Under an Onyx Sky (Elemental Enchanters Series Book 4) (13 page)

They entered the two-story house that was seemingly open to the public. Ava looked around, trying to find someone. She didn’t want to recruit. She wanted to kill them all. They didn’t deserve to live. They didn’t appreciate what they had. They never realized the Elders were trying to protect them this whole time. They didn’t care. They wanted all of the Enchanters to die.

She saw a boy with a shaved head sitting low on the couch alone with a beer. He was tall and a little chubby. Maybe he was a football player. He was staring off into space. She crossed the room toward him and sat next to him.

“How’s it going?” she asked.

He shrugged, and tipped his red cup up, draining the last of its remnants. He got up and walked into the kitchen.

A challenge, she thought. She was up for it. She followed him and met him at the fridge where he pulled out another beer. She leaned on the door.

“Are you following me?” he asked.

“Maybe.”

“What do you want?”

“Just looking for a friend.”

“Well, I really don’t feel like talking to you.” He moved to pass her, but she blocked him.

“Why?” She stared up at him, giving him the most angelic look she could conjure.

He furrowed his eyebrows. “What the hell is your problem? Don’t you know when to leave someone alone?”

“Yeah, but I don’t feel like leaving you alone. You looked like you needed someone to talk to.”

“What are you? A self-help guru?”

She laughed. “Hardly. More like the opposite.” She moved closer. He smelled like a strong cheap cologne. “But I can help make you forget anything you want.”

He smirked. “How are you gonna do that? Even if you give me the best night of my life, I’m gonna remember the next day.”

She stared into his eyes. “Trust me. I’ll make you forget forever.”

His face relaxed, but he still looked at her cautiously. Bingo. She took his hand and led him out of the kitchen, through the main room, and outside.

“Where are we going?” he asked.

She turned to him. “You’ll make a great soldier.”

His face twisted into confusion. “What the hell are you talking about?”

She drew her fist back and punched him in the face. His eyes rolled to the back of his head, and he collapsed on the lawn. She picked up his foot and dragged him toward the tunnel door where she waited on the others.

Ava only waited a couple of hours before the others showed up with their recruits. “What took you so long?” she asked.

Xavier raised a curious eyebrow. “How long have you been sitting here?”

“For a while. He was easy.”

He shook his head. “Guess you’re good at this. He looks like he’ll be good.”

“That’s what I said.”

“Did you carry him?”

“No, I dragged him.”

“That explains the scrapes on his face,” Nicole said.

“Let’s go.” Xavier opened the door, and they followed him back through the tunnels. Ava hoisted the body over her shoulder, and once they returned, Xavier instructed them to leave their recruits in a cell.

“That was fun,” Eve said.

“Tavern tonight?”

She clung onto Gabriel like he was her pet. “Nah, I think we’re gonna go back to the room.”

“Yeah, we’re pretty tired, too,” Link said about him and Nicole.

“I’m game,” Ava said. She could use another night to party.

“Let’s go,” Xavier said, and they walked out of the basement.

As they walked up the stairs and down the corridor toward the entrance of the castle, Xavier turned to her. “Would you mind if I change shirts?”

“No.”

“Thanks.”

They walked up another flight of stairs in silence. She wasn’t sure why she didn’t just have him meet her at the tavern, but part of her wanted to know what Xavier Holstone’s room looked like.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“Yeah, why?”

“I just wanted to make sure. You did good back there.”

“It wasn’t hard.”

“Havok will be proud.”

“Good. I could’ve done more. I could’ve killed them all.”

“I know, but we were just recruiting.”

They reached his room, and he let her in first. She crossed the threshold and looked around. It was identical to hers and wasn’t decorated at all.

“Either you never spend time in here or you hate decorating.”

He smirked.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“I hate it when you do that.”

“Sorry.” He went to his dresser, pulled out a blue shirt, and then removed his black shirt. His back was smooth and when he turned around, Ava caught a glimpse of his chest. He had light blond hairs in the middle of his chest that trailed down to his flat stomach.

She looked away until he was finished. “You have a lot of secrets.”

He frowned and he looked genuinely sorry. “I know.”

“It’s okay. Everyone does.”

“I’m sure mine are very different.”

Ava leaned against the dresser next to him. “There is something I wanna know. And I hope you can tell me.”

“I can try.”

“How did my parents die? I don’t remember. You mentioned before that Ephemerals killed them. How?”

His face grew dark and he swallowed. He crossed his arms in front of his chest and stared at the floor. “Your mom ran away and got married. When they didn’t come back, they were killed by…” He hesitated, biting his lip.

“Killed by Ephemerals?”

He let out a sigh, and met her eyes, giving her a knowing look.

“Havok?”

“Let’s go to the tavern.” He took a step toward the door, but Ava seized his arm. “Please tell me what happened.” She had to act like she wanted to trust him. They were on the same side.

His face fell. “Sometimes, when someone betrays Havok, he has them killed. Your mom acted as a spy to the Elders, but fell in love with an Ephemeral.”

The word sent Ava’s blood boiling. The rage set in again, and she wanted to find some and kill them. Her powers throbbed beneath her skin. Water trickled down her arms, dripping onto the floor.

“Hey,” Xavier said, grasping her arm. The water stopped immediately. “Calm down.”

“I hate them. He got her killed, didn’t he?”

“She was supposed to come back with you, but they never returned. So they were killed and the Elders kept you until now.”

“How could my mother marry one of them?”

“I don’t know. We think the Elders brainwashed her. It’s the only way we can figure out why anyone would fall in love with one of
them
.”

“It’s disgusting. Those vile creatures. Well, good riddance to both of them.” She was surprised he told her the truth. Sort of. He left out one big factoid regarding her mother selling her out. For an Ephemeral. Did Xavier know? Knowing her father was an Ephemeral made her skin crawl. She couldn’t understand her mother.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine,” she snapped. “Why do you keep asking?”

He seemed frustrated or appalled by her attitude. He studied her for a minute. “Come with me.” He took her hand, and led her out of the room and upstairs. They passed Havok’s chambers, and crept through another door that led to a dark and narrow stairwell. The old wood creaked beneath their feet.

They finally reached the top, and Xavier pushed open a door. At first, all Ava saw was a clear midnight sky filled with millions of stars. The air was cool, and there were some wispy clouds floating closer.

Ava couldn’t remember the last time she had seen that many stars. He brought her out onto a ledge. It overlooked the front of the castle and the moat below. Far off into the distance, was an enormous waterfall. Ava recognized it as the same one that she and the Elders had crossed to reach Caprington. She thought she would die that day. Looking back, she should’ve let them all drown. They were wrong to attack Havok and the Cimmerians. The Elders were the ones who had been wrong all these years.

“Look, I know something’s wrong with you,” Xavier said.

She turned to face him. The light breeze blew through his hair. “Why do you say that?”

“It’s just…you’ve been acting different the last couple of days. Especially today. Something has happened.”

She shrugged, and turned her attention to the waterfall. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m acting the same. How have I been different?” Was Xavier really perceptive enough to notice she had turned off her emotions? Or the fact that she finally understood the truth? Okay, so her stunt earlier with Gabriel probably raised a red flag.

“You just seem…darker or something. I don’t know. It feels like there’s a cloud hanging over you. Kinda like with Havok. I feel like he’s around.”

She lifted a shoulder. “I feel fine. Great, in fact. I can’t remember the last time I felt this amazing, honestly.” She could feel his eyes on her.

He sighed.

“What is this?” She swept her hand across the scenery.

“It’s just a place to have some quiet time. Havok sometimes comes here, but mostly it’s just me.”

“It’s beautiful.”

As they stared out into the night, his hand brushed against hers. She hoped he wouldn’t try kissing her or something. She was in no mood for romance. Nor did she want to even go there with Xavier. Same team or not, he had still tormented her for years.

Ava withdrew her hand, and folded her arms in front of her chest. They stayed like that for a while.

“Are you ready to head back?”

“Sure.”

They made their way back down the creaky old stairs.

“Can we look for more Ephemerals tomorrow?”

“We’re not really the ones for that though.”

“When’s our next massacre?”

He furrowed his eyebrows. “I don’t know. A week or so. Why are you so eager?”

“It’s exciting. I want to kill them. Is that bad?”

They reached the door to her bedroom, and Xavier searched her eyes. “No. I guess not.”

“Good. Is there anything else?”

“No. Have a good night.”

“You too.”

Ava went inside her room and leaned against the door after she had closed it. She wasn’t sure she could wait another week before the next massacre. The hate inside her grew, and she had to release it. Maybe she would venture out alone tomorrow and make Havok proud by annihilating an entire city on her own. She felt herself smile at the thought. She couldn’t wait.

Ava didn’t feel like searching for Ephemerals. She didn’t want to be around anyone either. If she had to wait until the next massacre, she would make something happen. And she certainly didn’t need someone telling her to reconsider her emotions. Why should they care? This was what they had to do. It didn’t mean she had to experience every emotion that came along with it. But the only thing she felt recently was hatred and anger.

She wound up in a small dive in the village. Maybe no one would find her there. It wasn’t the type of place she would normally frequent. She opened the door, and a song by some old hair metal band screeched through the jukebox. Smoke lingered in the air as people played pool under the dingy yellow lights. She made her way to the bar and took a seat.

Ava was ready. She could show Havok what she was made of. She could prove her loyalty to him. She sipped her beer. The cool refreshing taste gave her confidence. Ava eyed the brunette boy across the room. In a way, he reminded her of Peter McNabb before he became an Enchanter. The young man, about her age, was tall and had an innocence about him. She gave a flirtatious smile, and he grinned back. Finally, he joined her at the bar. He was cute and far too out of place in the smoky, sleazy biker bar with his innocent blue eyes and clean clothes.

“Hi.” The young man grinned. “I’m Logan.”

Ava finished the beer. “I’m out.”

“I’ll buy you another one.”

Ava tossed her shoulders in a nonchalant shrug. He was too eager to please. And too nice.

She didn’t want to like them. She couldn’t. But maybe she was going about it the wrong way.

“Two more,” he told the bartender and placed money on the bar. The skinny bartender took the money, cracked open two beers and set them down in front of Ava and Logan.

“Thanks,” he said.

The bartender glared at him, then glanced at Ava before tending to someone else. Her long braided hair could be used as a rope to strangle someone, Ava thought.

“Did I say something?”

Ava stared at Logan. “You’re not from around here are you?”

“No,” he chuckled. “That obvious?”

She took a sip of the cold beer. “A bit.”

“I just moved here.”

She almost choked on her drink. How could he have done that? “Why would you do that?” she asked a little rudely. She wanted to scare him. Make him leave. He wasn’t supposed to be here. She didn’t think he knew what he’d gotten himself into. He was an Ephemeral, and she knew a few others in the bar knew it. He was like a red light flashing. People didn’t just move to Caprington. How had he even found the place? And how was he still alive?

The rage swelled inside of her. She had to take care of him. This would help subside her need to kill until the massacre.

“Well…” He drank some beer. “My dad just passed away. So I left. Too many bad memories. And I came here.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “No one just comes here.”

“Truth is I want to travel. And live in different places. My father grew up here. So I figured I could learn more about my family history.”

She stiffened. Was he part Enchanter? Maybe she should take him to Havok. Or was he hunting them? She had to test him. “Hope your family isn’t like mine.”

“What’s yours like?”

Ava ignored the question and looked past him to the front door. She met cold black eyes, and then she mumbled a curse. Why was he here? She could handle herself. “Do you wanna get out of here?”

“Uh, sure?”

“Good.” She chugged her beer and threw a glare at Xavier, who stared at her from the door.

Ava grabbed Logan’s arm and pulled him down the dingy hallway to the back exit. When she pushed the creaky door open, a gust of wind rammed into her. Rain slanted as it came down in a light shower.

She hated the rain. Lucky for her, she could create an invisible umbrella over her. Ava walked down the iron stairs to the parking lot without the rain falling on her.

“My place isn’t far from here,” he said.

Ava spun around and faced him. He wasn’t much taller than she was. “Why are you really here, Logan?”

“What? I told you.”

Ava imagined him drowning, and he dropped to his knees, coughing. She stopped. “Tell me the truth, Logan. Are you hunting us?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

She drowned him again. “Don’t lie to me, you filthy mongrel!” She didn’t recognize the words that came out of her mouth. But as she stared down at the disgusting creature, everything turned red. She reached down and wrapped her hands around his neck. She watched as the disease left her fingertips and entered his bloodstream.

Another vision.

The man’s skin boiled and blistered. Blood spurted and seeped through the open skin. Then, she felt arms around her, pulling her away from the man.

She stopped and looked around. Xavier had her in his arms. Logan was sprawled out, unconscious. The rain poured harder, and Ava struggled free from Xavier.

“What are you doing?” She scrambled to her feet.

“What the hell were
you
doing?” Water cascaded down his face, his black clothes were soaked, and his breath came out in small white clouds.

“I had this. You didn’t have to follow me.” She crossed her arms in front of her chest.

“Why were you strangling him? He’s one of us!”

“He’s an Ephemeral. He said he just moved here.”

“I know that, Ava. He was one of the recruits. What has gotten into you?”

“Then why was he at the bar?”

“Because that’s their bar. The new recruitments go there when their minds have been freshly altered. We make them feel like they stumbled here or just found the place.”

“So erase his mind of this. I don’t really care.” She stepped over Logan’s still body.

“You’d better watch yourself, Ava, before you fall too deep.”

“Again, I don’t really care.” She started walking down the street until she saw complete darkness. Clenching her teeth, she halted and spun around.

“You’d better care.” Xavier’s hard voice was close. Too close for her.

“Lift your damn shadow.” She could feel his body heat as the rain beat down on them, bouncing off the pavement.

“Ava, please,” he said, his tone softer. She felt his fingers graze her cheek, and she recoiled though not fast enough. He pressed his lips to hers, and cradled her head in his hand. Water built inside her. She wrapped her hands around his neck, and felt water travel over them and around his face, breaking the kiss. His shadow lifted, and she stared at him as the water began choking him.

But she released him. She knew he would punish her. She had to pretend she didn’t mean it. Looking down at her hands, she gasped. “I’m so sorry.” She made herself cry. “What’s happening to me?”

Xavier rubbed his neck, and his face fell. “I’ll clean this up. Just go back to your room and rest. We’ll talk later.”

“Are you okay? I wasn’t expecting you—.”

“It’s fine, Ava. I’ll talk to you later,” he said.

She nodded once. He was wrapped around her little finger. She smiled at the thought as she made her way back to the castle.