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“The Gauntlet will run simultaneously for everyone, and we will be here to oversee it all. Remember, deaths are not final in here today, but we highly recommend you learn about your group, understand their strengths and weaknesses as a whole, and piece together a plan for victory,” Professor Figgins announces to everyone before a horn sounds and everyone makes their way into the Gauntlet.
The unsettling feeling of stepping through the barrier washes over me and I note that the surroundings are completely different than last time. There’s no small pool of water or stacked boulders filling the space. In its place is a cave at the far end with a field surrounding it.
“Everybody keep your wits about you. It’s going to be impossible to devise a plan until we actually know what we’re up against. Since your magic works opposite to one another, Leila should hold to the right and Eldon to the left,” Creed orders and they nod in agreement. “Brax, you need to hold front and center since you’re the more durable one, and your invisibility might come in handy, Zane.” They all nod in sync, which leaves me and Creed. “Since we’re not as hands on, we’re better hanging back, otherwise we could be a major weakness to the overall group.”
I hate how my gut clenches knowing he’s covering for the fact that I have nothing to add to the team, but I appreciate his efforts to not out me. I squeeze his arm as I step closer and the others fan out a step or two, readying in their positions but still holding together until we see what we’re up against.
A scream echoes from another section of the pit and my heart gallops at the sound. Gulping hard, I try to relax my body, but it’s harder than just willing it to happen. A screech reverberates from another section of the pit a moment later, only this time, it definitely doesn’t belong to a human.
“What the hell is that?” Leila yelps, eyes wide as she looks to each of us for an answer, but I have no fucking clue.
The sound rings out again and Creed frowns. “I think it’s a—” his sentence is cut off as his gaze is drawn to the cave, and I follow his line of sight to see what has his attention.
I stifle a gasp, eyes locked on the monster we’re up against. Half lion, half bird. I thought they were a myth, a thing of legends, but the one standing before us, with its talons scratching at the ground, is very fucking real.
“It’s a griffin,” I breathe, standing in awe of the majestic aura in the air around it.
“Everybody take their positions. I’ll use my mind if necessary, but I’m unsure how to penetrate it, so it’s going to take a second,” Creed orders and the others spread out, powers flicking over their skin with every step they take.
“You can’t hurt it,” I shout, drawing a frown from Creed.
“That’s the whole point of the assignment, Raven.”
Turning my attention back to the creature, it tilts its beak up and locks eyes with me, captivating me. Its golden feathers and tan fur shine despite the lack of direct sunlight, the white stripe down its chest ruffling with a nonexistent breeze.
The griffin’s head tilts to the side, its stare penetrating my own, and I swear I can hear its heart beating from here. Ever so slowly, it tips its head down, and before I can even process what’s happening, I take a step toward it. Then another and another, until Zane calls out my name.
“Raven, what the fuck are you doing? Stay back.”
“You can’t hurt him,” I repeat, creeping toward him one small step at a time. I don’t know how I know it’s a male, I just do.
“Raven, get back,” Creed shouts, but I ignore him too.
It’s out of my hands. I couldn’t stop myself even if I wanted to. The closer I get, the bigger he looms, but my feet keep on moving until I’m standing directly beneath him. The sound of his heart still echoes in my ears.
He’s at least three times my size and when he crouches down, the ground vibrates beneath us. I can hear my name being called but the heart beating in my ears blocks it all out as the griffin lowers its beak.
I don’t know what I’m fucking doing, but I lift my hand to his beak before stroking through the feathers down his neck. He croons at my touch, making me smile despite having no clue how this is happening.
“What the fuck is going on?” Eldon yells, breaking through the fog as the griffin nuzzles its face into my stomach. I gently stroke my fingers over its head, bewildered and in awe as a whistle sounds from somewhere in the distance.
“Professor Figgins, someone needs to help us.”
“You don’t need help with anything,” she says calmly, and I manage to tilt my head to see her staring at me, delight dancing in her eyes as she waves Professor Meade closer. “It looks like Miss Hendrix may have found herself a familiar.”
32
RAVEN
Everyone’s looking at me and I can feel my skin crawling from all of their gazes washing over my body. My shoulders are tense, my hands clenching, and my breathing hitched, but I still manage to put one foot in front of the other as we circle around the Silvercrest Memorial mausoleums.
It’s like a scratch I can’t seem to itch and I have to voice it even though it makes me cringe. “Everyone’s looking at me.”
“No, they’re not,” Leila replies too quickly and with an extra dose of perky that’s not the norm for her, which only confirms I’m right.
“Yeah, they are,” Zane states from behind me, and I give Leila a pointed look.
She sighs, relenting to the madness and admitting it. “It’s not every day someone gets a familiar, Raven. Nevermind a fucking griffin, of all things. That’s hot gossip, girl.”
