Under the Burning Stars

by Carrigan Richards

  “It was shocking news. I’m sure once he thought about it and actually heard the whole story he was fine. You gotta let him in, Ava. He wants to be with you. Don’t think you’re in this alone, because you’re not. I know Peter would do anything for you, but he’s struggling right now. A lot of us are.”

  Melissa was right. Why couldn’t Ava come to that conclusion? She always got hot headed and jumped to conclusions.

  “I’m sure you two will make up at lunch. By the way, have you asked Gabriel about Marcel, yet? Thomas is getting really antsy.”

  “No. I haven’t seen him. But I talked to Colden last night. I think he’s sick.”

  “Sick how?”

  Ava shrugged. “I don’t know. He looks pale, he has trouble breathing sometimes, has to rest a lot.”

  “That’s strange. Does Savina know?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Why hasn’t she healed him?”

  “I don’t know. She probably won’t say anything. She wouldn’t tell me about my mom. Colden did.”

  “She wouldn’t tell Thomas about his dad either, or about G’s mom. She kept dodging the question. I don’t get why she’s hiding all these things. I mean, we’re all in this together. Why keep us in the dark?”

  “Unless she’s not really who we think she is,” Ava blurted. Where had that come from? Did she really believe Savina was going to betray them?

  Melissa wrinkled her forehead. “You don’t really think that, do you?”

  She thought for a moment. “No. I’m tired of the secrets. She always acted like my mom was a saint when clearly she wasn’t.”

  “You don’t know the whole story.”

  “I know. Because no one will tell me.” But she would soon speak to her mother.

  The bell rang and Melissa and Ava parted ways and headed to class. While she stared at Drew’s empty seat, Ava wondered how she could stop the negative Ephemeral thoughts. They seemed to come out of nowhere. She’d never felt like that toward them before. She always protected them.

  And what was up with her losing her hearing? Did she have the ability to do that? She tried to test it again in class, but nothing happened. Did it only happen if she was upset?

  In the next class, she silently dared Valerie and Amanda to come near her. But neither one showed up. Good. She didn’t want to have to look at them.

  Melissa was right. She and Peter did make up at lunch, both promising to tell each other everything. Again. They even all sat together as a group. Gillian still wasn’t flowers and daisies, but Ava could feel her anxiety. The same anxiety Thomas had. Why would the Cimmerians only mess with three Elementals and not all of them? Link and Nicole seemed to be more comfortable; however, Seth was still on the fence.

  When school ended, Ava needed something to divert her attention from thinking about Peter being at Valerie’s house. Checking on her. Spending time with her. What if she kissed him?

  She shook her head. She had to stop being jealous.

  The library called to Ava and maybe she would find Gabriel there. She wasn’t sure how to approach going to New Orleans to see Marcel though.

  As she walked inside, she inhaled the comforting scent of the books. It was familiar. She couldn’t wait until she and her dad moved, but having these books at her fingertips made it all worthwhile.

  “Hey.” She jumped at the greeting and looked to its source.

  Gabriel chuckled and closed his book. She read the title: A Hero of our Time. How ironic. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.” His crystal blue eyes smiled. His tall, muscular, lean build fit perfectly into a Queen Anne chair. “How was school?”

  She plopped down in the chair next to him. “It was school.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “Not really.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Let’s just say I’ve been playing the Queen of Hearts role to perfection.”

  “I felt your anger earlier. What happened?”

  “I punched one of Peter’s friends the other night and now it’s like he’s at her every beck and call. He’s over at her house now, but wasn’t going to tell me.”

  Gabriel cocked an eyebrow. “You punched an Ephemeral?”

  “She just…” Ava groaned. “She causes so much drama. She told me that Peter would wind up dead if he stayed with me. She said my mom being dead and my dad almost dying was proof. After everything that had just happened, it was like a red flashing light inside my head that went off. I was so angry and I reacted. Then he consoled her.”

  “Damn. I’m really sorry. I would’ve hit her, too.”

  “You? You’re like the calmest person I know.”

  He smiled. “I didn’t used to be so calm. I used to have a bad temper.”

  Ava couldn’t imagine him with a bad temper, like hers.

  “Why do you feel so threatened by this girl?”

  “I don’t, I guess. I mean, the night of my accident, Seth told her to tell Peter but she left that part out so Peter would stay with her all night. It’s like he doesn’t see through her bull. I just don’t see why he doesn’t believe that she can be cruel. He always defends her over me.”

  “Maybe he’s just trying really hard to hold on to that part of his life.”

  “That’s what Melissa said. I feel like he hasn’t fully committed to his life as an Enchanter. I know the transition must be hard, but he wanted this. I feel like I can’t tell him anything about my Cimmerian-like thoughts. I finally told him about Drew and Jonah and he flipped out. I didn’t have to kill them, but I didn’t know my own strength. And knowing my mother was a Cimmerian doesn’t help. I was afraid to tell him that for fear he would distance himself.”

  “Wait. Your mother was a Cimmerian? Do you know this for a fact?”

  Ava froze. She hadn’t meant to let that slip out, but Gabriel made it so easy to talk to. “Yes,” she mumbled. “Colden told me.”

  “Damn. I’m sorry.”

  She nodded. Now was as good a time as any to ask him about Marcel. She shifted in her chair to face him. “Actually, there’s a few of us who’ve been having Cimmerian-like thoughts.” She lowered her voice.

  “Like who?”

  “Thomas and Gillian. We were kinda wondering if you could help us with something.”

  He furrowed his eyebrows. “What?”

  “I told them about Marcel. And they want to see if he can help them with anything. They want to know if one of their parents were Cimmerian. Could you take us to see Marcel?” She braced herself for whatever backlash she was going to get.

  “Sure.”

  “Really?”

  “Of course. I don’t mind helping you all. You’ve all been through a lot and I know you need answers and Savina is less than helpful when it comes to that. Marcel is my friend. Just be sure to warn them about him.”

  “I will.” That was easy. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” His eyes pinned her with such a heavy gaze that she had to look away. What was that about?

  She cleared her throat and her cheeks warmed. “So how’s the book?”

  “It’s good. I’ve read it before.”

  Ava nodded. Why was it so awkward all of a sudden?

  “Have you got anything going on this afternoon?” he asked.

  “You’re looking at it.”

  He stood and tossed the book in the chair. “Come on.” He held out his hand.

  “Where are we going?”

  “It’s a surprise.”

  Ava looked up at him and felt a little wary. Where was he going to take her?

  “I promise it will be worth your while.”

  “Why not?” She needed a little distraction. She placed her hand in his and she got to her feet.

  Seconds later, they stood in an empty parking lot in the middle of a city. She heard traffic nearby.

  “Where are we?”

  “Baltimore.”

  Still clutching onto his hand, they walked out of the parking lot and onto a side
walk and he pointed to a large gray building across the street. She looked up at the engraved sign. Enoch Pratt Free Library.

  “Why are we here?”

  He gave a playful smile. “There is much to learn young grasshopper.” He pulled her across the busy street of people and cars. She was surprised no one seemed to notice them pop out of nowhere. They briskly walked under the arched opening and inside.

  The sun’s light flooded the lobby through the paned glass ceiling. Cream marble columns enclosed the main hall in a square. A small brown round desk was in the center of the room. On the second floor, there were open balcony windows and Ava could see chandeliers with soft lighting. She wondered if it was one large room or private rooms.

  “You like reading so much, I thought we’d come here,” he said.

  Ava stared at him in awe. Why would he do something so nice for her? He had always been kind and she hadn’t been so nice to him. She didn’t know what to say.

  They walked across the slick floor and didn’t make a sound. The only thing Ava heard was the occasional turn of a page or cough or whispers.

  “What’s different about this library than Savina’s?”

  A smirk played on his lips. “You’ll see. So what do you want to be when you grow up?”

  “I haven’t really thought about it. Still stuck in the past I guess. You?”

  “I want to be a teacher.”

  For some reason, Ava thought he would make an incredibly hot teacher. She felt her cheeks warm, and then cleared her throat. “Professor…I don’t even know your last name. Wow. That’s embarrassing.”

  “No worries. It’s Dacosta.”

  “Has a nice ring. Professor Dacosta. I could see it. What would you teach?”

  “Literature.”

  They made their way downstairs to a room with cream walls and small tables and chairs. A sign that read Special Collections was on the outside of the door. He guided her to Edgar Allan Poe’s collection.

  Stunned, she released his hand, not realizing she’d been holding it this whole time. She leaned over the display case. There were letters written by Poe. Virginia Clemm’s scent bottle and a miniature drinking glass. And locks of hair.

  “Is that Poe’s?” she asked.

  “Yeah. They kept it, hoping to later find the cause of death.”

  “It was rabies. I thought that was obvious.”

  “I think he was turned into a vampire.”

  She stood upright and looked at him. He was crazy. “Seriously?”

  “Think about it.”

  “They don’t even exist.” She was waiting for a smile or something that gave away his playfulness, but he never did. His eyes were alive.

  “If we can do what we do, then why can’t they exist? He was rabid and incoherent and—.”

  “Completely mad. If he was a vampire, then why did he die and not feed on the doctors or whoever found him?”

  “It’s a cover up. He’s still out there. That’s why they never figured out how he died. And still can’t to this day.”

  Ava rolled her eyes and laughed. “Your imagination has run wild. I can only imagine what your childhood must have been like,” she said without thinking and then silently cursed. Gabriel’s parents had been murdered and his uncle had abandoned him. The words just slipped out, but how could she have been so thoughtless. “I’m so sorry, Gabriel. I wasn’t thinking.”

  “It’s okay. It was years ago so I’ve had time to get over it.” He winked.

  “I shouldn’t have said that.”

  “I know you didn’t do it on purpose. Besides. I knew that wasn’t your angle.”

  She nodded, but still felt guilty, and part of her wanted to know how he managed to be alone for so long. Ava didn’t think she could survive. “How did you do it?”

  “I had no choice.”

  “What was it like? I mean, what happened?” She wanted to know more about him. They’d become friends, even though she felt wary of him when they first met. But she trusted him. Something about him comforted her.

  “I was very young when my parents died, so I barely knew them. My uncle wasn’t an Enchanter and knew nothing about the world.”

  “Your parents were mixed, too?”

  “Yeah. My uncle took me and things were fine until I turned sixteen. I just couldn’t control it.” Gabriel released a small chuckle. “I’m sure he thought that I was worse than a drug dealer or something. I was scared, though. I didn’t know anyone else who could do what I did.”

  “Did you not have an Aureole?”

  “I remembered a woman who took me to her home one day when I was a kid. I didn’t know who she was or who the other kids were at the time. She befriended me briefly but after my parents died, I moved, and never saw or heard from them again.”

  “That’s awful. That’s similar to what Joss experienced.”

  “Yeah. When Corbin roamed the earth, it was like that for a lot of people. Because people hid who they were from him.”

  “How did you learn to control it?”

  “After a few years of.” He paused, seemingly to gather the right word. “Researching, I met Eric. He wore a necklace of the symbol I’d seen in books and was curious. He knew what I was, when I didn’t know what he was. But he wasn’t like any other person, so I had my assumptions. He took me to Colden and Savina who explained everything. So, I joined this Aureole.”

  “Wow,” she whispered. “Sounds like he saved a lot of you.”

  “Yeah. The rest of them were born into the Aureole.”

  “I don’t think I could’ve lasted as long as you. And here I am complaining about such trivial things.”

  “I hardly consider being ambushed by Cimmerians trivial. Or all of the other things you’ve had to deal with lately.”

  “I just meant Peter.”

  “I know.”

  Ava shook her head. “I can’t imagine what that must have been like. I can’t believe your uncle would just abandon you. Why would he?”

  “Because of what I was.”

  “That’s no excuse to just leave someone like that.”

  He shrugged. “Good riddance.”

  She grabbed his hand and squeezed it. “I’m glad you found Eric. They would never abandon you. I’m sure you never did anything as reckless and naïve as I have.” She thought about Peter becoming an Enchanter and Gillian and Thomas avoided her.

  She dropped Gabriel’s hand and turned away.

  “What is it?” he asked, walking beside her.

  “I never wanted to hurt anyone’s feelings. But I miss Gillian, before her powers developed. Everyone else seems to accept Peter. But she helped me the night I got shot.”

  “She still cares about you. Personally, I think she needs to get over it. Maybe if she’s been having Cimmerian thoughts that might contribute to her hatred of Peter.”

  She stopped and looked at him. “Do you think I made a mistake?”

  His eyebrows furrowed. “No. I would do the same if I truly loved the person. Do you think you did?”

  “No, but it seems like ever since it happened we’ve been at odds with each other.”

  “You two are going through a lot of changes. You’re learning more about your past and he’s in a new world. If he became an Enchanter for you, it’s because he loves you immensely.”

  “That shouldn’t be the only reason.”

  “I’m sure it’s not. The Cimmerians tortured him.”

  “I know.”

  “Is it like it was with Thomas?”

  “Not in the slightest.”

  “What happened with you two?”

  She shifted. “We just changed. I didn’t love him anymore and he was getting too aggressive. He kept burning me.” Ava looked away.

  “Surprised Peter never beat him senseless,” he murmured. “I would have.”

  Ava glanced up at him, but looked away once his eyes met hers. “Yeah.” She didn’t know what to say.

  “Sorry, but it is true. I know I shoul
dn’t say this, but I am. I feel a strong connection with you.”

  She raised her head and his eyes fixed on her. She could feel it, too. “I think it’s time to go back.” She didn’t know what to think, but the hard gaze in his eyes made her nervous.

  “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

  “I’m not,” she lied. “I just have to get back.”

  He took her hand and she closed her eyes, like an automatic response. She opened them, expecting to see the Manor, but they were in an open field. The skies were gray and a slight breeze blew through her hair. She looked around and saw a large patch of black grass and a lone clothesline. It was her former home and they stood in the exact spot that her mom died.

  Ava jerked away from Gabriel. “What are we doing here?”

  He shook his head, eyes in bewilderment. “I don’t know.”

  “Why would you bring me here?” she yelled.

  “I didn’t. This is what Aaron was afraid of happening.”

  “Did you know they would be here? Did you do this on purpose?”

  He frowned, and for a second she saw hurt in his eyes.

  Then, she stiffened as a group people emerged from the woods and moved toward them. Ava looked around. There were probably ten of them and they were closing in on them. When she turned back, Gabriel was gone.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  TIDAL WAVE

  Water oozed down Ava’s arms. She concentrated and watched her opponents for any movement, just like Gabriel showed her. How could Gabriel abandon her? Was he getting more help? Was he a traitor?

  She didn’t know and didn’t have time to think about it.

  A tall man with bushy red hair advanced on her. She raised her hands and blasted him in the face, knocking him unconscious.

  Another witch ran toward her, but Ava defeated her swiftly. More witches appeared through the woods. She didn’t know how she would get out of this alone, but she would not die in the same spot as her mother.

  There were too many for Ava to take down all at once. She needed help. More water. Or others’ magic. She took a deep breath, feeling the water trickle down her arms. Her body warmed and she remained calm, poised to attack, but felt the energy throb inside her veins.