Chapter 17
A Predator Studying its Prey
Griffin
Present Day - Grypheem
“Matty?” Raven croaked from beside him. She stepped forward before he could think to stop her.
Griffin froze in place, sizing the man up. Matty. Blond hair that was slicked back, bright chaotic robin’s egg eyes, dimples forming as he gave Raven a slight squeeze before releasing her. A long-sleeved sienna shirt and burgundy pants. He was wearing their country’s colors.
Griffin didn’t like him.
“It’s been years.” The man offered a sheepish smile. “I—Oh, hey Julian, you’re here too?”
Julian shouldered past Griffin wrapping the man in a big hug. “I couldn’t find you anywhere. I looked! I really did, but it was as if you disappeared.”
Griffin didn’t like this. He had never met this man before, didn’t know that his brother had been using him as a liaison at all.
Another secret his brother had been keeping.
But I guess I’m keeping my own, too.
“I was on the outside of the facility when the bomb went off, I got swept up and Drago found me on the outskirts. I stayed in Violencia as long as I could but…” The man released Julian.
“It’s rough there right now. Nowhere is safe.
They are clearing each Facility, one-by-one.
The players from the disrupted Masquerade are fueling the fire, but Nightingale is leading the charge. ”
Griffin narrowed his eyes. “Matty?” he asked cautiously. “I assume you all grew up together.” He grabbed hold of Raven’s wrist, tugging her back to his side, attempting to stymie his rage and distrust.
“We did,” Julian answered.
Griffin offered his hand to Matty.
“You can just call me Matt.” He reached out warily.
Griffin gave him a two-handed shake, applying excess pressure.
Matt eventually pulled back, his sleeve pushing up in the process.
Griffin thought he saw something familiar there, but then Matt was brushing it back down again.
“Nice to meet you, Prince Griffin.” He offered a slight bow, his voice level and even.
“I need to get ready for this evening, but I will see you all tonight. We will need to catch up soon!” he suggested to Raven and Julian before turning and leaving.
Why does everything feel off? This entire encounter?
Amelia and Matt were similar, their aura pressing against Griffin in a dual nauseating manner, but he couldn’t determine why.
“Scared him off already?” Drago clapped Griffin’s shoulder. “No matter. The others are very keen to see Raven. I suggest you bring her down to eat before they flip the castle apart searching for her.”
Griffin grunted his agreement, shrugging his brother off. “You didn’t tell me about Matt.”
Drago waved his hand. “You didn’t need to know.” He offered his elbow. “Come on, dear Amelia, let’s leave these love birds to it.”
Amelia inclined her head before taking hold of Drago and being steered out of the room.
Griffin followed them, slamming the door shut, and bolting it. He wanted nothing more than to crawl into the bed again with Raven at his side.
To repeat last night all over again. To have her in his arms, under his control, her hot mouth on his.
But by the look on her face, the annoyance and pressed lips as she regarded the masks they were to wear tonight, he doubted she would be in the mood.
He didn’t blame her.
But it reminded him of another woman who had looked at him exactly like that.
Over Ten Years Ago – Off the Coast of Violencia
Another few years passed, the revolution was building. His gang of griffins increasing everyday. But with it, so were the victims.
Griffin panted out of breath as he rowed the dinghy out towards the ship. This wasn’t the first time. It was the hundredth. Perhaps even more.
The moon was absent, and the waves were larger than usual. The weather was not cooperating with his endeavor.
“Where are you taking us?” The child whimpered on the boat across from him as she huddled against her mother.
They were both gaunt, it was clear neither had eaten well in a long time. But Griffin was accustomed to this. Even still, it did not hurt his heart any less. “Somewhere safe. Away from the evil. We’re almost there, I promise.”
“Momma?” the child whimpered, shivering against the woman.
The woman stared at Griffin with lifeless eyes.
It had been easy enough to load the both of them up and whisk them away in the dead of night.
Another rescue mission from the darkest parts of the Facilities.
“There isn’t anywhere that evil doesn’t follow,” the woman said.
She offered a placating kiss to the top of her child’s head.
A wave fell over their small boat, soaking them all in water. The woman didn’t even react but the child began to sob loudly.
“Hush,” the woman murmured, she cut her eyes up to Griffin. “I have two older daughters. But I don’t know where they were taken. It was years ago, before this one was even born.”
They had made it to the ship now, a large net falling over into the water. He used the oars to tug it to him. “What are their names?” he asked, flicking his attention up to the woman and gesturing for her to help him.
She assisted in putting the child in first and he tugged three times on the rope, long and hard. The net disappeared up into the dark sky above.
The woman watched it go, but didn't appear scared or worried. Simply resigned that this was the best she would get, and she wouldn’t dare fight it. “Sofia and Katarina.”
“I will search for them,” he promised, meeting her gaze for a single instance.
A spark of hope simmered in them now. “Thank you.” The net fell again, and the woman didn’t indicate she needed any help, making her way inside of it herself.
He tugged on it three times again.
When she began to rise, Griffin let out a breath of relief. While most parts of this mission had been easy, finding the intel hadn’t, but he had managed.
Without Viktor and Niko, he had been forced to delegate more tasks and it was causing him to realize how much he needed better help.
He went to push off from the ship, but then a ladder fell down next.
She wants to see me.
That was never good.
Heaving a sigh, he tied off to the ladder before climbing it. The waves caused him to rock against the ship a few times on his way up, but he held on tight.
Once on deck, he found it was completely empty except for the captain. Her familiar demonic mask with elongated incisors in place.
“Illiyana.” He bowed his head in respect.
She had found him shortly after he landed on Violencia, one of her crew stealing him away in the middle of the night. And shortly thereafter, a deal had formed.
She would rescue any victims he brought to her, but he could only bring her women and children.
And despite her reputation, he trusted her.
“You bring me so many victims, but not any change.” Her voice floated through the air to him. She lifted her mask.
Even in the shadows, her features seemed unnatural. An ethereal pallor that nearly shimmered. Reminiscent of the Priestess, but not nearly as sinister.
Griffin contained his surprise forcing a blank expression as she narrowed her translucent gray eyes at him, her lips pressing together in annoyance.
She circled him, a predator studying its prey.
“I suppose you are still young. But it has been five years since you made your way to Violencia.”
Illiyana stopped before him, cocking her head up. “Soon the population in Violencia will plummet too. It is only a matter of time.”
Shock pierced him. “Do you know the cause?”
She crooked her lips. “Yes. Just as I know I cannot fix it. At least not yet.” She turned from him as lightning pierced the sky.
But it wasn’t fast enough.
Bile rose in his throat as the previously hidden lines on her face lit up, lattices that lathered one on top of the other.
Scars.
“Continue to bring me the victims. I will keep them safe. I will be the haven they need. But you must do more. Soon humankind will die out altogether if you do not exterminate those who are unnatural.”
He screwed his eyes shut in frustration.
Unnatural.
The word circulated through him.
Unnatural.
Unnatural.
Unnatural.
His eyes flashed open in understanding, but she was already gone.
He huffed in annoyance but took the hint and returned to the ladder.
Unnatural.
He had a focused target in mind now.