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

by Christina Mobley

  Brea pressed her ear harder against the door and heard Macy ask, “Are you going to do it?”

  “I don’t know yet. Probably.”

  “I’m going with you. This isn’t fair.”

  There was a pause, then “Do what you want, it’s not like I asked him for this.”

  “Then tell him no.”

  “Is that…?” he asked.

  Brea swallowed hard.

  “Yeah, why?”

  “Just wondering.”

  “Don’t even think about it. I’ve put in two years.” She said in a much colder tone.

  “I’m not, I don’t care about his choice or what he wants. I just want…”

  “He won’t give it to you. All you’re going to do is get yourself in trouble.”

  It got quiet again. Brea backed away from the door and plopped down on the bed just as the two of them re-entered the room. Macy had this hollow look on her face. Was it fear, anger? Brea wasn’t sure.

  “This is my brother, Brea.” Macy said, as she walked towards the dresser on her side of the room.

  “Caslan.” He said finally meeting her eyes. His eyes were dark and haunting. There was something beautiful about them.

  Brea fought the urge to look away. His gaze was so intense that it made her feel exposed somehow. He looked as if he was on the verge of erupting. On the surface he was cool and calm, everything but his eyes. The tightness of his jaw as he looked at her revealed his true emotions. She couldn’t seem to get her mouth to work as he stared at her expectantly.

  Macy spoke instead, “Hey, uh, we’re going to have to rain check on going out tonight. I have to go visit my dad.”

  “Is everything okay?” Brea asked, finally pulling her gaze from his.

  “Yeah, he’s just not doing real good.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry.” Brea said, trying to ignore the way Caslan continued to stare. She could feel it though.

  “It’s okay.” Macy said as she grabbed a pair of jeans and a shirt. “I’ll be right back, Caslan. I have to change.”

  She shot him a threatening look as she walked into the bathroom.

  The door shut behind her and Brea felt the tension in the room go back up a notch.

  Not being a person who was very comfortable with silence, she spoke. “So, your name is Caslan?”

  “Yes.” He looked back at her, and tilted his head to one side. “Brea?”

  “Yeah.”

  He nodded. “Listen,” he said, as his eyes darted quickly to the closed door Macy had gone through, “There’s something…” He stopped, listened, and then stuffed a folded piece of paper in her hand.

  Brea closed her hand around it just as Macy came back in the room.

  He looked at Macy, “I’ll wait for you in the hall.”

  Macy tilted her head, an accusing look on her face, “Did he say something to you?”

  “No,” Brea said, puzzled.

  “Oh, I’ll be back late.”

  “Okay.”

  Brea waited a couple of minutes after Macy left to open the folded piece of paper in her hand. It had his name, a number, and a short message: “Call me when she’s not around. I need to talk to you.”

  “What the hell?” Brea said. “What does he need to talk to me about that he can’t tell his sister? He doesn’t even know me!

  …Ava...

  Ava woke up feeling really cold. There were two blankets on her but she was freezing. She pulled back the curtain and was surprised to see snowflakes falling. It was over ninety degrees just last night. She pressed her hand to the window and pulled it back when she heard the news broadcasters voice, “Snow in Florida! Storms popping up everywhere! Has Mother Nature lost her mind?” Ava threw off the covers, got up, and moved quickly towards the sound. She saw Alec staring at a small portable radio. She got a rush of emotion from Alec. That was something else they had recently noticed about their bond.

  He looked up, “Are you feeling okay, Ava?”

  “Yeah, I’m fine.”

  He looked back at the radio, “There are storms popping up everywhere and it’s snowing in Key West. The temperature here dropped overnight. Are you sure you’re feeling alright? “

  “Yes, I’m fine. This is not me! I’m not doing anything.” Ava felt tears spring to her eyes. She closed them and images began to flow through her mind. People in Key West building snowmen on the beach. The Doppler showing five new storms that would likely turn into hurricanes. Fires in Washington.

  Alec stood up and took her in his arms. “Don’t worry, we’ll figure this out.”

  Ava took a deep breath, feeling Alec’s worry, “We have to go back.”

  “Yeah.” He brushed her hair back and kissed her forehead, “I think we do.”

  Ava was comforted by his warmth, but the worry was still there. She felt tears well up again and quickly composed herself. She couldn’t fall apart now. She had to fix this.

  Alec reloaded their bags as she waited in the truck. When he’d finished, he took one more look around and climbed in. He looked at her and his concern was evident on his face as he asked, “Are you ready?”

  “Yeah,” Ava said, looking at the falling snow. She concentrated hard, trying to force the elements to her will. Nothing happened. It was as if a force stronger than hers was blocking her. It made no sense.

  After three hours down back roads leading away from the private cabin, they were on a paved road and Ava still had not been able to change the weather. She needed a distraction. She couldn’t stand it anymore. “Alec?”

  “Yeah,” He said, glancing her way as he navigated the snow-filled road.

  “Did you know about Shawn and Bianca?”

  “No,” he said quickly. “Not until the morning of the wedding when I saw them together. How was Brea?” he asked, as he negotiated another turn

  “I don’t know. You know how she is. I know she has to be torn up.”

  “I’m going to talk to Shawn when I get back.” Alec said.

  Ava smiled and looked ahead. They both grew silent drifting away in their own thoughts and worries.

  After another hour of silence, Ava pulled Ann Marie’s diary out of her small bag, glad she had thought to remove it from her suitcase, and turned to the next page that was still intact enough to read.

  The third day of the fourth month…

  A terrible storm nearly took us both. When Hanna woke me last night and talked me into boarding the small wooden lifeboat, I thought she had gone mad. We arrived on the shores of an island this morning. The people on the island welcomed us immediately. A formal challenge has not been set, but it seems that the current True Elementris has overstayed her welcome. The people here seem eager to be rid of her. Malinda Waerven is a cruel leader, one who has attempted to push dark magic onto the others born of the element.

  Ava gasped.

  “What’s wrong?” Alec asked.

  “Did you know that a woman named Malinda Waerven used to be a True Elementris?”

  He nodded, “Yes, a long time ago. Haven’t you ever noticed that one of the five names was Waerven?”

  “No.”

  “I guess you wouldn’t. The bottom of the statue bearing the five names was damaged right where the Waerven name had been engraved. She was the last Waerven ever born of the Element.”

  “Really, she didn’t have any children?”

  “She had a son, but he was not born of the element. He went on to start the Waerven continuing his mother’s knowledge of herb mixing and dark spells. He had thirteen children by different women trying to have a child born of the Element. None of his children were born of the Element, nor any other Waerven decedent after them.”

  “What about Draken?”

  “Draken wasn’t a Waerven. He just joined them and led for a while.”

  “So, that can happen? One of the royal families could just stop producing children born of the Element?”

  He took a breath, “I think that the Waerven family was punished because of the
ir need to create and use dark magic. I think nature took its course.” He looked over at her, “The Waerven try to recruit those born of the element in hopes of one day having a stronger army. Every year the children they recruit are younger and younger. Old scripts were found that said the Waerven hoped to one day see a Waerven child become the True Elementris again. I think Melinda Waevern’s son never got over his mother’s death and passed on his hate to his children and the people they recruited to the Waerven.”

  “That’s crazy. Is that why Draken tried to get me to join them?”

  “Yeah, I think so. I hope a True Elementris is never born to them. It would be a terrible thing.”

  “Yeah.” Ava shivered as she began to read again. She had to know the mysteries of the past. She needed to know how Ann Marie knew so much about her, and what she had been trying to warn her about with those strange drawings found on the ship.

  The tenth day of the fourth month…

  Hanna’s birthday is today and so much has happened. We have learned so much since our arrival on Element Island. I always knew Hanna was special. I never could have dreamt of her power. She thrives here, but today she has a terrible decision to make. She must choose to embrace her power and challenge Malinda Waerven for the throne, or give it up. I see the torture in her eyes and I wish I had some way to help her. The people here are hoping for a savior. I just don’t want Hanna to lose her life trying to be that savior. If she decides to accept her gift fully, I shall stand with her. I cannot imagine sweet Hanna battling to the death with the evil witch who stares down at us from that castle. I have not laid eyes on her yet, but I imagine she has a puckered face and a plump bottom. The people here all serve her unwillingly.

  Ava closed the diary and looked out of the window. There was something wrong. The snow had turned to slush. Her eyes flew to the temperature readout on the dash. It was rising fast; the numbers changing right before her eyes.

  She looked at Alec. He cursed and shook his head, “The snow is melting too fast.” He was tense and held the wheel tightly with both hands. Despite his efforts, the truck jerked back and forth as it sloshed through the melting snow. Suddenly, Alec reached out and put his arm across her chest as he hit the brake. Ava turned just in time to see a large chunk of ice break away from an overhanging tree branch and slide onto the road in front of them. She screamed as the truck began to spin. She saw the trees getting closer and closer. They were going to crash! She wrapped her arms protectively around her stomach and then…nothing.

  Chapter 3…

  …Brea…

  Brea woke up as Macy entered their room. It was late, but hearing tell-tale sniffles, she sat up and turned on the light beside her bed. “Are you alright, Macy?”

  “Fine!” Macy said, as she kicked her shoes off and flopped down on her bed.

  Knowing Macy well enough to know that she didn’t want to talk, Brea turned off the light and lay back down. She turned her back to Macy to give her some privacy and sighed as she listened to her cry. Now that she was awake, her own problems dominated her thoughts. “Caslan. Why does he want me to call him?” That question had wandered through her mind like a mouse in a maze all afternoon. “Should I call him? It’s all too weird. I can’t ask Macy about the note, but I need to know what he wants.” Brea turned over and curled around her pillow. She squinted, trying to see Macy through the darkness between the two beds, but saw nothing. She could hear everything though. Macy was still crying and Brea was feeling a little silly just lying there without trying to help. Privacy was important, but enough was enough. Brea sat up and turned on her light again. Macy lay on top of her blanket with her pillow over her head.

  Brea got up and went to stand beside Macy’s bed. “God, I hate this!” she thought, “I never know what to say! For a moment, she wished she possessed Ava’s ability to calm and comfort. “Ava is good at this stuff; knowing what to say and all that. Just have to dive right in, I guess.” She folded her arms and said, “You’re not okay, Macy. Talk. What’s wrong?”

  Macy quieted, sat up slowly, and put her face in her hands. Shaking her head, she said, “I’m fine. Sorry if I’m keeping you up.”

  “Is it about Mark? Your Dad? Is he okay?”

  “Yeah, Dad’s okay. It’s just family drama.”

  Brea shifted awkwardly as Macy continued to wipe at stray tears, “Your brother?”

  “No!” She nearly shouted and then a completely new set of tears raced down her red cheeks. “Yeah,” she admitted, sniffling and blinking furiously to stop the tears, “Look, I’m okay.”

  “You are so not okay,” Brea scoffed, grabbing a tissue and holding it out as she sat on the edge of the bed. “What happened?”

  “Nothing.” Macy replied, looking as though she wanted to share something badly, but holding back.

  “Your brother just got back from somewhere, didn’t he?” Brea asked.

  Macy’s eyes widened slightly, “Yeah. Caslan and my dad got into it a few years ago and he took off.”

  “Oh. He seems…” Brea trailed off, not wanting to say what she was thinking. That he seemed angry.

  “Pissed off?” Macy asked. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at Brea, “Hey listen, about Caslan, you be careful. He’s my brother and all, but he’s not such a good guy. I’ve seen him break a lot of hearts. I guess it’s the bad boy thing. You don’t know how many of my friends I’ve lost because of him.”

  “What does he do, cheat on them or something?” Brea asked.

  “No, he just leaves. That’s what he’s known for, running. Caslan comes around, stirs everything up, and then just leaves when it gets too hot.” She shook her head. “Don’t get me wrong. I love him and he does have some good qualities, but Caslan is reckless, angry, and, and…” She made a move to stand up and said, “Look, I’m going to get a shower. I’ve got three classes tomorrow.”

  “Okay.” Brea replied, feeling a little frustrated at the abrupt ending of the conversation.

  Macy looked around the room and then walked out without grabbing her towel or any clothes.

  Brea jumped as the door snapped shut. She stared at it for a minute and then went to lie back down on her bed. Her mind was racing. “What the hell does Caslan want?” she wondered, her thoughts moving back to what she’d overheard. She was at a complete loss as to what it was he could want to talk to her about. It was probably something to do with the “family drama” Macy had referred to. Brea hoped not, the last thing she needed was more drama in her life right now. She was curious about why he had left though. She knew Macy would probably never say. She never really talked about her family; except for her dad. When it came to Dads, Brea and Macy were polar opposites. Macy talked about her father as if he walked on water and created rainbows. Brea had never known her real father. The closest thing she’d had to a father had been Buck. She flinched as memories from her childhood began to creep into her consciousness. “No way,” she thought as she closed her eyes. She wouldn’t let Buck continue to hurt her, not even in her memories.

  …Alec…

  The constant beeping was making him crazy. He was sitting beside Ava’s bed, holding her limp hand in his. Her face was covered in cuts and bruises. His whole body shook as he looked at her. She looked so fragile. He was supposed to protect her. He was supposed to keep her safe. He felt like a failure as he looked at her. A nurse came in quietly, moving around the bed, and checking the monitors. She looked down at Ava and then at Alec. “I know this is rough, but just hang in there a little bit longer. The doctor is about to come in and you’ll know what you’re dealing with, okay?”

  Alec nodded, feeling the strangest combination of love and rage. He had always been good at controlling his emotions, but right this moment, he felt like his insides were on fire. He was sure any moment all of the pain and rage would burst out of him. He was supposed to protect her and keep her safe. He looked around, not liking the fact that Ava was in such a public place. He had not left her side since they had arrived four hou
rs ago. The glass door opened behind him and he immediately tensed and rose to stand between her and any potential threat.

  An older man with white hair walked in and held the door for the nurse to exit. He closed the door and turned around.

  Alec was still standing protectively in front of Ava.

  The man cleared his throat and lowered his voice, “Alec, my name is Dr. Flanstin. I was contacted by the council and I will be in charge of Queen Vangeretta’s care. My element is Spirit.” He held his hand out for a shake.

  Alec looked at the old man’s wrinkled hand and then extended his own, “Thank you.” He glanced at Ava, “How bad is she? I need to get her back to the island.”

  “I know. I’ll help you move her when your guards arrive.” Dr. Flanstin moved to stand at the end of Ava’s bed. He adjusted his glasses as he studied Ava’s chart. “Under normal circumstances I would tell you that she needs to be transferred to the burn unit and that she needs surgery. The burns on her legs are extensive. She has a broken collar bone and the bones in both of her legs were crushed by the impact of the crash. When your guards arrive, we shall use the element to help the healing process; at least enough to ready her for transport.” He shook his head, looking down at her belly, “The baby’s heartbeat is strong and there appears to be no damage to the womb. It appears as if your child must already have a powerful connection to his or her element, because that is nothing short of a miracle.”

  Alec stared at the monitor that was measuring their child’s heartbeat. He listened intently to the rhythmic sound coming from it and a single tear raced down his cheek before he had time to realize it had formed.

  “Paging Dr. Flanstin.” The intercom squawked, breaking the silence in the small room.

  The doctor glanced towards the door and then looked back at Alec, “I’ll be back as soon as I can and we’ll transfer her to a private room so we can help her.”

  Alec nodded and watched as the doctor left the room. He turned back to Ava, and instinctively reached his hand out to touch her. His hand shook when he realized almost every part of her was hurt. He pulled his hand back instead and, leaning very carefully over her, he gently pressed his lips against hers. “Please be okay,” he whispered.