Sacrifice (Gryphon Series) (27 page)

A
plan would be nice, but I had nothin’. Scream? Send out an urgent empathic SOS? Both options were useless since no one could get in—or even hear me. I could break the bowl to allow my crew access, but that would start a gnome tizzy. If back up didn’t burst in immediately the pint-sized army would slaughter me. Not the most heroic way for the Chosen One to go out—yet definitely the most terrifying. Checking one and then the other, I pulled my hands off the table and inspected the shackles for a loose screw or rusty bolt I could telekinetically remove. They were solid with all shiny new hardware. Probably reinforced just for me. How thoughtful.

The
scepter popped up by my feet, brandished high by a berry-stained hand. “Silence! It’s time!”

When all else fails, stal
l for time. “This is gonna end badly for you, Bernie. The Council will have your head. Offering up the Chosen One as a sacrifice? That ranks high on their list of big time no-no’s.”

Bernard
ignored me and raised the scepter high. “
Contraho. Illustro. Recolligo. Aufero.
Gather here! Join me, brothers!”

Their voices raised in a
child-like chorus, “
Contraho. Illustro. Recolligo. Aufero. Contraho. Illustro. Recolligo. Aufero. Contraho. Illustro. Recolligo. Aufero
.
Contraho. Illustro. Recolligo. Aufero.”

A soft glow began in my chest
that quickly grew and spread over my entire body. With it came the most excruciating pain I’d ever experienced. My back arched off the table and a gut-wrenching wail tore from my throat. The intensity of the pressure made it feel my insides were about to burst through my skin. If this was my powers being forcibly ripped out of me then it seemed the very fibers of my being weren’t letting go without a fight. Unfortunately, this was a battle I couldn’t win. The strength was leaving my body, being sucked out of me like dust up a vacuum. But it wasn’t going alone, this brutal ravaging was also extinguishing my very essence. Life itself was slipping from my grasp. At this rate they would snuff me out in a matter of seconds. The fight left my body and I slammed down on the table reduced to nothing but dead weight. My vision swam out of focus. The room spun and churned in a fun house effect. I tried to extend my fingers but couldn’t budge them from their claw-like position.

“
Contraho. Illustro. Recolligo. Aufero. Contraho. Illustro. Recolligo. Aufero. Contraho. Illustro. Recolligo. Aufero
.
Contraho. Illustro. Recolligo. Aufero.”

The pain that I thought couldn’t get any worse amplified to a whole new level. I gaped
down, sure a dagger had plunged into my rib cage and sawed through my core. There was nothing there but light gushing out of me.

I closed my eyes as t
ears streamed down my cheeks and soaked my face. In a breath of a whisper, words found their way to my lips before I could think to question them. “Daddy, help me.”

To my surprise, one of my locked up digits twitched in response. My eyes snapped open and I watched in awe as my pointer finger slowly extended out. If I was controlling it, I really didn’t know how. The rest of my body was paralyzed. But if this was the last chance I was going to get, I sure as heck wasn’t going to waste it.

I lock
ed my wavering gaze on the bowl and attempted a mind push. Nothing. The blue globe began to glow bright neon blue. I fought back panic that I was too late and my powers were already gone—that didn’t matter because I was nowhere near ready to give up. Evil little men only three apples high would not best me. One deep breath then I gritted my teeth and tried again. I pointed my lone working finger at the bowl and jerked it in the direction of the scepter.

The gnome
gave a squeal of surprise as the bowl tore from his hands. Bowl and scepter connected in a loud crack and blinding explosion of light. I shielded my head in the crook of my arm as chunks of bronze and bits of opalescent glass showered the room.

T
hat was all it took to break the spell. My powers slammed back into me with the force of juiced up defibrillator paddles. The six-panel door splintered under Big Mike’s boot as he kicked it open. Gabe and Terin followed him and rushed to my side.

G
nomes scurried and scampered to gather in the far corner of the room. In perfect choreographed synchronization a dozen of them planted their feet while others climbed on their shoulders, then another layer, and another, until they were standing about ten gnomes high. Bernard was the cherry on top. He swung his cane over his head, uttered a few words I couldn’t make out and then
BAM!
All the little men melted together and grew into one gigantic gnome. It filled half the room with its monstrous presence, yet still maintained the rosy cheeks and cute little upturned button nose that fooled people into finding them adorable.

“
And you thought it was a
stupid phobia
!” Was my banshee-esque scream at the slack jawed cavalry.

CHAPTER
THIRTY-ONE

              “Grab the girl! I’ll get the big guy,” Big Mike ripped off his black t-shirt like it was nothing more than tissue paper. The muscles of his arms bulged as he rolled his shoulders to release his wings. Reaching over his head he unsheathed the sword strapped to his back and leapt into battle with the blade whirling and twirling around him at a blinding speed.

             
The giant gnome raised its hand and shot a lightning bolt out of its palm aimed directly for Big Mike’s heart. The fast flying blade deflected it in mid-swing and our avenger pressed on.

             
Terin got to work freeing me while Gabe stood guard.

“Hold still.
” Flame arced from her finger and slowly melted a section of the metal away. The heat blistered and scorched my skin, but I knew it’d be far worse if I moved.

Instead
, I held painfully still and muttered through my teeth, “Where’s Kendall?” Her healing feathers sounded more appealing than a warm bubble bath.

             
Gabe’s chest shook in a steady growl as he kept his feline eyes locked on the fight. “Sophia’s death hit her hard. Kendall blames herself for running off.”

             
My head snapped to the side so hard I scraped my cheek against the tabletop. “
What
?”

             
Clad only in a pair of mesh shorts, Gabe glanced my way over his bare broad shoulder. The deep lines etched into his forehead reflected his sorrow. “We lost her, Cee. I’m so sorry.”

             
Terin finished with one cuff and rounded the table to do the other.

             
A pit of despair grew in my stomach and bile rose in my throat. Since all this began none of the members of my team had fallen. Sophia was the first. My friend. My co-worker. My muse.

“
I should’ve been able to protect her,” I muttered. Tears filled my eyes that I dared not spill in the middle of a battle. “She was counting on me to keep her safe.”

“No!”
Terin snapped. Flames burned bright in the irises of her eyes, adding a supernatural intensity to her declaration. “She was counting on you to save the world. We are at war, Conduit of the Gryphon.
Never
forget that. Do your job so her death wasn’t in vain.”

I wanted to have myself a nice little breakdown about this but
Terin was right. Now was not the time. Once we all got out of here alive I could sob and snot my brains out.

             
Without warning Gabe leapt over the table in a cat-like bound. He shoved Gnome-zilla away a second before it came crashing down on me. Big Mike stood waiting. As soon as the gnome was back in play, he spun with the sword over his head and brought it down with enough force to sever the beast’s arm. Not a drop of blood spilled, nor did Gigan-gnome cry out in pain. Instead it gave a jovial grin as the severed limb reverted back into 25 normal-sized gnomes that pounced on Big Mike in a wave of tiny boots and pointy hats.

             
Our rough and tumble biker dude had time to mutter a quick, “Ah, hell,” before he was buried in gnomes.

The little men
latched on to him biting, clawing, and scratching anything—and I do mean anything—they could get a hold of. Big Mike fought for all he was worth; knocking some off with his wings, flinging others away. Airborne gnomes emitted high-pitched
squeeee
s as they flew through the air, but then hit the ground and scurried right back to rejoin the fight.

             
Unfortunately this spectacle meant Big Daddy Gnome had no one to distract him. He turned toward us with a jolly grin that was downright terrifying.

             
“Cee? All those times I razzed you for being freaked out by these things?” Gabe’s voice dropped to an inhumane growl as his muzzle swelled from his face. “I take it back.”

             
Metal clanged and my wrist was freed. I sat up and rubbed the tender flesh. Free from the shackles my speed healing was once again active. The angry red skin instantly softened to pink.

             
“Gabe!” Terin yelled from behind me. “Get Celeste out of here.
Now
.”

             
I expected Gabe to argue. There was nothing he hated worse than being sidelined for a fight. But whatever he saw when he glanced in Terin’s direction widened his feline eyes and made him hustle to my side to usher me off the table.

             
“What are you doing?” I demanded as he hooked his furry arm around my waist and scooped me up. “We can’t leave them here! Come on! We’ve gotta rally our forces and all that crap!”

             
“Trust me, our forces have got this.” Gabe’s mane twitched as he jerked his chin in Terin’s direction. “We’ve got our own girl on fire, and I don’t mean Katniss.”

             
I whipped my head around and my jaw swung open. I’m the warrior to mankind but I suddenly felt … insignificant. I’d gone head to head with the Titans of fire, but even they couldn’t compare to the power and elegance that Terin exuded. Her curvaceous frame raised and lengthened until she was almost as tall as Gnome-zilla. Fiery wings grew from her arms. Every inch of her was consumed by flame.

             
Eyes of smoldering ember blinked and focused on us. Through lips that snapped and hissed with licking flames she warned, “Now would be a good time to run.”

             
With me in tow Gabe leapt across the room and out of the way. Terin lifted into the air with one flap of her sizzling wings and soared straight for the giant gnome. She caught it in a deadly hug and held it cocooned in her embrace as her blaze flared high enough to scorch the ceiling. We could see or hear nothing within that wall of flame, but knew a terrible fate had befallen Bernard and his accomplices. The gnomes attacking Big Mike immediately halted and vanished in a blink to save themselves. Big Mike swiped his sword from the ground and slid it back in its leather sheath.

Knowing it was over—for now—p
hysical and emotional exhaustion took its toll. I let my head lull against my big brother’s shoulder and watched as ash covered the room like a heavy snow.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Ah, life as the Conduit. One minute I’m shampooing gnome ash out of my hair, the next sliding into formal wear.

Without argument
, Rowan was a
gigantic
tool, but he did have great taste in clothing. Gone was the pink monstrosity Kendall tried to force on me. It went to ugly dress heaven when the hall blew up. This soft taupe empire-waist dress was much more my style. I turned one way and then the other, admiring my reflection in the full-length mirror. The fabric of the bodice and capped sleeves was gathered. At the waist the material flowed to the floor but parted in the middle to reveal layers of airy ivory fabric beneath. Around the neckline, under the bust, and down the split in the material a ribbon embroidered with shades of light blue, ivory, and gold added an elegant touch.

I cocked my head to the side and traced my finger across the
ribboned neckline. It was such a gorgeous garment. Straight out of the 17
th
century—which would thrill Alaina. This was a shockingly thoughtful gesture from a sociopath whose self-serving motives were always shrouded in darkness and mystery. Rowan really was a walking question mark, and now that he had vanished without a trace he probably always would be. A knock on the door signaled the arrival of the hair and make-up team—here to transform this average looking girl into an average looking girl with flowers in her hair and more make-up on than she’s comfortable with.

A
n hour later I was primped, primed, and hunkered in the gold décor bridal suite with my mom, Kendall, and Grams awaiting Alaina’s appearance and the kick-off of the wedding festivities. I peered across the room at Kendall and bit my cheek to stifle a laugh. While Kendall’s dress was identical to mine that was where our similarities ended. If the hair and make-up team had been allowed entry into Keni’s room she must’ve
severely
ticked them off somehow. Her inky black hair stuck up off her head in a mess of knots and spikes. Dramatic black eyeliner made her icy blue eyes severe and startling. The black lipstick she decided on made it look like a pen had exploded in her mouth. For the first time in my life I felt like the more attractive Garrett sister. That fact made me sit up a little straighter and smile to myself.