When Darkness Fell: An Elemental Enchanters Story (6 page)

“Here are your dinners.” A young black girl placed steaming bowls in front of us. She had a gleam in her eyes, and she seemed different. I could feel something strong emanating from her, but I did not know what.

“Thank you,” Colden said, and then we kept our heads down and ate.

I wanted to ask him if he felt anything from the girl or anyone, but I would wait until we retreated to our rooms. We hurried through our dinner, as usual. The quicker we ate, the faster we could leave the noisiness. I wondered if we would even be able to sleep through the clamor.

I lifted the spoon to my mouth and then felt a cold liquid travel down my back. I froze as a man touched my shoulder. I could tell Colden tensed as well.

“I am terribly sorry,” the man said. “Here is a towel.” He spoke with an unfamiliar accent, slow and careful drawl. Again, I felt that strong presence as I did with the young girl. He handed me the towel and Colden snatched it from him.

“Thank you.” The way he said it, I knew he wanted the man to leave us alone. He had always been very protective since Corbin changed, rightfully so. Most times, I appreciated it, but when I looked up and met the man’s russet eyes, my heart skipped a beat. His short, dark hair looked almost black and his beard only covered a little of his square face. He was handsome. I had not felt anything for a man since George, and I could not involve myself with anyone.

He leaned down and kissed my hand. “I am Aaron,” he said.

I felt my cheeks redden, but I was thankful for the dim lights. “I am Savina.” I smiled, but then Colden cleared his throat. Aaron released my hand. I had crossed a line.

Aaron reached to shake Colden’s hand but Colden ignored it and stood from the table. “Come, Sister.”

“Thank you for the towel,” I said to Aaron. “We must retire for the evening.”

“It was very nice to meet you.” Aaron smiled as Colden grasped my hand.

Once we entered our room, he began his pacing, signaling his frustration. “Savina, how could you tell him your name?”

“I am sorry. I did not mean to.”

“You are too trusting. We must be careful.”

“Colden, please do not be angry. I felt something from him.”

“Savina, do not fall in love with him. Remember George?”

Hearing his name in a warning stung. “Of course I do. How dare you ask that?”

He sighed. “I am sorry.”

“I meant I felt something strong. From him and the young girl who brought our food. There is something strange about them. I feel their strength. More than an Ephemeral.”

Colden halted. “Are they Enchanters?”

“I do not know.”

“They could be part of Corbin’s army and you gave your name.”

“Do not be paranoid, Colden. If they were part of Corbin’s army they would have seized us by now.”

He dropped his gaze. “How can you trust them without effort?”

“I can read their minds. Not well, but I can tell they are good.”

He shook his head. “You cannot tell after having met them once. You do not know them.”

“Perhaps we should get to know them. We need to build our own coven.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Colden, we cannot keep doing this forever. Eventually, we need to fight back.”

“No, we do not. We have done fine for ourselves for several decades. Why stop now?”

“How can we fight Corbin with just the two of us?”

“I cannot fight,” he raised his voice. “I cannot help the Ephemerals. I have nothing to offer.”

Tears clouded my vision as I watched my frustrated brother continue pacing. I wished for something, anything that would help him. I also could not figure out why he was so hesitant to create our own coven.

Days passed as we stayed at the inn. As usual, we kept to ourselves, even out in the town. But every time I saw Aaron, my heart jumped to my throat. We stole glances at every moment and exchanged smiles. It was dangerous and foolish. Each night I lay down to sleep, I could not forget Aaron and his easy smile and polite manner. There was something about him.

On the last night of our stay, I crept out of my room and walked downstairs to the empty bar and diner of the inn. The lights had been turned off save for a few. It was quiet, which is what I sought. I longed for a place to call home, and the inn gave me a comfort I had not felt in ages. I wanted to stay, but I knew Colden would not allow it.

“The Innkeeper has retired for the evening.” I knew it was Aaron His accent was unmistakable.

I turned around and found him sitting alone at a table. “I came down for water.”

“You came to the right place.” He stood and moved toward me. Heat pricked beneath my cheeks. I looked up at him and sensed that strong presence. My pulse quickened. “Are you hungry?”

“A little.” I was not, but I wanted to spend time with him.

“Excellent. How about I make us something?”

“Sounds great.”

I watched him walk behind the bar counter and disappeared through a door. He returned carrying some meat and a loaf of bread. “Where did you travel from?” he asked.

“A small village. In Scotland. Have you always lived here?”

He took a knife and carved slices from the large chunk of meat. Our eyes met, and it was as if he took my breath away. My heart skipped a beat. He was like no other man I had ever seen. And the way he spoke made me feel something I had not felt since I was with George. He made me feel safe and comfortable.

“Ow!” he cried and dropped the knife. I looked down and blood covered his finger. He moved to the sink and ran his hand under water. I jumped out of my seat and reached for his hand. I waved mine over his and focused my energy on it. The skin reattached itself little by little and the bleeding stopped. I smiled, feeling proud, like I always did when I healed someone.

But then I froze.

Aaron gasped. “You healed me. That was incredible.”

“Forgive me. I-I must go.” I turned to leave but he grabbed my hand.

“Please do not be afraid.”

I hesitated. I could not believe I had healed this stranger’s hand. He could have been an Ephemeral, or worse an Enchanter in Corbin’s army. He made me forget I was supposed to be in hiding. What had I done? I needed to give him one of my potions that made him forget what had happened. Made him forget me.

“Savina, I assure you, it is okay. For I am like you.”

“What?”

“I, too, have powers. I can amplify or decrease your powers. I also control my body temperature. I am stronger than an Ephemeral by far. I can tell you are different from an Ephemeral. I am an Enchanter.”

My breath hitched. Intrigued, I wanted to learn more about Aaron, but I feared he was my enemy. I should have left, but I had to find out the truth. I wanted to read his mind, but I always tried to respect others and their private thoughts. I also was not focused enough as we stood there staring at each other, my heart seconds from breaking through my chest.

“I have never seen a Healer before.”

“My mother was one,” I blurted.

“How fascinating. Tell me, have you mastered mind reading yet? I have been trying to learn but I need more practice.” He spoke with such eagerness about his abilities. I had never met anyone like that.

“Very little.”

“Perhaps you could train me. Gustav is not very patient with me.”

“Gustav?”

“He is my oldest friend. From Russia.”

“What can he do?”

Aaron smirked. “Something quite fascinating. He can reach inside your mind and overload it by causing pain, memory loss. He can make you faint and has actually killed people by creating such a link to their mind.”

I had no words. I had no idea someone could perform such a task. And it sounded like someone perfect for Corbin’s army.

“You should meet him. And the rest of my coven. They would love to meet you and your brother.”

I stepped back. “My brother and I are not staying. We are to leave in the morning.”

He frowned. “Why must you go so soon?”

“We are travelers. We never stay in one place for long.”

Aaron studied me for a moment, stroking the short hair on his chin. “Who are you running from?”

I could not level my breathing. I knew he was adding it up in his head. My name and my behavior. He knew who I was. I moved back another step. “I never said we were running.”

“I have met people like you. The way you both keep to yourselves gives it away.”

“I should not be talking to you.”

He furrowed his eyebrows. “Savina, I promise you I will not hurt you. I am sorry for pressuring you. I am eager to know you. I have not met such a beautiful woman before.”

I loved hearing him say that, but I needed to test his honesty and I needed to know who he was. “My brother Colden and I are descendants of Corbin Havok.”

Fear set in his eyes, and his jaw went slack. I should not have said a word. I told him too much information, and I needed to leave. But I could not make myself. I was not afraid of Aaron.

And then his face relaxed into a sympathetic look. “I am sorry. Corbin has killed so many Ephemerals and our own kind. I never thought I would cross paths with his descendants. I cannot imagine having a tyrant for a father. Have you and Colden always traveled alone?”

“Yes. We have always kept to ourselves for fear of being found out and taken back to Corbin.”

“I assure you my friends and I will do no such thing. Actually, we have been trying to think of a way to kill him.”

“You have?”

“Of course. Someone must stop him.”

“Colden and I have been trying to come up with a way as well.”

“Do you know why he is doing this?”

“No. But I believe his sister, Veronica, is responsible. She brainwashed him into feeling and thinking this way. She said Ephemerals killed her daughter.”

“That is strange. Mary is very much alive; however, Veronica has been dead for a few decades.”

I was shocked. Veronica was dead and Mary was alive. I could not believe my ears. I knew Veronica was lying. But what had happened that made Corbin snap so suddenly?

“You did not know?”

I shook my head. “I always thought it was Veronica manipulating him. Why would she lie about her daughter? And who or what could it be that made Corbin start this?”

“Stories have it that he was taking revenge on anyone because his children abandoned him after spreading diseases among the Ephemerals. Clearly, I see you and your brother are hiding from him and you both look like you have been for years. I can also tell you are both good.”

“Corbin blamed me for the deaths in that village. He killed so many.” My vision blurred as I thought back to that dreadful night of the burning. The night George died. I closed my eyes and then I felt Aaron’s arms around me. I stiffened, but then relaxed into him. I breathed in his earthy scent.

“It is okay, Savina. You are safe here.” I believed him.

“What is going on?” I heard Colden’s voice.

I withdrew from Aaron’s embrace and wiped my tears. “He is like us, Colden.”

“What do you mean?” He held a cold look in his eyes as he moved closer toward us.

Aaron raised his hands in surrender. “I mean no harm. We all want the same thing. To end this war and to kill Corbin Havok.”

“Do you know how difficult that task will be?” Colden asked. “Corbin is very strong and has an enormous army.”

“I do. And we have fought them a few times already. We have a coven and it continues to grow. We could one day be as strong if not stronger than his army.”

“Perhaps. We are not interested in warring with him.”

“Colden, we must. Do you not want to end this?”

He looked to me. “Yes of course I do.” I could feel his anxiety.

“What is it?”

“I do not like the idea of war. I cannot lose you, Savina.”

I knew he was afraid to lose me, especially after losing his father. He had always felt like an outsider with his limited abilities. I took his hand. “Colden.” His dark eyes softened. “You will never lose me. I am your sister and I will always be here by your side. Your battles are mine. We will end this war and live in peace one day.”

He nodded. “As long as you are by my side.”

“Always, dear brother.”

Colden looked to Aaron. “My apologies for my attitude.”

“Please. Do not worry.”

“May we meet your coven?”

“Of course.”

“Then perhaps we can finally end this darkness and kill Corbin.”

Colden and I decided to stay in that small town and make a home. We met several other Enchanters who all had extraordinary gifts. Enchanters from all over. Maggie Zhang who could transform her arms into any kind of weapon. Alena Gorshkov who could deprive a person of oxygen with a simple touch. The Gutierrez siblings, Maya, Lucia, Esteban, Diego, Carmen, and Rosario. Each had a unique ability from turning objects or people into stone to morphing to path finding to manipulating weather. The coven could do incredible things.