Read Online Blood Legacy Origin of Species by Kerri Hawkins - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kerri Hawkins
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support, “Her physical strength was astounding, and her body temperature was very high.”
Susan nodded. “I didn’t see Ryan until Victor brought her back. But the physiological changes were still present. Ryan’s body temperature was far above even her extremes. And the color of her eyes had changed to a deep maroon which faded as her body temperature returned to normal.”
“And she experienced both retrograde and anterograde amnesia in this instance?”
All eyes turned to Marilyn, who quite stunningly had trotted out that bit of technical jargon. It even brought a smile to Ryan’s face. She could not let this pass without comment.
“And all those years ago when I taught you to read,” Ryan said wryly, “I assumed those lessons were just a ruse to keep me under your thumb.”
Marilyn smiled wickedly. “Oh, Ma Cherie, they most certainly were. I assure you any learning that occurred was purely accidental.”
Those pleasant memories occupied Ryan for a moment but as they faded, she again began tracing the strange geometric pattern on the table.
Susan watched the behavior and it stirred some sort of memory in her, something she couldn’t quite place. Ryan was clearly distracted and paying little attention to what she was doing, and the inadvertent actions were borderline obsessive.
With a start, Susan recognized the pattern and stiffened. Simultaneously, whether she had recalled the pattern on her own or gleaned recognition from Susan, Ryan’s finger stopped and she grew very pale. She abruptly stood.
“I must take my leave. My apologies.”
And with that, she was gone, startling everyone in the room. The unexpected departure was greeted with silence until finally, Susan stood. She intended to leave but first would answer Marilyn’s question.
“Ryan experienced both retrograde and anterograde amnesia. She had no recall of who or what she was during the spell, then had no memory of the spell after the fact. But once the spell was over, it seemed her overall memory was intact.” Susan looked toward the doorway. “I’m going to make certain she’s alright.”
Victor swallowed hard and nodded. He could feel Abigail’s gaze upon him. Edward also stood, bowing low.
“I’m going to see to my master as well.”
The silence remained awhile longer as the four Old Ones contemplated Ryan’s strange reaction and abrupt disappearance. Marilyn spoke and for once was quite serious.
“Dr. Ryerson did not quite get around to it, but I’m assuming she has found nothing thus far?”
Victor shook his head. “She’s found nothing unusual and nothing that would explain any of this.”
Abigail’s gaze had not left Victor. “So now why don’t you share with us what you would not say in front of Ryan.”
Victor made a derisive noise. “She could be at the far end of the mansion and still hear me.”
“Yes,” Abigail agreed without relenting, “and she can also read your thoughts. So you might as well speak them.”
Victor yielded, his frustration palpable. “Ryan has yet to share with me any of what happened to her, so other than her cryptic comment about my ‘mother,’ and what Dr. Ryerson has told me, I have no idea what she’s been through.”
“You have not Shared with her?” Abigail asked.
“It was my intent,” Victor said, then admitted, “for many reasons, not all of them altruistic. But Ryan has not been well since her return, and even though I thought my blood might strengthen her, Dr. Ryerson expressed concerns.”
“Dr. Ryerson was correct in her concern,” Abigail said, “if Ryan Shared with this creature Madelyn, contact with her might not be safe. We cannot risk the both of you.”
“Ryan and I did have brief contact,” Victor said, thinking back to the end of their battle, “she took a small amount of my blood and it seemed a great shock to her system. But it also seemed to break her from the spell she was under.”
“But you said Dr. Ryerson has found nothing
Susan nodded. “I didn’t see Ryan until Victor brought her back. But the physiological changes were still present. Ryan’s body temperature was far above even her extremes. And the color of her eyes had changed to a deep maroon which faded as her body temperature returned to normal.”
“And she experienced both retrograde and anterograde amnesia in this instance?”
All eyes turned to Marilyn, who quite stunningly had trotted out that bit of technical jargon. It even brought a smile to Ryan’s face. She could not let this pass without comment.
“And all those years ago when I taught you to read,” Ryan said wryly, “I assumed those lessons were just a ruse to keep me under your thumb.”
Marilyn smiled wickedly. “Oh, Ma Cherie, they most certainly were. I assure you any learning that occurred was purely accidental.”
Those pleasant memories occupied Ryan for a moment but as they faded, she again began tracing the strange geometric pattern on the table.
Susan watched the behavior and it stirred some sort of memory in her, something she couldn’t quite place. Ryan was clearly distracted and paying little attention to what she was doing, and the inadvertent actions were borderline obsessive.
With a start, Susan recognized the pattern and stiffened. Simultaneously, whether she had recalled the pattern on her own or gleaned recognition from Susan, Ryan’s finger stopped and she grew very pale. She abruptly stood.
“I must take my leave. My apologies.”
And with that, she was gone, startling everyone in the room. The unexpected departure was greeted with silence until finally, Susan stood. She intended to leave but first would answer Marilyn’s question.
“Ryan experienced both retrograde and anterograde amnesia. She had no recall of who or what she was during the spell, then had no memory of the spell after the fact. But once the spell was over, it seemed her overall memory was intact.” Susan looked toward the doorway. “I’m going to make certain she’s alright.”
Victor swallowed hard and nodded. He could feel Abigail’s gaze upon him. Edward also stood, bowing low.
“I’m going to see to my master as well.”
The silence remained awhile longer as the four Old Ones contemplated Ryan’s strange reaction and abrupt disappearance. Marilyn spoke and for once was quite serious.
“Dr. Ryerson did not quite get around to it, but I’m assuming she has found nothing thus far?”
Victor shook his head. “She’s found nothing unusual and nothing that would explain any of this.”
Abigail’s gaze had not left Victor. “So now why don’t you share with us what you would not say in front of Ryan.”
Victor made a derisive noise. “She could be at the far end of the mansion and still hear me.”
“Yes,” Abigail agreed without relenting, “and she can also read your thoughts. So you might as well speak them.”
Victor yielded, his frustration palpable. “Ryan has yet to share with me any of what happened to her, so other than her cryptic comment about my ‘mother,’ and what Dr. Ryerson has told me, I have no idea what she’s been through.”
“You have not Shared with her?” Abigail asked.
“It was my intent,” Victor said, then admitted, “for many reasons, not all of them altruistic. But Ryan has not been well since her return, and even though I thought my blood might strengthen her, Dr. Ryerson expressed concerns.”
“Dr. Ryerson was correct in her concern,” Abigail said, “if Ryan Shared with this creature Madelyn, contact with her might not be safe. We cannot risk the both of you.”
“Ryan and I did have brief contact,” Victor said, thinking back to the end of their battle, “she took a small amount of my blood and it seemed a great shock to her system. But it also seemed to break her from the spell she was under.”
“But you said Dr. Ryerson has found nothing
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