Elementris, Exposure, Eruption Box set: The Vangeretta Curse Series

by Christina Mobley

  “But, you are still part of Lareina’s Clutch?”

  “Yes,” he looked down. “For a long time I could not understand how he could turn his back on the court. I took pride in the guard.” He lifted his gaze to hers, a pained look in his eyes. “I took pride in my family heritage, but I have come to realize that Lareina is dangerous and evil. It wasn’t until I worked my way up in the ranks that I began to see how she uses her magic for her own gain. She has so many fooled, but I won’t be her fool.”

  “Wait,” Ava stopped, “Is that why you were at my house the other night? You were with them?”

  “Yes I was…it wasn’t until I got inside the house that I realized it was you.” He turned to look at her, “I recognized the house from your dreams.”

  “You recognized it from my…what are you talking about?”

  “I have the ability to dream walk. I’ve been watching your dreams since I was young.”

  Ava stopped; she needed a minute to take in what she had just heard. “What exactly are you talking about?”

  “I can come into your dreams as an observer or I can become a part of your dreams. I was always worried you would remember me.”

  “Why though…, why have you been watching me?”

  He stopped, “My grandmother…she told me…”

  “She told you what?”

  “Never mind,” he started walking again, “It’s not important right now.”

  She caught up to him. “I don’t know what to say…this is weird.”

  He smiled and took her hand as they continued walking.

  They came to a stop in front of a bigger part of the St. Mary’s river. A part she had never seen before. Then again she had never seen the bridge either. They sat on a concrete bench. He didn’t let go of her hand. She could hear the splash of water in the dark and see a small flame coming from an old statue. The statue was bronze and it was of a man on a horse holding one hand out with the flame. “What is this place?”

  He smiled and pushed his hand straight out. The flame grew and brightened, lighting the darkness around them. The statue stood at the edge of a cliff that jutted out over a dark body of water. A beautiful waterfall crashed angrily into the still water below.

  She turned looking at him, “How did you do that?” interested, despite the chills that crept up her arms. “What exactly are you? Are you what I am?”

  He hesitated, “My element is fire.”

  “So, you are an Elementris?”

  “I’m a guy,” he gave a small grin, “We prefer Elementor.” He turned slightly, the glow of the fire warming his face. “There are original families born of the Element and then there are people who are just born with an affinity. Those like you and me that are descendants of the original families are stronger.” He stood up and walked slowly toward the statue. The flame flickered in the wind and in his eyes. “This is a statue of my ancestor, Randolph Stone. When the world was young five people were born on the same day at the same time in the same place.”

  “What place?” she looked around as if the answer hid in the dark, “Here?”

  “No,” he murmured gently. “Do you know where the Bermuda triangle is?”

  “Not exactly, somewhere by Miami?” she thought she remembered from a television show.

  He held out his hand and a small hot ember appeared at his fingertips. He drew a triangle in the darkness, “Miami, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico.” He pointed to the middle of the triangle of fire, “There’s an island right there. No one knows it’s there and you won’t find it on any map. We call it Element Island.”

  “And that’s where they were born?”

  He sat down and took her hand in his. “Yes, there was a boat a long time ago.” His voice was soothing and he looked into her eyes patiently as he explained. “The boat got caught in a massive storm and most of the passengers died, except five women. Not long after they found the island they all realized they were pregnant and they all gave birth on the same day at the same time there on Element Island. As the five children grew up on the island their mothers began to realize there was something stranger than shared birthdays about their children. Each one possessed an affinity for nature.”

  She felt the heat in his hand getting hotter.

  He let go of her hand. “Sorry.” He rubbed his hands together as he continued. “The children and their mothers found a way to leave the island when they were older. When the children were about to turn eighteen they all felt drawn back to the island. They hadn’t seen each other in years, but somehow they all returned on the same day…their birthday. There was a full moon that night and something happened.”

  “What happened?” Ava couldn’t help but interrupt.

  He lifted his chin, “They all joined hands under the full moon and took full possession of their element and received the gift of magic as well. That’s where it all started.”

  “Wow,” she breathed. “Have you ever been there?”

  His slight smile turned hard, “Yes, I’ve been there.” He stood up, looking away from her.

  She waited, not understanding his reaction.

  He took in a breath, “You know how I told you that normal people can’t find this place.”

  “Yes,” she answered standing now too.

  “I told you that this is a royal property hidden by magic. Element Island is the same way. It’s where the royal court is and where the True Elementris lives.”

  “Lareina,” she breathed out her name like a poisons gas. “She lives on an island in the middle of the Bermuda Triangle?”

  “Yes, Element Island is the most beautiful place you have ever seen, but it’s a dangerous place as well. I’m sure you know the legend of the Bermuda Triangle.”

  “Yeah, people disappearing, planes and stuff.”

  “Yes,” he stood clamping his hands together behind his back. “And the storms. The reason the storms happen and people disappear is because of Element Island. It’s a powerful place and when people get too close to the island they disappear.”

  “Do they go to the island? What happens to them?”

  “Most just disappear. It’s strange but Lareina has the power to pull people in too. That’s why there are a few ordinary people who live there; on the island.” He exhaled slowly, “They can never leave unless Lareina releases them. They are her prisoners. Most Elementris’ who visit the island don’t know about Lareina’s ‘special’ prisoners. The prison is supposed to be for those who are born of the Element who do horrible things. Only Lareina’s Clutch and the royal court know about the ordinary people that are there.”

  “Why does she do that?”

  “She has convinced the royal court that it is necessary in order to keep the secret, but the truth is she is just evil. Usually it’s people that have gotten in her way and sometimes she does it just to satisfy her need for power. It’s all a big secret.”

  “That’s horrible. How can she do that to people? That’s why everyone wants her out right?”

  He turned back to Ava. “That’s not the worst part. Lareina wants money. She has money, but she wants more. She has many homes around the world. Have you ever heard of E Construction?”

  “Yeah, their signs and commercials are everywhere.”

  “That’s Lareina’s Company. No one knows about it except me and two other Clutch guards. We found out about it a few months ago.”

  “But, why would she want a construction company?” Ava thought about the green tree emblem on all the trucks and commercials and got chills.

  “Money, lots of it. A True Elementris can cause storms to happen by mixing all the elements. A True Elementris is the only one who has that power. Haven’t you noticed the increase in tornados, fires, and hurricanes over the past few years?”

  “Yeah,” Ava said slowly. “And E Construction is everywhere…”

  “Exactly, Lareina is causing the storms and making money off of it. E Construction sub-contracts the work out, but they are making millions off of the
storms. Her company is the biggest construction company in the U.S. now. People die in those storms and she doesn’t care. All she cares about is money.”

  “How did you figure this out?”

  “I found out by accident. I don’t even think the people who work for E Construction know who she is. It’s sick.”

  Ava shook her head, “She sounds so evil.”

  “She is, but she has everybody fooled.” He walked over to her, looking into her eyes, “You might be able to stop her Ava.”

  She froze staring into his green eyes, “I don’t know if I want to be a True Elementris. I don’t know if I want this life. I don’t want to have some kind of magic challenge with Lareina. What exactly are you asking me to do anyway?”

  “You have to kill her,” his voice turned cold.

  “What? What do you mean kill her…? I don’t want to kill anyone!”

  “She deserves it, trust me. It’s the law of nature. There can’t be more than one True Elementris. Didn’t you hear everything I just told you?”

  “Yes, but kill someone…?” She felt sick.

  “You’re the only one who has a chance. That’s how it works; it’s the law of nature. It’s all a formal match though, a fight. She murdered your grandmother Nadia in her sleep because she knew she couldn’t win. Ava, you have a chance to take the crown fair and square.”

  “What do you mean a chance?”

  “Lareina is powerful and smart. She’s been challenged before…”

  “And what happened?”

  He hesitated running his hand through his hair, “She killed her challenger…another True Elementris.”

  “What makes you think I could do it?”

  “You can do it because you are a True Elementris. You are born of a royal family and you are a direct descendant of one of the original five.”

  “And she’s not?” Ava clasped her shaking hands together.

  “No, but don’t let that fool you,” he paused, “I’m not going to lie to you. You could die, but if you don’t do this she could come after you anyway. You won’t ever be normal Ava. This is who you are, like it or not. The best advice I can give you is prepare for it. Even if you decide not to challenge her, you better prepare in case she comes after you. If she finds out who you are, she will try to kill you.”

  “No, I don’t want to do this. I don’t want to die, or kill anyone.” Ava got chills, “I just want to go home.”

  “Fine,” he turned away. “Let’s go. I have to get back anyway.”

  “You’re going to Element Island?”

  “Yes,” he narrowed his eyes, “I have to report back before dawn.”

  “How do you get there anyway?”

  “A boat from Miami. Let’s go, this was a waste of time,” he stalked ahead of her.

  She knew he was angry, but she really didn’t care about that right now. She was shaking and felt like she was claustrophobic or something. She wanted to get away from this place, ignore all that she learned, and just get on with her life. “I don’t want to die; I don’t want to kill anyone. I don’t want to do this and I don’t have to,” she thought. They got to the car and the silence was hard. He didn’t say anything else to her and she had nothing left to ask right now. He backed the car up and stared ahead as he drove towards the bridge.

  …Alec…

  Alec made it to Miami just before dawn. He parked his bike in the garage of the meeting house and walked through the French doors to the boat house. He was frustrated and tired. She was scared and he couldn’t blame her for that. “Why did I think she would be so willing to do this? She has only just become a part of this world.” There was a good chance that she would die if she challenged Lareina and that chance would become even greater if she chose not to learn control of her magic. He couldn’t blame her for that, but he could blame her for being selfish.

  She cared more about a normal life than she cared about nature. “How could she turn her back on it all? How could she not see the beauty in her gift?” He turned the key on the speed boat and pushed the lever all the way forward. The distant glow of the sunrise teased the horizon. The salt water sprayed his face lightly. He loved the feeling of the wind in his hair, it made him feel free. Alec knew he wasn’t free though. He was Lareina’s prisoner, just like all the others born of the Element. Only most of them didn’t realize they were prisoners. He had to put himself in a different state of mind before he reached the island; he clenched his teeth and swallowed hard.

  …Ava…

  The next morning she woke up thirty minutes late. She dressed fast and ran down the stairs. The phone was ringing, but she knew it was probably Brea wondering where she was so she ran past it out to her car and got inside. The seat was slid all the way back and she couldn’t reach the pedals. She reached down and pulled the lever to slide the seat up. Her fingers came across something soft under the seat. She pulled on it and realized it was his hat. She ran her fingers over the hat, setting it on the passenger seat before she backed up.

  As she drove to Brea’s, she couldn’t help looking over at his black hat on the seat beside her. Somehow it made her feel better to have something of his; something she could touch and see. She knew he was real, but the hat reassured her that he really was there. That everything had really happened and that she wasn’t going crazy... She took in a breath trying not to think about it all as she pulled into Brea’s driveway. She grabbed the hat and locked it inside the glove box just as Brea opened the door.

  Chapter Six… (Wicked Outfit)

  “We are so freaking late!” Brea said as she flipped down the visor. “I tried to call you.” She pulled out her cherry lip gloss and started applying it.

  “I know,” Ava said in a faraway voice.

  “What’s wrong with you? Are you tired?

  “Yeah, I’m really tired.”

  They drove in silence all the way to school. Ava turned into the school lot and parked and Brea put another coat of lip gloss on before she opened her door.

  “Seriously?” Ava said shutting her door.

  “What?” She smacked her lips together. “You can never have too much lip gloss.”

  Troy Drake pulled up and parked next to them. He revved the engine of his jacked-up truck twice before he turned it off and opened the door. “Hey Ava!”

  “Hey,” she turned, surprised.

  He stepped down and walked over to her. She felt her heart beating faster. The way his mouth twisted in a sort of devious grin and the way his blue eyes darted all over her made her face get all hot. He tucked his wallet into his back pocket, “Are you coming tomorrow night?”

  “Huh?” she said, giving Brea a “Can you believe this?” face, “um, to your party?”

  “Yeah,” he stepped closer and reached towards her. “You have something in your hair.” He pulled at a little piece of black thread.

  “Ouch!” Ava reached up to her hair.

  “It was tangled in there.” He pulled it the rest of the way out, “Must have come off your blanket or something.” He dropped it. “Seriously though, you should come.”

  “I…,” she mumbled.

  “She’ll be there.” Brea stepped forward, putting her arm around Ava, “We both will.”

  “Okay,” he said and smiled as he walked away. Both girls watched as he turned to give Ava one more quick glance before he stepped through the doors.

  Ava turned to Brea, “Oh my god! Brea!”

  “I know!” Brea practically squawked. “I can’t believe it. I was right. He likes you!”

  “No,” Ava bent down picking up the thread. “I can’t believe you said we would go. I have too much going on right now and besides, she held the thread up, “I’m pretty sure this is the only reason he asked me.”

  “Do you think she put another attraction spell on it?”

  “Probably.” Ava tucked it into her hand. “There’s one way to find out.” She pulled open the car door and got inside.

  Brea ran around the car and got
in the other side, “What? How do you tell?”

  Ava grabbed her bottle of water, “With water.” She poured some into the cap and carefully placed it on the arm rest between them.

  “Cool…” Brea breathed, leaning forward.

  Ava placed the string inside the cap of water. “Water reveals any spell.”

  Brea leaned forward scrunching her eyes together. She stared at the string not blinking, expecting something awesome to happen. A shiny light, a weird noise, something. Nothing happened though.

  “Why isn’t it working?” she looked at Ava.

  “It worked. It’s not an attraction spell.” Ava sounded suddenly tired.

  “How do you know? Nothing happened.” Brea picked up the cap tilting it. “At all.”

  “I just know…I can feel it. It’s gone now. I washed it away.” She took the cap from Brea and dumped it out. “It was a protection spell.”

  “Aunt Avalene is slick, isn’t she?”

  “Yeah, I just wish I had known what it was before I washed it away.” Ava opened the car door, “Let’s go.”

  Brea got out and slammed her door. “Are you worried?”

  “About what?”

  “That they will come after you?” Brea looked up.

  “Sort of,” Ava shrugged, “guess there is no use worrying right now though.” They stopped talking as they walked inside and split off to go to their classes.

  …Alec…

  Alec maneuvered the boat into the boat house and climbed out. Thomas met him halfway down the dock, “Cutting it close, Bubba.” He tapped his watch.

  “Yeah,” Alec smiled. “Are you headed out?”

  “No, I just got here too. I left something in my boat.” He passed him, “I heard she’s in a mood today, looks like something is going on. Nobody knows what.”

  “Great...and when is she not in a mood?” Alec shook his head “See you later."

  “Later bubba,” Thomas jumped down into his boat.

  Alec stepped off the dock onto the wooden deck they had built last fall. The island was breathtakingly beautiful. Tall trees gave shade to the different flowers and plants. The water around the island was so clear it had almost no color. Alec turned and came to a stop at the gate. The guard stared down from the tower. The place looked like Fort Knox; tall stone walls with guards everywhere. Different trinkets and stones were spaced throughout the wall. Each of them containing protection spells.