Second Sight (Hollows Ground Book 1)

by J. A. Culican

  “It all happens so quick,” I mutter from the ground.

  “But it's there? That feeling?” Maxwell kneels in front of me, pushing my hands away from my hair.

  I didn't even see him get up, let alone walk over to me.

  “Fleeting, but yes,” I mumble as I take in the sparkle that has returned to his eyes.

  “Do you feel it now?” He tilts his head as he examines me.

  Closing my eyes, I try to center myself as Luka has taught me before a fight. I try to reach down inside me and feel anything.

  “Breathe, Mirela. You know what to look for.”

  My eyes shoot open. It's there, that feeling. Someone close is going to die.

  My body trembles with the truth. I haven't seen it but I know it to be true. The tightness in my chest is nothing new. How have I never noticed it? Bigger question: how can it help me?

  “Keep breathing,” Maxwell speaks close to my ear. “Breathe.”

  Someone is going to die. Someone who is close to me now. As far as I know, only two people are close. Maxwell and Luka. I need both. I can't lose either of them. I exhale roughly as the realization hits. I can't stop this. I've never been able to stop it. It's no different now.

  “Oh God,” I mutter. “This can't be happening.”

  “It will be OK, Mirela. Just keep breathing. Everything will be OK.”

  I tune Maxwell out. Everything he is saying is wrong. Nothing will be OK. I suck in air as quickly as I can, but I can't get enough. I push at my eyes with my palms, trying to see. For once I need to see. I need to stop this. But I can't if I don't see. I can't even try.

  “Ela. Ela.” Strong arms wrap around me. “What did you do to her?” Luka shouts. “Ela, open your eyes. Look at me. Please, Ela.”

  I can hear the desperation in Luka’s voice. I can only imagine how I look. But I'm stuck. I need to see. I need to know.

  “Mirela.” Maxwell pushes Luka away from me. “Breathe with me. You're going to be okay. Everything you're feeling is right. You needed to know. You needed to feel. Breathe with me.” Maxwell urges. “In, now out. Good, keep going. In, now out.” Maxwell blows out a breath with me.

  My body still shakes as energy zips through me. I can hear Maxwell and Luka talking, I can feel the hard dock beneath me. Things are becoming clearer again. Nothing has changed.

  “There we go. Open your eyes before this poor boy has a heart attack,” Maxwell states and Luka’s warmth invades me once again.

  I crack my eyes open and quickly close them again as the bright moon reflects off the lake and into my eyes. Steeling myself for the harsh light, I open them again. Luka is squatting right in front of me. His golden hair is sticking up everywhere from him running his hands through it. His eyes look scared as he takes in my shaking body before him.

  “Ela,” Luka breathes out.

  “There we go.” Maxwell stands. “Bring her back tomorrow. We will continue her training.” He looks back down at me. “You may not think it right now, but you’ve done an exceptional job today.”

  “I'm a mess. I―”

  “You felt your magic. You controlled it. You saw nothing, am I right?”

  I nod my agreement.

  “But you felt it. You felt it before you saw it. That, my girl, is progress.”

  Luka rubs my shoulders up and down. My anxiety begins to drain as Maxwell's words sink in. I did feel it. But, for once, I wanted to see it.

  “Tomorrow, same time.” Maxwell lifts his brows at me and I nod. “Take your girl home, make sure she eats. She’s been through a lot,” Maxwell says to Luka.

  “Okay,” Luka answers roughly, his voice weak. “Are you sure she’s going to be okay?” He looks back at me. “I’ve never seen her like this.”

  “Just take care of her. She will need you to do that.”

  “I can do that.” Luka nods back at me. “What do you say, can you stand?”

  Luka helps me up. My legs tremble as I lean on him. My mind and body are exhausted. Slowly, Luka half drags, half carries me down the dock and to the cool grass by the shore. I snuggle into his neck in an attempt to calm my nerves, knowing that at any minute his death could flash across my mind.

  “Hey.” Luka’s arms tighten around my shoulders. “I’m going to pick you up. There’s no way you’ll make it home like this.”

  I mumble my agreement into his shirt as Luka picks me up under my knees. I’ve never been carried by a man before. I’ve never even been this close to a man before. Even when we sparred, it wasn't like this. We would get close to each other and then jump away. But this. This was different. I feel safe. Taken care of. At home.

  The rocking and swaying of Luka’s arms calm me as I feel myself begin to doze. The click of his front door opening barely registers as he slams the door behind him with his foot. Soft leather encloses me as Luka carefully lowers me onto his couch. His warmth is beside me instantly as his hand trails through my long, tangled hair.

  “How are you feeling?” Luka whispers close to my ear.

  I snuggle in closer to him and I rest my head on his shoulder, scared to open my eyes and have to face what had just happened.

  “Can I get you a drink or something? Maxwell said you should eat. Do you want to lay down? You seem exhausted.”

  Luka continues to ramble, not giving me a chance to respond. His voice still shakes and his heart races beneath my ear. Granted, he just carried me home from the other side of Hollows Ground, but I feel there is more to his breathlessness. Fear?

  “Water,” I mumble just to give him something to do.

  Luka jumps off the couch and races into the kitchen. The refrigerator rumbles to life as ice clinks into a glass followed by water.

  “I grabbed you a chocolate bar, too. Maxwell said you should eat.” Luka gently brushes my hair from my face and hands me the glass, his eyes wide with worry.

  “Thanks.” The water cools me immediately.

  “What happened? Are you okay? What do you need?” Luka rambles once again.

  A quiet chuckle escapes me as I sip my water. I’ve never had anyone worry so much about me, at least not that I can remember. The crinkling of the candy bar wrapper catches my attention as Luka waves the bar in front of me.

  “Please eat this. He said for you to eat.” Luka waves the bar again.

  “I never turn down chocolate.” I smile and I grab the bar from him.

  “I’ll remember that.” Luka sighs as he finally relaxes into the couch, pulling me back into his side.

  As my mind wakes up from the sweetness of the chocolate I remember what put me into my current predicament in the first place. I felt death without seeing it. The death of someone close.

  “You okay?” Luka looks down at me. “Your whole body just shook.”

  I nod. “Just tired, I guess.”

  Luka’s fingers grasp my chin and force me to look up at him. His warm, chocolate eyes anchor me to him. Fear engulfs me.

  My eyes close at the realization of what's about to happen. Something I promised I’d never let myself have. I almost died when I lost Drina. The pain was too much. I couldn't stop it then and I can't stop it now. I may not survive the next time.

  I push Luka’s hand away from my face and scramble away from him, almost falling off the couch. Weakly, I pull myself to my feet and stare down at Luka. He looks hurt. Worn out. Confused.

  My fingers play with the hem of my shirt as I break eye contact. “I can’t. I’m sorry,” I breathe out before racing to my bedroom.

  The door bangs shut with a jolt of isolation. Alone. Darkness roots me to the bare floor in my room. I want nothing more than to run back into the living room and dive back into the warmth that is Luka. But I can't. Death still lurks within me. A promise of suffocation. The guarantee of the death of someone close to me. I fall to my knees in the middle of my room and drop my head to my chest. The floor bites into my knees but I ignore the pain. The physical pain is nothing compared to the pain of the truth.

  Someon
e in Hollows Ground will die tomorrow and there’s nothing I can do to stop it.

  The lull of silence is nothing but an illusion. Maxwell swears I can turn the noise off in my head, but he’s wrong. Anxiety and fear encapsulate each of my thoughts.

  “Your thoughts will never disappear, and neither will your visions. Your goal is to control when and where your visions hit you,” Maxwell explains.

  We’re back on the dock. A slight breeze ruffles my hair as Maxwell goes on about controlling my own mind. I blow out a long breath and count to five before inhaling slowly once again. We spent the better part of the morning going over how I can center myself. I need to get my head in the game before Luna runs out of patience.

  “You now know what to look for. The feeling you get before a vision. The pull within you.” Maxwell sighs. “You now need to learn how to open and close your mind. You can control when a vision is shown to you. You also have the gift to manipulate them, make them show you what you need to know. Look for a way to save one's life.”

  “Not always. There won't always be a way,” I mumble as I attempt to steady my breathing.

  “No, some deaths are beyond anyone's control. To have that type of power . . .” I can hear the rustle of Maxwell’s hair as he shakes his head. “If one possessed the power to control all lives—who would live and who wouldn't at all times—the terror they could instill would be endless.”

  The truth hits hard. “Maybe you can just show me how to turn off my visions for good. To keep my mind closed.” No power means no fear.

  “Mirela, look at me.”

  Blinking my eyes open, I shift so I can see Maxwell. His bushy black eyebrows furrow as his mouth take on a stiff expression.

  “Listen very carefully.” His tone is serious. “It’s impossible for you to turn your visions off. If you try, if you fight the visions . . .” He sighs and closes his eyes. “If you close your mind for good, your magic will rebel. Your magic will end up killing you,” Maxwell says softly.

  “I wish I was never given this curse,” I mumble.

  “You were given this gift for a reason; you now need to figure out why.”

  “Why do you think you were given yours?” I ask.

  “I’ve been able to save many lives in my time, and the ones I was unable to save, I was able to make it more peaceful for them. Not all death needs to be violent or painful.” Maxwell looks back over to me. “I have seen thousands of visions in my lifetime. I just hope I did right by them. I hope I made life a bit easier and even in death, I hope I was able to comfort them.”

  “But who made your life easier?” What I really want to ask is, who will make my life easier?

  “Helping those who can't help themselves made my life easier. By embracing my gift and not fighting it all the time, my life was easier. Meeting you, one with a similar gift, makes my life easier, and in turn will make my death easier. I know that all those around me will have you now to look after them. Your magic is strong and your heart is pure.” A tear rolls down his cheek.

  “You really think I will be strong enough to help people the way you did?” a weak breath escapes me.

  “Yes, I do.” Maxwell turns to me and grabs my hands. “Your heart is pure and many will want to use that against you. You must stay strong. Be on guard at all times. The Wraiths are evil. They will bring only harm to you.” His hands squeeze mine. “But the Shades aren't what they seem either. You must protect yourself, stay true to yourself, even with Luka. His heart belongs to the Shades. He will do what he must to keep them safe.”

  I listen carefully to each word Maxwell says. I want to disagree. I want to argue. But Maxwell speaks the truth and I know this. Deep down, I know I can’t even rely on Luka to protect me. At the end of the day, I am alone, just as I always have been. His warning about the Shades hits me hard. Luna, I knew I could never trust; but all Shades?

  “Back to your breathing. Your training days are numbered. I’m shocked Kasik allowed you this time at all.” Maxwell sits back in his chair and overlooks the water. “Your day will come soon. You will need to use all you’ve learned with your mind and your fists.”

  “What will happen if I fail?” Please don't say death.

  Maxwell sighs as he tilts his head my way. “You won't. Your mind is strong. When was the last vision you’ve had that you weren't prepared for? When was the last time the anxiety has crippled you?”

  “I felt something yesterday. A feeling―”

  “And yet here you sit. Perfectly capable of having a conversation with me. Did you see anything?” He raises his eyebrows at me.

  “No. But for once I want to,” I mumble as I exhale.

  “Then this is a death you are unable to save. Your mind is strong. It’s already begun to sort the visions for you. Now, back to work.” Maxwell waves his hand at me.

  How is that even possible after just a few hours of working with Maxwell? I have been plagued with constant visions for the past seven years and now I will only see the ones I can change? Shaking my head, I exhale and attempt to clear my mind. I need to focus, keep my mind sharp and open.

  “Good. Relax and feel your surroundings.” Maxwell interrupts my moment of silence. “You must center yourself each day. In the beginning, you may need to center yourself multiple times a day. Eventually, your mind will always be open. Your mind will be free. You will be in control.”

  Control. For once I believe in the possibility. My eyes crack open as I watch the smooth surface of the water. The purple sky reflects off it in a dazzling light show. I tilt my head back and take in the dark violet streaks that dart through the sky. My breathing is even and my mind is blank. A slight breeze blows my hair off my neck and with it the feeling of death returns.

  My eyes instantly turn to Maxwell. His hand is clutching his arm as his body goes rigid. A silent scream escapes his mouth as his eyes roll to the back of his head. Jumping to my feet, I race to his side as I scream for Luka. Just as I reach Maxwell, his body slumps out of his chair and he hits the dock with a thump.

  “Maxwell. Maxwell! Look at me. It’s going to be okay. Luka is coming. He will know what to do.” My mind races with possibilities. I know what's going on but I refuse to acknowledge it.

  “It’s okay.” Maxwell exhales. “Trust your heart, Mirela.” His fingers squeeze my hand. “You can't stop this.” His eyes close.

  Luka runs down the dock. “Ela. What’s wrong?” He skids to a halt right by Maxwell’s head and falls to his knees.

  Tears pour down my face with the realization that Maxwell is gone. His death could not be prevented. Luka checks Maxwell for a pulse as his glistening eyes meet mine. With a shake of his head, he confirms what I already know.

  Maxwell is dead.

  Magic permeates the air. Maxwell’s once quiet farm is now loud and chaotic. People are scattered around discussing who will be in charge of the farm as the healers attend to Maxwell’s body, preparing to remove him and bring him to wherever it is they bring their dead.

  The crops around us are already beginning to wilt as if they, too, mourn the loss of their father. I watch in amazement as a man not much older than myself attempts to cast a growth spell on the crops, but nothing changes. My eyes find the dock once again just as Maxwell’s body levitates into the air. With a wave of his hands, a healer guides him to the back of a truck where another shuts the doors behind him.

  “We have to get going.” Luka follows my eyes to the ambulance.

  “He knew,” I whisper as my eyes shut. “He knew he was going to die.”

  “Maybe.” Luka glances over at me. “Did you know?” His brows furrow.

  Deep down I did. I didn't need a vision. I knew it would be Maxwell that would to die. I had just refused to believe it.

  “Yes,” I exhale.

  “Why didn't you say anything?” Luka fully turns to me.

  “It wouldn't have mattered. I can’t save everyone.” I drop my head to my chest and stare at the ground. “Some deaths are inevitable.
I can only hope to make it easier.”

  Maxwell’s words make sense now. I can only hope to bring peace to those I can't save. As if I didn't already respect Maxwell before, I now did ten-fold. He knew his death was imminent and yet he chose to spend his last hours with me. Training me. Preparing me. Warning me.

  “Kasik has called for us. A fight is going on right now. We are needed. You are needed,” Luka explains.

  “I’m not ready.” I meet Luka’s eyes. “I’m not done training―”

  “I know.” Luka grabs my hands. “The Wraiths―” Luka pauses and squeezes his jaw tight. With a shake of his head, says, “We must go. You must try.”

  I sigh as I watch the ambulance leave, churning up dust as it drives down the dirt road. Each stalk droops just a bit more the further Maxwell gets.

  “Okay. Let’s go.” I owe it to Maxwell. He believes in me.

  Luka pulls me toward a garage on the other side of the house. “The farm is the farthest point in the North of Hollows Ground. Which means, lucky for us, there is an exit to the surface.”

  “Wait.” I plant my feet. “We’re leaving Hollows Ground?” I didn't think I would be allowed to leave anytime soon.

  “Many soldiers have already fallen. This will be your first test. Stay strong and do whatever Kasik says,” Luka says as he slides the old wooden door open.

  Cement walls welcome us. This exit or portal looks much like the last one. A large black hole fills the ceiling as Luka places us directly underneath it. His fingers find my chin as he tilts my head toward his.

  “Hold your breath. It will make it easier.”

  Wind encircles us, pushing me into Luka’s arms. I suck in a breath and close my eyes as my feet leave the ground. My fingers tangle in Luka’s shirt as I hold on for dear life. Air whips by us as we lift higher off the ground until darkness completely surrounds us.

  Something hard hits my feet as the air around us stops. I crack my eyes open and realize we’re standing in a small bricked room. Luka’s hand finds my chin once again and lowers his gaze to meet mine.