Under the Burning Stars

by Carrigan Richards

  “Anger solves nothing.”

  “Most of them hate me.”

  He shook his head. “No, dear. A little angry, but they won’t stay mad at you forever.”

  “It was stupid of me to even think about going. I just wanted to talk to her one last time and find out if she really did that.” Ava wanted to know more, but didn’t have much time with her mother.

  “Did you find the answers you were looking for?”

  “Some. I’m part Cimmerian and I have to give myself to Havok. But I won’t.”

  Colden sucked in a breath and grabbed his side.

  “Can’t I heal you?”

  After a few seconds, Colden relaxed. “No. You’ve already given me more than I could have ever imagined.”

  “Like what?”

  “Ava, I’ve been suffering for so long and I’m ready to die.”

  “What? No. You can’t be. Savina will be back soon with the cure.”

  “We didn’t want to tell anyone. But I am so glad that I got the chance to know you and see you grow into such a beautiful young woman. So strong, so proud.”

  Ava shook her head and her eyes watered. “No. Stop saying your goodbyes.”

  He took her hand. “Don’t cry. This is a good thing.”

  “No it isn’t. I can’t lose you. I’ve already lost so much.”

  “I won’t be suffering any longer. I want you to know that your mother loved you so much. I only knew her briefly, but she was fiercely protective of you. She died to protect you and your father.”

  “What? How do you know this? Why did she do it?”

  “Only Savina knows.”

  “She won’t tell me.”

  “She will.”

  “Will they banish me? I can’t do this without you.”

  “Yes, you can. And you will. No, they will not banish you, my dear. You did not worsen my situation. You healed me temporarily. The illness is much too strong and I have suffered from it for years. It is deteriorating my body and soul.”

  “If you’re ready to give up, then why did Savina leave us?”

  “I’m not giving up. I’m just ready. Savina is very stubborn and insistent in finding a cure. I tried to tell her to stay, but she refused.”

  “I don’t want to say goodbye, Colden.”

  “No one is ever ready for such things. You can never prepare enough. But just know that I love you very much and you have been like a daughter to me.”

  He clenched his eyes shut and ground his teeth. He clutched the sheets on the bed and Ava got to her feet. She didn’t know what to do. His body began thrashing violently. She fumbled to get the door open.

  “Natalia,” she cried and Natalia and Alena quickly went inside the room, leaving Ava outside.

  How could she possibly think about war when Colden was dying?

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  FAMILY

  Sleep was hopeless. Ava gave up on it, even though her body begged for more. She was tired of tossing and turning and listening to Peter’s snoring, but most of all, tired of feeling lost and confused. She was completely drained.

  Ava got out of bed and dressed. Then, she made her way downstairs. Kira sat at the dining room table, alone, with a coffee mug between her hands, and a book open on the table. Her thick white hair had been pulled back in a long braid.

  “Sorry. I didn’t realize anyone was down here,” she mumbled and turned to leave.

  “You’re welcome to join me.”

  Ava met her eyes. Why wasn’t she mad at her? She hesitantly pulled out the chair next to her and sat.

  “Can’t sleep?” Kira asked.

  “No.” She played with the bracelet that Peter had gotten her.

  “I don’t think anyone can.”

  How could they when one of their own was minutes from death? And of course, the war consumed everyone’s mind.

  “How are you?” Kira asked.

  “I’m fine.” She shifted uncomfortably in her chair. “Just trying to figure out things.”

  “Of course. I’m sorry your journey to seek the truth ended so terribly.” Her voice was light, almost like a whisper.

  “I wish Savina would have told me.”

  “She was probably protecting you. Or maybe your mother didn’t want you to know.”

  “That’s a little selfish. Did she not think Havok would return for me? Or all of us for that matter.”

  Ava heard someone sigh and she looked toward the entrance of the room. Alena gave a look of annoyance, but then her eyes softened.

  “She was a spy,” Alena said.

  “What?”

  “She was a spy for the Cimmerians. Savina never told us for sure, but it was obvious. She just came to us one day claiming her coven had been killed. No one knew who she was or where she came from or how she even knew to find us. She had been plotting and planning to take us all down and with one word, the Cimmerians would have killed us all.”

  “Didn’t anyone know she was a spy?”

  “A lot of people fell to her charm and fake innocence. Except me. I only met her a few times, but I saw right through her. Then something changed. She wanted to be like us and truly be one of us. I think this was when she met your father.” Alena nodded toward Ava.

  “So she decided to be good?” she asked.

  “Yes. She learned a lot from Savina and Aaron. She learned Savina’s story and realized she had been raised by Enchanters who were only out for revenge and who had hated Ephemerals. She never understood why she had hated Ephemerals because they had never done anything to her.”

  “Okay, so she met my father, had me, and then promised my soul to Havok. That doesn’t sound like she wanted to be good.”

  Alena heaved a heavy sigh and took a seat across from them. Her dark blue eyes looked tired. She rubbed her slightly aging hands together. “I don’t know what really happened. I know she loved you and your father more than anything.”

  Ava was tired of hearing that. How could her mother have loved her and still done what she did? Her mother had been a spy. Hadn’t Gabriel said something about that? Had he known? Or did he know of one that was among them? Was he the spy? She thought back to the way he looked at her or how terse he could be when training. The day he brought her back to the place her mother died. But he had warned her about the Necromancer. Perhaps her mind was running rampant again.

  A few people trickled into the room, grabbed coffee, and joined them at the table. The ambiance was somber like they were all waiting for the inevitable to happen: for Colden to pass. It was a sad thing to do, but they had no choice. No one was in the mood to train, at least not yet.

  Sometimes, someone would say something that garnered a couple of chuckles, or nods of the head. They refilled their coffee mugs several times. Some stretched and yawned. Peter had come down and kissed Ava’s temple. She slid over a little, so they could both share the seat. He took her hand in his and intertwined their fingers.

  She looked around at them. Joss and Eric shared a private moment. Thomas stared off, lost in his own thoughts. Melissa sleepily curled up in Lance’s lap. Gillian absent-mindedly twirled her hair around her finger. Gabriel occasionally met her eyes. Link and Nicole held a quiet conversation and Ava could tell romance was budding between them.

  None of them glared at Ava. None of them told her how ashamed they were of her. They sat at the same table as her. As a family. She couldn’t betray them again. This was her home. They made it a home. They protected her. Loved her. Cared for her. And never left her side, even when they were at odds. She didn’t deserve them, but if she wasn’t banished, she would do everything in her power to be a better person.

  “Guess we better start training,” Link said, and then got to his feet. Others agreed and began to move around.

  Melissa yawned and squeezed Ava’s shoulder. “You coming?”

  “Yeah, in a few.” She wanted to check on Colden.

  “Okay. See you out there.”

  Peter gave her a small s
mile and then left with the rest of the group.

  Ava had no idea how long they had sat around the table, but when she finally stood, she had to stretch out her stiff body. She waited until Natalia left and then walked inside the room and closed the door.

  She sat in the chair next to Colden’s bed, and took his hand. Tears lodged in her throat. He’d protected her all these years and now was dying. She wasn’t ready or willing to say goodbye to someone else that she cared about, but at least she had the opportunity. And the intense guilt that radiated inside her never went away.

  He stirred and opened his eyes. “Ava.” He smiled warmly, as he had every time she came to see him. She still didn’t understand how he could be so friendly toward her. But she was grateful.

  “Hi. How are you feeling?”

  “I am quite rested.”

  She met his eyes, but something about them was off. They seemed cold and distant.

  “Have you said your goodbyes?”

  “What?” she asked.

  “We have such a long journey.”

  Oh no. He’s hallucinating now. Should I play along? She closed her eyes and a couple of tears rolled down her cheeks. She opened them and took his hand in hers. “A journey to where?”

  An ominous grin stretched on his lips. “Caprington.”

  Ava held her breath and stiffened. “What?”

  “You’ll soon find out.”

  She quickly withdrew her hand as he pushed the blankets aside and planted his feet on the floor.

  As she stood, the chair fell on its back. “Colden, should you be getting up?”

  He smirked. “I think you will find Caprington a beautiful place. Filled with powerful Enchanters and no Ephemerals.” He towered over her, his eyes cold and calculating. He touched her chin and she shivered from his icy look.

  “Why are you saying this?”

  “Enchanters will rule again, Ava. You, Thomas, and Gillian fell right into my plans. The others have tougher minds than I gave them credit.”

  “You convinced us to kill those people?”

  “In a sense. I have strong Enchanters who will do anything. I didn’t even need them to fuel the Ephemerals’ hatred for you all. I had Thomas kill his father for the utter betrayal. He was such a coward. I had Gillian make Trent kill those people. And you killed the two Ephemerals. Now, you are all ready to join me.”

  “Join you? What are you talking about?”

  “I think you know. You were so valuable to my recovery.”

  Ava froze. She knew exactly what he meant. It was him all along. The Enchanter who needed Elemental powers to make him powerful. “Colden? It was you?”

  “Colden is dead, my dear.”

  “The Necromancer. Did he pass a spirit into you through me? Colden, are you in there? Please answer me.”

  A muscle in his jaw twitched. “I said Colden is dead. I am finally free. My soul now controls him, not some weak spirit. Colden was always so pathetic and yet, tried to kill me. But I prevailed. With your help, of course.”

  Ava shook her head. “No. How could I have passed a spirit into you? Who are you?”

  He held a deadly grin. “No spirits passed through. They possessed you so you could release my soul. I’ve been trapped inside for years. You may know me as Corbin, but this is a new reign. A new time. You may now call me Havok.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  KILL OR BE KILLED

  Ava backed up until she felt the door and tightly grasped the doorknob. She had to get out of there fast. She didn’t understand what he said. Had Corbin come back from the dead? Had she released Corbin’s soul from inside Colden?

  He stepped closer and raised his hand out toward her. She felt a familiar tug – the same one she felt when she had healed Colden and couldn’t let go. Or when she was face-to-face with Devon Maunsell.

  Ava kicked him and he doubled over. She twisted the knob, spun around, and then bolted from the room, frantically trying to find another person. Where was Natalia? Or Alena? The Manor was oddly silent.

  Her body shook. She couldn’t escape fast enough. Colden was Corbin who was Havok. It didn’t make sense.

  Ava charged past the library and kitchen looking behind her to see if Havok followed her. She collided with something hard.

  She looked up. It was a man with dirty blond hair and blue eyes. He had a scar on his cheek and a wicked grin.

  “Hello, Ava,” he said. “Ready for Caprington?”

  The man held her in place and she struggled against him but it was no use. She tried using her powers but nothing happened. “Let me go,” she screamed.

  “I’m afraid I can’t. And there’s no use in trying your powers.”

  She punched him hard in the stomach and he let out a groan, but then laughed. She hit him again and then he grabbed her hands. Something hit the man on the back of the head and he crashed to the floor. Ava looked up and gave a sigh of relief.

  “Peter.”

  He seized her hand. “They’re everywhere, Ava. They’ve started the war”

  She wondered why Havok hadn’t chased her, but she let Peter lead the way. He pulled her outside the front door away from the Manor. Screams and shouts sounded in the night. She halted and looked behind her. There was smoke and flashes of light coming from far beyond the Manor.

  “Peter, where are we going?”

  He tugged on her arm. “They’ve come for you. I have to get you out of here and save you.”

  “We have to go fight,” she yelled and twisted out of his grasp.

  “Ava,” he yelled. “No.”

  She ran and curled her fingers into fists, water circulating around her arms, ready for an attack. Adrenaline pumped through her veins. She ran past the protection on the Manor and finally came upon the field.

  She came to a stop and her breath hitched. Hundreds of Cimmerians were attacking.

  Thomas shot fireballs from his hands at random Cimmerians. Joss electrocuted them. Kira let venom seep into her victims, and in the distance, she heard Melissa laugh, as if they were on some playground. Several tornadoes formed and ripped trees from their roots. Jeremy forced the trees to fall onto Cimmerians releasing a shudder as they crashed to the ground. Lance fought with a man that seemed to shoot some sort of red lasers from his fists. A heavy stench of sulfur filled the sky and the high-pitched sounds emanating from Natalia did not bother Ava, probably since they weren’t projecting toward her.

  Someone screamed.

  “Ilya!” Alena cried.

  Ava jerked her head in their direction. Ilya had fallen to his knees and held his stomach. She took a step toward him, but someone pushed her to the ground.

  “Ava,” Gabriel yelled.

  She heard a sickening crunch, turned her head, and inhaled a sharp breath. Peter stood over a young black haired woman inches from her, dead. Gabriel had pushed her out of the way of her attacker while Peter killed the woman.

  “Get her out of here,” Gabriel demanded.

  “I have as much right to be here,” she yelled

  Lightning struck and Ava quickly moved from its path. She looked up, seeing a white-haired woman charging toward her. She raised her hands once more and Ava waited for the lightning. Just as the sparks left the woman’s hands, Ava filled hers with water and shot it at her. The woman convulsed before crumpling to the ground. Ava had no time to bemoan the loss and moved to the next Enchanter.

  A man with arms that extended into two large vipers nicked Ava’s arm. She could feel light venom burning its way down her arm. He struck again, but she ducked and then kicked the man in the stomach. He bent over but one of the snake arms wrapped around her neck, constricting her. She clawed and grabbed at the scaly arm, while trying to fight off the other arm that bit her repeatedly. She envisioned the man and his snakes under cold water with an icy layer on top to prevent his escape. The man choked and the snake loosened its grip around her neck. His brown eyes bulged as he stumbled back, grabbing his throat. Then, with a thud, he and his
snake arms died on the ground.

  Blood dripped from each of the puncture wounds on her swelling arm as she tried to catch her breath. Her arm began to feel numb. She fell forward onto her knees. Her arm burned, just like when Thomas burned her, but this time there was no fire. She closed her eyes and then saw her father writhing in pain. Snakes crawled all over him; biting him as he screamed. Ava opened her eyes and Trudy stood over her.

  “Well, well, well. So we meet again.” Trudy smiled and placed her hands on her hips.

  Ava weakly stood, as the burning venom rapidly spread, numbing her. Water rushed around her other arm and she lifted it to shoot the water at Trudy. Trudy took a step back and missed the weak water. Ava quickly imagined Trudy under the powerful waves pushing her up and down through the water. Trudy coughed. She grabbed at her throat as her eyes bulged. Her face reddened and Ava watched the veins pop out of her neck. She refused to let go.

  Then, Trudy finally fell over, dead.

  Her vision blurred. Her heart raced and she was dizzy. She didn’t know why she couldn’t heal herself. Just as she took a step, she felt arms wrapped around her from behind. She faintly struggled against the mysterious arms but it was no use.

  “This won’t hurt at all,” the man whispered in her ear. She knew the voice. “We’re here to take you home. Meanwhile, enjoy this token of our appreciation.” Xavier.

  A woman with red hair that was coiled up in a bun came up to Ava and struck her head with what felt like a tree branch. She felt a slight trickle down the side of her face. Ava blinked, trying to focus, but everything swirled.

  The woman laughed heartily. “Havok will be pleased.”

  Xavier released Ava and she collided harshly against the ground. She tried imagining them drowning, but nothing happened.

  Ava’s eyes were heavy while the rest of her body felt as if she had taken a muscle relaxant. She forced her eyes open and watched several of her friends and acquaintances collapse to the ground. She grabbed at a patch of dirt and grass and strived to pull herself up, only to be immobile. Dazed, she saw a figure carrying a body into the woods on the others side. The last thing Ava saw was the thick blond hair dangling toward the ground from a limp body in the figure’s arms.