Under the Winter Sun (Elemental Enchanters Series Book 3)
Read Under the Winter Sun (Elemental Enchanters Series Book 3) Online
Authors: Carrigan Richards
Under the Winter Sun
Carrigan Richards
Text copyright © 2014 Carrigan Richards
ASIN #B00OX69NR8
All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes. If you are reading this book and you have not purchased it or won it in an author/publisher contest, this book has been pirated. Please delete and support the author by purchasing the ebook from one of its many distributors.
This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person, living or dead, any place, events or occurrences, is purely coincidental. The characters and story lines are created from the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
Cover design by N.L. Hoffmann
To learn more about author Carrigan Richards, please visit her website at
www.carriganrichards.com
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To Chris, for showing me true love.
Will the winter sun keep us warm in these dark times?
--Dishwalla
Havok inhaled the crisp winter air. From the high rampart of the ancient castle, beautiful reds, oranges, yellows, and greens painted the leaves on the trees. Hills rolled out as far out as he could see and behind them, snow-capped mountains filled the horizon. To his left, miles away, he saw a rocky cliff as water cascaded down into the Crystal River.
He smiled. He was finally home. It had been many years since he had been in Caprington, his family’s beautiful hometown. Sadly, they had all died from countless wars or old age. It was just him and his stepdaughter, Savina, who were alive. He felt a little sorrow for his son, Colden, who had perished in order to bring him back to life. But it was for the greater good.
And soon, Savina would die.
“Happy to be home?” Xavier Holstone asked from behind.
Havok glanced at the young man who had been at his side since he was a baby. He was more of a son than Colden ever could be. Havok was proud of him, except for some of the mistakes he made, like letting the Elementals escape more than once. “Yes. I forgot how clean the air is here. And the peacefulness. Not a single Ephemeral for miles.”
“We’ve been clearing the land of them for years.”
“Good. Soon we will have all of the Elementals and we will rid the world of Ephemerals.”
“We’re ready to begin.”
“Excellent.” Havok followed him inside and down a long corridor of the castle. Built in the 1200s, it withstood a myriad of attacks and storms. Its stone walls had only been remodeled to include lights that were dispersed throughout. As they approached double doors, Xavier opened one and they walked through. Havok loved the high arched ceilings and complex patterns carved into the wood.
They strode down the aisle in between two large crowds of his people who kneeled as they passed by. His prisoners were gathered at the front of the room, their hands tied to beams above them.
He smiled at each of them. Melissa, Jeremy, Joss, Maggie, Kira, Zhan. The older Enchanters held confident looks while Jeremy seemed to be nervous and Joss glared at him.
“It is so lovely to see you all,” he said. “I do apologize for the barbaric way of holding you hostage.” He nodded at Xavier and Eve, the woman with long black hair like his. They both untied the prisoners. “I welcome you all to Caprington and I know you will find it very much like home. It is a beautiful place. Alas, I have brought you here because Savina has warped your minds and I want to show you all the truth.”
“You betrayed us, Colden,” Joss said. “How could you?”
Havok tensed and then snapped his head in her direction. Her violet eyes were stunning against her caramel skin. He remembered her parents, Jude and Francesca Buccaneer. Beautiful couple but because they refused to join him, they had to die. “My name is Havok. Colden was my son and he is dead now.” It was unfortunate that his soul resided in his son’s body, but he wasn’t complaining.
“I believe you,” Melissa said.
He turned to the tall young woman with blonde hair. The Earth Enchanter. She impressed him with her amazing invisibility talent. She could also make her body turn into a rock. He couldn’t wait to use her power. “You do?” he asked.
“I never believed anything the Elders said. I hated following the rules. Even when Savina showed us her story, I never understood why she never sided with you.”
“And the others?” He made a sweeping gesture with his hand.
“We were working undercover for our own good,” Maggie spoke. “Savina only wanted what was good for her. She killed several of our people.”
He reached inside Maggie’s and Melissa’s minds, reading their thoughts. They weren’t lying. “Interesting. I had hoped to have all of the Elemental Enchanters here with me now.” He glanced at Xavier and Sorcha.
“We can get an army together and go after them,” Xavier said. “Sorcha weakened them all. It’ll be easy.”
Havok hated his arrogance. “The Elders still have their powers, Xavier. Or have you forgotten?”
“No. But we can trick them.”
He held up his hand. “No. I know Savina has declared war. Let them come and find us. I’m a patient man and when they come, I have plans for them.”
Xavier’s eyebrows drew together. “So we’re supposed to just sit here and wait?”
Havok’s patience was wearing thin. “We will be training our new members. And once I have all of the Elementals, that is when we will force the Ephemerals and the renegade Enchanters to obey us. We will create a better world. The Ephemerals have ruled long enough. It is our time and anyone who stands in our way will be obliterated.”
The entire room erupted into applause filling Havok with immense pride. He would finally carry out his family’s objective once and for all.
TENSION
The wind howled in frenzy, whipping up leaves, like a blender. The skies were gray and not a single bird perched on the bare branches. A thick fog loomed low to the ground in the early morning.
Ava Hannigan hugged herself against the brisk wind and gritted her teeth. She hated the cold. It made her miserable. She stood behind a thick crowd of people dressed in black, trying to avoid the gravestones that jutted out of the ground.
An agonized scream resonated in the air, startling her.
Ava looked up and saw Seth’s mom crying as her husband held her. Her heart dropped into the pit of her stomach. Seth had died in a war and his parents had no idea. Savina made them believe he had died in a car accident. They didn’t know Seth was one of the Ephemerals that Devon Maunsell and Xavier Holstone had made into a half Enchanter, along with Link and Nicole. They didn’t know that Seth’s best friend, Peter McNabb, was a Paramortal, an Ephemeral with protection powers. They also didn’t know that both belonged to the strongest coven of Enchanters. All they knew was that Seth was a normal high school kid with normal problems.
Peter bowed his head, his immense guilt penetrated each of the empathetic necklaces. In his mind, since he was a protector, he should have stopped the Cimmerians from kidnapping Melissa, Jeremy, Joss, Maggie, Kira and Zhan and prevented any physical harm or death. No matter how many times Ava tried to reason with him, he still felt responsible. He got like that when anyone thought of their missing friends, which seemed to be every second.
Ava grabbed his hand. She focused on the leaves that had fallen to the ground. A vibrant red color stained an oak leaf. The golden yellow and fire orange colors competed with each other for a maple leaf but it looked like the orange had won. Then a crumpled brown leaf landed beside her boot. It looked so brittle that even the slightest breeze could shatter it into a million pieces.
She didn’t want to be there. She was eighteen and her life seemed like one long funeral. In the past week, they had one for Alena, Esteban, and Colden. Ava swallowed the lump that formed in her throat. She couldn’t think of Colden without feeling betrayed, angry, and sad. But it wasn’t Colden that betrayed them. He was innocent. It was Corbin, who now called himself Havok, who had her mother, Luci, murdered. Who burned her and her father’s house. Who convinced Thomas to burn his own house and kill his father in the process. Who got Gillian to persuade an Ephemeral to go on a shooting spree and then kill himself. He’d convinced Ava to see a Necromancer and invoke a spirit that killed Colden so that Corbin’s soul could prevail. He’d then started a war, kidnapping several of their members, and leaving the rest of them powerless except the Elders, Peter, and Lance.
Ava clutched her garnet pendant, wishing for any sign of life from Jeremy, Melissa, Joss, or any of them.
But she felt nothing.
She wanted Havok dead. He had been the one torturing her ever since she was a child. He had tormented all of them. Everyone thought he was dead, but his soul had been existing inside Colden’s body for years, until Ava released him.
Her stomach twisted at the memory. Her stupid stubbornness led her to a Necromancer all so she could talk to Luci, who was a Cimmerian. It got her nowhere. She learned nothing except that Luci was a liar and swore Ava’s soul to Havok. Whatever that meant. How could she have done that to her only child? Everyone said Luci loved her fiercely, but Ava began to doubt it.
Nevertheless, promised soul or not, Ava would kill Havok and save her friends even if it was the last thing she ever did. She had gotten them into this mess, and she would get them out.
A strong gust of wind knocked into her and she stiffened from the piercing cold. Her fiery red hair whipped around her face. Peter squeezed her gloved hand, warming her, and she relaxed. She would give anything to be able to make herself warm again. No matter how many layers she wore, the November cold still found its way to her thin body. She couldn’t remember when it had gotten that cold, unless their weak bodies made it worse.
Mr. McNabb, Link, Nicole, Lance, and Thomas stood beside them, huddled together. She was surprised that her ex, Thomas, came to Seth’s funeral. But he had changed. They all had. She wasn’t sure how Lance handled being at a funeral when Melissa, his girlfriend, was missing. It was the first time Ava had seen them apart. She couldn’t imagine what that felt like, but she could feel his utter sorrow, even though he tried to hide it. She knew Gillian was too distraught over Jeremy’s kidnapping to come to the funeral, but she wished she had come and at least been with the group. Although, Gillian had blamed the kidnappings on Peter in the heat of the moment. Ava wondered if she still felt that way.
The priest finally finished his sermon, and Seth’s parents made their way toward Peter and Ava.
Seth’s mother shook her head and tears streamed down her reddened face. Wrinkles surrounded her beady blue eyes. Ava imagined they used to be a vibrant color, so full of life. But they looked dull and lifeless now. “Thank you for coming, Peter. You were always such a good friend to him. He was very lucky.”
Peter’s sorrow radiated. He nodded. “Yeah. He was a great friend.” A tear slid down his cheek, and Ava squeezed his hand.
Seth’s parents walked away and Peter broke down. Ava wrapped her arms around him. She didn’t know what to say or do.
“Oh, Peter,” Mr. McNabb said. He was always so jubilant, but since learning of Seth’s passing, he’d been somber, as expected. He squeezed Peter’s shoulder. “May you never forget what is worth remembering, nor ever remember what is best forgotten.”
Peter cleared up his tears. “Thanks, Dad.”
“Good words to live by,” Link Harris said as he, Nicole, Lance, and Thomas gathered in a circle.
Ava wished she could follow that advice. Perhaps one day she could. She looked around at all their solemn faces. Every one of them had watery eyes and were shivering. No one was used to the cold yet.
“Are you riding with me or Ava?” Mr. McNabb asked Peter.
“I’ll ride with Ava. She can take me home later.”
His father nodded. “I’ll see you later.” He walked away.
Peter loosened his tie and shook his head. “I’ve gotta tell him. He needs to know what really happened. He needs to know what I am.”
Ava squeezed his hand. “Okay. I can try and help if you want me to be there.”
“Maybe.”
“I’ve not told my parents,” Link said. “Not even sure how.”
Nicole nodded, her dark brown hair was hidden beneath a beanie. Her cheeks flushed, maybe from the harsh wind. “I know. How do you tell your parents the reason for screaming in your sleep is because you were abducted and made into a Halfling?”
Link took her hand in his and his eyes met hers. “We’ll figure it out.”
“My dad can help,” Ava said. “He had to tell his parents.”
Relief came over Nicole’s face. “That would be great.”
“Let’s go,” Thomas said. “It’s freezing out here.”
The group made their way to Lance’s SUV. They were quiet on the way back to the Manor, but Ava knew they were all thinking about the same things. Thomas was ashamed that he accidentally killed his father. Lance lamented Melissa, and wished there was a way he could have saved her. Link and Nicole’s depression added to the pile of emotions.
Ava still felt responsible for everything that had happened. Savina said Corbin’s soul would have eventually taken over, but how much longer could it have lasted? Ava quickened the process by her own stubbornness.
They arrived at Blackhart Manor, where all of the Aureoles stayed. The hundreds of southern pines that surrounded the Manor were the only trees that still held onto their colors, while the other trees were bare. At the entrance of the gothic mansion, through the wrought iron gate, was a beautiful vibrant garden. Holly berry bushes lined a small path to the door, while snow-white chrysanthemums mingled with orchids, red roses, yellow lilies, and a rainbow of carnations.
Ava had to stop and look at the array of colors—it was an amazing beauty to see such colors, especially this time of year. She inhaled the sweet smells of the various flowers and savored it. Savina kept the flowers so perfect.
But then Ava thought of Kira, the Enchanter who could produce venom, and who always tended to the garden. Who managed the garden since Kira had been kidnapped?
Ava pushed the wooden arched door open and entered the warm home. She felt less intimidated by the Manor since she had been living there for the last few months. Its grandness had grown on her, from the intricate designs and cathedral ceilings to the enormous staircase and glass ceilinged conservatory.
She removed her beanie and untied her scarf as she and Peter ascended the stairs to her room.
Ava hadn’t done much in the week after the fight. She slept off and on for two straight days right after the battle and hadn’t eaten much. On the third day, Savina, Aaron, and Gustav explained to them that everyone was safe and that Havok would not kill them. As if that would make them all feel warm and fuzzy inside. How could they know that for sure? Had Havok sent a message letting them know they got to Caprington okay? On the fourth day, Ava stayed in her room, perched on the bench window in the alcove. Her hand clutched around her pentagram necklace, hopelessly waiting to feel Melissa, Jeremy, or Joss. And then today, they attended several funerals. All she wanted to do was sleep until her powers came back. She was useless until then.
Ava’s necklace warmed from Peter’s anguish.
“I’m so sorry.” He rubbed his eyes. His disheveled brown hair brushed the top of his white collar of his button down shirt and his choppy bangs came to his thick eyebrows. He stood a few inches taller than Ava and had a thin muscular build.
She peered into his chestnut-colored eyes and took his warm hand in hers. “Peter, please stop apologizing. You are not responsible for the deaths or the kidnappings. I’m sorry about Seth.”
“Your hands are freezing.” He placed his over hers projecting warmth, just like she had done to him the day she first showed him her ability at the beach. With Peter’s regenerating gift, he remained unscathed from the battle, and still had his powers.
Ava half smiled.
“What?”
“I find it interesting how our roles have pretty much reversed.” She moved to the bed and he followed.
“You’ll get your powers back soon.”
“I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“I don’t know what
I’d
do without
you
. All of my friends are gone.”
An aching stab of guilt shot through Ava. Valerie and Amanda’s minds had been erased of Seth and Peter since Trudy McVaine attacked them. Seth had died. Peter had lost every bit of his former Ephemeral life, except for his father. “I never meant for any of this to happen. I was selfish when I asked you to become an Enchanter.”
“Ava.” His voice was rough and tired. “I wanted this.”
She met his eyes.
“I still want this. More than ever.” He reached up and moved a strand of hair behind her ear. He pulled her close and kissed her. She loved the way his soft lips brushed against hers. They were always warm and inviting, just like him. She closed her eyes and welcomed the surge of electricity throughout her body. Each look, each touch, each kiss meant something more now than before. They had faced death and the possibility of being apart from each other for however long.
“I love you, Peter.” She rested her forehead against his.
“I love you. I never want to lose you. You’re all I have.”
“You won’t.”
“They were so close.” Tears clouded his eyes. “If they had taken you, I would have gone after them. I would have done whatever it took to get you back.”
Ava gently touched his cheek. “They didn’t take me. They never will.” Their lips met, but then an overwhelming sadness and anger invaded their kiss followed by Peter’s regret. Gillian’s sadness. Ava grasped her empathetic necklace. It was to be used for protection, but since her coven was still young, they hadn’t mastered hiding their feelings.
He drew back with a sigh. “Will she always hate me?”
“No. But you can’t always let their feelings take over,” she said, even though she was a little embarrassed for being this way with him when others couldn’t be with their loved ones.
Peter lay back on the bed and Ava curled up next to him. Kissing the top of her head, he rested his arm around her. She wanted to sleep, but feared the nightmares. Peter had always protected her from them, but he hadn’t stayed with her since the night of the battle.
“I miss Colden,” she said.
He squeezed her. “I know. How are you handling that?”
She lifted a shoulder. “I did a terrible thing. I am responsible for all of this. If I hadn’t gone to the Necromancer, none of this would have happened.”
“You don’t know that for certain. Didn’t Colden convince you to go?”
Ava shook her head. “It wasn’t him. I don’t even know when it was Colden or Corbin. He could have been Corbin the whole time.” Her vision blurred from the tears. “He could have been tricking me the whole time.”
“I’m sure it was Colden most of the time. Did he ever seem off?”