Blue Violet - By Abigail Owen Page 0,51

“No,” he said under his breath.

Ellie turned to look at him and said quietly, “But it’s the only thing the Vyusher won’t ever be able to defeat.”

“They defeated your great-grandfather, right?” he demanded harshly.

“Not as a dragon,” Griffin leaned around her to answer. “They killed him before he ever morphed.”

Brother and sister glanced at each other, keeping silent about the fact that it had seemed like their grandfather couldn’t morph that night. Having discussed it many times through the years, neither Ellie nor Griffin were sure of what they were seeing at the time.

Alex was getting angry. Very angry. She could feel it in his grip, sense it in the tense set of his shoulders. It surprised Ellie that her idea was what finally triggered his anger. He had so many other things to get upset with her over. This plan, at least, had noble intentions driving it.

“We can’t allow you to try it, Ellie,” Hugh said.

“It’s… safer… for me to try it now than back then. I’m older, more experienced. I’ve been able to learn to control other aggressive morphic forms. And there’s Griffin…” She felt the attention in the room turn to her brother.

He shifted in his seat. “I can contain her now, with a defensive shield. My other gift. I wasn’t strong enough last time. The power is inherited, but I’m the only one in our clan to have it in the form of a physical force field. So this… backup plan, I guess you could call it… wasn’t available when she tried last time.”

Ellie rushed on, “We’re hoping that if I do get out of control… although I think I can control it… But if I can’t control it, then Griffin can contain me in his shield. He’ll be able to use our connection and our combined gifts to bring me back.”

Hugh was up from his chair and already shaking his head before she’d even finished. “No, I think it best not to attempt it. It sounds too risky. Your trying the dragon could be as much of a danger to us as to the Vyusher. Possibly more so. Just not worth it. But the other idea you had seem viable.”

Ellie slumped back in defeat. Something in her knew the dragon had to be the key to winning this fight. But Hugh made sense, and she recognized that. She nodded, and felt the tension release from Alex, who ran his hands over his face and muttered, “Finally she listens to reason.”

She shot him a glare.

She also saw Griffin give a little sigh of relief. He hadn’t been happy about this idea in the first place. What they hadn’t told the others was that if she couldn’t control it and he couldn’t bring her back… then he would have to kill her. And that would probably kill him too.

Now that everything was explained, Ellie felt exhaustion wash over her in waves. Alex must have felt her fading, because he said to no one in particular, “Ellie really needs to get some rest.”

Closing her eyes, Ellie flashed a thought at Griffin.

In response he said aloud, “The Vyusher are less likely to attack if we’re closer to town. At least that’s what we think. They seem to attack only when they can hide their actions from the world. And that was before the advent of social media. The house Ellie and I have can accommodate all of us… barely. But it’s located in a more populated area, so it’s safer for the time being.”

“Is it safe for us to travel tonight?” Hugh asked.

“Probably not,” Griffin replied. “But Ellie says she can move us all at once if Charlotte will allow her to use her teleportation.”

Alex glared at Griffin. “She’s falling asleep in my arms. She doesn’t even have the energy to speak her thoughts out loud as it is. Is that really such a good idea?”

Griffin allowed a rare grin to break across his face. “I’ve been dealing with her stubborn streak for years now. Good luck convincing her otherwise.”

“Hugh,” Alex appealed to his adopted father. “She seems to listen to you.”

Hugh walked over to Ellie and laid his hands on her, assessing her physical state. “She can handle it,” he finally said. “But when we get there, young lady, you will rest for several days.”

Griffin chuckled. “She agrees,” he translated. “But she says that means she’ll miss school and I’ll have to write her a note.” Seeing confusion around him, he explained, “Any time she’s in high school