Under the Burning Stars (11 page)

Eric shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“What can Gabriel do?” Peter asked.

“He
can teleport and stop time, but it’s kinda like putting you to sleep.”

“That is cool.”

“Actually, it isn’t. It was like waking up totally unaware of what was going on. Like you lost time. He did that to me once. He said he kills once he immobilizes the opponent.” She shivered.

“He won’t hurt you, you know?” Eric reminded her. “He pulls that stunt on all of us. Thinks it is oh so hilarious. But I have my own
tricks up my sleeve.” He grinned. “I’ll see you two after practice.”

She knew Gabriel wouldn’t hurt her, but he seemed rather aloof with her. Almost the way Natalia t
reated her.

Peter nodded. “Are you really okay?”

“Yes. Just worried, I guess.”

“We’ll be fine, Ava,” he grabbed her hand and with his other hand forced her to look at him. “I will never let anything happen to you. I’m trying so hard to become stronger and to get used to all this. It’s all so…different.
But amazing. I can’t believe I’m doing this or even a part of it. Sometimes it feels like I’m invincible. Did you feel like that?”

“At times, yes. How’s training with Maggie?”

“She’s tough. She doesn’t care that I’m new, but that’s good. At first, she just helped me figure out what I could do exactly, and then we went right into it. It’s so amazing. Maggie can transform her body into a weapon. She turned her arms into Sai daggers. How crazy is that? She cut my hand, but it healed back. Talk about surreal.”

Ava gasped. “Did it hurt?”

“Yeah, but once it healed, it stopped hurting. I feel bad for Joss though. She’s practicing with Gillian. She controlled Joss’s mind a couple of times and made her shock herself.”

“Gabriel overtook me several times.”

“Does anyone practice with Savina?”

“I don’t think so.”

“How are we supposed to defeat someone who can read your every move?” Peter questioned.

“Savina said you just have to catch them off guard or keep her out of your head. Like, clear your thoughts and have it unreadable. It’s hard, and Gabriel
can help with that. You just have to stay focused.”

“Wow.” Peter exhaled a deep breath. “I wonder if I’ll ever master any of this.”

Ava frowned. She listened to his confessions; his worries; the same ones she had experienced. “I’m so sorry, Peter. I know it’s a lot to take in. I shouldn’t have brought you into this.”

“We’ve been through this a thousand times. This is what I want.”

She brought her hand to his smooth face and looked up into his assuring brown eyes.

Peter leaned
in and kissed her and then whispered in her ear, “I love you, Ava.” With her eyes still closed, she embraced him and for a moment, she breathed slowly and felt the wind around them.

Ava’s necklace grew warm and
then she felt Thomas’s jealousy and Gillian’s anger.

“And we have to ignore Gillian and Thomas right now. I’m trying, but it’s hard, I’ll admit. Being able to
feel
what everyone else is feeling is a bit overwhelming.”

“
I know. It’s definitely something to get used to.” She sighed. “I have to talk to her.”

“You should wait until she’s cooled off.”

“Why is she still upset?” Ava searched through the field of several people talking and found Jeremy sweeping a short curl from Gillian’s face. She made her way toward them. “Can we talk?” she asked Gillian.

“I don’t have anything to say to you,” she spat
and narrowed her eyes.

Jeremy pushed his glasses up on his nose. “Gillian, talk to her.”

“Why are you so upset with me? I know you see how important he is to me. I know you agree with it. You know he’s an asset to us.”

“
He doesn’t belong here, Ava. And you lost my trust when you went behind our backs and told an Ephemeral everything about us.”

“How else would you have had me do it? I tried talking to you—.”

“No, you brought him to our cabin after you ran to him.”

“Gillian, you knew
of my feelings for him. Why is all this such a surprise now? You seemed supportive before.”

“That was
before Devon tried to take us. I mean, you brought an Ephemeral into this. They aren’t supposed to be a part of this world. You’re so stubborn and immature and haven’t taken any of this seriously. Have you even stopped to notice how much Thomas is hurting?”

“He isn’t hurting. He’s angry.”

“Where do you think that anger comes from?”

“
Probably because his father was just murdered.”

“Before that.
I’ve had to comfort Thomas almost daily. He’s hurting because of what you did. You don’t get what you did to him.”

Gillian’s anger penetrated through Ava. It was as potent as Thomas’
s fire burning her. A quick reflection on the past few months and Ava realized Gillian was right. She hadn’t made it easy for her coven to trust her, but she didn’t know how else to handle the situation.

Ava would not be bullied, especially by her own coven
. She wondered if any of it would have happened had she not chosen Peter. But she loved him. So why was she having reservations?

“We’ll talk about this later,” Jeremy
said. “Savina and Aaron are coming outside.”

Ava stood still, letting Gillian’s words
and her own thoughts soak in, until she felt Peter take her hand.

“
I’m glad to see you all practicing,” Savina said and everyone congregated near her and Aaron. “I think I want to rotate partners so as for you to try fighting different powers.”

Ava tensed for a moment. Who would Savina pair her with next?

Savina went down the line of experienced and inexperienced witches and matched them. Ava silently groaned for a second when Savina matched her with Natalia. The woman intimidated Ava and hated her.

“I hope you’re better than your ex
.” Natalia smirked. Her shoulders drooped forward as she placed a hand on her thin hip.

“
That’s a little insensitive. He just lost his father.”

“I really don’t care what you think.”

“Aren’t I immune to your singing?”

The right side of her lips curled into a taunting smile, but her eyes glared. And then, a high-pitched screech wailed, reverberating inside Ava’s head. It was so loud it felt as if
her eardrum exploded. Her hands clasped on her ears and she fell to her knees with a scream. She writhed on the ground and felt a warm liquid oozing from her ears.

Finally, it stopped, and she could breathe again. She rolled onto her back and saw several people standing over her with shocked faces. Her hearing slowly came back. Peter rushed to her side and helped her sit up.

“Are you okay?”

Stunned, Ava nodded.

“What did you do to her?” Peter demanded Natalia.

“We’re supposed to be practicing. She needs to know what to expect.”

“She isn’t to feel pain like that,” Gabriel chided her.

“She should’ve been prepared.”

“I’m fine, I’m fine. It’s nothing.” Ava stood and wiped the blood from her ears. With wary eyes, the onlookers slowly resumed their practice. She thought it was strange that Gabriel stood up for her in a way given the way he acted earlier.

“I really didn’t think that would hurt you as much as it did. I can only assume that means you’re quite weak.”

Ava clenched her teeth. It was the second time she’d been called weak that day. But instead of letting her anger get the best of her, she remembered Gabriel’s speech of keeping focused and calm. “No, it’s fine. You know I’m new at this. I need to learn it.”

Natalia nodded and Ava quickly blasted water from her hands, knocking Natalia
down. Ava held her to the ground by her throat as Natalia continued to struggle, but could not overpower Ava’s grip.

“I may be new at this, but I am
much stronger than you and quite unpredictable. You may not like me, but you know what I can do.”

Natalia’s hazel eyes bulged
and then she stopped struggling. Ava released her and stood.

“
Nice. Catfight,” Eric said from behind Ava. She blasted him with water and he fell down.

“Okay. Don’t mess with Ava when she’s pissed.” She knew Eric was trying to make her laugh, but so far the day was filled with bullying an
d anger and she didn’t know why, but she was sick of it. She wanted to be alone, but didn’t want to give in to the intimidation.

So she stood up straight and faced Natalia with as much determination as she could muster. Ava would not let Natalia or anyone take her down.

Training with Natalia definitely made Ava feel stronger. She was tough. Challenging. And relentless, just like Gabriel. Despite their mutual dislike for each other, they trained well together. Natalia taught her that even though she would never be able to tell when Natalia attacked, Ava had to be ready at any given second. She had to be quick and precise. And of course, stay focused.

After a few hours of practice, the
weary and drained Enchanters congregated inside for dinner.

“That was so awesome.” Melissa nudged Ava’s arm as they sat down at the long table. “Is Natalia afraid of you now or what?”

“No, she’s not afraid. She just knows I’ll fight back.”

“What did she do to you?”

“You didn’t hear it?” Ava asked. How could she not?

“No. We were doing our thing and suddenly you screamed and were on the ground. Then we saw your ears bleeding.”

“She made me hear a screeching noise so loud it made my head throb.”

“
Wow. Talk about a good way to immobilize someone. I’m sorry.”

Ava shrugged.
“Part of it.”

“By the way, don’t listen to Gillian.”

“She’s right though.”

“No, she isn’t. I just don’t get why she has such an aversion to Peter. I would have thought by now she would have gotten over it. She’s been acting kinda weird lately though.”

“Weird how?”

Melissa lifted a shoulder and
tucked her hair behind her ear. “I don’t know. She’ll be talking about whatever and then she’ll stop and just get really quiet like she’s thinking about something. And you have to nudge her to get her out of the trance or whatever you want to call it. And then some days I’ll ask to hang out but she says she doesn’t want to leave her house.”

That was weird. “Have you asked her about it?”

“Yeah. But she waves it off like it’s nothing. And she keeps making appalling remarks about the Ephemerals.”

“Well, they’re possibly the ones responsible for almost killing you all. She’s probably just blowing off steam.”

“Maybe,” Melissa said, but the look in her eye told Ava she doubted it.

“Hi
.” Joss brightly smiled as she set bowls in front of Melissa and Ava. The side of her face had what looked like a rash and small cuts. “Colden’s making goulash. It’s really tasty. How was training?” She sat across from them.

“Very informative,” Melissa
said. “Eric and Gabriel are tough. Gabriel sorta taught me that I could create a shield with rocks or dirt or whatever. Does Eric ever mess with you with all his duplications of himself?”

A little smile appeared on her small face. “Yes, sometimes. But I get back at him.”

“I have to ask. Are you wearing contacts or are your eyes really that awesome?” Melissa asked. Joss had vibrant violet eyes and Ava wondered if they were real as well.

“They’re real.”

“You must get that a lot.”

She shrugged. “I don’t mind.”

“What happened to your face?”

Ava rolled her eyes. “Mel, what’s with all the questions?
”

“It’s okay. I don’t
care. Actually, Jeremy did that. He’s pretty strong with that wind. Felt like my skin was tearing off. I’ll go to Savina after dinner. She’ll heal me right up.”

Peter, Lance, and Eric jo
ined them at the table. Savina, Ava’s father, and Mrs. Arrington sat at the other end and the others filled in the empty seats. Colden and Aaron placed pots of the goulash on the table and everyone began dipping soup into their bowls.

“
Peter, how does it feel to be an Enchanter now?” Joss crumbled crackers into her soup.

“
It’s strange, but extraordinary.”

“I can imagine. Still, i
t’s good that you had a choice.” She lowered her voice. “I feel terrible for the Halflings. But I gotta say, you two are so intense.” She smiled at Ava and Peter. “I think everyone here agrees that you two are definitely meant for each other. It’s unusual that that happens between Ephemerals and Enchanters—feelings of that strength.”

Ava
felt a smile on her lips, but then her amulet warmed and she clutched it as she felt Thomas’s jealousy and remembered Gillian’s harsh words.

She heard a spoon clatter against a bowl and realized it was
Peter’s. She took his hand in hers.

Joss’
s cheeks flushed and her face fell. “He probably hates me now.”

“No one could possibly hate you.
” Eric kissed her cheek.

“Please don’t be embarrassed,” Ava
said.

“I didn’t mean to hurt anyone’s feelings.”

“You didn’t,” Melissa said. “Thomas is just dealing with a lot right now. We’ll all grow from this, I’m sure.”

“
I agree. Thomas will find someone.” Joss beamed.

Ava hoped things wouldn’t always be so awkward with her and her coven. But she felt like she needed to talk to Thomas and apologize. She’d torn her group apart and it cost her.

After dinner, she caught him as he was heading up the stairs. “Thomas?”

“
Yeah?”

“I know you hate me. But I just need you to please understand
that I never meant to hurt you.”

He exhaled. “Ava, I don’t hate you, but I
can’t lie and pretend like everything is okay. I know I didn’t treat you well but I would’ve worked on things if you’d given me the chance.”

She doubted him, but maybe recent events had changed him. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s just all really messed up right now. I hate that you’re with him. That you chose him over me. I could really need you now.”

She felt a small
twinge of sadness. “You still have me. As a friend.”

He shook his head. “You know that can’t happen right now. We’re in the same coven and I
won’t hurt you or him.” The words were forced. Knowing he wasn’t ready to forgive her, she nodded and then he retreated upstairs.

“
Everything okay?” Peter asked.

“Yeah.” Ava turned around and he took her hands in his.

“Wanna go up?”

“I think I
want to go back to the library.”

“Okay. I’m exhausted so I’m gonna head up.”

A strange feeling overcame her as she thought of her earlier reservations and second-guessing her decision about Peter. She was in love with him and shouldn’t be embarrassed or wonder about their love. She didn’t care what anyone else thought. She placed her hands on either side of his face, and kissed him, fervently. Electricity zoomed throughout her body.

“Think I just got my second wind,” Peter whispered.

Ava smiled. “I’ll see you in a few.” She made her way into the massive library. It was like her second home. If it wasn’t for it, she would be completely miserable at the Manor. She walked past Jeremy, Link, and Nicole sitting at one of the tables chatting to one of the bookshelves. She wanted to find the Edgar Allan Poe book and relax.

“Your book is right here.” She heard
Gabriel’s voice from behind her.

She was reluctant to turn around, but did. He held out a large black
book and she warily took it. “Thanks.” Ava stepped beside him.

“Ava, I’m really sorry for earlier.”

She turned and their eyes met.

“I wasn’t myself and I took it out on you.
That wasn’t right.”

“What was the matter?”

He shook his head. “It’s nothing. I just wanted to apologize for being a jerk.”

“Thanks,” she said but still felt
cautious of him. She sat next to Jeremy and Gabriel walked past and took his usual chair by the fireplace.

“I learned so much today,” Jeremy said. “Learning to control my powers more to affect one person or two at a time. It’s so amazing.”

“Who was your teacher?” Ava asked.

“Joss. She seems shy at first, but when she starts flicking her fingers together, she creates a current of electricity. It’s fascinating. She shocked me a few times. But I got her good.”

“Wow. She told us at dinner that you were very strong.”

“Cool.
” Jeremy smiled.

“
You seemed to have made a friend today,” Link said. “Was Natalia upset?”

“Probably.”

“Does she not like you?”

“Seems
like it.”

“She doesn’t hate you,” Gabriel interrupted. “She’s a little adverse to young witches.”

“Didn’t she used to be one herself?” Jeremy asked.

“She did. But it doesn’t matter to her.”

They were quiet for a moment.

Link sighed.
“I can’t believe we didn’t get any answers at the Cruciari. What a wasted trip.”

“What exactly are you wanting to know?” Jeremy asked.

“Someone’s behind this. Devon wasn’t a mastermind.”

“Maybe. He definitely
wasn’t smart enough to get what he wanted. He failed miserably.”

“That’s just it. Why would he go through such an elaborate plan and then screw it up in the end?”

Jeremy removed his glasses, cleaned them with the hem of his shirt, and then replaced them. “Maybe he got too impatient and greedy.”

“I don’t know. I just remember bits and pieces of my capture but I remember them mentioning Havok. I think. Was Devon ‘Havok’?”

“Trudy mentioned his name,” Ava said. “Maybe that’s what Devon called himself.”

A few minutes of silenced passed and Ava could feel Gabriel’s eyes on her. She didn’t know what to make of his weird
mood change.

Joss bounced into the room with a bright smile on her face. “There you are, Gabe.” Her dark hair
was pulled back into a ponytail and swayed as she walked. Her caramel skin seemed to glow under the dim lights of the library and the scars and rash were gone from her face. “I should’ve known.”

“Should’ve known what?” Gabriel smiled as Joss joined them
at the table.

“That you’d be in here. I swear, every time we’re here we can’t ever get you out of the library. How many times have you read these books?”

“Just twice.” He winked. “Maybe more.”

“What are you all talking about?”

“Cimmerians.”

“Oh.”

Link caught Ava’s eyes. “Do you think it was Cimmerians who burned Thomas’s house?”

“I have my suspicions
,” she said, careful with her words since she didn’t want Gabriel or Joss to take them back to Savina or Aaron. “What if the Elders are right? But what if the Cimmerians controlled the Ephemerals?”

“That’s possible,” Jeremy said.

Link aimlessly fanned the pages of his book. “Like we were?”

“No, not Halflings.
Just being controlled by them.”

“What do you think, Gabriel?” Link asked.

Gabriel looked up from his book and closed it. “I’m not sure. It could be any number of things.”

“Maybe Ava’s right,” Joss said. “Maybe they are controlled by Cimmerians. Or maybe it was Hunters.”

A crease appeared between Link’s eyebrows. “Hunters?”

“They hunt and kill
Enchanters.” Gabriel moved and sat across from Ava. “Cimmerian or not. But there haven’t been any in ages.”

Joss shrugged. “Maybe with everything that’s happened in the last few years, they’re coming back.”

“Coming back? Did they just disappear for a while?”

Gabriel nodded. “Once Corbin died, there was peace. So, the witch-hunts ceased. I wouldn’t be surprised if they had returned.
”

Ava ran her hand through her hair. Not only did she have to worry about Cimmerians and
Ephemerals, now there were Hunters to worry about too.

Gabriel placed his hand on top of hers.
“Take a deep breath. I promise you will be fine.”

Ava
inhaled deeply and exhaled, and then removed her hand from underneath Gabriel’s. “How can we find out about the Hunters? I mean, do you think Drew and his friends are actual Hunters?”

“We can find out.
”

“
Like spy on them?” Link asked.

“
Sure.”

“Good idea,” Ava said. “When should we start?”

“Gabriel and I will.”

“
Why not us?” Ava asked.

“They’ve never seen us before so we’re unassuming.” Joss winked. “
Besides, don’t you all have to start back to school soon?”

Link sighed. “Next week. But why bother.”

“Savina will make you go. She believes in normalcy and wants everyone to experience things.”

Ava let out a laugh. “There’s nothing normal about us or our situation. If we go back to school we will be at the forefront of bullying and attacks and who knows what.”