The Hollows Awakening

by Trina Bates

  Rhydian can sense her, smell her. His need for her is different than mine or Merrick’s. Merrick and I aren't shifters so we feel differently for her, not deeper or more, just different. We have made our own bonds and have solidified the broken pieces inside ourselves, because of her. She has healed us. Something deep inside me is tethered to that smart mouth sexy woman, and I’m grateful everyday for meeting her.

  The first time I touched her, I grabbed her wrist to move her back from some drunk asshole that was stumbling around everywhere, almost hitting her. Every nerve in my body was lit up like a live wire. I didn’t know who she was, but seeing this gorgeous woman about to be harmed, I couldn’t help but pull her out of harm's way.

  When I came in tonight, the same thing happened when I held her hand. Those sparks and tingles of electricity raced through my entire being. Exciting me and pulling me deeper into the spell she was weaving. The moment pregnant left her lips, complete and total elation, then came the fear. Merrick saved me from being the harbinger of shit news about half breed pregnancies.

  Before my family left me to rot in the streets, my mother was a powerful Witch when she became pregnant with me. One of my fathers is a Hollow. When I hadn't came in to my powers, my fathers couldn't handle the letdown and I was cast out. Not only did we lose my sister, but my mother passed not long after. A Witch with her own healing abilities, couldn't save not only my sister, but herself.

  How will any of us handle the loss of Mira’s child, or her? She might still be unknown to me, but her body and spirit already call to me. I can't hide what I am or what I feel, I don’t want to either. We’ll all do whatever it takes, good or bad, to make sure they are both safe. I’m not the only one that would be utterly wrecked if anything happened. Ebbin, Rhydian, Merrick. All of us.

  Thinking back, after the initial shock and pain of losing my mother, my fathers couldn't handle more loss, more devastation, I was a disappointment they didn’t need. They just packed up and left me. The house is mine, but I haven't been able to set foot back on the property since everything happened. I fled to the streets, trying to fight, and die. Hoping something would trigger my inner being. My second half.

  The night it happened will haunt me forever. Fourteen years old, I spit into someone's face. That one small act changed the course of my life for the better. After I had spit into this random man’s face, he kicked the back of my knees, making me fall to the ground. I was down on all fours and utterly humiliated. I was dirty and smelled terrible. I had lost so much weight, the strength I should have had to protect myself was gone. I wanted to die and I was willing to starve myself to do it. I was already tall by that time, a sure way to catch anyone's ire and let it be known that I was not only alone and Other, but powerless as well.

  My eyes were a dull green, not yet bright and full of life, and my hair was stark white. That was the second thing that set me apart, painting a target on my back. When a Hollow saw a weak Other, they always took advantage and try to bring them down a peg or two. I get it, I do. We came in and took over their world. They’re dying out while we are thriving. I don't blame them, nor do I hate them even though most Hollows hate us. Guess we’re lucky Mira isn't like one of them.

  After the first kick when he dropped me, I looked into his eyes and spit. A backhand to the face and I was down in the dirt again. My anger at being bested by a Hollow is what drove me to fight back. I might have wanted to die, but not like this. I wanted to go out with some kind of honor. My family were a strong and feared people. They never backed down and I wanted to show the mother I lost, that I was just like her. I would fight till the end. I wanted to hurt him and that's exactly what I did. Pulling myself up off the ground, he called me all the names in the book he could think of while slapping me around. Strangely the word that did it was Unwanted. The rest went in one ear, and out the other. ‘Unwanted’. That's exactly what I was though, what my fathers made me.

  The anger that had been rising in my gut was seeping into my entire being, it finally took over. Pulling his hate, the Hollow that was beating me, and his rage into myself, fueled not only my own feelings of rage but fed my power. Pushing into him with both hands, he flew away, flying in the air ten feet away from me he fell to the ground limp. I was shocked, thinking someone else had done it, but looking down the street and seeing nothing and no one either way. I walked up to him only to find his chest completely gone. From his collarbone to his hips, everything was shredded, and gone just a giant hole that used to be his chest. The fear of being caught hit me hard, so I took off down the street heading for where, I had no idea. I just knew I need to get the hell away. Looking back one more time at the mangled mess of a man, I was still running and I ran straight into someone, knocking the both of us to the ground.

  “What the fuck! Get off me you pervert! I swear, if you don't get off me now, I’ll call for the Hounds, you disgusting Other!” The shrill angry voice of a female assaulted my ears angering me again. The woman’s face was contorted in anger, her glare aimed at me while she raised her fists like she was going to hit me. Her mention of the Hounds had the dread pushing its way back in. No way in hell was I going to let her up and have me killed or who knows what from the Hounds. That’s what would happen. An Other killing a Hollow is a big no-no, the biggest rule of our kind. Of course it happened, but not in cities like this.

  Pulling yet again at the anger I felt inside of her, I was about to lash out when two bodies crashed into me from either side. With my arms pinned, struggling and yelling was all I could do. It was pointless, but fight or flight was all my body seemed to register at that point.

  “Calm the fuck down. We saw what you did, you're like us. Just stop and let us help you before this gets any worse! We aren't going to hurt you.” Those were the first kind words I had heard in almost a year. Later he would tell me his name was Rhydian.

  I didn't stop. This Hollow was now going to get him and his friend in trouble too. I couldn't risk that. I closed my eyes and kept struggling. I had to get free and take care of the bigger threat that was right in front of me.

  “Look, kid, you need to stop, breathe. She isn't a threat to any of us. I'm going to talk you through something, but you have to listen. Do exactly as I say, okay?” I looked over to my left, brilliant silver eyes stared right at me. The intensity of his gaze startled me. I stopped fighting then, and waited for them to tell me what to do next. They said I was like them. Maybe they really did know how to make this better, and how to make my magic listen to me, instead of controlling me.

  “I want you to hold her hand. You feed on pain, hate, and anger, but you can also turn those things into something good.” The man with the silver eyes said. Puzzled, but not wanting to let the two people that had just saved me down, I listened and took her hand in mine. She struggled against Rhydian who was now holding her from behind and tried to pry her hands out of mine. I didn't let go.

  “Close your eyes, push into her mind. Simple way, think of her forehead and push. Sounds stupid as hell but that's how I’ve heard it said before,” I couldn't help the snort that left me at his words. I tried to clamp my hand over my mouth but was too late. Not only had he heard, his silver eyes were boring into me, making me shrink under his intense gaze. I quickly looked to the ground. He didn't say anything or reprimand me, he just kept talking. “When you're there, I want you to calmly but firmly push harder, and tell her to forget the last ten minutes. When you feel her mind dull, it's done. You can release her and come back to us.” Looking over to him like he was nuts, with wide eyes and my mouth hanging open, I was at a loss for words. Seeing my mother do this, it was possible, though nothing was explained to me at the time. I didn’t know how to do the things she did, I just got to watch her train a few times. Being new to all of it makes me doubt I could do this at all. Merrick, I would later find out is his name, had only confidence in his gaze and nodded once for me to listen and try what he had asked.

  Staring at the woman’s forehead, I did as he as
ked and pushed. I closed my eyes in concentration. When I connected with her mind, it felt like a void, like I shouldn't be here. I was intruding on someone else's private thoughts and I could feel it, her mind fighting back, trying to get me to leave. She even tried to push back, push me out. I could hear her yelling in my head to leave. She knew what was about to happen since it was explained right in front of her, so I tried harder.

  When I finally found the calm of her mind, where she was unable to push me away, I asked her to forget what she had seen, forget any of this had happened. Her mind, surprisingly quickly, accepted what I asked of it, and I could feel she was forgetting already. I opened my eyes as I pulled out of her mind. I looked around, and both the of the Others were standing over me. I stood between Merrick and Rhydian, looking down at the woman I just about killed, I offered her my hand. “I'm so sorry, I didn't see you there, are you alright?” I asked as I looked to Rhydian and Merrick with confusion and surprise. My eyebrows were pulled down and my lips were pursed and to the side, I started to chew on my inner cheek when I saw the woman come to in front of me.

  With a bewildered look on her face, she looked over to the three of us shaking her head and placing her right hand over her temple to try and ease a pain that I must have caused. “Yeah, I'm alright, must have hit my head. Thank you.” She didn’t take my offered hand. We watched her gather her things and walk away.

  The rest is history after that. We haven't left each other since. They are my family. They accepted me from that day, with no questions, just kindness in their hearts. They even found me other Warlocks to train with and learn from. I still don't know the full extent of my abilities. I still feel a part of me is missing but I’ll learn in time.

  Stepping closer to the open door where Ebbin and Mira are, I catch the tail end of the best conversation, I have heard all night. “I also called Lyra, don't get mad. I know you hate her, but she can help us.” Lyra is a well-known healer in this area. Ebbin already made the arrangements to get Mira seen. This would make things much easier. I can work alongside her, giving Mira some personal protections, as well as cast a few of my own over her body. Knowing we’ll now be able to find out what the child is? Instant relief.

  Mira:

  Turning to head back in the house, I nearly walk right into Rhett.

  “Eavesdrop much,” I tease, as I give him a quick hug, feeling lighter and in better spirits after the talk Ebbin and I just had.

  “Any chance I can get,” he grins showing me his pearly whites while his eyes twinkle with the mischief hidden inside.

  Ebbin pats him on the shoulder and walks to living room. I follow him, with Rhett close behind.

  “Are you hungry or thirsty? Is that why you were in the kitchen or were you really just trying to sneak in and listen?” I laugh lightly at my own words. Hopefully it’s enough that he knows I’m just teasing him.

  “I was hungry, but it can wait now that you're back. There are more important things than food. Only a couple things, but I'll let this one count,” he jokes back bumping my shoulder with his much larger one. He’s so tall he has to lean down to do it which makes me smile brighter in the dimly lit hallway.

  “Mira is always first. Food is second. If you're hungry, go grab a bag of chips off the counter, I left some salsa by it earlier,” Ebbin says, his voice deep, but calm and low. I can’t see his face, but he sounds genuine, not angry or annoyed that Rhett was there when we came back inside. Rhett slaps Ebbin’s shoulder and heads back to the kitchen to grab the chips.

  Rhydian is still in his same spot on the couch. But looks slightly uncomfortable. His forehead is beaded with sweat and his hands are tightly clenching the cushion he’s sitting on. Merrick, standing in front of the double bay windows, with his large arms clasped behind his back and he’s swaying to some silent tune only he can hear. He looks adorable. Clapping my hands as loud as I can, I garner their attention, and a scowl from Merrick, who obviously is caught unaware.

  “Alright boys!” I exclaim loudly, while I rub my hands together and take a spot, standing behind the couch. “Let's get this over with. No, I didn't talk to Ebbin about us all getting cozy, but what we can all agree on, is that we’re all okay with this,” I say gesturing to my belly. “You want to be there and Ebbin and I are fine with that. This relationship or whatever it is, or can become, will be taken one step at a time. I'm done with what I have to say, does anyone have anything they want to add or does anyone have any questions? I feel like I'm a fucking professor and I hate giving lectures. So hurry up, if you have something to ask, do so now.” I push my shoulders up and slide my hands into my pockets, stand there, waiting for someone to say something. No one says anything for a few seconds, and I start to bite my bottom lip getting a little nervous at the silence.

  “Not much has really been said. I mean we know what's kind of going to happen, you want to be there? You can be. You want to make a suggestion? Go ahead but it doesn’t mean it’s going to happen. Don’t push anything on her or me. We have to do this as a team. When we find out what the baby is, no one gets pushed out. If one of you ends up being the dad, get it through your head, I will be one too. I’m not going anywhere.” The finality in Ebbin’s tone brokered no response from anyone. They all just smiled at him. His words proving his place in my life, that he is beside me, and will back any decision I make. I couldn't have said it better, or smiled wider when I looked to him and saw the soft smile playing on his own lips and the way his eyes sparkled in the light. I don’t think I can love him anymore than I do right now, in this moment.

  Rhett, now standing beside me behind the couch, I didn’t even notice him come back in. He elbows me in the side. Granting his need for attention, I peer up at him. I can't help the giant smile that takes over my face. I look to all the men in the room and start to giggle. The rest of the men all look at me like I have gone completely mad as I put my hand over my mouth and bend forward from the fit of laughter that is overtaking me.

  “Look at Rhett, you knob gobblers,” I say as I gesture towards his face where he has salsa not only on his chin but also on his fucking forehead! “I can’t help it. He's so innocent!” The next bout of giggles rushes out of me, and I hear a few of the other join in as well, I can barely see out of my tear filled eyes, as I look back up to Rhett who is trying to get the salsa off but also smiling.

  “Man, I get the chin, I do, but how the hell did you get it on your forehead? I can't even begin to guess,” Ebbin says as he joins in on the fun. He is gesturing to Rhett’s face and sucking in both his lips trying not to laugh.

  Rhett is looking at us all, still trying to wipe the salsa away. He got it off his chin, but after the fourth attempt to find it on his forehead, and missing, I decide to give him a hand. I walk up to him and wipe it off with my thumb licking my fingers after I’m finished. The heated look he turns on me has me second guessing my actions but wishing I could do it again.

  Seeing him so riled after such a simple thing, my mind didn't register what my body has done until it’s too late. With my lips on his, Rhett stands stock still for a minute before it registers with him, that I initiated this. That it’s okay to touch me back. With one hand on my lower back, his other reaches up and fists in my hair. Without pulling, he holds it tight and pulls me flush against his chest. My tongue caresses his closed lips and in answer, he opens himself to me, and kisses me with a fervor I didn't know he possessed.

  Someone clears their throat and a blush takes over, as embarrassment flows through me. I turn sheepishly to the men in the room. Merrick, who stood up at some point, has taken his sweater off. Muscles bulging through the thin material of his t-shirt, he has a hand over his mouth and one brow raised in confusion at my actions. Ebbin is shaking his head while he looks at his shoe with a smile playing on his lips, lips that I am having a very hard time staying away from right now. Rhydian, being the one that cleared his throat, is walking over to Rhett and me.

  Before I can say or do anything, he grabs me awa
y from Rhett’s arms and pulls me into him, we fall backwards onto the couch and roll until my chest is against him and his mouth has overtaken mine. He isn't slow with his kiss, he’s brutal, fast and possessive. I’m ready and waiting for what any one of them is ready to give me.

  If Ebbin minds, he would have said something.

  Rhydian lets me push him onto his back so I can straddle him. Adjusting so my legs are encasing his, I can feel all of him. The delicious pressure building between my legs from us both gives me the push I need to take off my own shirt. I need the feel of his hands on me, everywhere and anywhere. Without hesitation, he obliges. As he sits up to take off my bra, I feel how much he wants me. The evidence apparent when he pokes me in the stomach with it.

  “Alright look, I really want to kick myself right now, believe me, I want nothing more than to have this go on. We need to get back on track. Not sure if you all forgot, we still have five other guys in the house that can walk out on us at any moment. I'm sure they have families they would like to get back to at some point tonight, which means I need you to follow me home, Ebbin. The sooner that happens, the sooner you get back here to your delicious fucking woman.” Merrick is about to get kicked right in the balls for stopping that!

  But he's right, and I honestly did forget about the boys.

  Pulling myself off of Rhydian, I grab my shirt and throw it at a smirking Rhett. Before I can get up to get something a little more comfortable to wear, Ebbin is handing me my long nightshirt. When the hell did he gone to get that? He didn’t want to stay and watch? Slamming down my dirty thoughts and needs, with my body now covered, I look to Ebbin. Seeing nothing on his face that would make me think he's angry in any way puts me at ease and I was able to take a deep breath while I smiled to myself, thinking how utterly delicious Rhydian really is.