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

by Christina Mobley

  He made his way down the hallway, taking the narrow staircase down to the main floor. The castle was built centuries ago by their ancestors. The stone walls guaranteed a permanent chill inside the castle. His remembered his father telling him how he had helped to install the lights and other new age amenities that would make living here a little easier for generations to come. He walked across the main room, glancing briefly into the cafeteria doorway. The smell of bacon tempted him to go inside, but he didn’t have time for that today.

  The cafeteria had modernized ovens and stoves and a walk-in cooler and pantry so they could store large amounts of food. Cook was sure to be stashing Alec an extra-large plate to the side. Cook started out as one of the prisoners. He was not born of the Element and he is the only regular person who lives free and permanently on the island. He found the island by accident over forty years ago when he was a cook in the military on a large ship. He didn’t disappear like most of them do, so he was taken to lock up after they found him half drowned on the shore.

  Nadia Vangeretta decided to release him once she was sure their secret was safe, but Cook didn’t want to leave the island because he knew he could never return. It was a one in a million chance that he had found it in the first place. He was in love with Element Island and didn’t want to risk not being able to return. He pleaded with Nadia and she agreed to let him stay, even though many disagreed with it.

  Before Lareina’s rule they used to hold regular people long enough to nurse them back to good health and then they would be released after being placed under a memory spell. Only a True Elementris can release a normal person from the island and unless Lareina suddenly grows a heart, or she is defeated, the prisoners on the island will live the rest of their days out there.

  Alec took the back hall, ignoring his grumbling stomach. All the ancient family insignias lined the walls of this hall. He hated working down in the prison, it made him sick. He remembered his first days on Element Island and how much it used to bother him to see those people rotting away when they could be released back to the sea with a chance to find their way home. Lareina keeping them made no sense, especially since they wouldn’t remember ever being on the island. He stopped in front of the double doors that led to Markesan’s office.

  He pulled one door open and stepped inside. Markesan was the lead commander and gave out all their assignments each day. He sent two of the Green’s down to prison watch and then waved Alec over.

  “Morning Sir,” Alec said stepping up to his desk.

  “Morning,” he said as he finished writing out something in his log book. “Alec, you’re with Thomas and Ben today escorting a new Green over. You will pick him up at the airport in Miami and make sure he makes the journey safely. We have information that The Waerven has already tried to reel this one in.”

  “Yes sir,” Alec clenched his jaw as he imagined throwing Ben overboard after forcing him to tell the truth. “What time do we leave sir?”

  “At one thirty.” He paused looking up, “I’m sorry about Scott. I know you two were very close.”

  “Yes sir,” Alec managed, stung, hearing Scott’s name for the second time today was almost too much to take. “Anything else?” he asked, tightening his jaw.

  “No, just report back this afternoon.” He held up the file, “Let me know how it goes. Keep your eyes open, The Waerven want this one bad. We can’t afford to lose another one to them.”

  “No sir, we can’t.”

  Markesan flipped a page and his thick gray brows lowered, “Will Shawn be reporting to the prison for watch?”

  “Yes sir.”

  He nodded, “Okay then.”

  Alec turned and walked out of the office, meeting Ben at the double doors. Ben’s eye was black and Alec was surprised that Lareina hadn’t called him in about the incident. He walked past him, back through the hall and out to the main room. The smell of bacon tempted him once again as he passed the cafeteria but he kept moving and pushed the front doors to the castle open.

  Two guards stood on each side of the door, armed to the teeth. They nodded curtly as he passed. He made his way to the boat dock just for show and then turned into the cover of the trees to make his way down to the prison without being seen.

  The wooded part of the island was hard to walk through, even for Alec. Thick vines wended their way around the trees and over the path making it a treacherous way to travel for the unwary. It was beautiful here, virtually untouched. Wildflowers bloomed in bright, almost impossible, colors and their scent joined with the sweet smell of honeysuckle and wild roses and was carried by soft breezes all over the island. Shawn, Scott, and Alec had made their own little place here when they were thirteen. They had snuck some chairs down here and, when they needed to get away, this was where they had come. It was right in the middle of the thickest part and well hidden. Alec glanced in the direction of their hiding place and then turned the other way.

  As he walked, vines and bushes smacked at his arms and face. He pushed his hand out in front of him whispering an old path spell and watched as the palmetto bushes and vines slid out of his way. He needed to move fast so he could talk to her and get back in time to leave.

  As he walked, memories of his first days on the island flashed through his mind—back when he was a child and used to visit with his father. He remembered peeking through the crowd watching the ceremonies. He was so proud of his father and wanted more than anything to be standing in that half circle with him, wearing the black and gold uniform. Back then the Vangeretta family insignia marked their chests; a woman with upstretched arms cradling the moon above her hands. He sighed, wincing at the memory of the way it had all turned out.

  When he was a child he asked his father why there was a prison on the island. He couldn’t comprehend the need for a prison in such a magical place. His father had replied in his deep voice, “Because all of those born of the Element do not follow the ancient ways. Some use their power for bad things.”

  “Like the people who killed mama?” he asked.

  His father’s face turned hard, his eyes far away and hollow, “You shouldn’t ask so many questions Aleczander,” and that was the end of that.

  Alec often wondered why they locked normal people in the prison who found the island by accident if they couldn’t leave without the True Elementris’ power anyway. When he was older he understood after a man escaped and killed a young girl and her brother who were playing down by the boat deck. Alec struggled to make sense of what had happened, but it was his father who finally made him understand when he said, “A man locked away with no way to escape is capable of much more than a free man, Alec. A free man has everything to lose if he commits an evil act; a man whose freedom has been taken away has nothing.”

  Alec crouched down low as he reached the back gate of the prison. He could hear the Green’s boots as they stomped back and forth on the brick walkways inside the prison. Keys clanked together just inside the gate. He waited quietly, pushing away the thoughts of his childhood. Only full-fledged guards carried keys and since only Shawn and one other guard monitored the Greens watching the prisoners, there was a fifty-fifty chance it was Shawn. The sounds of boots scuffing brick disappeared and Alec heard the key slip into the back gate lock and click.

  He stayed low as the gate opened slightly. Shawn looked down at him and then back up, watching to make sure no one else came around the corner. “Third one on the left,” he whispered over his shoulder. They moved quickly to the cell and Shawn unlocked it.

  They could hear the sound of keys clanking from somewhere around the corner.

  Alec slipped in and pressed himself against the wall just as Bill stepped around the corner. The gas lights were sort of dim, but gave enough light to see into the cells.

  “Shawn?” Is everything okay?” Bill asked.

  “It’s fine.” Shawn walked away from the cell.

  Bill paused just down the way, “I was wondering where you got off to. I wanted to make sure eve
rything was okay.” The rough stone walls of the cell dug into Alec’s back as he pressed himself as close to the wall as possible.

  The girl stared silently at him. She was sitting on the edge of her cot and her short blonde hair was stuck to her head like it was wet. Her mascara was streaked under her brown eyes and she stared hard at Alec, but luckily she wasn’t saying anything.

  Shawn’s voice echoed from a little further down, “Everything’s fine. I just wanted to do a walk-through.” The sound of his voice faded and the clanking of keys quieted as they walked away.

  Alec dared to breathe again and looked at the girl.

  She tilted her head, then leapt across the cell and pushed her dainty hand into his throat. “What do you want?” she demanded, digging her bony fingers deeper.

  You can’t use magic in the cells because it’s blocked, but he didn’t need magic to take care of this bony girl. Alec didn’t like to hurt women, but this girl was like a pissed off cat. He reached up slowly and grabbed her hand, pulling it down and turning her around. “Calm down. I just want to talk.”

  She tilted her head and looked at him, her eyes like slits, “Why are you sneaking in here? You’re one of them, right?”

  “Yeah,” he said, peeking through the bars to make sure no one walked by. “I don’t want anyone to know.”

  She smiled slightly and walked towards the bars, “What do I get if I talk to you?”

  “What do you get?” he said.

  “Yeah.” she smiled. “I want a cigarette and a Dr. Pepper.”

  “I don’t smoke.”

  “I’m sure you know someone who does, don’t you?” She glared, “Well, don’t you? I’m going to scream...” She parted her lips.

  “I know someone. Don’t scream.”

  “She smiled and walked over to the bed, crossing her legs and leaning back on her hands, “You are a cutie, aren’t you. Too bad you’re soft.”

  “I’m not soft…,” he started to say, and then realized she was trying to get at him. “I want to know what happened to the Clutch guard that was killed when you were captured.”

  She smiled and tilted her head to one side, “The cute blonde guy right?”

  “Yeah.”

  She paused, “He died fighting for the tree hugging Elementris crap and glory shall follow his name and all that.” She smiled sarcastically.

  Alec moved toward her, “Quit playing games and tell me what happened.”

  “Or, what?” She stared back at him, her eyes angry. “You freaks have already taken everything I have. I can’t even use my magic in this damn place. Isn’t that what you came here to hear? That he died for your cause? That he took out a few of the black magic sinners like me?”

  “No, I want the truth.” Alec felt his temper burning.

  “Oh…, that,” she said sarcastically. “Yeah, your boys, the two with him. They watched Draken kill him on the altar.”

  One of the Greens walked by.

  Alec moved back against the wall. She winked and waved at the young guard, then grinned when he blushed. He walked away, working hard to look tough.

  “He wants me,” she said with a smile.

  “What exactly happened…?” Alec demanded in a hushed voice.

  She glanced up, “I want my cigarette first. And trust me, you want to know.”

  Chapter Nine… (The Party)

  …Ava…

  Ava and Brea pulled up to Troy’s party just after eleven. She still couldn’t believe Brea talked her into sneaking out after Aunt Avalene said no. Aunt Avalene was usually really cool, but she was worried with all the Elementris stuff going on. Ava made Brea promise not to act like she knew who the people staying at the house actually were, but she was pretty sure Brea’s excited smile gave it away. Ava parked just inside the large iron gate with the “D” in the middle. She knew Troy Drake had money, but she had no idea how much he really had until she pulled through that gate.

  “Holy crap!” Brea said, leaning forward so she could look up at the three story house through the dirty windshield. “Wow.”

  “It’s bigger than the school!” Ava said, leaning forward so she could see up all three stories. A sand colored brick house with a red front door. Two statues stood on each side of the door and a lighted three-tiered fountain glowed red. Loud music boomed from inside and people from school were everywhere.

  “Come on!” Brea said pushing open her door.

  Ava hesitated just outside of the car, feeling her stomach churn. She wanted to run back to her car and forget this whole thing, but she had to know. Could Troy Drake be an Elementor? The thought gave her chills.

  Brea pulled her towards the door. She had on her vintage jeans—the same jeans that started this whole mess. “Come on. Hurry up!”

  “I’m coming!” Ava said, following her up the steps.

  Ava’s sense of foreboding only intensified as she stepped through the door, she literally got chill bumps and had to force herself to keep moving. For such a big house there were tons of people. They stood almost shoulder to shoulder. They all had red cups in their hands and the music was so loud Ava couldn’t see how anybody could hear what anyone else was saying. She followed Brea through the sea of people. A girl who was obviously wasted bumped into her and spilled her drink all down the front of Ava’s brand new shirt.

  “Oh my god!” Ava took a step back, wiping at her shirt.

  “Sorry,” the girl slurred though her giggles.

  “What the hell?” Brea said, but the girl didn’t even hear. She stumbled off, leaving behind a trail of liquid from her cup as she went.

  “Seriously? Dumb people, I swear!” Brea yelled.

  “Brea, find a bathroom!” Ava yelled over the music.

  “Sure, if I can.” She pushed her way through the crowd; Bulldozer Brea to the rescue once again. “Excuse me, move, coming through. Excuse you,” she rolled her eyes, “Can’t you people walk? Am I invisible? Move!”

  Ava noticed a large family portrait hanging by the curved staircase. A woman with the same light brown hair as Troy stood behind him and his father stood to the side. There was something really intimidating about his father; jet black hair and the same blue eyes as Troy, but the black and red lined suit was a little creepy. They made their way past the staircase and into the living room. It was huge to say the least. A large fish tank covered one whole wall. And yep, there was a shark in it. Make that two. Not little ones either; two really big, scary-looking sharks. Rich people are so weird. Who would want a freaking shark in their living room, let alone two of them?

  Two hands slid over Ava’s eyes from behind. She froze, going so still her heart didn’t even beat for a few seconds.

  “Hey there…” Troy’s voice whispered from behind.

  She turned, “Hey.”

  “What happened to your shirt?” he looked down.

  Ava blushed, “Some…drunk girl...” She fanned her shirt out and smelled beer. Gross.

  “Come on,” he said taking her hand.

  Ava looked at Brea.

  She smiled, “Go ahead, I’ll be fine.”

  Ava turned to follow him. He led her back towards the staircase. Half a dozen people stopped to talk to him. Troy kept a hold of Ava’s hand and everybody seemed to notice. Ava blushed as Dill, Blake, and Dale, all guys on the football team, shot Troy questioning looks.

  They finally made it back to the staircase and made their way up. They passed the big family portrait again but she only looked at it briefly. Upstairs there were fewer people. He led her into his room and shut the door. His room was twice the size of hers. A big plasma T.V. sat on one side with a leather couch facing it and his bed was huge. A dark blue comforter was laid over it. It had a shark in the middle. “Stop looking at his bed,” she told herself.

  She turned, watching as he opened his closet. The bathroom door was cracked open just enough for her to see that it was almost as big as her bedroom. She looked around for any evidence that he could be an Elementor. On the o
pposite wall there was a big desk with four computer screens and a really nice chair. There were stacks of books and a trail of papers were scattered from the desk to the floor.

  He turned from the closet, carrying a blue t-shirt, “Here, this should fit.” He tossed her the shirt.

  She caught it and stood there.

  He raked his fingers through his brown hair and gave her a long look. “You can change in my bathroom.”

  “Okay,” she mumbled as she walked towards it, her hands shaking. She gave him a glance over her shoulder as she pulled the door open. She went into the bathroom and locked the door behind her. She felt strange taking her shirt off in Troy Drake’s bathroom. She slipped on his t-shirt and noticed that it smelled just like him. She had butterflies in her stomach so bad, she felt like she would float away.

  Troy Drake was the reason she took the extra time to get dressed in the morning. He was that guy that you thought about when you hugged your pillow at night. She hadn’t done that since the sixth grade, but still. She thought about him all the time. Now here she stood in his bathroom, wearing his shirt, and looking at herself in his mirror.

  She smoothed her hair and checked her makeup. Her blue eyes seemed especially light blue right now. She turned, grabbed her wet shirt and opened the door.

  Troy stood in front of his desk, texting something on his phone. He put the phone down, “My shirt looks good on you.”

  Ava wanted to explode with excitement; she clamped down her jaw so she wouldn’t show it. “Yeah, thanks. I’ll give it back.”

  “Don’t worry about it, you can have it.” He walked towards her. He crossed his arms and that made his muscles bulge under his white t-shirt. She got the feeling that he knew exactly what effect that was supposed to have on her. He wore the same necklace he always had; a thick chain with a deer on it. He smiled that little half-smile of his and said, “You can think of me when you wear it again.”

  She didn’t say anything to that, how could she? She wanted to ask about the grape soda thing, but she was worried that she might scare him away. What if she was wrong? What if she was right? Her stomach turned. “Thanks for inviting me, and for the shirt and all.”