“Dad, are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m not feeling well.”
Alarm set in. “What’s wrong?” She straightened her shoulders.
“Just think I’m getting a cold.”
“Do you want me to stay and take care of you?”
The sides of his mouth lifted in a half smile. “No, thanks. I’ll be okay.”
Ava watched him put a coffee filter in the maker and then wash out the pot.
“You can stop watching me.”
“Sorry. The last time someone got sick, it didn’t end well,” she mumbled.
Her father dried his hands on a nearby towel and turned to her. “Ava, I promise, it’s only a cold. Okay?”
She nodded, but still worried.
“How was training last night?”
She shifted uncomfortably. “I just watched.”
“It’ll come to you.”
“Maybe. Some of the them are already gaining their powers back. Must be nice.”
“Ava,” he warned. “Be happy for them. Yours will come back, too.” He looked at the clock on the stove. “You might want to head out, or you’ll be late.”
She gave him a kiss on the cheek and then made her way toward the door. “Call me if you need anything.”
“I’ll be fine sweetie.”
Ava nodded and then left for school. She shook her head. Where was Peter? She hadn’t felt anything alarming from him. When she arrived, she didn’t see him by her locker. Ava waited a few minutes, then the bell rang. Annoyed, she strolled to class alone. She texted him and checked her phone all through class for a response that never came. In government, Ava couldn’t concentrate, not like she ever did. It reminded her of when Peter went missing. She walked to the lunchroom alone, hoping he was okay.
As Ava made her way toward their usual table, she saw Peter sitting down with his tray. The rest of them carried on in a conversation. An uneasy feeling settled in the pit of her stomach as she sat next to him. “Where’ve you been?”
His hair stuck up in several places and his drooping eyes were red. “I overslept.” He yawned and rubbed his face.
“You couldn’t tell me?”
“I just got here,” he snapped, but then she felt his regret.
“Were you at the Manor late?”
He rolled his eyes. “Yes. Would you like a full report of my every movement?”
His attitude caught her off guard, and pissed her off. Her cheeks warmed. She stared down at the table.
Thomas barked a laugh. “I still can’t stop laughing at how Ilya scared the crap out of you, G.”
“That was not funny,” she said.
Peter smiled. “But you’re getting stronger.”
What was going on? Had Peter and Gillian made up? “What happened?” Ava asked.
“Nothing,” he said and then they continued their reminiscing. It only angered Ava more and more.
He obviously wasn’t going to tell her anything. She couldn’t concentrate on eating or the stupid chat. Her mind was consumed by Peter’s growing distance. He pulled out his phone and started typing. She couldn’t see who he was texting.
“Has anyone noticed any abilities returning?” Thomas asked after chewing the last bite of his hamburger.
“None,” Gillian spat.
Ava shook her head.
“Yeah, me neither. We’ll keep at it. Gustav seems to be a good teacher.”
“I agree,” Peter said.
“I laughed so hard when Ilya got nailed by Eric yesterday,” Thomas said. “It was hilarious.”
Peter and Lance chuckled.
“I’m glad you all think this is so funny,” Gillian snarled.
“It was pretty funny,” Lance admitted.
“So, did it hurt when Katarina burned you?” Thomas asked Peter.
“Yeah, but it went away as soon as she let go.”
“You seem to be getting better at the protecting thing.”
Ava stared at Thomas, shocked. Was he actually talking to Peter?
“You coming tonight, Ava?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Are you actually going to do something or just watch?” Gillian asked.
“I don’t know.” Ava looked away, but she still felt their eyes on her. She wanted to change the subject. “Are you ready for your exams?” Ava asked Peter.
He shrugged. “Yeah. Most of them seem pretty easy.”
“I don’t think I’ll pass. Maybe you could help me study?” She was reaching.
“Maybe later tonight.” He avoided her eyes and typed something in his phone.
That was a no.
“That reminds me,” he said. “I gotta go talk to my teacher about the study notes I missed this morning. I’ll catch up with you later.” He lifted his backpack onto his shoulder, grabbed his tray, and stood from the table. Then, he walked away without kissing or touching her. Why were they suddenly so awkward?
“Trouble in paradise?” Gillian asked. Even though it wasn’t very nice, Ava was glad she was at least talking to her.
“No. What gave you that idea?”
She shrugged. “He seems so out of it every day at lunch.”
“He’s trying to adjust. He wants to practice so he’ll be better.”
“Yeah, I can feel his guilt.”
“And yet you still blame him,” Lance said.
Gillian exhaled noisily. “I know I shouldn’t. I’m just angry.”
“We all are,” Lance said.
“Maybe you should apologize to him, Gillian,” Nicole said. “Then he won’t feel so remorseful.”
“I didn’t really want Peter to become a part of our Aureole, but I saw what he could do. And he totally failed out there on the field.” Her eyes watered. “He failed to keep—.”
“Enough,” Lance snapped. “You’re such a hypocrite.”
“Whatever.”
The temperature dropped, and the dark skies threatened to storm. Ava drove to the Manor with dread. She didn’t want to sit around and watch. She wanted to spend time with Peter. She called her father to check on him and he assured her he was fine.
Ava pulled up beside Peter’s car as he shut his door. She cut the engine and got out of her car. “Hey,” she said.
“Hey. Are you going to practice today?”
“Maybe.”
“Cool. I’ll see you out there.” He turned for the door.
“Peter?”
“Yeah?”
“Can we talk?”
“Sure. About what?”
“Is anything wrong?”
“No. Why do you always assume something’s wrong?”
“You’re acting weird. Like you don’t want to be around me.”
He rolled his eyes. “I’m stressed out, Ava.”
“We all are. But I wish you’d stop avoiding me.”
He shook his head, and ran his hand through his hair. “I’m not avoiding you. I’m trying to be a better Enchanter. You know this.” His bitter tone suggested she should drop it, but she wanted to know what was up.
“Then why is it so awkward between us now? And who do you keep texting?”
He arched an eyebrow. “What are you talking about?”
“You’re constantly on your phone typing.”
“I’m looking stuff up online. Don’t be so nosy.”
Anger flared, but she kept it back. “Sorry. Will you please come over tonight after practice?”
“Yes,” he said with a hint of annoyance. “I’m gonna go.”
She bit back a bitter response, crossing her arms in front of her chest, and watched him go inside. She tried telling herself his aloofness had nothing to do with her, but it was hard to believe. Giving in, she made her way inside. Instead of following Peter to the field, she went to the library and removed her beanie.
“Hey.” She jumped at the greeting and looked to its source.
Gabriel sat in his usual chair by the fire, a little smile playing on his lips. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to
startle you.”
Ava made her way toward him and sank into the chair next to him. “It’s okay.”
“How have you been?”
“Not good.” She exhaled, rested her head against the chair, and closed her eyes. “This is ridiculous. I feel so useless. I can’t use my powers, I’m tired all the time. I don’t feel like doing anything. Peter always feels sorry, and I hold back everything I feel because I don’t want to be the one to make him guilty. And lately he seems so consumed with training.”
“You look like you could use a break. Wanna get out of here?”
She opened her eyes. “I’m supposed to watch Peter practice. And attempt to train myself.”
“I think you can survive one more night. Come on.” He patted her knee and stood.
“Where are we going?”
“Just going for a drive.”
“Oh.” She got to her feet and followed him to the foyer. “I should let him know where I’ll be.”
“We won’t be gone long,” he promised and opened the front door. Wintry air whirled by Ava and she stiffened. She placed her beanie over her hair. She followed him out to his car and settled in the cold black leather seats.
“How are you handling this?” She shivered and snapped her seatbelt in.
“It’s not easy.” Gabriel turned the ignition, and the engine purred softly. The blue interior lights created a relaxed ambiance. He clicked on the heater, and the seats began to warm.
“I don’t see how you stay so calm. I know I’m new at this, but I feel I’m fraying at the seams,” she confessed as she played with her bracelet. “I can’t concentrate on anything. I can’t help but notice how much mine and Peter’s roles have reversed. Peter doesn’t seem to want to be around me anymore because his remorse is so immense. And it’s worse if we’re alone. All he wants to do is practice every second of every day, because he feels responsible for what happened on that field and wants to make it up to all of us. He’s afraid to talk to me. We don’t even kiss anymore because Gillian gets upset. He thinks our being together is wrong. All I ever feel from him is this pressing sorrow and pain and that he thinks he’s responsible for all of this. I try so hard not to think about how sad I am because I don’t want to worsen his guilt. It’s so overwhelming, and it grows even more as the days go on. It’s not his fault, and I’ve told him that several times. But then we fought about training at the Manor. I didn’t want to go because everything reminded me of Colden and I was afraid of facing everyone.”
“I figured that’s why you didn’t come.”
“I don’t even know how to comfort Lance if there is a way. I try to be cordial with Gillian, but she is so reproachful toward Peter and me.”
“You carry too much on your shoulders.”
“I don’t know what to do. I’m so lost. I’m sorry. I’m sure you didn’t want to hear all of that.” She felt awkward, having just unloaded onto Gabriel.
“Stop saying that. We’re friends and that’s what friends do for each other. I’m here for you.”
She nodded and cleared her throat self-consciously. “Same goes for you.”
“Thank you.” The car slowed to a stop and then he cut the engine.
When she peered through the windshield, she gasped. She stared at the calm ocean waves and her pulse quickened.
“I figured you needed some fresh air, so I thought of here. I know being at the Manor is still too hard for you.”
His gesture awed Ava.
She quickly unclasped her seatbelt and jumped out of the car. It was warmer at the beach than at home. The last time she’d been there was with Peter when she explained all of her secrets to him. He’d told her that day that they were invincible together. But, lately she wasn’t feeling that same vibe from him.
“How did we get here so quickly?”
“I drove really fast?” A sly smile played on his lips.
“Wait, you can teleport now?”
“It’s coming back to me.”
“Nothing has come back to me. I still can’t make myself warm.” She trailed behind him as they made their way to the sand. Ava remembered all those days at the waterfall that left her dejected.
He turned around and placed his hands on her arms, staring into her eyes. Her heart skipped a beat. “You are water. It is you. It welcomes you. It consoles you. It will know and can sense how fragile you are.”
“Yeah, but all those times I went to the waterfall nothing happened.”
“You have to let it come to you. How many times did you try to force it?”
Ava looked away.
“You can’t be angry or frustrated. Set aside your emotions and relax. Don’t force it. Don’t get discouraged. It will come back to you.”
“You make it sound so easy.”
“Close your eyes.”
“Why?”
“Just close them.”
She did and his hands moved to hers. She hoped he couldn’t tell how fast her heart was beating.
“Listen to the waves. Smell the salty air. Feel the calm breeze. Breathe in. Breathe out.”
She did as he instructed.
“Let it all in. Clear your mind.”
For a second, the energetic rush of power pulsated in her veins, tingling throughout her body.
“Don’t force it.” His fingertips tickled the inside of her wrists and she shivered.
When she opened her eyes, Gabriel’s heated gaze pinned her. He cleared his throat and released her.
“I felt it,” she said.
“Wanna try it in the water?”
She nodded, and removed some articles of clothes. The cool sand exfoliated her feet. Gabriel removed his shirt revealing his smooth chest. The clean lines from the muscles on his chest and arms were visible under the full moon. His pale skin seemed to glow in the natural silver light. She felt her cheeks warm and she looked away. He walked slowly into the water and then dove in.
Taking deep breaths, while clearing her mind, she moved to the edge of the water. Ava blocked her thoughts of Colden dying. Missing Melissa and Jeremy. The war. Peter. Everything. She held her breath as the water wrapped around her feet while smoothing over the white sand. She exhaled once she realized it was warm. The water begged her to join.
“It’s…warm,” she told him once he surfaced. “Are you doing that?”
“I can’t control the temperature of the water. Only myself.”
Were her powers coming back? Her pulse quickened, leaping forward as if it were urging her into the water. Ava stepped in further and then dove underwater. The water surrounded her and like Gabriel said, consoled her. When she surfaced, she felt more alive than she had in the past few weeks. She still couldn’t breathe underwater, but it was a start.
“That’s the first time I’ve seen you smile in a while,” he said.
“It’s exactly what I needed. How did you know this would work?”
He shrugged. “I just did. Come on, I’ll race you.” He gave a playful smile.
“I don’t know if—.” She started to say but he had already began swimming away from her. The waves were calm and for a second she took in the beautiful reflection of the moon and the serenity. Then, she pushed off the floor and swam as fast as she could to catch up to Gabriel.
Racing with him she felt stronger and, for a few moments, forgot everything that ebbed at her mind. The water freed her. After a few races, in which Ava beat him, though she wasn’t sure if he let her win, they sat on the beach. Letting their clothes dry, she peered at the brilliant stars against the inky backdrop. Some were dull, merely flickering into existence every now and then.
It was a perfect night. And the company suited that perfection.
Ava realized how much she missed being around Gabriel. He had a way of calming her and challenging her. “Thank you,” she said.
“You’re welcome. But don’t think I did it just for you. I needed it myself.”
“Of course. We should do this more often.”
; “The water is always here for you.”
Ava bit her lip. “I meant us. Hanging out. I’ve missed you.” She immediately wished she could take her words back. They sounded too needy. She could feel his eyes on her, but she refused to look up.
“I missed you, too.” He took her hand and her body warmed.
“Thanks. I’m sorry I never called or anything. I guess I just got lost in my own mind.”
“I’m not one to tell people ‘I told you so.’ But you knew it was a bad idea to keep it all inside. You deserve to feel those things, too, Ava.”
“I know. I was afraid of making it worse for Peter.”
“That’s something he’s gotta figure out. He shouldn’t punish you because he can’t ignore everyone. I know it isn’t something that can be done overnight, but still.”
She dug her hand into the sand, feeling its gritty texture between her fingers. “I don’t like sitting around thinking about all this. It’s the waiting. It kills me to know they’re out there and we’re still here. I can’t feel them anymore.”
“We will find them.”
“How do you know?” She looked up. The moon’s light seemed to make his eyes glow like blue diamonds.
“We have to.” He turned toward the ocean.
“I feel like some whiny person who sits and cries over something instead of doing something about it.”
“Well, you are grieving. But if you want to learn how to fight without powers, it does help. I mean, taking out your frustrations on someone? How can that not be good?” He smirked and she rolled her eyes.
He stood and wiped the sand from his hands. “Come on.” He reached for her hand, and she took it. He pulled her up, and Ava held her breath as they were inches apart. “If you don’t want to sit around, we can learn to fight right now.”
“What’s the point of fighting someone who can make me go blind? Or put images in my head? Or set me on fire without my powers?”
“You gotta get rid of that defeatist attitude. If you’re fast enough, you can take them down. Plus, when we do leave to find Havok, there are many…things out there that don’t possess any sort of power or ability.” He released her hands. “First, you have to have good balance. Once you’re down on the ground, that’s it. Spread your legs and bend your knees a little.”
Under the Winter Sun (Elemental Enchanters Series Book 3) Page 8
