“You thought you actually killed me?” Ilya got to his feet and jerked her up. He guided her away from the village, grasping onto her neck. He had morphed into Gabriel to take her to Havok.
“You aren’t taking me to him.” She struggled against his grip. Water trickled down her arms.
He pulled on her neck, almost taking her down, but then he let go. She whirled around and found two men brawling. They slammed each other into the trees, knocking snow on both of them. She couldn’t tell who was fighting Ilya. One of them punched the other with a sickening crack.
Ava had to get back to the village. She would do whatever it took to fight the Cimmerians. She snuck behind them and inched herself to the edge of the forest. As she cleared the woods, she inhaled sharply, breathing in the faint smell of smoke. Fierce flames engulfed the village, and she saw through the small gaps between the buildings bodies lying motionless. Even though she still felt groggy from the drugs or whatever Ilya had given her, she started running.
“Ava,” she heard Gabriel behind her with a tired voice.
She halted and her heart stilled. She slowly turned around and gasped. One hand held his stomach. Blood soaked through his white shirt and dripped into the snow. His body wavered like he might collapse any moment.
She hesitated. She couldn’t be sure if it was really him or Ilya. She stepped backward. “Get away from me.”
“It’s me, I promise,” he held out his hand, surrendering. “Please. It’s me.” He took a breath and groaned before he fell to his knees. His torso rose and fell with each breath as his hands dug into the snow.
“How do I know it’s really you?” she asked. She was eager to return to the village to help but something about him seemed genuine. What if it really was him?
“I took you to the Cliffs of Dover,” he spoke in short gasps.
She took a step forward. “Is he dead?”
Gabriel coughed, spraying blood onto the snow. “No. He got away. Please believe me.” He raised his head, peering into her eyes with the same intense look he’d given her before. How would Ilya have known that Gabriel had taken her to the Cliffs?
Ava looked back at the village and then back at Gabriel. She crossed over to him and helped him lie down on his back. She slowly lifted his shirt and swallowed her uneasiness as she saw the large hole in his side.
“How did he do this?”
“A tree branch.”
She shuddered and placed her hands on the wound. Water seeped from her hands over his skin, washing away the blood. The hole sealed slowly and Gabriel’s breathing returned to normal.
“Thank you.” He jumped to his feet, startling her. “I promise you, I’m not going to hurt you. Come on.” He took her hand and they reached the edge of the village. “You have to stay here. You cannot fight,” Gabriel said and then crashed into a man twice his size.
Flames and smoke swallowed the crumbling buildings. Enchanters on both sides fought relentlessly. Fire. Lightning. Bombs. Chaos. The building nearest Gabriel and Ava began to fall to pieces. She gasped when she saw a man hurl Thomas into a brick wall. The bricks crumbled under his weight. Aaron’s fingers laced around a young Enchanter’s face, and Ava saw the power escape from her body. A flash of Katarina’s blue hair caught her eye as she leapt over a woman and grabbed her neck, slamming her to the ground.
Ava narrowed her eyes and ignored Gabriel’s warning. He was crazy to think she was going to stand by and watch. Rushing toward the chaos, she jumped onto the back of a young man. Water filled her hands, and she concentrated on making it into ice. The sharp edges formed, and as she slashed the ice across the man’s neck, blood gushed out. He collapsed. Ava leaned forward, but caught herself, landing on her feet. She flung her arms out to the side and aimed water at a woman fighting Gillian. The piercing water stabbed her like shrapnel from a bullet. Gillian kicked her over.
Screams from her left caught her attention. A woman danced frantically as flames consumed her body.
A sharp, searing pain shot through Ava’s body. Waves of red and white flashed as she doubled over. Her side throbbed. She reached back and felt something sturdy sticking out from her body, warm liquid trickling.
“Take care of Ava!” She heard Aaron shout. The humming in her ears clouded her hearing.
“I have to take this out,” Gabriel whispered in her ear. His arm held her tight against his body, and she buried her face against his chest. “It’s going to hurt.” She braced herself. She let out a scream as he slid the sharp object from her side. The burning pain brought tears to her eyes, then she felt the icy snow against her back. “Ava, you have to heal yourself.” She took short, shallow breaths. The agony made it hard to concentrate, but Gabriel held the wound. Willing water through her, slowly the pain subsided until there was none. She took a deep breath and opened her eyes.
Gabriel wrapped his arms around her. “Are you okay?”
She nodded and looked up at him. “Are you?”
“I’m fine.”
She glanced at the horrific destruction of the village. So many unrecognizable faces lay dead. She found Mahalia on her stomach, motionless. She squeezed her tight and covered her face. She couldn’t let this continue.
“It’s over for now.” Thomas gripped her shoulder.
“Thomas!” Moira rushed up to him and hugged him. Then she quickly grabbed Ava and drew her into a hug.
“Is everyone okay?” Thomas asked.
Moira shook her head with tears streaming down her face. “Nathan.” She swallowed. “He’s gone.”
Ava’s heart sank. His son, Lucas, would never know his father. How would Cara explain that his dad was never coming home?
“Here’s our traitor!” Gustav shouted as he dragged Ilya across the road to them. “I caught him siding with the Cimmerians.”
“What?” Katarina said.
“It was Ilya all along,” Ava told them, and looked to Savina. “He’s been leading Havok and the Cimmerians past your charm.”
“I can’t believe you would betray us,” Katarina said. A group of them circled around Ilya as Gustav held him in place.
“You slipped something into my drink when you hugged me earlier,” Ava said. “You drugged me so you could take me easily. He morphed into Gabriel, trying to take me to Havok.”
Gabriel clenched his jaw and charged toward Ilya, but Aaron held Gabriel back.
Ilya tilted his head back and laughed. “You can’t kill me. They’ll come after you.”
Aaron held Gabriel as he lunged for Ilya again.
“You betrayed us,” Katarina yelled. “All those nights you disappeared from our cabin. You were really keeping tabs with Havok.”
Ilya’s eyes landed on Ava. His lips curled into a taunting grin. “Yes. But I also had some nice romantic times with Ava.”
Ice froze around her heart. Her knees wobbled. Bile rose to her throat and her teeth clenched. Ilya had morphed into Peter and kissed her. She felt as if he’d stripped her in front of everyone. Ilya had broken her spirit and let Havok inside her head.
His gaze moved to Gillian. “And you weren’t dreaming of Jeremy.”
Gillian’s face twisted in horror. “What?”
“It was fun. You’re both lovely kissers. But I think Ava’s better.”
Gabriel wrestled loose from Aaron’s grasp and punched Ilya in the jaw. Ilya fell back into Gustav, and before Gabriel could attack further, Aaron and Sean restrained him.
Ilya laughed. “Oh the fun games I played with all of you. I put images in your minds. The snakes, the dreams of your mother.” He gave a sleazy grin and looked at Lance. “I even convinced you that the dreams about Melissa were real. You’re all weak. It was so easy.”
Lance dove toward him but Thomas and Link held him back.
“I can’t believe you,” Katarina said. She glowered at Ilya as though she was seconds from ripping his heart out. “After everything we’ve been through.”
“I’ve been trying to get you to come with me.
” Ilya told her. Blood dripped from his busted lip.
“You don’t belong with us anymore. And I’m not letting you go back to him.” Before Peter could react in time, Katarina gripped Ilya. Gustav immediately released him. Her arms glowed as she grasped his neck. His eyes bulged, and he gasped for air. Blood rose below the surface of his skin. Peter pulled her back as Ilya crumpled lifeless into to the snow. Katarina turned and hugged him tightly.
Aaron released Gabriel.
“Katarina,” Gustav yelled. “We could have used him as a prisoner.”
“He didn’t deserve to live,” she spat.
“I can’t believe it,” Ava whispered. She’d been fooled twice and led to mistrust her Aureole.
“Ava,” Gabriel breathed as he took her into his arms. “He can’t hurt you anymore.”
“You must kill Havok,” Noelle demanded with tears in her eyes. “He will come back. He always does.”
Savina comforted her.
“The Inn suffered minimal damage.” Noelle dried her eyes and held her head high. “Will they come back tonight?”
“I don’t see them returning,” Moira said. “I never saw that from Ilya. I’m so sorry, Ava.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” Gabriel told her. “We all trusted him.”
“Let’s take the Elementals inside,” Savina said. “I need to make sure they are okay. Anyone else injured, come with me.”
“The rest of us, let us bury those who have perished,” Aaron said. “And clean the destruction.”
As everyone followed Savina or Aaron, Gabriel turned to Ava. “Why didn’t you stay hidden?”
“This is just as much my fight as it yours.”
“Stubborn.”
“I know.” She couldn’t believe she thought Ilya was Gabriel. But he looked and sounded just like Gabriel. His words. His voice. His eyes. Everything. “I’m sorry about earlier. I didn’t know.”
“There was no way you could have.”
“Somewhere deep inside told me it wasn’t you. It couldn’t have been you.”
He brushed his knuckles against her cheek. “I’m going to help Aaron. I’ll be in soon.”
She nodded and then headed inside. She joined Gillian at a round table and watched Noelle and a few other townspeople gather warm drinks and blankets.
They’d gotten through another Cimmerian battle, but how many more could they survive? Ava knew she had to think of something. There was no way Havok would let them attack Caprington and get away with it. He was ready for them. And he knew the right tricks to use.
“How did you know it wasn’t Gabriel?” Gillian asked. Dirt and blood dried on her round face and her curly hair fell flat, straggling just below her shoulders. It was the longest Ava had ever seen her hair.
“He didn’t fight like Gabriel. He wasn’t using his ability.”
“Because anyone who morphs into another cannot use their ability,” Savina said. “That’s how you get them to prove to you who they really are.” She checked Ava. “Seems as though the drugs have dissipated.”
“What did he use?”
“A sleeping potion most likely. He must have gotten it from someone. I’ve put a charm only on this building, hiding us. If they do come back they won’t see us. Now that Ilya is gone they cannot know we are still here. You can rest.” She walked away to check on the others. Lance and Thomas dropped down in the chairs next to Ava and Gillian.
Ava shook her head. “There is no rest until Havok is dead.” She kept her voice low. “He’s only going to keep killing people if we don’t do something.”
“He’s going to kill them whether we do something or not.” Thomas dragged his hands down the length of his face.
Lance rubbed his tired eyes. His hair had become a thick curly mess. “What do you suggest?” He raised his eyebrows at Ava.
“Why are you asking me?”
“Because I know you’re working on something in your head.”
She looked around to make sure no one was listening. “We have to turn ourselves in.”
Gillian’s jaw dropped. “Are you crazy?” she asked in a loud voice.
“Shh. It’s the only way. We’re the only ones who can end the Cimmerians and kill Havok. Think about it.” Ava leaned forward and they followed. “We turn ourselves in claiming we willingly join. We attack from within. Havok will never suspect it.”
Gillian’s eyebrows furrowed. “Um, how exactly is he going to believe us?”
“We hide our thoughts and emotions,” Thomas said. “Ava taught us a little on how to do that.”
“Heart of Stone,” Lance said.
“Okay, say we perfect this in the next few days or however long it takes us to get to Caprington. We get there and a huge battle ensues. If we attack the Cimmerians, Havok won’t believe that we’ve changed sides.”
“We don’t fight,” Ava said.
“Have you lost your mind?”
“She’s right, G,” Thomas said. “If we don’t fight, and we give ourselves over, Havok won’t kill anyone. He kept saying that in those dreams to me.”
“What’s going to happen to the rest of us?”
A pang of sadness hit Ava in the chest. She didn’t know what she would do if Gabriel ever got hurt. “We have to convince Havok not to kill them. That they can be useful.”
Gillian shook her head. “I don’t like this at all.”
“What if we somehow separate ourselves from the group?” Thomas asked. “If we escape, then we could get to Caprington and join. That way when the Elders come, there won’t be a battle.”
“They’d never let us separate,” Lance said. “Besides, we don’t know how to get to Caprington.”
“I know we’re the most powerful and all, but we’re missing two of our members,” Gillian said. “How are the four of us possibly going to attack the Cimmerians from within? There are probably hundreds of them.”
“I don’t know,” Ava said. “I haven’t gotten that far into the plan.”
“We act like spies,” Thomas said. “It might take time, but maybe we could earn the trust of the Cimmerians and somehow convince them to fight with us.”
“They were raised Cimmerian. Why would they want to switch sides?”
“Let’s tackle one thing at a time,” Lance said. “So are we all doing this?”
Ava’s heart pounded. “I’m in.”
Thomas nodded. “Me too.”
“I’m in. Gillian?”
She swept her eyes over each of them. “Yes. We’re in this together.”
Ava peeled out of her bloody pajamas and slipped into the shower. Too many times she had watched blood and dirt mix with water as it swirled down the drain. Tears pooled in her eyes. She had to distance herself from Gabriel and from everyone else. It would be easier than to let things continue. She didn’t want to lose him, but she had to do what she could.
She dried off and dressed in clean clothes. Sinking onto the edge of the bed, she savored the silence. Her body shook from anxiety, and exhaustion wore on her. She didn’t know Ilya that well, but he had violated her in a way she never thought possible. He had taken something intimate and innocent from her and caught a glimpse of her the way only Peter had.
There was a soft knock at her door. She answered it, and Gabriel waited on the outside. He had taken a shower, shaved his beard, and put on fresh clothes. She moved aside, allowing him to enter and then closed the door.
Ava leaned against the bureau and crossed her arms.
“What is it?” he asked.
“I know it wasn’t you. But all I see now is the chilling look in your eye. The menacing voice. My mind is out of sorts.” That was an understatement. “He tried to make me think you had betrayed me.”
Gabriel crossed the floor to her. He tenderly took her face in his hands. The delicateness of his touch hummed like a current throughout her. She loved feeling him close. And those eyes. Hauntingly beautiful eyes stared at her, hiding no emotions. Giving her everything. “I would
never hurt you. I would do anything to keep you safe. I know you know it wasn’t me, but hopefully I can help your mind decipher the truth.” His hands moved to her shoulders, but still held her eyes.
“I would do anything for you, Gabriel. I hate how they toyed with my mind. I feel so…violated.”
He drew her into an embrace. She inhaled his juniper scent and relaxed. “Will you stay with me tonight?” she asked.
“Of course.”
Ava knew she would have to turn off her emotions soon and distance herself from him, but for the night she wanted to be with him. No tricks. Just the two of them.
She tugged him toward the bed and pulled down the sheets. They lay down. He held her tight against his body.
His touch sent a shudder of pleasure through her. His breath tickled her neck, and she stiffened when he swept her hair from her shoulders. His lips grazed her skin, and the hairs on the nape of her neck stood on end. “This is me,” he whispered as his lips travelled to her collarbone.
She closed her eyes and dug her nails into his side.
His fingers skimmed across her stomach and her body jerked. He pinned her with his heavy gaze, his eyes yearning and honest. “This is me.” He kissed her softly at first, and then she pressed harder. She loved Gabriel, and she wasn’t sure how she could betray him. She couldn’t confide in him about the plans, because she knew he would try to stop her.
Ava clung onto him with everything she had and let him feel every emotion she had for him. For it would be the last time.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
UNFORGIVING
“This is so hard.” Gillian sighed and crossed her arms. She was sitting around the campfire with Ava, Thomas, Lance, and Gabriel practicing the Heart of Stone.
It had been about two weeks since they left Lighthollow Village. Each day they had traveled, the four of them had practiced strengthening their minds. Ava had tried distancing herself from Gabriel, but failed miserably. He was vital in helping them. More than that, she hated the thought of hurting him. But she had to.
“You do so well, and then it’s like you forget.” Thomas rolled his eyes. “You manipulate minds. Try using that on yourself.”
Under the Winter Sun (Elemental Enchanters Series Book 3) Page 31