Under A Blood Moon (Elemental Enchanters) (21 page)

Ava paced her room. She dressed in a simple black dress that came just above her knees for her stupid date with Thomas. She felt like kicking herself for agreeing to go out to dinner. He promised to be a better person. And that they could be who they once were. But she didn’t want that. Ava had only agreed so that Thomas would stop begging. Besides, maybe it would throw the rest of them off from what she, Melissa, and Jeremy were up to later.

Tonight, they were going to spy on Xavier and his groupies.
It hadn’t exactly gone well when she and Jeremy brought up the idea to rest of the coven, but Melissa eventually agreed to the plan. The others were dismayed and so they decided to carry out the plan in secret.

Ava paused from her pacing and sank onto the edge of her bed. Was she
actually ready to do this? Was it really a smart idea? She just needed to know who Xavier really was and what his game plan was.

Her phone vibrated next to her. Melissa texted asking if she was okay. She replied that she was, and then realized she needed to have a better grip on her feelings or
the others would find out.

Ava walked downstairs and joined her dad in the kitchen. He was rinsing off the dishes and putting them in the dishwasher.

“Well, you sure look pretty,” he said. “Where are you going?”

“Out with Thomas,” she mumbled, and leaned against the doorframe.

He rolled his eyes. “Why?”

“I don’t know. He wouldn’t stop begging.”

“Heard from Peter at all?”

“Dad, don’t.”

He shut off the water and closed the dishwasher. “You know you deserve better, Ava.”

“It’s just dinner.”

The doorbell rang, and Ava took a deep breath. Time to put on a happy face. She smiled, but it felt all wrong, and then opened the door.

Thomas wore a baby blue button down and left it untucked from his jeans. Ava hated the style. It looked so sloppy.

He cocked an eyebrow. “Are you going to a funeral?”

“I’m not going if you’re going to be a jerk.”

“It was a joke, Ava. Chill out.”

“Whatever.” She walked out into the
cold December night, and closed the door behind her. The sky was clear and the full moon cast its brightness over them. There was not a single sound. All was still, as if the night knew what the coming hours would bring. A strange excitement bubbled in Ava’s stomach. “Can we hurry?”

Thomas stopped before reaching the driver’s side door. “
Why?”

“
Because I don’t want to be out all night.”

They climbed into the Jeep and shut their doors.

“What’s wrong with you? Why are you so nervous? You’ve been that way all day.”

“Nothing. I’m fine.”

“Melissa and Jeremy have, too. Is it related?”

“No.”

“Don’t lie to me. What are you guys doing?”

“Nothing.”

“Why won’t you ever tell me anything?”

“Because you’ll just laugh.”

He groaned. “Is this about that stupid Xavier crap?”

“No. It’s nothing. So don’t worry about it.”

Even though he was angry, he let it go. Dinner was quiet and Ava couldn’t wait until it was over. She didn’t even know why she agreed to go in the first place. Did she really believe Thomas could be better?

Afterward, he drove them to the cabin, but he was sadly mistaken if he thought she was going into their room alone with him. Though, the closer they got to the cabin, the more Ava’s dinner didn’t sit well. All they were going to do was spy on Xavier. There was nothing to be afraid of.

They arrived and got out of the Jeep. Everyone was sitting outside, and Melissa met Ava by the car.

She
lit a cigarette. “What is with you? Are you getting sick?” She kept her voice low and they walked away from the Jeep.

“No,” Ava said.

“You’re not getting cold feet are you? I thought you were ready?”

“Sorry. I’ve just never
spied on anyone before.”

“This was your idea.”

“I know.”

“What are you two whispering about?” Gillian asked. She chewed her gum so vigorously and constantly popped bubbles. Ava just wanted to rip it from her mouth the next time she blew a bubble.

“Nothing.”

“You two are on edge. And so are you, Jeremy.”

“They’ve been like that all day,” Thomas said. “Ava won’t tell me what’s going on.”

“
Nothing,” Jeremy mumbled.

“You’re such a liar,” Gillian snapped. “What are you up to?”

“Why are you always biting our heads off?” Ava asked. “You’re so different now.”

Gillian shrugged, and wrapped a small ringlet of hair around her finger. “Deal with it.”

“We’re spying on Xavier tonight,” Jeremy said.

Ava and Melissa exchanged looks. Why did he say that?

A chorus of shocked questions ensued from Gillian, Thomas, and Lance.

“Look,” Ava shouted. “Xavier is
planning something. I don’t know what, but we have to find out.”

Gillian groaned, and wrapped a small ringlet of hair around her finger. “Enough already.”

“He’s already attacked three of us,” Ava said. “Why don’t you believe me?”

“Because you are so paranoid that you’ve got psychotic notions in your brain,” Gillian said.

“I thought we’d been through this already,” Thomas said. “Xavier’s not an Enchanter. We need to be looking for spies. Not some punk at school.”

“
Looking for spies? Thomas there hasn’t been a single one. How else does Xavier know what we are?”

“
Wait, he knows we’re Enchanters?” Gillian stopped playing with her hair and glared at Ava. “Did you tell him?”

“Yeah, Gillian, I did. What do you think?”

Just stop, okay?” Thomas told her. “I don’t know why you get so worked up over this. I’m sorry he knocked you out.”

“Look, we’ve already got it planned out,” Melissa said. “It’s not that big of a deal. Besides, if you all think he’s an
Ephemeral, then there’s no harm.”

Gillian scoffed. “Except wasting our time with this when we should be preparing for when a spy does come. Are you just as
deluded as Ava?”

“
Just everyone stop,” Jeremy yelled. “We’ll be careful.”

Gillian rolled her eyes. “This is so stupid.”

“Nah, let them spy on this stupid Ephemeral,” Thomas said. “They’ll find out they were wrong.”

Ava felt as if someone was watching them argue. She couldn’t shake the feeling, but saw and heard nothing. She wondered if Xavier had found them, but he would have used his ability.
She had to check this out. “I’ll be back.” She started for the woods.

“Where are you going?” Thomas asked, and followed her.

“Can you not feel that?”

“Feel what?”

“There’s something out there. I can feel it watching us.”

She stopped and listened. Dead silence.

Fire engulfed Thomas’s hand, as if he lit a match, and he held it up so they could see.

“I don’t feel it anymore. The light must have scared it.”

“I didn’t feel it.” He shrugged.

She sighed and turned toward the cabin.

He doused the fire. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine. Just wish you would believe me.”

“Hey, hey,” he said, and wrapped his muscular arms around her. “We’re all a little scared. It’s normal to feel a little paranoid. Everything’s going to be okay. I promise.”

“Please stop saying that.”

“But it will be.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Look.” He lifted her chin with his thick hand. “Everything
will
be okay. I will not let anything happen to you or any of us.” He leaned down and kissed her. She tried pulling away, but his hand gripped the back of her neck, forcing her to stay in place. His lips were warm as they slowly moved against hers. She wanted to be kissing Peter. “Come on.”

With a hopeless sigh, she grudgingly took a step.

There was a snap behind her, as if someone had stepped on a twig. Thomas must have heard it as well because he froze with her. She met his eyes and heard it again. Her breath caught in her throat and she turned her head in its direction.

“Who’s out there?” Thomas asked.

Like they would answer, she thought. Her eyes tried searching the darkness for any movement. Even the bright moon wasn’t bright enough. Thomas lit a flame and she saw a silhouette of a person against a tree. She took a step forward, but Thomas caught her.

“Hello,” she said.

The person moved forward slowly. They seemed to be having a difficult time and Ava saw a red liquid plastered to them.

“Ava,”
the stranger said.

She knew that voice.
“Dad!” She rushed toward him and caught him as he collapsed. “What are you doing out here? What happened?”

“Ava, help me.” He was bleeding from his stomach and she cradled his head in her lap.

Thomas moved to the other side.

“Dad,” she wept. “What happened?”

“What’s going on?” Melissa asked and she and the others came up behind them. “Mr. Hannigan?”

“We have to take him to Savina’s,” Ava said. Tears rushed down her cheeks. Her stomach clenched and everything around her spun. She clasped her father’s hand. “Dad, can you walk?”

“Omigod.” Gillian gasped.

“Lance, let’s get Savina,” Jeremy said. “We’ll be right back Ava.”

“Hurry,” Melissa told them and knelt down beside Ava. “Mr. Hannigan, what happened?”

“Th-they got me.”

“Who?” she asked.

“Get away from him,” someone shouted somewhere from the woods.

Ava gripped her father tighter, and then looked up and saw Gabriel running towards them. Once he reached her, he grabbed her roughly by the shoulder and pulled her away.

“What are you doing?” she cried.

Melissa came up behind Gabriel, but he stopped her.

“I’m not here to hurt anyone,” he said. “Thomas, kill him.”

Ava fought against his iron grip. “What?” she screamed. “That’s my father.”

“
Now, Thomas,” Gabriel demanded.

“No!” She lunged forward but Gabriel’s arms held her back.

With a flick of Thomas’s hands, fire appeared. Ava’s father looked at her with such fear in his eyes. The flames quickly latched onto him.

“Dad!”

Gabriel twisted her around to face him. “Listen to me,” he demanded. The fire reflected in his blue eyes. “That isn’t your dad. His name is Barkley Towers. He morphed into your father.”

B
ut the shrill screams that cried out into the night sounded just like her father’s voice. Ava smelled a metallic scent mixed with a sulfurous smell so sharp and heavy it burned inside her lungs.

Ava struggled with him, but it was useless. The smell was enough to make her hurl, but she kept it down. She closed her eyes from the dizziness.

“Do you hear me?” Gabriel asked.

She nodded, and tried to look back at the body but he wouldn’t let her.

“It isn’t your dad,” he kept repeating, but her father’s cries reverberated inside her head.

Someone took her hand and pressed her head against his chest. She assumed it was Thomas, but everything was in a daze. Her body shook violently and all she saw was an orange glow.

“We killed the other one,” someone said.

Ava looked up and saw Eric and Joss
jogging toward them with Jeremy and Lance.

“Good,” Gabriel said.

“What just happened?” Melissa asked.

“We felt someone around the area tonight,” Eric said. “We left
the Manor to try and track them. Joss injured Barkley, who morphed into your dad, Ava. He knew where you all were so he thought that maybe you’d help him. Luckily, Gabriel got here just in time.”

Ava finally calmed her breathing
, and backed away from Thomas. The flames had burned out and all that was left was a scarred tree and a pile of ashes.

“So does that mean he’s been spying on us for a while?” Melissa asked.

“Unfortunately,” Joss replied. “I’m so sorry, Ava.”

“I need to go home,” she said. She wanted to see her father in the flesh, though she wasn’t sure she’d ever be able to erase the image of him begging for her help and then
burning alive.

Thomas took her hand. “I
’ll take you.”

Ava sat with blood on her dress
. Blood that she had to continue reminding herself belonged to Barkley Towers and not her father.