Predator

35.

Ryan jolted awake with the sensation of falling, he awoke in a cold sweat. The resting period was over, which meant Caleb and Neela would be picked up in 4 hours. He looked around the room, preparing himself to wake up, until he saw a small boy in the doorway of the bedroom. Ryan slightly tilted his head to the side as he sat up, his russet body becoming exposed by the blanket falling from his chest. "Hello," he gave a smile which only showed some of his teeth, "who are you?" The boy looked so familiar to Ryan.

"I'm Neela's friend," the little boy spoke simply, his pale skin almost glowing in the dark-lit room. "Austin?" Once Ryan said the name, he gasped as he remembered dreams he had of Neela playing with a child who seemed to shed radiance from his looks. Ryan remembered becoming entranced with his light motions.

"You're Ryan," Austin snapped Ryan from his memories, "you had the dreams too?" When Ryan would imagine his future with Neela, he had always pictured a boy who looked more like Neela, but had the personality of himself—a perfect mix of the couple.

"I have some dreams of you, yes," Ryan smiled and got out of bed to get a closer look at the boy. "You and my mate play together. In a huge house, our house," Ryan kneeled in front of Austin once his blue eyes lit up. "I can't believe that you're the Austin that comes to my mate when she's in need." Ryan was enthralled by Austin, by all of him.

Austin had the dark hair that both he and Neela possessed, but the light eyes that Neela possessed. He was always a thoughtful boy in Ryan's dreams, but stubborn and determined, just like himself. He was alway jumpy, like Neela, but Ryan would always reassure the both of them that all was well. Austin was very twiggy and small, but Ryan and Neela both blamed that on his past illness because he ate like a pig.

"Are we gonna be a family now?" Ryan said nothing. He just smiled and pulled Austin into his cold embrace.

~~

"After we pick up Neela and Caleb, we can go get you some clothes. Instead of those..rags," Ryan smiled as he took in Austin's attire, he always wore what looked to be a potato sack, even when he came to Neela.

"Will Neela be happy that you like me?" Austin was a child and came from an un-loving family. He never got the concept of family and true love. Austin's naivety and innocence excited Ryan as he was almost an exact clone of Neela mentally and emotionally. "I believe that she'll be thrilled that I like you."

About 2 minutes before Neela and Caleb were released from school, Ryan places Austin in the back seat. In the back of his head, he knew that it was wrong for such a small boy to be in the front seat. But then again, Austin's a ghost, he can't be hurt physically.

"Do you have powers, Austin?" Ryan decided to try and make conversation with the small boy as he could feel Austin becoming nervous. "Powers?" Austin was clueless about the concept of powers. He knew the supernatural existed but he didn't know that beings of the supernatural were able to do extraordinary things.

"Yeah, can you do special things?" Ryan looked out the window to attempt and think of abilities that ghosts have, but nothing was able to really come to his mind, "nevermind that now. I can take you to a friend, he can help you figure yourself out." Ghosts were coming beings in the realm they all lived in, they were treated as if they were mortal because of how they acted.

Ryan stayed outside the car, he told Austin to keep quiet while Neela and Caleb weren't in the car. Neela noticed that he was too giddy while walking up to the car, the couple shared a smile and an embrace. "I have a surprise for the two of you, the whole family, actually. You both will be the first to know of this," he told his sibling and girlfriend to stay in their spots before going to the back seat and picking up Austin.

Neela's mouth was hung open while Caleb only looked at the small boy in confusion. He knew that they were all to not have contact with family, and he knew that Neela had not became pregnant. "Caleb, this is Austin," Ryan spoke with a smile as he carefully watched the small boy in his arms.

"Is this the person that had been coming to Neela?" Caleb was more or less asking Ryan, but was entranced by the small boy, so it looked like Austin was being asked the question. Caleb nodded before looking toward Neela with a bright smile, the happiness reached his blue eyes.

"I didn't think you'd actually go to him, I'm so proud of you," Neela clapped her hands with a bright smile on her face before taking Austin out of Ryan's arms and hugging him tightly. "I'm wanting to get him some normal clothes. Can we do that before going home?" Ryan asked his mate and brother.

Ryan felt weak in his knees every time his eyes laid on Neela happily holding Austin—it reminded him too much of the dreams. She was such a good person. It enthralled Ryan to see his mate being so maternal; maybe Ryan didn't have to turn Neela for the sole purpose of keeping her alive while pregnant. Maybe she would be turned because she actually wanted to be immortal.

~~

Damien was worried sick once his three children made it back home. They were all three hours late. Granted, he should have trusted Ryan to be able to look after Caleb and Neela, but it still felt weird for them to be home so late.

Right before Ryan was to be scolded, Ryan spoke first. "Father, before you become so angry with me, please let me tell you why we were out."

Damien nodded hesitantly while holding Neela right against his body, "I don't know what I would have done if you lot were to get hurt."

Ryan gave Neela a reassuring smile before walking back out to the car and letting Austin walk by himself to meet the rest of the family. Damien let go of Neela and took in the small boy who was no longer wearing the dingy potato sack, "if this is a human, Ryan, I promise-"

"He's not a human," Ryan cut his father off, "he's Austin." Once Damien came to the realization of that name, he looked back at Neela in awe. "I thought you said he was a ghost."

"He chooses who's able to see him. He trusts us," Ryan answered the question for Neela because she didn't really know how to answer it herself. "He said he'll come and go but he'll always be back."