Vincent looked pale suddenly, which only seemed to fuel Ava’s anger. She pinned him with a look, and directed her comments straight to him, “If there are people working against us. I will find out. I will punish them. Those mothers will be returned to their families.” She raised her hand against any protest, “I also think it’s time to discuss a safe place for children born of the Element to go. I’ve been thinking about building a foster home. I need everyone to start putting some plans together.”
She put her finger over her lips as Vincent started to speak, “Hush, Vincent. I don’t want to hear it.”
“But…”
“No!” Ava said, “I know the council has discussed the possibility before and that there are risks of exposure and such, but I have decided. The risk to those children is greater than the risk of exposure. This is something we have to do. It should have been done a long time ago. I’m leaving in a few days to find a place. The Clutch will prepare to go after the missing mothers while I’m gone.”
“Gone.” Vincent shook his head, “And where exactly are you going to go? We can’t put it here and anywhere else isn’t protected. It will take us some time to make decisions and debate this idea. Just finding a place will be a great challenge. This is not a good time. If you are the fifth mother, they will use this opportunity to capture you.”
“I can take care of myself and there is no good time.”
“You are a naïve leader,” Vincent huffed. “You will regret this decision.”
Gale whipped her head around and glared at him, “Shut up, Vincent. The council will stand behind you, Ava. I’m sure you can handle being away from the island for a few days.
Vincent shook his head. “I’m sure she can. Obviously she has great control. Just look at the weather.”
Ava lunged forward, flames dancing in her eyes.
Vincent took a quick step back.
Brea grabbed her arm. “Ava! No.”
Ava turned to look at her. Her face softened. She turned back to Gale, her blue eyes normal again, “Please start putting things together. I will have a location for you in a few days.”
“We will,” Gale said.
Vincent gave Gale a warning glare as he exited the room.
The other council members followed him out. Gale smiled and closed the door behind her.
“Are you okay?” Brea asked.
“I’m great.” Ava replied. She shook her head. “I just cannot stand Vincent. Did you see his face? He knows I’m coming for him.”
“He looked terrified. It was pretty funny. One thing though, are you sure he’s not right about them trying to capture you next?”
“I’m sure.” Ava smiled. “I was thinking. You are in school to be a teacher. The older kids will be able to go to our high school, but the younger ones will need regular teachers along with those that can teach them about their elements. If everything goes as planned, do you want a job?”
“Of course.” Brea bit her lip. “I may need an extra year or two though. I’ve been falling behind.”
“Oh, Brea. I’m sorry. All of this has got to be hard on you too.”
“No, I’m good. It’s not that. I just have to focus more.” She smiled. “It sounds great. I would love to help you with the school.”
“Great. I’m going to need you. I hope Alec’s father says yes.”
“I’m sure he will.”
Ava tilted her head, “You know what?” she paused, “I want you to tell Caslan to meet me at Aunt Avalene’s house in two days. We’re going to get those women back and shut the Waevern down for good.”
“You’re sure about leaving the island?” Brea tilted her head, “You’re supposed to be on bed rest and this whole situation is kind of scary.”
“I’ll be fine.” Ava stood, “I can’t stay here forever. It’s time to get out there and get things done. I’ll just be careful.”
“I’m not sure you’re ready to see what’s going on out there.” Brea said. “It’s crazy with the storms and mixed-up weather.”
Ava tapped her temple, “I’m already seeing it.”
“You are? How?”
“I don’t know. Since I became the True Elementris I see more and more. At first it was hard, but now I see it every time I close my eyes.”
…Ava…
“Wait up! Waddling here,” Ava told Brea as they walked through the square late that afternoon. Since making her connection with the earth, Ava felt stronger and she wanted to see how things went when she was out of bed.
Brea laughed as she waited for Ava to catch up with her, “Come on, Chubby.”
“Kiss my chubby butt. It’s a lot of work making a human and trying to save the world at the same time,” Ava retorted.
“Nah, you got this.” Brea sighed as they turned to walk together. “What you said before, about seeing the world? Can you see it now? Is it like a movie?”
Ava closed her eyes and saw the same things she had been seeing. Mixed-up weather and unnatural storms. Maybe leaving the island would help her get her connection under control. “Sort of, except it’s really fast, like fast-forward.”
Brea bit her lip. “I can’t imagine that. It’s weird to think about.”
“It is weird,” Ava agreed.
“I wish I could stay. I always imagined we would be together having our kids and all that. Then you went and started early.”
“Yeah, well, have you seen Alec?”
“Yeah, he’s one hot slice of man meat, but control, girl.”
“Good advice, but it’s a little late now.” Ava looked down at her swollen belly and then turned to Brea as they reached the boat. “Are you sure you will be safe alone? Don’t get yourself into anything with this guy. Let me send Shawn back with you, or I can send someone else if that’s too uncomfortable.” Ava paused “About Shawn, are you okay? There’s been so much going on I haven’t even asked. I’m sorry. Do you want to talk about it?”
Brea glanced at Shawn. He was waiting down in the boat. “No. I’m fine about him,” Brea’s voice shook, giving her away. “I don’t need a Clutch Guard. I’ll be fine. I can’t do that anyway. If they see a Clutch Guard around me, I won’t be able to find out anything. There’s no way Caslan could talk to me. They’d kill him if they found out that he’s been telling me all this stuff.”
“I’d rather it be his life than yours,” Ava said quietly.
“That’s just it though. He might be the only hope for finding those women, and if that’s our little one’s circle of people, we have to save them. Besides, even if he is trying to trick me somehow, I have to find out. Let me go back and tell him. I’ll bring him to meet with you, no big deal.”
They walked further down the dock and stopped. Brea held her hands out to be released from the island. Ava didn’t place her hands on hers though. Instead she reached in her pocket and pulled the vine ring out. She placed it on Brea’s middle finger. It was a little loose, but then it glowed gold and the vine tightened on her finger and re-hardened. “This is yours now. This place is your home as much as mine. I want you to be able to come and go as you need.” She reached back in her pocket and pulled a long chain out. She held it up and the woman with up stretched arms spun in the moonlight. “This is too. You’re as much a Vangeretta as I am. This will protect you.”
“No, Ava,” Brea refused it. “I can’t take that. Keep it for the baby.”
Ava pressed it into her hands, “The baby is safe right now. You keep it and when the baby needs it you will be there to pass it on.”
“I will keep this on until the day comes that I pass it on to her. I promise.” She smiled and slipped the necklace on. “In the meantime, I’ll start buying pink as soon as I get back.”
Ava hugged her. “Please be careful, Brea.”
“I will. You too.” She smiled and climbed into the boat where Shawn waited.
“Two days. Don’t forget.” Ava said and then she spun around and began the walk back to the castle, not wanting to watch her l
eave. She noticed someone else watching though. Bianca was half behind the wall. Ava had no clue what to think about the Shawn and Bianca thing. “Did she really like him? Was she worried about losing him to Brea? Or, was something else going on?” Ava walked towards her. “Hey, Bianca.”
“Oh. Hi, Queen Vangeretta,” Bianca greeted as she moved to walk with her.
“You don’t have to call me that, you know,” Ava told her.
“Sorry, Ava.” Bianca wrung her hands as they walked.
“Are you alright?” Ava asked.
Bianca looked up with a worried expression. She looked like she had just been caught with her hand in the cookie jar, “Yes, I’m fine.” She smiled “I have to go, okay?”
“Okay.” Ava watched Bianca thoughtfully as she hurried away in the opposite direction.
…Brea…
They had just arrived back in Miami and already Brea wished she could go back and watch out for Ava. Shawn unlocked the boathouse and opened the garage door, “Are you sure you don’t want me to follow you back?” he asked. “I’m surprised Ava didn’t send you back with a guard.”
“She tried. I told her I was fine.”
He clenched his jaw, “What was all that anyway? Why were the Waevern after you?”
“It’s nothing.” Brea said as she opened the car door and climbed inside.
Shawn walked towards her and stood in the open door. “You know, Brea. I know the way I handled things wasn’t right, but you can’t hold this against me forever. I miss our friendship. I’m sorry that you’re mad, or hurt, or whatever. You can’t tell me that you don’t want me and then be mad when I finally move on. I thought we were close. I told you things that I told no one else.”
Brea was shocked. She shut her open mouth and looked up at him. “Well, now you have someone else to share all of that with, don’t you?”
“Brea.” He bent down so he could see her eye to eye. “Come on. What’s going on? Talk to me.”
“No.” She said and crossed her arms. She peeked up at him and felt kind of bad. Shawn was such a good guy. Yeah, the Bianca thing was screwed up, but she knew he hadn’t really meant to hurt her. If she were really honest with herself, she had to acknowledge the fact that she had sent so many mixed signals, he probably hadn’t realized that he could hurt her.
He stood and backed up.
“Ugh. Fine. Wait up.” Brea got out of the car, “They were just following me. I don’t really know why. I’m sorry Shawn. I feel like I can’t talk to you the way we used to. I really do want to be your friend.” She paused, “I’m just not sure that I can.”
“Because of Bianca?”
“I just find it hard to believe that you’re with Bianca.”
“It’s complicated.” He shook his head, “I don’t know, maybe the thing with us never happened because it wasn’t meant to.”
Brea tilted her head. “Yeah. Maybe.” She forced a smile. “Besides, the witch probably cast a spell on you anyway.”
He smiled at her. “You’re a mess, Brea.” His blonde hair fell over his liquid eyes. He leaned toward her and then took a step back.
Brea felt her throat tighten and her heart thump. “I try.” She managed a smile, but lost it quickly. “Why her, Shawn?”
For a moment she wasn’t sure he’d heard her.
A hard line formed between his eyes. “It’s complicated, Brea.”
“You keep saying that! I want to know why it’s complicated. What’s wrong with me?”
“Brea, I...” She watched him struggle like a worm under a microscope.
Brea couldn't believe she'd asked him that question. “How pathetic,” she thought as she wiped away a few sneaky tears. “Forget it! You don’t have to explain anything to me.”
“Brea, you don’t know…” He turned toward her, and grabbed both of her arms. Brea’s heart stopped as he walked her backwards until they bumped into the car. “Don’t know what?” she whispered. His nose brushed her cheek and then he backed away his jaw taut and brows drawn. “Just be careful, okay?” He said, letting her go.
Brea released a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding and got inside the car.
He watched as she started the car. He had almost kissed her. No doubt about that and it was causing Brea to re-think everything despite what he had said earlier. She was so confused and wondered what might have happened if he had kissed her. She pulled out, her heart hammering in her chest as the heat generated by that moment burned her from the inside out. She looked in the rear view mirror, he was still there, still watching.
Brea bit her lip. She thought about everything. Despite what he’d said about only being friends, Brea couldn’t help but believe he still wanted more. “Why the Bianca thing though? Could she have cast a spell on him? It’s ridiculous, right?” Her mind took off on its own. Shawn possibly being spellbound was a ludicrous thought. “She was with the Waevern. She could easily do something like that, but why would she? Who would want that if they really loved someone? What if he did still want her and he really was under some spell? Was that just wishful thinking?” She sighed as she looked into the rearview mirror, hoping for one more glimpse. He was gone. She shook her head and pressed the gas. She wanted to turn around and talk to him while they had a chance to be alone, but she knew that was a bad idea. Besides, that would be pathetic. Shawn didn’t want her. He’d told her that. He’d moved on, maybe someday soon, she could too. Brea wiped at her eyes and blew her hair off her brow. “Focus, Brea.” She had to get to Caslan, find those women, and help Ava rescue them. That was the only thing that was important now.
It was early morning before she got back to the dorm. Macy was asleep. Brea was too tired to care whether or not it was safe to be around her. She climbed into her bed and fell asleep instantly.
She dreamed about Caslan. They were diving off the cliffs, laughing together. Then, somehow, his face changed and it was Shawn with her. He was shirtless and little droplets of water dripped down his chest, tracing the indentions his hard stomach muscles made. His hair was wet and sticking up all over the place. He grabbed her hand and pulled her against him. His skin was warm and his hands ran from her hips up towards her ribs. He gripped her there and pulled her closer, wrapping his arms tightly around her. His lips connected with hers and…she woke up.
Macy was standing across the room glaring at her. She had a sour look on her face.
Brea quickly wiped the sleep from her eyes feeling as if the heat of the dream must be showing all over her face. She just couldn’t get Shawn out of her head, no matter how bad she wanted it.
Macy smiled when she realized Brea was awake, “Hey girl. When did you get back?” She walked towards her.
“This little act is so crazy. How is it that she can pull it off so well?” Brea sat up and threw the covers off. “Last night. You were asleep.”
“Huh, I didn’t even hear you come in.” She shrugged, “So what do you say? How about we cash in that rain check tonight? It’s ladies night.”
Brea ground her teeth and blinked at her. “Really? What was her plan? Find out as much as she can? Was this some test to see if Brea had seen her in the car the other day?” Brea swallowed hard and looked her square in the eye, “Sure. I’m game.”
“Awesome.” Macy said happily. She spun away, walking towards her dresser, “I’ve got the perfect outfit for you. I just bought it last week.” She said as she pulled out the second drawer.
Brea stared at the back of her head. Her long blonde hair fell around her tan shoulders. She looked so normal; so innocent. How could a snake be disguised so well? Whatever game she was playing was a strange one, but Brea was up to the challenge.
“You can so rock this,” Macy said, holding out a small black shirt with pre-made rips in the shoulders.
Brea took two big steps and grabbed it. She looked at Macy’s large blue eyes.
She blinked back innocently.
Brea almost laughed as she imagined old western-style standoff musi
c playing in the background. Who would pull the trigger first? How long could Macy keep this up? How long could Brea?
Chapter Eight…(Playing Games)
…Alec…
Markson was handing out the day’s orders. News reports were stacked high on his small metal desk. They were even sending Greens out on clean-up missions.
“Shawn,” Markson called, searching the full room.
Shawn threw his hand up, “Over here, Markson.”
“I need you to lead two teams to Utah, your travel info is in this packet. There are two storms hitting the center of the state now. It’s too late to evacuate, but you should be able to divert the flooding and start the cleanup. Alec, continue setting up the Trials. We need something good in the middle of all the bad.”
“Yes, Sir.” Alec said. If Ava wasn’t having the problems she was, he would be heading out with Shawn. He knew there would be tons of people coming soon to see the Trials. Usually Alec looked forward to them, it was fun for the senior guards and it was fun to watch the Greens go through the Trials. Everyone cheered for their favorites and it was better than the Summer Moon Festival in Alec’s mind. This year though, in the middle of all of this chaos it wasn’t as exciting. He wondered how they would manage to get all the visitors here if Ava didn’t get some control over the weather.
Shawn stood silently beside him as the rest of the day’s orders were given. The room was loud. “You alright?” Alec asked
Shawn nodded.
“Alec,” Markson said, “this is the visitors list and the list of those participating in the Trials. All of the obstacles and the arena need to be set up.”
“I’ll take care of it.” Alec said.
He and Shawn made their way to the Arena. There was a group of Greens already cleaning up the tall stone stairs and building a new platform out front. Watching them brought back memories of their first days on the island. Shawn and Alec were determined to pass their first attempt at the Trials. Everyone said it couldn’t be done. They had proved them wrong. Scott didn’t pass the first round, so the celebration after was a little subdued. When they all took their leave together, all was forgotten. It was a wild weekend. They talked about that weekend for months after.
Elementris, Exposure, Eruption Box set: The Vangeretta Curse Series Page 67