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

by Christina Mobley

  He nodded and stood behind her.

  “Ava!” Brea screamed from the cell next to her. “What’s happening…they caught you?”

  “Don’t worry Brea…I’ll be fine, she’s going to release you from the island right now. You’re getting out of here.”

  Lareina smiled, “No…, I don’t think I can do that.”

  “What do you mean?” Ava gripped the bars. “You agreed! You said you would let her go!”

  “Why would I do that?” She stepped closer wrapping her fingers around the bars. “I already have you.” She tilted her head, “I didn’t need to make a deal with you. You can’t accept your gift if you’re locked in here…you don’t even have a choice anymore. You’re going to suffer the same heartbreak your ancestors have. You’re going to watch them die; then you will beg for your own death.”

  “You know Brea’s not the next True Elementris now. Why would you want to keep her?”

  “I get bored…short attention span.” she smiled. “Besides, she has a trial scheduled in the morning.”

  “A trial! For what?”

  “Multiple charges,” she pulled a knife out, ‘like trying to escape.” She turned suddenly and stabbed the guard behind her in the stomach. “The death of a guard,” he grunted and fell. “She was one of the high ups under Draken's rule in The Waerven after all.”

  The guard went limp on the ground, a pool of blood spreading out around him. He stared at Lareina as his last breath sputtered out of him.

  Lareina unlocked Brea’s cell with his keys and opened the door. “Go ahead Brea,” she snatched the necklace from her neck and put it in her pocket. “Run if you dare,” she shoved the knife into Brea’s hand and wiped the blood from her hand onto Brea’s shirt.

  “Stop this!” Ava cried.

  Brea screamed, a look of horror twisting her face as she crumpled to her knees holding the knife in her hands. She stared at the guard and the blood on her hands as she cried.

  “Why are you doing this? Stop…I told you I would give it up. You don’t have to do this. What are you? Delusional?”

  “My dear child, I am not delusional. Like I said, I get bored. Besides, she knows too much. I have to tie up my loose ends and protect the secrets of those born of the Element.

  “What about a memory spell? Let her go and I promise...”

  “That only works on recent memories. You have shared every secret with this girl; she has known too much for too long.” She lowered her brows, “Her pain and her death will be your fault.”

  “If you do this…if you don’t let her go, I will tell everyone who I really am and the truth about you. That crown won’t mean anything after they all know about you.”

  She smiled, “Don’t try to threaten me…it’s, well…pathetic.” She turned on her heel and walked away.

  Ava slammed her hands against the bars, “Please…, just let her go.”

  She paused just before the corner, “She’s free to go…although her heart may stop. Then again…go ahead girl, run…problem solved.” She smiled a sadistic smile and turned the corner letting out a bloodcurdling scream.

  The guards came running.

  Brea looked up at Ava and then dropped the knife, she was shaking.

  The guards lifted her to her feet and put her back in her cell. They stared at her in disbelief. They fell for it completely. They believed that Brea had killed the guard. Lareina had won. Ava was going to lose her chance to accept her magic, less than twenty-four hours before her birthday. Brea and Alec would be killed and there was nothing she could do to help them.

  For hours the two girls sat in silence…just staring at the blood stain on the floor outside of their cells. It was the worst feeling Ava had ever felt. She thought about the curse. “It was true. Did her real father die because of that curse? Her mom said he was in love with her. Did Vangeretta women have an incredible pull on men? Did he die a horrible death after raping her mother? Not that he didn’t deserve it. Did her mother witness the curses wrath? Was that the reason her mother despised the magic so much?” Troy flashed through her mind. “I’m in love with you Ava.” Would Alec die a horrible death too?

  Brea finally broke the silence, “It will be okay Ava…I don’t want to leave you here anyway.”

  “You shouldn’t be here. This is my fault.”

  “What do I have to go back to anyway? My mom’s probably dead. They have you…” she sniffled. “It was all so simple a few weeks ago. You’re all I have left Ava. I have to try to help you.”

  “Don’t you get it, Brea? We’re not getting out of here. And even if I do…I’ll have to leave you.”

  “There has to be a way. Aunt Avalene or something... Where did they take Alec?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “See…maybe he got away.”

  “I don’t think so, “Ava dropped down beside the bars. “I really am sorry Brea. I should have never told you all this. I got you caught up in all this mess. Even your mom…, that’s my fault too.”

  Brea didn’t say anything for a long moment. “No it’s not Ava. It’s Lareina’s fault. Just promise me something. If you find a way out of here, take your power so that all of this is worth something. Stop her from hurting anyone else.”

  “Ava and Brea joined hands through the bars. “I promise Brea,” and Ava meant it. She meant it with all her heart.

  They fell asleep just like that. Holding hands through the bars, tears dried on both of their faces. Ava found herself back home in her dream; standing in the backyard by the river. She was looking down at the water as it drifted by. He tapped her on the shoulder.

  She turned around, relieved to see him; his emerald green eyes glowing in the sunlight. He grabbed her and pulled her against him, “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah. Where are you Alec? I’m locked in the prison… next to Brea. Are you still on the island?”

  “Yeah…I’m on the other side of the prison. Apparently she wanted to make sure we were separated. I’m sorry Ava. I tried everything. Shawn tried to get me out. They locked him up too.”

  “What’s going to happen if I don’t get out of here by tomorrow night? What happens if I’m locked in here on my birthday?”

  “I don’t know for sure, but I know magic doesn’t work in here. I’ll find some way to get you out of here.”

  “You can’t. She’s going to put Brea on trial and kill her in the morning.”

  “For what?”

  “Lareina just killed a guard in front of our cells and made it look like Brea did it. They’re taking her for trial in the morning. I can’t accept my gift until tomorrow night. We need to get out of here now and find some way to get Brea off the island without killing her.”

  “I know. Maybe Dad and the others will come, although I don’t know if they will be able to do anything.”

  “This is so screwed up, Alec. As soon as I knew…,” she felt hot tears in her eyes, “I should have come here and let her kill me.”

  He wrapped his arms around her, breathing into her hair, “Ava I would never have let you do that. Don’t you know how much I love you?”

  She nodded, “I know…but it’s…our love is not real.”

  He pulled back so he could look at her face. “How can you say that it’s not real?”

  She blinked up at him, her heart squeezing tight. “Your grandmother told me why you can dream walk. She told me all about the bond.”

  He shook his head. “Just because we were born with this strange connection doesn’t mean our love isn’t real. Believe me, I’ve resisted it for years. I’ve dreamed about you all of my life. I’ve seen you many times over the years. It would have been easy for me to meet you…and be with you. I didn’t though. I resisted it. I resisted what was meant to be.”

  “Because you found out I was the next True Elementris.”

  “No, I resisted before I knew that. It wasn’t this strange connection that made me fall in love with you it was you…it was after I looked in your eyes and yo
u looked in mine. It was after I got to know you.” He stroked her hair. “I fell in love with you. I wasn’t just automatically in love with you. I fought that part…I love you because I want to… not because destiny says I have to.”

  She blinked back tears, “I love you too Alec.”

  He kissed her. His lips were warm and tears trailed down both of their faces as they kissed. She felt completely overwhelmed by the love she felt for him. Her heart beat was wild and it felt so good to be close to him…even if this was a dream. It was real.

  …Alec…

  Alec woke up, something rattled in the darkness. He blinked, trying to see. A shimmer of blonde hair caught his attention. He sat up.

  “It’s me, Alec.”

  “Bianca?” The Waerven girl? They were sure she had escaped the island.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Helping you.” She opened the cell.

  “Why?” he stood.

  “Let’s just say you made me see things a little differently and leave it at that.”

  “Thank you, Bianca.”

  “Don’t thank me now, we’re not outta’ here yet.” She shrugged, “Come on.”

  …Ava…

  She woke up a few hours later, feeling a kiss on her cheek. “Wake up Ava,” his hand was over her mouth, “We’re getting out of here.”

  She sat up, “What? How?”

  He turned and a blonde girl dressed in black stepped into the doorway next to Brea. Brea looked terrified.

  Alec pulled Ava to her feet, “I’ll explain later.”

  “What about Brea?” Ava looked over at Brea. “She can’t leave the island.”

  “We aren’t not leaving the island, not yet. He put his arm around her, “Do you trust me Ava?”

  “Yes,” she smiled at him.

  “Come on then. We’re going to Mount Ella.”

  Chapter Twenty… (Full Moon)

  Once they were out of the prison they stayed along the edge of the island. Alec showed Ava and Bianca how to help him cast a cloaking spell. They ran when they could and walked when they had to. No one said a single word after the cloaking spell. They followed the blonde girl through the thick forest and up the back side of Mount Ella.

  They came to a stop near the top of Mount Ella. The girl gestured for them to follow her into a small opening in the side of the mountain. Ava ducked down behind Alec and held onto his shoulder as they stood up inside. Alec thrust his hand out in front of them and fire glowed over his hand. He moved to the front and Ava used her fire element to do the same and light the back.

  The narrow passageway opened to a large hollow room in the middle of the mountain. It looked like it had been carved out naturally. An opening in the top of the mountain allowed beams of moonlight to filter down into the room. The walls had strange drawings on them. Alec used his fire to light torches that hung around the stone walls. “How did you find this place, Bianca?”

  The blonde, Bianca, smiled. “I was desperate so I started heading up the mountain. It was pure accident that I found this place.”

  Ava looked around, seeing more of the strange drawings, “What is this place?”

  Bianca shrugged, “I don’t really know, there are all kinds of drawings in here though. They look like they might have something to do with the element thing.”

  Alec walked towards one of the drawings. It was a drawing of five stick figures holding hands under a full moon. “I think this place is old…I think these drawings are from people born of the Element a very long time ago.”

  Bianca walked over, “Look at this one.” The drawing showed one stick figure throwing fire and another figure throwing little swirls that looked like they were supposed to represent wind. “It’s the standoff…between two True Elementris’.”

  Brea was standing in the middle of the room. “Wow,” she said, looking down at the floor.

  “What is it?” Ava asked. The floor had a big circle; the moonlight shining through the opening had almost filled it. A drawing inside the circle showed a single stick figure with upstretched arms. The symbols of earth, wind, fire, water and spirit were around her head. She stood on a mountain…on a circle. “Is this…?” she started.

  Alec laced his fingers through hers, “I think Mount Ella was used long ago for accepting your power. I think they stood on this circle and when the moon filled it completely they accepted their gift.” He looked up at Ava, “That’s not what we brought you here for. We didn’t know what this place was. We just thought we could hide you until you could accept your gift and release Brea from the island.”

  “What about her? Who is she?” she looked at Bianca.

  Bianca smiled, “I’m your evil savior.”

  Alec smiled, “It’s a long story, but Bianca was locked up when Scott was killed. She helped me and…,” he looked at Bianca, “She’s not as evil as she likes to think she is. She just got caught up with the wrong crowd.”

  “Something like that…, she smiled.

  Ava turned suddenly hearing a noise behind her, “What’s that?”

  “It’s okay, it’s just Shawn.”

  Shawn appeared in the hallway, “All clear.”

  “Thanks brother.” Alec turned back to Ava, “Shawn was trailing behind us to make sure no one saw us.”

  “Oh…”Ava looked back to the circle on the floor, “I can’t accept my gift until tomorrow night.”

  “I know,” Alec said. “We’re going to have to wait it out in here.”

  “Won’t they find us?” Brea asked.

  “No,” Shawn shook his head. “Well, let’s hope not anyway. Bianca has been hiding up here for over two weeks. All the guards have been looking for her. They couldn’t find her, so hopefully they won’t find us either.”

  They told Shawn what they had figured out about Mount Ella and then they all lay down to try to get some sleep. Ava was curled up next to Alec and she had her eyes closed, but she couldn’t relax enough to sleep. Everyone thought the problem was solved. Ava would accept her magic, release Brea, challenge Lareina and take the crown.

  Ava wasn’t sure if she could do that though. Yes, she had decided to accept her gift…but the story Lareina told about the curse her kept running through her mind. “The Vangeretta Curse. Alec. If she accepted her role as the True Elementris, he could die a terrible death. If she didn’t accept it, Brea would die. She had to save Brea. Could she choose between saving Brea and saving Alec? There was something else too. Would she eventually turn into the monster Lareina had become? She couldn’t have always been that way. Maybe having control of all that power did that to her. Ava tossed and turned. Her mother grew up on the island. Did she know about the curse? Was that the real reason she gave it up? So she could find love and keep it?” That was Ava’s last thought before she finally went to sleep.

  Ava woke up to find everyone else already awake. Alec was sitting next to her, stroking her hair. She looked at him as she sat up.

  He smiled…his green eyes staring into hers, “Happy Birthday, Ava.”

  She wiped her eyes and tilted her head, “How long have I been asleep?”

  “For a while.” He put his hand on her cheek, “You were tired.” He kissed her.

  “Yeah…I couldn’t fall asleep.” She looked around the cave. Sunlight had replaced the moonlight shining down through the opening in the top of the mountain. A few of the torches were still going. Brea and Shawn were sitting in the corner talking. Bianca was sprawled out on the floor letting the sunlight shine down on her.

  Ava shifted, leaning against him, “What time is it?”

  Alec looked at his watch, “One-fifteen.”

  “I slept 'til one?” She sat up.

  Brea walked over to her, “You were really tired. I woke up before you. I think that’s only the second time ever.” She smiled and sat beside her, “Oh and ‘Happy Birthday..,” she sang, “to you... Happy Birthday to youuuuu...”

  Ava shook her head, “Brea.”

  Brea stopped
singing, “Just because we’re stuck in a cave doesn’t mean we have to ignore that you’re finally eighteen and that today is your birthday.”

  “Thanks, Brea.”

  Alec stood up and gave them some space.

  “You’re welcome. I got you a good present too. Do you want to know what it is since I can’t give it to you?”

  Ava shook her head and looked into Brea’s hazel eyes, “Are you okay Brea?”

  Brea shrugged, looking away, “I don’t know.”

  Ava put her arm around her, “Maybe your mom is okay…the story was all over the news. I’m sure the Coast Guard is out there looking...”

  Brea looked at her, “You should have seen it Ava…The storm was so bad. It was the most terrifying thing I have ever seen. I honestly don’t even know how I survived it.”

  Ava lay her head on Brea’s shoulder not sure what to say.

  The hours seemed to drag by. They talked about the plans for tonight. Alec said that everyone would know the minute Ava accepted her magic. It was something they would be able to feel. That meant that Lareina would know. They wouldn’t have much time to get down the mountain so she could release Brea before Lareina and her Clutch were on them. Ava didn’t want to challenge Lareina until Brea was safely off the island. Brea had reluctantly agreed to go and Shawn and Bianca were going to leave with her. They were going to get her back to the mainland and wait there for news. If they didn’t hear anything, they would know that Ava had lost the challenge.

  They ate wild fruit that Bianca gathered and looked at all the drawings in the cave. Shawn climbed to the top a few times and could see that the Clutch guards were looking all over the island for them. People were pouring in by the boatload for the Festival of Seasons; the first summer moon.

  By nightfall, Ava felt as if pure adrenalin pumped through her veins. There was so much energy inside her, she felt like she had to do something or go crazy. She could not just sit there anymore. She asked Shawn and Alec to show her some fighting moves.