She took a deep breath.
Melissa squeezed her. “I promise we can do this.”
“Can’t we warn them?” Thomas asked. “Or explain to them what’s going on?”
“I can’t get you access to them,” Klaus said. “I know it’s a lot to ask of all of you. I’m well aware of that. But I’ve seen what you can do.”
“We want to take them down,” Melissa said. “It’s just we never thought we’d have to hurt the people we love.”
“I understand.” Klaus frowned.
Ava wiped her tears. It was time to be strong again. “We’ll be ready.”
CHAPTER SIX
CATCHING UP
The fire in Klaus’s room still crackled as everyone gathered around it. Watching the beautiful orange flames rise and fall reminded Ava of spending all those nights in the library with Gabriel. She missed those nights, and hoped one day they would have them again.
“So I’m a little confused about something,” Melissa said. “Why the hell are Peter and Katarina hugging and kissing each other?” Her face twisted in curiosity.
Ava couldn’t help but laugh, but when she glanced at Peter and Katarina, she felt a little guilty since they seemed embarrassed.
“Oh Ava and Peter broke up,” Gillian said.
Melissa’s jaw dropped. “What? When? How? Why?”
“Yeah, you’ve missed a lot.”
“I’ll say. What happened?”
Peter shifted. “I think we’re going to our rooms.” He got to his feet and helped Katarina to hers. Her blue hair still looking bright. Ava wondered if it was her real hair color since it was always that color.
“Be careful when you leave,” Klaus said. “If anyone spots you, tell them you got lost. And you two cannot walk together.”
Katarina nodded. “Thank you.”
When Peter turned to Katarina, gazing into her eyes, Ava looked away and choked back the tears. Her heart dropped to her stomach. Not because she wanted to kiss Peter, but because she wanted Gabriel to sweep her hair aside, and place a gentle kiss on her cheek. She wanted him to tell her he loved her. She hoped Peter and Katarina knew how lucky they were.
She cleared her throat, and when Peter and Katarina finished their kiss, they left.
“So what happened?” Melissa asked again. “You and Peter were like the epic love story of the century.”
“We just grew apart,” Ava said.
She raised an eyebrow, her green eyes clearly in disbelief. “Which translates to he started liking someone else.”
Ava lifted her shoulder. “It happens. He’s better off with Katarina.”
Melissa narrowed her eyes. “Strangely, I believe you. But your actions a minute ago beg to differ. So, what happened?”
She listened while Ava told her about the breakup. “It wasn’t easy getting over him, and Havok used that to his advantage.”
Melissa shook her head. “I can’t believe after all that, Peter just left you.”
“It’s okay.”
She studied Ava closely. “You went through a lot, and had your heart severely broken. How are you seriously okay with this?”
Ava let out a sigh. “Because I realized that Peter and I weren’t right for each other. I realized that there was…someone else that I loved.”
Melissa curled her lips in an all-too-knowing smile. “Oh? Who is the lucky man?”
“Gabriel.”
“I knew it. I told you, you’d fall in love with a hot Enchanter. I knew something was up with him. He always tried to hide it, but I could tell he was into you.”
Ava rolled her eyes. They got to act like teenage girls, if only for a second. But then reality settled in again. “I know he doesn’t understand why I willingly joined the Cimmerians, and I have to talk to him.”
“He understands more than you think,” Eric said. “He loves you, Ava. That’s something you can rely on and hold onto.”
Ava took a deep breath and held back the tears. “I wish I could see him. But I’m so glad to be here with you.” She turned to Melissa and glanced at Jeremy.
Jeremy squeezed Gillian close to his body and kissed her temple. She closed her eyes, and a complacent grin spread on her thick lips. “Us, too. It was so hard being away from you all. And being here. We didn’t know what to do. They brought us here as prisoners, hoping it would get you guys to come save us and then they’d take you all.”
Lance grabbed Melissa’s hand. “It was tough without you all. We spent months powerless, depressed, and with heartache.”
Melissa raised her eyebrows. “Powerless?”
“Sorcha put a sleep spell on us and left us without powers,” Ava said.
“Damn.”
“We went through hell to get here,” Lance told her, his dark eyes full of sadness. “They played with our minds at every chance they got. I had dreams of you convincing me to side with Havok. Gillian had the same dreams about Jeremy. Ava.” He shook his head. “Ilya morphed into Peter and Gabriel and fucked with her head. She fell into a coma and we saw what she went through.”
Ava shivered as her mind conjured up the images of her friends and herself burning at the stake. Eve pretending to be Melissa. Xavier ripping her arm from her socket and holding her against her will. She didn’t want to remember any of it. She clenched her teeth and her fists.
“Hey.” Melissa took her hand and forced it to unclench. “It’s okay now. They won’t play with your mind any longer. They’ll all pay for what they’ve done.”
Ava bit her lip to keep her chin from quivering. “I’ve missed you so much.”
Melissa drew her in for a hug. “I’ve missed you too. It’s been hard. We’ve been living the Cimmerian life for months. Hiding the truth from them. Acting like them. Pretending like we belong here and that the Elders were the ones who kidnapped us.”
“Months? When did you get here?”
“All we remember is being knocked out at the battle and then waking up here,” Jeremy said, his topaz eyes flashing with sadness.
“We were a little surprised you willingly joined,” Melissa said. “I wondered what you were up to, but you were so different. All of you. You showed no emotions, but neither did we. Who taught you to do that? We had Maggie and Kira.”
“Gabriel,” Ava said.
“Wow.” She shook her head. “I underestimated his strength.”
Eric scratched the back of his neck. “He used to be a Cimmerian.”
Melissa’s eyes bulged. “What?”
“He didn’t know any better. It wasn’t until I met him that he learned of the Elders.”
“So that’s what Havok was talking about when he saw Gabriel. Were he and Eve an item or something? I mean she was all over him.”
Ava couldn’t help the surge of jealousy that stirred inside. “No. But she loved him. Or still does.”
“What made you and Jeremy join?” Thomas asked. “Or did Havok send you to Klaus against your will?”
“We followed Maggie’s lead,” Jeremy answered. “We trusted her.”
“Is she faking all of it?” Ava asked. “She’s at Havok’s side like a shadow.”
“That’s her job now. She’s one of Havok’s guards.”
“Is she off-limits now?” Lance asked. “I mean, are we not allowed to talk to her?”
“You can’t get to her. She’s constantly at his side. He’s looking for more guards though.”
“What about Joss?” Eric asked. “Where is she?
Jeremy exchanged a hesitant look with Melissa.
“What?”
Ava stilled and watched Eric’s face twist in worry.
“What is it?” he asked again.
“She tried to attack a couple of Cimmerians,” Klaus finally said. “They still think she lost her memory, but they weren’t very easy on her. While practicing, they were relentless with her. They’ll be the same with you all. They won’t make friends with you. And they’ll make it hard on you.”
“Is she okay?”
“She’s being punished as if she was a prisoner. But she’s in solitary confinement. That’s what they do to those who are unruly. And they stick together so of course their story will be the same and Havok trusts them.”
A muscle in Eric’s jaw twitched. “So we’re supposed to just sit back and take it?”
“No, but you have to do things so they won’t think you’re attacking. She got upset and tried to electrocute two people.”
Eric smirked. “That’s my girl. When does she come out of confinement?”
“I’m not sure. Could be days.”
“What?” Ava’s jaw dropped. “This place is ridiculous. What about the prisoners? How long will they remain there?”
“I’m not sure,” Klaus said.
She buried her face in her hands, and then felt a hand on her shoulder.
“Don’t worry Ava,” Eric said. “He’ll be fine. He’s strong and he knows what it’s like here. He can handle this.”
“How can you be so confident?”
“Because I know him. I know Joss, too.”
“He thinks I betrayed him.”
“We’ll sort out the truth with them,” Eric told her. “We have to. I promise you that.”
“He hates me for what I’ve done. And withholding the truth. Now we have to torture them.”
Eric held Ava’s hands. His russet eyes stared into hers. “Once we explain it to him and everyone else, they will understand. He still loves you. You are everything to him, and he won’t give up on you so quickly.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
Gillian sighed. “This is going to be an even longer journey.”
Ava wasn’t sure how she would handle hurting Gabriel. Or any of them. Maybe she wouldn’t have to. Maybe she and the others could prove themselves in other ways. But knowing how sick and twisted Havok was, she doubted he would bypass punishing the prisoners. Ava would have to use the heart of stone and turn it all off. It was the only way.
CHAPTER SEVEN
STRANGERS
Thomas landed a punch on Donovan. Donovan collapsed to the floor with a hard thud. He didn’t move, and Thomas returned to his spot in the crowd, his lips curling into a cocky smile.
They’d been training, or beating the crap out of each other as Ava saw it, for two weeks. It got old because they all tried defeating the Elementals, but had no luck. The bullying stopped, but they still hated the Elementals.
Ava was bored, and each day she tried to figure out a way to kill Havok. Even if they killed him, they still had thousands of Cimmerians to fight. They had to bide their time, getting to know the Cimmerians so that maybe they could convince them to switch sides. A tall order, but Ava was ready for the challenge.
Xavier was her prime focus. And she already had him eating out of the palm of her hand.
“Havok is happy to see your strengths. Now, he wants to test your allegiance,” Xavier said, nudging Donovan with his boot. He rolled his eyes as Donovan still didn’t move. “We have prisoners.” As he spoke, the doors opened and people marched into the room in a single file line. “They kidnapped the Elementals and we are the ones to punish them.”
Anais rolled her eyes and shook her head. She knew what really happened. There were hundreds of Cimmerians watching Ava and the others agreeing to join Havok. They all knew the truth. Weren’t Havok and Xavier afraid someone would spill?
Once the prisoners came into the light, Ava recognized them. A woman with messy black hair, her face covered in cuts and a bruised eye, her hazel eyes glaring at Ava as she walked past. She had a swollen lip, and there was an intense anger in her stare. Behind her was Moira. She’d lost weight and her face was just as bloodstained as Natalia’s.
Then Ava met Gabriel’s crystal blue eyes. Instead of his sweet, caring gaze, he stared at her with such hatred. His fierce glare paralyzed her. The long gash across his cheek had left a scar. His beard and mustache had grown back. His now shoulder-length hair was disarrayed and he appeared skinnier. He had his beard and mustache back. His clothes were filthy, and as he passed her, she barely caught a whiff of juniper. It was so heavily masked with a mildew smell.
Nothing stirred inside Ava. She knew them and knew what they were to her, but her heart was a stone. She watched them enter with no emotion, like she’d never met them, and they meant nothing to her.
“We captured these Enchanters as they tried to attack us,” Xavier said. “Obviously, it was a lost cause. We torture them as prisoners.”
“How does this test our allegiance?” Thomas crossed his arms.
“I’m glad you asked. You all were friends with them at some point. They brainwashed you. They know you, so having you torment them will hopefully teach them a lesson. Also, Havok wants to be sure you’re on his side. Benjamin isn’t negating their powers so they can fight back.”
Ava noticed Xavier never mentioned that their minds had been erased so the prisoners presumed the Elementals willingly punished their friends. What a cruel game Havok played.
“So, who’s up first?”
“Me,” Ava said. She wanted to get it over with as fast as possible.
“Great.” He unbound Gabriel’s hands and pushed him forward to face Ava. Of course, Gabriel had to be the one she tortured.
They stood for a second, staring at each other, and she knew Xavier and everyone else watched their interaction. But Ava felt nothing. She pretended to be angry that the Enchanter who stood before her kidnapped her and attacked the Cimmerians.
She waited for him to make a move. She noticed a green glowing ankle bracelet. Maybe that was to prevent him from teleporting. But couldn’t he still stop time?
When he didn’t budge, she conjured water and shot it at him. But in a second he moved to her left and the water pelted Anais.
“You stupid bi—.”
“Shut up,” Xavier cut her off.
Okay, so Gabriel could teleport, just maybe not out of Caprington. Ava attempted to blast him again, but he’d stopped time and moved out of the fire line. She’d have to use her mental projection. She wondered why he didn’t stop time for a minute, but if they had the same interaction the last time he stopped time, she would be found out in a heartbeat. They had kissed, but then Cimmerians had pulled them apart. She couldn’t risk that again.
She twitched, making him think she was going to shoot water, but then imagined Gabriel under water. Rough waves crashed over him. She froze the water, blocking him under a thick sheet of ice.
Gabriel collapsed to his hands and knees, coughing up water. The veins in his neck swelled as if they would pop any second. Agony etched on his reddened face, and he clenched his hands into tight fists. His stomach heaved. He stared at Ava with the same icy stare as before. She knew she would feel the repercussions later, and the more she punished him, the less likely he would forgive her. But she couldn’t stop hurting him. She didn’t know why. It was almost as if she enjoyed torturing him.
“Enough,” Xavier said nonchalantly, and Ava stopped. He moved to Gabriel and gripped his shoulder. “Again,” he told Ava.
She envisioned Gabriel in the water, and he coughed it up, spilling onto the floor. He gasped for air, but he never begged her to stop.
Xavier held up his hand, and she stopped.
“Again,” Xavier demanded.
They went through the motions a few more times until Gabriel was flat on his stomach, his face pressed to the floor. His eyelids drooped, and she could have sworn she saw a lone tear fall down his cheek. But he never fought back.
“Get him up and take him back,” Xavier told a Cimmerian. The brawny man grabbed Gabriel by the shoulder and jerked him to his feet.
Ava went back to her spot, but gave Gabriel one last look before he left. The hate, despair, and confusion in those eyes would haunt her.
“Okay, who’s next?”
Thomas moved to the front and Xavier forced Moira to face him. Tears filled her brown eyes, and her chin quivered.
Ava wondered i
f Moira had had any more visions. And if so, what would they be? She didn’t want to watch what was about to take place. She had to look bored.
Xavier pushed Moira to her knees. “Go ahead,” he told Thomas. Was he using his shadow ability so the prisoners couldn’t see in order to fight back? She thought Xavier wanted the prisoners to fight back. Maybe he had changed his mind.
Thomas’s hands lit like hot coals, and then flames appeared. He flicked his wrist, and fire shot toward Moira. The flames latched onto her body, and she screamed.
Everyone looked at the scene in pure horror. Had they not seen anything like it? They killed people all the time. How could this shock them?
The fire enveloped Moira, and Ava knew that any minute she would die. But no one made a move. They all watched the flames consume Moira and heard her shrill screams shatter the silence in the room.
Within seconds, hushed voices turned into shouts, and soon they cheered for Thomas like he had just scored a touchdown. It sickened Ava. She couldn’t watch much longer.
She doused Moira, the water healing as much as it could, but most of her clothes had been singed to her skin, which was now charred and bleeding profusely. The flames had only gone as high as her shoulders, and the water had healed the skin on her neck and shoulders and little bits elsewhere.
Several people stared at Ava, including Xavier, with disbelief. Xavier clenched his jaw and crossed his arms. Apparently, they weren’t allowed to interfere.
“Sorry, I’m not a fan of smelling burning flesh,” Ava said and folded her arms.
“Touché,” Xavier said, and then turned to Thomas. “This time, just use your mind. Again.”
Thomas stared at Moira, and Ava saw his jaw twitch. He had to keep his emotions turned off.
Moira clutched her chest and screamed. Tears streamed down her face as Ava knew Thomas’s projected mental images and sensations of burning alive tore through Moira’s mind.
“You coward,” Moira said, her breaths labored. “I can’t believe you’d give up so quickly.”
Under an Onyx Sky (Elemental Enchanters Series Book 4) Page 5
