She wondered if he had ever known how she really felt about him. She’d thought he knew. Maybe he hadn’t though. She had teased him relentlessly and, in her determination to not be a victim like her mother, she had shot him down numerous times. She had only herself to blame that he had finally given up and she hated that she hadn’t let him get close when he had tried. The one time in her life that she had needed to be up-front and honest, she hadn’t done it. Hard lesson learned; she wouldn’t make that mistake again.
His face reflected his troubled thoughts and that hurt her deeply despite the pain he was causing her. Brea wanted to tell him how she really felt; had wanted to say it so many times and hadn’t, but things had changed now and Brea couldn’t hurt him, no matter how badly he had hurt her. Squaring her shoulders, tucking away the pain, she told him, “I’m not going anywhere, Shawn.”
“Good. That’s really good to know,” he said quietly. When Brea and Shawn reached the dock, Bianca was waiting for them. Brea stiffened and felt her palm itch as she fought the urge to slap her silly. What could Bianca possibly give him that she couldn’t? Maybe he was just tired of being rejected? Maybe he had something better with Bianca? Brea studied her. There was something different about Bianca these days. She had this permanent smirk, like she knew something no one else knew. It wasn’t there now. Her lips were tight and her dark eyes sort of hollow. She kept thumbing her necklace. When she let it go Brea realized she had never seen it before. It was a gold ball with a tiny green liquid in the middle. She stared out over the water as Shawn moved to her side. Brea hung back, trying to keep her eyes on the horizon rather than them. She was trying really hard not to be mad at Shawn. Not wanting to hurt him didn’t keep her from being angry and the more she watched, the more her anger grew. “What’s so wrong with me and right about her? Maybe it’s because I’m just a normal person, not ‘special’ like them. Whatever, just don’t let them see you cry.” She told herself firmly. This was going to be much harder than she’d thought. It was going to be interesting figuring out how to just be friends with the man she was in love with.
…Ava…
Ava stood on the beach. Walking to the water’s edge, she let the water wash over her toes and closed her eyes. The soothing rhythm of the waves and the soft caress of the wind calmed her. She opened her eyes and looked up at the blue sky and smiled at the beauty of it all. The perfect blue, the white sand, and the smell of wild roses in the warm air blended around her and lifted her mood. Then she felt it. Thunder. It rattled her bones before it sounded in the sky. She jerked her head up and saw dark clouds rushing towards her. The swirling mass covered the blue sky quickly and cooled the air. Her hair lifted in the strong wind and she felt the magic tickle her insides. It was building. It was stronger than ever. Her body shook with it.
Lightning split the sky and she realized the waves had changed. The waves were no longer rushing up the beach and washing over her toes. Instead, the waves were rolling backwards, away from her. With each wave, more beach was revealed. Ava moved forward, along the freshly exposed sand. Sea shells and rocks littered the new beach. Heavy rain drops pounded all around her as the waves raced away from her. As she followed each new wave out, her heart pounded as the storm unleashed its fury. She began to run. Each step fell on new sand, each wave exposed something new. She turned back, staring at the long trail of footsteps she had left behind her. The castle seemed to be miles away and perched high on the beach. She looked back to see more beach exposed and realized the island was much larger than she had imagined. She ran towards the water. She had to stop this.
Suddenly the receding water revealed a large ship and then beyond it miles of land, dotted with statues. Then a large castle appeared. It made the castle on the island seem small and plain by comparison. Aged by the water, it was still majestic. What looked like a million different stones dotted its surface and they seemed almost alive as they gathered the meager sunlight that still filtered through the dark clouds. Ava was mesmerized as an entire city revealed itself. She hurried towards it and then stopped as she came to a large boulder. She squinted up at it. There was something familiar about this place. There was something familiar about the shape in the boulder, too. She moved forward to get a better look. It was then, with chills racing down her spine, that she realized five stone figures stood over her. They were holding hands. She gasped.
“What are you doing here?” Startled, Ava turned to see a woman standing before her. Impossibly dry, she wore a beautiful green gown that glowed with strange phosphorescent light. Golden rings encircled each finger and the jewels that adorned them were obviously real. Gold bracelets lined her arms and a large red ruby in the shape of a potion bottle hung from an intricate gold chain and rested between her breasts. She lifted her chin and challenged Ava again. “How did you find this place?”
“What is this place?” Ava asked.
The woman laughed as she turned her face to the wind. Her face was revealed now and Ava felt chilled at the darkness she saw in her eyes.
“What is this place? Why, it’s the greatest city on earth, you silly girl.” She looked around and lowered her voice, “The Lost City.”
“You don’t mean?” Ava looked back the way she had come. The island she knew as home crowned the great land she now stood on. It was only the tip of what had been revealed as the waves rolled backwards.
She turned back, “Is this…?” The woman was gone.
…Alec…
Alec held Ava in his arms as they passed through the storm. The ever-present storm around the island was never the same. It was always changing, but right then it was strong, wilder than he had ever seen it. It matched his mood perfectly. It was always in the same place, it never moved. The water just before it calm and the water just after it calm, but inside the storm waves rose and fell angrily as wind, rain and lightning collided together. The storm protected Element Island from exposure, and the sight of it let him know he was home.
As the last of the rain tattered across the back end of the boat, the island came into view. Alec felt his muscles relax just a little. He had managed to get Ava safely home. He looked down at her face. The cuts and bruises that marred her usually flawless skin caused him almost physical pain. He couldn’t stand it. Her red hair lay over his arm like a silk blanket. The heavy wet curls danced down his side as he lifted her. He stepped out of the boat carefully; he didn’t want to cause her any more pain. Shawn and Brea walked beside him and everyone else followed behind. As he carried her, he heard gasps. Clutch guards took to one knee as they passed by them. He imagined his expression was dangerous because no one stepped in his way. No one said a word, no animal made a noise either. The island was dead silent.
He walked into the castle, climbed the stairs to their room, and laid her on the bed. Alec looked behind him as Shawn stepped through the door with Brea charging in right behind him. Shawn grabbed her around the waist and pulled her to the side, holding her in place as everyone wielding Spirit came into the room. Over fifteen Spirit wielders began to link their hands together as they formed a healing circle. Alec had to force himself back from her as they took her hands, completing the circle. Thomas still looked drained from the first time he had given his element magic to her. He cleared his throat and everyone closed their eyes. Everyone gathered in the hall stood still and silent.
As they all began to chant, the hum of magic filled the room. Alec could feel it. He wasn’t sure if everyone could feel it or if it was just his connection to Ava that allowed him to absorb the strange rush of Spirit. Suddenly battering wings covered every window. Loud howls came from outside. A resounding roar was heard as the old lion that lived on the back side of the island joined in. The lion had not left the cover of the forest since the female lion that used to live here with him had died. He’d only been spotted a few times in the past few years. The fact that he was making his presence known now sent chills down Alec’s spine. The sound resonated with the way he was feeling; lonely, desola
ted.
Alec dropped to his knees as the Spirit element vibrated through him and the pain of seeing her lying there so still sank into his soul. He stayed frozen that way until their soft chanting dwindled away and a terrible scream parted Ava’s heart-shaped lips.
He lunged over to her, taking her hand just as her lashes fluttered open. Tears streamed down her cheeks and a rush of emotion entered that empty place in his soul. Sheer terror! She looked around and struggled to speak, “Where? How? Alec!” She grabbed at him. The bruises on her face cleared before his eyes and the gash above her eyes stitched back together. She burrowed herself against his chest and sobbed against his shoulder. “The baby?” She whispered against his neck.
“The baby is fine,” he whispered as he stroked her hair reassuringly.
She breathed a sigh of relief and held onto him fiercely.
He closed his eyes and their bond allowed him to feel her peace as she calmed in the shelter of his arms.
…Brea…
Brea waited as Ava and Alec held each other. The room was silent and Shawn still had his arm around her waist. She couldn’t help the tingle that traveled up her spine as he held her. She tried to ignore it, but her body wasn’t cooperating with her mind when it came to all of the emotions she was experiencing. She thought she had prepared herself to see Ava, but she hadn’t, not at all. She was still stunned by what the Spirit wielders had done. Ava had healed right before her eyes.
“Brea,” Ava said as Alec loosened his hold enough for her to look around the room.
Brea pulled away from Shawn and ran to Ava’s side. “Oh, Ava!” she exclaimed, trying not to cry.
“I’m fine.” Ava smiled reassuringly.
Alec eased her back against her pillows and ushered everyone out of the room as Brea sat on the edge of Ava’s bed. When the door closed behind them, Ava looked at Alec, “What happened, Alec?”
Alec walked back over to the bed and shook his head. “The snow was melting too fast and we went off the road and into some trees.”
Shocked, Ava looked him over, “You’re hurt.”
“I’m okay; just a few broken ribs and a burn.”
Brea noticed the burn down his arm. It was wrapped up, but you could see the blackening of the skin.
“You go right now and tell Thomas and the others to help you too.” Ava ordered.
Alec smiled, “I’m fine and Thomas has used all the energy he has.”
“Please.” She said, “For me.”
He tilted his head and met her eyes. Smiling, he gave in, “Fine, I’ll go down and see the nurse.” He kissed her hand and took a step towards the door.
“Hey, one thing?” Ava said as her fingers slipped through his.
“Anything.” he smiled at her.
“Did you get the diary?”
He let out a breath, “I don’t know yet. Shawn sent a crew to clean up the wreckage. Bianca is leading, she took a few Greens with her. I told them to see if it made it through the wreck.”
“Okay” Ava said.
He shut the door and left Ava alone with Brea.
Ava looked at Brea, “I hope they find it.”
“You mean the diary?”
“Yeah,” Ava said, “I started reading it.”
“You were reading on your honeymoon?” Brea lifted a brow.
“A little, mostly on the way back.” She ran her hand over her belly, “I’m glad the baby is okay.”
“You scared the crap out of me. I think I’m with Alec. Maybe we should keep you locked up on the island,” Brea said.
“Not a chance.” Ava retorted, trying to sit up, “I’ve got to figure out this whole weather thing.”
Brea nodded, “Yeah, it’s bad. What do you think is causing it?”
“Well, after reading some of the diary, I found out that there used to be a True Elementris that practiced dark magic.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, Malinda Waerven.”
“Waerven?” Brea said with a chill in her voice.
“Yeah, as in the person whose son started the Waerven. I wonder if somehow a True Elementris could have been born into the Waerven family.”
“I thought there could only be one True Elementris?”
“Yeah, but maybe she’s not eighteen yet. Playing with her powers, trying to learn.”
“Okay, maybe, but you couldn’t control the weather before you accepted your power.”
“I know, but something weird is going on. Something bad.” She sat the rest of the way up and wiggled her toes, “Good as new.” She smiled, “I’m going down to talk to the council before Alec gets back.”
Brea shook her finger at her, “He wouldn’t want you out of bed now would he?”
“Nope.”
“Well, then I can’t let you out of bed.”
Ava slid out of the bed. “I’m fine,” she said as she spun in circle. “See!” and then she wobbled on her feet.
Brea grabbed her, “Ava! Get back in that bed!”
“Quit being a worry wart,” Ava said as she straightened. “I’m fine. Promise.” She pulled the door open, “I need you to do something for me.”
“What?” Brea lifted her chin.
“I need you to go tell Aunt Avalene what happened before she finds out from someone else.”
“You want me to leave right now!”
“Not this second, but today. News travels fast and Aunt Avalene will be worried sick. I’d rather you tell her, so you can also tell her I’m fine now. I’m sure she’s worried about the weather thing too. Tell her I have everything under control.”
“Okay.” Brea said.
Ava shut the door.
Brea looked around the room and wandered out onto the balcony. She spotted Shawn leading a group of Greens in their morning run. Lyssa was easy to pick out; she was the only girl among them. Shawn ran easily in front of them and Lyssa was in the middle, working her way towards the front. Their footprints left a long trail down the beach. Brea sighed and looked out over the horizon.
…Ava…
Images from the strange dream dominated her thoughts; backwards waves, a ruined city beneath the ocean, and a woman covered in gold. She had no idea what it all meant and she shook her head as if she could physically remove the thoughts racing through her mind. She needed to focus on the here and now. “What are we going to do?” Ava questioned the council after watching the news clips showing the odd weather patterns. She was worried about how to fix it, but she was also worried about what those born of the Element were thinking about it all. Did they think she was doing it? Was it possible that she was somehow, unknowingly, doing this?
Vincent folded his arms and rested them on the table, “All we can do is send out the Clutch to help with the cleanup right now. Alec’s already on that. The abnormal weather doesn’t worry me. The fact that you cannot seem to change it, does. I want you to get some rest and work on that. Maybe your accident has caused your connection to the elements to weaken or become unstable.”
Unstable? “I don’t know. I feel fine now.” Ava said.
Gale Summers, the older of the two women on the council, reached across the table and patted her hand, “Don’t worry. We’ll get to the bottom of this.”
Ava nodded, “I’ll do everything I can.” She stood, wanting to get back to the room before Alec found out she was not in bed.
“One more thing,” Vincent said.
Ava could feel her insides shudder as she turned back to the table.
“We are not completely sure yet, but we believe that five unborn children of the Element were taken this morning.”
“What do you mean, unborn?”
“As you know, we keep track of news reports worldwide. Four different women of the Element have been reported as missing. All of them are pregnant. One reported in China, two in the United States, and one in the United Kingdom. All of them are due at the same time; November twenty-fifth. I suspect there is a fifth who has not been reported as missing yet. W
e will continue to watch the reports and we have sent a Keeper to each area the women were reported as missing from. They will see what they can find out about the abductions and report back to us.”
Concerned, Ava responded, “We have to stop whoever is doing this. Could it be the Waerven?”
“We don’t know, but after the third woman was reported missing, we all agreed that someone may indeed be stealing children born of the Element. We can’t confirm that right now, but it’s very odd to say the least. These women are all due on the same day. We have confirmed family lines of two of them already. One is a direct descendant of the Stone family and another is a decedent of the Waevern family. That fact leads to one conclusion. Children born of the element are being abducted.”
Ava jerked as the words pierced her as if they were knives. Someone was taking unborn children, not just any children, but children she was sworn to protect. She felt as if she had personally let those children and their parents down. “Please let me know as soon as you hear anything.” She glanced around the room and then left. She went straight upstairs and hurried to Nisca’s door. She knocked once, waited a second and started knocking repeatedly. She needed answers and she needed them now.
Nisca answered the door, sort of breathless. “Ava, what are you doing up already?” Nisca grabbed her by the arm and began ushering her back towards her own bedroom. “What are you thinking?”
“I need to talk to you.” Ava said as they walked inside. Brea was on the other side of the room. “What’s wrong, are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” Ava snapped, wondering just briefly if she really was okay. “I just need to talk to you, Nisca.” She looked over at Brea, “and you.”
Elementris, Exposure, Eruption Box set: The Vangeretta Curse Series Page 58