“I was outside playing with my friends when Bobby came over and tripped me. I fell in the snow.” She turned her head to her mother who motioned it was alright to go on. “Then he started yelling Vick and Mckayla sitting in a tree K.I.S.S.I.N.G. I ran after him telling him to take it back.
That’s when he said he heard Vick liked me, and wanted to go to the Christmas party with me. You know the one we are having at school. I told him my momma said no boyfriends until I am out of college! Then he said I was chicken. I’m not chicken. So he said if I wasn’t chicken walk up and ask Vick to see the necklace he always wears. Then he said only girls wear necklaces and the boys were going to beat Vick up after school because he was a sissy.”
She stopped talking taking her time to breathe as her tears came faster. Her mother wiped her cheeks and kissed her telling ‘her everything would be ok.’
“So I asked Vick if I could see his necklace. I didn’t want anyone to hit him. He’s real nice, he always brings me a treat from home. He sneaks it out of the kitchen.”
Her little eyes went to Selma as her body began to shake. The shadows clinging to Selma turned deeper even as the sun poured through the window.
“Don’t worry, Mckayla. I always knew Vick was taking them. I made sure there were always two for him to take.”
Mckayla gave her a watery smile as her body stopped shaking.
“He let me see it, but didn’t take it off at first. He said it was protection against the bad man. He was going to leave, then he turned and looked at me. He took it off and put it around my neck. He said, Mckayla never take it off, I don’t want the bad man to get you.”
Her crying increased as her knees buckled. She was caught by her mother who was now rocking her and singing into her ear.
“Finish telling them, Baby, then I will take you home and make you some nice hot chocolate. We can color together.”
Rylan stood shaking his head as she talked to her daughter.
“A monster came up. He grabbed Vick. He face was full of eyes and he had four arms. He tried to grab me, but I yelled and pulled back trying to drag Vick with me. I’m sorry the bad thing got him cause I was wearing his necklace.”
She went to pull it off her neck but her hand was caught by Selma. Mckayla’s eyes were huge as she came face to face with Vick’s mother.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered in a small voice reminding them all that she was only a child.
“I’m not,” Selma said, going down to her knees in front of Mckayla. “Vick is a protector, he chose to protect you. Do you really think he is nice?”
Mckayla nodded giving her a bright watery smile.
“Then can you do as he asked and not take the necklace off? When he is safe you can give it back to him. Can you do that? I think it will make Vick happy, no matter where he is, to know you’re safe.”
“I can do that.”
“You keep it on even in the tub or shower.”
Mckayla nodded her head.
“We will find him, Mckayla.”
Selma stood, and looked at Rylan for a minute before asking if she could speak with Mckayla’s mother in private.
The principal’s green eyes flashed black before nodding. Paige turned to look at Cal as they followed the principal out the office.
“What’s happening?” Paige reached out through her soul bond to Cal.
“Both Mckayla and her mother are talented. The Sudir will come back looking for them. When Vick gave Mckayla his necklace he knew it was him or her. He chose himself.”
“We can’t let him die!”
“Victor is already looking for him, but Selma couldn’t put Mckayla in danger when Vick gave himself up to protect her.”
She looked back at the door noticing for the first time that Victor was missing. She turned back to realize Rylan was missing also.
“We need to go join the search.”
“Not until Rylan’s brother comes to watch over Mckayla and her mother, then we will join with the others.”
“Why is he so…” Images of Ryland flew from her to Cal.
“He was kidnapped by a Sudir when he was young. Anymore would have to come from him.”
Paige felt her knees buckle as the memory of what happened to her in that coat closet came back. Her stomach began to clamp up. That thing had Vick, and Rylan knew exactly what it would do to him.
Selma and Mckayla’s mother reentered the room. Mckayla jumped up from the chair running to her mother’s arms. She had been frightened and didn’t feel safe with anyone she didn’t know.
Behind them walked in another male who immediately reminded her of Rylan. He had the same sharp features as his brother as well as a handsome face that should grace the cover of a magazine. Just like his brother, his looks left her cold, but nor for the same reason. He didn’t have the air of danger surrounding him.