Under the Winter Sun (Elemental Enchanters Series Book 3) (35 page)

Arms grasped around Ava like a bear. A hand covered her mouth, and she felt breath in her ear. A larger man held Gabriel’s arms behind his back, though Gabriel’s eyes locked onto Ava.

“Mmm, this brings back memories, doesn’t it?” Xavier whispered in Ava’s ear. “I believe I remember you liking it when I kissed your neck. You tasted so…delicious.”

Ava clenched her teeth but didn’t struggle against him. Gabriel jerked forth, escaping his captor. He lunged for Xavier, but he stopped and stumbled. Ava knew Xavier placed his shadow over Gabriel. The Cimmerian picked up Gabriel.

Xavier clicked his teeth. “It’s pointless to even try.” He breathed in the scent from her hair. “I wonder if you’re as good as your blonde friend.”

Ava wanted to break his neck, but she didn’t fight. She turned off her emotions and made eye contact with Gillian, Thomas, and Lance. None of them struggled.

“We won’t fight you,” Thomas said.

“Good.” Xavier pushed Ava in front of him, but held her disturbingly close. The larger Cimmerian still held Gabriel, and they forced their prisoners toward the castle.

As they walked, Ava saw Aidan and Ronan motionless. Anastasya’s body was nearby and then Shannon’s. She felt nothing. The rest of the group was escorted in by Cimmerians. She didn’t see Savina or Aaron or Gustav.

They marched on a long wooden bridge across the moat, which lead to the lake on the left. The guards pushed open two enormous doors and they entered the castle. The ceiling was high arched. It was like they had traveled back in time to a medieval fortress. The walls were made of a gray stone, and the guards guided them through thick crowds of people shouting and jeering. Through the corridor, they entered a room with tall backed chairs in the front. More Cimmerians congregated on both sides of the dark room with polished wooden floors.

Ava found the man who created this hysteria in the center chair grinning ominously. His black eyes penetrated her. Colden stood before them, but it was just his body. The doors behind them closed, echoing defeat. 

A group of Cimmerians moved from the crowd, and stood behind Havok. Ava portrayed no emotion as Melissa stood beside Havok as if she belonged there. Ava believed she saw a flicker of recognition in Melissa’s green eyes, but it was gone within seconds. Sorcha and Eve stood next to Melissa along with a tall man with shoulder length blonde hair and brown eyes. Jeremy, Joss, Kira, and Maggie stood next to them, confidently. 

There was something different about Jeremy. He didn’t look like the nice innocent boy Ava knew. There was an edge to him, visible in his assertive stance and the cold look in his eyes.

Xavier removed his hand from Ava’s mouth, but still held her close.

“I’m so glad to see you all.” Havok stood and clasped his hands together. “Xavier, you can let Ava go.”

“She’s my prisoner.”

Havok’s eyes sliced to Xavier. “I said release her,” he said venomously. Xavier let her go and stepped back. “Our prisoners aren’t going anywhere. Savina.” He said her name as if he missed her. He stared at her, and Ava saw sadness in his eyes. “It is always so great to see you.” His voice was smooth, but cold.

“Let us go, Havok,” she said.

“But you came to me. Surely, you knew what would happen. Are we going to fight? Again? I prefer not to waste such time.”

“Afraid we’ll conquer you again?” Aaron asked.

Havok laughed. “Yes, your conquering was short lived out there.” He paced in front of them. “You know what I want. No more deaths if you give me your Elemental Enchanters. You have to stay out of my way, however. It’s a fair deal.”

Ava opened her mouth to speak, but Savina beat her. “You will have to fight us. You will not take any of us.”

He waved his hand, and Savina fell to her knees with a cry. Ava had never seen her in pain, but she didn’t react. None of the Elementals did.

Ava inhaled and swallowed the lump in her throat. “We join you, Havok.” With those simple words, she felt the eyes of a hundred people on her, including Havok’s. She heard gasps from those behind her and murmured whispers of her treachery.

“Ava, don’t,” she heard Gabriel mumble under his breath.

“Well, now this is certainly a turn of events. But I must ask, why?”

“They are too weak for me,” she said, holding Havok’s eyes. “They do nothing but betray me.”

“It’s such a shame that they treated you unkindly,” he said. “I’m glad you finally understand. And you all feel this way?”

“I do,” Thomas said.

Lance moved forward. “Yes.”

Gillian held her head high. “I want to join.”

Their group gasped, and Ava felt their stares. Havok looked at her as if he were reading her mind. Just like Gabriel told her, she gave him what he wanted to see. That she was fully on board with becoming a Cimmerian. “Fascinating.” He clapped his hands. “None of you are lying. Well, I am glad you are willing to join. Welcome.” He swept his arm inviting them to stand next to him. 

Ava stepped forward but Gabriel grabbed her by the elbow. She jerked her arm back and made her way to stand next to Havok, proudly. Her eyes fell on Gabriel’s, and neither of them broke away. She felt Melissa take her hand and squeeze it. She knew Melissa was still herself.

“Now,” Havok continued.

“They’re faking this,” Aaron yelled. “Don’t you see?” he stepped forward, but with a flick of Havok’s hand, Aaron flew through the air and crashed to the ground. Several Enchanters tensed and made a jerking motion, but Havok held up his hand.

“I wouldn’t try a thing. My man, Benjamin, has negated your powers. And you are sorely outnumbered.”

“I want to join!” Gabriel blurted.

Natalia flinched and Moira held her mouth open, but Gabriel’s eyes never strayed from Ava.

“Oh Gabriel, I almost didn’t see you. It has been a long time. While I do miss your gift, you deserted us.”

“I made a mistake.” His eyes flickered to Havok.

“Yes. But I think I could find another who would serve me unconditionally.”

“You only wanted the Elemental Enchanters,” Savina said, her voice weary. “Let the others go.”

“You honestly believe I’m that dense?” Havok asked, his lips turned up in a dangerous smile. “You think I just want the Elementals? Dear dear. You have it all wrong. I’m taking all of you as my prisoners.” He sauntered toward Savina. “To torture every single one of you, the way you all tortured us. That’s how it works. Did you honestly think I would relent easily?”

“You should take them all,” Ava said in a cold, dead voice. She almost didn’t recognize herself. “They can add to your army. There are strong ones here.”

“I like the way you think. I’m afraid, however, I’m going to have to dispose of a few,” he said as his eyes swept over Gabriel and Aaron. He placed a hand on Savina’s shoulder. She looked up at him like a child looking at her father. “You were always my child, Savina. But you abandoned me and betrayed me.”

She cried out in pain once more, and Ava watched her sink to the ground. Havok knelt beside her and whispered something in her ear.

“No. You promised you wouldn’t.” Tears rolled down her cheeks. Her eyes begged him.

Ava saw Moira grab Gabriel’s arm as water pooled in her eyes. But Ava felt nothing.

“You brought this on yourself, Savina. You and Colden. I warned you, and yet you still fight me every step of the way. If only you had united with me. If only you understood.”

Savina struggled to stand. “You will not take them. You will not win.” She stared at him with such hatred and contempt. But then she strained and a vein protruded on her forehead. Blood trickled from her nose.

“You cannot use your powers. They have been negated. Though, I had hoped it wouldn’t have come to this.” He raised his hand, but Aaron grabbed Savina and pulled her behind him. Havok merely smirked. And then two Cimmerians jerked Aaron away from Savina, their hands slipping from each other’s grasps.

“You see, I have already won,” Havok said. “And I have no use for you.” He took Savina’s hand in his, and she looked back at Aaron. She fell limp in Havok’s arms. She gasped for air, and her body contorted.

“No!” Aaron cried and struggled with the two Cimmerians.

Then Savina’s eyes closed.

Havok’s face fell as he carefully eased her to the floor. Ava heard several cries and whimpers, but she felt no sadness. No anger. Nothing.

“Savina!” Aaron cried and rushed to her. He held her lifeless body in his lap and touched her face. Tears streamed down his face. “How could you have killed your daughter?” His voice was a deep growl. “How could you have killed both of your children? They loved you.”

“And they betrayed me!” Havok raised his voice. “I had no choice.”

“There’s always a choice. You will burn for this. A thousand deaths you will burn.”

Ava had never seen Aaron act so menacing.

“Take him away.” He flicked his wrist at his guards. “And take her to the sepulcher. She is to have a proper burial.”

Ava turned to stare out into the sea of Enchanters. Some of her coven members wept while others stood with angry glares as Cimmerians still detained them.

“If you all swear your allegiance to me, you will not be tortured,” Havok said.

“I could work on Gabriel,” Eve said with a wicked grin as she stepped down and walked in front of Gabriel. She reached up to touch his cheek, but he turned his head away from her. “He just needs warming up.” She jerked his face to look at her and then planted a kiss on his lips. When she pulled away, Gabriel set his jaw and stared at Ava.

“Well, that was romantic,” Havok said, obviously bored.

Eve turned back to him with a pout. “Can he join?”

He sighed. “Very well. But he must pay for his desertion. Does anyone else wish to join?”

After a few moments of silence, Eric cleared his throat. “I will swear my allegiance.”

“Lovely. Anyone else?”

“We will,” Peter said, nodding toward Katarina.

“Excellent. Take the rest to their cells.”

The guards took Moira, Natalia, Aaron, Gustav, Sean, and Konstantin away while the crowd filed out of the room.

“I’m such a happy man right now.” Havok smiled, looking at his new Enchanters. “You all must be so exhausted. I have rooms for you. But before that, Klaus will take you to our lab.”

“For what?” Thomas asked.

“For a little memory alteration.” Havok gave a sinister grin.

A burly man with black curly hair grabbed Ava, and other guards took the Elementals, Eric, Peter and Katarina. They headed down a corridor into a small room with soft yellow lights. Ava hadn’t expected this. She had no way out of it either since Benjamin, the power negator, came with them.

The door closed behind them and the guards stood against the wall. The room was too small for the amount of people and the four dentist-looking chairs. Ava swallowed hard but maintained her composure.

“Is this necessary?” Thomas asked. “We want to be on Havok’s side.”

“Yes, but he can never be too sure.” A man with black hair and piercing green eyes said. He wore a lab coat as if he were a real doctor. “I’m Klaus, and I’m here to take your memory away.” He said it like they were about to have a root canal.

A man forced Ava in a chair and strapped her down. They did the same with Gillian, Thomas, and Lance. Peter, Katarina, and Eric waited, but Ava could see the fear in Peter’s eyes.

Klaus lifted Gillian’s arm, and picked up a syringe filled with a clear liquid.

Ava couldn’t watch. She remained emotionless, and closed her eyes. Ava would never see her father again. She forced the tears deep down inside. She had made the biggest mistake of her life.

She thought of Gabriel and the way her heart exploded when his lips touched hers. She wasn’t sure how he could ever forgive her. He couldn’t save her this time. She didn’t know who she would be without her memories. They couldn’t kill Havok or carry out their plan.

Ava felt a hand grab her arm, and her eyes opened. “This won’t hurt at all but you will be rather…numb and exhausted afterward.” Klaus wrapped a rubber tourniquet around her arm. He held up a needle and tapped it. She glanced at Gillian, who gave her a reassuring look. Klaus placed the needle to her vein and pushed the clear liquid inside.

Her heart raced. She memorized the feel of Gabriel’s arms around her. His smooth voice. The sexy sound of his quiet laugh. The feel of his soft lips on her neck. The way his beautiful eyes amorously gazed into hers. She couldn’t help the tear that fell out of her eye.

Klaus placed both hands against her temple and stared into her eyes.
You are an Elemental Enchanter. You have the ability to control water. Use it to defeat the Cimmerians and Havok. Keep up the ruse. You must make him believe you have lost your memories. You all are the answer to end this.

He removed his hands and moved to Thomas. She felt the effects of whatever Klaus had injected in her. Her body felt heavy and she had a hard time keeping her eyes open.

But she understood what Klaus said. The same thing her mother said in all of those dreams.
Join them. If you don’t, everyone will die.
Convince the others to swear their allegiance and they would kill Havok.