The Awakening (The Last Morgan #2)

Chapter 2

The house was quiet, but Lucy’s mind refused to rest. Sleep had abandoned her for nights now, ever since the truth had come crashing down.

Nephilim.

The word alone made her chest feel tight. She wasn’t fully human. Not the girl she thought she was and not the daughter of the parents she had mourned for thirteen years. They weren’t her parents at all, and her real ones were long dead.

The knowledge gnawed at her. She still didn't have the courage to look for answers. Every book that might explain, every question she might ask, sat in a heavy pile of silence. Research could wait. Right now, she could barely keep her own thoughts together.

Except they weren’t just her thoughts anymore.

At first it was a whisper. Barely there, a soft echo at the edge of her mind.

Connect.

She tried to ignore it, pulling the blankets tighter around herself.

Connect.

But it grew louder with every passing night, like a dripping tap in an empty room.

Connect. Connect.

By tonight, it was no longer ignorable. It pulsed beneath her skull, buzzing and relentless.

Lucy pushed back the covers and stood abruptly, pacing the room in the dark. Her bare feet hit the floor in restless rhythm as she muttered under her breath.

“Connect what? Connect to who?”

Her voice cracked, and still the word pounded on. Connect. Connect. Connect.

She pressed her palms to her ears, but the sound only multiplied, reverberating inside her like church bells rung too close. It was maddening. The whisper became a chant. The chant became a roar.

Her breaths came sharp and shallow. “Stop it! Stop!” she screamed, tears stinging her eyes.

The word didn’t stop. It thundered louder, filling every corner of her mind until she could barely see straight. Pain stabbed through her temples.

She dropped to her knees, clutching her head, sobbing, “What’s happening to me?”

From across the room, Byron stirred. He was still healing, though with what he was, wounds never lingered long, but the sound of her pain roused him. His movements were sluggish at first, then sharper, protective instinct taking over as he pushed himself upright.

“Lucy?” His voice was thick with sleep. “What’s wrong?”

She barely heard him. The voice had swollen until it was all she could hear. Her sobs turned to screams as she rocked forward, shaking violently.

Byron was at her side in seconds, crouching low, his hands gripping her shoulders. “Lucy, look at me. Focus!”

His words were muffled, swallowed by the storm in her mind.

And then, it broke.

Her head snapped back, her eyes flying open, blazing with a light that wasn’t human. Deep, unnatural violet poured from her gaze.

Her sobs ceased. The trembling stopped.

In a voice not entirely her own, eerie in its calmness, she whispered a single word.

“Connect.”

Her arms clamped around Byron’s, and panic flickered across his face. His muscles strained, but his body wouldn’t obey him. He tried to pull free, but her grip was like iron.

Then it hit him.

A surge of energy burned through his veins, wild and unstoppable. His head snapped back, his left eye blazing with the same unnatural light pouring from Lucy’s. Streams of red and blue arced between them, weaving back and forth like living lightning, tethering them together.

And just as suddenly as it began, it ended.

Byron collapsed with a heavy thud onto the floor.

Lucy remained where she was, still glowing, her breath slowing.

A strange calm settled over her, washing away the pain like it had never been.

Her body hummed with energy. She felt stronger, sharper — every nerve alive, as if an electric current had threaded itself through her.

Everything tingled. And it felt… good.

Then, through the haze, she heard Byron's voice even though it wasn’t spoken aloud.

What the hell did she do to me?

Lucy blinked, answering before she could stop herself.

“I honestly don’t know. Something was forcing me to connect, and I guess it connected with you.”

Byron shot upright, eyes wide. “Lucy… how did you know what I was thinking?”

“I heard you,” she said quietly.

Byron’s chest rose and fell fast, disbelief pulling at his features. “You realise that’s part of my ability? Are you saying you can do it too?”

Lucy hesitated, then nodded. “I guess so.”

She started toward him, rolling up her sleeves without even thinking. Her cheeks were flushed; a stray thought slipped out before she could catch it.

“Byron,” she said, half-nervous, half-teasing, “there was a time I was in the shower, I kinda imagined you were with me, did you see that?”

Byron froze, then a slow grin spread across his face.

“No,” he said, voice dropping low, “but now I can picture it clear as day.” He laughed and pulled her close, the sound rough in his throat.

“Before tonight, you were blocked. Couldn’t get a single thing from that pretty little head of yours. I knew you were different and possibly like me, but I wasn't certain.”

His tone darkened; he backed away a step. “But now? If I wanted to, I could plant an image in your mind. Or give you a command to follow.”

He smiled, daringly. “Watch this.”

His eyes flared as his voice deepened. “Take off your nightie.”

Lucy stared at him and started laughing.

He tried again, louder this time, but she only laughed harder.

“What the fuck why isn’t it working?” he muttered, frustration creeping in.

She tilted her head. “Maybe it’s because I’m… royalty.”

Before he could reply, her voice whispered straight into his mind:

Take off your pant.

Byron’s body jerked; his hands moved before he could stop them. A heartbeat later his trousers hit the floor. His eyes went wide, somewhere between outrage and awe.

“Lucy!” he hissed.

She burst into laughter, real laughter that shook her shoulders. “Guess I’m stronger than you thought? No pun intended.”

He couldn’t help grinning, even though he was in shock.

Lucy’s smile softened. “I should learn to control this. I don’t want to use it unless I must.” She paused. “Still… that was fun.”

She flicked her hand at him. “Now pull your pants up and get some sleep.”

Byron groaned but obeyed, muttering under his breath as he did.

Lucy stretched out on the bed, the faint glow in her eyes fading to embers. The air felt still for the first time in days.

The voice was gone.

Chapter 2

The morning cut through softly, a golden glow spilling over the room.

Today, waking didn’t feel heavy. Lucy stretched, blinking against the light, and noticed Byron already awake, watching her from the edge of the bed.

His expression was calm, but there was something protective in the way his eyes followed her.

He reached out, brushing a hand over her cheek.

“Kiss me,” she whispered.

Byron leaned down quickly, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead before pulling back with a crooked grin.

Lucy narrowed her eyes. “That’s not the kiss I meant.”

He chuckled, “Lucy, you’ve got to learn to switch your command feature off. Right now, when you ask for something, it isn’t really asking. I didn’t mean to kiss you there, but you left me no choice.” He laughed

He pulled her up and guided her to the window seat. They sat side by side as he gestured to her chest.

“Can you feel it? That sensation?”

She closed her eyes. It was there, buzzing faintly like a live wire under her skin. She nodded in acknowledgement.

“Good,” Byron said. “Now raise it. Push it higher.”

The current swelled in her, heat crawling into her chest, her neck, her temples.

“Now lower it. Slow it down. You need to control it and not let it control you.”

She tried, but her eyes were still shimmering violet. “You’re still running on high.” Byron said displeased.

Sarcastically lucy said “I love how you’re so patient with me, so focused.” She bit her lip, her thoughts slipping before she could stop them. God, I’d do anything for him to bend me over right now.

Byron burst out laughing. “Lucy! I’m right here, and you’re wide open. Fix your dirty mind or I’ll never be able to concentrate.”

Her cheeks flushed crimson.

He leaned closer, whispering with a wicked smirk, “Later, I’ll give you exactly what you want. But right now, focus.”

Rolling her eyes, Lucy folded her legs beneath her and placed her hands together in an exaggerated meditative pose.

Byron guided her through the exercise again, and this time she caught on.

She learned to flick her power on and off like a switch, to open her mind when she wanted to listen and close it again before the flood of thoughts became too much.

Byron nodded, impressed. “You’re a fast learner. But every time you use it, it drains you. That’s the drawback. You’ll feel hungry, tired, weaker. I don’t know how long you can last, as you are royalty, so maybe longer than me, but we’ll need to test your limits.”

Lucy smirked. “Fine, let's leave it here for now. I’m starving. Let’s eat.”

They walked downstairs together. For the first time in days, she was ready to face the others. She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed them until she saw their faces. The dining room fell silent as she stepped inside.

“Lucy!” Barnaby screeched, vaulting over the table like a missile. He nearly tackled her with the force of his hug. “Erm… how are you?”

She hugged him back, laughing. “I’ve missed you. And I’ve learned a few tricks.”

Corey appeared next, crossing the room with his usual scowl. “You had me worried, sis. disappearing for days without a word? Not cool.”

Lucy smirked. “I didn't leave the country; I was just in my room. I needed to wrap my head around being a real-life alien. But I’m back now.”

Her words lightened the room instantly. Even Damian, who stayed at the far end of the table, gave a small nod.

They sat down to eat, the silence thick but not uncomfortable. At least until Barnaby piped up.

“So… what tricks can you do?”

Corey groaned. “She’ not a dog, idiot.”

Barnaby laughed. “She said tricks! I’m just using her words!”

Lucy leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table.

She started to explain the nagging voice she had heard in her mind; the word being repeated until finally it happened.

“It’s… hard to explain. But I think when I connect” she made air quotes “I think I can take the abilities of others like me. I got Byron’s strength, speed, healing… even his telepathy.”

Barnaby’s eyes went wide. “Show me. Now!”

Before she even thought about it, Lucy blurred to the far side of the room, standing next to him in less than a blink. She froze. ‘Even I didn’t know I was that fast’ her thoughts echoed.

Barnaby gasped. “You’re a vampire.”

“No,” Lucy laughed. “I’m Nephilim. And honestly? I still don’t know what that really means.”

He grinned, practically bouncing in place. “What else can you do?”

Lucy’s lips curved into a wicked smile. “Corey, you know how much you hate dancing?”

Corey squinted at her. “Yeah. Why?”

Her eyes flared violet. “Dance.”

He barked a laugh. “Yeah, right. Like that’s gonna...” His body jerked, his legs stumbling into a clumsy rhythm. Within seconds, he was swaying and stomping like a newborn deer.

Barnaby howled with laughter, pulling out his phone and blasting music. Corey’s movements grew wilder.

“I swear to God, Barnaby, I’m going to kill you!” Corey yelled, still flailing.

“Lucy, make him stop!” Barnaby shouted between fits of laughter.

“You can stop now, Corey.” Lucy said through a fit of laughter.

He froze mid-step, panting. His face darkened as he rounded on Barnaby. “I know I can’t mess with you, Lucy. But Barnaby? You’re dead.”

“It was completely worth it!” he yelled hiding behind Damians protective stance.

Corey sat and leaned back in his chair, arms folded, eyes narrowing at the smirking faces around the table. “So, you’ve had your fun? Is it out of your system now?”

Barnaby was still grinning, but even he sobered at Corey’s tone. The laughter drained away until the only sound was the faint scrape of cutlery.

“Enough games” Corey’s gaze cut to Byron. “What’s the plan? What are meant to be doing”

Byron spoke after swallowing a bite of food. “We wait for the others to arrive.”

Lucy tilted her head. “Just wait?”

Byron placed, the cutlery onto the plate and began to softly explain to Lucy “I automatically felt a tether to you when you were unblocked, so will they.

Lucy’s chest tightened the sheer thought of being responsible for others was weighing heavy on her.

“And when they get here?” she asked, her voice sharper than she intended.

“We will welcome them with open arms” Byron said with a calm voice.

Lucy nodded slowly, her mind already racing ahead. “So, when they arrive… will I get their powers too?”

Byron tilted his head, thoughtful. “I’m not sure how that works exactly. Maybe. Maybe not. But what I do know is it’s time we stopped guessing if you're an ability thief and start working on yours.”

“Mine?” Lucy asked, almost laughing. “Wait, are you saying I have abilities that are just…my own?”

Byron’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Of course you do. You’ve only copied me so far. But you’re Nephilim, Lucy. You’re bound to have powers that belong to you alone.”

Her stomach knotted, equal parts fear and anticipation.

Byron went on, his tone lighter now. “We can practice everything all at once. Barnaby can drown you in research, and Corey, Damian, and I—well, we’ll make excellent punching bags.”

Barnaby perked up. “I agree, my job sounds much safer than being launched across the room by Super-Lucy.”

Lucy gave a wry smile, shaking her head. “Then I guess it’s settled. We should put the staff on paid leave; extend the holiday my aunt and cousins are on and bring the rest of our family in. We’re going to need every bit of help and support we can get.”