The only way I could handle its monotonous gloom was to constantly re-imagine it in my head. And while Aunt Kyra coveted the Abbey, it was obvious I didn’t share her love for the place. I had to live in this dank, stone fortress my aunt called home. And I was definitely seeking laughter over goose bumps. We are, admittedly, cheesy “closet” performing artists who love to dramatize things for fun. “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn!” we both cried out in unison, our gaudy southern accents sorely overdone as we collapsed into a fit of giggles. Our other hands rested forlornly against our hearts. I sprawled out next to her, and we both reached a hand toward the ceiling. Monroe gasped in delight at the suggestion, jumping up to lift my hand theatrically before feigning a faint on the bed. “Hell, for that matter, let’s just fast forward it to the end so we can watch Rhett walk out the door.” I found the Margaret Mitchell-based film and held it up. I was convinced being under-prepared led to adventure. Monroe claimed being prepared was an essential part of living. I kept expecting her to pull out a coat rack, coffee table, and lamp. It was like being best friends with Mary Poppins.

She always brought her entire house in one piece of luggage. Maybe a little Gone With the Wind?” I suggested gamely while leafing through Monroe’s overnight bag. “We’ve got to work on hardening you up,” Monroe said with a grin. If that made me a romantic, then so be it.

I was your typical cry during a Gerber commercial, chick flick, over-sensitive kind of gal. “I’m very glad you’re so easily amused,” I complained as Monroe reached over and hit the pause button. “How many people can say they’ve watched the Exorcist while inside a church?” Monroe asked cheerfully. “Oh!” I groaned as Monroe laughed before moving to plop down beside me. “You have to ask me that?” Monroe remarked as I looked up just in time to see the girl on the portable DVD player yell profanities at the priest next to her bed. A popcorn kernel hit me on the side of the head and my stomach heaved.

“Remind me again why we’re watching this?” I asked Monroe breathlessly, my face stuffed unceremoniously in my pillow. And I will never forgive myself for feeding her to the wolves. The Time has come when He will come looking. Surprising lineage to stop a war before it even begins. Trapped between what she believes is right,Īnd a forbidden attraction, Dayton must come to terms with betrayal and her But when Dayton’s life becomes intertwined with aĭangerous stranger, she suddenly finds herself at the center of a war fought Grief-stricken young woman forced to live with a religiously eccentric aunt whoįavors her moral older sister. Insane Demon, a world where right and wrong becomes dangerously twisted, and a A fateful car accident, a strange Abbey ruled by an even stranger Abbess, an

Redemption by rk ryals