The Conduit The Gryphon Series - By Stacey Rourke Page 0,11
and walk?”
He gave me a half-grin despite the beads of sweat that dotted his forehead. “You weigh all of what, a buck-five? I think I can handle it.”
When we arrived in the parking lot Alec carefully lowered my feet to the ground. I was thankful for the arm he kept around my waist, my wobbly legs were threatening to give. “Where are your keys?”
My head still throbbed, but my case of cloudy brain had lessened. “In my satchel.”
“Where’s your satchel?”
I looked at the trail, then back to Alec.
“Crap.”
“There’s a spare key in the glove compartment. Doors are unlocked.”
“Not safe, but helpful in this situation.” Alec muttered as he opened the passenger side door and helped me in. He rolled my window down before shutting the door. I didn’t mind. It might shake off the remaining fog in my brain. Alec climbed in and started the truck. I leaned my head against the seat and closed my eyes as he drove.
“The changes will start now, Celeste. Not just for you, but for Gabe and Kendall as well.”
My eyes snapped open. Those words! I remembered those words. Where had I heard them? Fear coiled in my stomach. I glanced around to see how close to Grams’ we were.
“Where are you going.” I yelled over the whipping wind.
“To the ER to get your head stitched up.”
I shook my head as adamantly as my current state would allow, “No. Take me home, please. Grams is a nurse, she’ll take care of me.”
“She’s not going to put stitches in. And what if you have a concussion?”
“Please?” I have a slight fear of hospitals, because there are needles there. And I’m overwhelmingly, irrationally, petrified of needles. “If she thinks I need to go, then I will. Okay?”
Alec frowned, but did as I asked. He U-turned us back toward Grams’. The truck no sooner parked in the driveway than the front door flew open and Grams ran out. Gabe and Kendall trailed her.
Grams’ face was a tight, stern mask of barely contained anger. The sight of me changed that.
“Sakes alive, Celeste! What happened to you?” She gripped my elbow and did a quick assessment of my visible injuries.
“I fell on the path and hit my head. Alec found me.” I said.
Alec wasted no time. “I wanted to take her to the hospital and get her checked out. But she refused to go.”
“Let’s get her inside; I’ll take a look at her. If she needs to go to the hospital she will.” Her tone left no room for argument. “I heard you were back in town, Alec. Thank you for coming to my granddaughter’s rescue.”
They hustled me inside to the downstairs bathroom. I avoided the mirror altogether. I wasn’t ready for that train wreck yet. Kendall put the lid down on the toilet so I could sit. Grams grabbed a washcloth from under the sink and held it under the running water.
“This may sting.” She warned. I concentrated on the mauve and burgundy swirls in the wallpaper to distract myself.
She dabbed at my head. To my surprise, it didn’t hurt. Again she wiped and patted. Then she stopped. Her brow creased. She rinsed the washcloth and came at me once more. This time she swiped the cloth across my entire forehead.
Grams took a step back, her head cocked. “I don’t understand where all the blood came from. Your scratch is already closed up.”
“What? When I found her, her forehead was ripped open clear to the bone!” Alec pushed his way in to get a better look. I grimaced at his colorful choice of words.
Grams took a step back so Alec could see for himself. Crouched down in front of me, he grabbed my chin between his thumb and index finger. Confusion filled his face as he turned my head from side to side.
“That’s not possible. It’s just a scratch.”
“Head wounds bleed like no other. It must’ve looked worse than it was.” Grams explained.
Curiosity got the best of me. I pushed Alec’s hand away and stood up to see for myself. I tried to keep my focus on only my forehead. Smack dab in the middle of my head was a small pink scratch. I ran my finger across it. The pain was gone. Even my headache had vanished. Alec was right, that didn’t seem possible.
My eyes wandered to the rest of my appearance. I didn’t know who the chick in the mirror with the crazed eyes was, but she was downright frightening. Trails of blood streaked my face