A slow, loud clapping echoed behind them. They whirled together. A dark figure loomed in the shadows of the trees. A stray shaft of sunlight pierced the pine boughs and flashed a rim of white fire along the upper edges of the figure’s charcoal wings, arched above and behind its head like a dark heart.
“You finally figured it out. I was starting to wonder about your level of intelligence.”
“Dougal?” Maddie asked. What was he doing there? That couldn’t be good. And the black heart of his wings… she shivered.
The figure stepped from the shadows, and the sunlight revealed the dark gryphon himself. He spread his hands out to the sides as if presenting himself. Sharp claws gleamed. “In the flesh, or the fur, if you prefer.”
“How did you find us?” Maddie asked, her palms sweating. She didn’t know what Dougal-Doran was up to, and she didn’t want to know. They had to get away.
He tapped one claw to his forehead. “Duh! Let’s see. I can fly.” He scoffed and shook his head. “Sometimes I wonder about Arin’s children and their brains. Surely you’ve got it all figured out by now.”
“No,” she whispered breathlessly.
Beside her, Chase said nothing. But she could feel his presence like a scorching heat. When she reached out a hand, his fingers — human still — closed around hers. Good. He’d change into gryphon form and they’d escape.
“Well, then, let me say that your grandma is quite the little witch. She has been hiding you and your mother, and before that your grandmother, for years. But hiding two people presented a challenge, and somehow Gregory discovered your whereabouts.” The fur covering his face let little emotion show through. But somehow she got the impression he wasn’t nearly as pleased or victorious as he tried to sound.
She shook her head, shook off the thought, and tried to concentrate. “Gregory? What does he want from me?”
The big shoulders shrugged, the dark wings above and behind echoing the movement. “Oh, that’s very simple. Like he said before, he just wants to kill you.”
“Great. Why?”
“He was the gryphon who stole Arin’s sister, starting the war and that little family feud you were talking about. He fears Cahal’s release, so he has been killing Arin’s offspring to ensure Cahal never returns. Simple, really. It’s self-preservation.”
“That’s why he started the fire, to kill me? Then you saved me because you do want Cahal to be freed?”
“Yes, dear, you’re correct.”
“Why would you want Cahal to be freed? Right now, you’re the only one of your kind.” She tried to emphasize with her tone that he was special, unique.
But he didn’t take her bait. “Not quite.”
“Well, very close. So why do you want Cahal freed?”
She squeezed her fingers. But Chase didn’t speak and she was running out of things to say to stall Dougal. What was wrong with Chase? Why wasn’t he changing into Alasdair and flying them out of there?
Dougal laughed loudly and a figure left the forest shadows, slithering across the clearing like a snake and stopping beside him. Maddie gasped at its hideous form.
The snake-woman shook back her hair. Strangely, it was well-combed, styled in a fashionable up-do, with blond curls that danced on her shoulders. But the rest of her… “That’s right. You’re looking at a monster. My name’s Serena, but I’m not myself. In truth,” she laid one grotesque hand on her chest, “I am a beautiful woman.” Enraged determination set her face in hard lines. “That is why Cahal must be freed.”
Maddie let go of Chase’s hand — why wasn’t he changing? — crossed her arms over her chest, and attempted to put on a brave front. “That doesn’t explain why Dougal is helping you.”
Dougal guffawed. “She does have a point.”
“Shut up, Doran,” said Serena.
Maddie hoped it didn’t hurt Chase’s feelings but if he wasn’t going to fly them out of danger, then she had to win Dougal to their side. She swallowed her fear. “I know Dougal has feelings for me, so I can’t imagine why he would help you.”
Chase fisted his hands.
Serena slapped her scaly tail against Dougal’s dark-furred legs. “Answer the girl. Tell her what I hold over you.” Dougal whispered the answer and Serena said, “Speak up, Doran, they can’t hear you.”
Doran shouted his answer and it echoed from the trees. “Serena has no hold over me. We were raised in the same village, nothing more. Are you happy?” He glared at Serena.
“No, I’m not.” She gave him a little push. “Go on, tell your little love kitten why you’re freeing your brothers.”
Love kitten? Maddie felt like she’d been slimed.
He shrugged, “It’s very simple — power.”
“What?” Maddie said, shocked.
Serena slithered around him in a circle, running a long nail along Dougal’s forearm. A thin red line appeared through the dark fur, then was instantly gone. “Honestly, darling, how can you be attracted to one so dumb? Please explain this to her, so we can get out of here. My head is beginning to hurt.”
Dougal sighed. “Anything to stop your headache, dear,” he said sarcastically. “Alasdair’s line is of the grays, which are sworn protectors. But I’m different. After my father kidnapped my mother, he morphed to a human with the help of magic. My birth didn’t occur until after the great imprisonment.” He shifted out of Serena’s circle and flexed his wings, forcing her away.
“Imagine my surprise to find out I was the only one! A freak! Everyone I knew grew up and died, but I stayed suspended in time as a young man, with no one like me. That’s when Serena found me and explained that I wasn’t the only one and that I didn’t have to be alone. Now I want to free my father and the fallen gryphons, and take my rightful place as ruler of the world.”
Beside her, Chase shifted. “Why do you think Alasdair exists?”
And suddenly Maddie realized why Chase hadn’t changed: outnumbered as he was, talk was a better weapon than fists and claws. She forced a stoic expression, hoping to protect his secret.
Serena threw out her deformed hands. “Well, isn’t it obvious? Alasdair is of the same race as Cian, the race of the grays, the defenders of mankind. After Cahal and his black warriors were imprisoned, Cian made a pact between the grays and the humans. The grays would spend their lives protecting the descendents of Arin and in turn her descendants would keep the tower locked. Alasdair has come into existence because Maddie is of the line of Arin and she has been threatened.”
“How come his whole family hasn’t changed?” His voice sounded strained and she wished she could squeeze his hand and offer reassurance. She should never have let his hand go.
“Because in order for a gray to change, he must feel the urge to protect. It’s even stronger if the one in need of protection is his true love.” Serena lifted her head to the sky, peering around. “By the way, where is your protector? Shouldn’t he be here?”
She planted her hands on her hips. “Why? I’m not in danger, remember? You can’t get me to open the tower if I’m dead.” Hopefully her words would distract them from Chase’s increasing tension. He felt like a time bomb beside her, awaiting the right moment to explode.
“Serena, she does have a point.” Dougal grinned, but still… for someone who thought he was about to win a great victory, he seemed almost as strained as Chase.
Serena hissed. “She may not be in danger from death, but she is greatly mistaken if she thinks she is safe.”
As if at a signal, Dougal whirled, stalked back to the forest’s edge, and shoved bushes aside. Black fur, stained and matted — Gregory, bound with chains. Maddie started back, then froze. The black gryphon was even more hideous in daylight. His overly long black snout sniffed at the air. Long, thick, hairy arms were crushed to his sides. He stretched his wings behind him, fighting against the confining links. His eyes bulged as he stared at Chase. A chuckle rent the air.
He knows! Maddie shivered. She prayed he wouldn’t say anything. After all, they shared a common goal. Neither one of them wanted the tower opened.
“What is he laughing about?” Serena frowned.
“Who knows?” Dougal-Doran shrugged. “He’s obviously crazy.”
“No, I think he has another motivation.” Serena whipped her head up and again stared around the sky, her eyes bulging out.
A soft wind blew from off the lake, the first for hours. Maddie’s hair teased her cheeks. Chase muttered something under his breath, shifting beside her. Dougal lifted his nose and sniffed.
Serena glared at Chase. Her eyes widened. “You!”
Chase’s body convulsed, whirling, stretching, bulging. Fur sprouted, claws, teeth. He barely had time to morph before Dougal jumped on him and pinned him to the ground.
****
Serena droned on and on. Chase ground his teeth, taxing his energy to remain human. He was pretty sure he could outfly Doran, but Serena was unknown and her snake-like tail stretched longer than he liked. Who knew what she could do with it? Could she grab him out of the sky and dash them together on the rocks? Of course she’d make certain he landed on bottom; she wanted the eochair for her own use. And if he died…
Maddie would be alone.
Then Gregory snuffled the breeze. Chase swallowed. Gregory’s changing expression caused his stomach to clench. Was the black gryphon going to give him away? Maddie…
But then Dougal lifted his snout and Chase knew it was over. He let go and the change coursed through his body. Now Dougal pinned him to the ground. The hundred-year-old black gryphon bared his claws and thrust them at Chase’s neck. Defensively he raised his hands and instead Dougal swiped his side. Blood sprayed and Chase cried out.
Maddie screamed and ran to help, fists clenched. But Serena’s tail whipped out and wrapped around her, yanking her back. He wanted to tell her to stop fighting, that he’d be fine. His wounds had all healed in the past. Surely these would heal, as well.
Without releasing his hold, Dougal heaved Chase from the ground. Chase grabbed blindly over his shoulder, but he couldn’t even get a handful of wing feathers before the lakeshore whirled around him. Thrown about like a rag doll, he realized his folly. Instead of romancing Maddie, he should’ve been learning more of the necessary skills to defend her. Instead he’d left it all to his instincts. But surely the black gryphons had the same instincts, and after a hundred years of life, Dougal knew in his bones how to fight.
Suddenly the ground was there. Chase’s wings tried to extend — they knew what to do, even when he didn’t — but Dougal twisted his hold. Chase crunched face-first into the rocky shore.
“How pitiful.” Dougal grabbed his wing and leaned on it. Pain wracked up Chase’s back into his chest. “If the gray gryphons can defend no better than this, it’s no wonder Gregory was able to annihilate all the eochairs.”
Once more Chase tried to wrestle free. Once more Dougal smashed his face into the ground and leaned on his wing. Through the blood dripping into his eye, Chase watched as Maddie wept silently.
Serena jerked her hair. Speaking to Dougal, she said, “Are you ready?”
“Yes.” Dougal’s voice didn’t even sound winded. Humiliating.
Serena spoke unintelligible words. Chase’s head swam and lights swirled around him. He closed his eyes and when he opened them, he lay face-down atop purple heather. So the snake-woman could work magic, too. His heart sank within him. It was hard to convince himself they weren’t doomed.
“Where are we?” Maddie’s eyes were wide with fear.
“In Ireland, my dear.”
Slowly Chase lifted his head. The heather extended in all directions, to a distant stand of dark trees on the left, and on the right…
A pale tower shimmered into focus.
Maddie squirmed and struggled against her captor. “I won’t do it!”
“Madelyn, dear, you can only open the door if you do so willingly. And we both know you want to open the door.” Dougal’s voice made the words sound like dripping poisoned honey.
“That’s where you’re mistaken.” She fought harder, her hair falling over her eyes. “There’s no way you’ll ever get me to open the door.”
Serena’s tail snaked farther up Maddie’s struggling body. Dougal scoffed and gave Maddie an evil smile. With the distraction, Chase’s— no, Alasdair’s strength and hope increased. He lunged, but Dougal was too quick. Again Alasdair found himself eating purple heather. He screamed in agony as Dougal sank his claws into Alasdair’s side and ripped off a chunk of the repairing flesh.
Alasdair collapsed, lights flashing before his eyes, and he struggled to stay conscious. Dougal held the chunk of flesh for Maddie’s inspection. She turned an unsightly shade of green.
“Do you see this? This is only the beginning. If you wish for him to live, then you will open the door.”
As quickly as that, all his hope died. “No,” Chase moaned in a ragged whisper.
****
No more.
Maddie cast a final glance at Alasdair — her own beloved Chase, now beaten and bloody — and stepped forward as Serena’s tail fell away. The entire scenario reminded her of her dream; only this time it wasn’t a dream. It was most definitely real. The grass with the purple flowers was indeed a field of heather in Ireland. The tower that once shimmered in her dreams now loomed, solid and forbidding. And she’d hear Chase’s agonized scream in her soul for the rest of her life.
As she strode forward, the heather tickled her legs through her jeans. If she closed her eyes, she could almost imagine herself home in bed, sleeping and dreaming the nightmare that never ended.
She glanced back over her shoulder.
Gregory lay bound, chains wrapped around his wings and body. Dougal-Doran stood over Gregory with fangs and claws bared, daring him to break free and try to escape. Alasdair, her loving Chase, curled on the ground with Serena’s tail now writhing around him, his side sliced open, the ground blackened with his blood. The beast part of his body tried to heal the wound; she could see it starting to close, but then Serena squeezed him with her tail and fresh blood spurted. He choked out another hoarse scream, weaker now.
“Go on, lassss,” hissed Serena. Triumph twisted her face into even more of a mockery. “Touch the tower.”
Maddie drew in a ragged breath and walked on. With luck, she’d die before she reached the gleaming white tower.
As she approached it shone, beautiful and pristine, the white reflecting the sun like polished ivory. Even in her terror, she thought it amazing and beautiful. However, the closer she drew, the more the tower changed. No longer white and inviting, it slowly changed to gray, drab stone. Forbidding, she thought, and her breath hitched in her throat. As she neared, wails and moans drifted from between the bars that appeared like magic on the outside walls.
“Let us out! Let us out!” It seemed thousands of voices screamed.
Maddie’s heartbeat raced and she backed up. If they got free…
She blinked and the scenery around her changed. No longer did she stand mesmerized by the forbidding prison tower amidst the heather. Instead it seemed she crouched behind a huge, moss-covered tree trunk. A massive dark flying beast, more demon than gryphon, laughed and dragged a screaming woman from her hiding place behind another tree. A man leapt out beside her, awkwardly swinging a cudgel. But the dark gryphon whipped out one claw. Blood sprayed, the farmer gurgled and collapsed, and the gryphon yanked the woman into his arms and flew away, wings pumping. Her screams trailed behind them. Maddie turned, spied another dark beast hovering behind her, fur matted with blood…
But she blinked again and it was all gone. She stared at the tower, watching the spurting blood in her memory. No. No.
Behind her, Serena hissed, loud enough to be heard across the field’s expanse. “Go on, lasssss, or lover boy here is a goner.”
“Don’t do it, Maddie!” Chase howled, but fought to choke out words even through his pain. “The whole world is at stake! Those things destroyed Arin’s village and if you let them out, there’s no telling what havoc they might cause!”
“Shut up!” yelled Serena, squeezing Chase until he let out a yell of pain.
Maddie didn’t know what to do. Serena would kill Chase if she didn’t open the tower door, but the escaping dark gryphons could destroy the whole world, bit by bit, if she did. She had no doubt she’d seen a memory from Arin’s village, perhaps floating loose in the rampant magic of Ireland.
She looked at Dougal. He turned away, and a thread of hope twined around her thoughts. She needed to see his face. Surely there was some good in him. How many times had he saved her? Had he saved her only so he could have the prisoners released? A part of her said there was more to it. Hadn’t he seemed torn earlier, not really happy that they’d won?
“Dougal, would you look at me?” Maddie called. The wind surrounding the tower sucked away the words and she yelled the question a second time.
She expected him to ignore her. Instead he faced her but didn’t speak.
Surprised, she swallowed. “Won’t you help me?”
He studied the ground. Serena laughed maniacally. “Are you kidding? He has wanted to use your kind for a full century!”
So much for Dougal. She aimed her next words at Serena. “What’s in this for you?” She couldn’t help but ask. Dougal had said it was power and surely freeing his family, as well. So what did Serena want? Maddie needed the truth. But more so, she needed to stall. Surely someone would come to her rescue. Someone had always come to her rescue. But how much time did she have? The wails and moans of the prisoners grew louder. Had they sensed her approach? Could they smell her? Her heart pounded harder.
“What’s in it for me?” Serena paused, then shrugged. “Well, I’ll tell you. Once I was a beautiful young girl, but I fell in love with the leader of the Ancient Ones. He promised me long life and eternal beauty if I would stay with him forever. And I promised him I would.” For a moment her smile was tender, like a young girl in love for the first time. It didn’t last long. “Then Cian and Arin locked him in prison! Without his presence, his magic, I turned into this horrible snake creature. I have been this way for over one hundred years and it stops now!” She contracted her tail and squeezed until Chase screamed. “Here’s your last chance. Open the door or he dies.”
Maddie glanced once more at Dougal. Tears raced along her cheeks. “I called you friend,” she whispered, as she touched the door and entered the tower.