Empyreal: Awaken - Book One Read Online Free PDF Page A

cover the earth beneath the lifeless
bodies.
    She turned around wanting to run away,
but her thriving adrenaline was gone. She tried to take a step
forward, but she could feel herself slipping into darkness – then,
all of her surroundings began to fade around her.
     
    * * * * *
     
    “ Kate – ?” Cal called out,
entering the kitchen.
    “In here, Dear.” Kate called back.
“Did you check on her?”
    “She's fine, Honey, don't worry...”
Cal answered her, watching her nervously scrub the already clean
sink.
    “But you know that I do ... I can't
help it. And don't act like you don't worry...” Kate turned around,
facing Cal across the island bar that centered the
kitchen.
    “Of course, I worry ... she's my
little girl ... but, I have to admit, this is the one time
that I don't worry about her...” Cal said, as he took a seat
on one of the bar stools.
    She walked toward him, closing the
space between them. “Not even a little ...?” Kate questioned, as
she placed her hands on the counter top of the bar.
    Jokingly, squishing his fingers
together, he said, “Well, maybe a little … Kate, she's my little
girl, too ... and though she is growing up ... I always worry about
her,” Cal said, then adding a smirk. “With that said, even though
I'm always in a state of worry over our daughter’s safety and
well-being. These times, these scenarios … these are the ones that
I don't worry so much about ... she’s a Natural and she’s
Protected.”
    “I know she's a big girl, Cal ... she
doesn't let a day go by where she doesn't verbally remind me of
that ... and that's what brings me to say this...” she paused for
only a moment to gather her words, “Cal, Honey, I really think that
it's time we talk to her ... I think, no, I know, that it's time
that she knows ... It’s time that she knows the
truth...”
    Cal sighed, not wanting to admit it,
but knowing his wife was right. “Kate, I'm not sure – I mean, she's
doing fine and I'm afraid it'll mess things up for her ... afraid
that she –”
    “... will be angry with us?” Kate
finished her husband’s sentence, looking up at him with sincere
eyes.
    Looking down, Cal continued, “Maybe
... but, it's not just that … What if she's not ready?”
    “You know that she is ... she has
always been ready...” she said, as she laid her hands on his
shoulders. “You know that I worry about her on a constant and
continuous basis, but I feel that we are doing her an injustice by
keeping this life from her.”
    “But we had agreed ... this is what
was best for her.” Cal started to argue defensively.
    “But that was then...” Kate said, with
a calmingly, genuine, heartfelt voice.
    Cal exhaled a heavy sigh, as Kate
continued.
    “You know, as well as I, the others
her age already know what to expect and have already been –” but
her words were cut off by Cal.
    “I know, Kate...” Cal said in a low
voice.
    “So, are we agreed?” Kate
asked.
    “Yes, we are agreed...” Cal spoke low,
as he reached to his shoulder to touch his wife's hand for
reassurance. He turned around on the kitchen bar stool, hugging her
close to him. “But let's get through tonight, okay ... then we'll
find a good time to sit down and talk with her.”
    “Okay...” she said, sealing their
agreement with peck on her husband’s lips. “Are you sure she was
okay?” Katelyn said, barely backing away.
    “Yes, of course I'm sure ... besides,
I am certain that I would have been notified of anything different.
She'll be fine...” he said to his wife, with assurance.
    “Well, just until … I mean, once she
knows, it won't be necessary, but do you have plans for –” Kate
stammered nervously.
    “Yes, I have everything ready ... just
in case of emergency...” Cal said.
    “I'll just be glad when all of this is
over...” Kate sighed, trying hard to shake her nerves, but still,
she was unsuccessful.
    “Kate, you do realize that once she
knows, it won't just be over … There will be