Under A Blood Moon (Elemental Enchanters) (34 page)

“What is it?” Her father pulled her close.

“Dad, our house was burned. There’s nothing left.”

He nodded and took a deep breath. “We’ll find a place.” He kissed her forehead.

“I have rooms for you at the Manor,” Savina said.

“You’re too kind, but we can just get a hotel.”

“I insist.”

Ava knew her father didn’t do well with handouts, but he nodded. “We’ll be out as soon as we find a home.”

“Stay as long as you like. Come now, let us go.”

They
walked out of the room where Gabriel waited for them. Ava looked around but didn’t see Peter.

“Where’s Peter?” she asked.

“I took him to the Manor,” Gabriel said. “He’s with Seth.”

Ava couldn’t even imagine
what that conversation was like, and hoped Peter would be safe there with Thomas and Gillian.

The four of them
left the hospital and Gabriel made one stop on the way to the Manor at the request of Ava’s father.

Frosty dew coated the brown lawn. The early sun’s red tip was barely visible beyond the horizon. The last time Ava had watched the sunrise, was right after her mother died and she and her dad stayed up watching the peaceful scene. The world was silent, almost like it was in awe of such a beautiful
incident.

But when she turned her head, she stared at the blackened shell that was once their home. Smoke lingered from the desolate sight. Nothing was salvageable.

Her father held her hand tightly. “I can’t believe it’s all gone.”

“What are we going to do?” she asked. “There’s nothing left.”

“We’ll manage. We still have each other. Come on,” he said, and Gabriel teleported them to the Blackhart Manor, leaving the burned remains of their lives behind.

Ava was hesitant to cross the threshold of her new home. She didn’t want to stay at the Manor. It was big, and felt more like a hotel of sorts. She wasn’t used to having so many people around. It had been just her and her dad for ten years. But she forced herself inside and it was warm. She inhaled deeply and her stomach rumbled at the aroma of something familiar. It smelled like the stew she had had on their first night back.

Laughter from the library flowed into the hall and the foyer and Ava realized she
had missed that sound. How long had it been since she had a good laugh?

Ava looked to her dad as if asking if he wanted to join her.

“You go ahead,” he said. “I’ll be down in a bit.”

“
We will all have a meeting about Peter,” Savina said.

“Tonight?” Ava asked.

“Yes, but we will discuss other things.”

Ava nodded and then strode down the hall to the library. Both Aureoles
sat close to one another while the Halflings and Peter were at their own table. Did no one want to be around them?

“Ava,” Melissa cried and
rushed up to her. She hugged her tightly. “Where did you learn how to hit like that? Did you guys see her hit Xavier?”

Ava rolled her eyes. “He deserved it.”

Gillian twirled a curl around her finger. “I can’t believe we didn’t kill him.”

“But then we couldn’t torture him,” Joss said. “Gotta see the positive in things.”

“Only you would say that,” Eric joked, and then kissed her tiny nose.

Conversations picked up again, and Ava
leaned closer to Melissa. “Has Peter been okay with Thomas and Gillian here?”

“Thomas has been eyeing him, but he assumes Peter’s only here for Seth’s sake.” She frowned and nodded toward the Halfling’s table. “They’re all pretty shaken. I can’t imagine what they’re going through.”

Ava turned and saw Kristen staring off into space while Nicole had an arm around her shoulder whispering to her. Nothing Nicole said seemed to faze Kristen. Peter talked to Seth, Link, Scott, and Liza.

“Kristen and Link are in shock,” Melissa continued. “They hate what they did.”

“Link?”

“You can call him Mr.
Timebomb.”

“What?” Ava turned to her. “How does he even do that?”

“You got me.”

“I’m going to go talk to them.” She meandered toward their table and she saw all their eyes on her. “How are you all?”

Kristen looked up, her eyes watered and her chin quivered. “I’m so sorry, Ava.”

“Don’t apologize,” she said. “You have to know that wasn’t your fault.”

“Doesn’t make it any better.”

“I don’t blame you and I never will.”

“I can’t do this. I know she gave us a choice, but I can’t continue…”

Nicole hugged her tightly. “No one’s making you. They’ll fix you right up and you won’t even remember any of this. You’ll go on in a new place and start fresh.”

Ava never thought she would see the day when Nicole Eckrich would be comforting Kristen Miller.

“What if they find me again?”

Ava kneeled down beside Kristen’s chair. She wasn’t sure what to say because there was no guarantee that she would be one hundred percent safe. She met Kristen’s beady brown eyes and placed a hand on hers.

“
Devon is dead. And Xavier is a prisoner. They won’t find you. You’ll be so far away from all of this.”

Kristen nodded and wiped her tear-stained cheeks. “Thank you.”

“Anytime.”

Savina, Colden, Aaron, Maggie, and Kira entered the room and suddenly the blithe atmosphere changed to a serious one. Ava stood upright and then felt Peter’s hand intertwine with hers.

Savina clasped her hands together in front of her torso as she and Colden stood in front of the fireplace. Aaron, Maggie, and Kira flanked them.

“There is much to discuss tonight,” Savina began. Her green eyes swept over each person.
“First, we have six Halflings that were unfortunately turned against their will. We have spoken to each of them and gave them a choice to stay or leave.”

Colden frowned. “We know what a difficult situation you have been placed
in, but we would welcome you as our own and we would also respect your wishes if you decide to go.”

Seth stood and turned his attention to the front. “I want to stay,” he said.

Had Peter talked him into it or did Seth really want this?

“I want to stay as well,” Link said.

“Liza and I are leaving,” Scott told them. A pang of sadness hit Ava for some reason as she watched Scott hold a very distraught Liza.

How often did this happen? Corbin never turne
d Ephemerals against their will; he just killed them. Would Trudy try to do the same as Devon? She didn’t turn Milo for whatever reason.

“I’m leaving,” Kristen said, still clutching onto Nicole.

Nicole loosened Kristen’s grip and rose from her chair. “I wish to stay.”

“Nicole, no,” Kristen cried.

“We welcome those who are staying,” Savina said. “And we will care for the others.”

Ava detected a hint of sadness in Savina’s eyes but then they quickly changed back to the serious look.

“As some of you are aware,” she continued. “We have a potential new member, Peter McNabb. He is a Paramortal with the unusual ability to protect. I have asked him to join us to be with Ava. As you all remember, Ava’s mother did the same for her father. If Peter agrees, we must all accept him in order for him to join. Peter, your answer?

“I—.”

“This is ridiculous,” Thomas shouted. He narrowed his eyes and the muscles in his jaw twitched. “You can’t seriously do this. You should banish them both.” He pointed to Ava and Peter.

“Thomas, please,” Savina said. “
You have not seen what he can do. Peter protects her and can protect us all. Including you, but you must give him a fair reason. Now, Peter, your answer.”

Peter took a deep breath. “I wish to join
.” He glanced at Ava and squeezed her hand.

“Great.” Savina smiled warmly. “
Now I need you to show the group what all you can do. Joss, try to shock Ava.”

Joss moved from beside Eric. A blue electrical arc formed between her hands as the sound hummed like a power line. She pointed the current toward Ava,
and it hit her, but she didn’t feel anything. Joss tried once more. Again, the shock did not hurt Ava.

Kira stepped forward to inspect Ava. Her long white hair tickled Ava’s arm.
“Wow,” she said. “It’s like he formed a shield around her. That’s incredible.”

“Even if I’m injured, when I’m around him, I feel no pain,” Ava added.

“Can you protect yourself?” Colden asked.

“
I don’t know,” Peter replied.

Aaron crossed his arms.
“Joss, try your power on Peter.”

She turned to Peter and tried to shock him, but nothing happened. Everyone watched, mesmerized. Ava wondered if Peter felt a little uncomfortable to have them all watch him and test his ability, but if he was, he never showed it.

“He knows it’s coming, though,” Aaron said. “What if someone just attacks him without—?”

Thomas darted for him,
ripping Peter’s hand from Ava’s grasp, as he tackled him to the ground. Peter’s head snapped back from the impact. Thomas’s hands burst into flames and he pressed them into Peter. Peter cried out, but only for a second. He quickly blocked the fire.

“Thomas,” Ava screamed. “That’s enough.
” She tried pulling his arm but he jerked away from her.

Lance roughly seized his arm and dragged him away. “Calm down.”

Ava helped Peter up from the ground and noticed a hole in his sweatshirt from Thomas. The skin underneath was red. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. He just caught me off guard.”

“That is good though,” Colden said. “You’ll need to learn to be on your guard and ready for anything. I accept.”

Aaron stroked his chin.
“That was quite interesting.”

Ava squeezed Peter’s hand. She was sure Aaron wouldn’t allow him. She wasn’t sure why she felt that way. Maybe it was because of how she’d let him down by not killing Trudy.

“I accept Peter to be with us,” Aaron said, and Ava felt herself relax.

“I’m convinced,” Eric
said.

“Yes,” Kira and Maggie added together.

“I agree, as long as these kids don’t let their drama get in the way of anything,” Natalia nonchalantly said.

Joss rolled her beautiful violet eyes, and then smiled at Peter.
“Of course I accept you.”

“Me, too,” Gabriel said. “It makes sense.
”

Ava glanced at him and thought she saw a flash of s
adness in his crystal blue eyes. Had he fallen in love with an Ephemeral but something happened to her? Had he tried to bring her into this?

“Now the rest of you,” Savina asked the others.

Melissa smiled. “Of course.”

“Yes,” Lance said.

Jeremy cleared his throat. “Yes.”

Gillian wouldn’t look at either Ava or Peter, but she smiled at Savina. “Absolutely.”

Ava wondered what changed her mind so quickly.

Then they all turned to Thomas.

“I know you’re hurting and angry,” Aaron said. “But you must learn to accept this change.”

“Why are we not punishing her? Didn’t she break her oath?”

“Peter was already a target for Devon,” Aaron told him. “He already knew some things.”

Thomas sighed. “Fine.
Doesn’t look like I really have a choice.”

Aaron placed a hand on
Thomas’s shoulder and then whispered something in his ear. Ava felt guilty for hurting his feelings and hoped he would move on.

“We should all get some rest now,” Savina said. “We are safe.”

Like a domino effect, everyone stood and filed out of the room. Melissa, Lance, Jeremy, and Gillian walked up to Peter and Ava.

“Thank you all,” Ava said. “For understanding.”

“Don’t think I really wanted this,” Gillian said. “There’s just no point in me fighting the Elders. But don’t think for one second that I’m your friend.” She glared at Ava and then left the room.

Her words cut through Ava.

“She doesn’t mean that,” Jeremy said, but Ava knew he was only trying to make her feel better. “Welcome, Peter.”

“Thanks,”
Peter said, and Jeremy walked out.

Savina made her way toward them. “Ava, I will show you your new room.”

Ava nodded, even though she didn’t want to think of it as her room. “Sleep well,” she told Melissa and Lance.

Melissa gave a
teasing smile. “You, too.”

Ava rolled her eyes,
knowing she was ragging on Ava about being in the same room as Peter.

She and Peter followed Savina up to the second floor and Savina opened a thick wooden door.

“Your father is right across the way,” she said. “I have a room for you as well, Peter, if you wish to stay the night.”

“Sure,” he said and then walked with her down the hall.

Ava looked around the immense, timeless room. Three small arched windows allowed the late morning sun to filter its light across the dark hardwood floors. To the left, a mahogany canopy bed rested against the wall with a dark red curtain behind the headboard. Two Queen Anne chairs occupied the corner near the windows with a small, round table between them. Double doors on the right of the bed were open to a walk-in closet that seemed to have clothes hanging. And across the bed, a door opened to the white-marbled bathroom.

This was
Ava’s new home. It was beautiful, but it would take some getting used to. She still didn’t want to be there, but every nerve inside her pleaded her for rest.

She heard the door close behind her, and then felt arms
around her waist. She twisted around and came face-to-face with Peter. They both smelled of smoke, but she didn’t care. His eyes locked onto hers and she reached up and softly touched his cheek.

He kissed her
, slow, yet yearning, and then he tangled his hand in her hair. She reached around his neck, and pulled him closer. He kissed her as if he never wanted to let go. He made her forget the attack, and the loss she encountered. She immersed herself in the kiss, knowing that they were together now.