Under the Burning Stars

by Carrigan Richards

  THE CITY THAT CARE FORGOT

  The next morning, Ava pushed off the blankets. She glanced at her phone and it was still empty of any messages from Peter. An empty feeling wedged in the pit of her stomach. Part of her wanted to send a message to see if he was okay but then the stubborn part refused. If he needed to think, she’d give him space. She wasn’t going to cry. But she hated the silence between them. Had her dad treated her mom the same way? Had he ever regretted it?

  Ava let out a frustrated groan and shook her head as she dialed his number.

  Two rings later, he answered.

  “Hey, Peter.”

  “Hey.”

  There was a silence.

  “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Do you want to come over today? We could go swimming.”

  “I’m actually hanging out with Seth.”

  Her heart sank a little. “Okay. Well, I was just calling to check on you.”

  “We’re good. I’ll talk to you later.” He hung up, leaving Ava even more annoyed.

  She needed to get out of the Manor. The more she thought about Peter, the more it angered and hurt her. Ava wanted to be alone, but it wasn’t easy in a Manor full of people who knew everything that happened to her now. There was no privacy.

  Deciding to go to the waterfall, Ava dressed in a black tank top and shorts. She made her way downstairs and headed for the door.

  “Ava.” She heard Colden’s voice behind her.

  She turned around and met his dark eyes. He had put his long black hair in a low ponytail as usual and dressed in his black button-up robe. “Yes?”

  “Are you leaving without breakfast?”

  “Yeah. I’m not really a breakfast person.” That, and she really wanted to get out of there.

  “You should.” He smiled. “It’s very important to your health and strength.”

  “Maybe tomorrow.”

  “Nonsense.” He lightly took her arm. “Come join us.”

  “Sure.” She followed him and cursed silently.

  Ava reached the table and sat across Gabriel, Joss, Eric, and Natalia. She wondered where everyone else was since breakfast was so important. Or maybe this was Colden’s way of including Ava.

  “Morning.” Joss smiled.

  “Hi.”

  “There’s plenty to eat, but if you want something fresh, just let me know.” Colden smiled.

  Eggs, bacon, sausage, grits, potato hash were all laid out on the table in bowls. Condensation slid down the sides of the orange juice pitcher. There seemed to be too much food for just the five of them, but Ava spooned eggs onto her plate. “This is fine. Thanks.”

  He nodded, and then left the room.

  Ava forked the small amount of eggs on her plate. The quicker she ate, the sooner she could leave. She wasn’t sure why she felt so intimidated around them. Maybe it was the icy look that Natalia held, even as she read the newspaper. Or the unwelcome feeling that radiated from her.

  Joss took a sip of coffee. “How are you?”

  “I’m fine. You?”

  “Good. I’m sorry about everything that’s happened. It’s awful.”

  Ava shrugged. “It’s okay.”

  Eric grabbed a sausage link from a plate nearby. His plate was empty but apparently, he was still hungry. “Did you all go to the memorial?”

  “Yes.”

  “How was it?”

  “It was okay. None of us were welcome though.”

  Joss wrinkled her nose. “Why?”

  Ava shifted uncomfortably in her chair. “They didn’t want us there because of Link, Nicole, and Seth. They think we all had something to do with the bombing. And because of who we are.”

  “That’s crazy. Don’t they know you guys were actually trying to save them? That’s so sad. I don’t understand why people have to look at people so differently. Whether it is skin color or whatever they are. Like they are so much better. People suck sometimes.”

  Ava couldn’t imagine anyone treating Joss so cruel. She was always so nice, at least to Ava she was. There may have been a time when they didn’t like her so much because of her light brown skin. She was pretty with amazing violet eyes that Ava wondered if they were contacts or real. They had to be contacts, but she was beginning to think anything went when it came to Enchanters.

  “But it’s not just Ephemerals,” Joss continued. “Enchanters are so judgmental, too. It just makes no sense why people are like that. And why would they blame you all? What, because you wear a necklace? I know they’re scared and are just looking for answers. But come on. So stupid.”

  Eric fanned Joss with his hands as if she were smoking. “You okay?”

  She let out a small laugh. “Sorry.”

  Gabriel shook his head. “You’ll have to excuse her, she gets on her soapbox often.”

  “Well, it’s true.” She turned to him. “You of all people should know.”

  He finished his last bite, and rolled his eyes.

  Joss turned back to Ava. “We’re going to go visit New Orleans today. That is, if we can get Gabriel to leave the library.”

  “I’m not there now am I?” He winked.

  Ava felt a surge of jealousy. “What’s that like? To be able to go anywhere anytime.”

  Gabriel opened his mouth to speak.

  “It’s amazing,” Joss said, and then laughed.

  Eric playfully tousled her hair. “Let the man speak.”

  Gabriel smiled. Ava thought it was a beautiful smile. It always spread to his crystal-blue eyes. He was very attractive with taut muscles like an athlete and short black hair. She always felt guilty for thinking how attractive he was.

  “It really is,” he said. “You should come with us.”

  Ava met his eyes to see if he was really serious. Why would they want her tagging along?

  Natalia tilted her head and gave Gabriel a disapproving look. “I’m sure she has things to do today.”

  Joss rolled her eyes. “Do you?”

  She didn’t know how to answer that. She had nothing going on, except go to the waterfall, and then maybe help Link, but New Orleans sounded great. She really did want to go, but Natalia didn’t exactly make her feel welcome. “It’s okay. I don’t want to intrude.”

  “We invited you,” Joss said. “That’s not intruding. You’re coming. And don’t not come on account of Miss No-Fun over there. You should invite Peter.”

  Ava felt a twinge of sadness but quickly recovered.

  “Joss, it’s too many people.” Natalia said. “I wish you wouldn’t invite people without asking.”

  Ava wasn’t sure if that was really the reason Natalia was upset. She assumed it was because Joss invited Ava. “It’s really okay.” She pushed up from her chair, and picked up the plate of cold eggs.

  “Don’t leave,” Joss said. “We really would like you to come.”

  “If she doesn’t want to go, then don’t make her.”

  “Natalia, stop it.”

  Natalia rose from her chair, and quietly left the room, taking her coffee and newspaper with her.

  Ava felt awkward. “Have I done something to her?”

  “No,” Eric replied. “She’s just crabby.”

  She was sure that wasn’t the reason. Natalia had always been that way toward Ava.

  “Don’t worry about her,” Gabriel said. “I don’t. So, are you coming?”

  “I don’t want to cause any rifts—.”

  “Rift schmift.” Joss waved her hand dismissively. “You’ll be fine. You wanna ask Peter?”

  Ava looked away. “He’s busy.”

  Joss shrugged. “His loss.” She piled dishes on top of each other and carried them into the kitchen. Ava brought a couple in there as well.

  Colden shooed Joss away. “I’ll handle these. You have fun today. And make sure Ava has some, too.” He gave a warm smile.

  Maybe Ava had the wrong idea about everyone.

  “Ready?” Gabriel held out his hand.r />
  “Sure.” Ava took it, and closed her eyes. She was ready to leave for a day. A day to not think about what Peter was thinking or doing. A day to forget Gillian and Thomas’s anger. A day to let loose and have fun.

  A second later, they stood in an aisle between walls of tombs and mausoleums. Flowers and pictures and rosaries decorated some. The morning skies were a little bleak from the few gray clouds. Not exactly a great way to start having fun.

  “What a downer, Gabe,” Joss teased. “A cemetery is where you want to start?”

  “No one saw us materialize out of thin air, did they?”

  She rolled her eyes and started walking away with Eric.

  “So this is the famous Saint Louis cemetery,” Ava said.

  “Number one,” Gabriel added.

  She shook her head. “I think I’m with Joss though. This is quite the downer.”

  “Sorry. I knew it wouldn’t be crowded.”

  “It’s okay. I’m teasing. But I’m just not one for these types of things.”

  “Yeah. Didn’t think of that. Before we go, would you like to see Marie Laveau’s mausoleum?”

  “Who?”

  Gabriel raised his eyebrows. “She was the Voodoo Queen. Come little grasshopper.” He took her hand and brought her to a mausoleum with sets of three X’s drawn on it. Beads and rosaries hung from a handle.

  “What do the X’s mean?”

  “People draw them hoping she’ll come back and grant them wishes.”

  “Why would she help complete strangers who vandalize her tomb?”

  Gabriel chuckled. “Good point. So, what do you want to see?”

  It was a loaded question. “I don’t know. I’ve never been here.”

  “Well, there are a lot of things to see.” His eyes lit. “Let’s grab a mid-morning snack.”

  Ava laughed quietly at his enthusiasm. It was nice to see him let loose and not be serious all the time. She could probably stand to do the same.

  They met up with Joss and Eric and went to a famous street side café that served warm beignets. Ava had never heard of the café, but the beignets were amazing. They were deep fried pastries with so much powdered sugar on top that by the time they finished eating them, they were covered in the sugar.

  “I think I need a bath,” Joss said, cleaning her face with a napkin.

  “Here, you missed a spot.” Eric held up his hand and touched her cheek, leaving a white residue.

  Ava bit her lip to keep from laughing and Gabriel occupied his attention with his phone, but peeked at Ava.

  “What?” Joss asked.

  Eric shrugged. “Maybe it’s an inside joke.”

  “You put sugar on my face, didn’t you?”

  Ava couldn’t hold the laughter back any longer. Gabriel and Eric followed.

  Joss picked up a handful of the sugar and threw it at Eric, getting it in his hair and sticking to his eyelashes. Some of it landed on Ava.

  “Hey, don’t get me involved.” She smiled.

  Eric tossed more at Joss and then Gabriel threw some at Ava and soon the four of them were covered in sugar and had to stop because they started to get some on other patrons. It was all in their hair, on their arms, and the fronts of their shirts.

  They left the café, still cleaning themselves off, and meandered through Jackson Square, watching several artists paint and musicians play saxophones. They shopped inside the French Market, which had tons of souvenirs in the form of masks, shirts, dolls, and a variety of other things. The city during the day was alive, and once the clouds passed through, the sky was a beautiful blue.

  Ava observed the intricate designs on the wrought iron balconies throughout French Quarter. Some of the balconies were decorated with Mardi Gras beads and fleur-de-lis. Everywhere she looked, the fleur-de-lis was there. The French Creole architecture was from the eighteenth century and some of the townhomes ranged in color from blue to pink to yellow. Especially further down on Bourbon Street. Some of the architecture was Victorian style and reminded Ava of the Blackhart Manor.

  The streets bustled with people dancing while some dressed as characters or did tricks in order to make a buck or two. The tourists ate it up. Ava took it all in and she couldn’t help but join in the laughter and appreciate the uplifting atmosphere.

  They took a short ride on the steamboat Natchez and ate Cajun cuisine that was a little too spicy for Ava, but she enjoyed it. The jazz music played all throughout the city and by nightfall, Ava was exhausted.

  “We should go to the Metropolitan,” Joss said.

  “What’s that?” Ava asked.

  “It’s a dance club. So much fun.”

  “I’m not much of a dancer, and I’m also only seventeen.”

  “When do you turn eighteen?”

  “November.”

  “Oh I’m sure we could get you in.”

  “It’s okay.” Ava turned to Gabriel. “If you wanna take me back so you all can go, you can.”

  Joss waved her hand. “Nonsense.”

  “Why don’t we visit Sophia and Caroline?” Eric asked. “We’ve not seen them in a while.”

  “Ooh, good idea.”

  “Who are they?”

  “Old friends of ours.” Joss smiled.

  They walked this time and entered the Garden District. Ava couldn’t get over the beauty and timeless designs of the double-gallery homes. They came up to a beige home with arched wrought iron balconies. An iron fence surrounded the house and the gate squeaked as Joss opened it. There were two windows the size of a door on the right side of the entrance, and upstairs there were three windows with green shutters.

  Ava followed behind them and climbed the concrete steps. Joss knocked on the door and a tall woman with bushy curly black hair answered shortly after. Her large brown eyes lit and she smiled widely showing perfect teeth. She had dark skin and a pretty face.

  “Joss.” She pulled her into a hug, then Eric. “Oh, how is my Gabriel?” She planted a large kiss on his lips and seemed to linger for a second. It made Ava shift uncomfortably. “Mmm. Oh it’s so good to see you all. And who is this?”

  “Ava.” Ava shook her hand and the woman nodded and a sudden recognition washed over her face.

  “Ah, you are one of the special ones.” She smiled. “I’m Caroline.” She moved aside so they could enter.

  “Does everyone know about us?”

  “No, honey, but I do talk to Joss quite often.” She walked as if she was a model and her lips were pouty. The heels from her shoes clacked on the hardwood. The house was rather dim with beautiful chandeliers and portraits scattered all over the old walls.

  “I hear Joss,” a raspy voice with a thick Southern accent came from upstairs. A woman with dark red hair descended the stairs. She wore a black off the shoulder blouse with jeans and high-heeled boots. She collided with Joss in an embrace and they held onto each other for a few seconds. When they broke apart, she hugged Eric and then Gabriel.

  “Hey handsome.” She smiled, and then turned to Ava. “I’m Sophia.”

  “Ava.”

  “Good to meet you. You guys are just in time. We’re going to the club in a few minutes. Well, some of us. Rene isn’t the dancing type.”

  “Neither am I,” Ava murmured.

  “It’s easy. Just shake your hips and if you can eye a guy just right, he might buy you a drink.”

  Ava smiled. She was ready to go home and was feeling incredibly out of place.

  “I thought I heard familiar voices.” A man emerged from the back of the house and joined them. He had shoulder length brown hair and green eyes. His nose was long and hooked at the end. “Julien.” He shook Ava’s hand.

  “Nice meeting you.”

  “Where are Marcel and Rene?” Eric asked.

  “Probably trying to wake the dead.” Sophia murmured and rolled her eyes. “But I’ll go get them.” She climbed the stairs calling out their names. Ava had no idea what Sophia possibly meant by that remark, and she wasn’t sure she w
anted to know.

  They moved into a parlor and took seats on old plush furniture. It looked as if they were college students with no money. How often had they cleaned this place? Or did they spend all their time and money clubbing? Ava dropped down onto the loveseat next to Gabriel, feeling completely awkward. She somewhat listened to the pleasantries and conversation between Joss, Eric, and Caroline.

  A few minutes later, Sophia entered with two men behind her. One had blond hair and a scar down the side of his face and was dressed all in black. For some reason, chills tickled Ava as his eyes watched her. The other man had a shaved head and dark glasses. He looked like a hipster in his skinny jeans and sweater. Ava hated the hipster trend for guys.

  “This is Rene,” Sophia said as the man with the shaved head raised his hand. “And this is Marcel.” He nodded, and kept staring at Ava. He gave her the creeps.

  “So, how does it feel to be the woman who killed Devon Maunsell?” Caroline asked Joss.

  “Okay, I guess. If it wasn’t for Ava, he probably would still be here.”

  “I think we should celebrate.” Sophia smiled. “We should do shots.”

  Ava wasn’t sure how much longer she could stay there. She wasn’t much for socializing with people she didn’t know.

  Eric, Joss, Caroline, and Julien followed Sophia to the back of the house.

  Ava looked at Gabriel. “No shot for you?”

  He shrugged. “Not really that much of a drinker.” He leaned in and whispered in her ear. “Besides, I can tell you’re very uncomfortable.”

  She felt bad and sensed her cheeks redden. She didn’t want them thinking their friends weren’t any fun. It was just that she didn’t know them. “I’m sorry.”

  His thick eyebrows drew together. “For what? Let’s go hang out on the porch. You can hear the music playing.”

  She nodded and followed him outside and they sat on the iron bench that rested underneath the windows. Marcel and Rene followed.

  “Pay no attention to them.” Rene dropped down in one of the chairs. Marcel sat next to him, but kept his eyes trained on Ava. “They always want their drinks before they do anything.”

  Ava could hear the lively jazz music playing from Bourbon Street and got up to look around at the clear night and the vibrant lights in the distance. Gabriel and Rene engaged in a conversation behind her.