CHAPTER 23
Gabe had a score to settle. Actually, I think it was bigger than that. It was more like a deep-seeded vendetta against me for what he considered to be a “sucker punch.”
For the last twelve hours, I had been forced to listen to him whine and moan about it. According to him, if he had been expecting it, I wouldn’t have been able to touch him. Granted, I had limited fighting experience, but I was pretty sure people didn’t normally give written warning before they threw a punch. Not to mention the guy’s supposed to have cat-like reflexes, but whatever.
When Grams got home he even bellyached to her about it. She told him to suck it up and quit being a crybaby. Scoping out his black eye, she added, “Geez, Gabe you must bruise like a peach to get a shiner like that from a little, bitty thing like Celeste.”
He glared daggers at me until Grams left the room. Then he snarled, “Tomorrow, when we go into the mountains to train, I’m kickin’ your butt.”
“I said I was sorry,” I reminded him for the millionth time.
He scowled and shook his head. “Doesn’t matter. Has to happen.”
I opened my mouth to protest when Kendall cut me off. “He’s, like, on testosterone overload, Cee. Save your breath. You’re gonna have to spar with him to shut him up.”
The next day he could barely contain himself. His trash talk entered a whole new plateau. He probably would’ve resorted to insulting my mama if she wasn’t his mama, too. I tuned him out. A maneuver I had perfected over the last eighteen years. We entered the clearing together where Alaina awaited us.
She gave us a maternal smile as we approached. “Good morning. I see Kendall is taking the first shift watching over your grandmother today. Gabe, we can start with some endurance exercise if that suits you?”
Gabe’s eyes flicked to my face. Apparently Alaina didn’t get a memo from the Gryphon about what took place last night. “Actually, Kendall isn’t watching over Grams. She’s running an errand, she’ll be here soon.”
Alaina’s eyebrows drew in and her lips pursed in disapproval. “No one is watching over your grandmother? At any moment the Seeker could venture into her home searching for you. She could be hurt. This is not acceptable. One of you needs to get back there immediately.”
Gabe threw his hands up, palms out. “Whoa. Chill out. Celeste finished off the Seeker last night.”
A bird-like twitch of her head and Alaina’s avian eyes focused on me. She examined me so intently that it made me fidget. Her gaze settled on my face. Whatever she saw there softened her expression and brought the grin back to her lips. “Our warrior has been awakened.”
“Looks like,” I blushed.
“That being the case,” she steepled her fingers under her chin, “you can actually participate today. I suppose it would be a better use of our time to have you spar in preparation for the next Seeker who comes.”
“Yes!” Gabe exclaimed and pumped his fist in the air.
“Hey, Gabe, can you give Alaina and me a minute please?” I asked. “Go warm up or something?”
He bounced up and down, shaking out his limbs. “I don’t need to warm up. I was born ready for this!”
“That’s great. Can we please have a sec?”
“Take all the time you need. It’s not going to help!” He did his best tough guy saunter toward the creek.
“What is his posturing all about?”
“I accidentally punched him in the face last night and he’s having a hard time coping with it.”
“Ah, I see. What is it that is on your mind, Celeste?”
“I’m fairly certain he’s going to fight dirty. His masculinity being called into question and all.” I drew a line in the dirt with the toe of my tennis shoe. I was a “warrior” now. I wasn’t supposed to be nervous about stuff like this anymore. “But—uh—yesterday was the first time I’ve ever been in a fight…”
“Come on, Cee! Wrap up the pep talk! It’s not going to help anyway!” Gabe threw a left jab and right hook in the air.
“Just a minute!” I snapped.
“You are worried he is going to overpower you?”
“Completely. I have no idea what I’m doing.”
“Trust yourself and the Gryphon. He has instilled in you the abilities. All you need to do is channel them. It will come as naturally as breathing or walking.”
“Easy for you to say…you don’t trip over your own feet on a daily basis,” I muttered.
“You two can plan your mani-pedis later. Let’s do this!” Gabe yelled.
“You know in my day, the men provided for and protected their families.” Alaina reflected. “Their ability to do so successfully defined what kind of man they were.”
“Are you telling me that for the sake of his fragile male ego, I should let him win?”
“Oh, goodness no!” She clarified and waved her hand at the thought. “He is being a pompous pig. By all means go knock his lights out.”
I let out a heartfelt laugh. “Will do!”
“I will perch up there.” Alaina pointed to the top of a tall maple tree overlooking the trail. “If I see anyone coming, I shall alert you. Please try to remember to listen for me.”
“Don’t worry, Alaina,” Gabe smirked. “It won’t take my full attention to knock her on her butt.”
I snorted at his comment. “From what I saw yesterday, Gabe, you fold like a sheet of paper.”
“You sucker punched me!”
“Not my fault you’re slow.”
He laughed and shook his head. “Oh, it is so on.”
“I will be in the tree.” Alaina morphed and flitted up into the branches to get out of striking distance.
Gabe and I squared off at opposite sides of the clearing. I hit a crouch first.
“I won’t hold back if you don’t,” I offered, hoping that wasn’t just me blowing smoke.
“Fine by me…I’ve got no problem kicking your butt.” He growled and fell down on all fours.
I wanted to get one last jab in before he transformed. “Maybe I could find a big ball of string to distract you. Whattya say, fuzzball?”
His voice dropped octaves as the change neared. “I say, I’m going to enjoy this.”
The transformation seemed easier on Gabe now. It wasn’t easier to watch. I couldn’t help but crinkle my nose as his bones cracked and popped to allow his other form to emerge. Like a well-cared for Chia Pet, hair sprouted all over his body. It only took seconds before my brother disappeared and the tawny-colored lion stood before me. He let out an intimidating roar.
“Ooh, scary. Ya know if you lose again to a little girl like me, maybe we should take that old game show host’s advice and have you neutered.”
Gabe didn’t like that idea. He galloped straight for me, his fierce eyes fixated on my head. I matched his speed as I darted forward. As soon as he got within striking distance he sprung up to swipe at my face—which, by the way, I find rude. However, all his claws found was empty air. I spun down into a low swing kick and swept his back legs out from under him. He fell flat on his side, then leapt back to his feet.
“Less than a minute.” I waggled my eyebrows at him. “I’m good.”
He snarled his response.
“I tell ya what. I’ll even give you the advantage.” I shut my eyes and turned my back to the lion. “Go ahead. Take your best shot.”
Yes, I was being arrogant. But I couldn’t help it. I was thoroughly enjoying this.
I sensed it when Gabe ducked down. I knew his every move as his stomach skimmed the ground as he crept toward me. He was the perfect model of feline stealth, but I remained one step ahead of him. Silent as a grave, he extended his razor-sharp claws and swiped. At the last possible moment, I jumped into the air. I’ve never had a gymnastics class in my life, yet I managed a back-tuck with ease.
Gabe interrupted my evasion maneuver with a counter-assault. He sprang up and swatted at me. One of his dagger claws tore into my arm while I was in mid-rotation. He knocked me slightly off k
ilter, but I still managed a somewhat graceful landing. I assessed my sliced tricep. My slashed skin healed before the blood could spill. The flesh pulled itself together and left no blemish or mark.
Gabe’s eyes bulged at my amazing disappearing booboo.
“I knocked you out. You sliced my arm. That makes us even.”
Gabe’s topaz cat eyes flashed. “Nnooo wwaaayyyy…”
I lost my warrior posture and indignantly snapped straight up. He’d been practicing talking in his feline form. It assaulted my ears worse than nails on a chalkboard. “Ah!” I wagged my finger at him. “None of that! That creepy voice sounds like Satan! Or a blender. Or a blender possessed by Satan. You start that up again and I’m leaving. Understand?”
He rolled his eyes and clamped his mouth firmly shut. With a pointed stare, he made it clear that he would adhere to my rule.
“Thank you. Now, where were we?” Simultaneously, we returned to our prowl. We trailed each other, both looking for an opportunity. Mine came when Gabe stepped wrong and gave me a straight shot at his ribs. I took advantage of it and bolted directly at him. He started to turn, but didn’t make it in time. I hit him square in the midsection.
His air escaped in a loud “Huynh!”
I wrapped my arms around him and took him down, just as I had seen him do countless times on the football field. I bounced to my feet, bubbling with pride. My whole life I had been the wallflower, the awkward kid that watched from the sidelines just to spare herself the humiliation. For the first time, I came out on top. My happy dance was required. I bebopped around and gloated.
Until I noticed Gabe hadn’t gotten up. He lay motionless on the ground where he fell. Fear coursed through me. I hurried over to find the burly lion gasping for air. I knocked the wind out of him, and he couldn’t seem to reclaim it.
“Oh, geez! I’m so sorry, Gabe. You okay?” I bent down next to him, trying to figure out how to give CPR to a lion.
In an instant his breathing stabilized. His head lifted off the ground, and he grinned wickedly at me. A monstrous paw whacked me square in the chest and sent me tumbling. I turned my tumble into a back somersault and was back on my feet in seconds.
I shook my head in disdain, “I knew you’d fight dirty.”
He pulled himself up to full height and roared. I gave him the evil eye then swooped in for another attack. I only made it two strides before the shrill call of an eagle stopped me in my tracks.
“Someone’s coming!” I yelled to my brother.
I started one way, then darted the other, not quite sure what to do with myself. I settled for the log by the stream as my destination. I scurried over and sat down. I crossed my legs, sat up straight, and tried to look casual. I realized too late that my pose would seem odd for someone sitting alone in the woods. (Gabe must have hidden by now.) The rustle of leaves coming from the path told me I didn’t have time to come up with anything else. Whoever the hiker was, he or she was going to find me sitting there looking like I was waiting for a bus. Brilliant.
Through the leaves, spiky, disheveled, platinum hair appeared. I didn’t recognize who it was until she ducked under the branch in front of me and gasped.
“What the heck?! I’m going to have to claw my own eyes out! Gabe! Why?! What possible reason could you have for being naked!” Kendall exclaimed and covered her eyes.
Completely bewildered, I swiveled around. There stood Gabe, stark naked. The only thing he could cover himself with was his own hands. With a beet-red face, he cringed as if in pain.
I immediately spun back around and shielded my own eyes. “I could have happily gone my whole life without seeing that!” Sitting there with my hands over my eyes, I addressed our new arrival. “Kendall! You hacked your hair off!”
Her voice was muffled by her arms, “Actually, Marcie at the only beauty salon in town cut it for me. Do you like it?”
“Can’t tell yet. Gabe, is it safe to look?”
“No!” He yelped. “I’m still standing here naked.”
“Why? Why are you naked?”
“I don’t know!” He snapped. “You said someone was coming, so I changed back. But I couldn’t find my bag of clothes.”
“Why didn’t you just hide?”
Silence. Then, “I didn’t think of that.”
Kendall and I both erupted in laughter. “You… thought of… naked, before… hiding!” I choked out.
“Yes. Shut up. I’m going to change back now.”
“Please do!” Kendall and I said in unison.
It only took a second before the Gabe-lion gave a rumble indicating that the need to avert our eyes had passed.
“Thank you! Now let’s just hope my corneas can recover from that,” I joked and dropped my hands. The giant cat snorted in response.
With the traumatizing image of my exposed brother gone, I checked out Kendall’s new do. She looked totally different. She’s one of those infuriating girls that could shave her head and still be gorgeous, so it wasn’t a bad different. But, her long locks were gone. Now, purposely messy blonde spikes darted off her head in an array of directions.
“So? What do you think?” She asked expectantly. Before I could answer, she held up one finger for me to wait, then snapped open her wings. “There, now you get the full effect.”
I evaluated the look for a minute. “You look like a punk rock angel.”
Her eyes flashed. “Perfect!” She raised her hand in the air with her index and pinkie finger extended, then stuck her tongue out to complete her “rocker” look.
“What brought this on, Keni?” I chuckled.
A painful shadow crossed her face. “When I brushed my hair this morning, I knew I needed a change. Running the brush through my hair reminded me of the Seeker’s hand being wrapped in it. He used it to hurt me. So, it had to go. At least for right now while the memory is still fresh.”
The lion and I both nodded our understanding but said nothing. This was something she would have to work through to be able to put the whole ordeal behind her.
“So, how do we train with all three of us here?” I asked.
The incoming flap of glowing, transforming wings marked Alaina’s arrival. “I can help with that. I would have come down sooner, but it did not seem appropriate.” She looked at Gabe with raised eyebrows.
Come to find out, lions can blush. Or, at least this one could.
“That was some show.” Was it my imagination or was her face flushed?
“One that I’m sure we can all agree we don’t ever, ever want to see again.” I ruffled Gabe-lion’s mane. He ducked away then batted at me with the soft pads of his oversized paw.
“Here, here,” Kendall agreed.
Alaina cleared her throat and pointedly changed the subject. “I have a special training exercise for all three of you.” She expanded her wings wide, then reached behind her back and pulled out a small box.
“Where do you suppose she pulled that out of?” Kendall whispered to me. I stifled a giggle.
Alaina took the box to the dead center of the clearing and laid it on the ground. “The Gryphon gave me this for when you all had been activated.”
Gabe, Kendall, and I gathered round. The deep burgundy box was exquisite, its faded paint complimented beautifully by shiny brass hinges and an intricate clasp on the front.
“Activated? What are we…a phone card?” I asked.
She turned and flipped the fancy latch. “I meant that you each had active powers.”
“Oh, he got us a present!” Kendall gave a little golf-clap.
Alaina sucked air in through clenched teeth. “Um, not exactly. Unless you consider three shadow monsters programmed to try to destroy you a gift.”
“Wow, that’s like the worst gift ever. Gift cards are always safe. He should’ve gotten us one of those.” Kendall’s funky ‘do seemed to have added an edge to her humor.
Alaina smirked and continued on. “These phantom demons have been given the directive to attempt to overco
me the three of you. Your challenge is to work as a team to get them back in the box.”
“Are they going to try to kill us?” I asked.
Alaina folded her hands in front of her. “We need you to save the world, Celeste. That tends to work best if you are alive. They will fight relentlessly and possibly wound. They will not actually take your life. The whole point is to get you experience at working together. Understand?”
We nodded.
“Good. Let us begin.” She flipped open the lid then quickly backed away from the box.
Grey fog erupted from the box like a geyser. “Any tips on how to defeat these guys?” The flap of her wings as she retreated to the safety of her branch was the only answer I got. “I’ll take that as a no.”
The thick haze continued to course out of the seemingly bottomless container. It compounded together to form a thick, solid wall of the grey smog. When the last of it finally spit from the box, we waited and watched for whatever nasty being was going to burst out at us. Nothing happened.
“Are…are we supposed to fight the big wall of fog?” A bewildered Kendall whispered.
Before I could answer, the haze started moving, swirling, and gathering into three distinct locations. “No, look, something’s happening.”
The fog came together to create three identical shapes—gargantuan, hulking, menacing bodies, their size double that of Gabe’s human form. The freakishly large arms that took shape were the size of my entire body. A lump grew out of each set of bulky shoulders, forming a makeshift head. Empty holes with glowing, red centers were the closest they came to having eyes. A black slash echoed a crude mouth on each. Their formation complete, they moved with soldier precision into a line opposite us, standing side by side, slightly hunched, posed for battle.
“Well, that’s alarmingly intimidating,” I blurted out.
“Can we ask them to try for another shape? Like maybe fog bunnies?” Kendall peeped.
A low, rumbling growl came from the monsters. Then, in trained unison, they marched toward us.
“Here we go,” I said.
Kendall whimpered and Gabe growled. Together, the three of us braced ourselves.
Gabe and I charged at them, leaving a hesitant Kendall behind. Gabe-lion sprang into a pounce at the same time I leapt into the air for a side kick.
It amazed me that my body knew how to do this. Before my little “upgrade,” I tripped over my feet at the mention of physical activity. Now I jumped high enough into the air to be head level with the monsters with no difficulty at all. But my abilities didn’t make me impervious to harm, as I found out when I passed right through the foggy creature and landed flat on my back with a painful thump. My own groans didn’t drown out Gabe’s howl of pain as he crunched to the ground not six feet from me.
I rolled to my side and saw the monster stomp straight at me. Still smarting from my fall, I didn’t rush to dash out of the way. His balled up fist would just slip right through me, so I saw no reason to move. I had time to regroup before I got up and played along with the little charade.
I noticed a second too late that his incoming fist suddenly had pallor and texture to it. The monsters could solidify. He punched me in the face with a fist bigger than my entire head. Black spots danced before my eyes and warmth dribbled from my split lip and bloodied nose. I curled into a ball and covered my face with my arms just in time for the next blow to come. The crunch and shooting pain that followed told me he cracked at least one of my ribs. I tried to shield myself as much as possible from the kicks and punches that came like rapid fire. Every exposed part of my body was sore from the beating I took.
I peeked through the cover of my arms to see Kendall. She knelt on the ground, her wings encapsulating her. One of the monsters pounded away at her as well. I envied her impenetrable wings because they made the beating painless for her. As long as she kept her shield up, she would fare a lot better than Gabe and me. I couldn’t see Gabe, but the occasional snarl and yelp told me he wasn’t doing so hot either.
Stealing a look between her feathers, Kendall met my eye. “You okay?”
“Ooof! Getting my butt…hunh!…handed to me,” I wheezed. “How’s…ooww!…Gabe?”
“Somehow he’s still standing. He’s battered but standing.” A loud howl of pain echoed through the clearing. “Uh…not anymore.”
A scream tore from my chest as the creature delivered a sharp kick that must have cracked a rib. Searing pain stabbed into my side. That was one kick too many. Fury built in me, motivating me to get off the ground and put an end to all of this—just as soon as I figured out a way to move.
“Keni?” I called, my teeth grinding in pain. “Can you…get to…Gabe?”
She hesitated before answering. I assumed it was to assess the situation. I didn’t risk another look toward her. Instead, I tried to find a way out from under the barrage of attacks from this nasty smog being. “I’ll try,” she answered, but her voice lacked conviction.
Her wings beat against the air, followed by a shrill, nonhuman wail. The howl caught the attention of my attacker, who paused and turned to look toward his troubled buddy. I rolled out of striking distance and put some much needed space between myself the bowling-ball-fisted monster and me. Rising onto my shaky legs, I had a moment of panic that they wouldn’t support me. They did, but I was going to need some ice packs later. Lots of ‘em.
I retreated to the edge of the clearing where I figured out what caused the creature’s pained cries. The wind stirred up by Kendall’s wings dissipated his foggy form. He stumbled frantically to get away from her. Backpedaling, he tripped over something—the slack body of a lion. He lost his footing and fell, right over the box he emerged from earlier. His form evaporated into a heavy cloud which was sucked back in from where it emerged. I attempted a cocky sneer at this display of their weakness; however, as soon as I moved my battered face, it quickly turned into a wince of pain.
Seeing their friend disappear back into the box angered the remaining monsters. They bellowed deep, gravelly roars, then turned to Kendall and me for retribution.
“We need gale force winds, Keni! Now!”
She gave a sharp nod of understanding and lifted higher into the air. “I’m on it!” She circled the perimeter of the clearing, flying as fast as her inner eagle would allow. In a moment’s time, she worked up a robust, continual wind.
The remaining monsters staggered, desperately seeking some sort of cover. They lost their footing repeatedly as their foggy legs blew out from under them. In an act of frustration one of the smog ogres gave up and solidified his entire form. He stamped after Kendall.
He didn’t notice the head of the mighty lion rise up of the ground, and I’m sure he didn’t see Gabe wink at me. Gabe sprang to his feet and charged the enormous, corporeal monster. A piercing howl escaped its slash of a mouth when our lion clamped down on its thick, grey leg. It thrashed around wildly, striking out at our Gabe-lion. His face took a beating, but his vise grip jaws never faltered. He dragged the flailing creature to the box. It disappeared inside, just like the first.
After seeing how we disbanded his comrades, the third fog thing tried to make an escape. Keni intercepted his departure by flying in low and beating her wings directly at him. He pivoted on his heel, back toward Gabe and me. With Keni low to the ground, he could stay in mist form as soon as he got some distance from her. An evil grin reminiscent of a jack o’lantern spread across his face. He could fight again, at least for a moment. He charged for Gabe, seeking some retribution. Unless he went solid, we couldn’t get him.
I bolted toward Gabe on the other side of the clearing. “Let him hit you, Gabe!”
The brawny lion scowled at me and shook his head. “Nooo!”
“Take one for the team and let him hit you, you overgrown tabby!”
Gabe planted his feet and grit his teeth. The monster stomped up to him and arced back that sledge hammer of a fist. I saw the texture change from dense cloudy air to solid, bumpy
skin. I jumped, kicking both feet straight out in front of me. My fast-flying feet hit the beast right square in the middle of his back knocking him forward. The open box happened to be lying right there. I’d like to say I planned it that way, but it was sheer luck. In a swirl of smoke, the last of the monsters vanished. Its contents restored, the box snapped shut and locked.
Kendall landed, and the three of us tentatively approached the burgundy container, cautious that it might not be over. The sound of applause behind us confirmed it was.
“Very well done for your first time,” Alaina encouraged.
“It sure didn’t feel good.” Something popped and sent a shooting pain through my face. My hands flew up. “Oooowwww! What the heck was that?!”
Kendall recoiled at whatever freaky thing happened to me. “It was a good pop, Cee. Your nose was broken and pointing in the wrong direction. It just fixed itself. Yeay!” Her “yeay” lacked any enthusiasm.
“Yeah,” I said flatly. “That hurt like a…”
“I am very proud of you all,” Alaina said. “Even when you were not faring well, you kept looking for ways to turn things around. That was impressive.”
“And we learned how to take a punch. So yee-haw to that,” I said, gingerly rubbing my aching sniffer. I glanced at Gabe and Kendall. Kendall looked great, barely a hair out of place. Gabe looked rough. His head hung wearily, chunks of fur missing like he had mange. The eye I had blackened was swollen shut again and bruises peppered him enough to be visible through his furry hide. I could only imagine that I looked pretty rough myself. Every inch of my body hurt. I hoped my speed healing would get cracking, or it was going to be a painful drive home. “Those guys were tough. It was like a thousand times harder to get them to go ‘poof’ than it was with the Seeker. And he was actually willing to kill us!”
“What?” Alaina’s wild and panicked eyes caught me off guard.
“Well…these guys didn’t really want to…” I stammered, confused by her reaction.
“Not that! What do you mean the Seeker went ‘poof’?”
“When he died, he went ‘poof,’ you know? Black cloud of smoke. Then he was gone. He just ‘poofed’,” I babbled.
All the color drained from Alaina’s already milky skin. She spoke with a vacant, hollow tone. “Seeker’s liquefy and evaporate when they die. However, when they teleport, they do so in a cloud of black smoke.”
I heard the pounding of my heart ringing in my ears. I knew the answer to the question before I asked but hoped somehow I was wrong. “And if he teleported, he went…”
She met my eyes with a steely gaze. “To tell Barnabus. He knows who you are and where to find you.”
I squeezed my eyes shut. “Keni, please tell me you saw Grams leave the house heading for some crazy, old lady fun today.”
Her trepidation caused her voice to waver. “She’s at home. She said she wanted to catch up on her stories.”
The urgency of the situation made me forget my sore muscles and bones. “Get to the truck now!” I ordered. “We have to get home.”
The three of us spun and sprinted for the truck. I paused when I realized Alaina wasn’t following.
“You're not coming?”
She shook her head sadly. “My role is to guide you. This fight belongs to you, Gabe, and Kendall. I cannot stand beside you.”
“Are we ready for this?”
“You have to be.”
The Conduit Page 26
