“Why are you going?” Eve asked, tousling her black hair aside. “That’s Gabe’s job now.”
Xavier shrugged. “Just for fun. Besides it would be good for them to learn.”
“We could go and show them how it’s done.” Eve gave a wicked grin.
“Shouldn’t be too hard,” Ava said. “It will be hard to keep them alive, though.” She could feel everyone staring at her, but she didn’t care. The waitress brought her food out, and as she ate, Xavier constantly observed her like she was on display.
“Why do you keep staring at me?”
He opened his mouth, and then shook his head. “Nothing.”
“So do we get to experience Gabriel’s wonderful ability tonight?” Ava asked, leaning back in her chair and crossing her arms.
“I’m powerless for the time being,” he said.
“What good are you then?”
Eve narrowed her eyes. “More good than you.”
“I doubt that. He’s weak. What’s the point of ending his punishment if he has no powers? Didn’t he betray us?”
“He’s already paid his debt,” Eve said through clenched teeth.
“Has he? He left you. He left all of us. For what?” She stared at Gabriel. He didn’t deserve to be a Cimmerian. He deserved to drown like the rest of them. Drowning in a deep ocean with violent waves pounding him. Suffocating him.
Gabriel grabbed his chest, gasping for air. He coughed, spitting water across the table.
Ava focused on the throbbing vein in his neck, wanting to see it burst open. Then, she saw darkness, and felt someone shaking her. When the darkness receded, the five of them stared at her, mouths gaping open and eyes wide.
“What?”
“What the hell are you doing?” Xavier asked.
“Just having a little fun is all.”
She took a sip of her water, watching Gabriel find his breath and Eve comforting him. It was a sickening sight, but if they said he had paid for his betrayal, who was she to judge.
***
Night had fallen, and at eight o’clock, Ava joined Xavier, Gabriel, Eve, Link, and Nicole in the training chamber. Somehow, Xavier had convinced Havok that the army should find Ephemerals to bring back to Caprington to make them into Enchanters. Ava guessed that was why Havok assigned Gabriel to recruit, like he had before. Ava wondered how many people Havok thought he needed in his army. It was already enormous. What was he so afraid of? The Elders were dead for the most part. No one was coming for them, except a few spies such as herself. Havok seemed to grow more and more paranoid. She guessed three-hundred years of warring would do that to someone. Except Savina. She had been way too passive about a lot of things.
Xavier had a mischievous grin plastered on his face. “Okay, some things to pay attention to. The recruits have to be strong. If they are cautious of you, that’s a good thing. If they are too eager to talk to you, not a good candidate. If they appear angry or sad, go for it. Be friendly to them. Get to know them. Any questions?”
“What do we do when we’ve found one?” Nicole asked. It surprised Ava that Link and Nicole of all people came to recruit. She wondered how well they would do.
“Get them alone and knock them out. Do not kill them. It’s best if you choose someone of the opposite sex because then you can flirt with them. Makes it more fun that way.”
“Let’s go.” Ava urged.
Xavier led the way turning and twisting through the tunnels. Ava was very aware of the close proximity with Gabriel. Even with their emotions turned off, the tension between them was thick. But she had to ignore it. He was with Eve now.
When Xavier opened the door, they walked out onto a street across from a university. The air was thick, but cool. A light warm breeze moved through Ava’s hair. It smelled like sage and fast food.
Palm trees lined the street with oddly shaped houses in the neighborhood. Some looked like they were split leveled, and others were too pointy or too modern. Most were made of stucco and were either gray or white with large fraternity or sorority signs on the front. The ridiculously large houses were too posh for college students. Especially Ephemerals. Rich spoiled kids. Like they deserved such luxuries.
“Where are we?” Nicole asked.
Xavier shrugged. “Some university. Come on. I’m sure we can find a frat party somewhere.”
As they walked down the street, it became obvious where there was a party by the loud music thumping from one of the houses. Girls in string bikinis and yellow shirts were running around on the front lawn through a sprinkler in drunken circles. They kept falling on each other, laughing and squealing. The high-pitched noises grated Ava’s nerves.
They entered the two-story house that was seemingly open to the public. Ava looked around, trying to find someone. She didn’t want to recruit. She wanted to kill them all. They didn’t deserve to live. They didn’t appreciate what they had. They never realized the Elders were trying to protect them this whole time. They didn’t care. They wanted all of the Enchanters to die.
She saw a boy with a shaved head sitting low on the couch alone with a beer. He was tall and a little chubby. Maybe he was a football player. He was staring off into space. She crossed the room toward him and sat next to him.
“How’s it going?” she asked.
He shrugged, and tipped his red cup up, draining the last of its remnants. He got up and walked into the kitchen.
A challenge, she thought. She was up for it. She followed him and met him at the fridge where he pulled out another beer. She leaned on the door.
“Are you following me?” he asked.
“Maybe.”
“What do you want?”
“Just looking for a friend.”
“Well, I really don’t feel like talking to you.” He moved to pass her, but she blocked him.
“Why?” She stared up at him, giving him the most angelic look she could conjure.
He furrowed his eyebrows. “What the hell is your problem? Don’t you know when to leave someone alone?”
“Yeah, but I don’t feel like leaving you alone. You looked like you needed someone to talk to.”
“What are you? A self-help guru?”
She laughed. “Hardly. More like the opposite.” She moved closer. He smelled like a strong cheap cologne. “But I can help make you forget anything you want.”
He smirked. “How are you gonna do that? Even if you give me the best night of my life, I’m gonna remember the next day.”
She stared into his eyes. “Trust me. I’ll make you forget forever.”
His face relaxed, but he still looked at her cautiously. Bingo. She took his hand and led him out of the kitchen, through the main room, and outside.
“Where are we going?” he asked.
She turned to him. “You’ll make a great soldier.”
His face twisted into confusion. “What the hell are you talking about?”
She drew her fist back and punched him in the face. His eyes rolled to the back of his head, and he collapsed on the lawn. She picked up his foot and dragged him toward the tunnel door where she waited on the others.
Ava only waited a couple of hours before the others showed up with their recruits. “What took you so long?” she asked.
Xavier raised a curious eyebrow. “How long have you been sitting here?”
“For a while. He was easy.”
He shook his head. “Guess you’re good at this. He looks like he’ll be good.”
“That’s what I said.”
“Did you carry him?”
“No, I dragged him.”
“That explains the scrapes on his face,” Nicole said.
“Let’s go.” Xavier opened the door, and they followed him back through the tunnels. Ava hoisted the body over her shoulder, and once they returned, Xavier instructed them to leave their recruits in a cell.
“That was fun,” Eve said.
“Tavern tonight?”
She clung onto Gabriel like he was her pet
. “Nah, I think we’re gonna go back to the room.”
“Yeah, we’re pretty tired, too,” Link said about him and Nicole.
“I’m game,” Ava said. She could use another night to party.
“Let’s go,” Xavier said, and they walked out of the basement.
As they walked up the stairs and down the corridor toward the entrance of the castle, Xavier turned to her. “Would you mind if I change shirts?”
“No.”
“Thanks.”
They walked up another flight of stairs in silence. She wasn’t sure why she didn’t just have him meet her at the tavern, but part of her wanted to know what Xavier Holstone’s room looked like.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Yeah, why?”
“I just wanted to make sure. You did good back there.”
“It wasn’t hard.”
“Havok will be proud.”
“Good. I could’ve done more. I could’ve killed them all.”
“I know, but we were just recruiting.”
They reached his room, and he let her in first. She crossed the threshold and looked around. It was identical to hers and wasn’t decorated at all.
“Either you never spend time in here or you hate decorating.”
He smirked.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“I hate it when you do that.”
“Sorry.” He went to his dresser, pulled out a blue shirt, and then removed his black shirt. His back was smooth and when he turned around, Ava caught a glimpse of his chest. He had light blond hairs in the middle of his chest that trailed down to his flat stomach.
She looked away until he was finished. “You have a lot of secrets.”
He frowned and he looked genuinely sorry. “I know.”
“It’s okay. Everyone does.”
“I’m sure mine are very different.”
Ava leaned against the dresser next to him. “There is something I wanna know. And I hope you can tell me.”
“I can try.”
“How did my parents die? I don’t remember. You mentioned before that Ephemerals killed them. How?”
His face grew dark and he swallowed. He crossed his arms in front of his chest and stared at the floor. “Your mom ran away and got married. When they didn’t come back, they were killed by…” He hesitated, biting his lip.
“Killed by Ephemerals?”
He let out a sigh, and met her eyes, giving her a knowing look.
“Havok?”
“Let’s go to the tavern.” He took a step toward the door, but Ava seized his arm. “Please tell me what happened.” She had to act like she wanted to trust him. They were on the same side.
His face fell. “Sometimes, when someone betrays Havok, he has them killed. Your mom acted as a spy to the Elders, but fell in love with an Ephemeral.”
The word sent Ava’s blood boiling. The rage set in again, and she wanted to find some and kill them. Her powers throbbed beneath her skin. Water trickled down her arms, dripping onto the floor.
“Hey,” Xavier said, grasping her arm. The water stopped immediately. “Calm down.”
“I hate them. He got her killed, didn’t he?”
“She was supposed to come back with you, but they never returned. So they were killed and the Elders kept you until now.”
“How could my mother marry one of them?”
“I don’t know. We think the Elders brainwashed her. It’s the only way we can figure out why anyone would fall in love with one of them.”
“It’s disgusting. Those vile creatures. Well, good riddance to both of them.” She was surprised he told her the truth. Sort of. He left out one big factoid regarding her mother selling her out. For an Ephemeral. Did Xavier know? Knowing her father was an Ephemeral made her skin crawl. She couldn’t understand her mother.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine,” she snapped. “Why do you keep asking?”
He seemed frustrated or appalled by her attitude. He studied her for a minute. “Come with me.” He took her hand, and led her out of the room and upstairs. They passed Havok’s chambers, and crept through another door that led to a dark and narrow stairwell. The old wood creaked beneath their feet.
They finally reached the top, and Xavier pushed open a door. At first, all Ava saw was a clear midnight sky filled with millions of stars. The air was cool, and there were some wispy clouds floating closer.
Ava couldn’t remember the last time she had seen that many stars. He brought her out onto a ledge. It overlooked the front of the castle and the moat below. Far off into the distance, was an enormous waterfall. Ava recognized it as the same one that she and the Elders had crossed to reach Caprington. She thought she would die that day. Looking back, she should’ve let them all drown. They were wrong to attack Havok and the Cimmerians. The Elders were the ones who had been wrong all these years.
“Look, I know something’s wrong with you,” Xavier said.
She turned to face him. The light breeze blew through his hair. “Why do you say that?”
“It’s just…you’ve been acting different the last couple of days. Especially today. Something has happened.”
She shrugged, and turned her attention to the waterfall. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m acting the same. How have I been different?” Was Xavier really perceptive enough to notice she had turned off her emotions? Or the fact that she finally understood the truth? Okay, so her stunt earlier with Gabriel probably raised a red flag.
“You just seem…darker or something. I don’t know. It feels like there’s a cloud hanging over you. Kinda like with Havok. I feel like he’s around.”
She lifted a shoulder. “I feel fine. Great, in fact. I can’t remember the last time I felt this amazing, honestly.” She could feel his eyes on her.
He sighed.
“What is this?” She swept her hand across the scenery.
“It’s just a place to have some quiet time. Havok sometimes comes here, but mostly it’s just me.”
“It’s beautiful.”
As they stared out into the night, his hand brushed against hers. She hoped he wouldn’t try kissing her or something. She was in no mood for romance. Nor did she want to even go there with Xavier. Same team or not, he had still tormented her for years.
Ava withdrew her hand, and folded her arms in front of her chest. They stayed like that for a while.
“Are you ready to head back?”
“Sure.”
They made their way back down the creaky old stairs.
“Can we look for more Ephemerals tomorrow?”
“We’re not really the ones for that though.”
“When’s our next massacre?”
He furrowed his eyebrows. “I don’t know. A week or so. Why are you so eager?”
“It’s exciting. I want to kill them. Is that bad?”
They reached the door to her bedroom, and Xavier searched her eyes. “No. I guess not.”
“Good. Is there anything else?”
“No. Have a good night.”
“You too.”
Ava went inside her room and leaned against the door after she had closed it. She wasn’t sure she could wait another week before the next massacre. The hate inside her grew, and she had to release it. Maybe she would venture out alone tomorrow and make Havok proud by annihilating an entire city on her own. She felt herself smile at the thought. She couldn’t wait.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
DEVOTED
Ava didn’t feel like searching for Ephemerals. She didn’t want to be around anyone either. If she had to wait until the next massacre, she would make something happen. And she certainly didn’t need someone telling her to reconsider her emotions. Why should they care? This was what they had to do. It didn’t mean she had to experience every emotion that came along with it. But the only thing she felt recently was hatred and anger.
She wound up in a small dive
in the village. Maybe no one would find her there. It wasn’t the type of place she would normally frequent. She opened the door, and a song by some old hair metal band screeched through the jukebox. Smoke lingered in the air as people played pool under the dingy yellow lights. She made her way to the bar and took a seat.
Ava was ready. She could show Havok what she was made of. She could prove her loyalty to him. She sipped her beer. The cool refreshing taste gave her confidence. Ava eyed the brunette boy across the room. In a way, he reminded her of Peter McNabb before he became an Enchanter. The young man, about her age, was tall and had an innocence about him. She gave a flirtatious smile, and he grinned back. Finally, he joined her at the bar. He was cute and far too out of place in the smoky, sleazy biker bar with his innocent blue eyes and clean clothes.
“Hi.” The young man grinned. “I’m Logan.”
Ava finished the beer. “I’m out.”
“I’ll buy you another one.”
Ava tossed her shoulders in a nonchalant shrug. He was too eager to please. And too nice.
She didn’t want to like them. She couldn’t. But maybe she was going about it the wrong way.
“Two more,” he told the bartender and placed money on the bar. The skinny bartender took the money, cracked open two beers and set them down in front of Ava and Logan.
“Thanks,” he said.
The bartender glared at him, then glanced at Ava before tending to someone else. Her long braided hair could be used as a rope to strangle someone, Ava thought.
“Did I say something?”
Ava stared at Logan. “You’re not from around here are you?”
“No,” he chuckled. “That obvious?”
She took a sip of the cold beer. “A bit.”
“I just moved here.”
She almost choked on her drink. How could he have done that? “Why would you do that?” she asked a little rudely. She wanted to scare him. Make him leave. He wasn’t supposed to be here. She didn’t think he knew what he’d gotten himself into. He was an Ephemeral, and she knew a few others in the bar knew it. He was like a red light flashing. People didn’t just move to Caprington. How had he even found the place? And how was he still alive?
Under an Onyx Sky (Elemental Enchanters Series Book 4) Page 12
