The Empaths (Book one in The Empaths series)

Chapter Twenty-One

Later that evening, after the tents were set up and the camp site was laid out, they all sat down around a warm, crackling fire, and talk turned to the months leading up to this very moment.

"You have all come so far in such a short amount of time," Scarlett said, her voice full of pride.

Sarah was moving around the group, handing out containers of food that she had prepared at the café. "I'm not at all surprised. I could tell from the very beginning that we were looking at a very talented group of young people."

"I'm so happy right now. I could just burst." Emily was sitting beside her daughter, buzzing with the same enthusiasm that Rachel usually displayed. "I'm just so proud of you all."

Rachel beamed.

"I think tonight should be about reflecting on how far you have all come and on all of the possibilities that lay ahead of each of you," Eden said as she rested comfortably against her husband. "Tonight, should be a time to relax and enjoy being here, in this place, with friends who have become family." Her eyes twinkled as her tears of happiness caught the light of the fire.

They were silent for a while, each of them staring into the flames, listening to the sounds of the night around them. Occasionally, Lucy could hear crunching under foot as an animal passed by in the darkness, but she was not afraid. She could feel the creatures out there in the forest, watching over them. It seemed as though they too, were gathered together to witness life coming back into a place that had been asleep for a long time.

She shifted her position so that she could lean against Tristan's chest. His long legs were bent up on either side of her, like a protective barrier against the world and as she shifted, he wrapped his arms around her, making her feel safe.

"Are you warm enough?" he asked and she nodded. The heat from the flames brushed against her skin, making her cheeks red.

Lilith was on the other side of the fire, fidgeting around trying to get herself comfortable. Riley sat beside her, playing with his phone.

"Why isn't this thing working?" he snapped, shoving the phone back into his bag.

Poppy laughed. "None of your gadgets are going to work here, Riley. This space is filled with the power from our world. It will block any and all signals in and out."

Riley looked horrified. "Does that mean that my computer and phone won't work in there?" He pointed toward the gates.

Once again, Poppy laughed. "No Riley, they won't. Nothing that requires a signal, anyway. No computer games, no internet, no phones." She made an expression of mock horror.

Riley was beginning to freak out, much to everyone's amusement. "WHAT?? NO! How the hell do you do anything?"

"It's alright, Riley," Eden interjected. Poppy was too busy laughing at her son's outburst. "We may not have the gadgets that you enjoy using here, but what we do have to offer will be far more exciting. I promise."

Riley settled a little. "Really? Like what?"

"You'll see," Eden said with a knowing smile.

"Oh, come on. Just a small clue?" Riley pressed, but Eden only shook her head.

"Don't stress, Riley," Lilith said as she smacked him on the shoulder. "I'm sure whatever it is, it will be interesting enough to keep you occupied."

Riley pouted a little, but he stopped asking questions long enough that another conversation started up about what it was like growing up in Eleos.

"What does it look like there?" Rachel asked her mother, who was still radiating excitement.

"Just think of all the most beautiful places in this world, put them all together in one place and then imagine it being a hundred times more spectacular," Emily answered, her gestures animated. "Eleos is so stunning that sometimes it's hard to take it all in."