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

by Christina Mobley

  Ava took another breath and carefully opened the heavy door. She slipped inside and closed it behind her. She took a breath and went down the long stone staircase.

  At the bottom she found rows and rows of shelves. There were so many different and amazing things on each shelf. A large corroded anchor sat against the wall. She noticed small water droplets on the floor around it. It must have just been placed there, a few minutes earlier and she might have been dodging people down here too. She moved past the anchor and looked at the boxes on the first shelf. There were all kinds of things in this room. She examined a silver hand mirror and some gold coins. A piece of an airplane wing standing in one corner caught her eye for a moment. She turned back to the shelf and saw something that looked like a piece of a steering wheel. Ann Marie didn’t know it, but she had seen the power of the Bermuda Triangle. She had seen the disappearing planes and ships; relics from some that had disappeared lined these shelves. Ava paused when she read the label on the piece of steering wheel. “The Quintessence.” That was the name of the ship the first five had come in on. The date that the piece was found was written right below the name. There were other things too. Strange objects, bottles, and even books. She looked back at the tag on the piece of steering wheel. The date was only a week ago. They had been finding more things on the ship, but nothing important. A silver box with a lock caught her attention next. She ran her hand over it and murmured, “Show what’s hidden. Free what’s locked away. Only to my eyes shall it be shown today.” The lock popped opened. She lifted the lid and found it. The drawing. It was in a glass frame. She lifted it out, opened the frame, and removed the drawing.

  The paper was crisp and dry now and she was still surprised by it. The drawing looked so much like her. She closed the box and put the lock back on it. Taking the drawing with her, she headed back to her room.

  …Brea…

  With shaking hands, Brea dialed Shawn’s number. The trucks were still behind her and she wasn’t sure what to do. If she went right to the boathouse they would know where it was. If she went a different way they might follow her and catch her alone. Shawn picked up on the second ring, “Hello? Brea?”

  “Hey. Listen, I’m in trouble. I’m not sure I’m going to make it there.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “The Waevern.” She paused. “They’re after me.”

  “I’ll come right now. Where are you?”

  …Ava…

  Ava closed the bedroom door behind and allowed the cloaking spell to fall away. She revealed the diary. She picked it up and carefully opened it to the missing page. Lifting the drawing, she lined it up with the ragged edge that had been left when the page was torn out.

  Her mouth fell open. It fit perfectly. She shouldn’t have been shocked, she had known it came from there, but seeing it was still surprising. She ran her finger over the previous page and began to read where she had left off.

  The two bound together will create a powerful child. This child will one day rule by right. The question is whether she will rule in dark or light. This child will be plagued by the pull of dark magic. Her biggest battle will be with herself and those most deeply connected to her. Her choices will decide the fate of both light and dark, and the future of all those born of the element will rest in her small hands.

  Each word struck Ava’s soul as surely as if she had been thrust with a sharp sword. The words echoed in her mind and the loud beat of her heart filled her ears. She felt her breath hitch as what she’d read sank deep inside her, pulling her inside out.

  “Ava?”

  She looked up. Alec was standing right in front of her, his face full of concern as he looked down at her. She hadn’t even heard him come into the room. “Ava, what’s wrong? I could feel your pain from the other side of the island.” He cupped her face with his strong hands, “What’s happened, Ava?”

  Ava placed her hands against his as tears began to trace their way down her pale cheeks. “It’s the baby. The diary. It says that our baby… I think Ann Marie was predicting that our baby will be a True Elementris, and maybe a dark True Elementris. It’s crazy though, because she also said I was the last True Elementris. I’m so afraid, Alec. I don’t know what’s going to happen.”

  “Ava, I don’t understand. That’s not such…” He stopped and stared at her as realization dawned. The terror in his eyes now matching what was racing through her. “We’re having a girl…”

  Ava nodded, seeing the knowledge reflected in his emerald eyes. “Exactly. If our baby is a True Elementris, then the day will come when she will have to battle me. There is only one way I can be the last True Elementris, Alec. I would have to kill our child.”

  “Unless she gives it up.” Alec raked his hands through his midnight hair and sat down beside her.

  “What if she doesn’t? If the dark claims her, what happens then?” She shook her head, “I won’t do it, Alec.” She wrapped her arms around her stomach, fierce even now when it came to protecting her child. “If this is true, Alec, I will walk off a cliff before battling my own child.”

  “Ava, don’t say things like that.” He said as he took her into his arms, “We don’t know if everything foretold in the diary is certain. There is no way to know. It was written a long time ago.” He rose and pulled her with him, “Maybe you shouldn’t read any more of it.”

  “No, I have to, Alec. I have to know what we’re facing.” Ava could see the worry in his eyes and feel it sparking between them. She sighed deeply, “What it says about the baby would explain everything. How the baby is able to connect to my elements so easily. All of it. Lareina knows what’s in this diary and I need to know too.”

  He stared at her, unblinking. “If those other mothers are pregnant with children due the same time as our child, she can’t be a True Elementris. The baby would be part of a circle.”

  “Are you sure about that, Alec?”

  “I’m sure, Ava.”

  She dried her tears and cleared her throat. “Did you get the list? Do you know who took the diary to Lareina?”

  He nodded and reached into his back pocket. He pulled out a folded piece of paper and handed it to her. “All of the people whose names are on that list visited the prison in the past few days.”

  “Did any of them visit Lareina’s cell?”

  “I don’t know. They all had different reasons to visit.”

  Ava opened the letter and stared down at the names.

  Shawn 1-3-14

  Michel 1-3-14

  Markson 1-4-14

  Vincent 1-4-14

  Bryce 1-5-14

  Vincent 1-5-14

  Bianca 1-6-14

  Kevin 1-7-14

  Tyler 1-7 14

  Shawn 1-8-14

  Vincent 1-10-14

  Bianca 1-13-14

  “Why would Vincent be at the prison so often?”

  “I don’t know.” He shook his head. “One of the people on that list took her that diary. There is someone on the island working against us.”

  Ava nodded. “I can tell you who I think it is.” She folded the paper and put it on her night stand.

  “Vincent?” Alec asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “I don’t know. There is no telling who it is, Ava. We need to be careful of everyone.”

  “I’m going to find out. I’ve got to get this under control. I’m done worrying.” She looked up and squared her shoulders, “Get the doctor. I need to speak to him.”

  Wordlessly, Alec stood and left to get the doctor.

  …Brea…

  Brea sped down the interstate. She passed one car after another. Her head was pounding and her pulse was racing. The people tailing her were still there and they were no longer trying to hide. One was right behind her, another one was beside her, and the third one darted back and forth keeping the traffic stuck behind them. She cut into the other lane and tried to put some space between them and her, but they were relentless. The only thing separating her from the SUV behind
her was the small bumper on the back of the car. Her nerves were completely rattled. She was chewing at her fingernails like she had as a kid. She caught herself and shook her head, “This is crazy. You need both hands on the wheel, girl.” She half wanted to pull over, jerk Macy out of the car, and beat the crap out of her. Unfortunately, that wasn’t an option. She wanted this over, but she had to get to Ava. She had to tell her what was going on.

  …Ava…

  The doctor listened intently to what Ava had to say before agreeing that her theory might have some merit. “I guess it is possible. It would explain the connection and the control of your elemental magic.” He paused, “However, in all of my years, I have never heard of a True Elementris being born to a True Elementris. It just does not happen. The birth of a True Elementris is such a rare thing.” He looked at her questioningly, “Why do you think the baby is a True Elementris?”

  Ava shook her head, “I just know.”

  He adjusted his glasses and straightened, “I’d like to try something if that would be agreeable with you?”

  “I guess so, yes.” Ava agreed as she looked first at Alec and then back to the doctor.

  The doctor held out his hand, “We will need to go outside to do this.”

  “Okay.” Ava took his hand and rose from the bed. She followed him out onto the balcony. The perpetual storm around the island was close to the island again. The waves spraying up over the Brooden. The sky was dark and ominous. The thunder booming so loud that it vibrated inside her.

  The doctor looked at the dark sky and turned back to Ava, “Try talking to the baby in a soothing voice. As you do concentrate on the storm and hold this.” He handed her a small triangular object that was made of glass.

  “What is this?” she asked, puzzled.

  “It directs magic. Hold it in one hand and try to change the storm.”

  Ava looked toward the dark clouds and pressed her hand over her stomach. The warmth of the baby pressed against the palm of her hand and she felt a small flutter beneath her palm in response to her touch. “Please calm down, little one.” She murmured as she caressed her stomach. “Calm down, my little love.” She held the triangle up in front of her.

  As she moved, the baby kicked and the triangle broke into tiny shards. The storm moved further out. Ava gasped as her fragile hope collapsed.

  The doctor looked at the broken glass and then at Alec. “Until the child is born there is no way to know for sure, but I strongly believe that this child is indeed a True Elementris. Maybe, because both mother and child are True Elementris', the child is able to control the elements or affect your control of the elements.” Ava could clearly hear the fear in his voice. “I can only think of one solution.” He cleared his throat and adjusted his glasses, looking over the top of them with his dark blue eyes. “As I said before, you need to be able to control the elements on a physical level. Usually years of experience with the magic allow that. Given the situation we find ourselves in now, it is imperative that we find a way to help you control them physically now.”

  He turned to the sky as thunder rumbled at his troublesome words. “I fear that something as simple as morning sickness or a craving could cause a catastrophic storm. If this child truly is a True Elementris and does have some semblance of control of the elements, the entire world is in danger.” He looked at Ava and then back to Alec. “Those especially connected to their element that we spoke of before. We need to get them here now. We need help. Ava, you need to learn how to gain physical control of your elements now.” Stern now, he issued instructions to Ava. “You need to be on strict bed rest. As of right now, the world’s fate may be in the hands of your unborn child. If you feel any sickness, any craving, you need to let me know immediately. We need to take this seriously.” His words fell from his lips landed as solidly as a stone, “This could easily become a very bad and desperate situation.”

  Alec took Ava’s hand, squeezing is softly. “I’ll go right now and find the people we need. I’ll find anyone that may be able to help us. I know the council has a record of some of them. Maybe they know where they are. Others may be harder to find though.”

  “What do you mean?” Ava asked, her fears increasing and spinning into a whirlwind of emotion as his fingers slipped from hers. She knew she needed to stay calm, but she was freaking out.

  “There’s one that I know of and there may be others.” Alec reclaimed her hand “You set him free. The Whistler.”

  “The Whistler?”

  “Yes. He has an unnatural connection to the wind. It’s said that he can call the wind with a simple whistle and control it in amazing ways. He’s known as a sort of modern day pirate. Before Lareina locked him up, he lived on his boat. He wasn’t the nicest guy in the world, but he stayed to himself and didn’t cause much trouble. When Lareina heard about his power, she had him locked away. She feared anyone that she thought might be a threat to her. He was one of the people you released. I don’t know how hard it might be to get him back here. He was locked up on the island for a long time.”

  “You must. Ava needs to learn from him. She needs help.” The doctor said as he prepared to leave the room.

  “I’ll do all I can.” Alec told him as he held the door open for him.

  Ava felt frustrated and scared. How could this happen? Her own baby, an unborn baby at that, causing all of this? If simple morning sickness, or a craving, could cause all this havoc, what would happen during the baby’s birth? She had to figure this out. She looked at Alec as she sat on the edge of the bed and took a troubled breath.

  He walked back towards her, his shoulders drawn back and a thick line between his penetrating green eyes. She felt the same emotions she was feeling coming from him. Fear, worry, protectiveness. He already loved their baby just as much as she did. Despite the problems now at hand, that was the one thing that was constant and sure. He glanced at her swollen belly as he stopped in front of her.

  Ava felt a small wave of joy eclipse her worries. Alec loved their child. It emanated from him in waves. The bond they shared strengthened his connection to their baby. The way he had looked at her, that combination of torture and love was exactly how she felt. She would do what she needed to do to protect the world, but she would also protect her child.

  Alec knelt and pulled her into his arms. They didn’t speak. There was no need.

  Kissing her cheek, he rose. The sound of the door shutting behind him made her jump. In spite of her fear, she smiled when their baby gave her mommy a little kick in response.

  …Brea…

  Brea swerved off of the road as the phone vibrated on the passenger seat. She corrected the car, and grabbed the phone. “Hello?”

  “It’s me. I’m here.” Shawn said.

  “Where?” Brea asked, looking at the cars around her. His car appeared beside her. Her relief was instantaneous when she saw him. She was so tired.

  Shawn’s voice was a torturous, yet wonderfully reassuring, sound. “Where are they? What do the cars look like?”

  “There are three. It’s one SUV and two trucks…” She stopped as she looked in the rear view mirror and realized they were no longer following her. She had no idea when they had stopped. They had been bouncing back and forth between lanes for hours, and now they were just gone. “They’re gone. I don’t see them.”

  “Okay, good. I’ll keep following you. Don’t stop anywhere. What’s going on, Brea?”

  “It’s a long story” She started and then her phone beeped. She pulled it back and looked at the number. It was Macy again. “Shawn, hold on okay?”

  “Okay.”

  Brea clicked over. “Hello?” She said carefully not sure what would happen.

  “Hey, Brea.” Macy said chirpily. “I just got out of class. I just wanted to check on you. Where are you?”

  Brea couldn’t believe how easily Macy played dumb. Brea was certain she had seen her and that Macy knew exactly where she was. Brea could play that game, even if she wanted to call he
r out right there, “I’m on my way to my mother’s house. Something came up.”

  “Oh okay. Is everything alright?”

  “Yeah. Everything is fine.” Brea felt her stomach clench. “I have to go.”

  “Okay. If you need anything call me.”

  “Uh huh.” Brea shook her head and hung the phone up.

  It rang as soon as she set it down. She picked it up, still stunned by the conversation with Macy. “Hello.”

  “Did you forget me? You hung up.”

  “Oh. Sorry.” Brea blinked. “I just, I really just need to get to Ava.”

  “Are you alright?”

  She wanted to tell Shawn everything, but all she could think about when she saw him was Bianca being in his arms. She wasn’t sure who to trust anymore. There was only one person she could trust completely with all that she had learned. Ava. She cleared her throat. “It’s a lot. I have to speak to Ava first. How far away are we?” she asked.

  “About an hour out,” was Shawn’s quiet reply.

  “Okay,” Brea said. “Let’s hurry.”

  As she hung up, she saw them. They appeared out of thin air; all three of them. They were leaving; they had been cloaked. Brea had no idea a cloaking spell could cloak a whole car. She took a shaky breath and tried to concentrate on the road. She was scared, and she didn’t like it.

  An hour later she pulled into the driveway leading to the boathouse. They got out of their vehicles and he walked over and pulled her into his arms. She felt safe. She leaned her head back and looked up at him. His blue eyes locked on hers and she felt like she was going to melt right into him. She watched his eyes slowly close and re-open. He traced her face with his finger, then stopped when he reached her lips. Brea bit her lip and took a deep breath as he stiffened. She stepped back as she remembered that he was with Bianca. She didn’t have the energy to decipher what was really going on with him. Hearing the sound of a car, she turned around. Bianca was sitting behind the wheel, watching them.