The Conduit (Gryphon Series) Read Online Free Page A

happier doing something behind the scenes.”
    Kendall looked at me like I spouted gibberish. “But he wants to audition. Don’t you, Keith?” She unleashed the full power of her big, blue doe eyes on him. Poor, twitchy fella didn’t stand a chance.
    Keith’s hair flipping reached a spastic pace. I started to worry he was going to inflict bodily harm on himself. “Yeah…uh, sure….it will be, uh…fun.”
    “See ?” Kendall said, beaming at her victory. “We’re going to head inside and rehearse a few more scenes.” With that, she took Keith’s hand and led him into the house.
    “Not for too lo ng!” I called after her. “Grams will be heading to bed soon.”
    “Okay!” She chirped.
    I watched as they walked through the door. “Do you think she realizes the effect she has on boys?”
    Gabe paused in removing a lug nut and looked in their direction. “I think she’s completely oblivious. Just like he is that it isn’t a compliment when a girl you have a crush wants you to audition for the role of ‘Brick.’”
    “Why’s that?”
    “Sub-context of the play—unanswered questions about Brick’s sexuality,” he explained with a shrug of his meaty shoulder.
    “Oh, definitely not a compliment if your female crush asks you to play that part ,” I agreed. “How the heck do you know that?”
    “American Literature class at MSU.”
    “You mean the one semester you took?”
    “Wanna change your own tire?”
    “Nope.”
    “Then drop it.”
    “Fair enough.”
    He went back to work, vigorously struggling to loosen an uncooperative lug nut. Boredom set in and my mind began to wander. I’d like to say that I was debating philosophical issues that plagued mankind, but that’s nowhere near true. The crickets chirped, the leaves danced gently in the breeze, and I checked out mentally. One leaf broke free from its stem and flitted down past a glittery , yellow beak. That got my attention. I peered closer. Perched among the branches sat the most regal bird I had ever seen. It looked like an eagle, but the colors were too bright, too vibrant. The head and neck of the mighty bird were the color of spun gold, its body the hue of freshly polished bronze. The noble-looking creature cocked its head and examined me.
    I pushed myself off the door frame and stepped closer. The creature seemed to have a mutual interest in me. It turned its head side to side like it was trying to figure me out. I was so focused on the animal that I didn’t hear Gabe calling me.
    “Cee, I need the light. Cee? Hello? Celeste!”
    “Oh, sorry.” I stumbled back over and readjusted the light.
    When I glanced back at the tree , the bird was still there. Something about it had changed, though. It seemed to be glowing. I looked around for an outside source of light. There was nothing. I blinked rapidly to clear my eyes. That didn’t help. The light grew brighter. A soft, white shimmer emanated from the eagle.
    I wanted to get Gabe’s attention so he could witness this. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find my voice. The illuminated eagle rose from its perch and hovered just above the tree. The flapping of its wings was slow and methodical, like treading water. The glow became brighter, the equivalent of a street light. It was like a beacon in the sky that only I could see. I toyed with the idea that I could be hallucinating.
    In one dramatic gesture, the mighty bird swooped mere feet over my head. I stumbled backward, lost my footing, and fell against my truck. It shot off in the direction of the mountains and left behind a trail like that from a sparkler. The trail pointed straight to the mountain range.
    With the bird gone, I regai ned the ability to speak. “Did…you…see…that?” I stammered, scrambling to my feet.
    “What? You falling into the truck? That’s not really a new thing for you,” Gabe muttered as he pulled the jack out from under the truck.
    “Look!” I exclaimed, pointing at the sky.
    He casually looked up. “A