Under the Winter Sun (Elemental Enchanters Series Book 3)

by Richards, Carrigan

  “I’ve started rinsing these, but luckily there is a dishwasher,” Anastasya told them. The scar above her left eye was deep and Ava wondered if she had the same attitude toward scars as Gustav. Adds character, he once said. Anastasya’s short choppy brown hair shone under the kitchen’s fluorescent lights.

  “Do you need help?” Ava asked.

  “Sure. I’ll rinse, and you can load.” Anastasya winked. She had beautiful blue eyes and a friendly aura about her. She was slow and meticulous with the rinsing.

  “This is the last of them,” Katarina said as she piled plates near Anastasya.

  “Spasibo,” she said.

  “Did you enjoy dinner?” Katarina asked Ava. Her blue hair seemed brighter under the lights.

  “Yeah, thanks.” She didn’t want to talk to her, but did to be polite.

  “What about you, Lance?”

  He patted his stomach. “Oh yeah. It was great.”

  “I’m so glad you all liked it. Maybe one day you all can visit Russia and visit. I’m hoping when all this is over Peter can come back with us.”

  Her breath caught in her throat. The thought of Peter leaving for Russia shook Ava. As if she’d never see him again. Suddenly, the soup didn’t sit well in her stomach.

  “Don’t be rushing with that boy,” Anastasya warned. “I know you are infatuated with him now, but take your time.”

  Katarina pouted and pulled up a stool next to the sink.

  “And watch what you say,” she lowered her voice to Katarina.

  Ava cleared her throat after placing the last dish in the dishwasher. “Thanks for dinner. I’m going up.” She turned and walked out of the kitchen. A few still sat at the dining table in conversations, but Ava made a beeline to her room though she could feel their eyes on her. The sooner she fell asleep, the sooner she’d wake and they’d be on their way. When she returned to the room, she was the only one. She changed into the complimentary white flannel pajama top and bottoms.

  Ava wanted to cry, but knew the others would soon come up. Plus, she was tired of sending signals of her anger or sadness to the others. She thought of her dad and felt homesick. Then she thought of Peter and Katarina sharing a room. It was going to be a long night.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  THE SHADOW KINGDOM

  Ava gripped her backpack straps as she trudged through the forest in front of Peter and Katarina. If she couldn’t see them, it wouldn’t be so bad. Peter had been eyeing her all through breakfast, which made Ava uncomfortable. It was like he worried about her or something, but she didn’t feel it. After breakfast, they left the Invisibili Aula, or whatever it was, and headed out early for another day of trekking through the woods.

  Gillian and Lance flanked Ava on one side and Eric on the other. Gabriel and Natalia walked closely behind them. Ava couldn’t help but notice Thomas walked beside Moira.

  Everyone was quiet today, and Ava attributed it to the fact that probably no one slept from being in a new place, but she couldn’t be sure.

  Gillian played with a curl as she checked the gray sky, hoping it wouldn’t start raining. She moaned every time they came upon a large puddle of water, and it would take her a few seconds to figure out how she was going to avoid it.

  “You kinda remind me of Kira,” Eric said.

  Ava and Gillian turned their heads toward him. “Who?”

  “Gillian.”

  “What do you mean?” she asked in her quiet voice.

  “Kira hates the rain. Even though she’s a tough woman with a hard exterior, she’s also very dainty,” Eric said.

  “I don’t like getting wet,” Gillian said. “I even hate taking showers.”

  “Oh lord. Sounds just like Kira,” Natalia said from behind.

  Eric laughed. “Maggie always makes fun of her.”

  “I can’t imagine Maggie making fun of anyone,” Ava said.

  “She’s not always serious.”

  Gillian switched places with Ava to walk beside Eric. “I hope they’re okay.”

  “They are,” he assured her.

  “Tell me more about them.”

  Someone tapped Ava’s shoulder, and she turned her head. She rolled her eyes at Peter and turned back to the front.

  “Ava, please talk to me,” Peter said.

  “She doesn’t want to talk to you,” Gillian snapped.

  Peter sighed. “This doesn’t concern you.”

  “Don’t do this.” Ava’s pulse quickened. She didn’t want to admit that she liked having him talk to her. She missed him. She shouldn’t. She hated that she still thought about him. She shut her eyes tight, shaking her head get him out of her head. Her foot caught a root, and the ground came at her. Peter grabbed her arm, preventing her from falling. Once she stood upright, she jerked her arm out his grasp and kept walking as if it never happened.

  “I’m really sorry. I feel your pain all the time and I feel bad—.”

  “Stop. We have a mission to accomplish. I don’t want to talk about this, okay?”

  “I don’t want you to be angry with us.”

  She scoffed and halted. “Us? I’m not mad at Katarina. Is that your only concern?”

  Peter stopped and faced her.

  “Keep walking,” Natalia warned as she and Gabriel passed them.

  “No it’s not my only concern.” Ava saw that Peter was having a hard time keeping his frustration in check, but she didn’t care. She couldn’t talk to him without getting upset. Gillian dropped back and waited for Ava. She sighed and caught up with Gillian.

  “I’m not going to let this go,” he said.

  “Not to freak you guys out, but we’re about to go through a portal,” Aidan said.

  “What do we do?” Ava asked.

  Aidan smirked. “Don’t fret, love. Just follow them. Gustav is waiting for everyone to go through it.”

  “Where is it taking us?” Peter asked.

  “Regnum Umbra, or The Shadow Kingdom to you newbies. Keep close together when we go through, it’s very dark.”

  Gillian moaned.

  Ava looked ahead of her, and of course, everyone had gotten in front of her and Peter. Aidan stopped and turned around. “I know it doesn’t look like anything, but follow my lead. To Ephemerals, this is just a rock.”

  She watched him go through a loose curtain of brown vines hanging over a large boulder with a hole through it. It was dark beyond the vines, and there didn’t seem to be an end to the hollow hole. Ava swept the vines aside and she, Gillian, and Peter followed.

  “I can’t see anything,” Gillian said.

  “Just keep walking forward,” Aidan told them.

  “Couldn’t we have lit a torch or something?” Peter asked.

  Something hissed, and Ava froze. Peter bumped into her. It hissed again, as if it were right in her ear.

  “Omigod, what was that?” Gillian asked, clutching Ava’s hand.

  “What?” Peter asked. “Why’d you stop?”

  Ava heard it again and shivered. “You don’t hear that?”

  “Hear what?”

  “There’s a hissing,” Gillian shrieked.

  “I don’t hear anything,” Peter said.

  “Peter, don’t mess with us,” Ava said.

  “I’m not. I really don’t hear it.”

  “I don’t hear it either,” Aidan said. His voice sounded farther ahead.

  Ava drew a ragged breath and took a step as Gillian panted. Her foot rolled over something soft and pliable, like a snake. She grabbed Peter as the memory of her getting bit by Gregor’s snake arms flashed in her mind.

  “There are snakes in here,” she whispered.

  “There’s nothing in here,” Aidan said. “Come on, Gustav is waiting for us.”

  She didn’t release Peter, and he didn’t seem to mind her latching onto him. “We’ll make it,” he said.

  Something dropped on her head and she darted forward, releasing Gillian’s hand. Then she felt something wrap around her leg, like a snake c
oiling itself around it. She fell to her knees. Her body involuntarily shook.

  Gillian screamed. “Something touched me!”

  “Ava, where are you?” Peter asked.

  “It’s wrapping around my leg.” Then she heard more hisses and rattles around her. Ava tried pushing the snake off her. She felt the smooth scaly skin, and it seemed to be bigger than the size of her leg. It began tightening its grip on her, constricting her.

  Arms grabbed her and dragged her to her feet. She couldn’t catch her breath as the snakes kept falling on her. Slithering down her arms and legs.

  “Get us out of here!” Gillian cried.

  Ava didn’t understand how Peter couldn’t feel them or was able to pull them through so easily. There had to be thousands of them. He pulled her along but she wasn’t going through this darkness feeling like this the whole way.

  “Ava, do something,” Gillian said.

  Water trickled down Ava’s hands. She shot it forward, hoping to propel the snakes off her. She blasted water again until she couldn’t hear the hisses or rattles or feel their smooth skin on hers.

  “What are you doing?” Peter asked.

  “I’m killing the snakes.”

  “What snakes, Ava?”

  “They’re everywhere,” Gillian said.

  As soon as she said that, Ava didn’t feel or hear them. She didn’t feel the pain of the constriction and knew Peter was protecting her.

  “They’re gone. Do you feel them Ava?”

  “No.”

  Minutes passed, and she could see the tunnel ending. Aidan climbed up on the rocks, and out of the tunnel and turned back, reaching for Ava. Peter spotted her from behind as Aidan pulled Ava out of the small hole that was covered in loose vines. She calmed her breathing and met Gabriel’s eyes.

  Aidan helped Gillian out, and then Peter.

  “Are you all right?” Peter asked them.

  Ava brushed dirt off her pants. “I’m fine.”

  He sighed and moved past her.

  Savina pushed her way through the crowd. “What happened?”

  “There were snakes everywhere in there,” Gillian said, her eyes watering. “They grabbed at us and…ugh.” She trembled.

  “Yeah, but Aidan and Peter never heard or felt anything.”

  Savina’s face twisted in thought.

  “What does that mean?” Ava asked.

  “I do not know,” she said, and walked back to Aaron.

  “She thinks we’re crazy,” Gillian said.

  Probably, Ava thought. “No, she just doesn’t know what happened.”

  “Are you okay?” Gabriel asked. “We heard you both scream.”

  “You did?” Ava was embarrassed.

  “Yeah. They wouldn’t let us go in there though.”

  “Peter and Aidan didn’t hear or feel them, but there were snakes everywhere. All over Gillian and me. Thousands of them.”

  “Maybe your mind was freaking you out,” Lance said.

  Ava knew that wasn’t the answer, but she didn’t argue.

  After a few moments, they started out again. Thick clouds rolled above them. The scenery hadn’t changed much, except for the tall smoky mountains in the far distance. Something felt different. She couldn’t place it. She felt it in her veins, like an omen. It didn’t feel safe at all. She was behind Peter and Katarina again, much to her annoyance. Lance squeezed her hand.

  Ava sighed. “I’m sorry. I’m trying so hard. I see them every day, and I remember what it was like and how much I want it back. I miss him,” she whispered.

  “Why?” Gillian asked. “He’s a jerk. I know you loved him, but you’re better off without him. You shouldn’t have been with him anyway.”

  “Gillian, don’t,” Lance cautioned.

  “Why don’t you mind your own business?” Ava snapped. She wouldn’t have taken the attitude had it not been for the pompous way Gillian spoke.

  “It’s the truth, Ava, and you know it.”

  “Why do you say that?” Ava halted. Gillian and Lance stopped and looked back. He tried urging them along.

  “Because. You should have never fallen in love with Peter. He wasn’t right for you. He’s better off with Katarina.”

  Ava’s jaw dropped. “What is wrong with you? Why are you saying that?” Water dribbled down her arms and onto the ground.

  “Don’t yell,” Gillian whispered. She looked around at others who stopped to watch the argument.

  The water built. “You can’t mean that.”

  “Ava, calm down,” she heard Gabriel. She took a deep breath, and stopped the flowing water.

  “I’m just worried about you,” Gillian said. “You keep this pain inside, and it’s not worth it. Peter isn’t worth all that.”

  “Everyone, hush!” Aaron’s booming voice soared through the crowd.

  Not a word was spoken. There was no sound. Just the piercing silence.

  Gillian’s eyes widened, and she gasped. Lance dropped his mouth open and gripped Gillian’s arms.

  “Wha—.”

  “Shh,” Gabriel cut off Ava. “Don’t make a single move,” he warned them.

  Ava heard a deep growl behind her that vibrated throughout her. At first, she thought it was thunder, but she felt the snarling inch closer. She felt its hot breath against her back. No one budged, and seeing the terror in their eyes, she held her breath. Staring into Gabriel’s eyes, she didn’t dare move. Her heart pounded in her ears and she clenched her fists.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  BETRAYAL

  The beast yipped as she heard a cracking sound like lightning had struck nearby. The ground shook and everyone’s terrified faces turned to shock and astonishment as they moved to examine the damage, including Gillian.

  But Ava remained still. One minute Gabriel was in front of her, and the next she didn’t see him.

  “It’s okay now,” he said, tugging her hand. “You can breathe again.”

  She exhaled. “What-what was it? A wolf?” Her voice shook, and her body remained rigid.

  “Not exactly. It’s a saberwolf.”

  “What?” She had to look. Lying on its side, still, against a broken tree was a solid white beast the size of a bear with the face of a wolf and saber teeth. Its paws and thick coat reminded her of a polar bear.

  “The Cimmerians are watching us closely,” Aaron mused, staring at the beast.

  “How do you know it was them that sent this…thing to attack us?” Gillian asked. “They could be wild animals.”

  Aaron shook his head. “It’s the only way I can explain what happened to you two in the tunnel.”

  “You think they got inside our heads?”

  “It’s possible.”

  Ava looked around, but didn’t feel any one watching them. She grabbed her warm necklace. Was there another Trudy McVaine out there? Putting images in their heads? She remembered that Havok said she, Gillian, and Thomas had the weakest minds. But she had worked on strengthening hers, hadn’t she? And then it hit her. “We have to take off our necklaces,” she blurted.

  “What?” Savina asked.

  “He still wears Colden’s necklace. He can sense us. Anytime we’re in trouble, we always know where to find each other. He knows exactly where we are and if we remove the necklaces, maybe he’ll think we were killed by this…thing.”

  “It would buy us time at least,” Eric said. “Unless they’re actually watching us.”

  Savina shook her head. “I don’t like not being able to sense you all.”

  “But it gives us an advantage,” Aaron said. “She’s right. I can’t believe we never realized this before.”

  Savina hesitated. “It will feel as if we are all dead.”

  Aaron took her hand and brought it to his lips. “We will be fine.”

  She nodded, and then he turned to the group. “Everyone, take off your necklace one by one.” They followed his instructions, and Ava was grateful because now no one could feel her pain.

  “Wh
y did that thing just go to Ava?” Gillian asked. “I mean, it went straight to her.”

  “Saberwolves are attracted to anger sometimes,” Gabriel said. “She was upset at the moment.”

  Ava swallowed hard and looked away.

  “Yeah, that was my fault.” Gillian blushed. “I don’t know why I said that.”

  “Protectors,” Aaron called. “You need to be extremely cautious of everything. We need to continue.”

  Everyone began moving again.

  “I think I’ve had enough excitement for one day,” Ava mumbled, taking one last look at the strange creature on the muddy ground. “Are we going to encounter vampires and werewolves or something?” she asked Gabriel.

  He barked a laugh. “No. Although, it could be possible.”

  “Oh right, because Edgar Allan Poe is a vampire.”

  “He is. All the evidence points to it.”

  She knew he was trying to make her laugh, but she couldn’t stop thinking about the saberwolf. “Did you kill it?”

  “Yes.”

  “How?”

  “I’m too quick for it to respond.”

  “So our powers work on animals, too?”

  “No. I threw it against the tree.”

  “That’s it? That’s all it took?”

  Gabriel hesitated. “I also…stopped its heart.”

  “Eww!” Gillian said and then caught up to Lance. She hated hearing gory things.

  Ava glanced at Gabriel. “How did you do it?”

  “My hand.”

  “But there wasn’t any blood.”

  “I hit it before throwing it against the tree. Hit it right in the heart.”

  “Wow.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah. Fine.”

  “I mean about what Gillian said.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Don’t be so hard on yourself, Ava. You are allowed to feel those things.”

  She bit her lip. “She never understood. Couldn’t she have cursed Peter though? I mean, how could he move so quickly from me to someone else?” she asked.

  “I don’t know. Gillian is scared and wants things to go back to normal. Believe it or not, she doesn’t like seeing you in pain. None of us do,” he whispered the last part under his breath, but Ava caught it.