“I thought you wanted to go in,” I said. “Do it.”
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” she asked. “Have you forgotten all I taught you so quickly? I helped you.”
“You tried to kill me,” I said.
“But I decided not to,” she said.
“How does that make this any better?”
Claws clicked across the stone floor and I turned to see the creature moving toward me.
It had taken out Leanna without any effort. I knew I wasn’t in any position to fight it. I didn’t even know it was a griffin until Professor Halifax called it that.
Quickly, I climbed up the stone bleachers, going higher up on the rows of seats, hoping it might back down if it didn’t feel threatened by me.
The creature stopped in front of the first row and spread its huge wings, flapping them so hard it made my hair blow in front of my face.
I stood on the top row of seats, my hands balled into tense fists. If it came for me I was going to have to try something. But what?
Just then, the door burst open and Dr. Green exploded into the room followed by Ben, Zach, Luka, and Matt.
“Watch out!” I cried.
The griffin was already on its way to the newcomers. Dr. Green created a ball of fire in his hands and waved it in front of the monster. The creature whined and stepped back, seemingly afraid of the flames.
Zach and Matt made fire of their own, following Dr. Green’s lead at coaxing the creature toward the portal.
“Get Professor Halifax away from that portal!” Dr. Green cried.
Ben and Luka ran toward the portal and grabbed Professor Halifax, who didn’t even put up a fight. They dragged her away from the portal.
Matt, Zach, and Dr. Green used their fire to guide the griffin back toward the portal.
“We need to get it closed,” Dr. Green said.
“Good luck with that,” Professor Halifax said.
“Close it,” Dr. Green said.
“No, I don’t think I will.” She grinned.
Now I knew why she wasn’t fighting it. She thought she still won.
The griffin was back in the portal now, joining the group of others. Zach and Matt were standing in front of the opening, holding their flames out to deter the others.
“I can close it,” I said.
“You don’t have it in you,” Professor Halifax said.
“I don’t have to do it alone,” I said.