Labyrinth: Acropolis Series Book II (21 page)

Gwenyth looks up, and my gaze meets hers. Her
grief is overwhelming, and I close my eyes, letting calm emotions
move from me to the twin. I know without looking Gwenyth's
composure changes, her tears slowing. My tears increase. I have
better control over my powers now after leaving the labyrinth. I've
learned something about them and about myself. My reaction to other
people's emotions is where my power comes from. My power doesn't
come from their emotions, but mine. It's okay to feel. It's okay to
be afraid. It's okay to be different.

I am suddenly pulled into Conor's embrace,
and I take comfort in his strength as figures approach us from a
distance. Marcas, his face solemn. Behind him, Dayton's red hair is
obvious. Will is with them as is Alessandro and his mother, Maria.
No one else follows.

Bruno stands quickly as they near, wavering
some as he moves toward the hybrid king. In one hand, he clutches
the Spear of Destiny.

"For Hesther and Ace," Bruno says, his voice
weary but strong.

There are silent sobs from Gwenyth, and I
press my lips together firmly, my hand clutching Conor's shredded
shirt. If I'm hurting his wounds, he doesn't let on. His chin
settles on the top of my head, and I let a tear fall because it
seems right. A tear for Ace. A tear for Hesther.

Marcas' gaze moves over us, unreadable, He
motions with his hand, and we all fight to rise. Conor doesn't
release me, and I notice each hybrid is supporting another.
Unity.

We are on our feet when Marcas startles us
all by going down on one knee. He does it gracefully, his
unreadable gaze on Bruno and the spear.

"For those we've lost, and for the kingdom
you now gain."

I'm reminded of the stained glass windows on
the doors leading into S.O.S. headquarters as I stare at our king.
A knight kneeling among death, among blood. Predator versus prey.
Victory. I'm not sure the windows represent what I'm feeling, but
it seems to fit. We've lost so much in the labyrinth, it's hard to
appreciate what we've won. But we embrace the victory. And now
Marcas bows before us.

His people.

Chapter 28

Conor

Bruno lowers the spear, and Marcas holds out
his hand, receiving it reverently. He winces only slightly when it
touches his palm, and Bruno drops his hand before backing away.

Bruno breathes a sigh of relief, and I know a
burden has been lifted.

When Marcas stands, the hybrids lower their
heads. I think it's their way of giving him the same respect he
gave them.

Dayton and Will look uncomfortable behind
him. They're both restless, and I know all they want to do is
approach us. Will's eyes are sad. He knows what we lost. He's had
time to spend with the hybrids while I was away, and the grief in
his eyes is obvious. I try to smile but nothing comes.

I still have Emma in my arms, my chin on her
head. I hurt where the wind sweeps across raw skin, but I know I
will heal.

I catch Alessandro gazing at Emma. His look
is raw, open, even hopeful. I want peace for him. I want Emma to
know she's never been alone.

Maria smiles next to Alessandro, her old face
wrinkled in that secret, mysterious way she has, the one that says
she knows things no one else ever will.

But then abruptly, Maria frowns, her hands
clutching her rosary.

The skies above us darken, and I notice
Marcas clench his jaw as our gazes move to the air.

I stiffen as Emma's fingers dig into my
skin.

"No," I hear Will mumble next to Dayton.

It's not until they land that I feel the
anger sweep me. Gargoyles. Lots of gargoyles, and they are led by
none other than Roosevelt Franklin. Roach.

Roach grins as he claps his hands.

"Such a touching moment, Reinhardt. Your
father would roll over in his grave if he saw you now."

I lift my chin, my eyes narrowed. Marcas
steps toward me, but I wave him away. There are too many gargoyles.
Hundreds. Enough to fight the hybrids and Alessandro's men. I won't
risk it.

I don't have to speak. I don't have to ask
Roach why he's here. I know as soon as he pulls the document out of
his jeans, the thick cream colored paper bearing the gargoyle seal,
why he's here. He flew in as a human rather than in his serpent
form. He only does that when it's for official reasons.

The paper crinkles unnaturally loud as Roach
unfolds it, his beady eyes on me. He has the words memorized.

"By the order of the gargoyle council, Conor
Philip Reinhardt and William Andrew Reinhardt are hereby ordered to
appear before the courts where an order of extermination has been
issued. Until then, they are to be removed into custody. For the
crimes accused, they are allowed no rights until an execution date
can be determined."

Emma cries out, and my arm tightens around
her waist. My day of reckoning has come. I had known running was
not an option, and asylum by the S.O.S. was a fluke, The gargoyles
are too strong, their numbers too large.

Will's gaze meets mine over Emma's head. We
know running now will achieve nothing. His head lowers, and I
gently release Emma.

"No," she breathes.

Bruno has stepped up behind us, still weak,
but determined.

"We'll fight them," he says evenly. "You know
we will."

I smile at him.

"No. No more deaths."

Roach approaches Will, pulling his arms
behind his back before clamping steel handcuffs around his wrists.
Dayton spits at him, but Roach merely grins as two gargoyles come
in behind Will and lead him away.

"Why now?" I ask loudly. "Why now in a time
like this?"

Roach looks up, his eyes hard. "Because I
like a dramatic entrance. Because taking you now when they already
hurt so much is the only punishment Gibson will afford me. I would
see them dead if I could. Dead if it wasn't for the damned hybrid
king."

Marcas' rule is important to the good side.
It means he could throw his lot in our favor one day. The hybrids
have sworn allegiance to him by going after the spear. They are
safe because of it. I step toward them, but pause when a sob
escapes Emma. Roach is approaching when I look back, and I smile
wickedly before turning just long enough to pull Emma firmly into
my arms.

My lips meet hers hard and fast. She doesn't
pull away despite the people surrounding us. She kisses me back
instead, her lips desperate, firm. The kiss is deep, and it tells
her things I haven't gotten to say, promises her things I haven't
gotten to promise.

When I pull away, I keep my eyes on hers even
as Roach yanks me backward, pulling my arms behind my back.

"Done now, Romeo?" Roach snarls.

My eyes are on Emma's. Her gaze on mine. It's
all that matters.

"Add that to my list of crimes," I say
lightly.

Roach hisses as the metal snaps closed around
my wrists.

My eyes are still on Emma's even when the
gargoyles begin to lift into the air, Will and I among them. I feel
the hybrids' eyes on me, Marcas' and Dayton's as well. They're all
still plainly in view when I let my mouth move, voicing the
feelings that move through me now.

"Don't hold back."

Chapter 29

Emma

"We can't let them do this!" I say, my voice
broken by sobs.

Bruno's hand lands on my shoulder even as his
eyes search the sky.

"She's right," Dayton says, and I hear
emotion in her voice as well. She and Conor have been friends since
childhood, and the gargoyles have just announced that Conor and
Will are to be killed, executed. We can't let it happen.

My gaze moves to Alessandro.

"Can't you stop them? They claimed asylum
among your group? Does that mean nothing?"

Alessandro's eyes lower.

"I will begin negotiations with Gibson. The
fact that the Reinhardts claimed asylum will delay execution. It
doesn't guarantee that I can stop it."

I feel slightly more hopeful.

"But it might?" I ask.

Alessandro doesn't nod. "I will try my
best."

"We should go after them," Lyre says
suddenly, and we all look at her. She shrugs. "We can't place
everything in the arms of chance."

Bruno nods. "He shed blood for us. We'll do
the same for him if necessary."

Marcas' gaze moves over us all.

"Do you know what you may be getting
yourselves into?" he asks.

When we face him, he gestures at the sky.
"You've only met gargoyles at the Acropolis. You're asking to
embroil yourselves in their troubles, in their society."

Dayton steps up next to Marcas and raises a
brow. One look at her face, and he sighs.

"I'm warning you," he says. "The gargoyles
are like no society you have ever known."

Gray grunts. "I like meeting new people," he
says pointedly.

Gwenyth stands straighter next to him, her
eyes haunted enough we all know she doesn't fear death, she
welcomes it. She doesn't have to say anything for us to know she's
willing to fight the good fight.

"Unity is the hybrid advantage," Deidra says
softly.

We all glance down at her before our gazes
move back to the sky. Behind me, Lyre takes a deep breath.

"Damn, it's that all for one and one for all
crap again."

About the Author

R. K. Ryals is a scatterbrained mother
of three whose passion is reading whatever she can get her hands
on. She makes her home in Mississippi with her husband, three
daughters, a Shitzsu named Tinkerbell, and a coffeepot she
couldn't
live without. Visit her at
http://rkryals.blogspot.com or on facebook at

Other works available:

The Redemption Series

Redemption: The Redemption Series Book I

Ransom: The Redemption Series Book II

Retribution: The Redemption Series Book
III

The Acropolis Series

The Acropolis: Acropolis Series Book I

Coming Soon:

Mark of the Mage: The Scribes of Dragonia

Deliverance: Acropolis Series Book III

Book I in the Thorne Trilogy (Currently
Untitled)