Becoming a Legend Read Online Free PDF Page A

back door, gulping for air. She needed more air.
    Her shoes glided softly over the pavement as she began to run. She hadn’t intended to go anywhere in particular, just somewhere away from the constant people following her. Running seemed like the best option if she wanted to lose anyone that would follow her. Before she’d changed, Arianna hadn’t been good at many physical activities. It wasn’t that she was uncoordinated; it was just that she lacked the motivation to do anything related to sports. Now, though, there wasn’t much that she couldn’t do. Her feet continued to pound against the asphalt as she slowed her pace through an orderly neighborhood. She began to walk as she neared a day human walking a dog. It was normal here. Everywhere she could feel, it was all day humans. A mom was across the street opening her front door with a bag full of groceries on one hip and a child on the other. In front of Arianna a man and his dog, who jogged faithfully beside him. Behind another house, she heard children laughing. It was normal. She was not.
    Arianna didn’t hesitate at the white picket fence. She walked around to the backdoor of the house and reached above the door for the spare key. Pressing it into the lock, she hesitated. Thomas was near-by. He was the only one who could keep up with her a little bit when she ran, if he took to the air. His wings shifted in the air, but he made no move to come closer. Arianna unlocked the door and walked into the home her father had left for her. Outside, Thomas landed, but stayed in the backyard.
    Arianna went upstairs to her parents’ bedroom. There was a faint, lasting scent of her father. Arianna walked over to the pictures on the dresser and smiled. The only photo of her family, taken before her mother died, was sitting in a frame, faded from the years. Arianna lightly touched the picture. Did they know they were creating a monster? She gently touched her mother’s face. Why did they have to go away? Arianna’s parents had both been murdered when she was a child: her mother for bringing her to life, and her father for protecting her. A car door slamming shut outside told her the others had caught up to her. Several people surrounded the building. Her guard was punctual, as usual. Arianna walked down the hallway to the playroom and sat down on the couch.
    “ It’s your job to scold me and take me back to my aunt’s place?” Arianna asked Thomas as he entered. He was the only one she would even talk to at this point, and her guards all knew that.
    “ Seems so,” he said, sitting down in one of the oversized, plush chairs.
    “ And what if I say no?” Arianna added.
    “ Not much I can do about that,” he replied, closing his eyes and leaning back. He was good at ignoring the orders coming from either dearg-dul or lycan. “Just please give me at least ten minutes for a nap before you decide to go running off somewhere else.”
    Arianna felt the tension rubbing off him. “Are you feeling okay?”
    “ Don’t tell the mutt, but he’s right. I don’t know if I’ll voluntarily take a dart for you again. Ugh.” He didn’t move or open his eyes as he talked. “It’s worse than he was describing.”
    “ Sorry about that,” Arianna replied quietly.
    Thomas bolted up. “No, I didn’t mean that.” He tried to cover up his words. “Really. I’m just a bit tired, and my head’s pounding. That’s all.” Arianna nodded, a little relieved. Thomas saw that she wasn’t completely convinced.
    “ I’d prefer to stay here a bit,” Arianna added. Thomas nodded and went back to resting. Arianna didn’t want to disturb him as she sat, quietly staring outside at the sky through the old window.
    “T hey just want to be prepared to keep you safe,” Thomas said, while not opening his eyes.
    “ That’s what they always say.”
    “ And it’s true. Your blood healed everyone so easily.” Thomas opened his eyes to see if she was paying attention. She was still