Greg… His rooms, 3rd Floor of the Lair

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3:27 am

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“No—I can’t breathe. Stop it. Help, I can’t breathe. Stop. No, no. You can’t do this!”

Greg was up and through the door to his bedroom in a flash. Lighting wasn’t needed. His Gryphon sight overrode the need to pretend he was hampered by the human liability of night blindness. Instinct and a magnetic draw toward her had him locked in on the sight of his would-be mate.

Zia thrashed about the bed, eyes closed and in the middle of what might be a night terror. Bed coverings and the top sheet had all retreated. They bunched together in a tangled mess at the edge of the bed and floor. All to escape the Tsunami of limbs and kicks Zia waged on them.

“Zia… Zia. It’s Greg.” Her arms flailed and thrashed about slicing through the darkness of the room. He worked to approach without injuring her in the process.

“Stop it. You’re hurting me!” Her wails tore at his heart, but who was hurting her?

He stood close to the edge, but nowhere near her as Zia squirmed in the center of the massive king-sized bed. Time slowed down as he took in the torturous event unfolding before him. A muted combination of a scream and grunt filled the air as Zia’s body arched into an impossible angle.

“Oh, Goddess—Zia, I’m here! Zia, can you hear me?”

Greg pounced onto the bed and kneed his way toward the center to reach her. He navigated the barrage of flying fists and kicks to reach Zia. That’s when it stopped him cold. Waves of heat and an invisible tell-tale tug of the multiverse slammed against his body and consciousness, but how? His bedroom was nowhere near the entry points to the Portal here in the Lair.

Some odd phenomenon was afoot. Guardian training took over as Greg refocused his vision to see beyond this realm.

Zia’s being straddled many dimensions. What he’d mistaken for a night terror was more, far more. The Lair resided in various realities. It stood to reason that all its inhabitants would do the same. That’s why humans couldn’t survive being within the Lair for long.

His need to protect his mate by having her stay here might be her undoing. Greg took a moment to open his Gryphon sight and senses to see across the realms. Before him on what was his bed in the earth-realm fell away to reveal many places at once.

Transparent scenes and echoes of concurrent events collided to create a hodgepodge of electric signatures. The muddled sight made it hard to see Zia. Forging a wedge between the unnecessary spaces and the ones she might be in, Greg pushed his ability to its limit.

When he thought he might lose the thread, her voice rang out like a beacon to guide him to her. Magnetic tension pulled at him the closer he came to where her pleas had called to him.

The realm where her signature was strongest lacked the usual firmness that most places had. Instead, the atmosphere appeared to form like a piece of transparent film or wrap. She was on earth, but not completely.

“I’m here. Can you hear me?” he asked, hoping she would come to with his proximity.

Zia’s life-force remained closed off and distant. As a Guardian Warrior, the first rule of protection was to fight in a realm where the rules were known. Gryphon wisdom pressed forward to warn him away from this place. As stealthy as he’d come to this point, Gryphon wisdom almost screamed for him to extricate himself to come back to his bedroom on the earth-realm. Earth rules he knew, that other dimension might be a trap. There was no need to put them both in danger.

How could he leave her here alone? He couldn’t. A quick look through the layers and wrinkles of dimensions confirmed that this one was farther away from earth than he’d first assumed. Yes, it might look like it was a translucent blanket resting on top of the earth like a thin covering, but in actual distance, it was far away.

Why didn’t he know about this place? Niggling warnings of danger and traps danced at the edge of his thoughts. Greg allowed his beast to come forward.

His back itched at the points where his wings pressed to emerge and unfurl. Just below the surface, so close he could shift in a fraction of a second if the need arose, his base nature snarled and roared to protect and hunt down any danger. That’s when the illumination caught his attention.

Unusual markings became visible. Broadcast from that weird unknown realm, what might be imperceptible to the human eye stood out against the dark of the room in a neon warning when viewed through both realms.

Traced along the side of Zia’s face, down her neck and under the pajamas she wore was the thinnest line of brilliant light. It pulsated, bulged, and flashed like the electric lava clouds he’d seen many times at the portal. If he didn’t know any better, the sight resembled what a breach in the portal gates looked like.

“No, it can’t be,” he heard himself whisper as the paradoxical imagery held sway over his ability to act.

Again, Zia’s body contorted and thrashed about as the thin line glowed with ferocity. In turn, his body responded to the force by attempting a partial shift. He stopped the transformation only allowing enough of his beast’s defensive traits to ward off fire, heat, and possible assault.

Greg wasn’t one to believe in human possession of alien entities besides demons, but what happened mere inches before him was enough to make a strong argument for him to consider the notion. A pungent smell of sulfur and phosphorous began to fumigate the room as the line widened enough for sparks to escape from the crack.

Sweat beads spotted her face and exposed skin. Her eyes remained closed, but her mouth continued to mumble pleas and sounds of anguish. There was no way she did this to herself. It was as if Zia was in a coma or trance. His hand clasped one of her wrists to stop it from its frenetic dance. Her soft skin was hot to the touch.

Was Zia on fire from within? He had to put a stop to this. There was no telling what the force of the onslaught did to her body.

“Zia wake up. I’ve got you, wake up for me… please.”

Greg snared her other arm to couple her wrists together. Her waist twisted and writhed as if a live wire of raw electricity flowed through her being. Conscious of his weight, he tested the efficacy of pinning her down.

Mimicking an entertainment wrestling move he’d seen on TV, Greg placed the calf of his leg closest to her body over her waist. The move was harmless and enough to keep her upper body from contorting, but not enough force to keep her legs from scissoring and mule-kicking to free herself.

“Damn it. Zia, please, if you can hear me, stop moving. I’m here to help you. Zia?”

Nothing.

It was clear she was out of it. She was also stronger than he’d imagined. To subdue her, he’d have to use more force than she might be able to handle without some pain and bruising.

“Goddess, please, help me. I need your wisdom and guidance. Save my mate. Please, save her.”

The prayer to the Goddess had come without thought, but Greg meant every word of it. He needed the sort of help that only came from the divine power that overrode the multiverse.

Not willing to exert more force on Zia’s pinned body, he held firm as her legs continued to buck and kick. There was no telling how long she could continue. The bigger danger was the effect this event might have on her overall well-being.

He’d come to a full stop for what to do.

Hold her. Hold your mate and connect her to your life-force. She needs you. Your mating will save her.

His initial reaction was to dismiss the statement as wish fulfillment. The voice was too clear, powerful, and loving to be a mirage of his innermost desires.

Could it be? He’d heard old tales of the Goddess audibly speaking to her followers in times of great need, but this was too specific to be anything of the sort. All he wanted to do was save and mate with Zia. The answer couldn’t be that simple.

Hold her, now. If you would save your mate, hold her now.

Arrested by the omnipotent knowingness of the voice, the Gryphon rose within to override his logical reasonings and protestations.

His movements were swift, born of close combat practice over too many years to count. He managed to grasp Zia’s writhing body and encircled her with his arms. She was on fire—way past feverish.

“There, there, I’ve got you. It’s all right. I’ve got you,” he whispered into her ear.

Sweat-drenched curls that had managed to escape the floppy bun atop her head clung to Zia’s forehead, ears, and neck. He nudged away a mop of hair to connect his cheek to her ear. Somewhere deep down he figured skin-to-skin might help her come back to this realm.

She wiggled and bucked a few more times. Greg looped a leg over her lower body to keep her still. Unable to move, her breaths elongated to allow more air to flow into her body.

“It hurts so much,” she moaned.

Her voice, still ragged and guttural, had softened to a craggy whisper. That had to mean she was out of the woods. At least, that was Greg’s hope.

“I know. I’m here to help. Stay with me, Zia. Come back to me, now.”

Primal instinct to protect continued to drive his actions as Greg began to rock her with a gentle sway.

“No, no, no.” The word came over and over as he continued to hold her tight enough to stop the violent movement.

“Shh, I’ve got you,” is all he said in conjunction with holding and rocking her.

Go to her. Connect her to your life-force.

The echo of what he’d come to hope was the Goddess’ voice, gave no clue on how to do that. Chancing the possibility of making things worse, Greg removed some of the restraint he kept on his base nature. Strong surges of protective mode gushed forth. Every sense, scent, sliver of time, and other awareness went from muted to vibrant.

Before his mind could catch-up with his actions, Greg pounced back into the unknown dimension.

Phantasms that danced in the ether-infused dimension swarmed in a tight circle around his Zia. Faint in appearance and form like gossamer wings, what appeared to be sentient beings appeared to come near. Each time they did, Zia reacted in violent movement.

His assumption that she fought him evaporated to show the truth. His mate fought for what might be her life in reaction to whenever these entities came close. As another set of these things came near, he roared his protest and jumped in front of Zia to protect and shield her.

“Stay close to me. I’m here. We fight together,” he said, hoping she understood him through his beast-thickened accent.

He couldn’t be certain, but unspoken understanding wafted between them as if on a private telepathic channel. It wasn’t a neural link, like with the Clan or how Lucien described the mating one, but Greg would take whatever he could get to reach her.

A test to see if they were indeed connected ensued as he hatched a plan to get her out of this realm.

“I need you to trust me to help you. Can you do that for me, Zia?”

Again, he felt surety more than heard it flood his being from somewhere within her ability to communicate. She could hear him. He hoped that he’d gotten the connection secured enough to bring her out of whatever dimension this was.

“I want you to keep your eyes on me alone. When I say jump, do it. I’ll catch you. Do you understand?”

He had to make sure she did since he spoke in a whisper while still in front of her. Awareness of the presence of these things had him turn around to face them. With his back to Zia, he hoped she had strength enough to jump when he motioned.

Primal predator instinct helped him track the entities closing in. These bastards were going to try to take them on. That was not going to happen if he had even a shred of energy left in his body.

“Get ready to jump,” is all he said in preparation.

Out the corner of his eye, he hoped her head movement was a nod of understanding. It had to be because they had to make his plan happen now.

The atmosphere undulated like living fractures of clear glass, no make that like pieces of cellophane. It blanketed the earth-realm in a covering powerful enough to alter the laws and rules of the earth. That was evident in how unstable he sensed gravity was here. When the entities came closer, he made his move.

Timing the waves of gravitational fluctuation to support his vertical ascent, Greg shot straight up intent to get high enough to look down on the scene.

Stinging pain lanced his sides. The culprits of the pain? Five of the filmy apparitions hung onto his torso and legs. Slashes quick, deep, and thin as razors, littered the exposed flesh of his body. These bastards were on the attack. He sent a quick prayer to the Goddess that Zia hadn’t endured these cuts as well.

As soon as he could, he’d inspect her for injury. In the meantime, he’d destroy the immediate threat—these damned razored ghosts or whatever they were. Greg switched to fighting maneuvers he’d used at many portal attacks.

Warrior habits kicked in. Instead of a continued thrust upward, Greg allowed what he hoped would be earth-equivalent gravity to pull him back down. When his body weight behaved as he’d hoped, he used the descent to throw the attackers off their trajectory.

His hand made contact with the faintest hint of flesh. That contact was enough to satisfy his intention to tear the entity apart. Surprise eclipsed any celebration he might enjoy. As soon as he tore the being in two, it reformed as two new whole beings.

Shit, this isn’t going to work.

The ground tugged hard and fast as his descent sped up. He had to figure out how to defeat these pesky phantasms.

“Stop—you’re hurting me. Please… stop.”

Her voice was weaker and more pained than before. That pain gave him the shot of adrenaline needed to dig deeper. Conjuring the power, agility, and focus of his beast, Greg set about an acrobatic defense to rival the best of the martial arts, ancient and new.

His evasive maneuvers helped to dislodge all but two of the entities. Exertion rode him as heavy as any armor he might have worn in usual battle as its presence made itself known. Another twist during an angled drive through the atmosphere was sufficient to rid himself of the remaining spirits.

Greg resumed his assent, much slower this time. Energy that should have been enough to handle these faint ghosts evaded him. The mating thrall had drained him more than he’d imagined. Instinct drove his attention to locate Zia. She remained where he’d left her below. No matter the cost or aftermath, Greg determined he’d do what he must to save her.

Free from the entities, power born of determination propelled him upward. Once high enough to do it with some hope of safety, his wings pushed out forceful and wide. They were the only part of his beast side he’d use here. There was no use doing a full shift to tip his hand of what he was or could do without knowing more about what they might be up against.

At this height with his wings outstretched, the ghost-like entities appeared to ignore him, like he was invisible. In the aftermath of his brief encounter with them, all attention had locked on Zia. From where she stood below him, Greg got the sense he was of no consequence to these things with how much attention she continued to receive.

She was encircled once again by the stream of muted pale yellow life the beings cast in the darkness of night. The thin line of light that ran down the side of her body glowed and appeared wider than before. The phantasms moved as if hypnotized by that widening split along her side. One came close. Greg watched to gain insight. When the entity surged forward, turning into a mist, it attempted to enter Zia’s cut. She was quick to swat it away while screaming in agonized pain.

Lightning bolts of realization dawned on him at the sight. Their intention was clear. Her pulsating cut attracted them. So much so, one had tried to enter her body through it. They wanted Zia. Greg’s anger roiled enough to harden his skin to battle-ready toughness. He’d been a momentary distraction at most.

They couldn’t have her. No entity would possess his mate, not today, not ever.

At this vantage point above the fray, If he didn’t know any better, he’d swear the beings resembled Egolars and a few other undesirables he’d fought many times at the portal. Their movements and electric signatures were too similar to ignore. How and why were they here, and what and where were they?

“Zia, jump!”

She did. Greg swooped down fast and quick to grab her arm. His fast calculation of what she could endure in torque must have been spot on. She made no protest when he successfully snatched her up. With the help of a lessened gravitational pull, her jump had been higher than it would have been in a normal scenario on earth.

Greg would review the mechanics of what happened later. Right now, he pressed his body to spend all the energy he could muster to get them to safety. If only he had a full supply of energy.

Fatigue fought him hard and dirty, clenching his ability to breathe with ease and slowing down his recuperative efforts to heal from those nasty razor cuts.

Refocus on his mate had Greg searching her body for evidence of malicious intent. Except for the widened glowing mark that traveled down her side, he saw no such cuts. On pledge with his life, Greg would get her far from here to safety.

His wings pushed against the air to force them higher into the atmosphere. Dark like regular earth at night, the sky loomed vast and high from the ground. His journey to find the upper edge of this cage-like realm was on. He’d do anything to break the boundaries of this realm to make sure Zia was safe.

Using every bit of power he could access, Greg held onto her and pushed upward again. For her part, Zia held on and remained still. After another few thrusts of his battle-ready wings and they broke through the transparent film of that realm to collide with the Psychic realm.

Greg focused his navigational skills to find their body signatures. After what seemed like a protracted minute, he found Zia’s unique iridescent interwoven aura and made haste to that point. She remained silent until he came closer to where her corporeal form resided on the earth-realm. He hadn’t realized how far apart the two realms had been with adrenaline and his need to protect set to extreme.

As he opened a portal to the Lair as close to his bedroom as possible, a docile Zia turned into active, agitated Zia. Her body convulsed and spasmed in violent jerks so vigorous she almost slipped from his grasp. To his amazement, when Greg looked down to see her face, Zia’s eyes remained closed as her face twisted with pain.

A cocktail of anger, confusion, passion to protect, and fear punched him in the gut. He had one job to do, get her back to the bedroom and safety.

“Zia, hold tight. I’ve got you. Do you hear me?” Silence coupled with more sporadic jerks and twists of her body rankled his resolve to fix the situation. A parade of solution-driven thoughts zoomed through his overactive mind to settle on the most simple answer. “Breathe. Zia, dear one, I need you to breathe deep and long for me. We’re almost out of here.”

She did, and the weight of the worlds seemed to slide off his back. He pierced the edge of the portal to bring their souls back to his bed and their corporeal bodies. The room remained as dark as it had been. Nothing out of the ordinary appeared to stand out. If any of the Warriors of the Dragofin Clan had to do an investigation of his quarters, they’d be satisfied that nothing out of the ordinary was here.

Too stunned and happy to have all of Zia back in the earth-realm, he continued to clutch her from behind, his wings covering them in a canopy of protection. As a precaution against shock to her system, Greg guided her breathing pattern for a few more minutes

When her legs ceased their jerks, he released a breath Greg didn’t know he held. Good. She might regain enough wherewithal to wake.

“Yes, that’s it. Take some long breaths for me.” He waited to see if his words crossed the transverse of space where Zia’s consciousness might still be captured. His breath released when under his arm Greg felt her abdomen expand to take in a healthy intake of air. “Good, do it again.”

She obeyed, and tension let up a bit deep within him. His Guardian mode was still activated. They weren’t out of the woods yet, but at least she could make out what he said.

She grew still. Attuned to her as he was, Greg heard how hard her heart pounded to keep up with what happened to her on that other realm. He continued to hold her in the crook of his arms but maneuvered to where they lay on their sides, in his bedroom rejoined to their corporeal beings and safety.

“Th-thank—thank you.” Her words came forward in a weak, feeble manner, the sounds of torture etched in them.

Wrecked would be the best way to describe his current status. What had so powerful a force as to invade Zia’s body while she was under the protection of the Lair? Greg needed answers, but he also needed to stay here with her until she regained full consciousness and her fever broke.

Greg seriously doubted if she was made of fire like him and the other Warriors of the Dragofin Clan. Her mostly human body wouldn’t sustain such high temperatures for long without doing major damage. In this position and how depleted he was, it took more effort for him to retract his wings.

His wings were usually the first parts of his Gryphon nature to come forward when danger was near on the earth-realm. Part of his defensive and protective systems to take to flight and cover, his wings could appear in an instant. Now, he was too depleted to retract them. He’d lay here with her for a little while and hope to regain enough life-force energy to pull them back in before the light of morning. From how limp she’d grown in his arms, he doubted Zia would be awake and aware of anything out of the ordinary for a while.

“Continue to breathe deep for me Zia.” When she clung to him harder, instinct helped him to comfort her more. “I’m here and not going anywhere.”

She did as he instructed, taking in several deep breaths. Greg took that time to do the same. In the dark quiet of his bedroom and clinging tight to one another, his mind swarmed with questions.

“I’m hot. I need air.” Her words were soft but still managed to drift into the stillness of the inky black air of the bedroom.

Greg loosened his hold to allow her range of movement. When she didn’t move, he waited to see if she was injured or what was going on. Thinking she might need more space, he willed himself to get up and go back to the other room to recuperate.

“No, please… don’t leave me here alone.” Her voice trembled with exhaustion and traces of fear.

His heart snatched control of his vocal chords and spoke before his mind and reason could gain control. “I’m here—not going anywhere. Rest with me.”

Heat from her body brushed against his chest as she snuggled in closer in his arms. Too tired to do much more, he held her with a loose grip as tiredness claimed his consciousness.