Guardian (A Guardians Novella) SLOW UPDATE [Modified]

Chapter 8: Do Something

It had been four months since the night at the restaurant. Ryan's grandfather was no happier. In fact, he was much worse. But Mateo wasn't the only one. 

Ryan could feel the changes within himself. He could no longer stay alert, but trying to sleep was like playing a game of cat and mouse. He could feel himself wasting away since his stomach now rarely held food. His face was paler and narrow. Completing his training and assignments was now a struggle. There was no denying that he was ill.

"Ryan, you need to do something, man! I can't sit here and watch you die like this!" Ricki growled in frustration. He'd watched his brother come and go every day for months and he only got worse.

"Ricki I can't force her to do this or it won't work. Whether you like it or not, this is the hand we've been dealt. She's a good girl."

Ricki scoffed. "Do you really believe that? You were the same guy spouting abuelo's insane crap not too long ago. Now, because of the bond you're withering away with a smile on your face! Everytime you come over to my apartment you look more and more sick. You have to do something. Hang out more, go on a date, take her to a damn hotel and spend the night-"

"Watch it, Ricki!" Ryan glared.

He waved it off. "You know I don't mean anything by it, but you have to get her to let you in somehow. At least more than she is, Ryan. You know that you could be doing more!"

Ryan couldn't meet Ricki's eyes. He did know he could be doing more. So why wasn't he? Perhaps it was that he didn't want to risk scaring her off. Maybe it was because he wasn't sure if he could face being bonded for life yet. It was only something that he'd prepared for in theory. He wanted to live and he wanted to protect Keaira, but it was a big committment to make. Was he really going to risk death?

BAM!

The door was slammed with all the force Keaira could put behind it. She and her mother had tried to have the same discussion before and it hadn't turned out well then, either. 

"DON'T YOU SLAM ANY DOORS IN MY HOUSE, KEAIRA BETRICE WILSON! YOU'RE GONNA LISTEN TO ME AND STOP TALKING ABOUT VOICES AND MONSTERS AND GROW UP!"

Keaira was heated. Grow up? She trusted her mother enough to go to her about her night terrors and instead of at least being met with kind words, she was met with insults. There was no comfort, only ammunition for what plagued her.

"I'll grow up when you become a real mother and stop ignoring me when I need you!"

Across the hall the door slammed and Keaira exhaled. Tears found their way to her cheeks.  She couldn't go to her own mother, who else could she go to?

Definitely not Ryan! 

Not if she wanted him to be okay. The threat from the creatures was clear.  "Tell the boy and we'll kill him before his illness does." Then it reached out and touched her. The feeling of its hand lingered when she woke, sweat dripping and skin burning.

Never before had she felt so powerless.

A/N: This book is almost done. I'm actually glad for it because my mind has been swarming with ideas (though a lot of them have been for paintings). I finally figured out how I want to go about the story and there are 6 MORE CHAPTERS LEFT!!!! We've come so far!

READ, VOTE, ENJOY, COMMENT! I appreciate all of you that do!

Much love!