The Empaths (Book one in The Empaths series)

Chapter One

"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born." – Anais Nin

An icy breeze bit into Lucy Owens' skin as she stepped out onto her front porch and into the morning air.

She watched as the sun began to rise over the mountains – each ray of light breaking free to graze its golden fingertips across the frozen lake.

It was the middle of winter, so her world was painted white with thick, fluffy powder, and she loved to watch as the warmth touched the trees, making the ice melt – tiny drops of water leaving little dents in the snow.

She wrapped her scarf tight around her neck and pulled her knitted beanie down over her thick, blonde curls before taking that first step off the porch, careful not to lose her footing on the slippery path.

Lucy loved this time of day. Everything was fresh and inviting. The air felt smooth, and the silence wrapped around her like a comforting blanket.

She lived on a large, remote property on the outskirts of a town named Blackwood, with her Aunt Scarlett and her twin brother Jared, and it was a place that she loved dearly – even if she hadn't at first.

It had been two years since they'd moved here, but after her parents were killed in a car accident, it had almost been a necessity in order for them to survive the grief.

Lucy remembered vividly asking her aunt why they had moved here. It had been such a random place to choose. There was no family history here, no connection to their past, but Scarlett had been adamant that it was where they were meant to go.

"Trust me," Scarlett had replied. "You're going to love it here, I promise." She finished with a wink before lightly patting Lucy on the shoulder and leaving the room.

At the time, Lucy didn't think to question how Scarlett could possibly know that they'd love it here. She trusted her aunt's word. But the casual wink had Lucy wondering if Scarlett knew more than she was letting on.

Now, two years later, as Lucy ran the path that wound around the base of the mountains, through the forest and out to the lake, she understood what her aunt had meant. Being outside, surrounded by the trees and the fresh air, she felt recharged. There was something about this place. Something about the vast space and the peace and quiet that was so much more appealing to Lucy these days. So much had changed in her the day her parents died, and this town, this place, seemed to provide exactly what it was that she craved.

She stopped and sat down on an old fallen tree that sat crookedly at the edge of the lake – its branches now trapped in the frozen water, and caught her breath. Without thinking, she placed her hand on the trunk beneath her and closed her eyes. She could almost feel its life ebbing away – the guttural sigh of an old man taking his last breath before accepting the inevitable.

It was a marvel to her, the way she was able to sense these things. Sometimes, she wondered if maybe the grief from her parents' death had made her go a little mad, imagining things that weren't there. For whatever reason though, it provided her with a small sense of comfort.

She took a deep breath and opened herself up to the world around her. Somewhere she could hear a trickle of water running down into the lake, and as she listened, she let the sound wash over her, allowing herself a moment of peace.

A rustling noise brought her attention back to the present, and she opened her eyes just as a rabbit darted across the pathway behind her before disappearing into the forest. She smiled and stood up, dusting herself off before starting back down the trail towards the house.