Ava bent down and carefully placed it in the dark water. She looked up noticing the white trail the moon left over the water. The water was so still it looked like glass. The breeze had completely stopped and it seemed as if nothing was moving. No cricket’s chirped and the current made no sound. No leaves brushed against each other in the wind. She took a step back and watched the little piece of wood float further out.
Sherri stepped past her and opened her palms toward the water. A warm breeze came from her and swirled around everyone. The breeze shifted and pushed the small wood raft out into the river. Ruby stepped forward and took two deep breaths. She turned and flung fire from her fingertips setting the raft on fire. Next Mr. John stepped forward and the water around the burning raft spun in a circle. It swirled around and around. Ava could swear she smelled the ocean now; she turned and smiled at him. She knew his element was water now.
That must mean Ms. Greta has spirit. Ava was interested to see what Greta would do. The other four elements were pretty self-explanatory, but she wasn’t sure what exactly spirit did.
Ava watched her closely as she slowly stepped to the river bank. She closed her eyes and chanted under her breath. The tiny hairs on Ava’s arms rose up. She felt a sort of static in the air. Suddenly the crickets chirped loudly. Something moved in the trees and pairs of eyes appeared in the still water around the burning raft. A squirrel chattered in a tree and an owl cooed from the tree closest to her. Ava nearly jumped back.
All five of them joined hands and formed a circle. For some reason it brought tears to Ava’s eyes. She was suddenly overtaken by intense emotion. So much so, that she started crying and then everything went black. She hit the ground hard.
“Is she okay?” someone mumbled from the side of her bed. Ava looked through slitted eyes. They were all around her bed, all five of them. Aunt Avalene ran her hand over Ava’s hair. Ava gasped and tried to sit up.
“You’re okay, Shug.”
Ava blinked; feeling light headed, like her head was full of bubbles, “What happened?”
“You fainted, honey,” Sherri said.
“I’ve heard of this happening before,” Ruby said and then whispered, “With Nadia.”
“Yes,” Mr. John said in his deep southern voice. “She was overwhelmed and she’s connected to us all, even the departed—a True Elementris for certain.”
“What does that mean?” Ava asked, trying to get up.
“Sit back, Shug” Aunt Avalene pulled the sheet up. “You need your rest; we’ll talk in the morning.”
Ava didn’t object. Her head was spinning and she felt like she had the night she and Brea snuck into Bucks liquor cabinet and tried Peppermint Schnapps. She put her hand over her stomach trying to get the gurgling feeling to stop and closed her eyes. They all left the room. The door shut and the dark felt amazing. The cool night breeze lifted her white curtain and made the room feel comfortable. She turned over and drifted off to sleep.
…Alec…
Alec walked with Shawn out to the front of the castle. The crowd was already gathering around the large wooden float they had built for Scott. Thousands of tiny flowers had been placed around his body and two over his eyes. Fruit, feathers, and other trinkets surrounded him. He lay on top of the raft, still and pale. Alec had to swallow hard not to throw up. He looked at Shawn who was barely walking forward now. He had Scott’s hat clutched in his hand and the slower he moved, the more the ocean seemed to crash just outside the stone wall.
He looked pale and weak. Alec was sure he hadn’t eaten anything. It was less than an hour before the ceremony and people were still coming in. They cleared a path when Shawn approached. Alec walked with him up to Scott’s body, trying to hold back the tears that were filling his eyes. He could barely see through them now. The sight of Scott was too much. They had tried to cover the gash across his face with flowers, but you could still see it.
Shawn took another step towards his brother, “Scotty,” he cried out and crumpled to the ground beside the pedestal that held his brother. Alec dropped down beside him and wrapped his arms around him. Shawn wept right there in front of everyone. Alec, holding back the tears in his own eyes, turned to glare fiercely at the crowd that stared at them. Some turned away, letting them have their moment of loss alone. Others continued to stare in disbelief.
Members of Lareina’s Clutch were supposed to be strong, unbreakable. The training they went through would come close to matching that of a marine. It was not a normal sight to see any guard like this. They were taught to be stoic, even when facing a horrible tragedy like this one surely was. It was difficult to imagine that Shawn or Alec would ever act this way and it was even more difficult to witness it. They were both known as the top, the best of the best. Ben stepped out of the crowd and stared at them.
Alec stood up and stared back.
Ben turned to walk away, but then he looked back and smiled.
That smile said so much. It said “Guilty!” It said, “I let him die, and you know you can’t touch me.”
Alec saw red. His heart pounded as anger surged through his body. He wasn’t aware that he had moved until suddenly Ben stood right in front of him. Alec’s fist shot out and he pounded out one lick after the other. Ben couldn’t get a breath between blows. Somewhere deep inside him Alec knew he needed to stop hitting him, but he couldn’t, he didn’t want to. Shawn pulled him off. Ben gasped for air. Alec became aware of the crowd around them. He stared around, breathing hard.
Ben looked up, and even with the blood running down his face you could see the faint smile.
Alec lunged for him again. Fire surged from his hands.
Ben scooted back; the fire barely singed his brown spiky hair.
“Come on,” Shawn said, pulling him away.
“I’ll kill you,” Alec threatened in a deep, shaky voice. He took a long look at the shocked faces around them and then walked away with Shawn.
Ben sat up cupping his hand over the gash in his head. Two guards came running around the corner. They ran towards Ben, talked to him for a minute then looked towards Alec and Shawn.
Alec gave them a warning look and then turned around the corner heading back to their room. They had an hour before the actual ceremony and he and Shawn needed to calm down before then.
Just before dusk, Scott’s ceremony began. The size of the crowd had tripled now but they were silent and still. The only sound was that of the waves crashing against the outside walls. Alec didn’t pay attention to the few stares he got. He was used to them. He had a reputation as being dangerous. He’s always had a problem controlling his temper and some are scared of him. Scared of what he might do. He meant what he said to Ben, but wished he hadn’t allowed his temper to cause him to threaten him in front of so many people. He felt bad for not holding onto his control when Shawn needed him. This should be a day of respect for Scott.
He swallowed hard and looked back towards Shawn. Lareina’s Clutch stood in a half circle facing the raft on the pedestal. He tried to get a look at Tony without being noticed. He wondered if Tony would have any battle marks. If not, that would just confirm their suspicions. Tony was on the far end facing away from them, his black hair in a braid. Alec and Shawn stood in the middle.
They were all in their uniforms. All black with gold pins trailing down one side and Lareina’s family crest at their chest, a gold leaf with a lightning bolt in the middle. They all carried the mark of the guard on their neck; a scorpion wrapped around a rose. His father had that same tattoo on his neck and he remembered staring at it as a child and wondering what it meant. He learned later that the scorpion is guarding the rose just as the Clutch guards protect those born of the Element.
Alec looked up and clasped his hands behind his back like the other guards. One of the council members stepped up to the podium; his long white robe trailing behind him.
“Her Highness, Queen Lareina Tretianna.”
As one, the guards took to one knee. Many in the crowd did
as well. Most saw Lareina as one of the greatest queens that had ever ruled. Most did not know the secret workings that gave her the funds to make herself so popular. Alec bit down on his tongue to hold his temper. He glanced quickly at Shawn just to make sure he wouldn’t try anything stupid. Shawn stared straight ahead, stone-faced, tears trailing down both cheeks.
Chapter Eight… (Broken)
Thunder shook the sky and crashing waves battered the stone wall surrounding the island. Birds dove in the wind and lightning crackled across the sky. Queen Lareina stepped up to the podium. The water behind her calmed and became clear and still. The Brooden floated there. Its circle-shaped deck held five circles set equally apart and each was marked with an element; Earth, Fire, Water, Wind, and Spirit.
She lifted her chin and looked out across the crowd. She brushed a loose strand of her dark silver-streaked hair over her left shoulder. A beautiful, thin silver crown was intricately entwined in her hair in which the elements were represented by five stones; an onyx for earth, a diamond for fire, and an emerald for water. A sapphire and an amethyst symbolized wind and spirit.
She looked every inch a Queen as she began to speak to the crowd gathered before her. “We have gathered to mourn the loss of one of our own. Any time we lose someone born of the Element it is hard, but losing one of our royal Clutch is even harder. The royal court has always worked to protect all of those born of the Element and the Clutch is the backbone of that protection. Scott Johnson was proud to join the Clutch and worked hard to move through the training to earn the right to call himself a guard. He died for the Clutch and we owe him the utmost respect. I am so very proud of all of our Clutch guards.” She looked down and moved her hand along her face as if she were wiping away a tear.
After a long silent moment, she returned her gaze to the crowd. She was a commanding figure with her hair whipping wildly in the wind. Her clear blue eyes swept over the crowd and refused to allow anyone to look away as she uttered the words, “Let us begin.”
Someone placed a piece of paper in front of her. “When your name is called, take your place around the Brooden.” She pointed over her left shoulder at the circle-shaped deck. “Shawn Johnson; Water.”
Shawn rose from his knee and walked towards the Brooden. He walked past Lareina and took his place on the circle marked “Water” at the center of the Brooden.
“Aleczander Stone; Fire.”
Alec stood and moved to take his place on the Brooden. He looked towards Scott’s body and then placed his hands behind his back.
“Autumn Jones; Spirit.” “Hailey Harbor; Earth.” The girls emerged from the crowd together and walked towards the Brooden. They both smiled at Shawn and Alec as they took their places. Only the spot marked “Wind” remained empty, and they all felt their loss deeply as they stared at that empty spot while they stood to honor Scott.
“Tony Brena; “Wind.” He was with Scott in his last moments.”
Alec ground his teeth together. He couldn’t help, but believe the whole thing might have been a set-up. He had never really liked Ben or Tony because they were ass-kissers, and if they killed Scott for Lareina, or let The Waerven kill him purposely, Alec would kill them both.
Alec shared a glance with Shawn; they were both wondering the same thing. “Did Tony have any injuries?” The Clutch was pretty bad-ass, but when taking on a Waerven gathering that big, you would expect some injuries. If neither Ben nor Tony had a mark on them, it would reinforce the idea that Scott’s death was no accident.
Alec turned as Tony moved towards him. He walked towards the Brooden, glancing quickly at Lareina as he did so. Alec studied his face and any other bare skin he could see, and saw nothing. He wasn’t limping, he had no cuts or scrapes, not even a single bruise. Anger burrowed deep inside Alec. He clenched his fists tighter and wanted nothing more than to leap across the Brooden and kill him right then. He could literally feel his body readying itself for the leap.
He knew he couldn’t do it though. Lareina would either kill him right then, or lock him away until she could do it later. Either way, now was not the time. The True Elementris has strength and power like you wouldn’t believe. She wouldn’t even break a sweat to kill him, or five just like him.
Lareina turned her back to the crowd and faced the five of them on the Brooden. Ben stepped out of the crowd behind her.
Alec’s heart pounded harder.
Lareina gave the signal for the big wooden raft that held Scott’s body to be placed into the water. The four guards charged with that duty carefully lowered it into the still water.
Alec fought back tears and forced himself to stand strong and tall.
Lareina raised her hands, the signal for all to focus their energy towards those on the Brooden. That’s how the Brooden worked after all; pulling in the strength of all those near to the ones who stood on it. If you listened really close you could almost hear the power humming through the air.
Lareina turned towards Autumn, “Call Spirit.”
Autumn lifted her hands and closed her eyes. Her curly blonde hair danced around her heart-shaped face. From every part of the island animals came at once. Birds flocked to the trees surrounding them. Butterflies hovered over them. Dolphins entered the gates and swam towards the Brooden. Snakes slithered over the beach sand.
“Hailey,” Lareina pointed.
Hailey lifted her hands over her head. Her long brown hair whipped around her and the bead necklaces she wore around her neck began to vibrate. The ground started shaking wildly and the sound of Mount Ella thundered. The giant volcano sat just on the other side of the island. It rumbled and dark clouds gathered over it. The ground rattled and shook, seeming to move your very bones. The smell of fresh cut grass and rich earth surrounded them.
“Tony,” Lareina called. The wind picked up. Sand lifted from the beach and stung their faces.
“Shawn” She called.
He hesitated.
“Shawn,” she repeated. He threw his hands up and the water went wild. Waves crashed and the water swirled around the raft. Tiny beads of water vibrated around Scott’s body bouncing back and forth so fast it looked like smoke.
“Alec,” she called.
Alec threw his hands up, pulling in the energy of all those with fire as their element and then he turned and thrust his hands out in front of him. The fire flew from his fingertips to the raft. Instantly it was ablaze and the forces of nature surrounded it. The flowers burst into flames and the wood raft drifted towards the gates away from them. The gate opened and the dolphins swam alongside the raft as it drifted through the gate. Just as the gate closed behind it, Lareina raised her hands skyward and the deep sound of thunder rolled across the sky and a bolt of lightning streaked behind it.
She dropped her arms and so did everyone else. The wind calmed and the ground stopped shaking. The animals scattered away and the water went still as glass. The sky cleared and the late afternoon sun was once again shining down on all of them. It was done.
Alec fell asleep that night as soon as his head hit the pillow. He thought about Ava and wondered if she would really be able to defeat Lareina. If she only knew the power locked inside her.
…Ava…
Ava was still dizzy, even in the dream she was having. She stood on a sandy beach; close to the water. Seagulls sang in the air. The salty air blew her hair out behind her. She moved into the cool water, enjoying the feeling of it washing over her toes. A storm was brewing in the distance. Dark clouds built a wall that blocked the blue sky that begged to peek out from behind it.
“Ava,” he whispered her name from behind.
She turned and saw him walking towards her; his black hair blowing in the wind and his green eyes burning into hers. He was shirtless and she wasn’t surprised by the hard body that normally hid under his black clothes.
“Alec,” she breathed his name into wind.
“Are you okay, Princess?” he asked, stopping just in front of her.
“Why do you
ask…ask…?” she noticed the way their words seemed to echo.
He touched her hand, “I just had a feeling…feeling,” he wrapped his hand over hers, intertwining their fingers. The heat gave her a tingling sensation all over her body. A warm feeling surged through her while chills danced on the back of her neck.
She looked over her shoulder, staring at him. “Just dizzy…” She looked up, “What do you want from me Alec?”
He didn’t answer her; instead he turned her slowly around looking directly into her eyes, “There is something so beautiful about you Avalene Vangeretta. You make my blood rush and I can’t think when I see you. No matter how hard I fight it…my body reacts at the slightest thought of you.”
She met his eyes, took a deep breath, and dared to step closer. “Why?”
He grabbed her other hand and pulled her hard against him. He seemed almost feral, animal-like. She leaned into him, scared of him and attracted to him at the same time. He ran his hand slowly down the side of her cheek, “Have you thought of me?”
“Yes,” she whispered, not caring that her cheeks flushed red. The air between them seemed to spark and sizzle. She wanted him to kiss her, she couldn’t think of anything else. He smelled amazing, and she couldn’t take her eyes away from his. The waves crashed hard behind her and the wind whipped her hair wildly around them. She slid her arms up over his shoulders and around his neck, grazing the bottom of his hairline with her fingertips.
He pulled her closer, breathing hard. “You're distracting me.” “I’m not trying to,” she said as she took a deep breath of her own, so focused on him that she was not even blinking as the thunder cracked and rumbled around them.
He leaned down, hesitating just before he touched her lips with his.
“Kiss me,” she nearly begged; her voice a ragged whisper against his warm cheek as she remembered the night their lips barely touched.
He smiled slightly and pressed against her; teasing at her lips before finally giving her the kiss she wanted and needed so badly.
Elementris, Exposure, Eruption Box set: The Vangeretta Curse Series Page 9