The Key

by Felicia Rogers

  Stephanie cried out and ran from the hallway.

  Had Maddie seen? He could almost feel her heartbeat increase. Oh, yeah, she had seen.

  He put his hand on Marley’s back and guided her to class. It was going to be an interesting day.

  ****

  Maddie fell back against the lockers as a crying blond blur sped past. She lifted her head and stared back down the corridor, but Dougal had already turned and was heading the other way. Why had he done that? What was the point of pushing Stephanie away? But in all honesty… Maddie quirked her lips upward. Did she care? Stephanie had finally gotten what was coming to her. It aroused a twinge of guilt, but she quickly pushed it aside as Chase appeared and planted a kiss on her cheek.

  “Why is everyone standing around and staring?” he whispered.

  Should she explain what had happened? Yeah. Yeah, she should. “I think Dougal just broke up with Stephanie.”

  “Ah.” He narrowed his eyes.

  Was he worried? She turned into his arms. The teachers would pull them apart soon, but for now she would enjoy his touch.

  His warm breath caressed her cheek. “Do you want to go for another hike on Saturday?”

  She nodded. Of course she did. Judging by her own behavior, at least a part of her had totally and utterly forgiven him for keeping secrets, and she drifted through the rest of the school day with a goofy grin on her face that spoke of nothing but happiness.

  The week had passed so slowly. Grandma Draoi hadn’t spoken again of the story she’d told and Maddie hadn’t asked. She’d slept so hard, so dreamlessly, that night that— well, when she’d awakened, she wasn’t certain she’d heard the story properly at all. Nor did she want to think about it too deeply. With all her emotions about Chase in an uproar, she didn’t have the energy for some unnamed girl from “far away” who had sealed a tower door, if she’d even heard that part right.

  That afternoon, Chase dropped her off in her driveway and Maddie watched the truck’s retreating tail lights until nothing but a speck remained, the way she watched Alasdair vanish in the sky after rescuing her. As usual when she found herself without Chase, the evening passed slowly. She finished her homework, watched a movie with Grandma Draoi, and climbed into bed. The sooner Saturday morning arrived, the sooner she could be with Chase. She planned to let him know she’d been wrong, that she knew he’d been protecting her with his secret and that she hadn’t been ready to know the truth.

  Her protector. Her secret protector. Every girl in the world should be so lucky. Well, except for one.

  Early the next morning, Maddie waited anxiously for the honking of Chase’s horn. She had already checked on Grandma Draoi. All the emergency numbers were programmed into the phone and Chase’s parents had promised to call and check on her grandma at regular intervals.

  What could possibly go wrong?

  A knock interrupted her thoughts. She opened the door and Chase entered. “Are you ready?”

  “Yep. Just let me tell Grandma goodbye and grab my jacket.”

  ****

  Chase paced and prayed Maddie would hurry. He… he wanted Maddie all to himself, without his parents, her grandma, or anyone from the school peering sideways at them. Was it too much to ask for them to be alone together, just for a while?

  Maddie bounded back into the room. Her enthusiasm was infectious and he found himself grinning.

  “You’re happy today.”

  “Of course. Grandma’s home and feeling better every day, and it’s Saturday, which means I’m spending the entire day with someone very special to me.”

  Warmth invaded his heart. “Who is it? I want to know,” he said in a jesting tone.

  “Why, it’s this really handsome, romantic, and considerate guy I met at school.”

  He groaned dramatically. “What will I do? How will I ever be able to compete?”

  “I don’t know. It’s going to be hard. I think I forgot to mention how charming he can be and oh, he’s also very humble.”

  Chase covered his mouth, but the laughter spilled through. Maybe being interrupted by Mom wouldn’t be the end of the world. “I guess since I can’t compete with your special friend, I’ll just have to exhibit qualities he hasn’t thought of yet.”

  She tilted her head and her eyes half closed. “Like what?”

  “Like chivalry,” he said, opening the back door for her and holding out his hand so she could walk through first.

  She walked through but didn’t look impressed. “What else?”

  “Perhaps a display of strength.” He picked her up, carried her across the little lawn, and deposited her in the truck before skipping around the hood and climbing behind the wheel. It wasn’t the first time he’d carried her, but for some reason she seemed so light, as if she’d lost weight. But she hadn’t, certainly not that much.

  Still not impressed, she looked at him sideways. “And?”

  He started the engine and shifted gear. “Laughter?”

  Her lips twitched, but she controlled it. “I don’t get your meaning.”

  He’d only driven a few feet, but that couldn’t pass without challenge. The truck shuddered to a halt and he shifted back to park, then scooted closer to Maddie. Carefully he stuck his index finger straight up in the air, studied it, then casually jabbed it into her ribs.

  She shrieked, squirmed, and tried to wriggle away. “Chase, I get it. I get it!”

  “Good.” Back behind the wheel, he shifted again and headed toward the main road.

  Maddie folded her hands in her lap and stared at them. “Did you see the letter Stephanie wrote in the school paper?”

  He didn’t mind that she changed the subject. Lighthearted banter was just what the doctor ordered. “No, I haven’t read it yet.”

  “She thinks they shouldn’t vote for prom queen this year. In her humble opinion, and I quote, ‘It would be a waste of time.’”

  He snorted a laugh. “So she thinks she’ll win no matter what. She wrote that before Dougal dumped her, right?”

  “That’s what it sounded like to me.” But her smile was contented.

  After thoroughly discussing prom, they moved on to other, less fascinating subjects until they arrived at the park. Chase helped Maddie from the truck and locked his doors. For some reason, they’d both forgotten their walking sticks. Chase humphed. Maybe they’d been too busy getting away to think straight.

  “Are we ready?” he asked.

  “Yep, we’re ready.”

  They followed the lake trail, heavy with the scents of pine and damp earth, and memories of a night not so long ago flooded his mind.

  Maddie drew in a deep breath. “This brings back memories, some good…”

  “Some not so good,” he finished for her.

  In the daylight, the woods were not nearly as intimidating. They covered the trail in half the time, stopping to look out over the lake or just to enjoy an unusual tree or plant. The air was autumn crisp without being cold, and the sunlight glittered from the still water, turning it to liquid metal.

  But in the heavy ground near the shoreline, Maddie narrowed her eyes and squatted. She touched her fingers to the gooey edges of what appeared to be an animal’s pawprint. “What do you think it is?”

  He hadn’t even seen the print until she’d pointed it out. Chase glared around the sky and peered at the shadows beneath the tree line. “I’m afraid I might know.”

  She stood and rubbed her hands clean on her pants. “Do you think Dougal or Gregory has been out here? Surely this footprint couldn’t have lasted all week?”

  They’d had rain at some point, hadn’t they? “I don’t know.” Chase bent and inspected the print more thoroughly.

  The size and shape resembled the pawprint of a lion, only much larger and longer. The muddy impression seemed fairly fresh and it squished beneath his fingertips.

  “What do you think?” she asked.

  “I think we should keep moving.”

  “I second that. Oh, I
forgot to tell you about this great story my grandma told me. Are you interested?”

  Something like a warning stirred in his blood. But he kept his voice casual. “Sure.”

  She led the way down the trail and spoke over her shoulder. “It was a love story. This warrior helped this girl search for her missing sister and in return he asked for her love and her help. She gave both.”

  So far he liked it.

  She paused, waiting for him to catch up, and side by side they circled the lake. “He had some kind of dispute with his army unit and he needed to do something about them, or something. So he erected a huge, magical tower and asked her to seal the door once everyone was in and he was safely out. Then she and her ancestors would forever have the power to open the door merely by touching it. Why are you looking at me like that?”

  It felt as if his blood turned to ice in his veins. “I’m stunned.”

  Her smile faded away. “Okay, why?”

  “This whole time the answer was right in front of me.” And now the last piece of the puzzle folded into place.

  “Chase, what are you talking about?”

  With one hand, he smacked his forehead. “It was so obvious.”

  “Chase? Seriously, what are you talking about?”

  He grasped her by the shoulders. Her eyes, wide and frightened, stared back into his. At some deep, subconscious level, she knew, too.

  “The story, Maddie. It’s about Cian and Arin.”

  “Who?”

  “It doesn’t matter right now. What does matter is that, just like Dad thought, you’re Arin’s descendant. You’re the key to opening the prison!” The words tumbled from him and everything became clear. The Donovan family had dedicated their lives as protectors of the key, while Arin’s family was the key.

  Beneath his hands, she shivered. “What are you talking about? I’m confused.”

  “I should have known as soon as I heard the meaning of your name. The word spray-painted on your wall, eochair, means key.”

  “Grandma didn’t tell me.”

  He shook her gently. “That’s why Doran wants you. You can free his family.”

  Chapter 35

  A slow, loud clapping echoed behind them. They whirled together. A dark figure loomed in the shadows of the trees. A stray shaft of sunlight pierced the pine boughs and flashed a rim of white fire along the upper edges of the figure’s charcoal wings, arched above and behind its head like a dark heart.

  “You finally figured it out. I was starting to wonder about your level of intelligence.”

  “Dougal?” Maddie asked. What was he doing there? That couldn’t be good. And the black heart of his wings… she shivered.

  The figure stepped from the shadows, and the sunlight revealed the dark gryphon himself. He spread his hands out to the sides as if presenting himself. Sharp claws gleamed. “In the flesh, or the fur, if you prefer.”

  “How did you find us?” Maddie asked, her palms sweating. She didn’t know what Dougal-Doran was up to, and she didn’t want to know. They had to get away.

  He tapped one claw to his forehead. “Duh! Let’s see. I can fly.” He scoffed and shook his head. “Sometimes I wonder about Arin’s children and their brains. Surely you’ve got it all figured out by now.”

  “No,” she whispered breathlessly.

  Beside her, Chase said nothing. But she could feel his presence like a scorching heat. When she reached out a hand, his fingers — human still — closed around hers. Good. He’d change into gryphon form and they’d escape.

  “Well, then, let me say that your grandma is quite the little witch. She has been hiding you and your mother, and before that your grandmother, for years. But hiding two people presented a challenge, and somehow Gregory discovered your whereabouts.” The fur covering his face let little emotion show through. But somehow she got the impression he wasn’t nearly as pleased or victorious as he tried to sound.

  She shook her head, shook off the thought, and tried to concentrate. “Gregory? What does he want from me?”

  The big shoulders shrugged, the dark wings above and behind echoing the movement. “Oh, that’s very simple. Like he said before, he just wants to kill you.”

  “Great. Why?”

  “He was the gryphon who stole Arin’s sister, starting the war and that little family feud you were talking about. He fears Cahal’s release, so he has been killing Arin’s offspring to ensure Cahal never returns. Simple, really. It’s self-preservation.”

  “That’s why he started the fire, to kill me? Then you saved me because you do want Cahal to be freed?”

  “Yes, dear, you’re correct.”

  “Why would you want Cahal to be freed? Right now, you’re the only one of your kind.” She tried to emphasize with her tone that he was special, unique.

  But he didn’t take her bait. “Not quite.”

  “Well, very close. So why do you want Cahal freed?”

  She squeezed her fingers. But Chase didn’t speak and she was running out of things to say to stall Dougal. What was wrong with Chase? Why wasn’t he changing into Alasdair and flying them out of there?

  Dougal laughed loudly and a figure left the forest shadows, slithering across the clearing like a snake and stopping beside him. Maddie gasped at its hideous form.

  The snake-woman shook back her hair. Strangely, it was well-combed, styled in a fashionable up-do, with blond curls that danced on her shoulders. But the rest of her… “That’s right. You’re looking at a monster. My name’s Serena, but I’m not myself. In truth,” she laid one grotesque hand on her chest, “I am a beautiful woman.” Enraged determination set her face in hard lines. “That is why Cahal must be freed.”

  Maddie let go of Chase’s hand — why wasn’t he changing? — crossed her arms over her chest, and attempted to put on a brave front. “That doesn’t explain why Dougal is helping you.”

  Dougal guffawed. “She does have a point.”

  “Shut up, Doran,” said Serena.

  Maddie hoped it didn’t hurt Chase’s feelings but if he wasn’t going to fly them out of danger, then she had to win Dougal to their side. She swallowed her fear. “I know Dougal has feelings for me, so I can’t imagine why he would help you.”

  Chase fisted his hands.

  Serena slapped her scaly tail against Dougal’s dark-furred legs. “Answer the girl. Tell her what I hold over you.” Dougal whispered the answer and Serena said, “Speak up, Doran, they can’t hear you.”

  Doran shouted his answer and it echoed from the trees. “Serena has no hold over me. We were raised in the same village, nothing more. Are you happy?” He glared at Serena.

  “No, I’m not.” She gave him a little push. “Go on, tell your little love kitten why you’re freeing your brothers.”

  Love kitten? Maddie felt like she’d been slimed.

  He shrugged, “It’s very simple — power.”

  “What?” Maddie said, shocked.

  Serena slithered around him in a circle, running a long nail along Dougal’s forearm. A thin red line appeared through the dark fur, then was instantly gone. “Honestly, darling, how can you be attracted to one so dumb? Please explain this to her, so we can get out of here. My head is beginning to hurt.”

  Dougal sighed. “Anything to stop your headache, dear,” he said sarcastically. “Alasdair’s line is of the grays, which are sworn protectors. But I’m different. After my father kidnapped my mother, he morphed to a human with the help of magic. My birth didn’t occur until after the great imprisonment.” He shifted out of Serena’s circle and flexed his wings, forcing her away.

  “Imagine my surprise to find out I was the only one! A freak! Everyone I knew grew up and died, but I stayed suspended in time as a young man, with no one like me. That’s when Serena found me and explained that I wasn’t the only one and that I didn’t have to be alone. Now I want to free my father and the fallen gryphons, and take my rightful place as ruler of the world.”

  Beside her, Chase shifted.
“Why do you think Alasdair exists?”

  And suddenly Maddie realized why Chase hadn’t changed: outnumbered as he was, talk was a better weapon than fists and claws. She forced a stoic expression, hoping to protect his secret.

  Serena threw out her deformed hands. “Well, isn’t it obvious? Alasdair is of the same race as Cian, the race of the grays, the defenders of mankind. After Cahal and his black warriors were imprisoned, Cian made a pact between the grays and the humans. The grays would spend their lives protecting the descendents of Arin and in turn her descendants would keep the tower locked. Alasdair has come into existence because Maddie is of the line of Arin and she has been threatened.”

  “How come his whole family hasn’t changed?” His voice sounded strained and she wished she could squeeze his hand and offer reassurance. She should never have let his hand go.

  “Because in order for a gray to change, he must feel the urge to protect. It’s even stronger if the one in need of protection is his true love.” Serena lifted her head to the sky, peering around. “By the way, where is your protector? Shouldn’t he be here?”

  She planted her hands on her hips. “Why? I’m not in danger, remember? You can’t get me to open the tower if I’m dead.” Hopefully her words would distract them from Chase’s increasing tension. He felt like a time bomb beside her, awaiting the right moment to explode.

  “Serena, she does have a point.” Dougal grinned, but still… for someone who thought he was about to win a great victory, he seemed almost as strained as Chase.

  Serena hissed. “She may not be in danger from death, but she is greatly mistaken if she thinks she is safe.”

  As if at a signal, Dougal whirled, stalked back to the forest’s edge, and shoved bushes aside. Black fur, stained and matted — Gregory, bound with chains. Maddie started back, then froze. The black gryphon was even more hideous in daylight. His overly long black snout sniffed at the air. Long, thick, hairy arms were crushed to his sides. He stretched his wings behind him, fighting against the confining links. His eyes bulged as he stared at Chase. A chuckle rent the air.