“To think she’d collapse like that.” A voice echoed through the darkness.

“And during the new governor’s acceptance speech too.” Another voice answered as something loosened its grip on my arm. “These are normal too. Do you think it was due to stress?”

“Had to be.” The first voice said. I could recognize it as female now. “Governor Woodrow brought in all sorts of doctors to do tests. And they’re all coming back as normal.”

“If that were the case she should’ve woken up by now.” This voice was decidedly male. “It’s been 48 hours already.”

I tried to open my eyes, but the darkness remained. That’s when I felt the cold weigh down on me like never before. It was even worse than when this happened during the war. And I didn’t have a big blanket covering me then. Or an IV stuck in my arm. I could even hear the machine beep in time with my heartbeat.

“Do you think it’s because she’s not a Natural?” The lady half whispered.

The guy scoffed. “The Laden may have unnatural gifts but that doesn’t make their biology any different from ours. I think that’s what’s got everyone stumped. Her body is perfectly fine. No injuries. No malnourishment. And not a single drop of poison in her system either.”

“Then it must be true.” The lady sounded excited now.

“Please tell me you’re not reading into what those tabloids have to say.”

“Just think about it. Governor Woodrow had just announced her engagement to his son. But just weeks before she was seen dating Raymond Lagorio.”

“He’s Mayor Lagorio now. And he even said that they were broken up when the reporters caught up to him during the chaos.”

“Yeah, I’ve seen that clip too. And he doesn’t look well.”

He sighed. “You’re point.”

“I think it was a ploy to keep the Laden community happy. You know having one of their kind so close to the new governor. And she only agreed to the marriage to keep the peace. Only she didn’t tell Raymond. And did you see how destroyed he looked when the governor announced the news. That can’t be a coincidence. So, I think that Governor Woodrow is keeping them apart for his own gain.”

“What does this have to do with her condition?”

She huffed. “Obviously she’s suffering from a broken heart. I would be too if I was forced to choose between my love and my people.”

“You’ve watched way to many movies.”

“We’ll do you have a better theory?” Her voice moved closer. “Because if it was stress she’d be awake by now.”

I tuned out their bickering, hating how close she was to hitting the mark. Only we’d never officially broken up. Instead I’d been the one to break his heart after sending his father to jail on a bogus charge. But I had to keep Chief Woodrow happy. Or Governor now. Not that it made a difference. He still had power over the police through his son who’d taken his spot as chief. Poor Lee was stuck in the middle of this. He’d tried to help me but at the same time he couldn’t deny his father.

“What are you two doing in here?” A new voice entered. “You’ve got other patients to look after. So stop your jabbering and get to work.”

The door shut as the voices faded away. And I was acutely aware of how much colder it was now that the two nurses were gone. It weighed on me, seemingly emitting from the hole in my heart. The hole that my gift had filled before it was stolen. From then on I’d been nothing but a loyal dog forced to betray my own. I’d not only killed them. But stolen their gifts to fill my empty soul. And forced them to serve Agrona as they conquered our land.

Lee had been by my side through most of it. And he’d helped me get a few Laden out before I was forced to hunt them down. For any unnatural abilities belonged to the Agrona government alone. I’d almost given up hope until Cedric entered the picture. He’d been turned Elite like Lee. Only he had a mind to go with it. Every plan he made came to pass. And he continued helping the Laden in secret even after joining the police station with the rest of the soldiers who’d survived the war. His latest plan was the longest yet. And involved me doing some gruesome things for Chief Woodrow. I had to earn his trust after all.

So, I didn’t bat an eye when he ordered me to get close to the Lagorios. Ray was just a lawyer then, along with his father. But they were successfully turning the tide in favor of the Laden. Albeit slowly. But when Ray began a successful campaign to become Mayor, Chief Woodrow could no longer stand it.

And once again my skills were put into play. But instead of stealing his Laden abilities, he wanted proof that his family was helping Laden fugitives leftover from the war. As if they’d leave that information lying around their penthouse.

But he was different from other guys I’d dated. Even the ones I pretended to for the job. He was honest and open about everything. And a true romantic at heart. Every week flowers would be delivered to my desk at the police station. And he always took time out of his busy schedule to arrange dates for us. Sometimes we’d just hang out at the Lagorio penthouse with the rest of his family. Or just in his room which was practically a suite on its own. The penthouse took up the whole top floor of the condo. So it was a pain to search. Especially since each of his four siblings usually locked their suites when they were gone. Only his father consistently forgot to.

Though it wasn’t until we made love for the first time that I got my chance. Ray was passed out. And thankfully he’d made sure no one was coming back that night. So, I’d continued my search of his father’s office. That’s when I found the tablet he’d left behind. It wasn’t even password protected. And there was the perfect evidence. Not enough to incriminate him permanently. But enough for him to be detained for a time. And that’s the opening that Cedric needed for his plan to start rolling.

But I couldn’t get back in bed with him. My guilt was too heavy. So, I’d left. Since then I’d avoided his texts and phone calls. And my coworkers had barred him from entering the station. I was certain he knew that I’d visited his father in jail. And that I’d stolen his gift of telepathy for Cedric’s use. Sure he’d gotten his father out of jail a day later. But a Laden without their natural born gift was just empty.

And that’s what I was. An Empty. No matter how many gifts I stole it couldn’t keep away the cold I felt. Nor could it feel the void my gift had left behind. That’s why my health was fading. I’d given the last stolen gift to Cedric. So there was nothing to keep the cold at bay. I could only lie frozen as the cold sapped at what was left of my life. Hopefully it was worth it. Maybe my dying is what Cedric’s plan needed. Maybe having a martyr would make the government grant more rights to the Laden. Or at least give them the push they needed to take it for themselves.

It hurt to breathe now. Like I was inhaling shards of ice. Even the IV was doing nothing but pushing cold fluids through my veins. It would be over soon.

“She’s dying.” A new voice said.

“Saves me the trouble of having to kill her.” Another grumbled. I recognized this one. It was one of Ray’s older sisters, Eimi.

The bed dipped as someone sat beside me. And a warm hand touched my chest. It’s Laden power called to me. And it took everything in me not to take it. To create another Empty like me seemed pointless.

“What the hell are you doing?” Eimi shouted.

The other woman shushed her. “We don’t need anyone else joining us.”

“And I can’t risk you dying.” Eimi argued in a lower voice.

The woman chuckled. “It’ll take more than this to kill me.”

“Dina.” Eimi groaned.

That name. She had to be talking about Ray’s second older sister. The one I’d never met. Though he’d always spoken of her with awe, she was asleep most of the time I’d visited.

“Looks like they took the core of her soul. She’s been borrowing other gifts to keep death away. But she’s empty now. Perhaps…” Her voice trailed off.

Eimi huffed. “Can you do whatever it is on the road. The nurses will come back any minute.”

“No she won’t survive the journey. Your shadows are too cold for her.”

“Then at this point you should let her die so you can do that necromancy thing.”

“It won’t work with part of her soul missing.” Dina pressed down on my chest and warmth started to seep into my skin.

“Then-“

Dina cut her off. “Watch the door. And don’t interrupt.”

Eimi grumbled but didn’t say anything else. I couldn’t even focus on her as Dina’s power flooded my heart. My control broke and I sucked in her gift. But unlike other Laden her gift resisted my will. It was like trying to take a gift from another Empty. It didn’t work unless it was given willingly.

The gentle warmth turned into scorching heat. Like a fireball had settled in my chest. And my heart in turn pumped that heat through my bloodstream. The ice that had frozen me to the spot rapidly melted away. And I blinked up at Dina’s face for the first time.

“How…?” I started.

“I was able to anchor your soul back to your heart. But it’s only temporary. You’ll get just a few days more I think.”

“Great. Can we go now?” Eimi asked backing away from the door.

Dina didn’t answer her. But she kept her eyes on me. “Do you want to come back with us?”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Eimi said.

I looked away. “She’s right. After everything I’ve done I should stay as far away from your family as possible.”

“Is that what you want?” Dina asked.

“It doesn’t matter what I want.” It never did.

“I’ve seen many lost souls in both the living and the dead. All of them hampered by regret and despair. And Ray will become one of them if you don’t talk things out.”

“I doubt he’ll want to see me.” I said.

“We don’t have time for this.” Eimi said stomping over. “Look Ray’s been trying to get in touch ever since you left. And when he heard the doctors weren’t helping you he sent us. So yeah he can’t stop thinking about you and really wants to see you.”

My heart began to beat faster. But could I really hope? After everything I’d done? And what about Cedric’s plan? Would it be ok if I left?

“Make a decision.” Eimi pushed. Steps were echoing outside.

“It’s ok, Zinnia.” Dina said. “Just follow your heart.”

The steps were getting closer. And the shadows around Eimi deepened. They stretched toward Dina who still sat on my bed. She reached out a hand to me. I hesitated for a moment as Eimi became nothing more than a shadow slowly enveloping Dina. Only her hand was left. And I grabbed it.