Under A Blood Moon (Elemental Enchanters)

by Carrigan Richards

  “What will happen to him? Xavier already kidnapped him once. What if Devon finds out he’s a Paramortal?”

  “Devon won’t find out because he will die.”

  “What about Savina?”

  “You have to talk to her.”

  “I wish I had your confidence.”

  “You do. You’re just tired and feeling defeated right now.” He touched her chin and raised her head to look at him. “Don’t let those feelings take over. You are strong and very confident.”

  She reached over and wrapped her arms around her father.

  He squeezed her and then kissed the top of her head. “I’m so proud of you and glad you’re okay. I would give anything to put myself in your place.”

  “I can do this.”

  She had to. Xavier, Trudy, and Devon had to die.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  CONFESSIONS

  The sun never rose. At least, it wasn’t visible behind the thick, pewter clouds that multiplied. Ava half-expected to see Peter even walk outside and brave the world after what he saw last night. But she hoped with everything she had that he would read the text messages she sent, and come outside. It was too early to knock on the door and wake his father.

  Deciding to stretch her legs, she exited the car and leaned against it. She shoved her hands into her hoodie pockets. She inhaled the cool, brisk April air but stayed warm. It came almost natural to her, to use her ability to stay warm.

  She jumped when she heard a door shut, forcing the knocker to slam against its base. She almost dreaded looking up. Peter’s cold eyes bored into her as he walked closer. Her heart dropped to the pit of her stomach as she got a closer look. His eyes were red and dark puffy bags clung underneath. The disgust emanating from his body was almost too much for her but she knew she deserved it.

  “What do you want?” he demanded. His voice was tired and rough.

  “I dropped off your car.”

  “Thanks. You can leave now.” His tone was harsh.

  “Peter, I’m really sorry.”

  “Sorry?” He seethed. “That’s all you have to say?”

  “You weren’t supposed to see that.”

  “Yeah. I can’t imagine why. And thanks for the thousands of nightmares I had last night and the many more I’m sure to have for the rest of my life.”

  She wanted to apologize again, but it wasn’t enough. “You won’t tell anyone will you?”

  He glared. “It’s good to know what you really care about. I don’t think anyone would believe me even if I did. I don’t know what to do now. I just—I don’t get why you did it.” Confusion leaked through his angry voice.

  “You don’t understand. It isn’t what it seems. I didn’t ask for this. Don’t you see? This is who I am. I’m not on drugs. Thomas isn’t abusing me. We aren’t psycho serial killers or anything. I can’t break free from this.”

  “Why?”

  She exhaled. She was tired of placating him. “They’ll kill me, Peter.”

  “Who? That innocent girl was going to kill you last night?”

  “She could’ve. There’s more to it than that. I don’t want to break free from it.”

  “Oh, so you enjoy killing people?”

  She raised her head and peered out into the bleak morning. No sound but the wind whistled in the cool, damp air. How could she possibly tell him?

  “I’m waiting.”

  The wind picked up, sweeping her hair into her face. “We can’t talk here.”

  “Okay. Where?”

  “Let’s go for a drive.”

  “Why? So you can take me to some secret place and kill me too?”

  That stung. “I would never hurt you.”

  He scrutinized her eyes and relented. “Fine.”

  “Mind if I drive?”

  “Go right ahead. You never know. I mean, after what you all did to that guy last night. Why am I any different?” he mumbled, and got in.

  Ava’s attention maintained on the road, and she watched the rain splatter against the windshield, followed shortly by the wipers clearing the drops. The white dotted line ran past her so fast it looked like a solid line as they traveled down the interstate. She could feel Peter’s eyes piercing at her from the side. How could she explain this? How would he understand? Was it possible for that? And why couldn’t she just stay away from him like she was supposed to have?

  “What you saw last night isn’t what you think,” she finally spoke. Her throat was incredibly dry.

  “Oh no? I didn’t see the four of you crowding around that girl while holding back the guy? I didn’t see…” He shook his head. “I think I’m going to be sick again.”

  “I knew I should’ve kept being mean to you and ignoring you. I’ve seriously messed up and put you in danger.”

  “Are you blaming yourself for what Xavier did?”

  “Yes. But all of this would have been fixed last night had you stayed home and drunk the elixir. Why did you follow me?”

  “What would you have done? I mean, I was just healed by that woman, somehow. Just healed me without even touching me. And you were acting so weird, so I followed you.”

  “You shouldn’t have done that.”

  “Yeah, I got that. So that’s all I had to do. Drink that vial and I’d be done with all of this?”

  Ava gripped the steering wheel, as if it helped keep her together. She wasn’t sure how he would react if she told him the truth. But she already knew he was ashamed of her. She took a deep breath. “It was to relax your mind so that Savina could erase your memory of all of this. And me. She’s supposed to do it today.”

  “What? How is that even possible? What the hell is going on?”

  “I don’t even know where to start.”

  “You can start from the beginning. I mean, you’ve been swearing this whole time that Thomas isn’t abusing you, yet you show up with horrible burn marks on your arms. I was kidnapped. Some strange woman miraculously heals me. And then last night.”

  “What did you see?”

  “I saw the whole thing, Ava.”

  She cringed.

  “I couldn’t hear anything that was being said because of the rain. And then the lightning was striking, and then I saw what looked like hail attacking you and Jeremy. Then there was this powerful wind like a.” He paused. “Like a tornado and it…you know. I ran and hid but then I saw you running through the woods and crying.”

  Last night was already traumatic enough for Ava. She could only imagine how much worse it was for Peter. “I’m so sorry I did this.”

  “What’s going on?”

  “It was my fault Xavier took you. He was trying to get to me. I tried so hard to keep you safe.”

  “Stop being so cryptic. Just tell me,” he said, losing the edge in his voice.

  She pressed her lips together. “I’m an Enchanter,” she finally confessed. “We’re all Enchanters…Thomas, Melissa, Gillian, Lance, and Jeremy.”

  “That explains so much,” he said sarcastically. “You like pretending you can actually cast spells on people. Do you all have wands and use broomsticks, too?”

  She rolled her eyes and pressed further down on the gas pedal. “This is serious.”

  “Right. Like Rachel Higgins and Marie Adaire casting spells on people. It’s ridiculous and they just want attention.”

  “Do you think I’m like them?”

  “No. But what am I supposed to think when you say something like that?”

  “I don’t know. I was born an Enchanter, Peter. I actually have powers unlike Marie and Rachel.”

  “Like what? Force someone to fall in love with you?”

  She ignored his bitter tone. “We are very strong, fast, and can change our internal temperature. We have strong stamina and are agile. All of these abilities surpass Ephemerals by far.”

  “Surpass what?”

  “Humans. We call them Ephemerals.”

  “But you’re a human.”

  “I hardly classify m
yself as human when I can breathe underwater.”

  She could see his jaw drop out of the corner of her eye.

  “What?”

  “Yeah.”

  He shook his head, as if trying to clear the nonsense. “What do you mean by internal temperature?”

  “I can make myself warm when I’m cold or vice versa.”

  “How?”

  She placed her hand against his warm arm and as quickly as the thought arrived, her hand cooled his skin.

  “Whoa. How’d you do that?”

  Ava returned her hand to the steering wheel and gripped it as her heart raced. “I think of it, and it happens.” She wished so much she knew what he was thinking, but then thought better of it. She wanted to see his face—his reaction—but refused to look, for fear he might be afraid of her.

  “That was amazing.”

  “What?” She had to peek. His eyes found hers and before she could get lost, she turned back to the wet, speeding road ahead.

  “Oh come on, you must think that’s cool.”

  She hesitated. “Well, yes. There are quite a lot of advantages. But Peter, you saw what we do last night. You noticed Jeremy didn’t use a weapon, at least none that you could see. He used his ability with air.”

  “He did what?”

  “He is an Air Enchanter. He can create wind gusts so powerful that they can, you know, decapitate someone. But even more than that.”

  “Why did you kill him?”

  Her pulse quickened, and her amulet glowed. “I’m worried.”

  “About?”

  “Your reaction.”

  “Your necklace is glowing. Why does it do that? Is it a tracking device or something?”

  “Sorta. If any of us are in danger, we can find each other. We can sense one another through these necklaces. They can all feel me now.”

  “Feel you?”

  “They know what I’m feeling right now. It’s like an alarm to keep us safe if anything happens.”

  “Well, that explains some things. What exactly did Thomas feel from you?”

  She swallowed. “I was sad, angry, and confused. He thought I was in danger when I removed my necklace that day and clearly overreacted.”

  “I’ll say,” he mumbled. “When I was about to kiss you…”

  “He endured what I felt for you. Which is why he started a fight with you.”

  “Couldn’t you have used your powers against him or something? To leave you alone?”

  “I tried actually, but the pain was too much. Besides, I don’t want use my powers against them for that. We are in the same Aureole.”

  “Same what?”

  “It’s a coven.”

  “Okay. But he obviously used his powers against you.”

  “The first time was because he wasn’t focused enough. The second time, he just got out of control.”

  “Bastard,” he muttered. “You’re not indestructible?”

  “No, but if anything happens Savina heals us.”

  “Why didn’t you go to her that night he burned you?”

  “I wanted to see you.” She paused and noticed the subtle pink of the morning sun struggling for attention with the dark blue clouds. She couldn’t tear her eyes from the beautiful colors. It was as if she were the sun trying to overcome the darkness. “When I’m with you, I feel no pain. I don’t know why.” Maybe he was a Paramortal, but she wasn’t going to get into that right now.

  “Is Savina like your leader?”

  “Yeah.”

  “How many are in your coven?”

  “Seven if you count Savina. But there are more Aureoles out there. We’ve only met one other.”

  “Back to the guy and girl. Why did you kill him?”

  “Milo wasn’t supposed to die. He was an Ephemeral.”

  “H-how many have you killed?”

  “One Ephemeral and one Enchanter.” So far. “This man had morphed into my father, tricking me, but we killed him.”

  “Wait. A man morphed into your father?”

  “Yes. Some Enchanters have the power to transform into someone else changing their appearance completely. They can make themselves look like anyone they want. Like a shapeshifter.”

  “Whoa. How did you know it wasn’t your dad?”

  “I didn’t. Gabriel, another Enchanter, told me. It wasn’t easy watching him die.”

  “I don’t imagine it was. What did he want?”

  “He was a spy for Devon as well.”

  “Who is he?”

  “It’s kinda a long story.”

  “Well, looks like we both have all day.”

  She inhaled and then exhaled. “Savina was born in 1643 Scotland. Both her parents died, but before her mom died, she had met a man named Corbin Havok. They had a son, Colden. Corbin raised them but began to have a disdain for Colden because he didn’t seem to have a power like most Enchanters.”

  “Why?”

  Ava shrugged. “He’s a Droll. An Enchanter born without powers. Anyway, his sister had killed her husband, who was secretly an Enchanter hunter, and then we think that’s when Corbin snapped. He hated Ephemerals. He wanted to kill them all. So he began spreading diseases among villages, so harsh that Savina couldn’t save them all. He continued this for centuries, building armies along the way, and fought with Savina and Colden constantly.”

  “Damn. So they’ve been warring for over three-hundred years?”

  “Yes, but about thirty years ago, Corbin showed up extremely weakened and Savina killed him. No one knows what happened to him, but everything was at peace until recently when Devon Maunsell escaped the Cruciari.”

  “What’s that?”

  “A prison for Enchanters that’s completely surrounded by water. They negate your powers once you enter.”

  “How did he escape?”

  “I don’t know, but Savina and Colden seem to have a theory that they apparently don’t think we’re capable of hearing it.”

  Ava couldn’t believe how honest she’d been with him, or how much she had told him. She was digging a hole for herself deep in the earth.

  “Devon is creating an army to seek revenge against Savina and Colden for killing Corbin and imprisoning him and his counterparts. He wants all our powers for himself so he’ll be the strongest Enchanter alive.”

  “What would happen if he were?”

  “He’d carry out Corbin’s vision of having an Ephemeral-free world.”

  “So where do I or Xavier or Seth fit in with all this?”

  “He’s using Ephemerals in his army. Meaning, he’s changing them into Enchanters. That’s what Trudy, the woman from last night, was trying to do to you. Milo, the man, was compelled. He had no idea what he was doing.”

  “So Seth is an Enchanter?” His voice rose.

  “He’s a Halfling. Part Ephemeral, part Enchanter. But he was coerced into it.”

  “And Xavier did that?”

  “Savina seems to think Xavier is just doing as he’s told as well. I don’t believe it though.”

  “Do you think he did that with all of them in his group?”

  “I know he did. Or someone compelled them.”

  He shook his head. “Why didn’t they make me an Enchanter? Or Halfling?”

  “I think you can protect yourself. Savina seems to think you’re a Paramortal, an extraordinary human. She couldn’t read your mind last night.”

  “She can do that?”

  “Unfortunately. I overheard Xavier talking about someone who wouldn’t budge. I think they were talking about you. How did you stop them from getting inside your head?”

  “I don’t know. I just wanted out of there. I refused to give them what they wanted. But if I could protect myself, I don’t think I would have come out of that place with as many broken bones as I did.”

  “It might be a mental thing. I really don’t know. It’s all speculation.”

  He shook his head. “That’s crazy to think. How old are you? Are you immortal?”

>   “Enchanters aren’t immortal, we just have longevity. And I’m still seventeen. Once we grow into our adult bodies, the aging slows.”

  “How old were you when all this began?”

  “Technically, when I was born. My mother was an Enchanter, who belonged to Savina’s Aureole. But we all met Savina and Colden when we were seven.”

  “What happened when you met them? Did your parents just take you there one day?”

  “For me, it was right after my mom died. I saw Savina sitting on a bench one day. It was uncanny how much she looked like my mom. She took my hand and led me to the Manor. I wasn’t afraid of her, but when I got there, I got scared and didn’t want to be there. She and Colden wiccaned us that night.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “It just means to discover our powers.”

  “How does that happen?”

  “She and Colden drew blood from each of us, we drank it, and then we saw these amazing illusions in the glass ceiling. I’ll never forget it.”

  “What kind of illusions?”

  “They represented our powers. There was the sun, moon, the earth, ocean, fire, and the wind. We are the Elemental Enchanters, the rarest of our kind and all in the same coven.”

  “So if Devon wants all your powers, does that mean you all are the strongest?”

  “In theory. We’re still young and very naïve.”

  “How are you okay with all of this? I mean, were you conditioned from day one that this would be your life?”

  “Not me. I’m sure if my mom was alive, then yes. I struggled with it for so long because it meant I had to give you up.”

  “Are Enchanters and Ephemerals not allowed to be together?”

  “It’s difficult. I’m breaking my oath by telling you everything. But my dad recently told me he was a Halfling. My mother had to convince her Aureole that they belonged together. My dad loved her so much that he gave up his Ephemeral life to become an Enchanter.”

  “How does a human become one?”

  She hesitated. “The Ephemeral drinks blood of the Enchanters, ingesting bits of their powers.”

  “So your dad has powers?”

  “They’re fading. They do that when your offspring develops their power. If you never have kids, you become strong like Savina and Aaron.”