by C. M. Owens
"How did she find us? Was she looking for us?" I could hear my quizzical tone, and it was starting to annoy even me. I'm sure it was driving them crazy.
Tallis softly elaborated. "Magic has its own gravitational force. It finds its lost children and guides them to a safe home. Especially empaths—because they're only light. Empaths aren't like any other magical creature.
"Once you inherit your magic, you can't have children with anyone but your soul mate. Before you turn, however, you can have a child with a true mortal, if you're completely in love with them. Empaths are a product of a mortal female witch truly in love with a mortal male. It's rare, especially nowadays with love being so easily confused with infatuation and lust, but still possible. Empaths can only be good. They can never be dark. They feel the pain that you feel. If you kill a mortal, or drain an essence for power and they are bonded to your emotions, they will die.
"They were incredibly dangerous in Dramus's eyes, so he hunted them down and killed every empath in existence during Isis's time. Graven has done the same during his reign, but there hasn't been that many since the age of Dramus. Today was the first time I've ever seen one in person. I almost believed they never truly existed. I thought perhaps they had only been a myth."
I didn't have time to absorb the information before my inquisitive mind took over, needing more. "Why do they want them all dead?" I asked.
Nothing was making sense. It was like a carefully woven pattern of confusion now.
"They can project the pain of the victims that was caused by a dramian onto the dramian. Such torture could kill a dramian if the empath was strong enough to withstand the exerted force. They've destroyed dramians many times with that power. They can also make a witch stronger. They're the only ones who can read body language and emotions. It's as good as reading a mind sometimes.
"They can feel the emotions of any living creature. They can spot traitors among any magical beings—including bodyguards—whereas no other magical being can. Only other changers can read a changer's aura. Bodyguards are so shielded that not even another bodyguard can tell about their true intentions. That makes empaths incredibly valuable to our side, tilting the odds in our favor, and it makes them a threat to the dramians. Empaths stay cloaked and undetected until bonded. Now that she's bonded to you, they've probably felt her presence being introduced to the world."
I tried digesting all the facts, slowly catching up to what he said. But... What? Huh?
"Whoa. Now that she's bonded to me? She's my soul mate?"
This wasn't possible. I was in love with men—well, one man. So why would magic give me a woman?
Tallis burst out laughing, and so did Henry. In fact, Henry laughed at me so fiercely that it made him cough. It was a struggle for him to even answer me.
"No. Empaths find a strong essence to bond to for protection. It strengthens their powers, as well as it develops a loyalty to that person. Your essence is incredibly strong, so her powers became linked. She's forever bound to protect you and devoutly loyal. She'll also make your power stronger when your magic surfaces.
"That's why Elaina started crying. Amelia projected painful waves of emotion onto her that were too overwhelming. Even I felt them as if they were my own emotions."
Tallis got quiet after Henry's explanation, letting the tension mount. Finally, he whispered, "I felt it, too." He kept his eyes glued to Amelia's back, never meeting my gaze.
"I didn't feel anything." This was all starting to give me a migraine. I put both of my hands on my head as I huffed in frustration.
Henry said, "That's because she was projecting your emotions. You're her direct link. You keep her grounded, and she's incredibly protective. Think momma bear and cub."
"Does she know I'm going to be a witch?" I asked, still trying to keep up with the rapid-fire learning session.
"No. Judging by the look she had, I don't even think she knew who she was. I know she didn't know what she was doing. It was just instinctive for her to protect you, and it happened naturally. A defensive reaction after the bonding process is very common with any magical relationship."
Any magical relationship... Magic seemed to love shoving crap down my throat, and I was still on the beginner level.
"So she's mortal, but she can still use her magic. Why can't I?"
Henry continued to answer me without seeming annoyed by my incessant questioning. "Empaths are different. Magic courses through their bodies from the day they're born. They can use pieces of it, but they harness its full power after they gain immortality.
"If they bond with a witch before immortality, they can use a great deal more of their gift. But they can't read magical intentions until they reach immortality. They can only read the mortal side of things and feel mortal feelings. She could read Tallis's feelings toward you as a mortal, just as she could read I was only your friend. She couldn't feel why Tallis felt guilty, because her strength has not met the magical realm.
"Today she bonded and she projected for the first time. She felt a whole new depth to your emotions and brought them to life for everyone else to feel as well. With that amount of power, it's hard to believe that she's still mortal. They're different in the sense that they can be afflicted by the mortal world and the immortal world. She's had to suffer illnesses, insects, parasites, and everything a normal mortal would. Now she'll also have to face the immortal world, unlike a normal mortal."
Henry took a breath as I wrapped my mind around the massive overload of information. He seemed to be lost in thought, and suddenly he exhaled loudly, his expelled breath rife with regret.
"She knew so much about the emotions people were having. All the signs were there. I should have seen it then. I would've never have even thought about it if she hadn't bonded and projected so fiercely today," he murmured, sounding as though he was talking more to himself than anyone else.
Tallis nodded slowly in agreement, sounding completely miserable when he added, "Me neither. I never even considered the possibly of such a thing so close to us."
I had heard about her projecting from them over and over, but they weren't being very descriptive. "So what exactly did she project?"
What would have made Elaina cry? What would have made both Tallis and Henry so instantly aware of her power?
Henry glanced toward Tallis and then back to me. He was almost reluctant to speak. "Heartbreak. Agonizingly painful heartbreak. It was a stronger emotion than I've ever had in that sense. The only pain I've felt worse than that was the loss of my parents. It took my breath for a minute."
Henry glanced back toward Tallis as I began slinking down in my seat, suddenly very aware of the gathering tension between me and the object of my obsession.
Tallis's sighed, "It took my breath, too."
At least that explained his hands all over me when that happened. He felt my excruciating pain that I had been trying so desperately to hide from him.
That was just great. As if I hadn't been put on display enough, now someone was baring my soul for all to see. I couldn't even suffer privately.
Then Tallis added, "I never knew about all the times you cried yourself to sleep. I didn't know you were going through all that. I even felt the pain you felt the day I was cresting your house—after I left. I didn't—"
I couldn't stand the pity or humiliation, so I interrupted. "So what happens if a male witch and a mortal female fall in love and have a child? What does that child become?"
Tallis was the one to respond, seeming grateful for a topic shift. "Something just as rare and completely different. A…" His voice trailed off as Amelia ran down a driveway, making everything else unimportant.
"What do we do now?" I whispered—though I didn't know why I was whispering.
I was back to being worried about the problem on hand. I really didn't care what the child of a male witch and a female mortal became. I was just glad that my diversion had worked.
I didn't want his pity, or his guilt-ridden sympathy. I just w
anted to suffer discreetly and keep all of my pain a secret. This was a newfound way for my privacy to be stripped away. Being exposed was quickly becoming annoying. Apparently magic was getting a good laugh from kicking me while I was down.
"You have to go talk to her. She'll be most comfortable with you because of the bonding. If she truly has no idea about what is going on, then she'll need some serious support. Keep in mind how overwhelming this can all be. She'll probably need some convincing. We'll help you out if we can," Tallis said, his eyes focused on the sad little house Amelia had disappeared into.
I looked at the tiny dilapidating old house. It was white, sort of. The paint was almost peeled off completely, exposing the rotting wood. The yard was small and the weeds were almost knee-high. A tiny walkway was crackled into almost rubble.
I took a deep breath and stepped out of the car, dreading what was to come. With nervous, trembling hands, I made my way to the door. I was new to all of this myself, so how was I going to explain it to her? I didn't even know such a thing could exist.
I tried to rehearse what I would say as I mumbled to myself, "Hey, Amelia. I just came to tell you that you're an empath. Oh, what is an empath you ask? It just means your mom was a witch that she had a baby with a mortal. Oh yeah, and I'm a witch, too, by the way. So is Henry and Tallis - well, mostly. We're going to have to fight to stay alive for the rest of our lives, because there's a mob of dramians lusting for power. Oh by the way, you're also bonded to me. Apparently my essence is so strong, that you couldn't resist the urge to reveal my private suffering to the whole school. That's right; you can force emotions on people."
I rolled my eyes as I sighed loudly. Then I continued mumbling to myself. "Yeah, she's not going to think I'm crazy at all. With any luck, I'll be locked in the nearest asylum by nightfall. I'm sure talking to myself isn't really helping things either."
I rolled my eyes at myself again, and lightly smacked my forehead.
I walked up the rickety porch and it creaked loudly, warning me to tread lightly. I could hear arguing, and then it sounded like someone was being slapped. Then I heard a thud, as if someone fell.
Worry crept up and turned into fear. I saw Henry climb to the front seat hastily, as if he was ready to run my way if I needed him to. Tallis shifted around uncomfortably. They must have heard it, too.
Duh, Aria. Super hearing.
I raised my fist and knocked gently on the pitifully sad, old door.
"Amelia, hey it's Aria." My voice was trembling just like my hands were now, as I continued tapping on the weak, brittle wood. I was worried it was going fall apart if I rapped too hard.
I heard some stumbling before the door creaked open very loudly. Amelia poked her head out and her eyes grew wide like she was terrified of the sight of me. She gently slid through the crack, acting as though she didn't want to open the door any wider.
"Aria, you shouldn't be here."
She looked so scared and embarrassed at the same time. My heart actually hurt for her, and in response, she gripped her chest. She really was linked to me. Or she was just feeling a similar ache.
"Amelia, I really need to talk to you," I said quietly.
"Tomorrow. I can't right now." Her voice cracked and I noticed her lip was swelling.
"Amelia? Is someone in there hurting you?"
Had someone already found her?
"No. Aria, you have to go now," she whispered.
"Amelia? Where the hell did you go, girl? You better get your ass back in here now!" a man yelled, slurring each word.
She ran back inside, leaving the door still slightly ajar. I listened to his voice as his words slurred worse. I couldn't understand anything he was saying now it because it was so muffled.
Then I heard another loud slapping sound, and I saw Amelia fall to the ground through the crack in the door. I didn't even think about it. I threw the door open and ran in, no plan of action. I heard a swishing sound, and suddenly Tallis was on my left and Henry was on my right.
There was a guy in his late forties towering over Amelia who was curled up in a ball on the ground. He was slightly balding and incredibly overweight. He was sweating profusely and he reeked of alcohol. Food stains littered his white shirt, and his pants hung low to accommodate his protruding gut.
“Who the hell are you, and why are you in my house?" he growled, staggering as he blinked rapidly, acting as though he was trying to see straight.
"We're here to take Amelia home with us," I said, feeling proud of the forcefulness in my tone.
Amelia stood up slowly. Her mouth was bleeding, her eye was turning black, and her lip was swelling even worse.
The man reached behind him and pulled a gun from the back of his pants. In an instant, Tallis was in front of me and his right arm was wrapped around behind him, pulling my front against his back. He was shielding me tightly, but I managed to peek around his arm.
"Get out of here now before I blow your heads off!" the drunken man threatened, waving his gun around like a child's toy.
Tallis gripped me tighter, as Amelia stepped forward cautiously. "Just go, guys. I'll be fine."
The drunken man backhanded her across the cheek, once again knocking her to the floor, and forcing her to yelp as she dropped. "You shut the hell up!" he growled.
In a complete blur, Henry went from my side to across the room, shoving the man violently into the wall behind him. I could hear part of the wall bust open upon impact. Henry had his arm pressed against the man's throat, choking him.
"If you ever touch her again, I'll personally rip your insides out and shove them down your fat, disgusting throat."
He threw the man to the ground, barely stopping himself from going too far. Henry picked up Amelia and put her on her feet before examining her bloody mouth, cringing when she winced.
He put his arm around her waist and moved her to the door. The drunken fool shook his head, grabbed the gun, and suddenly it was pointed at Amelia.
My train of thought? There was none. I ran out from behind Tallis's loosened grip and in front of Amelia.
"No!" I screamed, drawing his attention.
For the second time in my life, I was staring down the barrel of a gun. Tallis was back in front of me now, covering both Amelia and me.
Two loud bangs rang out in near unison. Time slowed as Tallis caught a bullet before it could strike me. Again, I could see everything going on, just like before. The second bullet exploded against Henry's stomach with the same glass-shattering effect that I had seen so clearly in Brazil when Tallis had been shot. Before I even had time to catch my breath, time resumed to normal.
The man blinked his eyes twice, unsure of what he had just seen. His wavering hand suddenly shook harder—almost unnaturally. When my eyes fell to Amelia, my breath caught in my throat.
She had the same look she had earlier when Elaina had started crying, only this time she wasn't projecting my emotions. I could feel it as clearly as if it was my own pain. Years of abuse and torment suddenly flooded my body, overwhelming me. The anguish was almost unbearable, and I was just catching the side effects.
The full brunt of her force was directed at the man. He curled into the fetal position, crying out as the pain consumed him. Bruises began forming all over his body, and his mouth began pouring blood. His face began turning red, then blue, like he was struggling for air. I felt something warm running from my nose. I reached up to wipe it and shuddered when I pulled back my hand to find blood on my fingertips.
Tallis swallowed hard as he wiped the red away from my lip.
"You have to stop her. If she makes him feel all of her abuse from over the years at once in its magnified volume, it'll kill him. Then the pain of taking a mortal's life will kill her, and possibly you, too."
His voice was calm, but the terror in his eyes betrayed his composure.
Stop her? How do you step between a rabid dog and its prey and talk sense into it.
Unfortunately, that was my only option. I fin
ally stepped between her and the man, and cautiously said her name.
I paused as she gave no reaction.
"Amelia, you can't do this. You have to control it," I said, making my voice louder.
It worked. She jerked her head up abruptly, and tears flooded her eyes. The weight of her power lifted, releasing us all from feeling her abuse.
"What'd I do? What's happening to me?" she whimpered, trying hard to keep it together.
I knew what it was like to learn about who you were in the most unconventional way. I could certainly empathize with her.
The man lay on the ground, gasping and choking as air finally started entering back into his lungs. He grabbed his throat while groaning. I had to get her out of here before he came to and provoked her again. I didn't want to chance my luck.
"Come with us. We can explain it all to you," I said softly.
She still looked stunned, almost in shock—which was understandable. Henry finally scooped her up when she seemed to be unresponsive, and he carried her outside to put her in the back of the SUV.
Amelia curled into Henry and rested her head on his chest. Tallis reached over and grabbed my hand after he backed away from the house and started driving toward home. I knew it wasn't a romantic notion, just a friendly one, but all those unresolved feelings slithered to the surface and begged for attention.
There were more important things to focus on in that moment. So I called Iris instead of dwelling on the unnecessary drama. I skipped unnecessary pleasantries when she answered.
"Put your faces on. We're going to have company."
Chapter 8
Betrayal
There are plenty of things that can hurt a person, but betrayal is one of the most unforgivable.
By the time we pulled up at my house, we had almost overloaded Amelia's brain with information—things that seemed impossible. It was a lot to digest all at once.
"So I'm going to live forever?" she asked in a hoarse rasp, still pale.
"Not yet. Your immortality will be a gentle transition, though. It won't be painful like ours was," Henry reassured her.
