The Conduit The Gryphon Series - By Stacey Rourke Page 0,62

by a truck. But did you see my doctor? What a dish, huh?”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Yeah, Grams, he’s a hottie.”

“Hands off,” she murmured drowsily. “I’m calling dibs.”

“No problem, he’s all yours,” I assured her. Venturing cautiously, I asked, “Grams, do you remember what happened?”

Her heavy lids fell shut again, her eyebrows drew together. “It’s just kind of a blur.”

“Just remember what you can.”

Her eyes remained closed as she began, “I was watching my stories. They were getting really good. Hailey found a cursed necklace that allowed a demon to possess her. Then, I heard a loud thump against the window. At first I thought a bird flew into it. But when I looked up the whole thing just shattered. I barely had time to cover myself. A man, wearing some sort of medieval costume, jumped through the broken window. He had one normal eye, but the other was solid black. He grabbed my arm and yanked me up out of my chair. He screamed something at me. What was it he said? Something about power. Where was my power, maybe? I told him to check the fuse box or get an extension cord. Then, something hit me. The whole side of my body hurt, bad enough that I think I blacked out for a minute.” My stomach rolled. That explained the hole in the wall. He must’ve threw her into it. “I woke up on the floor with my whole body hurtin’. The most intense pain came from my arm. It was twisted behind my back. His voice changed. It was like a hiss when he asked me…something. Something urgent. Oh, why can’t I remember? It scared me to death. How could I have forgotten?”

She scowled as she fought to remember. Then her eyes snapped open wide. She stared at me in horror. “Oh, no! Oh! I remember! Honey, it was you! He knew your name! He was looking for you, Celeste!”

I knew full well that Barnabus was after me. However hearing the words and seeing the impact it had on my Grams gave me goose bumps all over. I shook it off and concentrated on comforting my grandmother. “It’s okay, Grams. I’m safe. See? Fit as a fiddle. Nothing to worry about.”

“You didn’t see this person, Celeste. I know this sounds crazy, but I don’t think he was human. He was too strong. And his face, it seemed to—change. ”

I wanted to reach out to her, to soothe her frazzled state with a hand on her shoulder or a kiss to her forehead. But the battle scars that peppered her skin made me hesitant to touch her. I didn’t want to hurt her more. I settled for patting her hand. “I’m going to be okay, Grams. I promise. I can take care of myself. I’m a tough chick, just like you.”

“No, you don’t understand, Celeste,” she said sternly. She attempted to sit up, winced in pain and then settled back onto her pillow. “This is different. You need to run. Do you hear me? Run. This guy is crazy as a bed bug and he will hurt you. There is money tucked in my sock drawer at home. Go get it. Take every last dollar. Grab your Gabe and Kendall and run!”

I glanced around the room. An extra IV pole sat in the corner. I retrieved it and brought it over by my grandmother.

“Just watch,” I said softly.

Grams lips formed a thin, straight line. She looked confused, annoyed, and frustrated, but nodded and waited. I grabbed each end of the metal pole and bent it into a perfect circle. The metal screamed as it gave way to my grip. It molded in my hands like silly putty. I held it up for her to see.

“Shoddy craftsmanship,” she stated, but doubt fluttered across her face.

I shook my head. “Solid metal.”

Confusion drew her smudged, penciled in eyebrows together as she looked back and forth from the misshapen pole to me and back again. When her gaze settled on me, she peered at me as if we’d never met.

Shifting uncomfortably, I muttered, “See, I told you I was strong.”

She gawked at me, a tiny smile playing across her lips. “I’ll say. You definitely didn’t get that from my side of the family.”

I leaned the pole against the wall then returned to my place at her side. “Like I said, you don’t have to worry about me.”

“I don’t know what it is that you just did there. I’m sure you and