“Ela.” Luka’s voice breaks through my thoughts. “I need you to trust me. Where I'm taking you, you will belong. You will no longer be alone.”
“My curse―”
“Your gift.” He punctuates his sentence with a pause for emphasis. “Is very special.”
His hand still floats in front of me.
Sighing, I look back up into his brown eyes. I want to believe him. I want him to be right. “I can’t. It’s safer for me to be alone. It's safer for everyone.”
Luka tilts his head and drops his hand. “You're wrong. Others will come looking for you. Others who will hurt you.” He steps closer to me. “You need to come with me.”
“I'm leaving.” I begin to walk backwards. I need to get out of here.
“I'm sorry, Ela. I have a responsibility to keep you safe now that I know you exist.” He steps toward me again. “You have to come with me.”
Grabbing my arm, Luka begins to drag me. I struggle but Luka just huffs and throws me over his shoulder. I’m kicking and screaming but no one is responding. As I bang on his back I realize the park is eerily quiet the further we go. No one is around. It’s just the two of us.
“Hold tight,” Luka says right before he kicks opens a manhole cover and jumps.
Air whooshes past me as we free-fall through the hole. I squeeze my eyes shut, my hair whipping around my face like a tornado. My chest tightens with the thought of our impending doom and I claw at Luka’s sides in fear.
A soft thump is the only indication we’ve landed on solid ground. Luka flips me onto my feet and steps back. I push my hair out of my face to glare at him. My heart races erratically as I find my footing on the hard ground below me. I squeeze my eyes shut and blow out a harsh breath as images of Drina falling through the log flash behind my eyelids. My body trembles as anger begins to boil inside me.
“How dare you? Where are we? Are you trying to kill me?” I rant as I step toward him.
I bypass Luka and glance up at the hole we just fell out of, only to see nothing but blackness. How the heck am I supposed to get back up? I can feel tears building; I’m trapped in an unknown place.
“Ela.” Luka’s warmth hits my back. “There are others. Others who will use your powers against you. They will force you to use your gift for evil.” He sighs in frustration as he walks around me to face me. “This place. It’s a safe place. There are people here who can help you control your gift. Teach you to use it for good.” His finger tilts my head up to face him. “You need to trust me.”
I knuckle the tears roughly away. What he says sounds so wonderful, but I know it's not true. Can't be true. I don't have a gift, just a curse. The curse of death.
“Come on.” Luka grabs my hand. “Let me show you around. Let me show you how perfect Hollows Ground is.”
I look down at our hands through blurry tears. I haven't had any intentional physical contact with others since the day I ran away. Even Ana has somehow known not to get too close. Thankfully, Luka’s death hasn't been shown to me yet. But it's only a matter of time. Eventually I see all.
I pull my hand away from Luka’s and hold it to my chest. “Okay,” I murmur.
“Okay.” Luka tilts his head to the side and studies me with his warm brown eyes. “Stay close. Everyone knows everyone here, so―” he shrugs his shoulder. “Everyone will know you’re new.”
An arched tunnel made of graying bricks stretches ahead of us. I can see light in the distance which barely illuminates the tunnel, casting an eerie glow. Cement walls surround me in every other direction, leaving us only one option. The creepy hole in the wall.
“Maybe you should go first.” I look up at Luka with a raised eyebrow.
“Sure thing.” A quick smile forms then disappears on his face.
The further we venture through the tunnel the louder our surroundings get. I pause as the sound of people talking envelops us. Luka looks over his shoulder at me with a real smile, his two small dimples on display. He jumps a few feet down at the end of the tunnel and completely turns to face me.
“Welcome to Hollows Ground.” He holds his hand out to me once again to help me climb down.
My senses go into overload. A whole city lies in front of me. A city under a city. We’ve entered what seems to be the middle of a busy hub. People rush down the street around us as they travel to their destinations. Many ignore us, but some flash a second look my direction. Store fronts and small food stands pepper the opposite side of the road. One woman catches my attention as she orders a cheeseburger from a stand. She is wearing a tight fitted black tank and jeans with knee high black boots. Her multi-colored hair hangs down her back as she presses her finger to a scanner.
“It’s how we pay.” Luka follows my sight. “Everyone who lives here is registered as a Hollows Ground resident. Your fingerprint is like a credit card, just one less thing you need to remember to carry with you.”
I lift an eyebrow and tilt my head toward Luka. “Big brother is watching and all that.”
Luka chuckled. “Our government is a bit different here. Everyone has some form of magic in them. It’s best to keep a close eye.”
“What kind of magic do you have?” I ask, still watching the people around me.
“Empathy. Not as special as you,” he half smiles at me.
“Empathy? What exactly does that mean?” I question as I turn to face him.
“I’m an empath. I can sense the emotions of others.” He shrugs his shoulders and looks away.
He makes it sound dull, like it isn't interesting or special. Things are beginning to make a bit more sense. How he knew I was in a hurry. How he knew I was too late.
“Wait. Earlier at the park―”
“It was difficult. Extremely.” Luka clears his voice. “I could feel the boy's pain. The mom’s anguish. The driver’s shock.” He looks back up at me. “I sometimes feel like my gift is a curse as well.”
“Then why did you stay? I mean, the agony of having to live through those emotions. It had to be torture.” I shake my head in disbelief.
“I was leaving, on my way back here.” He points. “But then I sensed your urgency. Your tenacity. I was confused. Why would you be in such a hurry to go where such sorrow emanated?” He blows out a breath. “I knew as soon as I saw you that you were special. That you had magic in you.”
“Magic? I never thought of it like that. It’s always been a curse.” I gaze back at the city around me. “Are there others just like me here?”
“There are others who can help you. Others who understand your gift. Others who have visions.”
“Visions of death?” I ask, my curiosity peeked.
“I know of one. But like I said earlier, your gift is rare, very extraordinary.”
“How can they help me? Can they make the visions stop?” I ask hopefully. The idea of not being afraid all the time sounds amazing.
“Why would you want them to stop? Your magic is a part of you. If it were to cease to exist, so would you. Your visions are a gift.” He seems perplexed.
“A gift?” My voice rises a bit. “Nothing gift-like in seeing death all the time.”
“I can understand what you mean.” Luka grabs my hand and begins to pull me down the street, effectively ending our conversation. “Come on, there’s much more to see.”
I let Luka lead me down the sidewalk. Having him hold my hand feels foreign. The warmth from his hand frightens me and at the same time seems to ground me.
“It will be okay,” Luka calls from over his shoulder. “I know this all seems overwhelming and scary.” He winks. “I’ll stay by your side until you're comfortable on your own here.”
“What do you mean ‘on my own here?’” I ask, confused.
Luka stops and turns to me. “This is where you belong. Hollows Ground is home to all beings with magical abilities.”
“I don’t plan on staying. Being around other people isn't really my thing,” I mumble.
“Once you gain control of
your visions, you may feel different.” Luka tugs my hand forward and continues our walk through the city.
Light peeks over the brick buildings in front of me and for the first time, I look up. The bright blue sky sparkles with swirls of purple. A full moon hangs low, illuminating the city as if it were daytime.
“Aren’t we underground?” I ask Luka.
I know we jumped through a manhole, but maybe there’s more to this place than I first anticipated. Did we teleport somewhere?
“Yes.” He quickly glances over at me. “It’s magic of course. Everything you see. Even everyone you see. No one lives here or is allowed here unless they have some form of magic. They wouldn't be allowed through our wards. Any typical person who had ventured through the manhole I brought you through would only see the pipes under the city, not the tunnel to ours.”
“That's amazing,” I marvel as I continue to stare up at the sky.
“You haven't seen anything yet. What you see now is just the shell. It’s what lies within that truly amazing.” Luka pulls me around the corner and stops.
My jaw drops. In front of us is a grand white building. Grand isn't even the word. I’ve never seen a building so incredible. At least twenty steps lead to a veranda with marble columns every ten or so feet, each one wider than a car. Two huge red doors sit at the top of the stairs with a guard on each side. The guards look more for show than actually guarding, since people are casually walking in and out of the building while the guards stand unmoving.
“Luka?” A woman pins me with her glare. “What do you have there?” She points her thumb my way as she turns her nose up at me.
The woman is beautiful with long golden hair and emerald eyes. She wears a form-fitting black dress and red stilettos at least three inches high. Her hands, sitting on her waist, accentuate how thin she is.
“Luna, this is Ela.” Luka drops my hand and introduces us.
I miss his warmth immediately.
“I don’t care what her name is. Who is she?” she sneers turning toward Luka.
“Can’t you feel her magic?” he asks her.
“Weakly,” she shakes her head. “Where'd ya find her?”
“The park near the eastern corridor. It was luck, really―”
“Luck. Please, we’ve taken in enough lessers. Next time drop her off to the Wraiths. Let them deal with it.”
“The Wraiths would have used her against us―”
Luna rolls her eyes. “Save it. One day you’ll see that not all magic is created equal.”
Luna turns and begins to walk toward the mighty steps before us. Just as her foot is about to hit the first step, she looks back over her shoulder at us and lifts her hand. With a snap of her fingers the large terracotta planter lifts in the air and comes flying at my head.
Before I have a chance to acknowledge what’s about to happen, Luka pushes me to the ground. Pain shoots through my body when I hit the concrete sidewalk.
“Are you OK?” Luka pushes my dark hair out of my face. “I tried to react sooner. I knew she would do something cruel. I felt it.”
Shaking my head, I sit up on the sidewalk and brush my hands over my jeans, removing the small pebbles that had lodged within my palms. “I'm fine,” I sigh. “She seems like a bright ray of sunshine. Quite the welcome wagon.” My eyes train on the broken planter beside us.
“Most residents will welcome you with open arms. Luna, well, she’s just Luna. She’s like that to everyone. She holds the magic of telekinesis.”
My eyes leave the planter and move toward the spot Luna was just at. She’s gone. Shaking my head, I stand with Luka’s help.
“Are you sure you're OK?” Luka asks as he inspects me with his gaze.
“Fine.” I step away from him and take in our surroundings once again. “So, what is this place?”
“The Great Hall. We must check you in with our leader. I’m sure he’s already received word of your arrival.”
Luka begins the trek up the stately stairs and I follow close behind. It seems the little spectacle with Luna brought attention to us as now every eye is turned our way. Ducking my head, I count the stairs as we go in an attempt to tune out the unwanted stares. The guards open the heavy red doors for us. As we step over the threshold, the guards follow and close the doors behind us with an echoing slam. Startled, I look behind us to see guards dressed in red and blue uniforms ushering us forward.
Luka stops in front of me and bows his head. I look over his shoulder and see a regal man sitting on one of the biggest chairs I’ve ever seen. The golden throne is covered in gems and giant wings sprout from each side. The man cocks his head at me with an angry glare and stands.
“I am Kasik, leader of Hollows Ground.” His baritone voice carries throughout the opulent hall. “Outsiders are not welcome here.”
“I expected more from you.” Kasik’s voice pierces the air. “The law is clear. No outsiders unless permission is granted. You’ve broken this rule, and you will be punished.” Kasik directs his threat to Luka as the guards crowd us further.
Kasik stands tall before us on a platform a few feet in the air. At first glance, the Hollows Grounds leader looks to be in his mid-fifties, but after closer inspection I feel he is much older than that. His long white hair is pulled back showing off his clean-shaven and wrinkle-free face. His bright green eyes shine with anger as he looks down at us, his hands firmly on his hips.
“I didn't have any choice. She was in danger,” Luka explains, his head still bowed.
“Many are in danger, each and every day. We cannot save all. It’s not our place.” Kasik walks toward us. “As for you,” he says as his head tilts my way, “where is your family?”
A shiver runs up my spine as static pulls at my hair. “I don’t know, sir.” Which is mostly the truth.
Kasik stops directly in front of me. His eyes penetrate me as he evaluates me from head to toe. His gaze makes me feel uncomfortable, like he can see all. “I feel your magic. Who has trained you?” Kasik meets my eyes, a golden swirl wrapping around his pupils.
“No one.” I mutter, breaking eye contact with him.
“A pebble of truth.” Kasik turns to Luka. “Explain why her miniscule amount of magic was worth the agony of punishment?”
I tremble with the impending threat. Luka has sacrificed greatly to bring me here. “She’s the one we’ve been looking for.” Luka lifts his head.
Kasik inhales deeply and once again regards me. “Are you sure?” His eyes narrow at me.
“Yes. It’s how I found her. She was following a vision―”
“A vision? Tell me about this vision.” Kasik demands.
I clear my throat and close my eyes. The boy's death filters through my head and I gasp. “A little boy.” A tear runs down my cheek. “I was too late.” I shake my head. His death is still too new, eating away at me.
“A little boy? He what?” Kasik persists.
“He lived next door to me. I saw his death.” I exhale loudly. “I tried to stop it.”
“But you didn't?” His face scrunches in disappointment.
I shake my head, unable to find the words. Yes, I failed him and yes, he’s dead. I hang my head. Not the first time and most definitely not the last.
“Precognition. She has the gift of second sight,” Luka states.
“It’s a curse,” I whisper. “Why have you been looking for me? I only bring death. It’s all I see,” I spit out, ready to go home.
“Not you in particular, but one with your gift. We’ve been searching for many years for one with the gift of second sight. Your magic can grow to be very powerful with the right training.” Kasik turns to Luka. “It makes sense now, why her magic feels so weak. She is untrained.”
“Why would you want someone like me? Everyone who gets close to me eventually dies.”
“The Shades of Hollows Ground have been in a war for centuries with the Wraiths. The Wraiths hold many magical powers; however, they seek to obtain those with mind powe
rs in order to use their abilities to control the world. Corporate take-overs, oil companies, stock markets―the list is endless.”
“Control the world? I couldn't help them―”
“No. But you could help us, so they will want to keep you from us.” Kasik begins to pace. His long white hair is wound tightly in a braid that swings down his back as he walks.
“How would I be able to help you?”
“Your visions would aid in sculpting our war strategies to the deaths of our elite soldiers.” Kasik speaks from the other side of Luka. “However, you would need to have control of your visions. Understand your magic.” He pivots and faces us. “You cannot be scared of your own being.”
“But she holds the gift,” Luka states. A bead of sweat trickles down Luka’s face as he looks to the ground. Whatever he feels within this room makes him nervous. Glancing around I notice our guards now number closer to ten and have surrounded us, blocking any exit.
“Maybe, but she is a stranger. An outsider. One who knew nothing of this war or of our world until now. Trust is something to be earned; she has earned nothing.”
In my peripheral, I notice one of the guards moving closer to me, his closed hands held out in front of him. I take a small step closer to Luka. Luka’s head slightly moves my direction but still stares at the ground in front of us. Quickly, Luka locks pinkies with me squeezes and lets go. The small contact was just enough to relax me a bit.
“She hasn't betrayed us either. We’ve been searching for so long―”
“Waiting. We’ve been waiting for one to be born into our world, not dropped on our lap from the outside. Quite coincidental,” Kasik bellows.
“I accept my punishment whole-heartedly, but I beg you to give her a chance.” Luka kneels down on one knee, bowing further.
A sizzling sound pierces the air. I turn to my right and as if in slow motion, the guard next to me opens his hand. A bright blue ball of light sits on his palm, bolts of white electricity racing around it as smoke wafts to the ceiling. I freeze, my eyes wide and my jaw drooping open. One side of the guard’s mouth tilts up in a smirk when he catches me staring at his hand.
Second Sight (Hollows Ground Book 1) Page 3
