The Empath : The Alterealm Series Book 3

I was standing in the control room to the cells, starring at the screen to my father’s cell. There was no mistaking who he was, I had his eyes. Although, I think I knew that when he called me Eva.

I had expected a prison with cells and bars, but instead found clear walls, rows of them. Arius explained how all of it worked, but I only heard about half of what he said. My heart had been racing since Daxx brought me here. I was going to meet a man I thought had abandoned my mother. A man that didn’t know I existed.

I heard the door open but couldn’t take my eyes off the screen.

“Duchess,” Chase spoke softly from behind me, “you need to be aware…”

I turned to look at him.

“Your father’s mental state is not good.” He said carefully.

Hugging my waist, I exhaled slowly trying to process what that meant. “My own isn’t faring well at the moment either.” I told him in a shaky voice.

He gave me a gentle look. “I know.” He moved closer but seemed to understand I was too close to crumbling to be touched. “You can’t go into the same cell.” Chase told me, hunching his shoulders, so he could look in my eyes. “His emotions…” he shook his head, “Troy says that you would be debilitated by them.”

I squinted, trying to focus on his words.

“You can stand in another room, you’ll be able to see him and speak to each other.”

I nodded.

“Whenever you’re ready.”

I looked back at the monitor to see my father standing in the middle of his cell. Just standing there. I turned back to Chase. “I think it’s now or never.”

As we walked there he explained, my father wouldn’t be able to see or hear me until I was ready.

I stepped into the room Chase pointed to, and turned to see he hadn’t gone past the door.

He shook his head, a weak smile on his face. “Seeing me will not do his state of mind any favors, he’s very much against the royal family.”

I took a deep breath and stepped over in front of the clear wall. I just stood there looking in at him for a moment, he was completely unaware I was there. He was a very handsome man, I couldn’t fault my mother for falling for him. I clearly got the color of my hair and eyes from him.

Blowing out a breath I nodded. “I’m ready.” I didn’t turn to look at Chase, but knew he’d done something because Levi was now very focused on me.

The look on his face was confusion and joy almost at the same time. He moved over toward me slowly, as if he were afraid I would disappear. “You’re not Eva.” He said in a rough voice. “I-I had thought you dyed your hair, to hide.” He stopped in front of the clear wall and looked at me. “Who are you?” His brows were furrowed. “You have her face, so beautiful…” With a finger, he traced the glass as if he was touching the outline of my face.

“I’m her daughter.” I finally found the voice to say.

His green eyes searched mine and then understanding registered as he stared into mirror images of his own eyes. “We had a child?” His hand was shaking where he still held it against the glass. “She lived and… and had a child. My child.” A tear rolled down his cheek.

“Yes, she did.”

Covering his mouth for a moment he continued to look at me. “I went back for her, she was gone.” He shook his head. “No one that knew us was still there.” He paced away then came right back. “I was delayed, things to prepare before going for her… issues to resolve, but I got back… I searched the entire city… the camps…” He shook his head, looking ever more frantic.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I felt I should explain. “She had to leave the city so she didn’t get sick… and so I wasn’t exposed.”

He leaned close to the glass, his eyes looking hopeful. “Yes, yes good.” He nodded. “Is she…” He started shaking his head, grief filling his eyes. “No, no we didn’t complete the bond…” Clasping both hands to his forehead he looked at the floor. “If we had she…”

“She passed away over eighty years ago.” I offered.

Levi’s head snapped up. “That’s too young…” He shook his head. “I couldn’t find her… you… I didn’t know.” He turned and paced away. “I never would have stopped looking if I’d known.”

A tear rolled down my cheek, knowing that he wanted me. A terribly heartbreaking feeling, after all this time. I couldn’t find anything to say.

He turned and came back to the glass and just looked at me, as if he were seeing me for the first time. “What did she… what’s your name?” His voice was shaking.

“Alona.” I told him in a voice barely more than a whisper.

He smiled. “Alona.” He nodded briefly. “That’s beautiful.” He touched the glass again. “As you are.” His hand moved over the glass, if it hadn’t been there he would have touched my hair.

I wanted so desperately to feel that touch, to feel the love of a parent I had never known.

“You’re so young…” His eyes jerked back to mine. “You have my blood, are like me?”

I nodded, unable to speak a word.

He smiled. “My parents… your grandparents, will love you so much.”

The lump in my throat almost choked me. I had grandparents…

All of a sudden, his eyes changed to red. “Show me your arm. Now!” He growled.

Shocked, I took a step back.

He smacked a large hand against the glass. “You wear the day king’s amulet. Tell me you haven’t mated with him!”

I touched the pendant on my chest, having forgotten that I had it on. Shaking my head, I backed up another step.

“Their kingdom will burn! There will be no more servitude and transporting, all will be free to leave!” Smashing the glass again, he snarled at me. “It’s not too late Alona. Go to the other side and never return…”

I stumbled back further until my back hit the wall.

“Let me see her!” He screamed and hit the wall again. “Let me see my daughter!”

He could no longer see me. I slid down to the floor and stared at the man on the other side of the glass. He paced around and yelled, hitting everything in his reach. I couldn’t hear him now, but could see the rage on his face. I was breathing so fast, I wasn’t sure if I could catch my breath again.

“Alona,” Chase was kneeling beside me.

I turned and looked at him, my hand against the pendant still shaking. “What is this that you gave me?”

He searched my face, and shook his head, I could see the regret in his eyes. “I...”

Scrambling to my feet, I reached with shaking hands to unclasp it. Holding it by the pendant I held it out to him. “Take it.” I hissed.

Slowly, Chase stood up and took the chain hanging from my hand. “Alona, I should have explained before…”

Shaking my head, I backed away from him. “No. I don’t want to hear it.” I glanced to see Daxx and Arius standing in the door. “I’d like to go home now.”

Chase sighed, his shoulders slumping as he did. “I’ll have Sith…”

“No.” I held up my hand. “I have no need, or want, of your guards.”

“Alona.” Daxx said quietly.

I turned to look and see she had tears in her eyes, clearly she’d heard the exchange with my father.

“I can have Arius take you back.” She nodded slowly. “I’d like to come back with you for a while.”

I swallowed, trying not to cry. Nodding I looked at her. “Yes.” I whispered.

“Ok.” She held out her hand. “We can’t transport in the cells, so we’ll get out of here now.”

I nodded and paused to look at my father once more, he was still raging inside the cage. I turned to Arius. “Can… can the doctors help him? Please.”

Arius nodded quickly. “We’ll move him somewhere quieter, and get the doctor to look after him.”

I nodded, placing both hands on my chest as I fought to slow my breathing. “Thank you.” I went over to Daxx and took her hand and looked again to Chase. I could see pain on his face, but he didn’t try to stop us from leaving.

“Come on.” Daxx said softly.