Echoes to Ashes (The Immortal Trials Book 1)

by Ainsley Shay

  “Ev, you feeling all right?” my aunt called from the other side of the door.

  Lying to her and myself, I croaked, “Yeah, may be coming down with something.” The something being freaky supernatural abilities like some comic book anti-hero.

  “Okay, let me know if you need anything.”

  When I went into the kitchen, Aunt Juju was already dressed for work.

  “Want some tea?’ she asked.

  After I sat down at the kitchen table, I slid on my Converse. “Sure, Thanks.”

  “Did you hear about the fire in that old abandoned house?” She shook her head. “Crazy. I didn’t realize the kids still went there to party.”

  My lying skills were nudging me onward, but I pushed them back. “I was there.”

  Aunt Juju whirled around with the mug of tea in her hand. “You were? I didn’t know that—”

  “It wasn’t for very long.” Just long enough to set the place on fire.

  “Did you see the fire?”

  I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. “Some, but I left just after the fire truck arrived.”

  She set my tea down on the table. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”

  “Yeah, I’m fine.”

  An audible breath of air escaped through her lips. “Well, we have inventory tonight, so I won’t be home until—” She threw up her hand holding the dish rag. “Hell, I don’t even know. But it’ll be late. There are a few things to eat in the fridge, and cans of soups in the cupboard.”

  “I’ll manage,” I said.

  She pursed her lips and smiled. “I know you will.”

  Cameron was waiting for me when I opened the door to school. “What happened to you the other night?” he asked. “One minute I saw you, and then you were gone. “

  “Hi to you, too,” I said.

  “I tried calling you, but it went to voice mail,” he continued.

  I pouted my lips. “Aw, were you worried about me?”

  “Yeah, I was.”

  The conviction of those words stunned me for a few seconds before I could answer. “I got freaked out, and a little scared, so I left.”

  He breathed out as he held my gaze with a hard-to-read emotion brimming in his. “You should’ve come and told me; I didn’t know where you were.”

  How? I wanted to ask him. Run after you when you went in the burning house to save Hartley? “I’m fine,” I confirmed.

  His head dipped in relief, then his eyes found mine again. “Yeah, well, you should have stuck around. A lot of shit went down.” He huffed. “This town will be talking about that fire for months. Hell, maybe even years.”

  “Do they know what started the fire?”

  “No clue. Said it was random—which makes no sense. Fires just don’t go around lighting themselves.”

  I forced out a fake laugh. “Nope, not usually.” Clearing my throat, I asked, “How’s Hartley?”

  He ran his fingers through his hair. “She’ll be fine. She had a few minor burns on her arms and legs. But hey, it gives her something to show off, bitch about, and get attention from.”

  Even though I hated the crap out of her, I was glad I hadn’t killed her.

  “Come on, let’s get to class,” he said, guiding me down the hall with his hand on my lower back.

  The instant I walked into class, I heard Hartley’s bitch-voice. “She’s even ugly like a witch.” She was sitting on her desk with her back to the door.

  All eyes, except hers, shifted to me.

  She kept talking shit like I wasn’t in the room. “Haven’t you all noticed the weird stuff that has been happening since she came to Veil Rock?”

  I took my seat. “Hartley, you always need somebody to blame, don’t you?”

  She turned on her desk to face me. Her left arm was in a gray sling. Bandages were wrapped around her hand and upper arm.

  Her smile deepened. “Well, in this case, I think it’s very obvious, don’t you, Everly Shade?”

  “Knock it off, Hartley,” Cameron said as he came up behind us.

  She held up her wounded arm. “See this? This kind of stuff never happened before she arrived.”

  Her finger stabbed the air between us. “Come on, Cameron. Tell her everything was fine and normal before she came here.”

  Cameron opened his mouth to speak, but I cut him off.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about. But I just happened to be at the house like everybody else was when it caught fire, Hartley, and you happened to be there, too, so maybe you’re the witch. Don’t try to turn it back on me. Besides, what other things have happened?” I asked.

  “People have just been talking,” she countered.

  “Yeah, people always talk, Hartley, and it’s usually people like you who start the rumors and lies.”

  The bell rang, and Mr. Greer walked in.

  “Hartley, there is a seat for a reason.”

  I snorted.

  Blake gave me a tiny wave and half-cocked smile. I didn’t think he knew what to say or even if he remembered anything that happened the other night, aside from the fire. I certainly hoped he didn’t say anything about me asking him to dance.

  Thank God, I only had one class twice a week. I jumped on my scooter after it was over, then rode straight to Poe’s Pizza. I couldn’t remember the last time I ate anything, and my stomach was over being starved. I hoped the guy behind the counter wouldn’t recognize me as the one who went all crazy and ran out.

  If I ran into the preacher this time, I didn’t think I’d freak out as much as last time. But this time it wasn’t the preacher. Narina walked along the sidewalk on the other side of Carousel. Her mermaid hair floated behind her. The girl next to her had shorter reddish-blonde hair.

  I pulled my hair over to the side, out of sight from them, and kept my head down. I didn’t need anyone else to complicate my life; there were already enough new people in it as it was.

  “Everly, over here,” Narina called.

  Who would have thought minding my own business would only draw more attention to me? I hurried even faster away from them.

  “Everly,” she called louder.

  At that, I wasn’t left with much of a choice but to turn around, act surprised, then plant a smile on my face.

  The two girls made their way over to me. Damn. I was so close to a piece of pizza my mouth was watering.

  “Hi, Narina,” I said.

  Narina’s smile was toothy and too happy. “Hi, Everly. I wanted to introduce you to Azar, my sister.”

  “You guys have a lot of sisters who don’t look anything like each other,” I pointed out.

  “And you have sensed fire,” Azar said. Her deep amber eyes blazed with interest as she studied me.

  “Excuse me?” I said.

  Azar looked at Narina. “I feel it.”

  “Feel what?” I asked.

  Azar tilted her head, eyeing me skeptically. “I think you know exactly what I’m talking about.”

  “Look, I’m starving. It was nice to meet you, but I’m leaving now.” I started to walk away.

  “Fire,” I heard Azar whisper.

  I slowly crept around. A small flame danced in her palm.

  “Do you know now?” she asked, then clenched her fist, suffocating the fire.

  “No, actually I don’t,” I lied. “The only communication you guys know how to speak is confusion. Why don’t you all try talking English for once, so some of us humans might understand?”

  Azar chortled in a throaty laugh. “I hate to tell you, but you are not completely human.”

  These people were crazier than I thought. “Do I look like an alien to you or something?”

  They both doubled over with laughter.

  Narina was the first to regain control. “Why don’t you have a seat, and I’ll explain a little something to you about exactly who we are?”

  That got my attention. But I couldn’t let her think I was too eager, even though I was. My throat tightened, and my to
es curled in my sneakers. I was about to get answers.

  “I’ll stand, thanks.” I cocked my hip as if bored, but inside I was dying and achingly wanted to know what she had to tell me. Maybe she could clear up some of this mystifying shit.

  Narina grinned. Her finger traced the ridge of her bottom lip. “First though, we need you to tell us something.”

  I should’ve known this was going to be an exchange for God only knew and, if I even had it to give to them. I said nothing in response.

  Taking that as a cue I was listening, Narina continued, “We know one of the White Ones is here, and we want to know what you two have been chatting about.”

  With a few lies, this may be an easy exchange. “Elyza approached me like you have, and that’s pretty much it.”

  “What did she tell you when she approached you?” Narina asked.

  I wasn’t going to tell her anything. I couldn’t trust her. Couldn’t trust the strawberry-blonde girl standing next to her. I couldn’t trust Taryn or Raiden. Or anybody else. The sinking feeling in my gut began to feel heavy. I had no one in this entire screwed-up situation. I was alone in their world, just as much as I was alone in my own.

  Macias popped into my head. There was a small possibility I could trust him, and I really didn’t have a reason why. He seemed genuine and sincere. I had read about him in the book, and he confirmed what I had read. Besides, Aunt Juju seemed to get good vibes from him.

  “Why don’t you tell me what you planned on sharing with me first, and then I’ll tell you about Elyza?”

  They laughed again.

  Narina’s laughter faded. “Where’s the bargaining in that? We already know everything about Elyza there is to know. We’re only being nosy about why she’s here; she never comes to Veil Rock. This is the first time she’s been back since it all began.”

  All what began? My head was filling up too fast.

  She continued, “So, we were just trying to see if she told you something.” Narina clasped her hands together. “However, it’s apparent you know nothing, so it doesn’t look like we get to share secrets today.”

  “Such a bitch,” I muttered.

  Narina was on me in a flash. Her light green eyes glared into my emerald ones. “You have no idea,” she hissed.

  Fear squelched my confidence. Sure, I could manipulate a few elements, but not by choice, and certainly not as well as the two standing in front of me. Azar had palmed a fireball for God’s sake.

  I was done with this conversation. They called after me as I turned to leave. This time, I ignored them. With my hunger snatched away, again, and not yet ready to go home yet, I drove away from Carousel. A blue sign on Bird’s Blood Way read, Desert 1/2 mile, with an arrow pointing west. I made the turn. It was amazing knowing the dock was a short distance away. Considering the ocean was only a couple of miles away from the desert, it hardly made sense. But that was like everything else in Veil Rock—nothing made sense.

  The thin road led me deep into the middle of nowhere. I took it easy on the scooter, having a little bit of a tough time maneuvering it through the sand before parking next to a pink-flowering cactus.

  I just needed to get my thoughts in order, analyze things, decide what I knew and didn’t know. A faded sign was nailed to a wooded stake next to it. It read R.I.P. Maybe someone had died there, or someone had decided to bury their dog, I’d never know.

  Rays of sunshine singed the sand. The heat seeped through the soles of my sneakers. Across the desert was a low quivering layer of heat hovering just above the sand. I peered into the distance, but saw nothing but dunes of butterscotch-colored sand.

  The sky was bluer over the desert. The sun was brighter and hotter. It blazed relentlessly in the cloudless sky. An enormous bird soared high overhead. It was larger than I had ever seen. Its wings glided effortlessly through the air. It circled above the desert, watching, waiting, searching. Like some fairy tale, I wished I was a bird and could fly away from here.

  Small funnels of wind and sand began to dance around me. I tried to control the element, master something I hadn’t known I had possession of. After several hours of manipulating air, my body was tired, but my control seemed a little better.

  I got home a bit after dark. The desert had been scorching until the sun went down. When I walked in the house, my aunt was talking to someone. I came around the corner into the kitchen. She was on the phone. I expected her to be late like she had said, but I guessed something had changed.

  “Oh here, she just got home. Hold on a minute.” She held her hand over the receiver. “It’s your mom.”

  My stomach dropped a thousand floors below as I took the phone. Petrified my emotions might start a hurricane, a flash flood, or small forest fire, I took the phone into my room.

  What was I supposed to say when she asked me how I was? Fine, Mom. Just practicing controlling wind. I can make a tsunami in a water bottle, and oh yeah, I can also set shit on fire. All is great here. Oh, by the way, I took off the bracelet you gave me. Maybe you or Dad should have mentioned something to me about the crap that would happen if I took it off.

  “Hi, Mom.”

  “Honey, it’s so good to hear your voice. Your father and I miss you so much.”

  “I miss you, too.”

  Small talk about school, friends, Aunt Juju, and Veil Rock filled the next ten minutes. It was the last minute of the conversation that sent chills spreading along my flesh.

  “Ev, honey, I got a call from Macias, and he told me you weren’t wearing your bracelet anymore. Why not? Don’t you like it?”

  I pulled the blanket from the bed, then wrapped it around my freezing arms. Tucking my knees to my chest, I rocked. This wasn’t possible. No, this was beyond impossible; this was infinitely ludicrous. I had to be losing my mind.

  I forced back the raging, stinging tears. “Yeah, Mom, I love it. But it would’ve been nice to know the truth, and that it wasn’t just a decoration—wait! How do you know Macias?”

  Her breath hitched, and she coughed. Slowly, she regained her composure. “Oh, he’s just an old friend.” She coughed and cleared her throat. “The bracelet, honey… You just weren’t ready yet; you weren’t old enough.”

  I didn’t believe her old friend reason, but I dropped it for the time being. “I’m old enough now.”

  She swallowed hard. “Your father and I need to do that in person. That’s not a conversation to have over the phone.”

  I scoffed. “Well, Mom, when that time comes, it might be a little too late.”

  I pressed the end button.

  No matter how much I waffled until now about what was happening to me, it only took a nanosecond to realize my next move.

  22

  The scent of rain was heavy in the air as cold and darkness surrounded me. I stormed out of the house without telling my aunt where I was going. Twisting the throttle on the scooter to the max, I sped toward Witch Bluff Boulevard. The wind blasted my face, and I cursed. I wished I had enough control over the damn element to keep it out of my way.

  Anger boiled in my veins. How could my mom think I wasn’t ready to know what the hell I was part of? I was seventeen, more intelligent than a lot of other teenagers, mostly responsible, and I even believed that supernatural shit existed. Apparently, none of that was enough to share what was probably the most important piece of information about my life with me.

  One car sat at the intersection of Blood Bird’s Way and Dead Man’s Crossing. I slowed, then came to a stop at the four-way stop sign. The old clunker flashed its one working headlight. Assuming they were letting me go, I started forward. With the intersection behind me, I glanced in the side mirror. The car turned behind me onto Blood Bird’s Way. I was in a spotlight on my left side from the beam of their headlight. Since they kept their distance, I guessed whoever was driving didn’t mind going thirty-five miles an hour. Or they were following me. Icky chills raced over my skin with that thought. But that made no sense because no one knew where I was go
ing. Hell, I had just randomly decided five minutes ago.

  When I reached Witch’s Bluff Boulevard, I turned left, away from the dock and toward the cliffs. The car didn’t follow me; at least, I didn’t think so. My heart was beating as hard as the sea slamming against the wall of rock. Its salted spray misted me as I parked the scooter. At least this time, I knew enough not to ride off the cliff. It had been a lifetime ago since I had come here. It had been my first night in Veil Rock, the first time I had come to the bluff, which I had thought was a beach. God, I was so stupid. That should have been an enormous clue that Veil Rock wasn’t like most towns.

  “What the hell are you doing, Everly?” I asked myself, like my other personality would have a reasonable explanation for my instant madness. I slid the bracelet off the hand brake. Afraid to get too close to the edge, I held back several feet. It wasn’t that I was afraid of heights, no, it was the gusts of wind threatening to whip me over the edge that made me a little more cautious. Instead of staring down into the churning water, I looked up.

  The sky was a seamless black veil with tiny flickering lights. The pale glow of the moon crept behind wisps of clouds. The scene was hauntingly beautiful. Caught between the sea below and the sky above, I wanted to soar off the bluff, in between them both, escape from everything. If only…

  A car door slammed nearby. I whirled around. The crashing waves drowned out anyone approaching. Every muscle froze with fear. There were a few scattered homes I passed on the way here. It was most likely someone had come home from work.

  I scoffed. “Yeah right, Ev, keep lying to yourself.”

  One dimly lit post light was on the corner at the entrance to the bluff. Other than that, I had to depend on the unreliable moon, scattered stars, and the distant lights from the dock. They might as well have been a million miles away like the stars. Almost everything was shrouded in darkness.

  An extended light came just over the ridge. Its jagged movements caused my nerves to hum with anticipation and dread. Maybe it was Cameron like the first time I came here. I could only hope. If it were a couple coming to make out, I’d just excuse myself. If it was someone or something else, I wasn’t sure what I’d do.