Under A Blood Moon (Elemental Enchanters) (33 page)

Lance dropped Ava and Peter off at her house. She was sure her father wouldn’t like the idea of Peter staying over, but she was too tired to care now. Her body ached for rest. Maybe the stamina came with practice. Then again, she’d been up three days straight.

Her eyes
felt heavy as she yawned. Exhaustion clung to her like wet clothes. 

She quietly walked inside, careful not to wake her father, who was passed out in his chair. She didn’t want to wake him, and have him yell or be worried. She’d talk to him tomorrow.

They crept upstairs into her moonlit room.

Peter unzipped his jacket and tossed it into her desk chair, and then sank onto the edge of her bed.

Ava stood in front of him. “All this time I’ve felt like it was me who had to keep you safe. But it’s the opposite.”

“And I’ll always be here,” he whispered. “I can’t lose you.”

She felt his arms around her waist and he pulled her close. She ran her hands through his soft hair and then kissed his head.

Ava couldn’t believe her secret wish for Peter to join them had come true. Just last night she wept thinking that he wouldn’t even know her and all the memories they had shared. But here he was, in her arms. They were together. However, she still feared going into battle with
Devon and his army. What would happen to them? Had they prepared enough? Would any of them die?

He pulled away slightly and looked up at her. “What are you thinking?”

“I’m just scared. Have you really, and I mean really, thought about this? I’ve wanted nothing more than to be with you and to have you by my side, but this isn’t a game at all. We really are about to go to war.”

He grabbed her hands, and held them close to his chest. “I know it’s all happening so fast, but I don’t need to think about it anymore. Xavier kidnapped me and I was tortured. I want to fight them just as much as you do. I can do this and I’m ready.”

“You could easily be killed, Peter.” A tear escaped down her cheek.

“I would rather die, than live one day of life without you.”

She crushed her lips to his, and his arms tightened around her. He pulled her onto the bed next to him as they continued kissing.

His lips grazed the hollow of her neck and she let out a low moan. Ava slid her hands under his shirt and she touched his smooth chest. He kissed her neck, cheek, and lips. Her fingers ran across his stomach and up his back and she felt him quiver. Her heart pounded, and then her necklace grew warm with
Thomas’s anger. She clutched the pendant.

“What is it?” he asked, breathless.

She picked it up and stared at the single glowing red point at the bottom. “He’s furious. I guess even with a broken Aureole they can still tell what we’re feeling.”

“He won’t hurt you anymore.”

Ava let go of the necklace and looked at Peter. The moon reflected in his eyes in little white dots. “I know.”

“Am I going to know what you feel?”

“Yes.”

“What’s it like?”

“You feel like you’re angry or whatever emotion, but you know who’s producing it. It can be intense sometimes.”

“Like now?”

She nodded. “Yeah.”

Ava didn’t want to hurt Thomas, but maybe this would teach him to control his anger. She was envious of her mom for not having to go through this. She wished she could have talked to her mom about Peter, or that she could have met him.

He leaned over and kissed her forehead. She cuddled closer to him and felt his soft hands slowly rub her back. Then, she gave into the flood of tears. He held her so tight it was as if he squeezed the tears out even more. She wept until she couldn’t breathe.

“I’m so sorry,” he said.

Vengeful or not, Ava would find her mother’s killer.

The warmth of her necklace spread throughout her body, making her sweat. She kicked off the blankets, and untangled herself from Peter’s arms, but it was still hot. She took a deep breath, but coughed as a thick air entered. She immediately opened her eyes.

Ava sat up, and gasped. Orange flames licked
the side of the house, reaching her window. Black smoke swelled inside her room faster than she could operate.

“Peter!
” She choked. The entire room glowed orange.

With a jerk, he quickly rose
and cursed. He grasped her hand, and they shot out of bed.

“
Dad,” she yelled as they fled the room.

The smoke
cut the inside of her throat like a razor. Her eyes stung and she couldn’t breathe. They kept their heads below the filling air. Both of them constantly coughed.

“Dad,
” Ava called. She was on her hands and knees in the hallway and pushed open his bedroom door. Through the incredibly thick smoke, she felt around for his bed. She hit the sheets to find him but found it empty. He was still downstairs.

She turned to follow Peter down the hall
. A creak sounded as if something were to give way. The ceiling to the bedroom collapsed and pieces of debris fell on her. The cool night’s air kissed her, and smoke escaped through the wide hole in the roof.

“
Ava,” Peter yelled, and then scrambled to help her.

He seized her hand and then t
hey stumbled down the stairs, skipping two at a time. She scurried into the living room on her hands and knees, blindly feeling. She touched his hand and shook him.

“Dad!
Dad!”

“The front door is too hot,” Peter shouted. “We have to go out the back.”

She pulled her dad from the chair, and Peter hoisted him over his shoulder. She fumbled with the latch on the sliding glass door, and finally opened it. They staggered out the door, and then collapsed on the cold dead lawn.

Her lungs were grateful for the fresh air
.

“Dad.” Her voice was hoarse as she tried to yell, hoping to wake him.
She rolled him on his back, and checked his pulse in the now well-lit night, feeling the heat from the fire that engulfed her home. She hovered over his limp body.

His eyes
were wide and still. Blood gushed out of the top his head and trickled out of his mouth. His clothes were shredded and his body singed.

This wasn’t right. This was what her mother
had looked like when she was killed.

Ava clenched her teeth and forced the image from her head.
She closed and opened her eyes. Her father looked normal.

Trudy was there. She looked back at the woods
and all around them.

“Stay with him,” she told Peter,
and got to her feet, still searching for any movement in the woods.

“What are you doing?”

“Trudy’s here.”

Then, she saw
straight ahead some branches rustling and bolted for the forest.

“Ava,” Peter cried.
“Don’t go.”

Now was her chance to get answers from Trudy
. Her mind was clear and she was ready to attack as water dripped from her fingertips. She hoped her coven would realize she was in danger and come to help.

Ava raced through the forest to find Trudy. Her throat was scratchy from the smoke, and her eyes watered from the cold. She saw a movement to her left, and picked up the pace. She collided with something and fell to the ground.

She looked down and realized she had fallen on a woman.
Black hair sprawled all around her face. She opened her eyes and they were a piercing green.

“Who are you?” Ava asked, and pushed off her.

The woman grabbed Ava’s arms and flung her in the air. Ava landed hard on her back, but shot to her feet. Water built around her hands, and she discharged it at the woman, but missed.

Then, a bright flash ignited. It was so bright, Ava had to cover her eyes, and she lost her balance.
She felt the woman slam her to the ground and hold her.

Ava couldn’t see anything
but white flashes behind her lids. Her eyes refused to adjust in the dark night.

She heard several footsteps coming closer and she struggled to get to her feet, but the woman’s grasp was tight.

“There’s no use struggling,” the woman said. “You’re surrounded.”

When h
er eyes finally adjusted, she looked around. Xavier and his Halflings stood in a circle. The woman grabbed Ava by the shoulders and jerked her to her feet.

“You’re all doing this against your will,” she said
, meeting the eyes of the Halflings. “Don’t you see what’s happening?”

Xavier had a sly smile and sauntered closer. “
Some of us are under our own will.” He touched her cheek, and she flinched.

Water trickled down her arms.
“So you gladly support this? Without anyone compelling you?”

He laughed. “I was the one who helped
Devon escape. You all thought it was over, but it’s only just begun.”

Xavier was a
n Enchanter. Not a Halfling. How long had he been around?

She glared at him. “
You know who killed my mom.”

“
Aww, did you just find out that she was murdered? She wouldn’t cooperate. Which is what will happen to you if you don’t.”

Ava clenched her fists, and envisioned him drowning. His eyes bulged, and his face turned red, then purple. He clawed at his neck and gasped for air.
Xavier collapsed to his knees.

Then, a flash of bright light blinded
Ava and she lost her concentration.

She felt
something slam her body to the ground. Ava knew she had threatened Xavier’s ego.

“You can’t kill me,” Xavier said, and then he punched her in the face.

Her jaw throbbed and a liquid leaked out of her mouth.

“Enough,” someone shouted.

Ava blinked several times before her eyes came into focus. She couldn’t wait to get rid of the black-headed woman to stop the blinding. A tall man emerged from behind Xavier. His hair was white-blond, and his eyes were a vibrant green. He looked way too young to be a leader of a revolt, but ages were deceiving. His lips were set in a wicked grin, as he walked closer to Ava. She assumed he was Devon.

The black-
haired woman jerked her to her feet once more. Ava was tired of the woman pushing her around. Where was everyone? Didn’t they know she was in danger? She just needed to hold on a little bit longer.

If she could punch the woman holding her, shoot water in
Devon’s face, and somehow conjure enough water to disable everyone, she could escape.

“
Hello, Ava,” Devon said. “I really hate to do this, because I can tell you will be a very valuable Enchanter. But after Havok has all of your powers, he won’t need you.”

There was that name again. Did he think of himself in the third person?

“You’ll never succeed.”

He smirked. “We’ll see.” He raised his hand as if to touch her, and then she could feel a strange pull that left her cold
and dizzy.

Ava
focused her strength. She could do this.

She fought against the pulling sensation, and
quickly elbowed the woman in the throat, knocking her backwards. Then, she shot water at Devon. It was powerful enough to bring him to his knees. And then all the men froze, seemingly in a trance.

Natalia appeared
through the forest with a fierce look, and Ava never thought she’d be so glad to see her. The wind blew, and picked up. Fireballs shot near Xavier and Devon. The ground shook as rocks collected near a tree and Ava assumed Melissa stood there.

Jeremy, Thomas, Lance, and Gillian came into view. The black-headed woman grabbed Ava, and then punched her. She grappled with the woman, and tried imagining her underwater, but then the woman’s hands
wrapped around Ava’s throat. She squeezed tightly, cutting off her air. Ava punched and fought but she was slowly losing strength.

“You can’t kill me,” Ava tried to say.

“Try me.”

F
lashes of fire and lightning surrounded her. Screams and explosions were muffled, and thunderous sounds shook the ground. All while Ava was slowly dying.

Ava gasped for air. The black-headed
Enchanter had her hands wrapped around Ava’s neck, squeezing. She hit the woman but she never loosened her grip. She pictured the woman once more underwater. It was a weak image, but it was all she had. The woman coughed, and then the pressure around her throat was gone. She scrambled away from the woman. Her throat ached and it felt as if she couldn’t get the air in fast enough.

She looked up and saw Joss, the petite
Enchanter, electrocuting Devon. He twitched and fell to his knees. He continued to twitch, and then he was still.

Ava drew a shaky breath.
Devon was dead. She looked to her left and saw the black-headed woman lying in an unnatural position.

Gabriel held out his hand for
Ava. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” She nodded, took his hand, and he helped her to her feet.

Her coven held Kristen and the rest of the Halflings captive. Xavier was on his knees with Aaron’s hand on his shoulder. Eric, Maggie, and Kira stood next to Natalia, and Savina and Colden stood nearby.

Ava walked to
ward Xavier. She wanted to kill him for kidnapping all the innocent Ephemerals, for taking Peter, her friends, and her, for bombing the school, and for setting fire to her house.

“He won’t hurt you now,” Aaron said. “I’ve weakened his powers.”

Melissa stepped forward. “How did you do that?”

“That’s what I do. I can weaken or enhance.”

“He should die,” Ava said.

“Ava, don’t,”
Savina said. “We will take him to the Cruciari.”

“We can’t take him there.
He helped Devon escape, so he knows how to get out.”

“She has a point
,” Colden said. “Perhaps we could keep him hostage.”

“
Devon escaped on his own,” Xavier said. “You just can’t believe someone could actually leave that place like he did.”

“You said you helped him,” Ava said.

He laughed. “Maybe I did. Maybe I didn’t. But you think putting me there will stop us? Others believe Corbin’s vision. This isn’t over by a long shot.”

Ava drew her hand back
, curled it into a fist, and drove it into his face. He fell back, unconscious. She’d wanted to do that for some time.

Melissa let out a hard laugh. “Nice hook.”

“Not exactly ladylike,” Savina said.

“Let us go,” Kristen screamed, and squirmed against Lance.

“What do we do with them?” Ava asked.

“I
will heal them of their mind control,” Savina said. She moved to Kristen, and gently touched her. Within seconds, Kristen relaxed, but then her eyes widened as she looked around. It reminded Ava of the boys in the hall who almost kissed her.

“W-what are you all doing?” she asked. “Why am I here? What are you doing to me?”

“They don’t know anything,” Ava said. “They didn’t have a choice.”

“There a
re ways to help them transition,” Gabriel said. “And if they choose not to continue as an Enchanter, Aaron can weaken their ability, and we can have their mind erased.”

“That’s terrible
.”

Colden lifted Xavier over his shoulder. “They will be fine. Thomas, burn the dead.”

“You got it,” Thomas said.

Savina finished lifting the mind control off the Halflings. “Let’s go back to the Manor. We have much to discuss.”

“I have to go back to my dad,” Ava cried. “They burned my house.” She took off through the woods once more rushing to get back. She couldn’t believe she had left Peter and her dad unprotected. What if other Cimmerians took Peter and her dad?

Ava broke through the woods and found the house
still ablaze. Smoke rose into the indigo sky. There was no sign of Peter or her dad. She called their names but received no answer. Where were they? Had they been taken?

“Peter,” she screamed. Her heart pounded
as she frantically searched. “Dad.”

“Ava,” someone called.

She turned around and was face-to-face with Gabriel. Her body shook and tears fell in an endless stream. “I can’t find them. They’re not here.”

“What happened before the fight in the woods?”

“We woke up to the house burning. We got out and my dad was unconscious. And then I saw a vision like what Trudy did the other night. So I ran after her.”

“Do you think Peter could have called 911?”

Ava froze. She didn’t even think of that. “I don’t know. Could they be at the hospital?”

“
They might. I can take you there.”

H
e pulled Ava close to his body. He was warm and oddly comforting, though it was a little awkward. She closed her eyes and a second later, they were at the hospital. They jogged inside and walked up to the check-in desk.

“Connor Hannigan,” Ava said, breathless. “Do you have a patient by
that name?” She sped through her words, but the old woman seemed to be moving at a snail’s pace.

She clicked on her computer and Ava saw the reflection of the screen in the woman’s glasses. Ava wanted to tell the nurse to hurry up as she kept clicking, but she held her tongue.

“He’s in the ER,” the nurse finally said. “Room 404.”

For a moment, Ava was relieved, but then she darted down the hallway with Gabriel behind her. He grabbed her hand and headed for the stairs. Then suddenly they were on the fourth floor. Ava pushed open the stairwell door and found Peter halfway down the hall. He was sitting on the floor with his knees up and his head in his hands.

A lump rushed to the base of her throat and then she ran, dodging people. The hallway seemed to get longer and longer as she made her way to him.

“Peter,” she
cried.

He raised his head and locked eyes with her. He was covered in soot
, but she was thankful to see him.

Peter got to his feet and rushed up to her. “Ava,” he said, with relief.

Ava collided with him, wrapping her arms around him, and squeezing him so tight. She felt his arms fit perfectly around her.

He kissed the top of her head and forehead and then lips. He cupped his hands on her face, his brown eyes gazing into hers. “Are you okay?
Your neck is bruised.”

She nodded. “Yes.
I’m fine. I thought they took you. I thought—.”

“I’m okay.” He hugged her and she buried her face in his neck.
“Your dad’s okay. They said he inhaled quite a bit of smoke, but we got him out in time.”

“Thank you
for saving him.” She turned around and met Gabriel’s eyes. “Thank you for your help.”

“You’re welcome,” he said.

Ava squeezed Peter’s hand, and then opened the door to his room. Seeing her father hooked up to an oxygen mask and an IV angered her, but also brought up memories of when she was in the hospital for pneumonia. He was sleeping and there was a constant beep.

“
Dad,” she said and moved beside his bed. “I’m here, Dad.”

The door opened and Ava twisted her head
and saw Savina quietly enter.

“How is he?” she asked.

“The doctors told Peter he had inhaled a lot of smoke.”

It was odd seeing
Savina in such a normal atmosphere. She seemed so otherworldly. Ava watched her glide to the other side of the bed and slowly moved her hands over him.

Ava bit her lip and twirled her ring.

Her father’s eyes gradually opened, and tears overflowed and raced down her face.

“Dad,” she cried, and
then kissed his forehead. The door closed, and she realized they were alone. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered.

“For what?”
His voice was a little scratchy, but his color had returned. He sat up and moved his feet to hang over the side.

“I should’ve been more alert
. This is my fault.”

“
Ava, what are you talking about?”

“They came after us. They could’ve killed us. I almost died and
Devon almost took my powers and—.”

“Slow down,” he cut her off. “What happened?”

Ava took a deep breath and explained everything.

“So
Devon is dead.”

“Yes. But I ran after Trudy and left you and Peter. I’m so sorry. I thought they took you and Peter.”

“Stop. It wasn’t your fault. What you should be apologizing for is how you left without saying a word for an entire day. But, thank you for saving me.”

“
Peter did. He got you here. I’m so glad you’re okay.”

He
squeezed her hand. “Speaking of Peter. I take it you talked to him.”

Ava sat next to him on the bed. “Yes.”

“And,” he urged.

“He didn’t freak out once. He just accepted it. What happened when Mom told you?”

He took a deep breath. “Well, at first, I didn’t know what to think or say. I was scared, but the more I learned about them the more I felt comfortable. Savina and Aaron welcomed me as if I were meant to be, or as if I were family.”

She nodded.
“Savina didn’t want him at first. She said no. And she said she could tell we were in love, but she didn’t think we’d have time with everything going on.”

“What changed?”

“We showed her that he can protect us. She says he could be a Paramortal.”

“Wow. What are the odds?”

“I never expected this.”

“Of course not. You can’t expect anything in life.”

“What will happen to him? I mean, is this right of me? I feel selfish bringing him into all this and then with all these expectations.”

“
You may have fought for him, but he ultimately made his decision. I’ve seen the way he looks at you and cares for you. I think he’s loved you for some time now, and this is what he wants. He chose you, Ava. Just like I chose your mother.”

She nodded, and felt his arm around her, pulling her close. She rested her head on his shoulder. “I just worry about him.”

“I know. Your mom was worried, too, but she knew she couldn’t be happy without me, and I felt the same. There isn’t a day that goes by I don’t wish I could’ve protected her that day.”

Ava stiffened, and then raised her head. “You know?”

“I had suspected.”

“Do you know who”

He shook his head. “No, but I’m sure they are locked up at the Cruciari.”

Ava had wondered that herself, but she still wanted to know for sure.

There was a soft knock on the door, and then Savina entered. “How are you, Connor?”

“I’m well. Thank you
for healing me.”

“Of course.” She smiled warmly.

“How did this happen?” her father asked.

“A Halfling named Kristen was under their influence. She caused the lightning to strike your house, catching it on fire.”

“Are they okay?” he asked. Even in such a time, her father thought of others.

“They are in shock, but we will get them better. They are staying at the Manor for the time being. Ava saved them.”

“Hardly,” she said.

“If you had not chased after them, we may not have gotten to them. Now,
Devon is dead. Rest assured.”

“
But is it really over?” Ava asked. “Trudy is still out there. What if she starts a revolution?”

“There weren’t many strong supporters of Corbin after we imprisoned them. Trudy can’t do it alone. And we have Xavier.
Soon, he will join the rest at the Cruciari.”

Something didn’t seem right. It felt like everything wrapped up in a nice, neat package. Killing
Devon and his rather small army was too easy. Was Xavier right? Was there someone else out there who had actually started this?

“You worry too much, Ava,” Savina said. “I promise you we will be fine. We will still practice as much as we can to make you all stronger. But the security at the Cruciari has tightened
, so no one will escape.”

Ava nodded
. Hearing Savina’s voice calmed her. They would be safe at the Manor. “Thank you,” she said and hugged Savina, inhaling the strong scent of oranges. “Thank you for everything.”

She
felt Savina’s hands softly on her back, stroking her hair. She was warm and comforting and motherly. Ava missed that.

“
You do not have to thank me,” Savina said. “I would do anything for you.”

“Let’s go home, Sweetie,” her father said.

They both stood, but Ava stopped. It hadn’t occurred to her that they had no home to go to anymore. Everything was gone, including all the pictures of her mom. Tears rolled down her face. The only memory Ava had of her mother was in her head, and that faded each day.