He stood back up and took a deep breath. His pocket vibrated. He reached down and flipped his phone open, “Are you here?”
“Pulling into the parking lot now.” Thomas answered.
Alec straightened, feeling a little more in control. “Good, use a cloaking spell to get up here. She’s in ICU and I’m sure they won’t let anyone else back here. Did you bring them all with you?”
“The whole kit and caboodle,” Thomas replied.
“Okay,” Alec said, close to smiling. “Thomas,” he thought, “What would we do without you?”
“We’re on our way up, Alec.”
Alec ended the call and turned back to Ava.
…Brea…
The next day, Brea decided not to call Caslan. “Nope, not gonna do it!” she told herself firmly. She was curious beyond belief, but she didn’t want to get into Macy’s business. Besides, she had enough of her own business to take care of. She had to go help Mr. Creepy in his classroom this afternoon. She was close to failing two classes, and then there was that other thing… The whole Shawn and Bianca thing continued to haunt her. She couldn’t stop seeing them. It was as if she could see them standing right in front of her; his hand in her blonde hair, the two of them on the dance floor... She shook the disturbing thoughts away and replaced them with the first thing that came to mind. Her mom. She was supposed to go visit her this weekend. Her mom was so different now and Brea really enjoyed the time they spent together. Anyone who had known her when she was with Buck would barely recognize her now. She had completely changed her life. Finally free of Buck, she was working with battered women, sharing her story with others in the hope that she might be able to help someone avoid what she’d had to endure. She was also dating, but this time the man in her life was treating her like a queen. Sure, he was a little nerdy, but he was good to her and that was all that mattered.
Unlike Buck, he hadn’t tried to be all, “I’m your new daddy.” She was supposed to go visit Aunt Avalene too. She had just seen her at Ava’s wedding, but they had a Sunday lunch planned. Brea was walking down the sidewalk towards the dorm building and the sidewalks were full of people coming and going, bumping around each other as they hurried in different directions. A long row of scooters lined the parking lot. Cars zoomed by sending dust floating into the dry air. The summer heat was cruel, leaving trails of dried leaves bunched at the edges of the sidewalks and blowing in the wind.
She stepped off the sidewalk and crossed the road at the light. Five or six others hurried around her and she could hear a girl behind her screaming at her boyfriend on her cell phone. When she reached the other side of the road, she noticed a bunch of people staring down the street. Then, out of nowhere, a cool breeze split the thick air and the hot summer heat instantly cooled. Brea felt chill bumps rise on her arms as a sharp wind lifted her hair. She jerked around and stared in the direction they were looking and saw the most ridiculous thing she had ever seen in Florida. Snow!
The people on the sidewalk were pointing and staring at the sky as the snowfall got heavier. Some tried to catch it with their hands. Brea turned her face up to the sky as she walked. “This is about to get dangerous,” she thought as the small flurries turned into thicker flakes, and a layer of white started to form on the sidewalk. Cars slid and swerved on the road as more snow fell. A big truck hit the brakes at the light and went through the intersection, crashing into three cars. The scene around her was now chaotic. People were screaming because of the accident, others were taking pictures of the snow with their phones. Girls wearing shorts hurried away, seeking warmth, while others played in the snow. Brea herself had never seen snow. She continued towards her dorm building and saw more of the same behavior as the snow fell harder and started to pile up on sidewalks that, only minutes ago, had been smoldering hot.
She opened the outside door to the dorm and rushed up the stairs to her room. Her face was so cold, her cheeks burned. Her icy hands gripped the key and forced it in. She fumbled with the lock and tossed the heavy door open. She froze right there, dropped everything on the floor and just stared.
…Alec…
Ava had been moved to a private room, but she still had not opened her eyes. Alec stood at her side, his fists clenched and his heart racing. Thomas and three other Spirit wielders stood against the wall. They were silent, as worried as he. Alec flinched as he looked at Ava again. Each mark on her skin sent rage racing through him. He wished she would open her eyes. He badly needed to see those beautiful blue eyes that were always so full of love. He was missing her voice and the feel her hands softly brushing his when they passed throughout the day. He thought of the heated nights that he waited for each day. He’d never imagined he could need another person so much. Now he couldn’t imagine ever having been without her. He lifted his hand and carefully laid it over hers.
He needed to feel her, to feel their bond. Over the past few months, their bond had grown stronger, and with it came a new kind of connection. He could feel her inside him, living and breathing there like a part of her soul stayed with him always. He could feel her emotions and, even though it was strange at first, he had begun to take comfort in that. Knowing how she felt, no matter the distance, gave him ease. Since the accident, he hadn’t felt anything from her and the last time he had felt anything haunted him. He couldn’t shake the memory of it. The terror she’d felt when she realized they were going to crash had almost destroyed him. Now, there was only emptiness. The part of her that had become a part of him was missing.
The door opened and Dr. Flanstin entered the room. Locking the door behind him, he said, “Let me take a look at her and then we can begin.”
Alec nodded.
The doctor examined Ava’s burns and the printout from the machines hooked to her. “Hmm.” He said, staring at her.
“What is it?” Alec asked.
“She’s already started healing some,” Dr. Flanstin murmured.
“Is she doing it?”
“I don’t think so. In her coma-like state, I don’t believe she can.”
“So, how?”
“I believe it must be the baby.” He pointed at Ava’s shoulder. “You see there. Her collar bone was crushed and bruised just an hour ago. The bruise is already beginning to heal, and I’m sure an x-ray you would show that her bone is healing as well. She still has a long way to go, but I believe the child she is carrying could be a spirit wielder.”
“Is that possible? For an unborn baby to connect with its Element, I mean?”
“Yes. It’s usually very weak, but the baby is connected to the mother emotionally and when a child is in the womb, their elements are combined, making it easier for the child to connect with his or her element.” He looked at the monitors. “I have done extensive research into the spirit elements connection to healing and I am always amazed when something like this happens. As we all know, the more spirit wielders together, the better.” He looked at the men standing against the wall. Let’s begin.” He took Ava’s left hand in his and Alec stepped back so Thomas could take her right. The others joined hands and formed a half-circle around the bed.
They all closed their eyes and began chanting an unintelligible rhythm of words under their breath. No one, other than those wielding spirit, knew those strange words or what they meant. It was something that just came to them when needed. The lights in the room flickered on and off, matching the rhythm of their chanting perfectly. Alec watched silently as each of the five men opened their eyes. Their eyes were glowing like an animals does in the dark. Almost instantly, the burns on Ava’s legs started to heal a little. She groaned, but did not open her eyes.
The men let go and stepped back. Each of them looked weaker suddenly as their faces paled and their eyes dimmed back to normal.
“Thank you,” Alec said, as he moved back to Ava’s bedside. He watched her closed lashes, praying that she would open them. “Ava, please” he begged silently. She didn’t move. After a long pause, he lifted his head, “Let’s
get her home.”
The doctor helped them get her out of the hospital and loaded into a specially designed ambulance. It was a vehicle from Ava’s private fleet and looked nothing like an ambulance. Alec wanted to ensure that they would attract no attention. She was too vulnerable right now. The many miles they had to travel could not go by fast enough.
…Brea…
“What are you doing here, Shawn?” Brea crossed her arms and glared. If the daggers shooting from her eyes had been real, he’d have been seriously wounded right about now.
He crossed the room and helped her pick up her books and bag. “It’s Ava. She’s been in an accident.”
Brea paled and felt as if her heart had stopped as her breath caught, “What?! Is she okay? What happened? Where the hell is she?”
“She’s on her way to the island. Alec and a group of Clutch Guards are transporting her now. We should arrive about the same time.”
“Let’s go.” Brea said, tossing her books on the bed and hurrying through the door.
Shawn caught up to her on the staircase.
“What happened to her Shawn? Is she awake?”
“No, she’s not,” he said quietly.
“The baby?” she barely breathed the words.
“I don’t know.” He held the door for her and his faint blue eyes reflected her own worry and pain back at her. “All I know is she and Alec got into a bad accident and she was transported to the closest hospital. They used Spirit to help her some, and then they prepared her to be taken home, to the island. Alec sent word for me to come and get you. Ava will want you there when she wakes up.”
Brea couldn’t even speak. She merely nodded as she ducked under his arm. Ava, hurt bad and unconscious. Shawn being here. It was all just too much to deal with right now. All she could concentrate on as they darted across the parking lot was breathing. Everything else would have to wait.
They got in the car and began the long journey that would get her to Ava. The tension was so thick Brea felt like there wasn’t enough air to take a full deep breath. Being so close to Shawn, catching glimpses of his soft blue eyes every so often, and smelling his smell was harder than she could ever have imagined. Worrying about Ava took precedent, but didn’t allow her to forget her own damage. Her heart felt like it would burst out of her chest and leap out of the car at any moment. She started to feel as if the car was shrinking, closing in on her. She was distracted by Shawn, worried sick about Ava, and stuck in a silent car. She could not wait to get to get to Ava. Trying to get a grip, she hit the window button and sucked fresh air into her lungs.
Brea noticed something strange as the car flew towards their destination. The same trees that she had passed by just two days ago were different. Their moist green leaves were crisp and brown, piled at the trunks. There was something else too. The sky. It was a dry orange and the sun at its center seemed to be twice its normal size. The hot weather was laced with moisture, but there wasn’t a single rain cloud in the sky. The dash thermometer read a hundred and one and seemed to be steadily climbing as they drove. Dry dirt blew in the wind and the waves of heat hovered over the road in front of them. Almost as if he could read her mind, Shawn cleared his throat, “Something’s really wrong with this weather.”
“Do you think it’s because of Ava’s accident?”
“No, it was happening before. The day after they left we started getting strange reports.”
“This is really bad.”
“It is.” He agreed solemnly. Loud thunder followed his words as if to echo the worry they both shared. The sky went from bright and orange to dark purple. Thunder rumbled and seemed to vibrate the car.
“That’s not good.” Shawn said, staring in the rear view mirror.
“What’s not good?” Brea asked, as she twisted in her seat to see what he was looking at. “Is that…? Where did that come from? She felt her breath hitch. Behind them, coming down the dry road was a huge tornado. Dark clouds seemed to be feeding the swirling gray monster as debris spun helplessly around it.
Shawn floored the gas pedal.
Brea held on, unable to take her eyes off of the huge tornado. The car began to shake as it moved closer.
“Um Shawn. It’s getting closer.” Brea turned to look forward when he hit the brakes and turned the car sharply to the right. He stopped in a large ditch just as the tornado reached them.
Shawn grabbed Brea and held her against him as the car shook and the wind screamed. Brea breathed in his scent and closed her eyes. The sound of her scream was ripped away by the wind as the back windshield burst and broken glass sprayed the inside of the car. Shawn pulled her closer against him and tucked her face into his neck, his body shielding her from most of the glass and wind. In spite of her terror, Brea couldn’t help but think that if these were her last moments, this was the place she wanted to be; in his arms.
Far too soon for her liking, she felt his arms loosen as he whispered, “We’re okay now,” then pulled away from her.
She didn’t say anything. She felt her whole body flush with heat. She sighed, hating this tension between them. She shouldn’t want him this way. He had moved on and she had to do the same, somehow.
It had only taken the storm moments to pass. As quick as the powerful tornado had come, it was gone. They got out of the car. The damage was extensive. There were no trees left standing where they were. The tornado had retreated back into the sky as if it had never been, leaving utter devastation in its wake.
Brea looked at Shawn and could take no comfort from the look on his face. The one person she felt safest with looked worried and that was definitely not a good thing. The sky changed right before their eyes. A brilliant orange pink painted sky formed as, without a word being spoken, they climbed back into the car and left.
Three hours later Shawn pulled into the boathouse and put the car in park. Before he could shut it off, Brea was out of the car and waiting by the door, impatient for him to unlock it and get them on their way so she could get to Ava.
He slid past her and inserted the key, “She’s going to be okay.”
“I know.” Brea said. She bit her lip as a tear escaped, and stepped through the door Shawn held open for her.
“Hey, Brea?”
She turned around too quickly and realized how close he was, “Yeah?”
He moved closer and looked into her eyes. “Look, I know you probably hate me, but please don’t lock me out of your life completely.”
Brea took a ragged breath, “I don’t hate you, Shawn. I just don’t understand.”
He looked down at the small floor space between them, “I know and I really can’t explain, but it’s better for you this way.”
“Better for me? What’s that supposed to mean?”
He frowned, “I don’t know.” He moved past her, “We’d better get going.”
“Okay…” Bemused, Brea stood still after he had walked out of the room. Then, shaking her head, she followed. He had the boat untied and refused to meet her eyes as she climbed in. He maneuvered the small boat out of the boathouse without one more glance in her direction. Brea was puzzled, but at least she knew one thing she hadn’t known before. As much as she wanted to hate him for being with Bianca, she couldn’t. She now knew that it was possible to forgive him and that brought her some semblance of peace. She and Shawn had grown close over the past two years. He was a great friend and, if that’s all he could be, she would take it.
Another silent ride and an hour later they finally reached Element Island. Brea scrambled out as soon as the boat touched the dock. Shawn tied it off and quickly caught up with her as she raced towards the castle. Brea cocked her head and looked up at the tower guard, “Any day now,” she said.
The wall retracted and slid to the side. They hurried through the courtyard and into the castle. When she finally reached Medical, Shawn was waiting for her with the door held open. Brea burst into the room, expecting to find Ava but the only people in the room were a Green and the
nurse bandaging his forearm.
“They haven’t arrived yet,” the nurse reported. “They should be here soon.”
“Thank you,” Shawn said and looked at Brea, “Do you want to go back to the dock to wait for them?”
“Yes,” Brea responded. As they walked, her mind wandered back to the earlier conversation with Shawn. “I don’t hate you, Shawn,” she said, watching him. I do need to know one thing though. “What exactly did you mean when you said ‘It’s better for me this way?”’
He sighed heavily, “It’s just better for everyone if we’re just friends.”
“What do you mean, everyone?” Brea demanded. “This ‘everyone’ doesn’t think it’s better!
He met her eyes, “I shouldn’t talk to you about this.”
“No, I want to know what you mean by that. I need to understand.”
“I never wanted to hurt you, Brea. It’s my fault I let you get close to me. I shouldn’t have. You know me better than anyone, but you have to trust me when I tell you that you’d be better off if you never came near me again.” He stopped walking, “Look Brea, you’re one of my best friends. That means a lot to me, but I won’t ever be more than that and that’s not fair to you.” His deep voice cracked, “I never wanted to hurt you. I shouldn’t have let you believe I wanted more. I’m sorry.”
Brea looked down, trying not to show the hurt on her face. “I’m sorry I kept pushing you away, Shawn.”
“This isn’t your fault, Brea.” He slowed his pace “I know things are weird right now, and it’s not fair for me to ask anything of you, but I still need you. Your friendship is so important to me. Without you and Alec, I don’t know how I would have continued to function after Scott’s death.”
Brea felt the hurt begin to ease a little as he spoke. This was the side of Shawn that had her heart. He only allowed people to see him as the big brooding Clutch guard, but there was another side to him. She wondered if he had ever allowed Bianca to see that side of him; the vulnerable, raw, real side, that he guarded so well. He had shown it to her and she hadn’t realized how much that meant, until now, when it was too late. Her relationship with him was just as important as he was saying that his was to her.
Elementris, Exposure, Eruption Box set: The Vangeretta Curse Series Page 57