Winters Family Psi Chronicles 2: Project Onyx by John O'Riley Page A

slowly around him. He closed his eyes and felt psychic energy tingling throughout his body. Brian lost all sense of time and started when Adam withdrew from him. A middle-aged woman with friendly, green eyes and curly brown hair that flowed down her back stood silently in the doorway. She wore a turquoise blouse with black pants and a large amethyst pendant around her neck.
    “I’m Melissa, your tutor,” she said.
    “I’m Brian.”
    “It’s good to meet you.” She stepped into the room and smiled warmly at him. “I’m a level ten connectivity psi so I’ll also be spending some time on your treatment.”
    “I will return after your tutoring session is over.” Adam smoothly rose to his feet and left the room.
    Melissa seated herself in the rocking chair he’d just vacated.
    “Are you one of the tutors then?” Brian asked.
    “Yes, but my main duties are maintaining the Zen Network and ensuring it remains isolated from other unwanted connections and networks,” Melissa said.
    “I see,” Brian said.
    “You have about a dozen connections to energy transference psi. During our everyday lives, we come into contact with individuals who form connections with us unconsciously and sometimes consciously. Those who possess energy transference psi can tap into your psychic energy and siphon some of it to enhance their own energy. It’s a common secondary ability that many don’t realize they have. Of course, you already know the common name for this type of individual is energy vampire. Normally, it doesn’t pose a danger to our health and its influence is rarely noticed but in your case, it is serving to further destabilize your weakened nervous system. I’m going to sever these connections. It will take me some time to do so. Do you have any questions before I get started?” Melissa said.
    “Can you tell if the connections are intentional?” Brian asked curiously.
    “I can tell that three of them are. You have three energy transference psi who have deliberately tapped into your energy for quite some time. The common culprits for those your age are casual friends and classmates,” she said.
    “You said casual friends,” Brian said slowly as he mulled this over. “What about close friends?”
    “It’s possible you may have a close friend doing this but usually if they are aware of their ability, we subconsciously avoid becoming too close to those individuals. You’ll find you come up with reasons why you’re too busy to spend too much time with them.” Melissa paused for a moment. “Now, I want you to close your eyes and relax.”
    “Is this going to hurt?” Brian asked.
    “Not at all.”
    Brian closed his eyes and relaxed. He could barely sense her energy as it swept lightly over him. After awhile, his body tingled with energy as though he’d just drank some coffee without any of the jittery side effects.
    “It is done,” Melissa said. “You feel perkier, don’t you?”
    “Yes,” he said.
    He opened his eyes and saw that she was smiling cheerfully at him.
    “That’s because you no longer have a bunch of energy transference psi draining your energy. Your psionic shield will greatly slow down the pull of energy but it won’t completely cut it off. Your mother has a bunch of them but her protection is so strong that there is barely a trickle being pulled from her and the connections are very weak,” Melissa said. “If she joined Phoenix Enterprises, I could cut those ties completely.”
    “When my treatment is over and I go back home, I’ll have new connections hooking into me from psychic vampires, won’t I?” Brian asked.
    “I’m afraid so. However, I recognize a kindred talent when I see one. You are a connectivity psi like me so you can learn to sever those ties on your own,” Melissa said. “I’m going to teach you to utilize your abilities. How much skill do you have with your connectivity psi talent?”
    “I’ve only experienced it in my dreams that I have about other