“Were you expecting your protectors to help you? Sorry, they’re on our side.”
She shot water from her hands right into his chest. They both grabbed their chests in pain. It was useless to fight Havok. She needed to just go ahead and kill him.
“I see you learned of our linked souls.”
“I did.”
“Your mother was such a coward.”
“So are you.”
His face grew dark.
“Did you think because of that, I would never kill you? I know all of your secrets. You didn’t do such a great job of keeping them to yourself.”
He stared at her with those cold, black eyes. “And yet you still fight me.”
“You’re an old man. With ancient revenge that was settled centuries ago. Lenorah would be so disappointed in you. And Esmerelda—.”
“How dare you speak their names?”
He raised his hand, and a large stone flew right at her. She ducked, but it still collided with her leg. She knew it was broken, but she felt nothing as Havok fell to his knees. Had Peter or Katarina protected her from the other side of the rubble?
“You should want the same as me,” he said. “You all should.”
Ava shook her head. “This isn’t my war, Corbin. You let the darkness consume you. I felt it, and for a time, I let it take over. But I found a way out.”
“You’re making a mistake.”
“You don’t get it. This world will be better off without you.”
He smirked. “Someone will take my place once I die.”
“No. Because we’re making sure every single one of you dies with you and your revenge.”
“Xavier—.”
“Is dead.”
His face turned stone cold. “And you’re ready to die along with all of this?”
“Yes.”
“What a foolish girl.”
“No. That was my mother.” Water trickled down her arms. The ground rumbled, and Ava took a deep breath. Just a little longer. More water gushed out and she shot it at him. It hit his chest and he fell to his knees. Ava felt the stabbing pain, but withstood it.
Drowning would be easier. Quicker. Painless. Ava was ready to end it all.
She flooded the room, and soon the water from the raging river broke through, knocking the castle apart as if it were made of popsicle sticks. The tidal wave waited for her command. She watched it, and then took a deep breath.
Something felt different. She didn’t feel like herself. She began to lose control of her body.
A spirit was starting to take possession. She struggled with it.
It’s me, Ava. A voice spoke to her. It was her mother. Let me in.
Mom?
I’m here. I’m ready.
I thought—
Link kept it open for me. Let me in.
Ava relaxed, and then the power struggle vanished. Like before, she had no control over her body, but watched everything it did.
She turned back to Havok, staring at him with hatred, yet she was smiling.
I love you, Ava. Please never forget that.
Ava didn’t know what to say, but she didn’t have time. She inhaled a deep breath, and let it out.
Water slammed into her and Havok like a concrete wall, and she felt the blunt force as it hit both of them. Its immense power threw them around as if they were nothing but dolls. The water rushed around them, swallowing them.
Havok floated upside down. There was something relieving and calming about seeing him lifeless. At least she’d have peace knowing her death meant something. That it saved thousands of people. As she sank to the bottom of the water, she closed her eyes, waiting for her fate. She pictured her father smiling, and then Gabriel.
Another wave smashed into her, sucking her further underneath. It knocked the breath out of her. Her body rushed head first into a large rock.
Then darkness took over.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
SALVATION
Wake up.
Ava heard Gabriel’s voice. Pleading. Just like he had when she was in the coma. She wanted more. It was like the warmth and comfort after death. Was this death? Was she on the other side with Colden and Savina? Her body felt lifeless, but Gabriel’s voice was right in her ear.
Ava could smell the faint scent of juniper.
Please open your eyes.
She did and off in the distance, she saw a glimpse of orange. She was sitting up, her head resting on Gabriel’s shoulder, and his arms around her, holding her tightly. She was soaking wet, but he didn’t seem to care. Ava moved her head slightly and kissed his neck.
He jumped and held her at arm’s length. “Ava!” Tears clouded his beautiful blue eyes. He pulled her against his body in a tight hug. “You’re alive.” And then his body shook.
“Don’t cry,” she whispered, her throat scraping from the water. “I’m here.”
He kissed the side of her head and then found her lips. His kiss was chaotic and urgent and messy. But she loved it. She loved feeling his lips on her and his arms around her.
She grasped his head in her hands and returned the urgent kiss. Her heart swelled knowing he was hers and she was his. And nothing stood in their way.
Gabriel helped Ava to her feet. She was amazed and relieved that she was alive. Her mother had saved her life. Allowed her to see the daylight once more. To feel Gabriel’s arms around her. To see her father again. To live.
She scanned the ruined castle, and destroyed surroundings. Debris littered around the woods, the village, and even into the sea. She saw wounded and battered Enchanters standing nearby. She exchanged a look with Melissa, who broke down. Jeremy and Gillian comforted her. Ava stilled. Where was Lance?
Melissa’s eyes widened and she cried out. Ava looked behind her and Link and Nicole were carrying an unconscious Lance on both their shoulders. He raised his head, his eyes fluttering open. Ava breathed a sigh of relief.
“Lance!” Melissa cried, as she rushed toward him. She wrapped her arms around him, and Link and Nicole eased him onto the ground. She kissed him all over his face. “Are you okay?”
He moaned, and nodded slightly.
Natalia and Moira held onto each other, as Eric and Joss embraced. Aaron made his way toward them. Blood caked all of them. Their hair was messy and tears mixed with grime on their faces.
Hunters clustered together nearby as well as Anais and some of the Cimmerians who changed sides.
“Is everyone okay?” Jeremy asked, his topaz eyes full of concern.
“For the most part,” Link said.
Several spirits gathered around them. Savina. Colden. Gustav. Thomas. Seth. Xavier. Maggie. Kira. Klaus. And so many more. Her mother was absent, but she had just protected her daughter with her soul.
Then Havok appeared, but in Corbin’s form.
Gabriel pulled Ava behind him protectively as everyone else stiffened, ready for attack.
“You think you have won, don’t you?” Havok asked, sauntering toward them.
“You can’t hurt us anymore,” Gabriel said.
“I can easily possess your body.” He moved closer.
Ava gasped and gripped Gabriel’s arms. The sky right above them turned black, the clouds circling around creating a vortex. The sky and the clouds were sucked inside the massive black hole.
Wind billowed and debris flew around them in a chaotic manner, the black hole pulling them inside. The vacuum was incredibly powerful. Everyone, including the spirits, held onto each other and anything they could so they wouldn’t be sucked inside.
Ava grasped Gabriel with everything she had. Her mother saved her life and she wasn’t about to die by some black hole.
It seemed to pick its victims though. A single line of the tornado-like tunnel shot down and took Cimmerian soul after Cimmerian soul. Then, it grabbed Havok, drawing him into oblivion.
The black hole disintegrated, and debris and dust settled around them. The sky returned to its beautiful pink color.
/> Ava let out a breath and stared at the sky, clutching onto Gabriel’s hand.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
She nodded, and then looked around at the spirits that crowded them once more.
“It is time for us to return,” Savina said.
“We are proud of all of you,” Colden told them. “The nightmare is over. Go live your lives. Love to the fullest. Make mistakes. You are free.”
A tear rolled down Ava’s cheek. “Thank you for everything. I love you.”
Xavier shyly moved into view. “Thank you, Ava. For believing in me.”
She nodded. “You are free, now.” Though not in the way she had in mind.
He gave a half-smile. “I’ll be seeing you.”
Thomas moved closer to the Elementals and gave a sheepish grin.
Ava’s chin quivered. “Thomas.”
“Don’t cry. Just tell my mom I love her.”
“You weren’t supposed to die,” Gillian sniveled. “None of us were.”
“We’ll miss you.” Melissa wiped a tear, but then they fell in succession. Lance pulled her against him and held her. Ava could tell he was holding back tears.
Jeremy cleared his throat. “This isn’t right, man. Isn’t there any way to bring you back? To bring all of you back?”
Savina frowned. “Unfortunately not.”
Ava lost her battle with her tears. “I’m so sorry, Thomas. I—.”
“No apologies. You and Gabe go live and be happy.” He looked to Gabriel. “Don’t let her put her walls up.”
Gabriel smirked. “I won’t.”
Thomas moved down and met Moira. “Just when I fall in love with the perfect woman, I die.”
Moira wailed.
He grabbed the back of his neck. “Sorry.”
“I’ll never forget you, Thomas. I will always love you.”
He moved closer to her and reached out to touch her face. She closed her eyes as if to imagine feeling his hand.
Then he leaned closer. “I love you, Moira. Always.”
Then Thomas faded into the air.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
THE NEW WORLD
Searching through the rubble and finding the bodies of their dead friends was excruciatingly eerie. It was silent, except for the vultures that flew above, waiting to have their meal. In the distance, Ava could hear the ravens cawing. But not for her. Not today.
As soon as they found a body, Gabriel teleported them to their designated homes so that their families could properly bury them. Ava didn’t know how he was able to do it, but he did.
Ava had healed everyone, but she couldn’t heal their pain. Even though they lost so many, she was thankful for the ones who survived.
She lifted wood panels and rocks and her heart sank as she found Xavier’s body. He was just a young man following his father’s orders. She was glad Xavier had chosen to side with them. She didn’t know what changed his mind. Perhaps, Xavier never felt like he deserved a proper life. Maybe he thought he deserved what came to him. He deserved better than what Havok gave him. More than what Havok forced him into. He needed a family who loved him, who cared for him. They all did.
“Ugh, let the vultures have him,” El said.
“No. He deserves a proper burial.”
Gillian’s face contorted into confusion. “What?”
“He was someone’s son, who was taken from them. Had his mind erased.”
“Okay. We’ll bury him with the Elders.”
For the rest of the day, they buried Xavier, Maggie, and Kira with the Elders. Surprisingly, the burial ground hadn’t been disturbed. Then their last stop was home to bury the rest of their fallen in the Enchanter cemetery.
The remaining Hunters, led by Adam and El, moved toward Ava and the group.
“Thank you for helping us with this war,” El said. Her hair was matted, and she had a long gash down the side of her face. Blood had dried on it.
“You’re welcome,” Ava said. “But we should thank you for trusting us. Would you like for me to heal your injuries?”
El shook her head. “No. I’m okay with the consequences of war. Adds character.”
Ava remembered when Gustav had said that.
“Where are you going now?”
“Home.”
“We will keep the tunnels intact as we rebuild Caprington and make it our home once more,” Adam said. “We hope that you will visit us sometime.”
Ava hesitated. She wasn’t sure she ever wanted to come back, but it was different now. And if she ever returned, she was sure it would have changed. “Perhaps.”
“Have a safe journey back home.”
Ava closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She couldn’t wait to get home.
One last journey to survive, but it was safe now that they had defeated the Cimmerians and travelling through the tunnels would be quick. The atmosphere was energetic, yet lethargic. Mumbled conversations surrounded Ava as she and Gabriel walked close together. Every now and then, she would hear someone crying.
Ava wasn’t sure how they would find the right door inside the tunnels, but when they entered, she noticed arrows drawn on the wall after Katarina lit her hands for light.
They reached a door with the words ‘home’ scrawled across it. She didn’t know who had shown them the way, but maybe it was Xavier. She’d like to think it was him.
Link opened the door, and fresh light poured inside.
As soon as they cleared the dark and dank tunnel, the summer sun beat down on them. Ava closed her eyes and soaked in the sun. The humid air stuck to her like a sheet of thin plastic. Everything was green and grown over. She inhaled the sweet floral scents of lilies, roses, wisteria. The sky was light blue with a few clouds dispersed.
She was home.
They headed toward Blackhart Manor and with each step, Ava’s heart pounded harder, burning beneath her skin. When the Gothic mansion came into view, she almost cried from relief and contentment. It was undamaged; the beautiful Victorian structure made of gray stone. Sharp steeples projected from the mansard roofs. Several arched windows faced the front with diamond-shaped panes, like church windows. She could barely see the tops of the two round turrets from the front, but she saw the glass ceiling from the conservatory, and the raven statues that adorned the mansion.
Ava remembered the beautiful, lush garden in the front and her heart sank a little. Who would keep the majestic garden alive now that Kira and Savina were dead?
Ava reached the doors to the conservatory, and swung them open. It hadn’t changed, and she felt a pang of sadness, knowing Savina, Colden, and the others would never occupy it. She moved forward, Moira pushing past her.
“Cara!” she screamed.
“Dad!” Ava yelled and ran through the halls.
“Moira?” She heard Cara.
They got to the bottom of the stairs, and Cara ran toward Moira, tears streaming down her face. Then Ava saw Mrs. Arrington and her father. His gangly body jogged down the stairs. Freckles dotted his ashen arms, and his gray hair mixed with bits of reddish-brown color was neatly in place. He had on an old baseball jersey that she had seen him wear several times. She had missed it and him.
She couldn’t hold back the tears. Ava wrapped her arms around her father with a tight hold, inhaling the woody scent from his clothes.
“Ava.” He pressed her head against his chest, and kissed the top of her head.
“Dad, I missed you so much.”
He stroked her hair. “I missed you too.”
She felt so safe in his arms. She relished the feeling.
“It’s so good to have you home.”
“Thomas?” Ava heard Mrs. Arrington say.
She unburied herself from her father’s chest, and faced Thomas’s mother. She looked behind her to see Lance, Gabriel, and Link carrying Thomas’s body that had been wrapped up in a cloth earlier.
“I’m so sorry Mrs. Arrington,” Lance told her.
Her knees buckled, but Jer
emy caught her and held onto her.
“Melissa!” Mr. and Mrs. Rollins ran for her and both hugged her.
Jeremy, Gillian, Lance, Link, and Nicole’s parents embraced their children as well. Mr. McNabb grabbed Peter and held onto him. Ava wondered if all the parents had just moved into the Manor and waited for their children to return. They had kept the Manor in immaculate condition.
Even though she was relieved to be hugging her father, she felt guilty that Mrs. Arrington couldn’t do the same to her son. While everyone reunited with their families, Anais and a couple of newcomers stood awkwardly nearby.
As Ava held onto her father, she watched Cara break down when Moira told her about Nathan’s demise, and then Ronan and Aidan. It only made Ava weep more, knowing Nathan’s young son would never know his father.
But no more fathers would die in a war against the Cimmerians.
It was over, and they had come home.
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
HOMEWARD BOUND
“Are you ready to go home?” her father asked.
It was music to her ears. Mental and emotional exhaustion wore on her like a wool coat. “Yes.” She looked back at the Manor. She would see it tomorrow.
After her father whispered something in Gabriel’s ear, Gabriel teleported them to a house that Ava didn’t recognize. It was a white two-story house with black shutters. White columns sat on either side of a dark blue door.
“Where are we?”
Her dad gave a sly smile and tugged at his neck. “I built this while you were away.”
“What?”
“Well, I didn’t like the apartment and I missed our house.”
“Wow. Dad, it’s beautiful.”
“I know you’ll probably want to live somewhere else seeing as you’re an adult now, but it’s always home if you want it to be.”
“I don’t plan on going anywhere for a while.”
Her dad opened the door, and she inhaled the fresh wood and paint scent. It was like he’d gotten a decorator for the place. The walls were a unique mix between a light chocolate, dark red, and cream. There was brand new furniture, mixed with the semi-old pieces they bought for the apartment.
When she entered her new room, there was a queen-sized bed with a dark purple comforter with gray accents on it and the walls were a light gray. It wasn’t bad for something her dad put together. The whole gesture made her emotional.
Under an Onyx Sky (Elemental Enchanters Series Book 4) Page 25