Tyler Harisson Chronicles: The Gryphon's Sacred Blood

Chapter 27: Surprise Attack

"My treat!" Baubo smiled. Hannah gave her a suspicious side stare before going the other way to get her food.

"H-hey. H-Ha –" Tyler tried to call, but she was already out of sight.

"Don't worry about her. She's always like that." Amber comforted. People passed by them in the late-night Tesco.

"Well, I couldn't blame her. After what's going on–It's hard to trust anyone. Especially someone who would show up out of nowhere." She said, picking bottled pickled egg. "Not to mention me."

"How did you find us, anyway?" asked Amber. Pulling up some bottled preserved beetroot before putting them back and snorting.

"Zephyros." She answered, "He told us that Eros wanted to give you this."

She handed out a small violet pouch laced with thick gold strings.

"Stardust." She named. "That's helpful."

"I didn't know dad gives people stuff." Pothos murmured.

"Nice. What does this thing do?" Tyler asked. Walking pass through other customers. "Tesco never gets empty." He added.

"It teleports you back to Strifwick immediately. Sadly it can only carry 3." Baubo frowned.

Amber went straight across the bread and spread section. "That's alright. I'll get us bread." He presented. "Don't worry my treat."

Wow. Tyler thought. "Well, Amber is a really thoughtful guy."

"He is, eh?" Baubo smiled sheepishly.

"What?" Tyler backed.

"Nothing." She answered. "Anyway. Keep that. And don't forget to bring your Gryph and demigod and sorcerers friends back alive."

Tyler didn't want to reflect his anxiety in his face, so he just made a stiff and expressionless reaction and picked up corned tunas. He knew what their lives as a demigod on a quest does not guarantee a hundred per cent life back.

Pothos suddenly stopped. Well, he doesn't talk too much, but he did stop suddenly. Like he literally froze.

"Hey. What's wrong?"

Hannah quickly barged amid of their conversation and snatched Tyler's hand. Her grip suffocated his veins.

"Whowhowhoaa. Slow down. Slow down."

"Where's Amber?! Let's get out of here." Hannah rushed. "Where's Amber??!!!"

"We have to go." Pothos scanned his place. "Immediately."

"He's in the bread section, I think? What's wrong with you?!" Tyler protested, and Hannah let go of his hand.

"I told you not to trust–" The fridge near them exploded. Hannah shuttled across the room and banged against the glass wall of Tesco. Tyler caught a hooded figure in his peripheral sight and sensed the impending attack. By the time he realised it, his body had rolled to his side, he had wailed in pain.

Packed foods and sweets at the counter and money flew and scattered all over the floor. The security alarm rang loud across the whole place, and the people started running their way out.

Hannah staggered up to her feet, and Baubo rushed to her side and helped her. But Hannah refused her helping-hand and pushed Baubo away. "Don't touch me! Don't pretend that you're on our side. I know you're with them!"

Baubo flinched. "N-No. I am n-not."

Hannah stood and brushed the dripping blood out of her forehead and lip. She inhaled deeply before drawing her wand and called Amber at the top of her lungs. She couldn't afford to lose another family again just because they were separated. Separated. That word rang in her ears.

"AMBER?! WHERE IN THE NAME OF HECATE ARE YOU?!"

"I'm here!!!" He answered. Another explosion just right behind his voice. "Let's meet outside!"

They all hurried their way out. Tyler snatched his feather pendant and drew an arrow made of light. He promptly pulled the string and hit the ceiling wall. His arrow burst and covered the whole place in blinding white light.

"Let's get out of here," Hannah commanded. "I knew it. That Baubo of yours is a spy."

"Let's not blame her. You don't have proof. And besides, she helped us out by giving useful stuff." Tyler said.

"Guys I think this is not the best time to argue," Amber responded.

"Go!" Baubo pushed. 'Go! Go! Go! Find the pieces of keys and resurrect Hebe as soon as possible."

Tyler's expression faltered. "Wait. Where are you going?" He asked worriedly. His grip in her wrist was tight.

"I'll buy you guys some time. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine." Baubo assured.

"No. No! You're coming with-" Tesco's ceiling exploded, and a one-eyed creature rose up from the burning pile of crushed foods, fruit baskets, and rocks. The creature scanned his place and screamed in pure rage as soon as he saw Tyler and the others. He grabbed a pile of stones and threw it in their direction.

Lus Ob-hexus!

"Go! You need to hurry." Baubo pushed. "The shield of light can't take attacks in succession. Please, go and promise me you'll finish your quest."

She smiled, eyes worried.

Tyler's grip was hard, but he loosened it as Hannah and Pothos forced him to let go.

I'm sorry. Tyler thought. Baubo flashed a smile and nodded. The shield of light expired and vanished. Baubo lurched to the cyclops.

-

"We have to go now," Hannah said.

"Where?'" Tyler asked.

"Just ride Fergus, and we have to hurry."

Pothos opened his lonely purple wing. "We have to head to Akragas, a city in Sicily. The second part of the key was kept by a Greek philosopher as far as I know."

"Great. Now, let's go." Tyler agreed and hopped on Fergus.

As Tyler and his friends flew toward the sun rising sky, he looked back. The Tesco express was not on fire anymore. Ambulances, Fire Trucks, and Police cars were scattered around it. He wondered what Baubo did to stop the one-eyed creature which he knew was called a Cyclops. The hooded guy, if he was a guy, also bugged him. He or she was carrying a wand, which could only mean that that person was also a wizard-like Amber and Hannah.