The Last Griffin

by Wendy L. Koenig

  As he dried his hair, Brian turned to Olivia. He leaned into her and spoke just above a whisper. They didn’t need anyone overhearing them. Not that he thought anyone could anyway. “While we wait for our food, I’ll answer the question you asked earlier.” He glanced at Tony, making sure he’d keep an eye on the door. He needn’t have worried; his friend’s gaze was constantly roving the room.

  Turning his attention to Olivia, he said, “Yes, we steal vehicles, and other things, occasionally. It’s one of the drawbacks to what Tony and I do. When a shifter gets in trouble with the law, it’s not like a normal human. Often, the shifter, when trapped in prison, will change and kill. That exposes us all. It can’t be allowed. Understand?”

  “So far.”

  “Our job, mine and Tony’s, is to step between the law and the shifter long enough to get other options in place. By the time the shifter turns himself in, Bellerophon is able to barter for a better situation. Most shifters in the legal system are experiencing their animals for the first time. They just don’t know how to deal.”

  “Have you ever gotten in trouble for helping someone?”

  He shrugged. “Not so much.”

  She nodded and tucked a loose strand of her beautiful honey blonde hair behind her ear, brows knit together. Brian could imagine the gears grinding in her brain. He almost smiled, but thought better of it. She probably wouldn’t appreciate his levity at that precise moment.

  After a brief pause, Olivia asked, “If you know you have these situations, why steal cars? Why not just have a fleet of them ready?”

  He grinned. He’d used a similar argument with Tony when he’d first joined the cause. “We don’t want anyone to know we’re helping these people. It’s easier to catch us if we keep cars. Then it’s all over. No more shifters will be helped.”

  “Are there any shifter criminals? I mean, habitual? Or really bad ones? Other than Hall, I mean.”

  “Sometimes,” he answered softly, thinking of his past. He’d been damn lucky to have been found by people who believed in him, to have their help. “But the same holds true. If a shifter gets found out, it’ll expose us all. We can’t have that. And despite all evidence, I don’t think Hall is a criminal in the classic sense.”

  He thought that would end the conversation, but she persisted. “No. Hall just wants to kill me. So, if he does kill me, for example, what do you do? According to what you tell me, he can’t go to jail.”

  “Oh, he’ll go to jail all right. There are jails run by our kind, those who understand the animal side. We try to place our people there. But he’ll never find you.”

  It seemed to satisfy her, and he was grateful. He really didn’t want to go much further into this discussion. He wasn’t quite ready for her to learn about his past. She should know it, but he would tell her in his own time.

  The end of the conversation coincided with the arrival of the burgers. They were, indeed, colossal. And very juicy. He leaned over his plate to catch the drips as he bit. Off the top of his head, Brian couldn’t recall a better tasting slab of ground beef. Angus, for sure. The fries were beer battered, which he normally didn’t like, but even they tasted good. Through a mouthful, he asked, “What’s that saying? Hunger is the best spice?”

  Tony and Olivia both nodded, their mouths crammed just as full. It was then, of course, that someone walked in. Tony swallowed an unchewed mouthful of burger and stood, hurriedly wiping his lips with a wadded napkin. There was only one woman who made Tony toe the line. Brian could tell by the fire in his friend’s eyes that it was probably the lawyer. He also stood and turned around.

  To say that C. Angelique Bellerophon was beautiful was an understatement. Her pale blonde hair cascaded in waves around a perfectly oval face. When she pulled off her shades, crisp blue eyes pierced through each and every occupant of the room. Her lips were full and formed a perfect cupid’s bow. She was slim, but curved nicely in her cream-colored suit. She wasn’t tall, only five-seven, but her always present three-inch heels brought her close in height to most men. And judging by the faces of those males in the room, she’d be spending the night with every one of them while they dreamed.

  She looked good, no doubt about it. He’d been interested in her, in the beginning, but he’d gotten over that. She was just too…something…for him. Controlled, maybe was the word. Or hidden. Yeah, that was it: hidden. He’d trade a thousand of her for one Olivia.

  Tony met Bellerophon halfway across the floor and kissed her square on the lips, branding her as his. “Lana.”

  “I’ve told you, Tony. Don’t call me that.” Annoyance filled her voice, and she frowned at him. Then her gaze lit on Brian and slid past him to Olivia, who was still seated at the table, watching with narrowed eyes. Was that jealousy? He could almost see the griffin rising within her. If it was true, and she actually became a griffin, she would be a moving force in the world. It pleased him that she considered him to be her property. Again, he had to fight to not smile. He didn’t quite make it though.

  “Brian.” Bellerophon reached her hand to him. “You look happier than I’ve ever seen you.”

  “Angelique.” They shook hands. Brian turned toward Olivia, laying his hand on her shoulder, showing his connection to her. She looked very relieved that he’d only shaken hands with the lady lawyer. “This is Olivia.”

  “Ms. Bonaparte.” Bellerophon glanced between the two of them as she shook hands with Olivia. A light of understanding crossed her face. “Now I see why Brian is grinning like a schoolboy.”

  Tony pulled out the empty chair for her. She sat and said, “I could have sent one of my boys, but I couldn’t pass up this opportunity to meet you.”

  “You made good time,” Brian said as he settled back in his chair.

  “Well, the community is abuzz with news of our new friend. I knew it would be a matter of time before you phoned me, so I had my boys do some shopping in preparation. When you called, I came as fast as I could.”

  “Councilor, did you break the law?” Tony asked, his eyes full of mirth.

  “Yes, Your Honor. I’m afraid I exceeded the speed limit.” This she said with a deadpan face. Then she grinned and reached into her clutch bag. “Luckily, there were no cops.”

  Pulling out three cell phones, she slid one in front of each of them. The next trip into her bag, she returned with three thick stacks of cash, which she also dropped one in front of each of them. One final trip brought out a set of keys. She handed them to Tony.

  Olivia picked up her bundle of cash and flipped the end of it. “I’m not sure how long it will take to pay you back.”

  Bellerophon smiled and gently said, “Honey, do you honestly believe that any one of us, who can live to 2000 years, isn’t stinking rich? Think about it. It would be near impossible. And, if you are who we think, then you have the wealth of a whole race dumped into your account.”

  Olivia blushed. “Brian said you’re a shifter. May I ask, what?”

  “I’m a Firehorse.”

  “Firehorse. What is that?”

  “Exactly what it sounds. I’m a horse.” Bellerophon tugged her hair. “But, this all goes to flames if I want.”

  “I bet it’s beautiful.”

  “So I’ve been told.” She glanced pointedly at Tony. Rising from the table, she said, “You need to get going, and so do I. Call me if you need me or when you know something. Whichever comes first.”

  She gave a soft laugh, kissed Tony on the cheek and strode out the door, every male eye in the place following her.

  Brian leaned into Olivia. “She’s a good lawyer, but she’s not the kind I would consider a friend.” Tony raised his eyebrows at that, but Olivia rewarded him with a deep sigh and bright smile.

  Chapter 37

  The vehicle Bellerophon brought them was a faded blue Chevy pickup. Nothing fancy. Olivia guessed it was probably purchased privately instead of from a dealership. An effort to stay hidden. Tony drove them farther north, but moved deeper into the mountains.
It had now been seven days since the initial attack at her apartment. Yet, it seemed like years had passed.

  Through a series of twists and turns over paved and rock roads, they discovered an abandoned cabin hidden in the foothills above the city of Walden and a few miles from the Arapahoe Wildlife Refuge. The hut had no view, other than trees, trees, and more trees. Though the situation seemed to fit the mission of the AWR, she didn’t think the officials who had built the nearby park had their kind of wildlife in mind while planning the location.

  The cozy cabin had only the main room and a bathroom. She and Brian got the solitary bed in the corner, while Tony took the couch after giving them a stern warning to please refrain from bedroom Olympics. She thought he might have been jealous because he didn’t have a partner. He didn’t have to worry, though; with the way she felt, she just wanted to cocoon under the heavy quilts until she died. And that’s pretty much all she did for the next twenty-four hours. She had no idea what Brian and Tony were doing during that time, but mice would have made more noise than them. Except for the dosing of Brian’s brew, she rarely woke.

  Late on the following day, when she stayed awake for more than an hour or two, she sat on the bed and faced Tony. He was stretched across the length of the couch, frowning and reading a brown and torn novel about combat pilots in the Congo. She asked, “What’s the plan?”

  He looked her up and down. “We’re not ready.” Then he returned to his book. He’d started growing a slick black beard and mustache. She wondered if it was just from lack of razor or for camouflage. Dark half-circles hung below his eyes and his hair, though combed, didn’t have his usual primping. Was that from worry, tension, or the couch?

  She asked again, “What’s our plan?” She knew he had one, and she had a right to know it.

  Through the window, Olivia caught a glimpse of Brian outside, picking through a stack of firewood. He still had telltale signs of exhaustion, cuts, bruises, and other injuries on him. He’d healed well for the most part, though, and seemed to be his usual laid-back self. He’d also started a beard and mustache, but curly brown. He wore the coat Tony had given her in the clearing. Behind him, sat the ancient blue Chevy truck. She still missed the pearl white 1968 Chevy. It saddened her, though she knew the necessity of getting rid of such a recognizable vehicle.

  With an exaggerated sigh, Tony marked his place and set down the novel. “No plan, yet. We’re waiting on you.”

  At her perplexed look, he added, “To finish healing. And changing.”

  If anything, he confused her more. And scared her. What did he mean? “Finish changing?”

  “Do you really think a normal human could deal as well with everything you’ve been through, as badly injured as you’ve been? Have you noticed how much you sleep? How much you eat? Do you think that’s normal?” His brilliant blue eyes held her gaze.

  She felt breathless, but not from excitement. Was this real? Could she be changing? “M-maybe,” she stammered. “Maybe the doctors misdiagnosed. I couldn’t have been injured as badly as we thought. And I’m just tired from everything we’ve been through.” She had to admit, it sounded hollow and very implausible. But the alternative scared her. Terrified her, actually. It kept her rooted, completely immobile. She was actually becoming this evil thing. This griffin.

  Brian walked in, whistling, and saw what must have been panic on her face. He shut the door and carefully placed the wood in its home next to the fire. Glancing from Tony to her, he came around the couch and took her hands. “Together,” he said, as if he knew exactly what the conversation had been.

  Olivia almost said, “What together? You’re not going through this. You’re not becoming evil incarnate.” But then, she remembered his past and what Tony had told her and she nodded. Together. At least until she showed her true evilness, and then there would be no more togetherness. Brian wouldn’t want her. He would leave, and she would be alone.

  She took a deep breath and asked the two of them, “What other symptoms can I expect?”

  Brian said, “It’s different for every shifter, but one thing is an increase in metabolism, which means you’ll be hungry all the time and you’ll heal fast. An eagle can see over a mile away, so you should too. You’ll be able to hear better also. The lion has a keen sense of smell, but he’s your back half, so I don’t know.” He shrugged.

  Tony added, “If I remember my griffin mythology right, you’ll be stronger in human form.”

  Great. No help there. That stuff she’d already figured out on her own. She could add one more to the list. She was certainly becoming testier.

  Two nights later, she woke in a heavy sweat, her side of the bed soaked. Brian rolled over and looked at her. In a flash, he lunged out of bed, pulling her to her feet and to the door. “Outside with you.”

  “Outside? Are you kidding? It’s freezing out there!”

  “Trust me on this.”

  She tried the trust thing, she really did. It lasted for about half a second. Then she pulled back. Brian, never easy to sway, almost lost his balance. He hollered over his shoulder, “Tony! A little help here, please.”

  In an instant, Tony was beside him, jerking open the window. It annoyed her that they’d apparently known about this overheating thing and hadn’t included it in the increased metabolism conversation. He and Brian grabbed her by her shoulders and bodily shoved her toward the window. She rapidly progressed from annoyed to pissed, and she started swinging her fists. It didn’t do any good. Even though her punches connected with flesh a couple times, the boys kept up the steady drive forward. She no longer could think clearly. Instinct took over and she locked her stance, leaned into her two bodyguards, and pushed. The forward movement stopped.

  Tony abruptly let go, stepped back, and then swung his fist into her temple.

  Chapter 38

  To Brian’s horror, Olivia dropped to the floor of the cabin. Without a single second’s hesitation, he whirled and threw a punch that landed squarely on Tony’s jaw. His friend’s head whipped to the side and he staggered several steps back before falling on the coffee table. The small table wasn’t built to take that kind of punishment and it collapsed; one leg splintered in half while another broke off the table completely and skittered across the floor to stop near the front door. He pulled himself to his feet. Even with only the moonlight shining into the room, the fury on his face was clear.

  Brian was too angry to speak, so he just stood there, waiting, his fists balled and ready. Suddenly the tiny cabin seemed way too small for the two of them. For a moment, they only glared at each other. He knew Tony didn’t want a fight any more than he did, but fight he would, if need be. Tony’s cell phone rang, but he made no move to answer it. After the third ring, the caller either hung up or left a message.

  Tony broke the silence. He worked his jaw back and forth. “What the hell?”

  “You don’t hit her. Not for anything. I warned you to back off.”

  “You saw her. She’s strong. And the griffin is taking control.”

  Brian ignored his excuse. His fists were still ready. “Do you understand me?”

  Tony advanced to him, his lips curled harshly. His voice had a steely quality that Brian seldom heard. He stopped out of arm’s reach. “You really gonna do this? Do you really want to tangle with the big cat?”

  “Are you so arrogant that you think your tiger can beat the werewolf?” Brian stood his ground. He spoke softly. He had no doubt he’d win. The half-wolf form had the claws and stamina of the tiger. It had power in its jaws and overall strength too. Something the tiger didn’t have. The only thing the cat had over him was speed. He wouldn’t let his friend continue to create trouble with Olivia. He had to make a stand here and now.

  Tony let out an abrupt burst of laughter. “Well, it would be an interesting fight, no doubt. I think we’re evenly matched, but I think we’d both die from our injuries.”

  His words took the wind out of Brian’s sails…almost. “You need to respect my
choice to be with her. Stop mocking her, stop antagonizing her, and stop counseling me about her. This is the last time I’m warning you. I mean it.”

  Tony took a step forward and put his hand out to shake. “You’re right. I’ll quit. You have my word.”

  Brian relaxed and uncurled his fists. He shook his friend’s hand. “You should be worried. Do you think she won’t remember you hitting her when she becomes a griffin? You of all people should know what they were like. You pursued them for a long time.”

  “I remember. I’m just hoping she’s different.” Tony paused and looked at Olivia’s slumbering form.

  “Help me get her outside,” Brian said. He leaned down and gently lifted Olivia in his arms. He carried her past the bed and around the couch to the door that Tony held open. Once outside, he hesitated, looking for the best place to lay her.

  “There.” Tony pointed to a spot only twenty feet away. A sudden knoll in the mountain had caught a foot of glistening snow. Dark bare branches from the nearby Aspens made a canopy above it. The air was fresh and crisp; steam rose from their noses and mouths as they breathed.

  Brian carried Olivia to the moonlit drift and lay her down, arranging her in a comfortable sleeping position. She’d be out for a while, thanks to Tony. He’d stay out there with her, but first he needed coffee.

  When he turned back to the cabin, Tony followed, pulling his cell out of his pocket and punched his call return button. The thin light from the phone lit his face. After a brief pause, he said, “You called me.”

  After listening a moment, he said, “No shit! Well, that makes sense, in a twisted way.” He hung up, came in the cabin and shut the door. He wagged the phone and, by way of explanation, said, “Cujo. He said Hall is tearing up Boulder and the surrounding area looking for your girl. Apparently, he lost his whole family during the war.”