Gilded Wings(46)

“Its chest, but you’d have to pass its razor sharp beak and talons first.”

“What if you threw me? You could toss me hard, directly at it, and I would hold my dagger out in front of me like an arrow. It probably would never expect us do to anything like that. Those things are probably used to chasing and ripping things apart. But if we attack it unexpectedly, I think we could do it. I have this super suit which has kept me protected, and this dagger is magical. I know if it reaches its mark, it will get the job done.”

Bane looked at me with narrowed eyes, and I couldn’t read his expression.

“What?”

“You are something,” he said, shaking his head. “I don’t think anyone would have thought of meeting a Gryphon head on in an attack. What you are saying makes sense. It would never expect it because it has never had its prey attack. Maybe on a few rare occasions, but it knew when an attack was coming.” He looked like he was seriously considering it, but then shook his head. “No. It’s much too risky. We have to consider everything. What if you aren’t thrown fast enough, or miss the mark, or get injured? I don’t want to take a chance.”

“But we can’t hang in this tree forever. If we go now, and try, we could be on our way to the house in no time. I think it’s worth a shot, and I trust you. I think you should trust me. I have a feeling it will work.”

Again, he paused and I could see him battling within himself.

“Alright,” he finally agreed. “But only because I need to get you back to the barrier.”

“Good,” I said, my stomach began twisting.

“We will fly straight up, as high as we can before it gets too close. It will be coming up from below us. That’s when I’ll quickly turn and throw you at it. Just make sure you don’t drop that dagger. Keep a strong grip on it and aim straight for the chest.”

“Sounds easy enough.”

“Let’s hope it is easy.”

I took hold of my dagger, and he sheathed his sword and held onto me.

“You can do this,” he said.

“So can you,” I answered.

He called his wings and folded them behind his back. He took in a deep breath, and jumped, his wings flapped once, carrying us up quickly. I glanced around but didn’t see a thing, then my skin crawled as I heard the loud screech of the Gryphon. It was already above us.

Plan A was out the window, and I wasn’t sure of plan B. Instead of going straight up, Bane flew at an upward diagonal, heading toward the house. The Gryphon screeched again as it headed in a course for collision.

I closed my eyes and concentrated, making us invisible. I knew it could still see us, but maybe if it saw us change it would throw it off. And that’s exactly what happened. As we disappeared, the Gryphon paused and flapped backward for just a moment. As its eyes adjusted again, it screeched and continued directly after us.

Turning invisible did throw it off, but I needed to be sure.

As it barreled toward us, I willed visibility, and its course remained straight. But as soon as I willed invisibility, the Gryphon paused for a brief moment. It was confused. Its head shifted slightly to the side, its eyes trying to adjust to the change. After a few blinks, its eyes refocused on us again.

“I have a new plan,” I told Bane.

“What?” he asked.

“I am going to count to three, and when I say three, you turn and throw me.”

“No,” he replied.

“Bane, trust me. Just throw me on three, and aim me straight for its chest.”

He exhaled loudly. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

“I do. I promise.” I just hoped it would work again. It seemed like whenever we were visible and disappeared, the Gryphons eyes needed to adjust. I knew eagles could see seven times better than humans, and I wondered how much better this creature could see. It was obviously way more than seven times if it could see something invisible.

“One,” I said, grasping tightly to my dagger.

“Two.” My heart and pulse began to race, and as I looked at the horrifying creature chasing us, my mind began to second guess. No. I couldn’t wimp out now. I willed visibility and held out my dagger ahead of me, while Bane adjusted his grip to toss me.

“Three!” I shouted.

As soon as Bane started to turn I willed invisibility.

The Gryphon stopped and I was thrust forward like a rocket, the wind whipped in my face. I held out the dagger, aimed at its chest, but then the Gryphon did something I hadn’t expected.

It dipped.

No! I struck its wing and was tossed in the air, but before I fell, I pushed the dagger into its side. It screamed, dropping quickly, which allowed me to fall directly onto its back. I withdrew my dagger and pushed it into its skull. Bone splintered as the blade entered, going straight through like butter. The Gryphon screeched and thrashed its head wildly, but I held onto the dagger, slipping down to its side. The dagger was coming free, and I was now hanging at its front. It was frantic, thrusting its talons, but I was in a position where it could barely touch me.