The Conduit The Gryphon Series - By Stacey Rourke Page 0,71

and Kendall spun around to face him. “Now move!” He demanded and flicked his finger. Kendall flew through the air, forcefully colliding with the wall. Had her wings hit first, she would’ve been fine. But she hit head first, I watched in dismay as she slid down into a heap on the floor.

“That’s better,” Barnabus hissed. In a swift fluid motion, he ducked around us. His enormous body curled around the stage and blocked the exit. “You must be as dim as the Gryphon. It was so easy to lure you here. I just needed the right bait.” His claws closed around a stunned Alec.“Hellooo, Bait!”

“NO!” I screamed as his grasp tightened.

“You never told me just how you feel about this boy,” Barnabus said in his malicious purr. He stood to his full height, his captor in tow. “Do you love him? A crush, perhaps? Or, maybe just a naughty lusting? What is it?”

I was speechless. My earlier sarcasm completely silenced by my panic and terror. It was my job—no, my calling—to stop this from happening. But my emotions had me petrified into immobility.

Barnabus’ eyes twinkled with joyous evil. “What seems to be the matter child? Do you not yet know how deeply your feelings for him lie? Well, it is my experience that the saying is very much true.” With his free hand Barnabus placed one dagger-like talon directly under Alec’s chin. Alec whimpered. “You never know what you have until it’s gone.”

Alec let out a blood curdling scream as the gargantuan beast slowly and methodically dug its claw into his tender flesh. Blood rained down and pooled on the stage at my feet.

CHAPTER 31

My head swam. Alec’s agonized screams were cut off as blood spewed out of his mouth and over his lips. The magnitude of the horrific events before me reduced me to a paralyzed lump. Thankfully, Gabe sprang into action. He soared through the air. Teeth barred. Claws readied. As our chestnut-maned lion latched on to Barnabus’ hand he became a ferocious blur, biting and slashing with vengeful vigor.

Barnabus let out a pained holler and dropped Alec, who fell to the ground with a sickening thud. He lay still. I hoped he passed out in mid-trauma and not that the rescue came too late. Barnabus turned his full attention to Gabe, and tried to shake off the enraged cat. The sight of Alec’s body lying there like a discarded toy made me snap to. I took advantage of the diversion and quickly hooked my arms under his armpits to drag him outside. I made a conscious effort not to look at the gaping hole in his head or the blood that covered him and left a trail behind us. Going with the superhero stereotype I wasn’t supposed to puke or pass out in the face of adversity. Right now those were both very strong possibilities.

Through the darkened backstage and out the exit into the cool, crisp night air we went. As soon as I got him outside I checked for his pulse. I had to know for sure if my failure to act cost him his life. Scared to see if his face had been reduced to hamburger, I opted for his wrist. Even that was covered with warm stickiness from the blood that seeped everywhere. The drumming through his veins was weak, but steady. He desperately needed medical attention or for Kendall to heal him. I would personally see to it that he got one, if not both of those things. Just as soon as I took care of the three story reptile that desperately needed a butt kickin’. I sprinted back to rejoin the battle.

Back in the theater Barnabus whipped his spiked tail across the stage at Gabe, fixated on impaling him. The lion’s fur was visible wet with sweat as he darted, leaped, crouched or dived to avoid each lash.

“Hey, Lizard Breath!” I yelled. “Don’t tire yourself out before you and I get a chance to dance!”

The head of the massive dragon swung towards me. “You’re absolutely right. I should not be wasting my time on this flea ridden pest.”

The villainous dragon stomped at me. The floor vibrated under my feet. Gabe—my sentry—ran to position himself between the Barnabus and me. That lethal tail swung again.

“GABE! LOOK OUT!” I screamed.

He turned back to face our enemy, his timing truly tragic. A barb from Barnabus’ tail caught him in the chest. The air left his lungs in a heaved gasp. Then he tumbled through