Under an Onyx Sky (Elemental Enchanters Series Book 4) (20 page)

“My mom made a deal with the devil himself.”

“What? How could she do such a thing?”

Ava shrugged. “I gave up on trying to find out. Apparently, she assumed Havok was going to die and that he wouldn’t even be a problem for me. But it still isn’t a reason. I’m not even sure I want to know more about it.”

“So now that you’re linked to him, what exactly does that mean?”

“Whatever happens to him happens to me. I see his memories. Feel his pain.”

“Wow. Can he do the same for you?”

“I don’t know.”

“You’d give up your life for this ridiculous cause?” Anais asked.

Ava clenched her teeth. “It’s not ridiculous. Havok and his family have been warring for over three-hundred years. No matter what the reason was for starting it in the first place shouldn’t affect us now. We should end it. Do you want to continue the rest of your life sparring? Constantly killing people? Don’t you want more out of life? Like a family? Or just to live? Anything?”

Anais opened her mouth, but then she looked away.

“It’s okay if you do. It’s okay to want those things. Not everything has to be about war or death or constant training. It’s your life. You make it what you want, and no one should tell you how to live it. No one can force you to do things you don’t want.”

“What are you, some sort of inspirational speaker?”

“No.” She looked back to Gabriel. “I learned from someone who knows a thing or two.”

“You think I can have any of those things you mentioned? Being in the army is my life. It’s all I have.”

“It’s not all you have. Would any of them have your back? On anything? You think you’re a family? You’re all mindless drones following orders all of the time and vying for positions in the army. I see the way you all interact with each other. None of you seem to like each other.”

“Yeah, and I’m sure it was all puppies and rainbows with your friends or whatever.”

Thomas let out a hard laugh. “Not at all. But you know what? We had each other’s backs. No matter what. That’s what it means to be in a coven. Ava’s right. You all are looking out for yourselves and no one else.”

“It isn’t easy being us. Shouldn’t you know a little about that since you’ve been living like us for a while?”

“You’re right. But why has no one rebelled? Why does everyone follow his rules?”

“Because we’re all orphaned. He took us in when our parents abandoned us or were murdered by Ephemerals.”

Ava shook her head. “That’s where you’re misinformed. He wiped a lot of your memories.”

“Why would he do that?”

“So you’d never leave him or abandon him. He killed his own son and daughter. Why would he do that if he’s so family oriented?”

Anais had no answer.

Gabriel stirred in Ava’s lap. She looked down and smiled once he opened his eyes. Those endless blue eyes that she never got tired of seeing. They were like the light of hope. Or hope at the end of the tunnel. Something she needed especially now.

He sat up quickly and pulled her close to him. “Are you okay?”

“You just woke up from almost dying and you’re worried about me?”

He drew back a little and placed his hands on either side of her face. “Yes.”

“I’m fine. Are you okay?”

“Yes. Just groggy.”

“I healed you.”

“What happened?”

El cleared her throat. “We attacked and shot you. But Ava was just explaining to us how to take down the Cimmerians.”

He scanned the room and stiffened. “In front of her?” He nodded at Anais.

“I told her about Gustav. She doesn’t believe me though.”

“I’m sorry, it’s a little hard to believe when you’ve been our enemy for so long,” Anais said. “Trust issues and all.”

“Let it sink in then,” Gabriel said. “She’s telling the truth.”

Anais shook her head. “What happened to you? You used to be one of us.”

“Until I found out that there was more to life than the Cimmerian way.”

“Is that why you left? How did you not die?”

“The Elders had killed Corbin. Or so we thought. No one came after me.”

“Not even Eve? She wept for you for months. She thought you died. Until she saw you fighting against us.”

“I never belonged there.”

“How come they never erased your mind?”

“Because I willingly joined. I had nothing. I didn’t know anyone else who could do what I could do, and when I met Eve, I felt relieved. But I never liked it.”

“You think I do? You think I wake up each day thrilled to go kill a whole city of people? Do you think we’re all monsters?”

“Why don’t you stop it?” Ava asked.

“Are you nuts? He’ll kill us. This is what we were born for. This is our life.”

“It doesn’t have to be.”

“So easy for you to say!” Anais snapped. “You’ve had it so easy. You had someone who held your hand the whole way. Someone who didn’t force you to train every day of your life like your life depended on it. You got to experience adolescence.”

“Hardly,” Thomas said.

“You got more than I ever did. The point is, if I fought against Havok or if I ran away, he’d find me. Even if he didn’t, I wouldn’t be able to survive on my own. I wouldn’t know where to go. Or who to trust.”

“You can trust us,” Ava said. “I promise you that. If you join us, you’re one of us for good.”

“It’s not that easy.”

“What’s holding you back? What’s keeping you there?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“It does to you. So what is it?”

“I stay because it’s all I’ve ever known. They’re the closest thing to a family I have. Say you take down Havok and all this goes away. Then what? What do I do?”

“Come back with us. Do whatever you want.”

“I won’t have anyone.”

“You’ll have us. And Gustav.”

“If I was taken away from him, why didn’t he ever come looking for me? I’ve been here my whole life, which has been a long time. So obviously, he’s moved on.”

“He wasn’t an Elder when they took you. He trained for years to become strong enough, but you live and breathe Cimmerian. You fought against him so many times.”

“Because he’s been my enemy my whole life. I can’t believe you would even side with them.” She nodded toward El and Adam.

“Ephemerals have never done anything to harm me,” Ava said. It wasn’t entirely true, since she’d killed two classmates what seemed like ages ago because they were trying to kill her.

Anais furrowed her eyebrows. “Didn’t you say your father was born an Ephemeral?”

“Yes.”

“How is that even possible? How are you one of the strongest Enchanters if your father was one of—?” She stopped, and realization washed over her face. “You’re Luci’s daughter aren’t you?”

Ava tensed, and Gabriel rubbed her back. “Yes.”

“So it was true. She deserted us for an Ephemeral.” Anais scoffed. “And promised her own daughter’s soul to Havok. She got what came to her.”

Ava clenched her teeth, and water trickled down her arms. She stared at Anais. “Who are you to say that?”

“Who are you to say Havok and the rest of us deserve what’s coming to us?”

“This war has been going on for over three hundred years, Anais. Don’t you think it’s time to end it? It’s not even our war anymore.”

“Even if you kill Havok, there will be others that take his place.”

“No, because we plan on killing every single one of you.” She was determined.

Anais’s eyes fell on Ava’s arms, and she backed down. “Who’s to say you’re right in all this?”

“I never said I was. We’re ending the war, Anais.”

“How do you plan to take him down?” El asked, breaking the tension.

“We need more people in our army. We need your help. Are you willing to join our army?”

El and Adam exchanged a look. “Can we trust you?”

“You have our word,” Gabriel said.

El nodded. “Okay. Tell us what to do.”

“You should gather as many people as you can. Gabriel can take you to a safe place for now. I know the Cimmerians are planning their revenge attack right now and will come after you.”

“How can he get us out of here fast enough?” Adam nodded toward Gabriel.

He smiled. “I’m a teleporter.”

“You’re going to teleport us?”

“Yes.”

“This is unreal,” El said.

“But how will we find you?”

“We will come for you. Only Gabriel will know so that Havok can’t find it inside our heads. Gabriel is the best at hiding his thoughts from Havok. On the eve of the battle, Gabriel will come for you. We still have to convince other Cimmerians to ally with us.”

“How are we going to know who’s with us and who’s against us?” Adam asked.

“We’ll wear bells.” Thomas rolled his eyes.

“We’ll figure something out. In the meantime, make as many weapons as you can. We may have to train you on how to kill Enchanters.”

Adam smirked. “We’ve been training to kill you since we were kids. We just have weak strategizing skills.”

“How long do we have?” El asked.

“A month. Give or take.”

She nodded. “We’ll be ready. Thank you, Ava. And thank you for shedding light on your kind. I hope we will finally cease this war. And I’m sorry for lunging at you.”

“You’re forgiven. We have to get back. Gabriel can take you someplace safe. When we return to Caprington, we’ll tell them we killed you.”

They got to their feet and El turned around to the small group.

Gabriel squeezed Ava’s hand.

“Are you strong enough?” she asked.

“Yeah, I’ll be fine.” He winked and kissed her hand. Then he walked to the group and instructed them to hold hands. A second later, they were gone.

Ava expected Anais to flee, but she just stood there, staring at the ground. She looked defeated. Ava almost felt sorry for her, but she wasn’t about to let her guard down.

“This is almost too much,” Anais said. “I thought I knew everything. Yet, they just talked to us this whole time like they were normal. They could’ve killed us. But they didn’t.”

Ava knew that Anais’s world had been turned upside down, unless she was a great actress.

“No, they didn’t,” Thomas said. “Look, I grew up with a Cimmerian father. I never knew he was until recently, but the things he’d say about Ephemerals, I learned to hate them in a way. It didn’t help matters when Ava fell in love with one. He was never a bad person. He’s actually pretty cool. You’re always going to have enemies. But killing an entire race or forcing them to be one of us is wrong. Life is so fragile, and yet Havok tosses it aside like yesterday’s garbage. All this death and destruction, it’s just not worth it.”

“I’ve always wanted more,” Anais admitted.

“And you can have more,” Thomas said.

They waited only a few minutes later for Gabriel to return. He drew Ava into an embrace. “Are we ready to go back?”

“Yes.”

Ava slipped her hand in Gabriel’s and held Thomas’s in the other. Anais hesitantly took his hand, and a second later they arrived in the smoking village of Caprington in the early morning light. Burned roofs had caved in on several of the buildings. Numerous people were assessing the damages with saddened faces. Ava inhaled the smell of smoke and was reminded of her own house that had burned to the ground. There were piles of rubble every few feet along the way to the castle.

“We need Gillian,” Ava said.

“For what?” Thomas asked.

“To erase Anais’s mind.”

“Please don’t,” she begged. “Come on. Let me at least talk to Gustav first.”

Ava looked at her, wondering if this was a trick.

“Come on. If I was going to run or alert someone I would’ve done it already. I learned a lot in that cave, and I’m not sure who to believe. But if what you say is true about my past, I want to find out myself.”

“We have to let Havok know we’re back,” Gabriel said.

“And I can’t risk letting you out of my sight.”

“Just let me see Gustav.”

“It’s not that easy. Especially now. Havok isn’t going to let us go down into the prison.”

“Tell Xavier,” Anais said. “He’ll let you in.”

“He doesn’t know the truth.”

“Make up something. Once I talk to Gustav, then you can do your mind manipulation or whatever.”

Thomas scratched the back of his neck and sighed. He looked to Ava. “It’s your call.”

“Why me? We’re all involved here.”

“Come on. You got us out of that mess. Convinced the Hunters to side with us. You’re the leader.”

The word made Ava uncomfortable. She wasn’t a leader. She was just trying to get things done.

Gabriel squeezed her head. “Your call.”

Why did everything have to fall on her shoulders? Couldn’t someone else take responsibility once in a while? She sighed. “Fine.” Ava moved closer to Anais. “If you’re lying, I will kill you.”

Anais stared back. “I’m not lying.”

“Ava!” someone called. When she looked, she saw Xavier running toward them. She was grateful Gabriel had released her hand seconds before. “Are you all okay?” Concern showed on his face.

“We’re fine,” Ava said.

“We were so worried. We’ve got a crew out looking for you, and they’ll kill the Hunters.”

“No need. We killed them. You won’t find any trace of them.”

“Where are their bodies?”

“I burned them,” Thomas said.

Xavier nodded once. “So it was just the four of you? No one else?”

“No,” Gabriel said. “Who else is missing?”

“A few. Somehow the Hunters got into the castle and released the prisoners.”

“What? How could they have gotten into the castle?”

“I don’t know. I wonder if some are lost in the rubble. I can’t believe this happened.” He ran his hand through his hair and looked dumbfounded.

“We’ll have our revenge on them,” Anais said, but gave Ava a sideways glance.

Where could the prisoners have gone? They had no powers. And the Hunters never mentioned the others. Had they released them? Had Ava been played?

He nodded. “Come on. Havok wants to see everyone.”

Ava was tired and didn’t want to see Havok, but she obliged. She followed Xavier with the others to the castle. The morning sun just barely crested the horizon, and a low fog lingered in the cool air. Sleep weighed on Ava, but she shook it off.

They got to the castle and headed straight for Havok. They found him standing behind his chair, gripping the back so tight his knuckles had turned white. His black eyes glared out into the sea of Cimmerians, and then his eyes landed on Ava. She didn’t know if he was probing her mind for information, but the unnerving way he looked at her made her skin crawl. She wasn’t sorry at all that the Hunters had attacked.

Maggie, Sorcha, Peter, Katarina, and Eric loyally stood beside him on both sides, and Xavier made his way to the front. Ava wondered where Kira was.

When everyone settled inside the Great Hall, Havok eased his grip on the chair. “Are you all okay?” he asked, feigning concern. Ava knew he was only worried if they could still fight in his army. He didn’t care about their well-being.

“We’re fine,” Ava said.

“She said they killed the Hunters, and Thomas burned them,” Xavier said.

That seemed to impress Havok. “Good. Now, it appears as though there is a traitor amongst us.”

The crowd gasped and whispers began echoing inside the great hall.

Ava stiffened and swallowed the hard lump in her throat. She knew he wouldn’t kill her, but he could easily kill others. She just had to face her fate. But how did he find out?

“Silence!” His voice boomed over them. “It seems as though this traitor tipped off the Hunters and allowed them to attack us. This traitor also released the prisoners.”

Who could it have been? Someone else was conspiring against Havok without involving anyone. Unless there was another secret group.

“I am forced to show you, yet again, what happens to someone who betrays their coven.” He raised his hand and a knife flew through the air, fitting snugly in his hand. Ava knew he had used his telekinetic ability. He moved behind Maggie and dragged the blade across her throat in one swift stroke. Blood poured out and she collapsed to the ground. People gasped and backed away from the pooling blood.

Ava clenched her teeth and held down the acid from her stomach. She stared straight ahead. Maggie? She was an Elder. Would she really have done that without informing the rest of them? And why would she have gotten Hunters to attack? Didn’t she know they weren’t as strong as Cimmerians?

Sorcha handed him a towel, and he cleaned the blade like he was drying a dish.

“Now, I know she could not have been acting alone. So whoever was helping her, you would do better to step forward now in order to have a quick and painless death. Else, I will make your death slow and very painful.”

There was a commotion from the back as the crowd stepped aside to allow someone through. When Ava saw the long white hair, her stomach clenched. She couldn’t watch Havok kill Kira. Why would she give herself up? Or did Havok already know?

Ava had to do something, but what? If she gave herself away now, there was no way they could continue the plan. Havok would sure to kill them all. She rolled her fingers into a fist and stared straight ahead. She couldn’t look at the ground because he would be suspicious. She couldn’t hold Gabriel’s hand, even though their shoulders touched.

Kira moved with grace, and when she faced Havok, she turned to the crowd. Her brown eyes held no worry. She was strong, and she looked like she knew it was coming. With her head held high, Havok ran the knife’s blade across her throat. Ava closed her eyes and heard the thump as her body hit the floor.

The room spun, and she felt like any second she would faint. The emotions were trying to force their way through. They crept up, but she had to keep them at bay. Havok could sense her. He could read her mind.

“Get a grip,” Gabriel whispered.

“Clean up this mess,” Havok told one of his disciples.

Ava was glad she wasn’t at the front of the room, but she knew the blood had drained from her head. Sweat beaded around her eyebrows and upper lip.

Two people lifted Maggie and Kira on their shoulders and the crowd split down the middle to let them pass. Blood dripped with every step and as they passed, Ava inhaled the metallic scent and gagged.

She just had to hold on for a little longer. Gabriel gripped her elbow to steady her since she started swaying slightly.

“Elementals,” Havok called.

Ava breathed in and out and met Havok’s eyes.

“I will need you all to rest because we’re attacking London tomorrow. These Hunters are going to die.”

“Yes, sir,” Thomas said.

“As for Gabriel, Anais, Eve, and Benjamin. You all need to find our prisoners and bring them back here. Alive. Now, everyone is free to leave.”

They turned on their heels and walked out the door, leaving Xavier with Havok. Ava stumbled beside Gabriel and Thomas. She needed fresh air. Cold water. Something. They made their way to the hall with their rooms, and then someone grabbed Ava’s shoulder from behind, slamming her against the wall.

“Mind telling me where the hell are the prisoners?” Anais demanded, her hand squeezing Ava’s throat.

Gabriel seized Anais’s arm and pulled her off of Ava.

Ava’s knees collapsed and Thomas caught her from falling.

“What is wrong with you?” Anais asked as she freed herself from Gabriel. “What was that back there? Were you all in with Maggie and Kira?”

“No,” Gabriel said. “We don’t know where the prisoners are.”

“Gustav is missing. In order for me to believe anything you say, you have to find him.”

Ava took a few breaths, gaining her strength back. “We’ll find him,” she said. “But you better not say a word until we do.”

She crossed her arms in front of her chest. “I promise I won’t say anything.”

“It’s your funeral if you do.”

Anais lowered her head and retreated to her room. At least, Ava hoped she was going there.

Ava wanted to cry. Maggie and Kira were dead. The rest of them were gone. Powerless. Hungry. She had to get the army together and move quicker to get the ball rolling. But it seemed like every time she made headway, something got in her way.

London? She didn’t know how many more cities she could destroy. Or how much longer she could keep up the charade before she fell to pieces.

Voices began to fill the hallway, and the three of them continued walking to their rooms.

Being mere inches from Gabriel and not able to touch him, frustrated her. She had almost lost him, and longed to feel his arms around her, comforting her. Or his soft lips kissing her. It was like standing near the ocean, dying of thirst. The air between them was thick with the anticipation of being intimate. Every time their hands brushed against each other’s, it was like pricks of electricity. Her pulse edged higher once Thomas reached the door to his room. He gave a small wave. Ava and Gabriel waved back and kept walking.

“I can’t wait until we’re alone,” he whispered.

“I need you tonight.”

“Gabriel!” someone cried behind them.

They stopped and turned. Eve ran into Gabriel’s arms. Ava’s heart lurched forward, but then sank. It was too much. She was holding onto a small glimmer of hope that she could be alone with him, but it faded the second Eve put her ridiculously tan arms around Gabriel. Ava knew he had to play along, but she didn’t have to watch.

“I’m so glad you’re okay,” Eve told him.

Without a word, Ava walked away. Clenching her teeth, she barely held the tears back as she pushed open her door. She released them, and clutched her chest. She slid to the floor as she sobbed.

Ava didn’t even want to think about what Eve and Gabriel were possibly doing. Eve loved Gabriel. Did she kiss him? Did he kiss her back?  Had they…? She couldn’t even bring herself to say it in her head. Her heart ached at each thought. She wanted Eve dead. The Cimmerians dead. Havok dead. She wanted to torture them the way they had tormented her for years.

She was ashamed of who she had become, and needed some solace. What would her father say about her? Thinking of him only made her cry harder. She would never see him again. He would be left alone in the world. She would give anything to see him one more time. Ava just wanted to hear him tell her he loved her.