“Yes, you must,” Gale agreed. “If something happens to her, we won’t be able to defend ourselves.”
“What about the island?” Vincent said.
“I’ll call back some of the Clutch Guards. We have no other choice. The clean-up will have to wait. They’ll be here waiting if they try to come for her.”
The council members grew quiet at the terrible thought.
Ava felt frustrated, “Alec, are you sure everyone here will be safe?”
“Yes, I promise. This is just a precaution. I’ll start preparing now and we’ll increase security around the island. Aunt Avalene can help you work a strong confusion spell for anyone that makes it through. We’ll trap them using the power of the triangle and we will know exactly who is coming for you.”
“Really, Queen Vangeretta, you can’t leave now.” Vincent said. “How can you be worried about building a foster home at a time like this? There are times for charities, but now is not one of those times. You need to stay and defend the island. We need to prepare. We need to protect the island if it comes to that. How much weight should we put in that hippy guy’s words anyway?”
“It’s not just that and you know it.” Ava breathed deeply in an attempt to calm herself, “I think we do have to believe The Whistler. It makes sense.”
“It could just as easily be you causing those storms,” Vincent accused. “We all know you are having control issues.”
“Yes, Vincent. I am having control issues, but I’m gaining more control every day. Either way, we have to get something set up for these children. There are new Greens here every summer and new children with nowhere to go every day, and now we have unborn babies being stolen. By the way, Vincent,” she pointed her finger at him. “since we are all here. Why did you visit Lareina in the prison?”
He looked startled.
Every head turned towards him.
“I…, I didn’t.”
“Don’t lie to me, Vincent. I know you visited her.”
“There has been some mistake. I have no idea what you are talking about,” he sputtered.
“Okay, Vincent, if that’s how you want to play it, you leave me no choice. As of this moment you are under investigation. You may not leave the island.”
“You can’t do that,” Vincent protested, paling.
“Already have.” Ava pointed towards the door and it opened to admit two guards. They crossed the room and flanked Vincent while Alec spoke, “Vincent, you will not leave the island. Your movements are restricted to the castle only.”
Ava had one more thing to add. “Vincent, you are also restricted from attendance at council meetings until I get this all figured out.”
“No! Please, Queen Vangeretta, don’t do this. You need me.”
Ava shook her head, “When you’re ready to give me some answers, we’ll talk.” She pointed to the door, “Please excuse yourself.”
Vincent rose slowly, the shock evident on his face as he left the room.
Gale smiled at Ava.
Ava returned the smile and spoke to the council members, “Aunt Avalene will join you temporarily until I find out what’s going on with Vincent. She’ll be here while I’m gone.”
She exited the room and took a deep breath after Alec closed the door.
“You okay?” He asked.
“Yes. I just want to get things figured out.”
“I’m going to meet with Markson now. We need to put some plans in place to protect the island and get a team together to protect you while we’re away from the island.”
“No, Alec. No team.” She shook her head, “I can’t help the world if you are constantly protecting me from it.”
His immediate protest was halted as Ava reached up and caressed his cheek, “Please.”
“Fine, but you have to promise to be careful. I know we have to find those children and get them back, but I don’t want you taking any unnecessary risks. This trip is about protecting you and getting answers.”
“I might know someone who can help us find the missing women.”
“Who?” Alec asked.
“Brea,” Ava announced.
“Brea?” Ava smiled at Alec’s surprise.
“She knows someone...”
“Alec!” Thomas called. “Hold up, Bubba, need to talk to ya a minute.”
Alec turned around, “What’s up, Thomas?”
“Just got word that the council members want us to start training the Greens with the Elemental weapons?” Thomas’ brows lifted as if he wasn’t sure he’d been given good information.
“Yeah, Thomas. Unfortunately, that’s where we’re at,” Alec responded.
“What exactly are Elemental weapons?” Ava asked.
“It’s complicated, Queen Vangeretta, but at the same time it’s as simple as it sounds. Elemental weapons are weapons designed using the elements. Lightning Lighter’s, for instance, are like stun guns on steroids. Get hit with one of those and you’re not getting up. Same thing with Thunder Bangers, a ramped up version of the stun grenade used by law enforcement. We introduce you to one of those, and you’ll wake up more confused than a country boy at a tea party. There are more, all made using different combinations of element magic and man-made weapons.”
“Ah, well okay then. Thank you, Thomas,” Ava said, a little bemused.
Alec smiled and kissed her cheek, “I have to go. Love you.”
“Love you, too.” She whispered as he backed away.
Ava was feeling stronger now that her plans seemed to be moving along but she still had a lot to figure out. She needed answers about the past before she could think about defending the future. She crossed the hall and entered the library. She looked at the huge, book-filled, shelves. “This isn’t going to be easy,” she thought. A small woman with honey-colored hair looked at her inquiringly from her perch behind a large desk.
“Can I help you, Queen Vangeretta?” She inquired.
“Um, yes. I hope so. I need a book.”
The librarian smiled. “I guessed that. What kind of book? What subject?”
“I’d like something about Atlantis. Do you have any books on Atlantis?”
“But of course, Queen Vangeretta.” The woman walked around the desk and raised her arms. “Bound pages find the words your covers hide. Books on Atlantis bring to my side.”
Suddenly a strange sound filled the room. Books flew off the shelf from every direction. Seeing one heading straight for her head, Ava ducked.
When she dared to look again, a stack almost as tall as the librarian stood in front of her. “Thank you,” she managed to utter.
“You’re welcome,” the woman said as she went back to her chair.
Ava ran her fingers across the bindings, reading titles as she went. “The Lost City. Legends, Myths, Magic, and History. Atlantis. Plato’s Map of Atlantis.”
Ava pulled that one out of the stack and flipped it open.
“Atlantis was an island kingdom with land rings and circular harbors. It was situated just beyond the Pillars of Hercules.”
Ava grabbed another book.
“The story of The City of Atlantis is one of the most well-known mysteries of our time. Some say it was a land of power and some say it was a land of technology. Most all agree that it was a land of vast wealth with gold and gems beyond imagining. Myth and fact are one and the same. No one really knows where it was or what happened to it. The most popular theory is that it sank into the sea after a great eruption occurred.”
Nisca’s words echoed in her mind. “I keep dreaming the same word; Eruption.”
“Eruption,” Ava whispered as her eyes went back to the word over and over again. She grabbed another book.
“Stories surrounding the fate of The Lost City of Atlantis vary greatly. Some legends include takes of extraordinary beings with strange powers. Today, The Lost City remains lost. Many have spent their entire lives searching for it. No one has ever found it.”
“Because only those born of the
Element can see it,” Ava thought. Taking a deep breath, Ava closed the book and turned towards the librarian, “I’d like to take these.”
“They are yours, Your Majesty.” She smiled, “Take them all if you like.”
“These three will do. Thank you.”
“You are most welcome,” she replied, with a dip of her head. She then placed her hands over the books. She mumbled a spell and Ava heard the strange sound again.
Ava watched as the books returned themselves to their places on the shelves.
…Brea…
Brea followed Caslan down to the river’s edge. Morning was just beginning to light the night sky. The surface of the dark river water was filled with tiny sparkles reflecting the morning rays of sun. It looked as if the light was moving towards them.
“This is what you wanted to show me?” She asked.
“Yes,” Caslan answered.
“It’s really beautiful.”
He took her hand in his. It felt good. Her hand tingled again.
“You and Macy are so different. Her idea of beautiful is a new outfit, or the shiny gloss of a new credit card,” Brea told him.
He laughed, “Yeah, they’re all like that, my family. One thing I learned pretty quickly after I left home was how to appreciate the beauty of free.”
“I don’t think Macy could function without your father’s money.”
“She couldn’t,” he agreed.
“What was wrong with Macy tonight? She was so out of it.”
He looked down and cleared his throat, “She’s worried.”
“About what?”
He turned to look at her, “You really want to know?”
“Yes, I do.”
He shook his head, “She’s worried that my father is going to pick me.”
“To take over, you mean?”
“Yeah.”
“How can she be that obsessed with power? How are you not like the rest of your family? You really don’t want it?”
“I don’t.” He parted his lips like he was going to say something and then sucked his bottom lip between his teeth.
“What?”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You were about to.”
He nodded slowly, “You see, it’s not just about that. Any fool wants to live.”
“What do you mean?” Brea asked, appalled by what he seemed to be saying to her. “Are you telling me that whoever doesn’t become the next Waevern leader will die?”
“Yeah.”
“What? How?” She swallowed hard, “Will you die?”
“If I’m not chosen, yes.”
“But, why? How?”
“Because, whoever our father chooses will get the power of the other four.”
“How is that possible?”
“The chosen has to kill the other four. He bound us together when we were children. We’ve tried to find ways to undo it, but we haven’t been able to find anything that will help. It’s impossible.”
“That’s insane!” Brea almost shouted, truly shocked.
“That’s how it is. Our father sacrificed the four others in his own circle. That’s why he is so powerful. When anyone joins the Waevern and pledges their loyalty to my father, that’s what they earn. He helps them strip the power from the others in their circle.”
“So that’s why they do it? Sacrifice people, I mean?” Brea asked, so freaked out now that she was shaking.
“Yeah. They don’t just sacrifice people willy-nilly, and it’s not as gruesome as you’re probably thinking. It’s a ritual. My father learned from his father and his father before him. It’s losing their power that kills them. Those who are born of the element are deeply connected to their gifts, it’s as much a part of them as the air they breathe. There are very few that have given up their power voluntarily. True Elementris’, for example. They don’t ever give it up.”
“Like Ava?”
“Yeah.”
“Everyone wants power, Brea. Even someone like Ava. Do you know how many True Elementris’ have decided not to accept that particular gift? They do have a choice, you know, but not one has walked away, not one.”
“Ava wouldn’t have become a True Elementris if it hadn’t been for me. I got caught by Lareina, and was stuck on the island. Ava did it because she didn’t think she had any other choice. She didn’t want it.”
“Maybe, but as far back as our history goes, not one True Elementris has ever given it up. Think about it. They have to fight to the death for it. There have been many good True Elementris’ over the years, but to get there they had to be willing to kill to gain their power. All reasons aside, they fight for power. The Waevern is not something I want to be a part of, but the truth is the bad are not much different from the good in this situation.”
Brea took a breath, thinking about what he had just said. “Aside from Ava’s situation, it was true. Even good True Elementris’ had killed for power. All that had come before Ava had done so, even Nadia. Did that mean that Ava’s baby would not be able to turn it down? Would the baby growing inside her one day take Ava’s life—for power? Would Ava take her own child’s to keep that power? No, that was ridiculous, the truth was even more terrifying than that. Ava would never hurt her child, she would destroy herself first.”
Brea gasped, gulping for air as she absorbed the terrible thought.
“Are you okay?” Caslan asked.
“Yeah,” Brea lied, staring out over the water.
He reached forward brushing a strand of her hair from her cheek and leaned around so he could see her face. “Have you ever wondered what it would be like?”
“What do you mean?” She asked as she traced a circle with her finger in the moist sand beside her.
“Having to choose.”
“Yes, I have. I was with Ava when she went through all of that. I can’t imagine having to make that choice”
“Have you ever wondered…” he paused.
She brushed her hands off. “Wondered what?”
“What it would be like to be like her, born of the element. Be able to do magic?”
“Are you kidding right now? Only my whole life.” Brea thought about the many times she wished she could have used it on Buck, or used it to make her situation easier. “I used to pretend like I could do what Ava could. When we were little she used to mess with me. I would throw my hands up and Ava would make the wind blow. Sometimes I really thought I had done it.” Brea started laughing remembering a time when they were nine. “When we were kids, I was terrified of the dark. My step-dad always…” Brea stopped and then continued. “Anyway, I was staying the night with Ava one night and I woke up from a nightmare. I remember crying and saying, ‘Please let the dark go away.’ All of the lights in the room came on. I really thought I was like Ava.” She smiled, “It took a couple of minutes for me to realize that Ava was awake. She pretended to be asleep when she saw me looking. She wanted to let me believe I had done it. She never told me different, but I knew.” Brea shook her head. “That was okay, because for those few minutes, I was magic. Silly, I know, but there you have it.”
“No. I want to know you, Brea. I want to know everything about you.” He leaned in close and brushed his lips against hers. Tingling warmth danced across her lips after his kiss. He took her hand in his and opened it. “I want to show you something.”
“You already have.” She said, looking at the river. It was fully engulfed in morning sunlight now.
He reached into his pocket. “I want to show you something else.” He pressed a cold crystal into her hand. “Anyone can do magic, it’s inside all of us. You just have to have the right tools if you’re not born of the element.” He closed her fingers over the crystal. “If you’re uncomfortable, I’ll never say anything about it again. Do you want to try?”
Brea opened her palm and looked at the small crystal. It shifted colors in the sunlight. “Yeah. I want to.”
Chapter Ten…
…Ava…
> “What are you going to do?” Nisca asked as she handed Ava her daily mail.
“I don’t know.” Ava turned away as she slipped one letter in her pocket and put the rest on the night stand, “What about your mother? Do you think she would know about Ann Marie and Atlantis? Maybe she saw things like Ann Marie.”
“I don’t know.”
“We could go talk to her.” Ava moved closer. “You could come with me when I leave. I’ll take you to see her and we can ask her. Do you think she would talk to me?”
“I think she probably would.”
“Good.” Ava smiled. “You haven’t seen anything to do with Vincent or Atlantis?” Ava asked, barely taking a breath between words. “Atlantis could be right here. It makes sense. The reason no one in history has been able to find it is that only those born of the element can see it. Just like Element Island. It’s a crazy idea, but that dream I had seemed so real. It makes sense.”
“No, nothing about Vincent or Atlantis.” Nisca shook her head, “Honestly, though, I really think Vincent is bad news. I’ve never liked him. If anyone is working with the Waevern, my bet would be on him. Maybe that’s why he doesn’t want you to leave the island.”
“What about what I told you, do you think it’s true? About the five rings, I mean?” Ava asked excitedly.
“I don’t know.” Nisca answered, looking pale suddenly.
“What is it, Nisca? What’s wrong?” Ava asked, worried.
Nisca turned back and tears were dripping from her honey-colored eyes. “I’ve had that dream, too.” She stepped forward, “Only instead of Hanna being the one in the middle of that circle having her powers taken…” She looked into Ava’s eyes and put her hand on her shoulder, “it was you.”
…Brea…
Caslan had drawn a strange symbol on the sand in front of her before moving around to stand at her back. “Say these words.” he instructed, the words whispering against her neck as his warm breath tickled the tiny hairs there. Her skin tingled and her heart started to race. “Rub the crystal with your thumb. You’re going to make that baby float,” he said.
Elementris, Exposure, Eruption Box set: The Vangeretta Curse Series Page 70