Wonderoz Chapter Eight: Gyan the Griffin

Parts 1 -3 =Part 4= Part 5 = Part 6 = Part 7 

Gyan the Gryphon flew into the tower of the Looking Glass Palace and as he landed went into his humanoid form. He put back on his clothes and armor and prepared himself to be viciously scorned by the Queen for having failed in capturing the girl who fell from the sky.

“Depending on the beating,” Gyan muttered bitterly as he studied himself in the mirror, “I may not even tell her where the girl is now.” He ran his fingers through his copper colored hair then rubbed his stubble covered chin, wondering if he should shave first.

Gyan looked like a soldier in his person form. Tall, strapping and strong. Certainly he had made more than a hundred girls’ hearts swoon as he walked down the streets with his helmet removed. And with the massive wings on his back he most definitely gave off that heavenly beauty only White Rabbits had in this world.

He went out into the stairwell to make his way to the throne room. Servants stopped and bowed as he walked by. Flying Monkeys came down from the rafters to greet him and pull at his feathers and hair. Then Snap appeared, grinning smugly like always.

Gyan tried to ignore him but Snap started following beside him. “What are you doing here?”

Snap had his hands raised to his chest and was rapping his fingertips together. “I was summoned.” He said as if it were something to brag about. “And when I saw you arrive I thought I’d enjoy your company on my way to the Queen.”

Gyan suppressed the urge to roll his eyes. “What does she want with you now?”

Snap shrugged. “Something to do with the comets that fell yesterday.”

Gyan turned his face forward and jutted out his chin. “So,” he seethed, “you know of them?”

“No one in Wonderoz doesn’t know of the miracle. The Twister and the Rabbit Hole have been dormant since Ozma disappeared.” Snap hummed, pleased with himself and with the look in Gyan‘s eyes. “I’d tell you more, but someone has bought my knowledge on the subject.”

Gyan brow bustled and he looked at Snap’s profile with great disbelief. “Already? But who?”

Snap dipped his head back and laughed. “That will cost you a lot of oysters, my dear friend. A lot of a lot.”

Gyan quickened his pace in is attempts to ignore Snap. But Snap kept pace as if nothing had changed between them.

“My question is, why didn’t you go back for the other one?” Snap asked, rubbing his chin. “Or, did you stay out all night to make it look like you attempted to?”

Gyan swung, pinning Snap against the wall. Snap grinned up at him and laughed. His eyes became narrow slits as he took a deep breath.

“There isn’t much of anything I don’t know Gyan.” Snap whispered with a snake like a hiss. “I know who you are really working for and why you put up with the Queen’s constant abuse.”

Gyan flinched.

“Heh,” Snap sneered, “you better be glad the Queen is near in love with you. She doesn’t suspect a thing.” He moved out from under Gyan’s arm and stood before him, straightening his tie and jacket.

“Then again. That’s why you’re here.” Snap continued. “Everyone knows how much the Queen simply adores beauty. And by far,” he sighed, “you are one of the most beautiful creatures in all of Wonderoz. Your mistress knew what she was doing when she was making you.”

Gyan growled. “What do you want from me?”

“What do I always want, Gryphon?” Snap said with a malicious grin.

Gyan remained uncomfortably quiet.

Snap sighed and fiddled with his gloves. “I always want what I don’t have.” He tapped his finger against his temple. “So, I want to know what you know.”

Gyan sniffed. “I’ve made a pact to never do business with a crook like you.”

Snap’s eyes flashed briefly. “Is that so?” He put on a grin to rival my own. “Then you must really be hiding something.” He leaned forward. “Everyone has a price, Gryphon.”

Gyan rushed on and escaped from Snap. But he knew that as soon as he was done in the throne room he would have to deal with Snap again. This thought made the pit of his stomach sink.

As he walked on, he barely noticed himself being announced into the Queen’s presence. He bowed and got down on one knee.

“Well?” He heard her speak from behind a sheer curtain.

“The first one escaped. The second one was taken by Glenda of the North.” Gyan muttered. “I went after the first, but she got lost within the Giant Garden.”

The curtain burst open and the Queen rushed out from behind. “You lost her?” She roared angrily. Her elegant blonde hair flowed around her like a roaring flame. “You dare call that an excuse?” Her pouted, red lips seared like hot coals.

Ever hear of Helen of Troy? Well, most certainly, the Queen of Hearts was such a woman. She was a Fury and a goddess mixed in with a harpy and devil all in one elegant package. But trust me, it isn’t natural!

The white gown she wore left little to the imagination. It hugged her every dripping curve in just the right way and slopped down from her honeysuckle breasts that almost made men forget what a voracious man-eater she was. Then, decorating her dainty feet, were a pair of sparkling red slippers with spiked heels. I knew these shoes. I loved those shoes. But they had no right being on the Queen’s feet. They belonged to Dorothy. But this will come up later.

Gyan winched under her icy-hot eyes. “Something got to her before me and-”

“And Glenda got the other one?” The Queen continued to scream. “That wretched old hag!” She swung, slapping a vase full of roses from its perch and smashing it into the wall. “What kind of idiot are you?”

“Mind your head, dear.” The King of Hearts murmured from his corner. At this the Queen checked her neck then continued her rampage.

“I do apologize, my Queen.” Gyan stood and went towards her. “I deserve to be punished.” He waited for the hammer to fall and the Queen to take her constantly flowing rage out upon him.

The Queen, on the other hand, seemed to settle and collect herself. She walked down towards Gyan and put her hands on his face. “Oh, my dear Gyan. I am not mad at you.” Her nails started to prick his skin.

“It is that horrible old woman.” She hissed. “She knows. She’s trying to stop me all over again. Her and her wretched son.”

That’s when it hit Gyan. “Was that why Snap was here?”

The Queen grinned wickedly. “That Wizard got to him! Can you believe that traitorous sell-out?” She released Gyan’s face and pressed herself against him. “Oh Gyan. You truly are the only one you can rely on.”

I had to laugh to myself. Gyan was the last person she should put herself upon. Well, actually, the last one would be me.

Gyan was glancing over the Queen‘s head at the King of Hearts as he stood from his throne. “What of your husband, your majesty?”

The Queen smiled slyly and smoothed her hand over Gyan’s neck. “He doesn’t make the rules.” She reached up and kissed him on the lips and whispered, “I do.”

Manipulation was Her Majesty’s greatest asset. That and her magic power to change her size on any given whim. It was these two gifts that allowed her take over the East and rule Munchkinland with such elegant ease. The horrible dictator she was, she used her powers to create the Giant Garden. Such a frightful place that no Munchkin or any given Eastern Wonderozling would go through it. But to make doubly sure she also added the dreaded poppy field that would surely stop any escapist. Of course, she didn’t count on there being people intelligent enough to make it through the poppies unharmed and learn to live happily within the Giant Garden.

Now, while she insisted on everyone calling her the Queen of Hearts she was, in fact, actually the Wicked Witch of the East, Langwidere. And sister to Catillia, or so the two ladies claim. I have yet to discover if this is fact, or sorority girl chatter. But both of them didn’t want anything to do with the other except ruin one another. It was for this reason Gyan was here. For little did the Queen know that Gyan was actually Catilla’s eldest son, created by her in her cauldron.

It was from a magic potion Catillia created Gyan along with many other magical soldiers of her own volition. Each of these magic creatures were given specific jobs and roles. But not to gain Catillia even more power within Wonderoz, but to help her expand upon her many secret identities within Wonderoz. Gyan was just one of a select few she was using to destroy her sister.

“Do whatever she tells you to.” Catillia explained to Gyan the day she gave him his mission. “I couldn’t bare to see you beheaded. And yes, she will ask you to do some very pathetic things, but you must always remember she is just adding another line of chalk to her number of insolent deeds. And for each of those lines is another punishment she will receive.” Catillia kissed Gyan on the cheek. “Promise me to keep yourself safe from her harm.”

“I will, Mother.”

Catillia smiled. “Don’t call me Mother. It makes me sound old.” She shoved him out the window and watched as he flew away.

Gyan always thought about Catillia whenever the Queen drug him off her quarters to treat him as her own personal play thing. Not that he didn’t get some pleasure out of it as well, but it was demeaning to be treated so sloppily.

Then, that night as he fell asleep with the Queen atop him, unwilling to let him go away, he dreamed of people he had yet to meet, which was odd. He only dreamed of people he knew.

The first girl had brown hair like a lion’s mane and a commanding gaze. At first he thought it might be some form of Catillia, but he was wrong. Gyan was staring at a girl with freckles on her face, something which Catillia hated.

“Who are you?” The girl asked.

Gyan watched her suspiciously. “I’ll tell you if you tell me who you are.”

The girl frowned. “I was waiting on my sister.” She folded her arms across her chest.  “What are you doing here?”

Gyan shook his head. “I’m not sure.” He looked around. “I fell asleep and dreamed up here.”

“So is this your dream?” The girl seemed confused. She began looking around the cloud colored room of the dream. It did look like they were standing in the sky, which is where most of Gyan’s dreams took place anyways.

The girl finally shrugged. “I could of sworn it was mine.” She shifted her weight from one foot to the other while she fiddled with the charm bracelet on her wrist.

“I’m Gyan.” He finally said.

The girl lifted her chin. “I’m Dorothy.” She tilted her head slightly and motioned towards his wings. “What are you? An angel, or, some sort of bird-man?”

“I’m a Gryphon.”

She scoffed. “But you’re a man.”

“Part of me.”

Dorothy shook her head. “I get it. Wonderoz is really different from where I come from. Everyone there only has one face.”

“Wait,” Gyan gasped, “you are not from Wonderoz?”

“Originally, but we moved.” Dorothy forced a smile. “Now we’re back. But we aren’t together like we need to be.”

“Did you come here from the sky?” Gyan asked.

Dorothy stepped back. “Dream or not. I can’t talk anymore.” In a moment she was gone. But soon enough another girl took her place.

She was dark haired, fair skinned, and timid. She rushed up then hesitated upon seeing Gyan.

“Where did she go?”

“I’m afraid I scared her off. Are you her sister?” He racked his mind to remember the name of the girl he had been sent after. “Are you Alice?”

“Who are you?” Alice asked.

“I’m Gyan.”

Alice frowned and jumped back. “You’re the one who attacked me.” She whispered. Something formed in her hand. “Keep away from me!” She went to throw what had formed in her palm but it vanished into thin air before Gyan’s face.

Gyan held up his hands in surrender. “I don’t mean you any harm.”

“Then why are you working for the Queen?” Alice turned and ran, vanished from him as Dorothy had  moments before.

What did this mean? Why had both girls shown up inside his dream, or, how had Gyan shown up in theirs? Gyan had a feeling that perhaps Catillia had orchestrated it in order to prepare him to protect the girls. Gyan couldn’t see anyway that Catillia would want the girls for herself. So, when Gyan awoke he knew what he needed to do. He needed to familiarize himself with these two girls.