Under the Burning Stars

by Carrigan Richards

  Water slithered around Ava’s feet, lifting the debris from the ground, and rose to her waist. The witches circled Ava, and then several closed the distance. She raised her hands and the water followed, building into a tidal wave. She didn’t want to envision them drowning. She wanted to see it for herself.

  Ava wanted the Cimmerians to suffer under the darkest ocean. She let go of the tidal wave and watched it crash onto all of them. The ground shook from the force and the clothesline fell, getting lost in the flood. She stared on as the water swallowed the Cimmerians, their arms flailing. She made the water swirl and rise all around them, tossing them about like they were rag dolls.

  Ava was sending a message to whoever was in charge. She was tired of everything they had put her through and she was going to end it.

  Then she saw complete darkness. She still heard the sharp inhaling of breaths from the Cimmerians, and the water started to calm, like the storm was over. Ava dropped to her knees and felt as if she was going to pass out, but then she saw the light of the day once again. The water had dropped a few inches, and had begun to retreat. A few bodies moved, but some were stiff.

  She looked up and clenched her teeth.

  “Surprised?” Xavier Holstone casually strode toward her. For someone who had supposedly been tortured for months, he looked well. His ashen face still held darkness and he still had that stupid cocky attitude. She wanted to beat it out of him.

  Ava jumped to her feet and instead of running, she held her ground.

  “Not really,” she said, allowing water to build around her hands again. “I knew you’d get out.”

  “Smart girl. You aren’t afraid of me.”

  “Why should I be? After all the times you could’ve taken me.”

  His black eyes narrowed. “Havok will have your power soon. And then I’ll have the sweet pleasure of torturing you.”

  “I’m shaking. Is that why he wanted Devon? To use him to absorb all the Elemental Powers.”

  “Yes, but you see how that turned out.”

  “Why doesn’t Havok just do it himself?” she dared ask. Keep him talking.

  “You don’t know much about Havok do you?” He clicked his teeth with his tongue. “Havok’s a soul reaper. Once he has all the powers in an absorption Enchanter, bingo. All hell breaks loose. And I can’t wait.”

  “Who’s your guinea pig now that Devon is dead?”

  He gave a wicked grin. “Lance, of course.”

  “It won’t work. Absorption Enchanters can only take one power at a time.”

  “I take back the smart girl compliment. You really are daft. Oh well. You’ll learn.”

  “Why are you here? What do you want?”

  “You get right to the point. I like it. You’re going to give yourself to Havok and convince the other five, plus your protector to do the same.”

  “Protector?” How did they know what Peter was?

  “Don’t play dumb. We know all about him. I now know why I could never use my power over you. And why we spent days torturing that pathetic boy and nothing happened. Anyway, you have until the new moon to come forth.” He turned and began walking away.

  “That’s it? You bring your little entourage of weak witches, who can’t kill me, all so you could tell me that. You’re such a coward. You want me? Here I am.”

  He halted, and then turned around. His cold eyes used to give her chills, but she wasn’t afraid of him anymore. “Tempting, but you aren’t much good to me by yourself.”

  “If you take me now, they’ll come find me. Then you’d have us all.”

  Xavier smirked. “Are you so desperate to leave them?”

  “No. I’m just tired of this song and dance. But you know none of us will actually give ourselves to whoever this Havok is.”

  He smiled, but it didn’t reach his dark eyes. “Once you realize who Havok is, you will want to help. It’s your destiny. Besides, if you all don’t follow through, we’ll bring war to you.”

  She clenched her fists tighter. She was ready to blast him. “What could you possibly know about my destiny?” She remembered the blond Cimmerian say the same, but what exactly did it mean?

  “Wow. Still haven’t figured that out. You’re promised to become a Cimmerian and to give up your powers to Havok.”

  She was taken-aback. “What?”

  He barked a laugh. “How could they not have told you? Oh this is too good. Your mother promised your soul to Havok. You belong to him.” He laughed some more.

  Her heart turned cold and she felt the blood drain from her face. There was no way that was true. “That’s a lie.”

  “She’s been sending you signals. Have you not gotten them?”

  Ava raised her hand as if to slap him.

  “I wouldn’t do that. Your friend is trapped behind an invisible wall and I have an Enchanter who is torturing him from afar.”

  She dropped her arm. “What are you talking about?”

  He made a motion and Gabriel appeared behind her. Glowing blue ropes that looked electrical wrapped all around his body. He was bleeding profusely and his jaw was clenched as he tried to remain perfectly still.

  “My good friend, Gabriel.” He stepped closer and Ava froze. “You know, I wouldn’t trust him if I were you.”

  “Let him go.”

  “As you wish.” He made a motion and Ava shot water hitting him in the chest. She felt a hand grab her arm and within seconds, was somewhere in a forest with an injured Gabriel.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  HEALER

  Ava poised for an attack and tried to level her breathing. But there was no one else around. She and Gabriel were in some forest under the darkening sky. It looked as though a storm was coming. Water slithered down her arms and dripped onto the dry leaves. Every sound she heard heightened her senses. Her necklace warmed and she knew it was glowing.

  “Ava, it’s okay,” Gabriel said through heavy breaths.

  She snapped her head to look at him. He was doubled over, blood running down his arms. His white shirt was completely soaked from all the blood. “Gabriel.”

  He looked up and his blue eyes begged Ava.

  She knelt beside him, and then both of their phones rang, but they ignored them. “Come on. We have to get back to the Manor so Savina can heal you.” She grabbed his arm, and the water from her hands latched onto him and she watched it slowly seal every wound on his arms, back, legs.

  She stood back in shock. “What did I do?”

  His eyes widened and he didn’t move. “You-you healed me.”

  “What? How?”

  “Your water. You must be a Healer.”

  “I-I don’t know. I’ve never done that before.”

  Gabriel stood and took her hands in hers. “You’re shaking. Are you hurt?”

  She shook her head, but the adrenaline had worn off and she was left with panic and fear of a possible war. And the knowledge that her mother possibly promised her soul to Havok. Tears clouded her vision and her breath hitched.

  Gabriel roughly drew her against him.

  “I thought you abandoned me. I looked around and all these witches were getting closer and you weren’t there.”

  “I was. You just couldn’t see me. Someone put up a wall and wrapped me in electrical ropes. I could see everything, but I couldn’t hear. I watched you conjure water from somewhere else and create a tidal wave. You’re getting stronger.”

  “I’ve never done that before either. I had to do something and I just remembered everything you told me.”

  “Good. I’m sorry I couldn’t help you.”

  Their phones ran again, but they ignored them.

  “How did he get out? What’s going on? How do they keep escaping the prison?”

  “I don’t know. We have to tell the Elders.” He drew back and held her at arm’s length. “What did Xavier say?”

  Ava avoided his eyes. “I just need some time to think.”

  “Ava, what did he say?”

&nbs
p; She couldn’t hold back her tears any longer. “My mother promised my soul to Havok.”

  “That’s not true. Xavier will tell you anything.”

  She shook her head. “It has to be true. All the visions and dreams I’ve had. Someone’s gotten inside my head. They’re watching and following us.”

  “You can’t think like that, Ava.”

  “Xavier said if I don’t give myself to Havok and convince my Aureole to do the same, they’ll declare war against us. We have until the new moon.” She covered her face, tears running down her cheeks. Then, she felt his arms around her again.

  “We have to tell the Elders everything.”

  They couldn’t go to New Orleans when there was a threat of war, especially if the Elders knew. “Can we hold off until after we see Marcel? He turned out to be right and everyone needs answers.”

  “We have to tell them. We can’t keep something like this a secret.”

  She nodded, but was disappointed. She had to find a way to see the Necromancer.

  “We tell the Elders and I’ll still take you all to Marcel. Deal?”

  Ava raised her head and met his eyes. She didn’t know why he always helped her, but she was grateful. “Okay.” Why did Xavier tell her she couldn’t trust Gabriel? He called him his friend. Did that mean something? Did Xavier know Gabriel? When she first mentioned Xavier to him, he acted as if he didn’t know who he was. Maybe it was Xavier playing with her again.

  Gabriel led the way back to the Manor on foot. They couldn’t chance teleporting again with Xavier and the other Cimmerians so close by.

  “We have until the new moon to turn ourselves over to Havok,” Ava said. “If we don’t they’ll start a war. What are we going to do?”

  “The Elders will know what to do.”

  “They haven’t been very helpful lately.”

  “I’m sorry. But they need to know.”

  Ava nodded and reluctantly agreed. She didn’t want to face Savina and Aaron. The last time she tried to talk to Savina she got upset with Ava. She guessed she had better go through with it. Maybe with Gabriel there the Elders would actually believe them.

  As soon as they arrived at the Manor, several of their coven members stopped them. They all wore worried looks.

  “What happened?” Melissa asked.

  “Are you two okay?” Joss asked.

  “We’re fine,” Gabriel said.

  Natalia gave him a disbelieving look and crossed her arms in front of her chest. “Your shirt is soaking with blood.”

  “I’m fine. Promise. We need to talk to the Elders.”

  “I’m not sure now is such a great time,” Eric said.

  “Why?” Ava asked.

  “Colden’s really sick. He’s been coughing up blood all day.”

  Why couldn’t Savina heal him? Or was she not healing him on purpose? Something didn’t add up. “What’s wrong with him? Has Savina healed him?”

  Joss shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  “This can’t wait,” Gabriel said.

  Thomas raked through his hair. “What happened? We all felt you both.”

  Ava exchanged a look with Gabriel. “Xavier Holstone is out of prison.”

  Joss and Melissa looked at them in shock. Even Natalia seemed a little shaken.

  “Are you kidding?” Thomas asked. “How did he escape? What the hell does he want?”

  “He wants all of us to hand ourselves over to Havok before the new moon.”

  “Havok?” Eric asked. “Who is that?”

  Ava drew a shaky breath. “I don’t know. Xavier, Trudy, and Devon mentioned his name. He said they were planning on using you, Lance, to absorb all of our powers.”

  Joss wrinkled her nose. “This sounds like Corbin. Or a Corbin wannabe. You should tell the Elders now.”

  Gabriel nodded and then Ava followed him inside the Manor. As they neared Savina’s parlor, they stopped abruptly. Aaron met them in the hallway holding a pot. Ava barely got a scent but she was familiar with the metallic iron smell. Her stomach churned.

  “Hello,” Aaron said. “Are you two okay?”

  Gabriel shook his head. “We need to talk to the Elders.”

  “Given the urgency in your voice and what we felt earlier, I take it that this cannot wait.”

  “No.”

  “Let me drain this first.” He walked by and Ava sneaked a glance inside the pot, but all she saw was a dark liquid. She watched him pour it down the drain in the kitchen and saw red. How could Colden be coughing up that much blood? Or had something else happened? What was Savina doing to him?

  Ava exchanged a look with Gabriel and he shrugged. She was hesitant to follow Aaron into the parlor. Something didn’t feel right about the situation. Could she trust them?

  Aaron went behind a black curtain and then he, Savina, and Maggie emerged.

  Savina wiped her hands on a black towel. “Is everything-good heavens, Gabriel. What happened?”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Xavier is back,” Ava said. “They got inside Gabriel’s head and forced him to teleport to my old home. They tortured him and told me that the Elementals had to give themselves to Havok before the new moon, and that if we didn’t, they were declaring war on us.”

  “Slow down, my child. Xavier? Are you sure it was him?”

  “Yes,” Gabriel said. “He said Havok wants to use Lance to absorb all of their powers so Havok can use them.”

  “Who is Havok?” Maggie asked.

  “We don’t know,” Ava said.

  Savina shook her head. “That is impossible. Lance can only absorb one power at a time. This sounds like an empty threat.”

  She was crazy. Why didn’t she ever believe Ava?

  “I assure you it isn’t,” Gabriel said. “We were ambushed by several Cimmerians. They quickly had me tied in electric ropes and Ava fought them off.”

  Ava crossed her arms in front of her chest. “How can you say it’s an empty threat? Xavier escaped the Cruciari. I mean, it isn’t like he got out on good behavior.”

  “But he has no power,” Aaron said. “I weakened him.”

  “His powers are back because he used them on me.”

  “I think we need to adhere to their warning,” Gabriel said.

  Savina began pacing. “This is impossible. Who is Havok? Maybe it was someone who morphed into Xavier.”

  “Why do you keep denying this? The Cimmerians are after us. They’ve attacked us several times.”

  Gabriel touched Ava’s hand, presumably to calm her down.

  Someone coughed from behind the curtain. It was harsh and sounded more like hacking. Aaron excused himself behind the curtain.

  Savina looked to Maggie and they held a private conversation. Ava hated it when they did that.

  “Tomorrow we start practice,” Maggie said.

  Aaron returned to the room. “We need to call the other Aureoles.”

  Savina shook her head. “There is no need for that.”

  “We cannot take any chances, Savina. If this Havok person intends to do what Corbin tried, we must take precautionary measures.”

  Ava could tell Savina wished it wasn’t true. She could see it in her face how much she hated the thought of war. Or maybe she was fretting because she had been caught. What if Savina was Havok? What if it was her all along? But something told Ava it couldn’t be her.

  Savina pressed her lips in a thin line. “Very well. We’ll call Gustav and Maya.”

  Aaron looked to Gabriel and Ava. “Thank you for telling us.”

  Gabriel nodded and he and Ava turned for the door.

  “Wait,” Savina said. “Gabriel, I need to heal you. Isn’t that your blood?”

  Gabriel scratched the back of his head and turned around. “Ava healed me.”

  Savina, Maggie, and Aaron all looked at Ava with curiosity.

  “What?” Aaron asked.

  “Her water healed me. It wrapped around my wounds and sealed them.”

  “You’
re a Healer,” Savina said, dazed. “I had no idea. Healers are rare.”

  “But I’ve been injured before. Why was I not able to heal myself?”

  “Did you ever use your water over your injuries or avoid water altogether?”

  She contemplated it and remembered when Thomas burned her arms. “I guess I avoided it. But I’ve been in water before—.” Ava stopped. She remembered after the first fight with Trudy she had welts on her face, but then after her shower they were gone.

  “You have to think it. And the water must come from you.”

  “I wasn’t thinking anything when I healed Gabriel. I just wanted his pain to go away and knew I had to get him here as soon as I could.”

  Savina softly smiled. “And the water listened.”

  Ava couldn’t believe it. She was a Healer. What would happen if the Cimmerians knew? “What would the Cimmerians do if they found out?”

  Aaron frowned and exchanged looks with Savina and Maggie. “They would want you even more. If Havok is anything like Corbin, you would be a prized possession of his.”

  The blood in Ava’s veins turned cold.

  “We won’t let that happen,” Savina promised.

  Ava nodded, but how could she trust a woman who kept so many important things from her?

  “There is something we’d like to ask you,” Savina said.

  “Gabriel, you are free to leave. But no more teleporting until we know it’s safe,” Aaron said.

  “Of course.”

  Ava’s heart dropped. She hadn’t meant for Gabriel’s power to be forbidden to use. And how would they get to New Orleans and back without anyone knowing? She locked eyes with him and then he left the parlor.

  Ava bit her lip. “What do you want to ask me?”

  Savina crossed the room and placed her thin hands on Ava’s shoulders. “Colden is very sick. His body will not respond to my healing. Perhaps it will to yours. Would you help us?”

  Her pulse quickened. What if it didn’t work? She wasn’t an expert. What if she ended up hurting him? “Sure.” Her hands shook as Savina led the way behind the curtain and down a hall. She opened a door and with her hand, made the candlelight brighter.