Ava froze. She couldn’t believe she didn’t see it before. “Xavier,” she blurted.
“What?” Thomas asked.
“He’s an Enchanter. He made them all Enchanters.”
Thomas laughed. “You’re kidding me, right?”
“Yeah, that seems a little far-fetched,” Melissa said.
“Think about it. Thomas and I have both passed out when he was around. And we can’t remember anything. And all his so-called friends are completely different.”
Jeremy leaned forward. “She could be right.”
“Please,” Gillian scoffed. “You honestly think Devon would want Kristen Miller as part of his army?”
Ava exchanged looks with Jeremy. Since when was Gillian against Kristen? It sounded like something Melissa would say but not Gillian. “She’s not the same anymore.”
Thomas shook his head. “He’s not an Enchanter. He’s just some punk.”
“Some punk who can mysteriously make you faint?”
“Maybe my blood sugar was down that day. I don’t know. That was months ago.”
“Why don’t you believe me? I know I was fine before I got knocked out.”
“You hit your head on the floor and that’s what gave you a bruise.”
“Then why would he bully and torture so many Ephemerals and get away with it?”
He rolled his eyes. “So anyone who bullies other kids automatically makes them an Enchanter? A Cimmerian no-less?”
“He made both of us pass out without touching us,” she said through clenched teeth. He always had to disagree with Ava, no matter what it was about. She could tell him the sky was blue but he’d argue.
“Just drop it, Ava.”
“Think about it. Every one of them at that table went missing for days, some of them for weeks, and they all returned and became friends with him.”
Gillian groaned. “Stop arguing.”
“Maybe we can ask Savina and Colden,” Melissa said.
Thomas shook his head. “You’d be wasting your time.”
“Maybe then they can tell me what I can do,” Lance said. “If I’m the Sun, does that mean I can burn people? Blind them?”
Jeremy put his elbows on the table. “I’m sure you have more than that,” he said. “Think of the sun’s rays. Or how pretty much all life on Earth is stimulated by the sunlight. It’s extremely powerful and the atmosphere is there to filter some of that, but with you, I don’t—.”
“You can stop now,” Gillian interrupted. “No one knows what you’re talking about.”
Ava looked at Gillian. Why was she so rude with Jeremy? She’d never been that way before.
“No, no, keep going,” Lance said. “Is there a correlation with invisibility?”
Jeremy cleared his throat and thought for a minute. “No. But the sun absorbs electromagnetic radiation in the form of heat.” He paused. “Maybe you absorb powers.”
“That’s it,” Ava said. “Savina mentioned that. You’ve been using Mel’s ability.”
“But I can’t do anything else. Like, I can’t breathe underwater,” he said, lowering his voice.
“Maybe because you’ve been around Mel a lot,” Jeremy said.
“Maybe you can stop Devon if he gets to us,” Ava told Lance.
Thomas sighed. “Ava, he’s not even gonna find us.”
Melissa popped a piece of gum into her mouth. “This is so amazing. We should start practicing tonight.” She smiled.
“Definitely,” Gillian said with a wicked grin. “I want to start manipulating minds.”
Ava looked up at Jeremy. The wary look in his topaz eyes mirrored her feelings. What had happened to Gillian? First, she believed Ava was going to betray them, and she had been so supportive of her and Peter, or so Ava thought. And now Gillian couldn’t wait to use her powers on Ephemerals. What was going on with them? They were all angry and edgy. Unless they were all freaked out about everything but wouldn’t admit it.
When the day finally ended, all Ava wanted was to go home and relax. She dropped her bag at the foot of the stairs, and headed for the kitchen. She filled a glass with water, and took a sip. The house was quiet but her thoughts weren’t. They were the same that had consumed her mind for the past few weeks. It was all so overwhelming. Had her parents accepted this life so easily? According to her dad, they had. And that her mom had never regretted it. But did he?
Her cell phone rang. She pulled it out of her pocket, saw Thomas’s name flash, and then tossed it on the counter. Ava sighed, and raised the glass to take a sip but stopped. Like a magnet, the water shifted to the side that she held. She set it down, and then with her fingers, made it move from one side to the other. It followed her fingers every direction, just like the fire had done with Thomas at the bonfire.
She took a deep breath. Could her mom do the same? Dad mentioned her controlling it. And conjuring it. Ava didn’t know the first thing about conjuring water. She wished her mom were there to tell her how. The ringing started again and she groaned in frustration but answered.
“Are you okay?” Thomas asked.
“Why do you keep calling?”
“Because I can tell you’re sad. I got worried.”
Blood burned her insides. Her teeth clenched and her slender fingers curled into a fist. “I’m fine.” She didn’t like having Thomas of all people know her every emotion. She was always so good at hiding them. Now, they were easily exposed. This would just reinforce Thomas’s dominance.
“What’s wrong?”
“I was just thinking about my mom,” she said without thinking. It slipped out and she regretted it because now he was going to coddle her.
“Baby, don’t be sad. I’m here. We can talk about it.”
“No. I’ll be there soon,” she said, curtly.
When she pulled up to the cabin, the sky had darkened and there was a chill in the air. There was something eerie about the calmness outside.
Ava walked inside and Thomas immediately came up to her.
“Baby, I’m so sorry.” He hugged her tightly and petted her hair as if she was a dog or something. “Come on.” He pulled her down the hall into the first room and closed the door after them.
“Thomas?”
He crossed the room and took her hands in his. “What is it, Babe?”
“Why are we in here? Where is everyone?”
“You need comfort. Everyone else is in their room. Please don’t be upset.” He stroked her cheek. “Why are you thinking about your mom?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“You never talk about her.”
“Don’t.” She glared at him.
“Okay.” He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers.
Why did he always think this would make her feel better?
He pressed harder and wrapped his arms around her. Heat emanated from his lips. She tried pushing him back, but he held her tighter.
“Thom—Thomas.” She finally broke the kiss.
“What? What is it?” He asked breathless.
“Not so rough.”
“Sorry.” He kissed her and moved her backwards. She felt the edge of the bed pressing into the backs of her thighs. His hands moved slowly up her shirt but she stopped them.
She felt a surge of hatred toward him. Ava thought of Peter and immediately pushed Thomas away.
“Why are you so mad?” He held her at arm’s length.
“What happened to being patient?”
“I can’t help it. I’ve just got so much energy flowing through me.” He crushed her to his chest and moved her hair aside. His lips grazed her neck. “I am patient. But you’re so irresistible right now.”
“You’re irritating me.”
He pulled back with a sigh. “Why? We used to make out all the time.”
“This is getting so old.”
“You’re telling me? So does this mean you’re ready?”
Ava sighed and pushed him away.
“Okay, okay. Let
’s stay here tonight.” His tone softened. “Please? I won’t go any further. I promise.”
“I can’t. I have homework.” Ava felt somewhat guilty for lying, but she couldn’t trust him.
He rolled his eyes. “You always have homework.”
She needed to change the subject and then remembered earlier about the glass of water. “Do you wanna see what I did today?”
“I guess.”
Ava opened the door and went into the kitchen to grab a glass.
“It’s about time, you two,” Melissa said, looking up from a magazine as she and the others sat on the couches. “What were you doing in there?” She laughed but stopped when Ava met her eyes. “Sorry. Couldn’t resist.”
Ava filled the glass with water and set it on the bar above the counter. “I noticed this earlier,” she said and everyone gathered around. She moved her fingers up and down, and like before the water mimicked her motions.
Melissa’s eyes widened. “That’s cool.”
“That’s it?” Thomas said. “What are you going to do with that?”
Melissa slapped his arm. “She can control water. Just think of what she could do to a lake. Or a river. Or even the ocean.”
Thomas looked skeptical. “Yeah, when she can do this with water, we’ll talk.” He held his palm facing up and a fireball abruptly appeared. He bounced it as if it were a baseball. Then, he threw it into the fireplace, startling Ava. The flames bulged and crackled for a moment.
“That’s so cool,” Lance said. “I wonder if I can do that.”
Ava sighed and poured the water down the drain. He was such a jerk. She tuned out Lance and Thomas’s admiration of his ability and walked outside. Her necklace warmed and glowed. The night had cooled and clouds moved across the dark sky. The door opened and she dreaded it would be Thomas, but she heard the click of a lighter and knew it was Melissa.
Melissa exhaled smoke. “Sorry.”
“I can’t believe I’m bound to that,” she said, waving her arm toward the door.
“We’re all bound to each other. Nothing will change that. But maybe one day you’ll meet a hot Enchanter who actually cares about you.”
Ava turned to her. “What, like have a fling on the side?”
Melissa laughed. “That would be interesting. No. Just because we’re all bound together, doesn’t mean you’re destined to be with Thomas forever.”
“What do you mean?”
“How much did your father tell you?”
“Apparently not enough. I’m kinda ignoring him.”
Melissa raised her eyebrows. “Why?”
“We had a fight.” Ava leaned against the wooden railing.
“Since when do you ever fight with your dad?”
Guilt rushed over Ava. She never fought with him. But she felt like he was holding something back from her. Like she wasn’t completely in on the loop. “I just don’t understand how he’s completely okay with us possibly going to war or even killing.”
“Because he had to do it in his life. There’s nothing to worry about.” Melissa stubbed out the cigarette and tossed it into the grass. She gave Ava a knowing look. “But I hardly think that’s the real reason why you’re fighting all this.”
Ava looked away. “So I don’t have to be with Thomas, but I can’t be with…”
“It’s forbidden. And too dangerous.”
She silently cursed. She hated the word forbidden.
“I think once you and Thomas get through this hump, you two will be back to what you were.”
“I don’t want to be.”
“That’s because you like Peter. It’ll pass though.”
“You just don’t get it, Mel. What if Lance were a human?”
“What do you think will happen? You fall in love with Peter and then what? You want Savina to turn him into one of us. Just like Devon is doing?”
“No.”
“That’s if you’re still accepted in this Aureole. I know you don’t want to betray us.”
Melissa had a point but Ava wanted to ignore it. It was a dead-end situation.
The door to the cabin opened, and Thomas led everyone outside.
“You guys missed it,” he said. “Lance mimicked me and can now create fire.”
“Are you serious?” Melissa took Lance’s hand. “I wanna see.”
Just like Thomas, Lance made a fireball appear and bounced it in his hand. “I think I like this better than invisibility. Although, that has its advantages.”
“You should try to do that with water,” Thomas said to Ava. “But I doubt you could.” The way he said it was so condescending. Like she was incompetent.
“I think I’ll go home.” She pushed her way through them, and walked to her car.
“Ava, what’s wrong?” Thomas ran after her.
She opened her door and got in. “Nothing. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” She tried closing her door but he held it firmly.
“Why are you so mad?”
Ava wished she could produce water and throw it in his face. “Let me go.”
“If you’re upset about your ability, I’m sure something will come of it.”
“Great. Goodnight.” She pulled on the door and closed it with success. Ava started the car, and felt Thomas’s anger, but she didn’t care. She was a bit miffed that she seemed to be the only one who lacked any real power. Even her dad said she was supposed to do more. What was she? The runt of the litter?
Once home, Ava took a hot shower, letting the water relax her, and then changed into her pajamas. She turned out the lamp on her nightstand, and slipped under the covers. Her eyes searched the darkness. She wished she could see her mother. And that she could be with Peter. And for the tension between her and her dad to stop. That this Enchanter hadn’t escaped. How was she supposed to sleep when there could be someone watching her?
The tears leaked out, streaming down her cheeks. With a heavy sigh, she rolled over on her side and saw that it was now after midnight.
She closed her eyes, and then saw a woman unpin laundry sheets from a clothing line. She squinted from the bright flashing light above. The wind lifted a sheet from the line and revealed the woman behind.
“Mom,” she yelled. “Mom.” Her heart sputtered, and she tried lifting her leg to walk but it was as if her feet were nailed into the ground. Ava knew that any second the lightning would strike. But she couldn’t move. The woman never looked up from Ava’s screams. Then, the flash struck the woman, and she collapsed.
“No, Mom!” she screamed. She struggled to move but to no avail. Then, something shook her.
“Ava, shh…” She heard a whisper.
Her eyes bolted open, and she saw her father. “Dad,” she said breathless. Her heart jabbed into her ribs.
He leaned down and hugged her. “Shh…it’s okay, sweetie. It was just a dream.”
“Dad, she-she was right there…” She cried into his chest.
“Just a dream.”
The amulet grew warm and Ava hoped no one would call.
“I’m sorry for waking you.” She pulled away, and her breath slowed.
“It’s okay,” he said. “I had to make sure you were all right.”
“Thanks. I’m okay now.”
“Are you sure? Would you like to talk about it?”
“No. Go back to sleep.”
He looked at her speculatively. “Something that helps me is to clear my mind before going to sleep. Just push all thoughts out.”
“Okay.”
He leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, Dad.”
He closed the door behind him.
Ava turned off the lamp and lay back down. She gripped the blanket, but couldn’t stop shaking. She was afraid to close her eyes, for fear the dream would return. Taking a deep breath, she cleared her mind of any thoughts—just like her father suggested, and then closed her eyes.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
FRIENDS
Ava pu
lled her sweater over her head, and then smoothed down her hair from the static electricity. She sluggishly walked into the bathroom, and braced for the light as she turned it on. She looked terrible. Her eyes were bloodshot and had black semicircles underneath. No different from any other day lately.
Her mom’s face flashed in her mind. Why did Ava have such a nightmare? She hadn’t dreamt of that day since she was a kid. The helplessness in the dream mirrored her real stance on things. She didn’t feel any stronger, even though Savina said it would take a week or so for their strength to come back. Maybe she was a defective Enchanter. That was fine by her. Then maybe she wouldn’t have to continue with this crazy lifestyle.
Tossing the dream and her incompetent thoughts aside, she reluctantly walked downstairs and didn’t see her father. Maybe he’d gone into work early. Were they ever going to talk about things? Though, part of that was her fault since she had avoided him.
When she arrived at school, Thomas was leaning against the car next to hers. She’d seen all his missed calls from last night and figured he’d be eager to coddle her.
“Hey, Babe.”
“I’m sure that person won’t appreciate you touching his car.”
He wrapped his arms around her and stroked her hair as if she were a pet.
“What happened last night?
“Nothing.”
Thomas sighed. “Come on, Ava. Will you please talk to me? I was worried all night.”
She felt her shoulders relax. Could she trust him again? “I just don’t like talking about it.”
“I know. But I’m here. Please? You never tell me anything.”
“Because you can’t keep anything to yourself.”
“But we’re all in this together. We shouldn’t have any secrets. I just wanna be there for you, but you shut me out.”
Ava looked up into his pale blue eyes, so sincere that she wanted to believe him. She took a deep breath. “I had a dream about my mom. I was trying to save her, but I couldn’t move at all. I kept screaming her name, but she never heard me. And then…” She couldn’t finish the sentence.
Under A Blood Moon (Elemental Enchanters) Page 11