The Empaths (Book one in The Empaths series)

Chapter Sixteen

"Alright everyone, we've agreed to meet three times a week together to start training, correct?" Eden stood at the head of her dining table, confirming what had taken several hours for everyone to decide upon.

"Once we have a handle on what we're doing, we're free to train alone, right?" Riley was sitting in front of his laptop, taking notes.

"I really wish you'd leave that at home," Poppy grumbled from beside him.

"Mom, honestly, now is not the time. This," he waved a hand at his computer, "is how I learn."

Poppy shook her head.

"To answer your question, Riley," Eden interjected, "yes, as soon as we know you're not going to draw on too much power and burn yourself out, you can train on your own."

"Awesome," Riley replied, typing away.

Lucy managed a sideways glance at Tristan. Their jaunt into accessing their power at the lake had not been mentioned again, and they all agreed that it would be best that their parents never found out. At least for now.

"Okay. We'll meet back here on Sunday to begin training," Eden said, clapping her hands together. "Now, who would like a drink?"

The adults quickly left the table, eager for a beverage to calm their nerves, leaving their children alone to talk among themselves.

"Did you get all that down, Riley?" Lilith asked as she stood up and walked along the table to sit beside him.

Riley nodded, still typing.

It had been a long meeting, in which they were warned, several times, not to access their power without their parents. They were to meet every Sunday and Wednesday evening and then on Saturdays at lunch to train as a group. They were to train with their families every other night for at least an hour.

Lilith snuck a peek into the sitting room where their parents were all grouped around the bar to make sure they weren't listening. "So," she said, looking across the table at Tristan and Lucy, "Yesterday was a big no no then?" Her blue eyes were wide.

"Technically, yes," Tristan answered, looking somewhat guilty. "I probably should have been a little more careful with you guys."

"Well, considering we could have died," Lilith answered as she leaned on the table in front of her.

"I'm really sorry," Tristan said. "I guess I'm used to my brother. It's easy to forget when I'm around you guys that you've never actually used your power."

Riley slapped his laptop shut. "Don't stress man. It's fine. We're fine."

Lilith looked at Riley and shook her head.

"Hey," he said, holding out his hands, "our parents chose not to tell us about this stuff. Tristan was just trying to do the right thing by actually showing us. I'm certainly not going to hold that against him."

Lilith rolled her eyes. "Still. We need to be more careful."

"Pfftt, whatever," Riley replied.

"Lilith's right, Riles. This is serious," Lucy intervened. "I nearly drew on too much of the power the other night and I blew Scarlett across our front lawn, it's far too easy to do. You don't even know it's happening until you've taken on too much."

Riley sighed. He stared at his closed laptop for a moment, his expression blank. "Fine," he finally said. "Sorry Lucy." He picked at a sticker on his computer. "I just want to know, that's all."

"We all do," Lucy replied. "No-one is more eager to learn than me, but it's important that we're careful."

She didn't miss the nudge under the table from Tristan. She knew how hypocritical she sounded, considering the last couple of mornings, she and Tristan had been running together and channeling their power by the lake. But she had spoken with Scarlett about it, and Scarlett had said that as long as they were being careful, then they could keep training together. Mostly because what Tristan was teaching her was how to center herself. Controlling their emotions was a huge factor in being able to channel their power.