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

by Christina Mobley

  “You feel like she doesn’t have it in her?”

  “Yeah, I mean…, am I just wanting to see it?”

  Aunt Avalene sat next to her, “I don’t know, dear. All of us have intuition. The trick is being able to determine the difference between what we want to see and our true intuition.”

  “The thing is, when I first saw the newscast I was mad. I mean, I didn’t doubt that she had done it, but when I saw the look on her face when she watched it, I just started feeling like, maybe there was something more. That maybe everything isn’t what it seems.”

  “Maybe,” Aunt Avalene shrugged. “You have to go with your gut, as my mother used to say.

  “Thanks, Aunt Avalene,” Ava looked into her velvet blue eyes, thankful to have someone who always stood by her.

  The door suddenly burst open. Alec appeared, breathless, “Ava, she’s gone.”

  Ava sprang to her feet, her blood rushing instantly, “Who?”

  “Lyssa!” He held his hand out to her, “She stole Thomas’ keys and took a boat.”

  “But…,” Ava started, her head spinning.

  He looked around the room, “Where is Brea?”

  “I, um, she said she was going downstairs,” Ava replied.

  Alec shook his head, “There is another boat gone too. All the guards are checking the visitors list now to see who else is missing. Lyssa couldn’t drive two boats. I checked Brea off myself. I thought she was still up here with you.”

  “No,” Ava felt her heart drop into her feet, “She couldn’t leave the island without being released. Her heart...”

  “Did Lyssa know that?”

  “She couldn’t overpower Brea and make her drive a boat.”

  “Maybe she didn’t,” he shook his head, “Maybe it’s not Brea, she might be somewhere on the island. Let’s get you downstairs before all hell breaks loose.”

  Ava followed him down to the council room and Aunt Avalene went to search for Brea.

  Ava couldn’t think straight as the council room began to fill. “If Brea’s not here that means she’s dead. That means she’s gone forever. Her heart stopped.” She wanted to cry, the tears teased her lashes. All eyes were on her as she fought to keep them inside.

  “We need to send a team of Clutch guards after her.” Ava said.

  Vincent shook his head, “I’m not sure that we should.”

  “What do you mean?” Ava stood.

  “What if this is a set-up? What if she wants us to follow her? With that girl’s history she could have a news crew ready and waiting for us. The Waevern could be involved,” Vincent said.

  “I doubt that,” Ava said. “Besides, Brea might be with her. I don’t care who they have waiting for us.”

  “You have to keep a clear head, Your Majesty.” Vincent paused, “First and foremost your job is to protect those born of the Element and exposure would not be good at all.”

  “No!” Ava slammed her fist down on the table, “First and foremost I will protect those that I love. I will do the best I can to keep us from being exposed, but I will protect my friend.”

  Alec and Thomas entered the room.

  Ava spun to look at them, “Have you found Brea?”

  Alec gave a small shake “No, someone saw her headed down towards the boat dock right after Thomas realized his keys were missing. It’s very possible Brea took the other boat.”

  “How?” Ava felt tears “Why? She can’t leave the island without being released. She wouldn’t be able to drive a boat if her heart stopped.”

  “She could if she had the ring,” Vincent said. We still haven’t found it and Lyssa doesn’t need it to get off the island.”

  “She wouldn’t!” Ava whirled, “Brea wouldn’t steal from me. I trust her completely. She didn’t trust Lyssa. Why would she go with her?”

  “Unless that’s why she went,” Vincent said. “to prove that Lyssa is bad and to stop her herself.”

  Ava felt her hands shake, thinking about Brea’s stubbornness and how much she’d wanted her to stop Lyssa.

  Alec moved to her side, “I think we should send a team of Clutch guards.” He glanced at Thomas, “Thomas will lead. He knows her better than anyone else.”

  “Thomas,” Vincent shook his head. “I wonder if Thomas should go at all. He has already proven himself vulnerable with this girl.” He looked down his nose at Thomas, “I wonder if there was something more to their relationship than what was assigned. I hope you haven't forgotten your loyalty to the Clutch.”

  Thomas ground his teeth, “I would never forget my loyalty to the Clutch.”

  Vincent frowned, “I just can’t help but wonder how in the world she got close enough, and distracted you effectively enough to take your keys.” He smiled a thin-lipped smile.

  Suddenly, it was just all too much for Ava. She felt her temperature begin to rise as a deep flush worked its way up her neck to her face. She felt like she might explode. She glared at Vincent, “Thomas has proven his loyalty to the Clutch. Every Clutch Guard knows the sacrifice of leaving everything behind. Thomas will go on this mission and so will I!” She flung her arms out, sending her chair flying backwards and the door to the council room open.

  Alec whipped his head around, locking eyes with her.

  Ava kept her look steady, “Get everyone together. We leave now, before they can get too far. All official business will be directed to my Aunt Avalene. Vincent, you may make suggestions, but the final order on anything that must be taken care of will fall to her. Anyone who does not follow her directions will be put on trial and punished accordingly!”

  With that, she turned and walked out of the room.

  …Lyssa…

  Lyssa pulled in and tied the boat off. She felt herself release a relieved breath. Thomas would hate her forever. She was sure of that. In one action she had betrayed him. Thomas did not seem like the type of person to forgive easily. Maybe if she could prove that she didn’t purposely expose them, he might forgive her. If she could just get to her mother, she could fix things. “Why would she do such a thing? Was it about money? Had that woman really been her mother? Was it some trick to get her to talk?” Some part of her felt sure that the woman was her birth mother. She should have known better than to trust someone who could abandon her and then pop right back in just as everything was falling apart.

  She would have to find a way to get there. Her home town was miles away, but the small amount of money she had in her checking account might get her on her way. She fished her checkbook from her bag. There was supposed to be two-hundred dollars in her checking account, hopefully Dana had not found a way to take it.

  Tourists were everywhere. Lyssa slipped into the crowd and headed out to find the bus station.

  Chapter Thirteen…Leaving

  …Ava…

  Alec looked pissed, but gave the orders anyway. Three boats were loaded. Bianca and Shawn would each lead a group of Clutch guards and Thomas and Alec would lead the boat Ava would be in. Nisca joined her down at the dock, “I’m going with you, Ava.”

  Ava shook her head, “No, this could be dangerous.”

  “I might be able to help you find her if I stay close to you.”

  Ava paused, “Are you sure you want to come?”

  “I’m sure.”

  They watched as Alec gave orders and everyone got ready. When everything was prepared, Ava and Nisca climbed inside the first boat. Alec untied it and then boarded also. “Are you sure about this, Ava?” he asked. “I don’t like it.”

  Ava shook her head, “It’s Brea, Alec.” She lifted her chin, “I’m going.”

  Alec’s eyes were dark and intent and he was so tense he looked like a coiled rattler about to strike, “I won’t let anything happen to you, Ava.” His words were a threat and a promise. The message was clear; he would be a Clutch guard first on this trip. Ava returned his look feeling for a moment as if she were being forced to choose between Alec and Brea all over again. She couldn’t bear the possibility
that she might lose either. They had to go. There was no choice to be made. Brea was in danger and this was the only thing they could do to help her. She nodded once to acknowledge her understanding and watched his lips thin. He waved Thomas over, “Pick two of our best Greens and bring them to me.”

  Thomas walked over to two of the Greens who were helping load the boats. He walked back with them behind him.

  Alec stood up, “You two are going with us. You have one job and one job only. You protect her at all cost. I don’t care what happens; you stay by her side.”

  The two Greens nodded, “Yes, sir.”

  Alec gave Thomas a nod and started the boat.

  Ava took a breath as the boat turned around. She was leaving the island for the first time in almost a year. She just wished that she was leaving for a better reason.

  Brea.

  As much as she didn’t want to believe that Brea would steal the ring, she hoped with all her might that she had. Ava hated that she was possibly putting Alec in danger by demanding that they go after her. He would have gone anyway. She watched him as the boat moved in and out of the storm that constantly surrounded the island. She shuddered and her heart filled with love for him. As the boat raced over the water she looked back; chills raced up her arms when she saw that she could no longer see the island.

  Lyssa

  Two bus changes and a three hour walk delivered Lyssa to the parking lot of the apartment complex. She felt as though she couldn’t breathe. Her feet ached painfully, but she had never been more determined in her life. She raced up the staircase and stopped before apartment number six. Using both fists, she pounded the door until her hands hurt, but no one answered.

  She eyed the door next to it, remembering the woman who seemed to know her mother the last time she was here. “The freaky woman.”

  “An apartment!” A voice rang out behind her.

  Lyssa spun to see Brea coming up the steps behind her. “Crap!” She quickly scanned the parking lot.

  Brea took the final step and braced her hands on the top of her knees. “We took two buses and walked for three hours to come to an apartment?”

  “What are you…?” Lyssa shook her head, not sure what Brea’s presence meant. “Did you follow me?”

  “Duh.” Brea shook her head, “Who lives here?”

  Lyssa looked back towards the door, “My mother.”

  Brea let out a final pant and stood up straight, “Look,” she flipped her hair, “I’m going to give it to you straight. Whatever you have planned, I’m here to end it. I won’t let you expose them. Ava is my best friend. I wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for her.” She stepped closer, cracked her neck dramatically, and popped each finger as she spoke, “So do what you’re planning, but I can promise you that I’m not going anywhere. And, if you try anything, I will hurt you.”

  Lyssa looked at her, amazed. “Are you crazy? I’m not trying to expose them!” “Why can’t they get it?” she asked herself. “I know what you think, but that’s all messed up. I just want to fix this. That’s why I left. That’s why I’m here. My mother did this to me.”

  “Your mother?” Brea shook her head, “What are you talking about?”

  “I don’t know why, but my mother taped our last conversation. I was telling her about Element Island. We were talking about it in private.” Lyssa’s eyes widened, “She’s here.”

  Brea turned to look at the woman at the bottom of the stairs. Her dark silver-streaked hair flew out behind her as she walked. A thin smile crossed her lips as she looked up at them. Brea let out a loud gasp, “Lareina!” She looked at Lyssa, “Lareina is your mother?”

  Lyssa’s head jerked in Brea’s direction, but, before she could say anything, they were rushed. People seemed to come at them from all directions and their attempts to fight off their attackers appeared to have been positively feeble as Lareina ordered that they be put in a car. Lyssa felt as though her whole world crashed down in those few minutes.

  …Ava…

  Ava had never actually seen the way the Clutch worked on a mission. They were super organized and deadly silent. Without anyone saying anything, the three boats docked one after the other and everyone filed out. Ava watched as the twelve guards spread out through the boat house. She followed Alec silently through the surprisingly beautiful house. It appeared to be fully furnished from what she could tell by the moonlight allowed to enter through the glass doors and front windows.

  Alec led her to a door and when he opened it, Ava had to suppress a gasp. It was a giant garage. Four huge decked-out trucks started the line of super nice vehicles. Most of the cars were glossy black. Ava assumed that was so they would blend in. One car, a bright red one, caught her attention. It was built lean and slick. “How can we afford all of these?” Ava asked.

  Alec shrugged, “Between the storm chaser equipment we sell, and the investments that the council controls, there is plenty to go around.”

  Ava was surprised, “Why does Vincent always act like we have to be so careful with funds?”

  “He’s just like that.” Alec shook his head, “He’s a financial manager; it’s his job to be careful.” Alec looked out over the array of luxury cars, “I’m sorry to say that Lareina contributed to the purchase of some of these. She refused to follow Vincent’s budget. E-construction helped her too,” he pointed, “That red one was one of her personal cars.”

  Ava looked at the car again. Suddenly it didn’t look quite as appealing as it had just moments ago. “Does Thomas have any idea where we should go?”

  Thomas walked in carrying two black duffel bags, “To an apartment not too far from Lyssa’s house.” He put the two duffel bags in the trunk of one of the slick black cars.

  Alec walked over and unlocked the car next to it, “We are going to need speed.”

  Bianca, Thomas, and Shawn all unlocked a car. The other guards silently got into their assigned vehicles.

  Ava felt her heart pound as she slid into the front seat of the car. Alec started it and the garage door lifted and each car pulled out one by one. As they sped through the night, Ava couldn’t help but fear the worst. She couldn’t imagine a world without Brea in it. As long as she could remember Brea had been there. If Brea wasn’t enough to worry about, she also had to find a way to make sure Lyssa didn’t expose them further. She was also going to have to come up with suitable punishment for what she had already done. She didn’t want to lock Lyssa away in prison, but she might not have any choice. She didn’t want to see anyone locked in there, except the most evil of those born of the Element. Lyssa just did not come across as evil. The rich leather smell seemed to thicken the air in the car making Ava feel a little dizzy. She folded her arms over her stomach to steady herself.

  Nisca sat up, whispering over the seat, “Are you okay?”

  Ava nodded, trying not to grip the seat as Alec raced down the moonlit roads.

  He reached over and took her hand. His touch comforted her.

  …Lyssa…

  Lyssa blinked her eyes in the darkness. She couldn’t see a thing. She sucked in air while trying not to panic. A burlap bag scratched against her face and she realized that there was a bag over her head and that her hands were tied. She couldn’t remember anything from the time they were surrounded and forced into the car. The floor was hard beneath her and the woozy feeling she felt and the dryness of her mouth told her she had probably been drugged. “Where am I? How long have I been here? Is Brea still here?” As bad as it was to wish such a thing, she hoped Brea was still with her. At least if Brea was with her they were sure to send the Clutch to help them. She doubted that they would come to rescue her. The only person that cared about her was Thomas, and she had betrayed him.

  Of course, they might still come just to capture her and put her in the island prison. At this point, that might be the lesser of two really bad choices.

  Hoping to find Brea with her, she wriggled around until she could stretch her arms out behind her. She felt somethi
ng warm behind her hand. “Hello?” she said in a low scratchy voice.” Her throat burned with thirst.

  “Lyssa?” Brea’s voice came from right behind her. “Can you get free?”

  “No,” Lyssa replied, as she tried to work her hands loose. “Can you see anything?”

  “No,” Brea said, wriggling too, “I can’t remember anything since the car and Lareina.”

  “Me, either.”

  “Lareina’s your mother,” Brea said. “That explains EVERYTHING!”

  “I didn’t know Lareina was my mother. How was I supposed to know? I’ve never seen a picture of her or anything and I never thought to ask her name, she just called herself my mother. I don’t even know if she’s my real birth mother, anyway. For all I know she just tricked me.”

  “Of course I’m your real mother,” Lareina said from right next to them.

  The burlap bags suddenly came off, but Lyssa couldn’t make out much of anything. Everything was dark except for a faint glow off to her right. She detected an odd smell in the room.

  …Ava…

  The morning sun touched her face through the car window; it’s warmth causing her eyes to flutter open. She sat up straight.

  Alec reached over, “We’re almost there.” His green eyes sparkled in the morning sun. How could someone have such meltingly beautiful eyes and such a hard exterior?

  Ava’s mind was still slightly foggy from sleep, but her body began to pulse with adrenalin as she remembered where they were and what they were doing. She pushed the hair back from her face and focused in on the surroundings flying by outside the car windows. The early morning revealed miles of empty winding road lined with open fields and black fences. The road ran through a farming community and rows of crops stretched as far as the eye could see.

  The next section of fence contained cows and horses. For some reason they were all gathered at the fence and as they passed by them a beautiful brown colt decided to give them a show as he reared back and whinnied his enjoyment of the morning sun. Every section of fence containing animals for the next few miles was the same. The animals seemed to be patiently waiting for them to pass by. The fence ended at a four way stop. Three horses pressed themselves into the corner next to a line of white birds sitting on the last section of the fence. A crow blinked down at her from the stop sign.