The Apotheon Awakening (The Apotheon Trials Book 1) by Arya White

Author:Arya White [White, Arya]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction, Teen & Young Adult Sci-Fi Action & Adventure
Publisher: Swift Readers Publishing
Published: 2021-01-28T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

I giggle despite myself, my grip tightening on Novid’s hand. “What is that?” I say.

Novid joins me in my laughter. “I saw it in an archaic hologram about domesticated animals in the Common Era,” he says. “Isn’t it strange?”

My eyes are closed, and I watch the distorted image in his mind. It’s an old memory, blurry, but I can still make out the strange little animal trotting around in Novid’s head. It looks small – not even as tall as my knee – and is extremely furry. It makes a small, squeaking sound, and waves its tail in the air in an absurd manner that nonetheless makes me smile.

“Come on, Novid,” says Hannabeth, but there’s laughter in her voice, too. “This is supposed to be training for Deb’s power, not a history lesson.”

The image vanishes, and I let go of Novid’s hand. Hannabeth leans forward against her desk, watching us with interested eyes. “All right,” she says. “Now, let’s take it a step further. You’re doing well with seeing details in Novid’s thoughts, Debrael, but you still need physical contact. Next, I want you to try and feel Novid’s emotions again, without any contact.”

I feel a little daunted. “How will I do that?” I ask.

“Well, it’ll be a similar process to what Reuchar has been showing you with connecting to an animal’s nervous system,” says Hannabeth. “Reach out with your mind. Even a flicker will be good progress.”

I feel a pang of nervousness in my gut, remembering all the times I’ve tried to connect with an animal. It’s never worked, and each failure frightens me more and more as the Trials loom. “All right,” I say, but I’m afraid.

Novid gives me an encouraging smile. “Start with your breathing exercises and meditation,” he says. “Take your time.”

I nod, close my eyes, and start running through the exercises that have become second nature over two weeks of daily training with Reuchar. They calm my mind, and when I feel my focus grow deep and sharp, I slow my breathing still more and engage my senses. Cool air. The hum of Hannabeth’s hologram projector. The faint smell of detergent. Now I reach out with what Reuchar calls a sixth sense, our psychic ability, but it feels so strange without the contact of another person’s hand on my own.

My heart starts to thump faster, and I struggle to maintain my breathing exercises. I feel like I’m back in the pod with Behab and the rats. Find it! Don’t give up! I can still see the baleful look in her eyes, mingled with sheer terror, when I failed. I don’t have to tell you what will happen if you turn out to be Powerless.

“Stop. Debrael, stop!” says Hannabeth.

I open my eyes and realize that I’m sweating and shaking. In my head, I keep seeing Jonab stepping into the trees, and the way that the jungle consumed him.

“What happened?” asks Novid. “Did you forget your breathing exercise?”

“No.” I hang my head. “I… I just panicked. I’ve tried so many times to control an animal without contact, and…” I stop.

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