There were smears of blood, sweat, water everywhere. They were exhausted, and Ava hated this type of training. It was brutal, relentless, and unforgiving. She guessed it was hard for them to be friends if they had to beat each other up on a daily or weekly basis. She knew that even though they were Elementals, the Cimmerians were a lot stronger and had the stamina to last a long time in a battle. Ava and the others would have to learn their way of training and fighting if they were ever going to conquer the Cimmerians.
What would they do if Xavier pitted Ava’s coven against each other? They would have to fight no matter what. She didn’t know what all they would have to do in order to prove their allegiance. But they had to stick to their charade with complete dedication until the end.
CHAPTER FIVE
THE CIMMERIAN LIFE
Training lasted all day, and when it was over, Ava wanted to leave and go to her room and not come out for the rest of the night, or go to Klaus’s. She didn’t know how to tell the others to meet at Klaus’s room. She wanted to speak to them and let them know how much she had missed them. And she needed to find Gabriel and the others. She hadn’t seen him since she joined Havok’s side, and he had been taken away to a cell.
Even though Ava hid it well, her heart ached for Gabriel. She longed to hear his voice, his laugh, his whispered confessions of love. She yearned to sit in the library with him and read. Or feel his arms around her. His lips…
Ava drew a shaky breath. She didn’t even know where Gabriel and the others were. Or if they were okay. She had to save them no matter what.
Xavier had instructed them to change and wash up for dinner. Ava made her way back to her room, and headed for the shower. She had welts and cuts all over her and as she looked in the mirror, she almost flinched from the ungodly sight. Maybe the shower would take away all the wounds. At least the visible ones.
After her shower, Ava wiped the steam from the mirror. She looked a little better. She would have to get some make up to cover her baggy eyes. She dressed in the only pair of jeans that was in the dresser and pulled a tank top over her head. Havok wasn’t as giving as Savina had been with the wardrobe.
Ava shook her head. How was she even going to get clothes for herself? Did she have to get a job or something? She was okay with it, if she had to. At least it would be some sort of distraction from her new life.
When she made it to the dining hall, she found her friends at one of the five elongated tables with plenty of food in between the people. Several simple chandeliers hung above the brown tables. The glass ceiling, like the other main halls, was ridiculously high. Wooden beams laid out beneath the panes muffling the chatter. Ava felt like she was in some private school or something. The only things missing were the plaid uniforms.
She sat down next to Link and across from Melissa. As she looked around the room, she saw that the Cimmerians were laughing and cutting up, just as they should. They were mostly young, around Ava’s age or a little older. They seemed happy to be there. It was completely different than what she had just seen in the training hole.
“Try this,” Melissa said as she scooped some sort of cheesy casserole onto Ava’s plate.
“Oh, the bread is amazing, too.” Gillian broke off a piece and handed it to Ava. “I’ve missed it so much.”
She looked at her friends who enthusiastically devoured their food with pleasurable moans and groans. They talked about how great it was to be home and how much they had missed it. Some of the nearby Cimmerians smiled and even told them it was good having them back.
Was everyone delusional or was Ava? Was she the only one whose mind hadn’t been altered? She remembered everything. Even the cloudy memory of seeing Klaus a few nights before. Was it all an act or real? Either way, she had to suck it up and act like she was happy.
She looked down and saw that her plate was full of different types of food. Turkey with a shiny, cooked skin. A warm casserole. Long green beans. And some sort of crusted pastry. “Looks delicious.”
Link elbowed her and leaned in. “The pastry is like a shepherd’s pie with an awesome gravy. You’ll like it.”
Ava gave a warm smile and ate in silence. She couldn’t deny the succulent flavor of the food, and it felt so good to eat a whole meal again. The turkey was juicy. The casserole was cheesy and savory. And the shepherd’s pie was rich, but hit the spot. She couldn’t believe how much she ate.
“Everyone’s going to the tavern and getting blitzed,” Xavier said, plopping down in the chair next to Ava. “You wanna come?”
She turned to him with the most genuine smile she could muster. “That’s so sweet of you to ask. I’d love to go.” If she had to pretend to be a Cimmerian, she had to fully commit as it seemed her friends already had.
“Great. Will you all be joining?”
“Absolutely,” Thomas said.
The Tavern was just an updated version of the ones from the middle ages. It reminded Ava of the Lighthollow Village, which was now destroyed because of the Cimmerians, where Ilya revealed himself to be Havok’s spy. He had morphed into Peter and made Ava believe he had made a mistake in breaking up with her. He had also pretended to be Jeremy and taunted Gillian. Then he had shifted to look like Gabriel.
Ava shook her head. No more thoughts of the past.
She followed Xavier into the bar that was really more like a concert hall. An antique chandelier hung above them and a crazy colorful pattern was painted on the walls. A live band played and some people danced while others stood around mingling and drinking. Hardly anyone looked old enough to drink, but Ava guessed Cimmerians didn’t follow any sort of law. They owned this place. And Enchanters aged slowly.
“Would you like a drink?” Xavier asked her. Why was he being so nice to her? Was he testing her?
“Sure. Um, I’m not sure what though.”
“Oh. I got this.” He smiled, and then headed for the bar.
She regretted accepting his offer. He could easily slip something in her drink.
“You know, you’ve got him eating out of the palm of your hand, right?” Melissa asked.
“Yep.”
“We don’t have to stay long. I can give him this.” Jeremy flashed a small vile from his pocket.
Gillian furrowed her eyebrows. “What is that?”
“Just makes you pass out. He’ll think he’s drunk,” he said with a sly smile.
“Can we talk?” Her blue eyes pleaded.
“It’s not safe here,” Melissa said, but Ava’s heart pounded. It was all an act.
They pushed their way toward a table. They found an empty one with half full glasses and dirty plates. A woman came by and cleaned it off without saying a word. Ava watched the band perform. The lead singer was a woman with black hair and a streak of blond in the front. She wore a black leather miniskirt with matching knee boots. Her tank top looked too big and one of the straps fell off her shoulder. She grabbed the mic with both hands and commanded the audience with her raspy scream. And then she played a note on her guitar and thrashed around on stage with the bass player.
Xavier returned with a pitcher of a dark liquid with cream colored foam at the top. “This is the best ale. It’s brewed here.”
“Sounds good,” Ava shouted over the music.
Xavier poured them all a glass and handed them each a glass including himself.
Ava waited until he took a sip, and then they all took a sip. It was bitter and even though Ava didn’t like the flavor, she smiled at Xavier. “It’s really good.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
“So is this what happens on…what day is it?” Ava asked.
“Friday. And yeah if there’s a band.”
“What happened for us to have been taken from here?” She wanted to know what lies Xavier would conjure.
He hesitated. She liked seeing him squirm. “It was just…they came into Caprington and stole you.” He never met Ava’s eyes. He stared at his beer and took a sip. Classic signs of lying. “Wanna d
ance?” he asked her.
She glanced at Melissa who threw her an encouraging look. “Sure.”
Xavier got to his feet, and held out his hand for her. For a second she imagined Gabriel offering his hand. She took it and hated the way it felt in hers. It was cold and clammy and bony.
Xavier pulled her to him and she spun into him. She hated being so close to him, but it got easier as they joined the rest of the crowd, and weren’t touching each other. He surprised her with his talent for dancing. She had to keep reminding herself it was the same Xavier who had tortured her. Had burned her house to the ground. Pulled her arm from its socket when she was in a coma. Had forced her to pass out in school and left her lying on the ground.
He acted so different now though, and she didn’t know why. No matter what, she still knew who he was.
The song ended and everyone clapped and cheered. Ava couldn’t remember the last time she had seen a live band. But it enlivened her. The energetic crowd screamed as the band started another song. The atmosphere buzzed around her and it was almost like a high. It was hot and crowded, but freeing. She screamed along with everyone else and started dancing again, feeling Xavier’s eyes on hers.
“They brainwashed you into thinking we were evil,” he shouted.
She stopped and looked at him. “They did? Where are they now?”
“Savina and Colden are dead. The rest are being tortured.”
“Tortured how?” She couldn’t stop her throat from closing.
He took her by the hand, and pulled her to him. “You’ll find out,” he said into her ear. She shivered at the eerie way he said it. He spun her in, and then out again. His weren’t the typical dance moves for the rock music that played.
“So were we a couple? I’m sorry, but I really don’t remember any of that.”
He pulled her against his body, and his dark eyes held nothing but lust. She wanted to rip his eyes out, but he assumed she liked the way he looked at her. She wasn’t sure how much longer she could keep up the charade. But she would do whatever it took to save them. So she stared back.
“No. We were never a couple.” Well, at least he didn’t lie about that. “But I have always liked you.” She saw the sincerity in his eyes, but she felt nothing. Even with her emotions on she wouldn’t have felt anything for the monster. Maybe she could use it to her advantage.
“Why weren’t we a couple?”
“You were taken at a young age. You’ve been gone for over ten years.”
Every time he lied, he never met her eyes. She couldn’t tell what happened for him to go soft on her though. He was still the same old Xavier earlier that morning.
“Did you miss me?”
He nodded. “Yes. Very much so.”
“Why didn’t you come for me?” She wanted to catch him in a lie. Trip him up and make him tell her the truth. But he always took his time answering her questions.
Xavier frowned. “I did. Several times. But you were convinced to hate me.” That time he didn’t look away from her.
The song ended. She continued staring at him, but then cleared her throat. “I need something to drink.”
They returned to the table and drank some more. Xavier chugged his beer and poured another. A few minutes later, his eyelids began drooping and he had a hard time sitting upright.
Jeremy caught him before his head smashed into the table. “Well, let’s get this one to bed.”
Ava hoped it didn’t look suspicious that all of the Elementals carried an unconscious Xavier through town and inside the castle. But not many people were out. Maybe they spent their time in the city.
When they reached his room, Jeremy dropped him on his bed.
“You should give him a goodnight kiss,” Melissa joked.
Ava rolled her eyes, but smiled. She had missed her friend. “Come with me,” she whispered.
She led the way to Klaus’s room, and they followed her in silence. She reached the door and softly tapped on it. He opened it slightly, and then opened it more, allowing them to enter.
“Is it safe to talk yet?” Gillian asked, wrapping a black curl around her finger. Ava still couldn’t get used to the long length of her hair.
“Follow me,” he said. He led them into another room and down a few stairs. It was warm with a fireplace in the corner and a few deep plush chairs. There were no lights, only candles all around on the mantle and on a writing table. The walls were made from old stone. A secret room.
Once they had entered, Klaus shut the door. Ava relaxed. Melissa and Lance embraced in a teary reunion as did Gillian and Jeremy, and Katarina and Peter.
“Fantastic,” Ava said.
Melissa grabbed her arm and pulled her into a tight hug. “I missed you so much.”
“Me too.” When Melissa let go, she hugged Gillian, and then Thomas. Jeremy hugged Ava the only way he always did. Quietly. But it was an understood silence. She was relieved knowing he and Melissa were the same people she had known all of her life.
After they united, the couples went back to canoodling.
Ava, Thomas, and Eric moved closer to Klaus who took a seat beside the table. They dropped down in chairs next to him.
“How was your first week?” Klaus asked. “Did anyone suspect?”
“No. Xavier has developed quite a crush on me though.”
“Yes. He’d asked me to tamper with your mind. I told him it didn’t work like that. Free will and all.”
“Why are you helping us?”
“For my freedom.”
“You’re a prisoner?” Ava asked.
“In a sense.”
“What do you mean?”
Klaus frowned a little like a man who had lost everything. His eyes looked weary and he moved like an older person. The Cimmerian life had definitely taken its toll on him. His hands were wrinkled, but he seemed much too young to be carrying himself in such a way. Ava could see the sadness in his eyes. “My home was attacked. Havok found me, and they knew I was an Enchanter. In exchange for my lifelong servitude, he spared my family.”
“Why didn’t he bring them with you?”
He smiled wistfully. “They are Ephemerals.”
Ava hesitated. “So how do you—.”
“Know if they’re alive?”
She nodded.
“I have ways.” He reached into a desk drawer and pulled out a gold, marble bowl. “It’s a Scrying Bowl. You can see anyone you want. Loved ones, alive or dead. I’ve seen my girls grow into beautiful young women. My wife never moved on. She still grieves though. I told her to move on without me, but she hoped I would be able to end it. I haven’t been able to until I heard about you all.”
“So can anyone see their loved ones?” Thomas asked.
“Yes. You have to concentrate on them.” Klaus handed him the bowl and Thomas stared into it. A few minutes later, his eyes watered and then he gave it to Ava. She took it and looked inside the bowl. There was water in it, but she didn’t know where it had come from. She focused on her father, and slowly, an image appeared of him. He was sitting on the couch looking at the picture of Ava, her mom, and him. The one he’d given her for Christmas. Ava closed her eyes tight, and then she peered into the water once more. She saw Gabriel, alone in the darkness. His crystal blue eyes were open, but looked lost. Her chest tightened and her heart dropped to the pit of her stomach. She handed the bowl to Eric, but he waved his hand.
“I can’t handle that,” he said.
Ava gave the Scrying Bowl to Klaus. “Where are they keeping the rest of our group?”
“You can’t go near them,” Klaus quickly said.
Thomas bounced his leg. “Why? We have to save them.”
“I understand you want to save them, trust me I do. But you must act as though you don’t know them.”
He stood up and began pacing in front of the fireplace. “We can’t even see how they are? Just through this ball?”
“I’m sorry. It’s all I can do right now. But rest assured, they
have not been tortured. Yet.” He hesitated.
“What?” Ava asked.
“Havok may use them for you to torture.”
“Wait.” Melissa appeared next to Ava. “He’s going to make us torment them?”
Klaus slightly nodded, and Ava gasped.
Thomas pulled at his hair and cursed.
Katarina looked worried and her brown eyes brimmed with tears.
Lance sighed and took a seat. Dread settled in his dark eyes, and he smoothed over his short hair. Back and forth.
“Why would he make us do that?” Peter asked.
“He is punishing them for not joining his army, and for being a part of the Elders’ side,” Klaus replied.
“But we were a part of that same side!” Eric shook his head.
“You joined. And the Elementals, well, we all know he wanted them.”
“I can’t do it,” Ava said. “I can’t hurt any of them. Or torture them.” Tears pooled in her eyes as her breaths came out in short gasps. Her heart lodged itself in her throat, and she felt sick to her stomach. She cradled her head in her hands, and shut her eyes tight. She hated seeing a glimpse of Gabriel sitting in the cell. Alone. Lost. Angry. He deserved better than that. But she had done that to him.
She felt arms around her. “Ava, it’s going to be okay,” Melissa said. “You know how to turn it off. I saw you today. You were brilliant.”
“No, I can’t.” She shook her head. “I can’t do this.”
“It’s only temporary.” The way she said it angered and hurt Ava, like it was no big deal. But she knew Melissa didn’t mean it that way.
“Would you be able to torture Lance?”
Melissa looked away.
“I didn’t think so.”
“If you want to succeed over Havok, you’ll have to do things you don’t want to do,” Klaus said. “I understand if you don’t want to do them, but I had just hoped you all could end this.” He frowned, looking off in the distance. Ava guessed he was thinking about his loved ones.
Guilt landed on Ava. It was why she agreed to join the Cimmerians. This was something she had to do, whether she wanted to or not. She was undercover. She had to do whatever it took to get the job done.
Under an Onyx Sky (Elemental Enchanters Series Book 4) Page 4
