Under A Blood Moon (Elemental Enchanters) (9 page)

On an
extremely bitter, cold October night, it was time for the Initiation. Waiting for Thomas, Ava bit her lip and watched the fast moving clouds move across the darkening pink sky through her window. She didn’t know why she was nervous, but she hadn’t slept at all last night and couldn’t sit still for one minute all day. Her dad tried to comfort her, but it didn’t work.

She heard the doorbell and knew it was Thomas. Once they went to the M
anor and came back, she would talk to him.

With a moan, she finally left her room and met him downstairs. “See ya later, Dad.”

“Everything will be okay,” he said.

Ava nodded and followed Thomas out the door.

“Took you long enough,” he said.

“Don’t start.”

“Yeah, well, we’ll just blame our lateness on you.”

She opened the back door and squeezed in next to Gillian and Melissa. Thomas left the loud radio playing and the heat going for the others. Lance took the passenger seat, while Jeremy sat in the very back of the
Jeep.

Melissa sighed. “Thomas, we’re not late. It’s not like we’re going to the football game. By the way, what did Coach Jones do to you for being tardy Friday?” She laughed and lit a cigarette, inhaled, and exhaled the smoke.

Gillian coughed.  

“He suspended him one game,” Lance replied.

Melissa laughed. “Ouch. Bet that sucks.”

“I was five minutes late,” Thomas said. “Joey Davine is late all the time.”

“Yeah, but Joey Davine isn’t the star quarterback, now is he?” Lance said. “Coach couldn’t care less about him. He’s just some measly freshman.”

Ava sighed and rolled her eyes. Thomas whined like an infant, while his precious Lance comforted him as always.

“Why
were
you late?” Melissa asked. “Were you finally getting it from Ava?”

“Shut up,” she snapped. “Not tonight.”

Melissa laughed uncontrollably. She rolled down the window further to release her cigarette butt. Her blond hair slapped over her face.

“Don’t get upset,” Gillian whispered so low that no one else could hear. “She’s just in one of her moods.”

Ava knew too well about her moods. She also could tell Melissa was excited, yet nervous. All of them were.

Melissa rolled up the window. “Well, you know it is about time. I mean, no wonder Thomas is grumpy, and you know, now that I think of it, you have been irritable.” She glanced at Ava. “Just get it over with already.”

Ava peered out of the window at the low moon that was the color of the sun, the beginning of a blood moon. It looked close enough to touch and seemed to swallow the sky. She was ready for this night to be over.

“Yeah, well, I’m not the one spending all my time with someone else,” Thomas blurted.

He kept his eyes on the road, but Ava noticed his hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly he might break it off.

“And after tonight’s meeting, you and I are going to fix this.”

“Fix what, Thomas?” Ava asked. Blood boiled within her pulsating veins.

“You and this guy.”

Lance groaned. “Oh god—can you two wait until we’re not around?”

“He’s just some guy in my class,” Ava said.

“Who?” Jeremy asked.

“Peter McNabb,” Thomas said through clenched teeth.

Melissa let out a short, hard laugh. “You are threatened by him? Are you serious?”

“No. I’ve seen him sitting next to her at the games. And by her locker every day. Is that where you were last night?”

She swallowed. “Thomas, please. We’ve known each other for years now. Why should it bother you all of a sudden?”

“Because you’ve been spending so much time with him lately.”

“Thomas, he’s only really helping her with chemistry and math,” Gillian said. “You know how terrible she is.”

Ava met Gillian
’s eyes and mouthed the words “Thank you.”

“We’re not supposed to lure others into our group, Ava,” Melissa said. 

She rolled her eyes. Where was this coming from? “I’m not luring him.”

“Okay, can everyone just settle down?” Jeremy asked. “Please?” He squeezed Ava’s shoulder.

No one spoke for the remainder of the drive. Ava twirled her ring around her finger, thinking more of Peter, and just wishing she were somewhere else. The tight cramping in the pit of her stomach returned, as Thomas drove through the dark woods. She clamped her eyes shut, and Peter circled her mind. She propped her head up against her hand as she enjoyed the short daydream. She imagined his tall, slender, muscular body. His brown eyes. And then wished for his lips to touch hers.

“There it is,” Gillian whispered, and Ava’s eyes popped open.

As they neared the great mansion, Ava gasped. She gawked out the window. The mansion was just as she remembered it the first time she came. How could that be? After all those years of visiting, it had clearly depicted abandonment. Now, it looked perfect—no caved-in roof, no kudzu, no broken gate, no overgrown vegetation.  

Thomas
put the car in park and turned off the engine. Ava stared straight ahead at the Victorian structure of gray stone. Sharp steeples projected from the mansard roofs. Several arched windows faced the front with diamond-shaped panes, like something out of a church. She didn’t remember the two round turrets on each side of the heavy wooden door, but she did remember the raven statues. 

“Now what?” Gillian asked, wrapping her black curls around her finger.

“We go in, genius.” Melissa opened the car door and jumped out.

“What if they’re not there?”

“Then we wouldn’t have come tonight,” Jeremy said. “It’ll be okay.”

Ava was glad she wasn’t the only scared one. She slowly opened her door, and soon Thomas was by her side. He grabbed her hand and held it tightly.

“It’ll be okay,” he said, but she assumed he was reassuring himself.

They all walked together through the unbroken wrought-iron gate, between the garden with blooming
purple orchids, orange lilies, and several other varieties of colors and flowers. Ava remembered the vivid colors. It was odd that such color could survive in October, and look so fresh. She couldn’t really see them now, at dusk and shivered from the bitter cold, but then automatically, her body warmed. Thomas placed his arm around her waist, holding her tight against him as if she would vanish.

“Why is it so cold?” she mumbled. “It never is this time of year.”

“I don’t know, but I hope it’s warmer inside,” Thomas said and then knocked on the door.

Eerily silent woods surrounded the mansion
. Another shiver reverberated throughout Ava’s body. She didn’t know what would happen to them. Her heart raced.

They waited only a few seconds before the massive wooden door opened. Behind it, stood Savina. Ten years had not aged the tall, slim woman. Her auburn hair was longer—
below her waist, and straight. Small barrettes pulled it back from each side from her face. Her infectious smile reached her eyes. A ring of yellow surrounded the light green irises of her eyes.

“Hello, my children,” she said with a Scottish accent. “I’ve missed you all so very much.” She gave them tight hugs and kissed their cheeks. Ava breathed in the scent of oranges and remembered it
from the first time she’d met Savina. “Please, make yourselves at home.”

Ava hesitantly crossed the threshold, with Thomas helping her along, into the ornately designed home. She
stared at the grand staircase that wound around to several stories and felt incredibly small under the intricate cathedral ceiling.

“I’ve prepared dinner for us all,” Savina said. Her black robe-like dress drifted along the floor as she walked. The sleeves were long and wide.
Ava couldn’t stop looking at her.

She led the way into the dining room
, and Ava’s mind immediately flooded with the memory of that first night they all arrived. The paintings on the blood-red walls were dark and creepy. One was of the full moon behind bare trees and a woman floating in the air with a round, garnet pendant hanging from a chain around her neck. In another, a group of people dressed in black cloaks stood around a large fire bowing. It all reminded her of one of Edgar Allan Poe’s stories. She loved those stories, but never wanted to live in them.

A s
teaming brown soup, warm bread, and several casseroles had been placed on the round black table. Pewter plates and glass goblets waited at each place setting. Ava remembered how good the food had tasted the last time, and her stomach growled.

“They’re here,” Colden stepped into the room and clapped his hands once. His long raven hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and his black eyes beamed. His tall slender body was cloaked in
a long black robe that looked like a priest robe and he had pale ghostly skin. “It’s so good to see you all. So healthy and so strong.”

His smile
gave Ava the creeps. She didn’t know what it was about him, but she felt more comfortable around Savina. He was a Droll, a powerless Enchanter, which was very rare, but that wasn’t the reason for her uneasiness.

When they all
sat down, Savina smiled and motioned for them to begin. “I can’t believe you all,” she said. “It seems like yesterday when I saw you last. And what beautiful people you turned out to be.”

“So what have you been up to all these years?” Ava didn’t mean for her tone to sound so harsh.

“Looking out for all of you,” Savina said.

“Among other things,” Colden told her. “There is much to discuss, but we will get to that later.”

“Why don’t we get to it now? Where have you been all this time? You haven’t been here in ten years.”

Melissa nudged her. “Ava?”

“No, I want to know.” She wasn’t sure where all this was coming from. Or why she was suddenly so angry with them. Maybe it was just all those years of feeling abandoned and how she’d dreaded this day or that she had no choice in any of it.

“I know it may not seem like we were not here, but we were,” Savina replied. “Only when you needed us the most. But we are here now. For good.”

“Why?” Ava asked. “Because you need us?”

“Stop,” Melissa said.

Savina held up her hand. “It’s okay. Finish eating, and we will explain everything.”

Embarrassed, Ava picked up the silver spoon and
then hesitated. She watched Thomas slurp his soup like it was his last meal on earth. Gillian daintily sipped hers, and Melissa looked at her as if she would hurt her if she didn’t calm down.

“Please do not fear me,” Savina whispered to her.

Why did she say that? Could she sense Ava’s fear? 

Ava drew a deep breath, and sipped the warm soup. It was rich and thick, and though she didn’t want to admit it, it tasted heavenly.

Like the last meal with Savina and Colden, there wasn’t much talking, but Ava couldn’t ignore the stares from both of them. Once everyone finished, Savina motioned Ava and the rest into another large sitting room. Candles flickered all around. Savina moved to the black, marble fireplace, waved her hand across it, and a fire appeared.

Ava gasped. She had never seen
an Enchanter use her power like that. An old painting of lively green rolling hills and tall mountains, presumably Scotland, where Savina and Colden were from, hung above the fireplace.

She sat on the L-shaped dark red couch and looked around at everyone’s faces. They all looked content, comfortable, as if they belonged. As if they knew Savina and Colden would be here, but Ava felt sick, like a large weight
had lodged in her stomach. She met Thomas’s eyes and he took her hand.

Colden stood by the fireplace, and Savina sat in a Victorian chair
that matched the couch.

“It has brought us such great joy to see you all,” she
began. “You are all so strong, mature, and so beautiful. Now it is time to understand the splendor of the Craft.”

The knots would not stop forming in Ava’s stomach. Thomas squeezed her hand, something he did when she gripped too hard, but she didn’t let up.

“Each of you has a wonderful ability and we are here to solidify our Aureole,” Colden said. “The Aureole is a circle that once we all stand on it, glows and connects us all. You have also come back to help us fulfill a mission.”

Ava froze. A mission? She exchanged glances with the others and they looked just as confused.

Savina interlocked her hands. “Devon Maunsell has escaped the Cruciari.”

Ava
felt her jaw go slack. She didn’t know who Devon Maunsell was, but for him to have escaped the famous Enchanter prison was enough for her to come unhinged.

Ava took a deep breath and kept the stew from coming up.
How could an Enchanter possibly escape the Cruciari? Water surrounded the fortress. A negation spell prevented the use of any powers. Enchanters were slowly tortured until death. Yet, somehow, one had escaped. What did this mean to them?

“How did he get out?” Her voice was shaky.

“We are still investigating that,” Savina said.

Colden slowly paced in front of the fireplace, in deep though
t. “We have been trying to find out if someone let him out or if the charm broke.”

“So who is this guy?” Melissa asked. She didn’t look as nervous as Ava felt.

Gillian chewed on her lip and curled and uncurled her hair around her finger while Jeremy held her other hand, seemingly calm.

Colden stopped pacing and then turned to them.
“He is a Cimmerian, a Dark Enchanter. One of Corbin’s biggest supporters.”

A piercing silence fell on them. Corbin Havok.
He was Colden’s father and Savina’s stepfather—the most evil Enchanter in history. He had started wars with Enchanters and massacred mortal humans, or as they were known as Ephemerals. There hadn’t been any wars since he died almost thirty years ago.

“When did he escape?” Ava asked.

“A few days ago,” Colden said.

Jeremy shifted and leaned forward. “B
ut his powers have been negated, and he’s been tortured for years. What harm is he to us?”

Ava thought she saw a flicker of sympathy in Savina’s eyes.

“He is a deranged man on the loose.” Savina paused, as if gathering her thoughts. “We believe he has gained followers, but they leave no trace of their whereabouts.”

“Followers for what?” Jeremy asked.

“Devon could be waging a war against us for revenge. While we search for him, we will need to prepare you all. We need to protect the Ephemerals and our kind.”

“War?” Ava asked. Her throat tightened
, and her heart stopped.

“Yes,” Savina replied.

Thomas shook his leg, the way he did when he was nervous, which was rarely. “Where is this guy?”

Colden poked the fire, making small embers rise. “We do not know.” There was a hint of irritation in his voice.

“Some of our Aureole are investigating and trying to track him down,” Savina said. “The others are traveling here to train you all.

“Why would we need so many to train us?” Ava asked. “I thought only our coven leaders did that?”

Colden shook his head. “No. We cannot do this,” he shouted at Savina. “They are too young, Savina.” Ava detected concern in his voice.

She gave him a
stern look, and Ava assumed she was speaking to his mind. What was she saying to him?

He took a deep breath and placed the poker back in its place. “Forgive me. We will explain more once we go into the conservatory.” The scared look in his eyes worried Ava.

“Why is he seeking revenge?” Ava asked.

“
For killing Corbin and forcing him and others into the Cruciari. He has also killed Ephemerals in his path but now he is making them into Enchanters for his army. He wants as many able bodies as he can get to fight us.”

“Halflings in his army?” Ava asked. “That doesn’t make sense.”
Devon must have been desperate for an army. Corbin had hated Ephemerals and there was no way he would make half-blooded Enchanters. He had only wanted pureblood for his military.

“He is willing to do anything to avenge
Corbin,” Colden said.

“I want you to know I can read minds
, and you all will need to learn how to hide your thoughts,” Savina said. “Along with healing, I can inflict mental pain. I must teach you how to use this craft well. Over the next few months, you will learn to master your power.”

“
But in the meantime, you must be aware of potential spies,” Colden said. “And we are to execute those who are dangerous,” Colden said.

“Why would anyone be spying on us?” Gillian asked.

“Comes with the territory of a possible war,” Jeremy said. “He’s seeking revenge against Savina and Colden, and we’re a part of that. They probably want to know what we’re up to or our every step.”

This
wasn’t happening. It was all too much. They were going to die. Ava couldn’t stop shaking, and she didn’t even notice Thomas’s arms around her.

“
You all have come here tonight to pledge your dedication to your Aureole,” Savina said. “This coven is founded upon commitment, trust, and love. You must not break it nor betray each other. Betrayal will lead to expulsion and loss of powers in most Aureoles,” she explained as casually as if she were teaching history.

Ava gripped
Thomas’s hand once more. Her dad never mentioned any of that. She could not get over Benjamin escaping…impending war…potential spies…betraying the Aureole…Halflings. A bowling ball seemed to weigh inside her stomach and she felt dizzy. Several questions bubbled on her tongue, but she remained quiet. She felt as if her insides would pour out, but she held herself together.

Savina
stood and walked to a cherry oak chest under a window and opened it. She pulled out six small, black velvet boxes and handed them out to Ava and the others.

Ava
opened the box with shaky hands. Inside was a necklace similar to the ones her parents always wore. The pewter pendant that hung on a black leather rope was a pentacle, a star within a circle. An intricate Celtic design adorned the circle. Worked into the scrolls were five red garnet stones. A larger garnet was set in the center of the star. Each stone represented a person in the Aureole, the middle belonging to the wearer.

Ava
pulled it out and, like the others, wrapped it around her neck, and clasped the ends together.

“This is my gift to you,” Savina said. “
Never be without it. These pendants are magical, and they give each of us an intuitive connection.”

Ava remembered her dad talking about it when she was younger. It was like a mood necklace
, and at the time, she thought it was the coolest thing. Now she wasn’t sure she wanted the others to know how she felt at any given moment. But it was more than just moods. They’d be able to tell when any of them was in danger.

“I think mine’s broken,” Gillian said.

Savina smiled. “It will work once we call our powers.” She moved her long hair from her chest and revealed the same necklace. Colden pulled his out from his cloak. “We will be able to feel you as well.”

Melissa cleared her throat politely. “So will we be able to feel all emotions?”

“Yes. Especially, if it is intense.” Savina eyed Melissa and Ava wondered if she was speaking to her mind. Ava knew what Melissa was thinking. This was going to be awkward.

“You must never remove the necklace, for your presence will not be felt, and I will assume the worst. If you feel someone in danger, you must protect them at all costs.” Savina crossed the room with Colden and instructed them to follow. “Now, you must swear your oaths.”

Ava still
clutched onto Thomas’s hand as they walked down the hallway that led to the large room with the massive glass ceiling. She shivered and then Thomas rubbed his hand on her arms to warm her. But the chills weren’t just from the cold. She hated this. Savina could read her mind, and now they knew what she was feeling. She just wanted to be alone.

T
hey reached the end of the corridor and entered a candlelit room. The same room that they stood in ten years ago appeared before them.

In the center of the room was
a purple velvet rug with a large pentagram embroidered on it. Ava’s stomach churned at the memory of drinking blood.

The simple beauty of this room once again awed
her. She looked up into the domed ceiling at the stars and saw the orange-red moon low in the sky. She couldn’t stop shaking.

Savina crossed to the center of the circle.
“Swearing an oath is one of the most important events of your life. We were all born Enchanters and this is our destiny.”

Ava tried listening
, but only picked up every other word. Everything distracted her. The flickering candles. The way Colden and Savina stood calmly in front of them. The glass doors behind them, even though she couldn’t see out of them, she wanted to get out of there.

“
Everyone, get in a circle,” Savina said.

Ava’s pulse quickened and
her palms sweated in Thomas’ss hand. She clenched her teeth to prevent them from chattering and followed the others to form a circle. She stood between Thomas and Jeremy. Colden moved next to Savina in the center.

He
stood patiently, and clasped his hands in front of him. “Each of you is a part of nature. You are all Elemental Enchanters.”

“
There has never been a coven of Elementals,” Savina said. “The Elements are the root of all existing matter. Each of you is exceptionally powerful, but together as a group, you can be omnipotent. With all these essentials combined, it could be severely dangerous. Which is why we must train you so you don’t lose control.”

Ava exchanged looks with Melissa.

Savina and Colden moved in the circle, and everyone held hands.

“Each of us will ple
dge one at a time,” Savina said, and then spoke the oath. Melissa and Thomas followed, and then it was Ava’s turn.

She took a deep breath
, and swore her oath under the blood moon. “I bind myself to this Aureole. I solemnly swear that I will keep this coven under absolute secrecy, that I will use my power for the good, and that I will protect the members of my coven at all costs. I swear this upon my life, and should I break this most solemn oath, it would result in eternal unrest for my soul.” 

Lance
gave his oath, then Gillian, Colden, and Jeremy.

“Our powers strengthen within this circle of perfect love and perfect trust,” Savina said, and then moved in front of Gillian
and touched her face. “Gillian, you are the Moon, the second most powerful entity. You calm us, help us regain our grounding, and help us in dire need. You keep balance inside the circle. The Moon affects moods, but more specifically, it affects our minds.”

Ava wasn’t sure what that meant. Did Gillian have the power to control their moods as well as their minds?

Savina placed her hands on Jeremy’s face. “Jeremy, you are the Air. Cool and dry, you are associated with communication and intelligence. You are connected to the soul and the breath of life. You have the power to create gusts of wind so powerful that it could rip apart trees or boulders.”

Ava had experienced a small example of Jeremy’s power, but never knew just how immense it
was.

Savina
moved to Ava and lightly touched her face. Her hands were warm and surprisingly comforting.

Ava
, she spoke to her mind. Ava met her green eyes.
I promise you, everything will be fine. We are here now. Please do not be afraid—this is who you are.

Something about Savina’s tone
reinforced her message to Ava that she had nothing to worry about.

“Ava
, you are Water. Warm, intuitive, and cleansing. You deal with emotions such as love and joy but also pain and sorrow. High depths of emotion are associated with death. Be careful and do not let burdens weigh you down. Water is very strong as it is inside all of us. It will help cleanse ourselves and keep us hydrated. You have the ability to control water.” Savina’s hands fell and then she moved to Thomas.

Death? Why did she have to be associated with deat
h? She quickly cleared her mind.

Savina
looked up at Thomas, craning her neck. “Thomas, you are Fire,” she began, touching his face as well. “Passionate, physical, and courageous. You can create fire. Be careful, it can get dangerous, but is very protective and warm.”

“
Melissa. You are the Earth. Beauty, nurturing, and caring. You are stable, but you have inevitable strong energy, just like the abundant power of an earthquake or volcano. You are here to guide and protect you all. A leader of all entities.”

Ava met Melissa’s eyes and Melissa had an almost giddy smile.

“And finally, Lance. You are our Sun. You are the most powerful as you guide our strength together. You bind us and open our eyes to see clearly. While the Moon is resting, you watch over us. The sun is like a magnet. It draws us to you, to soak you in. It is warm and bright. The sun also absorbs those around you.”

“When you enter the circle, each of you must have
absolute love and conviction,” Colden said. “Now, each of you close your eyes and breathe softly. Think of your attribute of nature in a calming way.”

Ava
breathed deeply and thought of water. Off in the distance, she heard waves…seagulls…smelled the salty air and felt the warmth of the sun. She was calm. The waves crashed harder and louder. She could see them growing in size. Warmth rushed over her, and then she opened her eyes. It was almost as if she had left her body and a stronger, more confident version of herself took over.