Under the Burning Stars

by Carrigan Richards

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  POWERLESS

  When Ava came to, her face still embedded into the dirty ground, her muscles refused to move. Chills came over her as if she had a fever. Her arm still burned and seemed to swell even more. A sickening feeling spun in her stomach. The side of her face throbbed as though it burned.

  “Ava!” She heard Peter, who seemed to be far away, but then she saw his face above hers as he kneeled next to her. Her eyes couldn’t focus. His hand gently touched her face. At the sound of his voice and sight of him, she felt no pain. “Oh god! Ava!” She wanted to fling her arms around him and hold him and kiss him, but her whole body felt paralyzed.

  “Don’t move her,” Gabriel said. “Savina, Ava needs you.”

  “What happened to her?” Peter asked his voice frantic.

  “She’s been bitten by Gregor. His snake venom is in her veins now. Xavier and Sorcha were going to take her but I stopped Xavier. Unfortunately, Sorcha got to me. Thank god Savina and Aaron came back when they did.”

  “Yeah. Perfect timing,” Peter said, but Ava could barely detect a hint of mockery.

  “Here comes Savina,” Gabriel said. “I gotta go check on the others.”

  Ava wanted to talk, but all that came out from her dry throat was just a sound.

  “It’s okay, I’m here.” She felt Peter hold her hand.

  Seconds later, she saw a curtain of red and then she heard Savina’s tranquil voice. “Keep calm. I’ll get the venom out quickly.”

  She moved her hands ever so slightly over Ava’s arms. The swelling slowly went down and the burning eventually stopped, but she still felt weak. Her vision had cleared and the chills were gone.

  “The venom is out now,” Savina said. “Take her back to the Manor.” She instructed and then left to help others.

  “Ava,” Peter whispered, and helped her roll over. Her head rested in Peter’s lap.

  “Peter,” she said as he wrapped his arms around her. “You’re okay. I feel so weak. It’s so cold.” She shivered.

  “I’m so sorry. Savina is quickly healing the urgent wounds right now, but I have to take you back. I’m going to pick you up, okay?”

  Ava nodded and then he lifted her and held her close to his body. He kissed her lips and then carried her back through the woods and to the Manor.

  “What happened? Are they gone?”

  “Yes, they’re gone. They dispersed quickly as soon as Savina, Aaron, and Maya came into view. I killed only a few.” She could hear the sadness in his voice. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t protect you.” His eyes watered.

  “Did you get hurt?”

  He hesitated. “No.”

  When they reached the Manor, several Enchanters stood waiting to see who would come through the shield. Peter carefully set her down on her feet, but held her close and supported most of her weight. She clung to him, afraid to let go. She couldn’t stop shivering and Peter rubbed her arms. She tried to make herself warm, but it didn’t work.

  “Ava!” Thomas rushed over with Ilya, Katarina, Konstantin, and Anastasya. All of them looked beaten and worn. Their clothes were bloodied, just like hers. Blood had even matted their hair.

  “Thomas, are you okay?” Deep cuts covered on his arms and hands.

  “Yeah, I’m fine. You?”

  She nodded. “I can’t make myself warm.”

  “Sorcha,” Konstantin said. “She has weakened us all.”

  “What?”

  “We are all extremely weak. Powerless.”

  She remembered Gabriel mention her that night in the library. She had the ability to cast a sleep spell and severely weaken.

  “For how long?”

  Konstantin frowned. “I do not know.”

  “Is everyone else okay?” Ava turned to Thomas.

  “I don’t know. So far we’re the only ones from our group that came back here.”

  Peter tightened his grip on Ava and she felt his guilt.

  “What’s wrong?” She asked.

  “I couldn’t protect anyone.” His eyes watered and then he bowed his head. “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.”

  “Don’t be. It wasn’t your fault.”

  “He’s dead, Ava. I couldn’t save him.”

  “Who?”

  “Seth.”

  Ava gasped and her heart sank. “Oh, no, Peter.” She pulled him into her embrace. “I’m so sorry.”

  Someone wailed and she heard voices behind them. She turned around to see Lance, dazed, carrying a frantic Gillian beating his chest. Savina, Aaron, and Gustav held grim looks. Gabriel and Natalia held hands and Eric walked beside them with such sorrow on their faces it hurt Ava to see. Diego had an arm around Maya and Lucia on either side of him weeping quietly. Link and Nicole held each other. Nicole had dried blood and tears on her face.

  Gillian screamed. “No. He’s gone. He’s gone.” Her face was red, and her black curls wild.

  Ava felt her mouth drop. She realized the cause of Gillian’s screaming. “Where’s Jeremy and Melissa? Or Joss? Maggie? Kira?” At each name, her voice diminished into nothing.

  “Gone,” Peter whispered, but it was an echo in Ava’s head.

  “Gone? Where? Are they alive?”

  “They kidnapped…” Eric couldn’t finish the sentence.

  Ava couldn’t breathe. Everything around her swirled. She felt the blood drain from her. She stumbled, but Peter caught her.

  Gillian was on her feet and charged toward Peter and Ava. “You!” She pointed at them. “None of this would’ve happened if Peter did his job.”

  “Gillian, it is not his fault,” Savina said.

  “Can we please not recount the teenage drama here?” Natalia snapped. Daggers pierced from her hazel eyes. “If you haven’t noticed, we’re missing quite a few of our Aureole.” Gabriel held her, but watched Ava.

  “Everyone inside,” Aaron demanded. Without missing a beat, they filed into the warm conservatory dejected, bleeding, and in pain. Ava’s necklace glowed as the anger, panic, and pain emanated from everyone. Even with the large group, it felt so empty without Melissa, Jeremy and the others.

  It all felt like a dream. Colden was Havok. And Melissa, Jeremy, Joss, and others had been kidnapped. Ava couldn’t handle it. She screamed. She wanted to run after the Cimmerians. To kill them all and get her friends back. To face Colden. How could he betray them all?

  Peter held her back, even though she fought against him. He wouldn’t let go. But the nightmare never ended. No matter how loud she screamed it was still there.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

  HOPEFUL

  “Several of our members have been kidnapped.” Aaron stood at the front of the library with Savina, Maggie, and Gustav. It had been hours since the fight. Ava assumed she and others received some type of sedative. The nightmare still never ended, but Ava was quiet. Her father and Thomas’s mother had been brought back and Ava sat between her dad and Peter. She held their hands tightly.

  “Four unfortunately perished: Esteban, Alena, Zhan, and Seth.”

  Peter gripped Ava’s hand as she looked at him. Her stomach twisted as his guilt radiated within her. Anastasya cried out as Gustav held her. Diego comforted Maya and Lucia.

  “Alena.” Ilya shook his head and rubbed his eyes. “She saved me.”

  “I could not protect them,” Katarina said. “There were so many.”

  Peter hung his head low. “I was able to protect myself, but I couldn’t protect anyone else.”

  “What happened?” Savina asked. “What started it?”

  Gabriel cleared his throat. “We were practicing, but then we heard sounds from miles away. The sky turned dark and it was lightning. We followed the sounds and found the Cimmerians and started fighting.”

  “Someone made me feel like I was on fire,” Ilya said. “It was so intense that I passed out. Alena guarded my body.”

  “I had my protection on Ilya,” Katarina said. She was dazed, just like the rest of them. “I do
not know why it didn’t work.”

  “The Cimmerians must have had an Enchanter to dispel their protection powers,” Aaron said. “Do not fault yourselves, Peter and Katarina. It is very difficult to protect everyone like that, especially since you are both new Enchanters. But you all fought well.”

  Ava drew a shaky breath. “It was him. It was Colden all along. He’s Havok.”

  Everyone turned to look at Ava.

  Savina shut her eyes tight. “I knew this would happen.”

  And then their eyes were back on Savina.

  “No, you didn’t,” Aaron said.

  Gustav joined Aaron and Savina in a private conversation.

  Ava wanted to scream or hit something. She wanted to know what they were saying. Or thinking. “Why don’t you share with the rest of us what’s going on and stop keeping things from us?”

  Savina locked eyes with Ava. Very well. She paced for a few minutes and then stopped. “When we killed Corbin years ago, Colden had reaped his soul. It severely weakened Corbin and he eventually died. However, his soul had been living inside Colden for several years. Festering. The day the Elementals came to learn their powers was the day Colden began to change. Corbin was trying to free himself. Colden and I discussed it at length, but we both discounted the fact. It had never happened before so we didn’t think it was possible. Then Colden got sicker. I tried everything in my power to keep it at bay.

  “When Ava went to the Necromancer, they ambushed her and a spirit possessed her and forced her to weaken Colden so that Corbin’s soul had enough strength to overcome Colden.”

  “So, Corbin has returned?” Eric asked.

  “In a sense, yes.”

  Gasps and cries amplified in the room. What were they going to do now?

  “Is Colden…?” Ava couldn’t finish the sentence.

  Savina pressed her lips in a tight line. “Yes.”

  Ava’s father squeezed her hand.

  “So it’s Ava’s fault that Colden died?” Natalia asked.

  “No. Whether or not Ava went to the Necromancer, Colden’s death was inevitable.”

  The news should have been relief for Ava. It wasn’t her fault that Colden died, but in a way, it was.

  Savina wringed her hands and looked as if she would cry. “I didn’t know when or how. I tried to ignore it because we both didn’t think it could be true.”

  “We never could have expected this, Savina,” Aaron said.

  “He is right.” Gustav stroked his thick beard.

  “How could Colden reap Corbin’s soul?” Lance asked. “I thought he was a Droll.”

  “His powers developed much later than anyone else’s. He didn’t realize he could do it. Until he accidentally killed an Ephemeral.”

  Ava’s heart faltered. That’s why Colden had helped her.

  “When we knew what he could do, we thought of the only way to end the war. Reap Corbin’s soul and kill him. We had no idea his soul would stay inside Colden. After that, he continued to live his life as a Droll. His powers weren’t as strong as ours, and he struggled with what he did for years. He knew it had to be done, but it wasn’t easy.”

  “But my mother promised my soul to Havok,” Ava said. “After Corbin died. Does that mean Colden and Corbin were like Jekyll and Hyde?”

  Savina frowned. “Yes. It all makes sense. He was the one who controlled Devon. And who has been helping them escape the Cruciari, which has now been completely destroyed.”

  More gasps and cries sounded.

  Ava’s heart pounded. Everything had fallen apart so quickly.

  “I can’t believe I didn’t see this coming. I put my brother’s love before your safety. I was so desperate to save him and I failed you all.” Savina shook her head and Aaron held her.

  Ava had never seen Savina so vulnerable. But she guessed they all were.

  The Elders reconvened in their own circle.

  Ava was angry. Hurt. Confused. So many feelings jumbled inside her. She thought she was going crazy. Peter rubbed her back, and vacantly stared at the ground. His jaw clenched as the rest of him stiffened. Ava grasped her necklace and could feel his anger. In a matter of mere months, he had lost all of his closest friends.

  “I couldn’t stop them,” he said.

  “It wasn’t your fault.”

  “I didn’t want to fight. I was scared and acted cowardly.”

  Ava forced him to look at her. “Peter McNabb. You are brave. You saved me. And so many of us. You were only trying to keep me safe and I love you for it.”

  He nodded, but she could still feel his shame. “They killed him.”

  Ava pulled him to her and kissed the top of his head. “I’m so sorry, Peter.”

  “We will go after Havok,” Aaron said as they broke their group. “We cannot do this without another fight,” he warned.

  “I’m going,” Ava insisted.

  “Me, too,” Gillian said.

  “I won’t be separated from Ava,” Peter told them.

  Link nodded. “Count me in.”

  Several others volunteered.

  Savina held up a hand and everyone quieted down. “We will all go. But if you do not wish to come, we understand.”

  “We cannot leave until everyone is ready to fight,” Aaron said. “First, we must all heal completely. There are things out there most of you have never seen. Some of you are not experienced enough yet. We also have to track where they are hiding.”

  “Caprington,” Ava said. “That’s where Col—Havok said he wanted to take me.”

  A few more nods from the Elders.

  “So, how long until we leave?” Her voice cracked.

  “I’m afraid it won’t be for a month or two.”

  Anger grew inside her. “A month?”

  Aaron did not answer her. His russet eyes warned her not to argue.

  “I will heal each of your wounds,” Savina said. “We wish everyone to continue to stay here under the protection of the Manor. We have strengthened it.”

  “Because you all were placed under Sorcha’s spell, it will take a while to regain your abilities, and especially longer for the younger Enchanters,” Aaron said.

  “So, we have absolutely no powers whatsoever?” Thomas asked.

  “Unfortunately.”

  “Except me,” Lance softly spoke. “I think I absorbed Peter’s ability just before the spell.”

  “I still have mine, though it’s not as strong,” Peter said.

  Thomas scratched his head. “When will our abilities come back? They will, right?” Ava could hear the unease in his voice.

  “Of course,” Savina said. “But it really depends on your body. You must all be patient with it and not force it. Putting strain on your body will take longer. And under such circumstances, we are all under immense stress.”

  “Savina will heal you all now.” Aaron motioned for Thomas to come up.

  “Ava, are you sure you want to do this?” her father asked.

  “I have to, Dad. We have to end this.”

  He nodded and kissed the top of her head. “I understand. Ava, I’m sorry.”

  “For what?”

  “I had no idea about your mom. I was blind.”

  “Dad, you didn’t know. You loved her. And she loved you.”

  “Did she? She betrayed us.”

  “I know. But I’ve betrayed everyone. That doesn’t mean I don’t love them. Just means I’m selfish and reckless.”

  “You’ve just had a lot happen to you. Your curious nature got the best of you.” He shook his head. “I can’t believe any of this.”

  “I don’t think many of us can.”

  Silent and lost, they waited for Savina to heal their wounds. When it was Ava’s turn, she walked up to Savina.

  “Oh dear.” Savina’s green eyes held a look of distress.

  “What?”

  She carefully unglued Ava’s hair away from her face from the blood. “There is a long gash on the side of your face.”

&nbs
p; Ava remembered seeing blond hair swaying near the ground as someone carried her. Melissa. She touched her necklace but couldn’t feel Melissa or Jeremy. She missed Joss, and for the brief moment she had spoken to Kira, she missed her, too.

  “They are alive, even though we cannot feel them. We will get them back.” She cupped Ava’s chin with her hand. “I sealed the wounds, but you will have scarring for a few days.”

  “What is my fate, Savina? What’s going to happen to me?”

  She gave Ava a pitying look and then shook her head. “While you were reckless, this was not your fault.”

  “No punishment? I did something terrible.”

  “We’ve all done terrible things. I know why you did it. I should have told you about your mother.”

  “Alena said she was a spy for the Cimmerians.”

  “She was. She kept up the ruse for quite a while and then she met and fell in love with your father. She realized she wanted that life more than anything. But she knew she couldn’t escape the Cimmerians. She never told me that she had promised your soul. But I knew something was going on with her. Before I could reach her, the Cimmerians got to her.”

  Ava now understood why her mother had betrayed the Cimmerians. She had turned her back on them and refused to be one. She had wanted to be good. She had chosen her destiny. “Why didn’t they take me that day?”

  “I can only guess Havok wanted to wait until you all were old enough and your powers developed. He wasn’t strong enough to take you then.”

  “If my mother loved me, why did she say it was my destiny when I saw her spirit?”

  “It could have been a botched calling. I’m afraid I do not know.” She lightly touched Ava’s cheek. “I promise you we will find out. I will not keep anything from you anymore. I just thought I was protecting you. It only made things worse.”

  “I should’ve trusted you.”

  “We should have trusted each other. My intentions were wrong and I have been a selfish fool. Now, try and get some rest, and I promise we will talk tomorrow.”

  Ava nodded and Savina hugged her. Ava wrapped her arms around the only motherly figure she knew. The one who solely protected Ava. The one who loved her and cared like a mother should. Ava’s mother had asked Savina to look after Ava and make sure she was safe. And she had done just that.