Rylan's Heart Read Free Page B

walked into the living room, took off her coat, and sat on the couch. There was a large widow behind it. She could look out and see Vick’s snow woman. The Christmas tree that used to sit in the corner was gone. Selma had replaced it with a comfortable chair and a tall lamp for reading. There was a love seat on a different wall and several other chairs facing each other. More than enough seating for everyone in the bed and breakfast to be in this room together.
    With a long look at Rylan, she fidgeted on the couch fighting her instinct to isolate herself by sitting in the chair. He sat beside her.
    “Rylan, tell me what’s happening.”
    “That was a Sudir. It was the same type of being that took Vick and that Vick was protecting Mckayla against. It is the reason I wanted you both to stay here where you would be protected.”
    She held up a finger then she put her head between her legs and tried to breath. Finally, she sat up, shook her head, and leaned back over. Coming up more slowly this time she locked eyes with Rylan.
    “Tell me I’m dreaming or that this is a sick joke.”
    “What you saw was real.”
    “How could a being, even if it was an alien, live with four legs and a head full of eyes?”
    “Because it was caught in its own weapon blast and mutated like my people did.”
    “Not hearing this.”
    “You better hear this because your life and Mckayla’s life depends on what I am telling you.”
    “Why now?”
    “Because you’re strong enough to want to leave. That means you’re strong enough to fight.”
    “Not sure I agree with your line of reasoning but it’s done now. What do I do? Say an incantation, carry Sudir repellant? How do I keep myself safe?”
    “You develop the talents inside of you.”
    “Talents? Like the talent to play guitar or write music?”
    “Like the talent to kill to protect what you love.”
    “Isn’t that called murder?”
    “It’s called self-defense.”
    “What about Mckayla? How does she protect herself?”
    “The necklace Vick gave her to wear will protect her. Her own natural talent will also help to protect her. Where is Mckayla’s father?” Rylan walked to the wall to look at a picture Victor painted for the room.
    Aviana shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know where he is.”
    “It’s not like his kind to let a child, especially a girl child grow up alone.”
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Mckayla isn’t alone, she has me. As far as her father, men walk out on their children every day.” Not that she had a choice with Mckayla’s father since it happened against her will.
    “You think her father is human?”
    Aviana gave him a ‘Duh what else would he be’ with her eyes.
    “I don’t think Mckayla’s father is really your responsibility.”
    “We’ll deal with Mckayla’s father later; she is safe for now.”
    “So then the only one in danger is me. I will just take her and go to a different part of the country. One where it can’t find me.” The thought of calling that thing she saw today a man or even a male made her nauseous.
    “What about when another Sudir finds you or something else finds you and you have no knowledge of how to fight against it? Do you think it will just stop at killing you or maybe it would prefer a two for one special and kill Mckayla as well? Who will be there to help you then?”
    “This can’t be happening. We were living a safe normal life, it was a little hard, but that’s to be expected. Then you came along. Now were in danger and the world is filled with monsters”
    “The world has always been filled with monsters, and you were never safe. You’re simply more aware of the danger now. It’s still your choice and you can run or you can fight.”
    He got up and left the room, allowing her time to decide on a course of action.
    Run is what her parents thought she would do. Faced with losing her cushy home, her bedroom, and a table full of food, they thought she would run to the adoption