Ascension (The Gryphon Series)

by Rourke, Stacey

  “Look at them go!” I marveled and gave them an enthusiastic round of applause. “They’re like ninjas meet Cirque du Soleil!”

  “Which means they’ll look extra fancy pounding us into the ground.” Kendall frowned and blew her long bangs from her eyes.

  “No.” Gabe shook his head as he tightened the loose drawstring of his pants. “Look close. They aren’t making contact. It’s staged fighting. Nothin’ but show. We could beat those guys with a rough game of ‘Why Ya Hittin’ Yourself?’.”

  “See, Keni! Nothing to worry about! Great deduction skills, Gabe!” I showed my support with a backhanded slap to his bicep.

  Judging by the scowl that drew in his brow, he didn’t see it as such. “Your muse inspired you to be more annoying.”

  “That’s so funny.” My nose crinkled as I snort/giggled.

  The static of a microphone being switched on cut through the arena. The crowd hushed. “It is seldom we come together in such a barbaric fashion.” I knew that voice well, the Grand Councilwoman. She hated me, and I wanted to pinch her head off her shoulders. Ours was a relationship based on mutual distaste. “Today, a new Spirit Guide must be found for the Conduit of the Gryphon, as well as her Guardian and Protector.”

  “Because the last one tried to gut me like a fish and that’s not a desirable trait in a guide,” I muttered behind my hand to Gabe.

  Grams and Alaina had been seated in high back chairs in the first row, right at the middle marker of the arena. Even from this distance I could see the frowns of unease that creased their faces. I beamed and gave them an exuberant wave of reassurance.

  “For the first time we have the luxury of the subjects being present for the choosing of their Guide. Seeing as the Garretts require …” the haughty woman cleared her throat, “… special care, the Council has decided to find the Guide whose fighting style best fits their needs from a selection of our very finest warriors.”

  Gabe’s chest shuddered as he huffed a dry laugh. “Only that woman could make ‘special’ sound like a four letter word.”

  “Let us begin.” The Councilwoman’s bony arms flung out in a wide V. “Open the doors!”

  The twirling acrobats assumed a respectable stoicism as they marched by twos to the four sets of double doors. A dramatic pause to build suspense, then they flung the doors open wide. Our opponents’ grand entrance was met with thunderous applause.

  “Bum, bum, buuummmm,” I sang the ominous theme music, then giggled at my own joke.

  Big Mike and three dudes, who matched him in size and frighteningly intimidating exteriors, emerged from all four sides, surrounding us. Black tribal ink decorated their bare torsos, and one guy’s face … which, quite honestly, made him look like a serial killer. Big Mike puffed his chest, his wings arched up wide behind him. With a loud crack the caramel skinned cohort to his left uncoiled a whip holstered at his hip. Yellow eyes flashed from the other two party-goers, signaling they were moments from shifting into something scary.

  “Whoa! It just got real up in here!” I laughed and clapped my hands together.

  Gabe’s back rounded. The bones of his face snapped and popped to form his muzzle. “What’s the plan, oh wise Chosen One?”

  “From the looks of these guys I think the plan is to take a first class butt kickin’! We are about to be on the receiving end of a monumental smack down. Epic amounts of pain, headed our way!”

  Keni gulped at my lively declaration.

  Gabe’s topaz eyes narrowed. “The novelty of you on musssssse juice hasssss officially worn off.” His clawed hands encircled mine and Keni’s wrists as he yanked us behind him. “Keep a tight formation!”

  I nudged my brother in the ribs with my elbow as hair exploded on him like an overzealous Chia Pet. “Way to take a leadership role! Good for you!”

  “Shhhhhut up and punch things,” he growled.

  The two shifters fell into their battle forms; one a magnificent white leopard, the other a fine-boned cheetah with hungry eyes. I winced as Gabe’s skeletal system slurped and thunked beside me. The impending threat spurred his change into overdrive. Unfortunately, before he could complete the transformation, the cheetah took advantage of his momentarily weakened state. It darted across the arena in a wide gait, with the leopard close behind, pumping its legs to keep up. Gabe forcefully shoved Keni and me out of the way just as the cheetah sprang into a pounce. Its front paws connected with Gabe’s barrel chest and he rode my brother straight into the ground. The air left Gabe’s lungs with a pained wheeze under the weight of the powerful cat. Adrenaline forced him feline. Our Gabe-lion rolled to the side, easily flipping the cheetah off him. He bound to his feet in time to intercept the panther in a violent collision of teeth and claws. The cheetah gave an annoyed snort as it fought to regain its footing, then threw itself into the middle of their tumble.

  Watching the tussling cats engrossed me to the point of complete oblivion. I paid no notice to the ferocious snap of a whip licking my way until a gust blew my hair back. Kendall’s wing intercepted the strike.

  “Whoa! He’s like Indiana Jones with that thing!” Squatting down, I poked my pointer fingers between Kendall’s feathers and made myself a hole to peek through. “I wanna watch him work!”

  Hungry orange flames shot from the eyes of our attacker and ignited his whip in a deadly blaze. The glow of the flames glistened off his oiled chest, illuminating him to the color of melted caramel.

  “He can shoot fire from his eyes, but he’s using the whip so he doesn’t kill us.” Over my shoulder I tossed Keni a crinkled-nose grin. “Isn’t that thoughtful?”

  “Thoughtful would be not trying to hurt us at all!” Rage reddened Keni’s face. Her lips disappeared in an angry white line.

  I flopped down on my knees with my hands in my lap and cocked my head to consider her. “You’re so passionate about this. It’s really inspirational.”

  Keni winced as the whip snapped in once more. “We need to find the small print of when that muse essence is going to wear off. You’re giving this particular Creature of Love very unloving feelings.” Her pointed chin jerked to our right. “Why don’t you handle Big Mike? I can withstand this guy’s torment a heck of a lot better than you can.”

  “Great plan!” I credited and patted her shoulder.

  “Glad you think so, now get out.” Keni shoved me from the confines of her safety and into the storming path of Big Mike. Her wing cocoon clamped shut behind me.

  Mike’s wide jaw tipped toward his chest. Slate eyes bore into me from under his creased brow. Every ounce of his being broadcast his mal intent as he pumped his well-muscled limbs straight for me. Somewhere in the dark regions of my mind a quiet voice whispered that this would be a really good time to defend myself. But the way he drew his fist back—so precise, so inspired—rendered me into a complete state of awe. All I could do was stand and stare. My cheeks ached from the broad smile I couldn’t seem to shake.

  “This is a fantastic fight!” I gushed. “You and your friends are incredibly skilled warriors!”

  His head jerked in confusion at my exuberance. That moment’s pause interrupted the flow of his swing. Instead he used his momentum to catch my throat with his forearm and hurl us backward. Together we thudded to the ground. My breath lodged and tears welled behind my eyes.

  “That was a great hit!” I gasped. “Really … oooff.”

  “Knock off the narrative,” he grumbled through his teeth. “It’s really disconcerting.”

  “Apologies … huuh … really. But … ugh … can I just give you a little tip?” Grasping Mike’s wrist, I repositioned it higher on my neck—right over my windpipe. “Right there,” I rasped. “That’s the sweet spot. Now apply a little more pressure … good! I’m seeing spots. Great … job.”

  As oxygen deprivation lured me toward the seductive shadows of unconsciousness, a booming voice rang through the arena, “That’s enough! Let them go!”

  Big Mike immediately released his hold and
scrambled to his feet. His offered hand yanked me off the dirt packed ground. As soon as I convinced my shaky legs to hold my weight, he let go and dropped to one knee with his head bowed.

  “Council Master.” His murmur dripped with respect and admiration.

  A gorgeous white owl swooped overhead, its wide wingspan a stunning medley of whites and greys. With a sweet, singsong screech it trumpeted its own arrival. All the bodies in the stands rose from their seats to drop to their knees. The owl settled to perch on the balcony ledge high above the arena. I swiveled around and watched the wave of homage that humbled the crowd. My gaze stopped on Grams. Slowly, she rose to her feet. Her eyes bulged. The color drained from her face. Beside her, Alaina huddled back further into her seat as if attempting to blend into the wood.

  “Guys?” I called to Keni and Gabe without daring to tear my eyes away from Grams. “There’s something …”

  “Celeste,” Kendall whispered.

  My head jerked Keni’s way. Her wings drooped. Pink-glossed lips opened and shut but managed no further sound.

  I half-turned and immediately shielded my eyes. Gabe had morphed back to human and stood staring straight ahead, making no attempts to cover the full display of … himself. The excitement from my muse-rush was stamped out by a cold dread of what could possibly be eliciting this kind of reaction.

  My chest rose and fell in ragged breaths. Sheer force of will forced my hesitant feet to pivot toward the owl. Impossible circumstance sucked the air from my lungs. Only one word could eek past my trembling lips. “Dad?”

  Chapter 7

  My father, whose coffin I watched be lowered into the ground just two years ago, stood strong and proud as he lorded over the room from his balcony perch. His regal blue robe draped from his arms as he raised them high above his head to acknowledge the adoring crowd. The only visible difference I could see was a jagged scar that sliced from the middle of his forehead down to his cheek, breaking only to spare his eye.

  I had no words … could form no coherent thought. Neither my brain nor heart could digest this huge morsel of knowledge. By Gabe, Keni, and Gram’s slacked-jawed silences, I guessed I wasn’t the only one drowning in a swirling typhoon of confusion and emotion.

  A tight-lipped smile was the only acknowledgement we received before he focused his gaze on a Guide positioned by the door. He dipped his chin in a brief nod and flicked two fingers toward the exit. That simple gesture spurred the arena into immediate action. The double doors at both exits were flung open. Spectators rose from their humbled postures to file out in a subdued, orderly fashion. No one questioned his command or even raised an eyebrow in protest. Authority permeated off of him. This wasn’t my dad. It couldn’t be. My dad was lazy days pushing us on the swings in the park, snuggling the whole family under one blanket to watch scary movies, driving lessons in an abandon parking lot with him white knuckling the dashboard. Maybe it was his softer side we buried that cold December afternoon.

  Gabe snapped out of his shock enough to slide his shorts back on, then quickly rejoined the rest of us in gaping at our father. The doors banged shut behind the last of the spectators. Dad took that as his cue. Light exploded, showering twinkling lights from the balcony, as he morphed back into owl form. Grey tipped wings stretched out wide, gliding him down to the arena floor. One blink and his form reverted.

  “Michael.” Big Mike snapped to attention the instant his name left my father’s lips. “You will take the role as their guide. I expect you will do better than the previous one, but not quite as good as the very first.”

  Dad glanced Alaina’s way and gave her a wink. She sat up straighter at his acknowledgement, her cheeks blooming bright pink.

  “Thank you, Council Master.” Big Mike bowed his head in gratitude of his new title.

  Kendall took a tentative step forward, followed by another. “Daddy?” By her fourth stride she broke into a full run and sprinted across the arena. He opened his arms to receive her as she threw herself into his waiting embrace. “Daddy! You’re alive … I think. I don’t really understand what’s happening! But it doesn’t really matter. You’re here!”

  Dad chuckled at Keni’s exuberance and dotted a kiss to her forehead. “It’s a long story, but I can sum it up by saying that since my human life ended I’ve been here. That was the stipulation I insisted on.”

  For reasons I couldn’t explain, a foreboding sense of apprehension hatched in my stomach and spread its poisonous tentacles through my veins. I swallowed around the lump suddenly lodged in my throat. “Stipulations for what?”

  Dad cocked his head and peered at me as if answering the blatantly obvious. “For me to select one of you as the Conduit.”

  His words slammed into me with the delicate touch of a wrecking ball. My vision tunneled. Gabe’s tree trunk of an arm caught and held me steady just as my knees buckled.

  My sentry’s eyes flashed to topaz. A low growl bubbled within his chest—directed at the man that once dried our tears and tucked us in at night.

  “You … you … picked me?” I forced the words through my dry, constricted throat.

  “I did,” Dad boasted, his chest puffing with pride.

  “Why?” I croaked in an almost inaudible whisper.

  “What?” His forehead creased as if I’d just lapsed into a rant of inane gibberish.

  The lingering influence of muse poured gasoline on my burning anguish. The inferno that resulted raged and scorched until there was nothing left except a charred pit of despair. “Everything I’ve endured, everyone I’ve lost, and you picked me. Why?”

  A belittling smile curled the corners of my father’s lips. He folded his hands in front of him. “You were chosen for this high honor, CeeCee. Because of your strong strength of character. I would have thought that obvious.”

  I pushed Gabe’s arm away and planted my feet. The shakiness vanished—chased away by pure resolve and its sidekick, blatant anger. “You don’t get to call me that,” I snarled through my teeth. “That was my dad’s nickname for me. The Council Master can refer to me as Celeste. Or—better yet—by the title he chose me for … Conduit.”

  Hurt swirled in my father’s eyes, but did nothing to cool my rage. “Celeste, if you could just calm down we can discuss this. There’s so much you don’t understand.”

  Keni shook her head, causing her pink bangs to fall forward and tangle in her eyelashes. “I don’t understand any of this.” She caught Dad’s hand and held it in both of hers. “How can I be touching you now when …” tears spilled from her eyes, leaving zigzag tracks of sorrow down her cheeks, “… we saw your body after the accident?”

  There was a time when Dad would have held Keni’s face tenderly in his hands and dried her tears with his thumbs as he murmured words meant solely to soothe. Now her emotions barely seemed to faze him. “I could explain, but perhaps it would be better if I showed you?” With a grand wave of his arm, a golden scepter materialized in his hand in a spray of sparks and flashes. He banged the end of it twice, kicking up a small cloud of dirt. Blue light shot from the head of the scepter like a movie project.

  “No!” Grams yelled, finally breaking her stunned silence.

  The blue light flickered back out. My father’s forehead creased in confusion. “Mother?”

  With determined strides, Grams stomped to the stairs that led down into the arena. Mid-step, she kicked off her heels before they dared to slow her down. A smile warmed my father’s face as his mother neared. Grams did not return it.

  Instead, she halted in front of him and yanked the scepter from his hand. “After everything these kids have been through—every awful trial they’ve faced—you talk to them like people. No magic and no showy tricks. You gave these kids a death sentence. You owe it to them to talk to them like human beings and explain why.” White lines formed around her tightly clenched lips as she let the scepter fall to the ground with a dull thump.

  Dad’s coffee colored eyes, that so perfectly matched my own, flashed
with indignation. His chest expanded with a cleansing breath I assumed was meant to squelch it. “You’re absolutely right, Mother. The truth is what they deserve and that’s what they’ll get.” He peered over her shoulder to Gabe and I. “The two of you were still in middle school, Keni still in elementary, when Alaina first appeared to me.”

  Gabe tensed beside me at the mention of his wife’s name. For the moment he remained silent, but I doubted it would last long. My empathe ability wasn’t required to feel the resentment radiating off of him. The line of those experiencing that particular emotion was fast becoming a lengthy one.

  “That’s when I learned of our ancestral ties to the Gryphon and what the three of you would be called to do. I wanted to protect you. After all, you’re my children, not soldiers.”

  I snorted a humorless laugh at the paltry hollowness of that declaration.

  “Think what you will,” Dad’s eyebrows rose, his face set in a mask of sincerity, “but I never wanted this life for you. The Council wanted me to choose one of you as the Conduit and that was the only bargaining chip I had. Its effectiveness was limited since they planned to call you either way, but I was able to make a deal. I named one of you as Conduit and in exchange they secured a seat for me on the Council. That clause allowed me to watch over you and protect you the only way I could. Me being struck by the car was very real. And there was a drunk driver.” Dad brushed Keni’s bangs from her eyes with a gentle caress, then laid his palm to her cheek. “But, it was no accident. That afternoon Alaina appeared to me and told me it was time. To secure our agreement, I had to end my life on Earth and take my place here. I stepped into the street that day knowing full well that my Earthly life would end.”

  A heavy silence hung in the arena. A choked sob escaped Grams trembling lips. Her quaking hand fumbled to cover her mouth. My heart bled for her at the pained stare of accusation she now focused on her only son.