Under A Blood Moon (Elemental Enchanters)

by Carrigan Richards

  “You’re worried about something,” he said. “And sad. That’s the weirdest thing. What is it?”

  Ava could not tell him about Peter. She had to make up something. Fast. What could she say? “I’m just scared. About all this.” Which was true.

  He drew her into a tight embrace, and she felt his breath on her head as he kissed her. “Don’t be. You know I’ll protect you.” Ava could protect herself, but if that’s what he wanted to think, that was fine. She’d rather him believe that than know what she was really thinking.

  “Just think of what we are,” he said. “We’re the most powerful kind of Enchanters. No one’s going to hurt us.” He smiled as if he were a kid on Christmas.

  Except for Devon.

  “Of course.” She faked a smile.

  “Come on.”

  They found two more rooms, each with a similar bed. She hoped there were more rooms, but something told her they had to share. Ava wasn’t going to stay here though.

  When they made it back to the kitchen, she saw glowing candles through an entrance beyond the main room. She crossed to it and entered. Everyone else was in there checking it out.

  Candles illuminated the room and, like Savina’s conservatory, there was a dark purple rug covering the floor with a pentagram printed on the center. Windows spanned the wall on the far end letting the silver light of the moon through. They had their own channeling room.

  For the third time that night, chills scampered all over Ava. It was getting more and more real.

  Melissa picked up a candle from the floor and watched the flame. “This is more than what I expected. I just figured we’d have our powers and have no reason to use them. But now?” A grin spread across her face, the candle casting shadows on her face, making it creepy. “Now we get to kill enemies.”

  Ava’s stomach dropped. Her breathing hitched, and the room suddenly felt small. This was her destiny. She knew about the wars and knew there was a slight possibility she’d have to kill. But she never thought it would happen so quickly.

  She thought of Peter again. What would he say if he knew this? She was going to be a killer, soon. Ava couldn’t turn her back on Thomas or the others. She couldn’t betray her Aureole, and they weren’t very strong if it was broken. She wasn’t ready for this. How were the others okay with it?

  “Whoa.” Gillian grabbed her necklace. “Ava, are you okay? I feel your worry.”

  “Me, too.” Melissa pursed her lips. “I felt it earlier.”

  Ava cleared her throat. “Nothing.”

  “She’s worried that we won’t be able to fight off this Devon guy,” Thomas said.

  Melissa scrutinized her as if she knew exactly what made Ava afraid. She needed to get out of there. To clear her head so the others could stop feeling her. Then again, she guessed they’d always be able to feel her from now on. Unless she found a way to block them.

  They finally left the cabin and Thomas dropped her off at home. He kissed her goodnight, and she walked inside.

  Ava felt like at any minute she would fall apart. She sank onto the couch. Her head pounded from the tense night. So many thoughts, images, and words scrambled inside her mind, making her stomach ache.

  Her father came into the room. “So? How’d it go?” His unworried tone didn’t match the situation.

  Ava looked up and her eyes filled with tears. “It’s worse than we thought.”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  HOPELESS

  The morning sun peeked inside Ava’s room as she turned off the annoying alarm clock. Dreams of killing strangers and running for her life had interrupted her sleep. How long would she have to do this? But she knew the answer. She and her father had stayed up talking about everything she learned at the Blackhart Manor, but it had turned into an argument. He wasn’t shocked about Devon Maunsell’s revenge or that there could be spies who would attack at random, but he wasn’t keen on the idea of Ava killing so soon.

  “But several Enchanters started out young, too,” he had reasoned. “You will be trained well.”

  “This is too much, Dad,” she had yelled. “I’m not ready.”

  “You will be.”

  “It’s insane.”

  “This is our life. You knew it would happen.”

  How could he be so cold about it? Why wasn’t he comforting her? Would her mom have told her to deal with it?

  Ava dressed for school, walked downstairs, and met her father in the kitchen. He was sipping coffee and reading the paper before work.

  “Morning,” he said.

  “Morning.” She fumed, but then regretted her attitude. She couldn’t be mad at her father. It wasn’t his fault. But was he even worried at all about Devon? And what would he think if he knew his daughter was slowly falling in love with an Ephemeral?

  He smiled, but it only angered her. Her necklace began to glow.

  He pointed to it. “What’s wrong?”

  Ava shifted her weight and hid it under her sweater. “Nothing.”

  “Ava, sit down.”

  “I’ll stand.”

  Her father lay the paper down on the table, and then took a sip of the steaming coffee. He tilted his head up at her with a hard look in his eyes. “Do you really understand what’s going on?”

  “Yes.” She wasn’t dumb. “Devon escaped and is powerless. He’s starting a war because his precious master was killed. He’s killed Ephemerals and made some into Halflings for his army. Oh, and there could be Enchanters watching us constantly that could kill us. Did I leave anything out?”

  He nodded once, and then rubbed his eyes with a sigh. He seemed hesitant. Or maybe he was trying to piece together his words.

  Ava looked at the time on her phone. “Well, as lovely as this chat was, I have to go to school.” She stepped out into the cool morning, and exhaled. Ava hated being so angry with her father. Did he and her mom really have to start killing the second they were initiated?

  She arrived at school reluctant to see Thomas and hoped he wouldn’t be waiting for her, but he was. He only served as a reminder that she was bound to him.

  “Hey, Babe,” he said and kissed her. His arm wound around her waist, but she pulled away.

  “Stop calling me that,” she shouted.

  He raised his hands. “Whoa, what’s with you? You’ve been angry all morning. Is it that time?”

  She clenched her teeth. Oh, right. Because the only time a woman’s allowed to be angry is during her period. “Leave me alone.”

  “Take some Midol,” he said, and then left.

  Ava released an aggravated groan, and then entered algebra.

  Melissa cocked her eyebrow once Ava took her seat. “Little hot today aren’t we?”

  “I don’t wanna talk about it.”

  “Of course not. Because it just wouldn’t be you.”

  She sighed. “I just wasn’t expecting us to do this so soon. And my dad seems to be fine and dandy about it.”

  “Are you sure that’s why you’re mad? Sure it has nothing to do with Peter?”

  Melissa didn’t know just how dead on she was. Or maybe she did.

  “My father didn’t seem the least bit worried.”

  “Maybe because there isn’t anything to worry about.”

  “How can you say that?”

  “I just can. By the way, Gillian and I need to talk to you.”

  “About what?”

  “Later.”

  As if on cue, the bell rang. Ava sat through class staring at the board, but the numbers and letters were just blobs of blue ink. When class ended, she made her way to chemistry. She dropped her bag beside her desk, and propped her head up with her hand. A strange ache in her chest developed, knowing that seeing Peter would torture her.

  “Are you gonna chew a hole in your lip?”

  Ava woke from her reverie and met Peter’s brown eyes. “What?”

  “You were biting your lip. You do that when you’re thinking hard about something.”

  “Oh.�
� She turned back to her desk after a pang of sadness hit her stomach. Maybe if she acted aloof, he would stop talking to her, and then maybe it wouldn’t be so hard.

  “What’s wrong?”

  She faked a smile. “Nothing.”

  “Nice necklace,” he said after a few seconds.

  “Thanks.” She hid it beneath her shirt.

  “It’s pretty. Is it garnet?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Ah. I didn’t know you were Wiccan.”

  “I’m not,” she said sternly.

  He raised his eyebrows and returned to his book. She felt bad for snapping at him, but she was on edge. Ava propped her head on her desk, trying to stay awake. She doodled on her notebook, and tried not to make eye contact with Peter, who kept eyeing her warily. She looked up at the clock and silently moaned—she still had 45 minutes left.

  When the bell finally rang, Ava grabbed her books and meandered out into the hallway with Peter at her side.

  “I don’t think I can take much more of his class.” He yawned. “How can he love this subject and sound so bored?”

  Ava shrugged. “Beats me.”

  “At least some good comes out of it.” He sheepishly grinned.

  “Like what?” She stopped at her locker, turned the lock, and opened it.

  “Seeing you every day.”

  Her heart stopped for a second, and then felt as if it would beat through her chest. She cleared her throat politely, and then closed her locker. “You should go.”

  He frowned. “Sorry. That was out of line, wasn’t it?”

  “Peter…”

  “It’s okay. I can take a hint. Guess I’ll talk to you later.” He walked away.

  Ava wished she hadn’t been so rude to Peter. He was sweet and caring. How could she continue to act like that with him? He’d been a good friend.

  Thomas came up next to her, but she didn’t say anything to him. He didn’t push either. Once in the lunchroom, he went to get their food.

  Ava glanced at Xavier’s table filled with his smug friends. Xavier looked up and met her eyes. His eyebrows rose twice, obviously flirting with her. She looked away, disgusted. What was with him? One day he threatened her and then today he was trying to flirt with her? Maybe he really was on drugs. Creep.

  She made her way to her table and sat next to Melissa.

  “Have you been thinking about last night?” Gillian asked.

  “What do you think?” She didn’t mean for her tone to be so harsh but for some reason her anger returned.

  Gillian sneered. “Why are you so snippy? You’ve been angry all morning.”

  “So what did you two want to talk about?” Ava asked.

  Melissa shifted in her seat. “It’s about Peter.”

  Ava stiffened. “What about him?”

  “Mel and I think you should stop talking to him,” Gillian said.

  “Why?”

  “Come on, Ava. It’s obvious,” Melissa said.

  “Obvious? Because she told you?”

  Gillian held up her hands. “I didn’t tell her anything.”

  “Tell me what?” Melissa asked. “Is there something more to your friendship?”

  “No, but this is ridiculous. I shouldn’t have to stop talking to him.”

  “Please don’t be upset,” Gillian said. “It just doesn’t make sense for you to be hanging out with him anymore. There’s a lot of things going on, and he can’t know anything. I mean, if he finds out about you, do you think he’d still want to be your friend?”

  “Besides, you won’t have time,” Melissa added. “It could be dangerous. You are incredibly strong now and if he gets anywhere near us at the wrong time…”

  “He could end up dead,” Gillian finished.

  Ava couldn’t believe she said that.

  Melissa exhaled noisily and gave Gillian a critical look. “We’re just warning you.” She turned back to Ava. “I don’t want this Aureole to break. You’re like my sister.”

  “What do you think I’m gonna do?”

  Gillian wrapped a curl around her finger. “Nothing. It’s just that.” She paused. “You heard Savina. Don’t betray the Aureole.”

  She was offended. “I’m not going to betray anyone, okay?”

  The annoying pain in her stomach returned. Ava sat motionless, stunned, and hurt. End her friendship with Peter? It was bad enough that she could never be with him, but now she couldn’t even talk to him? She felt sick.

  Ava knew they were right but refused to admit it. She knew things would change. Knew it wasn’t a good idea to continue getting close to Peter. But she couldn’t just cut him out of her life.

  The guys arrived with trays of food, but Ava had lost her appetite. She couldn’t live with herself if something had happened to Peter. They were right. It was too dangerous.

  When school ended, she didn’t really feel like going home, to be there with her father alone, or to hang out with her friends. She just wanted the night to be done.

  Maybe she could visit Peter at work. She used to during the summer when it was just the two of them. As she pulled up to the store and parked, she was reminded of the night they’d sat on the hood of his car watching the meteor shower. Then, she wasn’t aware of how much she actually liked him.

  Ava got out of her car and trudged inside. It looked a little busy but she hoped he wasn’t. She wandered toward the produce but didn’t see him.

  “Are you stalking me?” Peter said from behind her.

  She turned around. He smiled, showing his dimple. “No. I needed some mangos.”

  He lifted an eyebrow. “Come on. There are some in the back.” He seized her hand and pulled her through the produce department and through the double doors. She always wondered was behind these doors.

  But it was just boxes and shelves with fruit and silver metal tables with cutting boards and knives.

  “Hiding?” she asked.

  “Yes. They might call me up front to ring up people. What are you up to?”

  She shrugged. “Just thought I’d come and see you. And I wanted to apologize for earlier.”

  His eyebrows knitted together. “For what?”

  “For being mean.”

  He rolled his eyes. “It was my fault. I shouldn’t have said that.”

  “It’s okay. I was just having a weird day.”

  “It’s been weird for everyone lately.”

  “Seth is still ignoring you?”

  He nodded. “I’m trying not to think about it, but it’s like a light switch went off for him. Thirteen years of friendship just gone.”

  She didn’t know if it was the sadness in his voice or the confusion in his eyes, but she wrapped her arms around him tightly. “I’m so sorry.” She couldn’t decide if that was the only thing she apologized for, or if it were that this was probably the last time they would hang out outside of school. She gripped him harder.

  “Thank you,” he whispered, hugging her back.

  “I wish there was something I could say or do.”

  “You are.”

  The double doors flung open, slamming against the shelves. Ava jumped and pulled away. Peter’s brunette friend stood with her hand on her hip and a fierce look in her brown eyes. She was short with long straight hair and bangs. Ava glanced down at her nametag. Valerie. For some reason, she felt guilty as if she’d been caught doing something wrong.

  “What are you doing?” Valerie demanded. “We are swamped up there.”

  “I should go,” Ava said, and then walked out. She would have introduced herself, but she was sure Valerie wouldn’t have cared.

  “What was she doing back here?” she heard Valerie yell. “Stay away from her.”

  Did she know what Ava was? Why was she telling him that? Ava didn’t want to hear anymore. Everyone seemed to know it was a bad idea for them to be together. Maybe she could talk to Savina or Colden.

  Ava shook her head. What was she thinking? She had just taken an oath and couldn’t undo it.
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  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  MEMORIES

  The clock ticked achingly slow. It was as if it purposely taunted Ava, like it was some type of bully. She had given up on the chemistry lesson ages ago, and couldn’t stop yawning. Sleep was not something she had been getting the last few weeks. Not since before the night she had returned to Blackhart Manor. How could anyone possibly sleep when someone could be spying on them?

  None of them had even practiced or channeled yet, because of the lethargy. And fear. No one had really admitted it, but they could all feel what the other one felt.

  Ava yawned again, bringing tears to her eyes, and then the bell finally rang. It was a sweet sound to her ears.

  “Why are you always so tired?” Peter asked, grabbing his book.

  She walked beside him out of the room. She hadn’t told him they couldn’t be friends; she just limited their talking, texting, hanging out. It wasn’t easy because every fiber in her being wanted to be with him.

  “Just a lot going on.”

  “You know I’m here for you,” he said.

  “Thanks.” Would he still be there if he found out she was an Enchanter?

  “I’ll see you later.”

  Thomas and Ava made their way to the lunchroom, got their lunches, and joined the group at their usual table.

  “There has to be some cure to this no-sleep thing,” Lance said, and then took a sip of milk.

  “No kidding,” Ava said.

  “I keep thinking about Devon and those spies. They could be lurking around anywhere. Isn’t there a way to tell if someone’s an Enchanter or not?”

  “I don’t think so,” Jeremy said.

  Ava poked a carrot with her fork. “I still can’t believe Devon would even use Halflings. Aren’t they much weaker than Enchanters?”

  Jeremy shrugged. “Maybe they’re just pawns.”

  Thomas finished his water. “I’m sure Devon would want as many people as possible to distract us or something. Especially young people.”

  It made sense. Armies could use young people. They’d probably catch on quickly through training. What power could Ephemerals possess if they were changed?

  Ava looked up and saw Xavier and his small army of minions. They still kept to themselves and tormented others. Just the other day Seth and Link shoved one of the football players into his locker and locked it. People were too afraid to tell any authority figure about it because they probably wouldn’t do anything about it and Xavier’s gang probably carried out threats. His minions all hung onto his every word and did anything and everything he said like he was some sort of leader.