Read Online Gryphon and His Thief by Karen Michelle Nutt - Free Book Online

full power and he no longer could be. He felt
the shift upon him and the hardening of the blood in his veins…his
limbs. He would be a statue once more.

Chapter Nine
    "What's happening?" Calli flew to her feet as
she witnessed Darrien's body contorting at an alarming rate. His
skin paled to a ghastly shade of white-gray then a horrible
gurgling sound escaped his lips as if his breath had solidified in
his throat. The awful truth dawned on her of what was happening.
"The curse," she said in both awe and apprehension. "Oh, Darrien."
She felt the tears prick her eyes at seeing him so vulnerable, and
the agony he went through as the curse took hold and contorted his
body into the statue he would soon become.
    He told her this is what would happen, but
something else was taking place too. Her hand slipped into her
pocket to retrieve her cell phone. Recording this seemed somehow
important and she didn't hesitate, sliding her thumb over the
record button. But as Darrien's change progressed, she felt guilty
to be witnessing such a private event.
    "Omigod," she mouthed, but she couldn't seem
to tear her eyes away. Frustration and curiosity did a strange
dance inside of her as she watched transfixed as the process took
place. She couldn't look away.
    Just when she thought nothing more horrific
could happen, Darrien's body divided as if he were two completely
separate beings – a man and a Gryphon. It was like his soul was
being torn in two. The Gryphon struggled, its wings fluttering to
life, large and beautiful like an eagle's majestic span, but on a
much bigger scale. It bellowed and its eyes – Darrien's eyes – met
hers. Her hand flew to her mouth to stifle a cry, and she had to
force herself not to go to him. She could do nothing to help him,
but she could stay so he knew he wasn't alone.
    Her gaze then centered on the human essence
which separated as soon as the Gryphon side of Darrien's existence
completely hardened into the statue. This human form was not solid,
but like a ghost…transparent. It didn't seem to notice her at all
as it strode or rather floated toward the front door as if to leave
the premises. She stared wide-eyed for two full seconds before she
went after him, still filming as she wondered where he was
heading.
    He floated through the front door and she
immediately threw it open to give chase. She halted on the landing
then caught sight of him heading around the corner and she hurried
after it, only to slide to a stop when she spotted the ghostlike
figure standing by a vehicle parked in the carport next to her car.
She'd noticed the vehicle earlier, but didn't question it since it
was dusty and had obviously been sitting there for a long time.
    Then the most amazing thing happened, Darrien
solidified into a human form, clothes modernizing into slacks,
dress shirt, tie, and cardigan. Black-rimmed glasses materialized
on the bridge of his nose, making him appear studious and perhaps a
bit geeky, but with a rough edge.
    For a long moment, he just stood there by the
car, staring at it. His eyes seemed to shift back and forth like
when a person dreams, only his eyes remained open as the process
took place.
    "Darrien?" she called to him and lowered her
phone.
    He jumped at the sound of her voice and
stumbled back as he spoke, "Oh dear, you gave me such a fright."
His voice sounded different. Still a deep masculine baritone, but
the way the words flew off his tongue… Then it dawned on her. There
had been no sign of an accent which revealed his Greek heritage.
Instead, this version of Darrien was British. Interesting
development . She wondered what else would prove different about
him.
    "I didn't mean to startle you," she told him
and smiled, hoping to put him at ease. She wasn't sure what Darrien
remembered about his change inside, but since he never mentioned
any of this, he probably didn't remember a darn thing. He seemed to
be a very thorough man, a warrior who'd once been in charge, but
this part of his