Forever in the Past and Forever in the Future

“So, she’s just gonna go...prepare to die?” Tyree asks, looking down the hall after Cora.

“Essentially, yeah,” I frown, “Then I give birth to her.”

All he can do is shake his head in disbelief. I leave him and go to Amari's door. We greet each other with a smile when she opens it.

“Kas! A-are you oKay? You look like you've been crying,” she pulls me into her room.

“I just said goodbye to Cora,” I feel my lip tremble but remind myself what Cora said. It is temporary. I swallow back the lump in my throat, “Amari, I have a question about something you said to me.” '

“Of course, darling. What is it?” She pulls two chairs and we sit down at the kitchenette table.

“The other day, you said I was an energy vampire. Lex said it's a slur, but what is it exactly? I have never heard of it before,” Iask calmly.

“Oh, that. Well, yes, Elexis is right. Itis a slur these days. I shouldn't have said it. The more politically correct term is energy empath,” she places her hands on the table as she explains, tapping her fingers lightly, “Traditionally, an empath absorbs emotions of people around them. A lot of empaths don’t realize it’s even happening. They have to learn to control the absorption, otherwise they become overwhelmed, angry, or even depressed trying to manage emotions that are not even theirs.”

“I've heard of an empath. So what is the difference between a traditional empath and an energy empath?” “Energy empaths don’t absorb emotions, Kas. Someone like you absorbs another being’s actual essence, abilities, or mysticism. If you're not careful, you could drain them of everything.”

I wait for her to say more until I realize there is nothing more for her to say. A spark ignites in my heart as I comprehend what she’s saying. I have another weapon in my arsenal.

“So, not that I would, but I could...kill someone by draining their energy?”

“In theory, yes. I don’t know if that has ever happened, though. Energy empaths are extremely rare. Ina normal case, it's their only ability. As you know, you are not a normal case. I don’t know what could happen,” she shrugs with a sympathetic frown, “In other lifetimes, you would use this ability nefariously. That's not the case right now. I have never seen you this compassionate before.”

This information is more powerful than she realizes. She doesn’t know I have the abilities of the other Mavri Magea, too. I wonder how much energy I can absorb at one time? What effect would it have on me? How long does someone else's energy last? I put the questions aside at risk of sounding too eager.

“Do you think if I absorb someone's energy, they could recover?”

“Hmm, in typical cases, yes. I don't think an energy empath can absorb enough energy to prevent the victim from being able to regenerate. In an extreme case, it would leave the victim as a shell of themselves. I don’t see how they could come back from a major energy drain.”

“Amari, please help me remove the silver from Bronx’s liver. He already agreed to let me try. I'm worried I won't be able to do it with the energy I have. Not after how draining it was to create an eye for him,” I hold my breath, waiting for her answer.

She sits back in her seat, hands still on the table, and looks up at the ceiling. After what seems like an eternity, she looks at me again.

“If at any point I feel like it’s becoming dangerous, I'll stop immediately. I have to trust you blindly, Kas. You don’t remember your past lives, but I do. I love you, darling, but I have hundreds of reasons to not trust you,” she says resolutely.

promise I won't hurt you, Amari. You don't know how much this means to me. Thank you so much,” my heart beats harder. “You're welcome, Kas. We're leaving tomorrow, so it needs to be this afternoon. I think this healing is best suited to happen in the hospital wing, just in case,” she

yes. Agreed. I'll contact the hospital staff right away,” my words spill out like water from a fire hose as I throw my arms around her ina crushing hug, “Thank you so

she chuckles, patting my arm

her a happy peck on the cheek and show myself out. Bronx

got good news,” I say in a sing- song tone,

suite tentatively, “Oh, she will, huh? Wow, that'’s...uh, that's great, Kas. Um, when is

for safety, of course. Oh my Goddess, I'm so excited. Aren't you excited?” I feel myself going a mile a minute, but! can't help

with a tentative smile. He rubs his hand on the

to change the subject, when I see he is not as accepting of the idea

give us a minute?” he motions with his head for Tyree to give

he bows

we walk down the hall, I look back to see

stay. Katherine says she supports it, but I think that is just what she is saying. I don't think she supports

just healing you. I'm going

kiss and he sends me on my way while he goes to check in with Carly about some MasonCo

kk

Bronx’s POV

I feel like a freak show,” I murmur in her ear,

being there, Lenora, Milo, Ashley, Reggie, Katherine, Tessa, two doctors, and two nurses are in the room too, just

be fine. They're here because they care about you,” Kas smiles as she helps me take my shirt off. I growl in frustration as she

Sweetheart,” Kas gently pushes on

“ Bronx, I won't mince words. Extraction hurts. The fact we're dealing with cursed silver, well, it's probably going to hurt a lot worse coming out than it did going

nod to the ceiling. I can’t look at anyone and lose my concentration right

You need to be awake, Bronx. If you pass out, we will have to stop. We need your feedback in case

my face, * Wonderful. Wide awake, got it.

that time drunk rogue Alpha tried to kill us?” Saint asks.

dryly, “It is cursed silver

it that way when I promised

alright? See how many people are here?

before he huffs at me. I feel his strength bolster as I let myself look at Kas and Amari, “ Let's

two of them before Kas turns to me and places both hands on my midsection over the

It’s so bright, I'm forced to squint. A searing heat builds in my abdomen. The pressure of Kas’s hands becomes more sensitive as

the heat turns into a focused pinpoint area. Saint paces in my mind while I feel sweat dripping from

know how much longer I can hold out.”