaration he was about to make was interrupted by snaking black smoke that solidified into a noticeably grouchy pirate.
“Can I request a moment of our willing martyr’s time?” Rowan spat. The tendons of his neck and arms were taut with tension. If he kept grinding his teeth like that he’d have to resort to sipping pureed meals through straws.
If I knew Rowan—and history had repeatedly proven I didn’t—that conversation would be a volatile one. And as much fun as being called derogatory terms from the seventeenth century was, my patience level for it registered at non-existent.
I held my hands up to halt them both, but fixed my stare on the black and white polka dot rug at my feet. If my gaze betrayed me by wandering to one even a second too long it would speak volumes. “You made a deal to keep your distance until this was over. For one more day we all need to honor that pact.”
Without another word, I snatched my art satchel from the hook on the closet door and bolted from the house. The screen door banged shut behind me as I bounded off the porch. My brisk pace couldn’t escape the ominous silence of the still sleeping town as it whispered warnings of all I’d left unsaid to the people I loved. I knew I may never be able to correct that act, but I couldn’t allow myself the luxury of doubting my decision. It was too late. All I could do now was wipe the free flowing tears from my cheeks and walk on.
Chapter 24
The creek bubbled its soft serenade as the sunrise broke through trees and scattered its rays across the clearing. A backdrop of hyacinthine blue made the streaks of pink and orange that swirled across the sky even more magnificent. With time the colors melded together into melted gold that illuminated the en
tire mountain crest. I tipped my face up and let a beam of light warm my skin.
With an exasperated sigh, my shoulders sagged in disappointment. Normally, I found the mountain’s majesty cathartic to any stress that plagued me. This time it completely failed to loosen the knot of nerves in my gut.
Chewing on my thumb nail, I toyed with the idea of training to release a little tension. Repel off a few tree trunks. Snap saplings in half with my roundhouse kick. Even a bout of unnecessary violence didn’t sound appealing. Training now made about as much sense as studying after an exam.
There was only one distraction that I could rely on to lose myself in. My ponytail fell forward and tickled my ear as I bent down to pull my sketchpad from my satchel. Slowly at first, lead skimmed paper. In a matter of a few strokes I was immersed in my own brand of therapy. All my fear, sadness, and anxiety churned together in the forming image. The pencil took on a life of its own as it flitted across the paper. Kendall appeared within the lines and shading. Flowers decorated her long, flowing hair as it blew wild in the wind. Nature itself shielded her with a glorious ankle length gown made of leaves, feathers, and petals. Her wings rose behind her in a magnificent arc. I turned the page, without pausing, and dove into the next sketch. This time I focused on Grams. On the surface she flourished with her crazy extroverted radiance, yet beneath her grew thick roots that nourished our entire family. She was our oak. A quick break to wipe off the smudge of lead that darkened the side of my hand before I moved on to Gabe’s portrait. I needed no metaphor for this piece—just the truth of him. Despite the struggles he faced he now epitomized what it meant to be a man. Those of us lucky enough to be his family got to see his tender, caring side. Anyone that dared to threaten us had to endure the ferocious lion.
After struggling to get the shading of his mane right, I sat back and stretched my aching back. Then, tucking my pencil into the base of my ponytail, I dug through my satchel for something to munch on. Tepid water and a squished cereal bar would be today’s main course. As I slugged down the water, I stared at the next blank sheet and contemplated my next sketch.
“Lost little girl, all alone,” a breathy voice murmured against the back of my neck.
My shoulder blades nearly touched from the chill that ripped down my spine as I threw my water bottle and rocketed off the log.
“The middle of a war and you’re sitting out here without your bird brain sister or meat sack brother?” Kat—a normal girl Barnabus abducted and transformed into his merciless, she-demon play thing—stalked along the edge of the creek. Her inky black hair fell like a curtain to block her face, except for drastically over-shadowed eyes. “Unless … could it be? Does the Conduit have a death wish? Because I would love to play fairy godmother and grant that for you.”
Instinct tugged my hands up to block any blows she may throw, but my vindictive side forced them back down. “Look at that, a declawed kitty Kat. Pardon me if I don’t tremble with fear.”
The sunlight glittered off her dimple piercing as she pivoted to face me. “Oh, you mean this?” She turned her arm, wrist up. A long metal blade slid from her flesh.
Goose bumps sprang up along my arms. Still I fought to maintain my unaffected facade. “Barnabus said you wouldn’t be made active again.”
One Lycra clad hip cocked to the side. “He was evil. He lied. Get over it.”
“This is why your kind gets a bad rep … no accountability.” My skin sizzled with an electric warning as Kat’s demonic cohorts crept out of the foliage and surrounded me. I jerked my chin in bitter acknowledgement of ex-NFL linebacker Trent Cummings as he slunk from the shadows beside me—as much as a dude that size can ever slink. “So, what’s the plan here? Trent holds me while you do your Queen of Hearts impression?”
Kat brought her index finger, complete with chipped black nail polish, to her lips and pantomimed contemplation. “Hmmm … now that sounds fun. But, no. Actually, we’re here as a demonstration of loyalty to our new leader.”
My head flicked side to side as I anticipated the moves of each lurking demon. “By killing me for them? Not loving this plan.”
“I really like where your head is at right now!” Kat bubbled with genuine appreciation. “Seriously, stellar ideas!”
“Bloody hell, lass, I can’t leave ya alone for a minute, can I?” Caleb jogged out of the tree line and leapt over a narrow section of the creek to position himself protectively between me and Kat.
“What are you doing here?” I hissed out of the corner of my mouth.
“I abandoned ya here in the mountains once. I’ve been standin’ over there watchin’ ya and quietly redeeming myself.”
“You’ve been watching me?”
“Aye.”
“All day?”
“Aye. Ya’r lovely when ya’r lost in ya’r head and creatin’.”
“That’s pretty romantic, ya creeper.”
“But, now I see ya’r prolonged solitude is an open invitation for a brawl.” Caleb’s hair fell across his forehead as he nodded in Kat’s direction.
“You’ve got it all wrong, you delicious slab of meat,” Kat purred as she eye groped him. “As much as I hate to admit it, our kind has a pack master mentality.” She forced her liberally mascaraed eyes off of Cal and peered my way. “You killed our leader. Guess what that makes you?”
“Filled with a sudden sense of dread?”
“Better.” Kat pressed her lips together as if loathing what was to come, then dropped down on one knee. All around me the demons followed suit in a slow wave that rolled through the clearing. “It makes you a force to be reckoned with. The Mutants of Mayhem are at your disposal.”
Any minute now the punch line would come and they would rise up in attack. Right? “You call yourselves that? On purpose?”
Kat’s eyes narrowed, a look made frightening by her overuse of cosmetics. “Sorry, the Condu-sluts was taken … by you.”
Yes, I was surrounded by demons whose hatred for me was palpable. No, that wasn’t enough to muzzle my sarcasm. “You know words can hurt. Probably not as much as when I snapped your ulna and radius over my knee, but still.”
“Easy, now,” Trent’s deep bass voice warned.
Kat seethed, her teeth visibly grinding behind her lips. “Words cannot express how much I hate you.”
“Totally mutual.”
“But I—we—will follow you. At least until someone else kills you. Then we’re with them.” Her blue painted lips curled into a tight, mocking smile that she contradicted by bowing her head in a show of respect.
“That’s a rare form of loyalty to find,” I played it cool by scoffing, then turned my head to shoot Caleb a look of gaping astonishment.
“And how many demons are in this army?” Intrigue knitted Caleb’s brow.
“At last count we have over 180 soldiers with every kind of demonic trait you can imagine.” Trent jabbed a thumb over his wide shoulder. “This is just a sampling of what we’ve got.”
I turned in a slow circle. My gaze searched the kneeling crowd for any visible attributes they may have. The Countess’s minions normally derived their talents from nature. Barnabus, on the other hand, channeled his inner mad scientist when he created these violent atrocities. Skull spikes, sizzling electric auras, claws made from actual daggers …
A slow smile snuck across my face. “We may not die horribly after all.”
Caleb started to return my grin until the weight of my words sank in. “Whoa … was that the only viable option before?”
In retrospect that probably should’ve been an inner monologue moment.
Chapter 25
The knuckle of Caleb’s index finger traced across my jawline. Gently, he tipped my face up to his. “There’s somethin’ I really need tah tell ya in case the worst does happen.”
I pressed one finger to his perfect, heart-shaped lips. “No. None of that. Just kiss me.”
Needing no further invitation, he gathered me into his strong arms. I closed my eye
s and tilted my head in eager expectation of sweet bliss.
“Lovey?” he murmured against my lips.
“Mmmm?”
“Ya do realize thars close tah two hundred demons watchin’ us right now, yah?”
Slowly, I turned my head and glanced over my shoulder. Our newly attained soldiers stood at attention in the middle of Main Street. Expressions varying by levels of judgment were carved on each of their faces. In my defense, it was easy to forget we weren’t alone considering the cavalry’s stoic silence and that Gainesboro had become a ghost town.
As I cleared my throat and untangled myself from the paradise of Caleb’s embrace, a gust of feverish wind whooshed past. Terin solidified within the blaze not ten feet away. Her still sparking irises locked on our horde and didn’t waver.
“Uh-oh. Be right back,” I muttered and scurried to intervene before Terin did something crazy … like flambé our army.
“What’s going on?” Her skin sizzled as live flame snapped and licked just below the surface.
“Went for a walk, picked up an army of demons that were up for a fight. What’s new with you?”
Terin’s ginger brows pulled together. “It’s really a coin toss if you’re going to save the world or destroy it.”
“Let me know how it lands, will ya?”
Her pointed chin jerked in the direction of the patiently waiting troops. “And you can control them?”
“I think so.” I had raised my arm to push my bothersome side bangs behind my ear when I noticed a lone tendril of black smoke slithering around my wrist. “And if I can’t, he can.” I jabbed my thumb over my shoulder expecting Rowan to materialize beside me.
Ascension (The Gryphon Series) Page 16