Empath Reborn: Hollows Ground, #3

By J.A. Culican

Secrets once buried with the dead are revealed. And even Ela doesn't see them coming.  

Talon now holds Ela's heart, even though she still mourns for Luka. His death taught her one thing. She needs to prepare for the coming war. She needs to learn how to harness her powers before the world is brought to its knees.  

With her parents in prison for treason, the threat of danger is a constant companion. Any moment, she could be seen as the enemy. Friends could become foes. Enemies could become allies.  

Her only option is to focus on her ability to steal magic. If she can steal enough, if she can glimpse enough death, she might discover a way to overcome the invisible enemy.  

But what her death omens reveal is something even she could never have imagined.  

She will fight anyone who stands in her way. She will save Talon. She will not fail again. 

Read in order: 

Book 1: Second Sight 

Book 2: Stolen Magic 

Book 3: Empath Reborn  

Book 4: Cursed Seer (Coming SOON)

• Language: English
• Publisher: J.A. Culican
• Release date: Feb 12, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386599357

J.A. Culican

J.A. Culican is a teacher by day and a writer by night. She lives in New Jersey with her husband of eleven years and their four young children. J.A. Culican's inspiration to start writing came from her children and their love for all things magical. Bedtime stories turned to reality after her oldest daughter begged her for the book from which her stories of dragons came from. In turn, the series The Keeper of Dragons was born.

Book preview

Chapter One

The beautiful, hilly scenery flashes by unnoticed as Talon drives us back to the home of the magical Wraiths, Mortals Landing. Which I guess is my home now, too.

Before I can stop myself, I blurt out, You've got to be kidding me.

I wouldn’t joke about that, Ela. Talon’s face is expressionless.

I sit stunned at his revelation. How could he have no magic? I can’t believe him, and although I look for any signs of deceit, he shows no tells that would give him away. In truth, though, I already know it’s no joke. Despite the fact that he has no magic power, they still allow him to stay in Mortals Landing. Even his mother, the queen of Wraiths, couldn't have broken that taboo, not unless he's telling me the truth: He once had magic, and the Shades, his mortal enemies, stole it from him. Specifically, Luna drained away his magic, long before I put her on the Shades’ throne.

You know, I say, the Shades will be my mortal enemies, too, if I join the Wraiths. That thought sends a chill down my arms.

As he pulls off one highway to enter another, he says, True. You may have dueled with Luna and her lackeys before, but she’s now the Shades’ ruler. If you join the Wraiths, her vendetta against you will become her peoples’, as well.

You should know, I reply. I’ve only been aware of this other, magical world for a short while. He grew up in it.

It seems to me that no one is quite so hated as a traitor to the cause. That’s how they’ll see you.

At the moment, although it’s a chilling thought, it isn’t at the top of my list of concerns. The afternoon Talon and I spent under the canopy of a magic tree opened me up to more than just an epiphany about life.

That revelation, however, is why I'm not willing to let myself be swept along by events, not anymore. I’ll no longer play the victim role. Talon?

Yeah?

"Tell me, how is it possible to lose your magic? You've taught me to drain people's energy, but that's a far cry from stealing it, much less stealing someone's magic."

Talon doesn't take his eyes from the road ahead. The winding mountain road that leads to one of the Mortals Landing portals is a bit treacherous at night. You'll get better at that. Soon, it won't just be their energy, but their gift as well. When that happens, you can steal someone's magic temporarily, but only if you take too much.

I have a hard time imagining the hulking, brooding warrior sitting next to me just standing still long enough for them to take his magic. I don't want to think about what they must've done to him to make that possible, much less how he must've felt. He had to have been bound, at the very least. Did he feel terror or rage? Both? I decide not to ask him about that, yet. Someday, though, I’ll want to know all there is to know about the man.

An idea begins to form in my head, but I push it away for later. I won't underestimate Luna, so I won't run off half-cocked again. This time, I’ll let the idea percolate for a while first. Then, something he said grabs my attention.

Temporarily? Exactly how long is ‘temporarily?’ You still don't have your gift back, whatever it once was. I cringe at being so blunt with him on a topic so clearly painful, but I need to know the truth and he has the answers I need.

Even in the dim light inside the SUV cabin, I can see the muscles in Talon’s jaw flexing over and over as he clenches his teeth. Just when I think he's not going to answer, which I half expect from Mr. Dark-and-Brooding, he lets out a long breath. I can't be sure but I think I see his shoulders slump a little.

If you go beyond merely draining their energy to restore yours, you’ll begin to siphon their magic, too. And if you keep going even after you have all the power you can hold and more… In the end, you can take enough to drain their magic permanently. Then, he snarls, raising his voice as he half-shouts, "That's what they did to me, damn them. I used to have incredible powers, but they took that from me long ago. I'll never forgive the Shades for what they did to me, or for what they did to my uncle."

Without meaning to, I flinch at the anger in his sudden outburst and Luka's memory, all mixed together. For just a moment, the image of Luka’s body pinned between a cage and its heavy steel-mesh door, his vacant eyes staring at me never to blink again, flashes through my head.

Sometimes, I wonder how many Shades will never forgive the Wraiths for their own versions of what I’ve been through. You know what I mean? Really, that’s no different than what you’re angry about. It’s no different than Luna’s hatred for me, in fact.

Talon takes his eyes off the road for a moment to look at me pointedly, and I'm not sure what I see there. Maybe he misunderstood my flinching, because next he says, Hey, you don't have to worry. When you first came with me, I told you that you'd be free to leave anytime you wanted. I meant it. If you feel the Shades are right and we Wraiths are in the wrong, I'll make sure you get back to Hollows Ground safely. I can't promise what Luna will do to you when you get there, but you have nothing to fear from the Wraiths for now, not while I'm around.

Then, it hits me, and I can see a part of what's been bothering me about making a choice between the two sides. Why is everything so black and white? If I become a Wraith, I inherit thousands of enemies. If I become a Shade, it's the same. But I’ve seen both sides, and there are good and bad things about both sides.

His voice cold as iron, Talon says, Ela, please do not ever make the mistake of comparing Wraiths and Shades again. We are nothing alike. There's nothing good about what they do, and their goals are evil. After what they did to all those Roma, and are still doing to them, how can you not see how different the two sides are?

I stick my tongue into my cheek and clamp my teeth down on it to keep from snapping back at him with my first thought, because some words can't be taken back. I can’t blame him for how he feels, given everything he's been through. I wish he understood that he's not the only one who has suffered tragedy from their never-ending war over control of the world, all because of their very different visions of what is for the greater good.

After a moment, I say, I didn't mean to upset you. I know you’ve been through more than I can even imagine. But you have to understand, I wasn't raised with this war and I didn't even know magic existed, outside of my own cursed power, until I met Luka. That wasn't so long ago.

He takes a deep breath, then he nods. I get that. But don't fool yourself. The fact that you weren't raised with the war doesn't give you some unique insights into the ones fighting it. It only means you haven't seen all the atrocities the Shades are happy to commit if it gets them closer to world domination. And as long as that's their goal, the Wraiths will be there to stop them, whatever it takes.

I bite my lip, worrying at it with my teeth, but I decide not to bring up Luka. He was a Shade and one of the best friends—hell, one of the best people—I’ve ever met. He is positive proof that I’m right and Talon is wrong, and the two factions are more alike than they can admit, especially to themselves.

Sometimes, I’ve learned, proving how right I am isn’t always the wisest course of action.

Chapter Two

Trusting Talon to live up to his word that he’ll keep me safe if I decide to join the Shades is stupid and I know it, but for some reason that I don't quite understand, I do believe him. I trust him. There are limits to trust, of course. I know that if he and I met in battle, I wouldn't have the heart to hurt him, and that, after growing up surrounded by this crap, he’s too brainwashed to say the same. He might get me to Hollows Ground safely, but if I were to get in the way of his mission later, I don't think he would do more than hesitate before attacking.

I doubt he’d even give me that much of a break. He's the ultimate kind of warrior, and when chaos hits, his training takes over. I've seen it. It's how he has survived as a warrior without magic in a shadow war ruled by magic and the fantastical abilities it grants. I hope I never have to face him in a fight, magic or no, but that’s out of gratitude, not because of any feelings I might have for him. I'm not yet sure how I feel. At least, I don’t think I do.

But I do know that in the course of our conversation, he’s brought up a lot of old scars for him, and he's hurting. With Talon, anger is a secondary emotion. Fear or pain, especially the emotional kind, get stuffed into the anger box. I guess rage is safer for a warrior than feeling vulnerable. Of all people, I know that best. You don't have to be a warrior to want to avoid anguish, especially for those of us who have had more than our fair share of it.

Hey, relax, I say, feeling his anger building to protect himself. From what, I don't know. It’s hard to believe it’s because of me. Maybe he fears I’ll judge him?

Whatever the reason, I feel compelled to at least try to make him feel better. This is just a conversation. You're a good man, Talon. No matter what you try to show the world, I see through the mask. I only meant that Shade fighters, the ones just following orders, they're only people like us.

He grunts but doesn't reply. At least he's not shouting anymore. That's a good sign. But, I'm not okay with leaving things like that, so I reach out and lay my hand on his arm, gently. Talon, I—

Something heavy smashes into my head, sending me reeling, and when I open my eyes again, I'm not in an SUV anymore, and I’m not looking out a window or at Talon I’m... somewhere else.

I'm in a room lit by amber-colored light. A fire roars in a stone fireplace, and near it, in the center of the room, there's a large, four-poster bed. An elderly man with a long goatee and short hair silver with age is lying on the bed. A slightly hunched old woman with long, gray hair stands beside him, holding his hand. Who is it? Who are they?

I peer at him, getting closer. There’s something familiar… That nose. Those cheeks. The shape of his eyes. I almost jump when I realize suddenly that it's Talon on the bed. Old? Then, the view grows clearer and I see that he and the woman holding his hand are surrounded by people of all ages, people I don't recognize. They're talking and laughing, as is Talon, but I have no doubt what's happening. He's dying.

Talon is dying, old and surrounded by friends and family. How is that possible? And this vision isn't like the others. With those, I sometimes feel a certainty with the ones I can't change, a tingling sensation in my brain that tells me the vision was fated. But usually, the view is hazy, as though smoke drifts between me and the person about to die. This vision, however, is crystal clear, and it feels powerful; the vision pulses like a heartbeat, each beat a thump to my chest.

With sudden concern, though, I remember the woman. Who is she? I have to know. It's a compulsion like I’ve never felt before, and I walk through the crowd. They don't see me. I come around the bed until I can see her face—and stop dead in my tracks. I know that face. Older, more wrinkles, but I see that face every morning in the mirror.

I stagger away, shaking my head. No, it's not possible. It can't be. This is a different death, but Talon's death was fated, unchangeable. And yet, something I've done already has altered his course.

This is what I wanted, and yet the realization is also terrifying. I can alter the world, with or without meaning to. It’s terrifying to think that I can change someone’s fate without even realizing it. That makes me danger to everyone around me.

But, how did I do it? In my head, a burst of speed sends my consciousness spinning like a vortex, confusing my mind—

I'm back in the SUV, clutching the panic grip over the passenger door with one hand and the dashboard with the other, staring blankly at Talon.

As my eyes focus on him, I hear him at last, his voice fading into focus.  … you okay, Ela? Answer me, dammit.

Before I can reply, he swerves onto the shoulder onto a place that overlooks a cliff. The space is just large enough for the vehicle, and as we skid to a halt, I freeze with fear that we’re going to go over the edge. I look dumbly at my right hand, which now holds a snapped-off panic grip.

Talon turns the SUV off and stares at me with narrowed eyes, challenging me. I’m fairly certain that I'm not going to be able to weasel my way out of answering him.

I'm… I'm okay, I lie. I'm so confused and frightened that it's the best I can come up with on the spot. Just—just a dizzy spell, that's all.

Did you see my death again? he asks. I don't know where he got that flash of intuition.

No, I stammer, still brain-foggy from adrenaline, fear, and especially confusion.

He grabs my arms with both hands, tightly enough that it actually hurts a little. Tell me, dammit. You saw my death again, didn't you? When will it be? He pauses for my answer, but I can still only stare blankly at him.

When is it? he roars. If I’m dying soon, I have a right to know!

In his eyes, there’s something intense, almost primal, and for the first time, I'm afraid of him. Or is it really him that I'm afraid of? I'm so confused. The image of old-me and old-Talon holding hands as he prepares to slip into death at a ripe old age... It won't let me go, clinging to my thoughts like a pit bull with a bone. And my feelings about it churn, shifting moment by moment.

I’m so confused...

I have to find out. What, I don't know, but something. The urge is so overwhelming that my eyes well over. My mind is a fog. My cheeks tingle, for some reason. And then, I find myself leaning toward him.

He moves his arm and leans toward me, like he's about to hold someone hysterical, to comfort me, but that tender gesture is too much for me. Before I realize what I'm doing, I lunge into him, and my lips find his.His lips feel like velvety marshmallows, and I can't believe how soft they are. Warriors are supposed to be hard. Rough. He is anything but that.

At first, he's startled and moves his head back, away from me, his gaze frozen on my eyes, but I need more. Something unlocks inside of me, like a vortex drawing everything around it into itself. I don’t even realize it when I grab his face with both hands and pull him back to me, my lips parting just a bit.

More...

Talon’s strong arms wrap around me, no longer pushing me away but crushing me, pulling me into him just as I was doing to him. A tiny moan escapes me and the dam breaks, and a boundary between us I didn't know existed is blown away in a moment. My thoughts move at the speed of light, too fast and too many to be anything but a jumbled mess, but right now, my thoughts are irrelevant. They’ll only get in the way.

I claw at him, grabbing his jacket, his neck, his hair. By the intensity of the kiss we are locked in, and by the way he presses me to him like he hungers to have as much of me touching as much of him as possible, I know he feels what I’m feeling. Frantic. Touching. Kissing. His hand trembles when he cups my cheek and jaw, but no more than my own hand snatching at his shirt, his hip, his shoulder...

He backs away and his shirt flies into the back seat. I pounce on him again with a frantic energy I can't control. No backing away allowed. As my tongue dances urgently with his. I swing one leg over him so that I face him as I sit atop his lap. My arms wrap around his head as his teeth find my neck, sending shivers of pleasure shooting across my shoulders, down my back, even into my toes. His hands grip my waist as he bites lightly, and bites again, and again, moving down my neck and to my shoulder. Someone growls, but I’m not sure who. I feel my shirt sliding up, and I don't care. I need this; his energy, his desire for me that I can't miss feeling, his touch.

More...

When he pulls away from my neck, I lunge at his face with mine instinctively, but then something happens. I can't kiss him. Why can't I...

Something holds me back. I feel a moment of total confusion, like the world around me is surreal, or rather, unreal.

More...

Some small part of my confused brain hanging around in the background whispers the problem to me through the carnal haze swamping my mind, and I realize Talon is pushing me away by my shoulders.

I clench my knees on his hips so he won’t be able to dislodge me if he tries. Then, I twist my upper body so that his hands slip off my shoulders, freeing me to dive for him again, hungry for more and more and all of him. I need him. For what, I’m afraid to admit to myself. My body knows what to do, though, and I swoop toward his face with mine like a hawk diving at a field mouse.

I need more...

He pushes me away again, hard, tossing me off of him and back onto the passenger seat. Painfully. He fumbles at the car door with one hand while holding the other out at me, hand bent upward, his palm facing me. I weave back and forth, a cat looking for the best way to