It would be an understatement to even say that things were alright. The atmosphere was practically drained of all hope and in its place a void that sucked in all hope and happiness stood there instead. You knew it was bad when someone like me who does not have an aptitude for such things felt it. I constantly feel hopeless and drained and It is exhausting, even with all the training and preparation we do these days. It feels like it would never be enough. I felt it in the earth, the concrete, the glass even the damn metals. The vibration was very off.
And here he stood in front of me and it's like suddenly I am immune to all that sadness. Adjusting the strap holding the sheathed sword, I took swift strides as I followed Garth into the elevator. We were both the same height, same body build and ranked the same in terms of combat skills. One more thing, we were both exceptionally hot. Or maybe that's just how I saw him. The way his back muscles moved as he walked into the elevator. The way the sticky film of sweat was still clinging to his skin and his scent was wafting toward me and I shamelessly breathed it all in without a second thought.
His brown hair, chiseled jawline, brown eyes, amazing pecks, and a torso that belongs to a Greek god. I stifle those thoughts immediately the elevator doors close lest my mental shields slip and he gets a slight peek into my thoughts. Which are full of him, always full of him. Fuck. I cross my arms and stood at ease. Hoping that my relaxed nature would not give off any sign of the boner my little fella was starting to execute.
We were both heading to.... well any enclosed room at this point to discuss at full extent Garth's discovery. Or rather realization. So here's the gist.
I've constantly been running into my supposed 'friends' and other junior agents who would request a sparring lesson or challenge me to a fighting contest after working hours. EXCEPT, I am a very good combat fighter hands on and somehow they kept wearing me down, almost beating my ass. At first I took this as a sign to get better, practice more of course. And that's exactly what I've been doing. Up at the crack of dawn, first stop at the gym, then combat training, breakfast and even more training. And weirdly enough, the people who I had fought with never had a recollection of challenging me or asking for help. And I thought I've been too caught up but then it never occurred to me such a possibility could exist until Garth mentioned it.
The moment the elevator stopped Garth stepped out on full stride toward the east wing where his room is. I followed closely behind keeping up his pace with ease. We had not bothered to put our shirts back on, and honestly I wasn't complaining. With that view in front of me, I might just follow him to the ends of the earth. Fuck Caden focus. He's undoing the protection wards he's placed on his room and we both go in and the wards are up again, including a sound bubble. The way i wish he was doing that for other purposes.
"Fuck fuck fuck fuck...." Garth exhales and starts pacing frantically.
"What?"
"Don't you see?"
"Well I wouldn't have followed you down here if I did now would I?"
He sighs in a resigned way and I wish I could take back my words. Hold on, no I don't, he doesn't need to be coddled.
"For fucks sake, don't you see? Gods for once I am begging you Caden stop being the hot headed idiot you keep trying to show everyone and just THINK." He presses on as he paces around.
"There has to be more....more more more..." he mumbles to himself. Fuck has finally he lost his marbles. But then it hits me as well. The environment....You can feel the somber mood everywhere, even in the damn elements. Plus Phemora couldn't fight to save her life if she needed to.
All at once the full blown panic of what Garth has been implying hits me. Shit. She's a fucking spy for TCS. Not just her though, there has to be empaths here as well, many of them. How the fuck does Reika not know this my now. With nothing but panic in my head. I let my shields down enough to let Garth have access to my thoughts. And I silently hope that the panic is enough to conceal the underlying emotions beneath. Mostly because this happens a lot when I'm around him lately. Suddenly the tension is my chest is greater, and this time it's not caused by the feeling of impending doom.
He goes through everything I have to show him(want to show him). He stops pacing and sits on the bed as he studies what he's seeing. I go over and sit next to him as I try to relax my heart that is thumping out of its ribcage at the moment.
"Okay so Phemora is spying for TCS, and you think there's empaths who are messing up with the..." he pauses for a second to process it.
"Well it makes sense honestly but....."he starts and pauses again. Thank God he's catching up.
"This either means that they are ahead or they are desperate and are trying to distract us." and just as if right on time when he says that statement, Cal burges into the room panting heavily. Eyes wide open with alarm and concern written all over her face, her ginger hair askew and messy.
She shuts the door immediately and performs a sequence of hand motions that ensures were completely in a sound proof bubble, as if the rooms at Meridian are not lined with magical runes to do that already.
"Guys." She pants heavily still breathing in and out rapidly.
"What is it?" garth asks concerned as he walks to her and places his hand at the small of her back. I know he's doing it out of concern because that his best friend's sister. But the jealousy that consumes me could melt a diamond. And he's a major flirt so this isn't helping but all those thoughts are washed away violently like a hurricane with the words that come out of Cal's mouth.
"Pardon?"
I ask her astounded so much so my heart is threatening to jump out my ribcage.
"I was training with Warden on my abilities, and as I was reaching out to people's abilities, I collapsed. Upon waking up Warden was smiling at me and he said that I'd confirmed his suspicions because according to him, he's been suspecting...."
"That there are advanced empaths, corrupting the entire organization. Yeah we sorta figured." I finish for her in a somber tone as I resign in resignation on Garth's bed.