Empath

Chapter 4 - House Hunters

It was still dark when I woke up. The shades were drawn but I could see that there was no light peeking through. Not realizing where I was or even more, who I was with, I tried to turn over to my side. My body felt heavy, as if there was a weight on top of me and I heard nothing in my mind. No feelings or voices. No images of other people's dreams and nightmares. The constant pain behind my eyes that has become my abhorrent companion over the years was a dull and almost non-existent twitch. I almost doubted my consciousness, if it wasn't for the soft breathing of another person in the bed with me.

It all came rushing back to me when I looked down and saw Lucas's face nestled into the side of my head. His arm rested across my chest and his one leg over my two. The heat of his body was blazing against my skin as if I were out in the sun on a cloudless summer day.

A compromising position at best but glorious as his shields kept the noise at bay. Something I haven't ever experienced waking up to.

I lied still trying to determine what Lucas was dreaming about. The shield he was providing me was strong but his own shield was relaxed for once. Slowly entering his mind, it was dark, cold almost. Shadows of grey surrounded my mind as I gradually explored. I felt isolated in this realm. Abandoned. Moving in deeper I was struck with immense feelings of regret and desolation. There were images flying at me from all angles, nothing I could make out at the speed they were sending themselves. A woman, a man, children playing in a field, a farmhouse, a dog, fear, shadows, isolation all flooded me at once. It was too much. I blocked him out quickly needing to leave the suffocating feeling that had taken over me. Being an empath meant that not only could I see thoughts and feelings of others, I could actually feel them. They affected me almost as much as the person I was exploring. It's very difficult to control and there were times that other people's feelings ended up taking over my own.

I quietly reached over for my phone to check the time. 6am. Too early to be awake, too late to go back to sleep. Worst. Time. Ever.

Gently removing Lucas's arm and leg from my body, I turned to his face noticing him stirring in his sleep. I sent him a quick sleep command sending him back into a gentle slumber. I didn't think I could handle the half naked boy awake so early in the morning, especially after seeing his mind in its current state of dread. His face was calm, relaxed and content, completely different from what I saw within. His stark features almost soft in the low glow of my phone light. He was beautiful. I almost wanted to touch him... but didn't. Disappointed at my train of thought, I slowly got out of bed, threw on my Uggs to keep my feet warm and walked to the door. After struggling with the lock and sending Lucas another sleep command, I walked down the stairs hearing nothing but the drone of the refrigerator and the dreams of annoying frat boys and one very excited girl. I tried to shield my own mind so I would get some rest from the noise as I walked up to the refrigerator opening it in the dark to see what they had to offer.

Bottled water. A godsend. I grabbed a bottle and downed it quickly sitting down at the small kitchen island. A coherent thought ventured into my mind indicating someone was awake in the house. Reaching out through my mind I assessed it was Jason and sent him a good morning.

'Hey Baby Girl, what are you doing up so early?'

I sent him an image of breakfast food and then heard him laugh from upstairs. He shuffled down to the kitchen and leaned into the doorway. "So, you're hungry again, huh?"

I nodded.

"Some things never change," he laughed and started towards the freezer. "We have frozen waffles and sausage. Sound good?"

I smiled.

"So talkative in the morning Liv," he responded sarcastically.

"I need coffee." I grunted getting up from my seat and walking towards the coffee machine. I filled the water and started opening cabinets to find the coffee. My brain was in pain with all the noise in the house and the throb behind my eyes was coming back with a vengeance.