Gryffin groaned when his geode alarm went off. With his face buried into he pillow, he searched for the geode, only for it to slide off the table. He caught it before it hit the floor. Still groggy from his dream, which mainly consisted of that new music he couldn’t find the words too, he slid this thumb across the ripple-like screen and rubbed the last bit of sleep from his eyes. When he saw the time, he bolted upright.
“I overslept!”
“You’re welcoooooome!” Kymera sang happily, standing in the center of his room.
Everything Gryffin had packed the night before had been neatly put away in their respected suitcases. His guitar was secured in its case, locked and everything.
“How long have you been up?”
“Since five.” Kymera said, unable to stay still. “I could barely sleep last night!”
“Is that DeeDee’s vest?”
“You know it!” Kymera spun around, showing off a low cut magenta vest with shoulder length sleeves and pink lace over her green-back-waterfall shirt. A pair of leggings and her high top sneakers. “Now hurry up and get dressed. I already picked out your outfit and Abuelita is making breakfast downstairs.”
“You picked out my cloths?” Gryffin saw a light blue shirt and gray pants hanging from his closet.
“It’s Camelot. We’re not going as tourists.”
From downstairs, Raul shouted, “Niños! Get down here before Katia east all of the cinnamon toast!”
“He means he’ll eat them!” Elseleyda shouted.
“Keep your hands off my batch, Viejo loco!” Kymera shouted and ran downstairs.
Once she left, Gryffin quickly got dressed. He combed his hair and brushed his teeth before securing the toothbrush and toothpaste into his bag. His eyes landed on his pills, swallowed them without thinking and gathered his things. He created wisps of light to carry the heavy luggage over the stairs. After breakfast, they secured their items into the trunk.
“Did you pack enough shoes?” Elseleyda asked.
“Yes, Abuelita.” The twins said in unison.
“Your school papers?”
“Yep.”
“Gryffin, did you take your pills?”
“Like the last three times you asked: Yes.” Gryffin grunted, hearing the pills themselves shifting in his bag.
He hated those things. For one, they tasted terrible, but they did help with his condition. No matter how much a part of him protested (and he knew which one) the other, smarter, part of him always won out.
“Did you pack enough underwear?” Elseleyda asked.
“Abuelita!” The twins shouted, faces red and looking around to make sure none of the neighbors heard.
Raul closed the trunk, patting the hood. “That’s everything.”
“Almost.” Kymera whistled and Katia came running and jumping into the spare seat in the back. Salem crawled out of his hole and slithered up Gryffin’s leg, curling around his shoulders.
Natalia came running also, but Gryffin stopped her from getting into the car. “Sorry, girl. You’re gonna have to stay.” Natalia whimpered. “Can we trust you to keep and eye on the Viejos Locos?” The chupacabra licked Gryffin’s face and he kissed her scaly head.
Elseleyda’s eyes were getting puffier as she examined her now grown up nietos one last time. “Where did the time go? Remember, if you ever run into any trouble in the city, use the behind the neck chokehold, just like I taught you.” Elseleyda demonstrated, “Keep your grip steady and once the brain looses enough oxygen they will be out like your abuelo after a three course meal.”
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“We got it, Abuelita.” Gryffin assured her, shuddering a bit at the idea of making someone pass out from lack of oxygen. Kymera wasn’t too phased. She learned that move when they were five when she used it on their cousin Paco. Once he came to he couldn’t remember the last three minutes.
Elseleyda glanced at Gryffin’s pendant, still on Kymera. “I promise, Kimerita, if I ever find that fish I’m going to fillet him and hang his scales as a trophy!”
Kymera felt her heart swell. “Thank you, Abuelita” they hugged one more time. The tears Kymera swore she’d hold back finally broke free of their confinement and droplets landed on her abuela’s shirt. Kymera sobbed on her neck and Elseleyda squeezed her tighter. Gryffin joined in, the two enveloping their wings around their abuela. All three sobbing like it was their mother’s funeral all over again.
Raul laughed, tears swelling his eyes too and joined in. “It’s time, mi amor.”
They shared final kisses and got into the car. Raul pulled the car backwards, away from the house and Elseleyda and Natalia waved goodbye.
“Tell Haddassah I said Hi! And don’t forget to give her the vase!” Elseleyda shouted.
Twins rolled down the windows and shouted, “We will! Love you!”
Raul patted Kymera’s head and tipped his cap. “Okay, next stop—Camelot!”
* * *
Kymera couldn’t stop her left leg from twitching as soon as the airport came into view. A towering monument so high it almost punctured the clouds. The structure was made from green-colored metal, with artificial vines wrapped around the spiraling towers like a rising beanstalk.
Giants walked around, all dressed in uniform: black vests with eagle-shaped pins on the left side of their chests, gray-to-brown pants, and plain black shoes. they were all wearing specially designed sunglasses that could detect even the tiniest motion from bellow, alerting them via the screen of their lenses as they aided faeries with their luggage, and moving pieces of various airships before they were ready to takeoff.
Kymera rolled down her car window and waved at one of the giants that walked by; a friendly-looking woman with shiny black hair pulled back into a high ponytail. She smiled and waved back.
Raul stopped the car at the front door and helped the twins get their things out. Katia stayed beside Kymera, barking excitedly.
Raul patted the side of his pants. “Okay, this is it.” Like with their abuela, the twins went in for the hug. Raul pulled them in close. “You’re going to do great. And no matter what, we will always be proud.”
“Thanks, Abuelito.” Gryffin said. Kymera wiped a tear as Raul handed her her backpack.
“Well, I better get to the bakery and buy your Abuela the biggest flan they’ve got. She’s gonna be crying all night. Text us when you get there.”
“We will.” They said together, waving as they watch their abuelo drive away, along with their hearts. They took a simultaneous death breath and turned to each other.
“You ready?” Kymera asked.
For a moment, Gryffin could almost see some fear in her eyes. As bold as Kymera was, she made sure to let her inner worried show when around Gryffin. If only to give in assurance that he wasn’t alone in what he was feeling.
He nodded. “Let’s do this.” His words ignited Kymera’s excitement for their new adventure and they walked past the doors and into their new chapter.
* * *
On their way to the waiting dock, they walked by the food court. Kymera detected the mouthwatering scent of cinnamon and rushed to make her order, getting two for her and Gryffin to pig out on, along with two bottles of nectar, while they waited. Their pets calmly beside them. Salem and Katia woke up from a brief nap when they heard the intercom, styled in the form of a chupacabra’s mouth.
“Attention passengers, Airship 2D-0876 will be departing in fifteen minutes. Please remain seated until your row number is called. All pets will be escorted to the lower deck where they will be cared for by our esteemed animal support team. We ask you to refrain from using any high levels of magic while in flight. Basic levitation and/or smaller doses are acceptable. Please remain considerate to your fellow passengers. We appreciate your cooperation.”
Katia whimpered, and Kymera peppered her with kisses. “It’s okay, baby.” she cooed then took out a tiny red pill from her bag. Katia sniffed it and gagged. “Come on, girl. It’ll keep you from getting anxious on the flight. I got you bacon flavoooor!” She sang.
Katia’s ears perked up and she swallowed the pill with ease. Kymera, with slight reluctance, handed the leash to a valet. He bowed with a tip of his hat and scratched behind Katia’s ears to calm her down. Kymera waved and blew her baby a kiss.
Gryffin gave Salem his pill, which tasted like dead rat—his favorite flavor. Salem was more cooperative, as Gryffin gave him a boop on his bright pink nose before the valet safely secured the tatzelwurm in a very Romney container.
“Row 17.”
The twins collected their bags and practically raced towards the archway tunnel leading to the open door of the airship. Three rows of seats aligned the elongated pathway; each row had two conjoined seats. On opposite rows were square shaped floor-to-ceiling windows, giving a scale full view of not only the skies above, but the grounds below. The airship was parked on one of the highest docks, currently handled by one of the giant workers. Gryffin quickly texted Raul to let him know they were onboard.
“Ladies and gentlemen, our flight will be taking off shortly. Please have your seatbelts buckled at this time.”
Out on the runway one of the giants saluted to the pilot inside, giving him the all clear. The airship parted from the platform and floated inches from the building. The crystal railings around the edges of the ship ignited the energy that made the propellers spin, and the energy crystal inside ignited the flames that coursed inside the mechanism, sparking everything to life. A patch of clean smoke spewed from behind the airship before the ship took off. The buildings, roads and cars growing smaller, winged faeries flying bellow them, before lately seeing the edge of the island.
“It’s finally happening, Hermano.” Kymera said, hugging her brother’s arm.