The Equinox

by K. K. Allen

  Rose shudders. This conversation is clearly taking a toll on her. “Your mom was an Equinox, Katrina, but not evil. She may not have even known what she was. If she did, she never spoke of it. I studied her and I would have never let her live with my family if I hadn’t known in my heart that she was good—and so are you.”

  “What happened to her parents? Why was she alone?” My voice shakes now with sadness for my mom. No wonder she kept me locked up all those years.

  Rose shakes her head. “I don’t know. I tried to track them down. Isaac helped me for the longest time too, but we couldn’t find any trace of them. It was like they just vanished into thin air.” Rose looks angry now as she continues. “But someone stripped your mom of her power and left her to die at sea. It’s a miracle that Isaac found her when he did.” Rose’s hand lands on the chair arm and she looks as though she’s catching her breath. Charlotte moves quickly toward her and holds her hand.

  I wait for Rose to regain her energy before asking another question. “What does that mean for me?”

  A defeated expression clouds her face. “It means that you have Equinox blood. You have a vulnerability that Erebus will possess if we don’t find that pendant.”

  The thought of an evil murderer possessing my body creates a wave of emotions that I don’t want to deal with—ever. “You both talk about an engraving on the pendant, but I never saw one.”

  Rose sighs. “I cloaked it, a long time ago. I instructed your mom to wear it at all times to keep her safe. She was stubborn so I eventually had to brand it to her. The only reason she could remove the pendant was to give it to you. I made sure that you received the same protection when you were old enough to need it.”

  So it was Rose. Rose is the reason I have the pendant now—or rather, had the pendant. Strange that Isaac didn’t know that detail.

  “Did my dad—Paul—know about her?”

  Rose flinches. “That’s something I’d really not like to get into right now.”

  “Oh no you don’t, Rose.” Charlotte is on her feet. “You tell Kat exactly what happened. She knows enough now and you can’t keep on with these secrets—and I want to know too.” Charlotte sits back down and I give her a grateful look.

  Rose glares at Charlotte. “Fine. After your parents married, your father was excited to reveal himself but I encouraged him not to. I wasn’t sure how your mom would take it, being what we were. I didn’t know if it would trigger her memory and I never wanted him to know what she was. Paul takes his role as Enchanter very seriously.”

  Takes. The present tense of the word takes on much more meaning than I think Rose realizes, but I keep this thought to myself.

  “Once you were born he was no longer able to hold back. Your date of birth held so much significance. He wanted your mom to share in the same excitement as he did. He revealed his true identity to your mom, and like my premonitions told me, she didn’t take it well. She feared that we were witches and took you far away, to Spring Lake, North Carolina, threatening to expose our family if we went near you.”

  This is the first time I allow sad thoughts of my father to consume me. There is so much love, loss, and heartbreak in that story.

  “But he still isn’t around.” Tears come to my eyes and I stand up. “Even after she died—even after I came to live with you—he still hasn’t come around.”

  Angry now, I walk toward the stairs. This whole night has been too much, but our final conversation leaves me frustrated and angry. I’ve never felt such anger toward my father, but now it’s coming on strong. There’s anger for my mother in my thoughts too but I feel guilty for letting myself think them. She’s dead. She can’t defend herself, but how could she keep me away from my family for all of these years?

  And maybe I can understand why she pushed my father away long ago, but that gives him no excuse now. Where is he now that the Equinox threat is here? Why wouldn’t he be here for his family? For his community?

  I lay in bed tonight and sob for my mom, the Equinox—and for the first time in my life—my father.

  Chapter Eight

  The morning after is no better. My eyes are swollen, my body aches, and I’m groggy from lack of sleep. Of all days to have an audition at the Island Grille, it had to be the day after a snake attack, an Elder’s death, a run in with the king of all mermaids, and the discovery of my mother being an Equinox. Oh yeah, and now I’m part Equinox too. Great.

  I literally roll out of bed and throw on a pair of jean shorts and a tank top, pull my hair up in a ponytail, and brush my teeth.

  I don’t wear much makeup usually but today I feel it’s needed. Magic will help my puffy eyes, and my skin is already glowing from the previous day spent outside, but I add a touch of mascara and some lip gloss before heading out the door.

  The Island Grille is still closed when I get there. The main doors are locked so I walk around the porch, checking out the view. Massive trees covered top to root in the climbing kudzu vines, seal off the world behind it.

  “What are you doing?” A voice interrupts my thoughts and I jump.

  I turn and see Johnny peering at me from around the corner. “Come on. I need to count the till. You need to fold napkins.”

  “Fun,” I say under my breath but he doesn’t hear me. At least I don’t think he does. I follow him through the door and watch him lock them back up behind us.

  “There was a murder on the Island last night,” Johnny explains, as if I don’t already know. He hesitates a bit before continuing. “So Roy wants me to keep an eye on you today. We’ll just keep this locked until we open.”

  I agree quickly, not wanting to hear the awful story again, and I’m glad he doesn’t choose to elaborate.

  We enter the bar area of the restaurant and I see a basket filled with blue cloth napkins.

  “You can fold these, and then wrap the silverware, like this.” He takes a fork, knife, and spoon, places them in a folded napkin and rolls it until they are snug inside. I notice how strong and rough his hands are. They are different—bigger than Alec’s hands.

  “Okay,” I say and watch him walk off. At least he hasn’t glared at me yet. Maybe things are looking up.

  In seconds, I fold the first few napkins and frown at them. How boring. I glance up to see Johnny facing the other direction and just then an idea strikes me. With a smile, and a quick swoop of my hands I’ve folded the napkin into a sun. Then I take the silverware and place them into each of the slots. Much better. I smile, impressed with my creativity.

  It takes just a minute to complete the entire pile of napkins and I stand with a grin. Johnny is in front of me now. My head only reaches his collarbone so I have to lift my chin to look back at him. He stares down at me with an intensity that could fry an egg. I gasp and back up, hitting my back on the edge of the booth. “Ouch.”

  His eyes flicker down to the table; to my masterpiece. “What are you doing?” He lifts up one of the cloth suns, dangling it in front of his face, as if it’s dirt. “What is this?”

  My words are lost at first, then I swallow my nerves and stand up straighter. “Anyone can roll a napkin. These,” I wave one at him optimistically, “are fun.”

  With a shake of his wrist the napkin is undone and tossed on the table. “Fix them.”

  I drop into my seat, mouth agape. Johnny walks toward the kitchen and I am utterly speechless. I knew he was rude, but this crosses the line. Frustration and anger consume me, but as soon as he’s out of sight I wave my hands over the napkins, unwrapping them all and then rolling them the way Johnny wants.

  Not enough time has passed and I’m still fuming when I lift myself from the seat and march into the back to confront Johnny. He has no right to talk to me like that.

  As I push my way into the break room, ready to let him have it, I immediately freeze. He’s sliding a shirt over his head and I catch a quick glimpse of his bare stomach muscles. Before he’s covered I’ve already noticed the scar that starts at his side and moves toward his
back—that’s where my eye line stops. I should have turned away, or ran, anything else but stand here.

  He looks up with a jerk, seeing me stand there, staring at him with heat in my cheeks. “I—I’m sorry.”

  I imagine steam coming from his nose as he puffs out a breath of air and then tosses me something from across the room. When I open the balled up material I see a black tank top with the words Summer Island Grille.

  “Thank you.” The words are barely a whisper as they leave my mouth.

  Johnny just slides by me and walks out the door, allowing me to change in private.

  If he’s trying to deter me from choosing to work here, it’s working. Along with his lack of social skills, the Equinox killing people, and the newfound information about my mom being an Equinox, my emotions are high; I might shatter at any second.

  Moments pass and I debate whether or not a job here is worth it. I don’t want to quit but I definitely don’t want to work with Johnny.

  “Kat,” he says as I walk out of the break room. I say nothing, but walk toward him. He hands me a white stained cloth that smells of chlorine. “You can start wiping down the tables and setting the chairs out. We wipe them down at night and then again when we open.”

  I can’t help but notice his tone has lightened considerably but he’s a long way off from friendly. I reach for the towel, avoiding his eyes, and push through the kitchen doors. Happy to be away from him, I wipe down each table and place the chairs in their respective positions, right side up.

  He shows me how to enter a ticket into the system and charge a customer’s card when closing out a table. Meanwhile, I just listen and take it in, doing everything in my power to avoid eye contact or speaking to him. If I open my mouth to say anything, I know it won’t be nice.

  Roy walks in just as Johnny opens the doors. He grins happily. “Hey Kat. Don’t mess up.” Then he walks straight to the back, most likely to his office.

  Johnny is smirking, and I quickly look away, focusing my eyes on the first couple that enters.

  I find the job to be distracting, in a good way, as things pick up and more customers enter. At some point Johnny disappears and I’m helping both his customers and mine. I’m sure the move was purposeful, to push me to my breaking point, but I don’t mind the work. In fact, I find myself thriving from the chaos.

  When I pick up an order from the kitchen, I find Johnny and Roy near the break room chuckling at something the other said. I find it hard to imagine Johnny laughing with anyone but here he is, plain as day. He was friendly like this to the cook too. So why such the cold shoulder to me?

  Roy looks at me and waves. “Hey Kat. You’re doing good?”

  I nod my head and grab the hot plates that have just arrived for my table.

  Johnny approaches me with a weary look. “Those plates aren’t too hot for your hands? Most people wait a few minutes before touching them.”

  I shrug. “My hands are tough.”

  My heart flutters wildly in my chest, partially because of our proximity, and partially because I know that I might smack him if he says another rude thing to me.

  “You’re doing good. Thanks for covering for me. Roy needed to talk, and he says you’re hired, by the way.”

  I look up, daring myself and catch a partial smile from Johnny. My flutters catch in my throat. If he wasn’t such a jerk, he would be extremely attractive.

  “I’m hired?”

  Johnny shrugs nonchalantly. “Guess so. When you get a chance, fill out the schedule in the break room. You can put in your suggested schedule. You won’t always get it, so the sooner you fill it, out the better your chances.”

  As I follow Johnny out of the kitchen, there’s a smile on my face. I have a job!

  Just then a group of sulky Enchanters walk through the door. I know they are here to discuss recent events so I leave them alone as much as possible, but when I leave the restaurant they are unreservedly complimentary about my services. They make sure to pull Roy aside to tell him how wonderful I’ve been.

  Just an hour later things pick up significantly. A few more waiters have come in but since the restaurant is full, my load has not slowed much.

  I grab a set of napkins from the bar when I feel a pinch on either side of my waist. I jump and turn quickly, ready to slam my fist into whoever grabbed me, but right before I swivel around to face the culprit, I catch Johnny’s mixed reaction from across the bar.

  When I turn around, it’s Alec that greets me with a giant grin on his gorgeous face. He pulls me in and surprises me with a kiss on the lips. I’m not sure why it bothers me, but it does. Maybe because I’m at work, but he completely takes me by surprise.

  I smile at him anyway. Something about him looks different, but I can’t place my finger on exactly what it is. “What are you doing here?”

  I look over his shoulder and see that he’s with Brent, Matt, and Ava. Ava has a fury in her eyes that I simply do not understand. Isn’t it obvious to her by now that Alec likes me? Even I can see that.

  “We wanted to cheer you on.” He waves at the table.

  “Hey guys,” I say with a smile. I ignore Ava’s narrowed eyes and pursed lips. “Where’s Trisha?” I ask.

  Alec shrugs but Matt speaks up. “She isn’t feeling well. Said she was having headaches so she’s home.”

  I frown, knowing all too well what the headaches are from.

  My friends take a seat at the table and Alec grins at me. “We’ll have cokes.”

  I guess I’m flattered to see them all here, and Alec does look good in khaki shorts and sleeveless top. The whole situation leaves me with knots as I walk to the kitchen and grab their drinks.

  “Tell the boyfriend it’s hands off at work.” Johnny is standing there with his arms crossed.

  Was he waiting for me here? My movements become robotic now as I stare back at him, too embarrassed to speak, and fill their glasses.

  When I return to their table to set down the drinks, Alec smiles up at me with shining eyes and my stomach does an instant backflip. I almost forgot that our date is tonight. I wish I could be more excited about it. If last night’s events hadn’t happened, I would be more excited about it.

  After I take their order and place it for the cooks I’m approached again by stone-faced Johnny.

  “You can take your break now. You’ve got 30 minutes.” He says this and I take an appreciative deep breath, not taking my eyes from his.

  “Did I do something to you, or something?” I can’t help myself.

  Johnny looks as if he’s going to walk away from me but I step to the side to stop him. By the look on his face, my confrontation surprised him.

  “Look. I’ll stay out of your way if you stay out of mine, okay?” He says this with such intensity that I have to step back.

  I just don’t understand his attitude, and he obviously has no intention of seeking a resolution. I know what I have to do.

  I turn from Johnny and walk straight to the break room to find the work schedule he mentioned. His name is all over it for next week but I’m able to find a few spots that ensure I won’t run into him before, after, or during any of my upcoming shifts.

  I finish scribbling my name into a few spots and smile. There.

  My mood is brighter as I walk back to the floor to finish my break with my friends. I approach Alec and he immediately pulls a chair close to him.

  I sit and freeze when I hear what they are discussing. They’re talking about Darryl French. My stomach tightens. Even Johnny gave me a distraction to the reality I’m facing now. Maybe I should spend my break in the back where I don’t have to hear or think about the Equinox.

  But Alec chooses that moment to slide his arm around my shoulders, relaxing me enough to stay put. I focus on Alec’s hold now, the way his eyes crinkle when he laughs, and then grazes over me just enough to let me know I still exist to him.

  Ava changes the subject to the carnival, and for once, I’m grateful to her for something. She go
es on about the garden maze that her parents designed as a contribution to the carnival. It strikes me as odd that Ava’s parents would ever want to do anything nice for Summer Island, considering Rose is the one they constantly raise political issues against, but the idea of the garden maze is pretty cool. Ava describes it as an enchanted garden filled with surprises at every corner. Apparently it’s complicated to get through due to rigged contraptions that will scare people and really help them lose their way.

  I’m distracted by Alec who shifts his weight toward me and smiles when our eyes meet. I smile back. The faces around us blur, and we’re shielded by everything else. Mouths around us still open and close, as if they are speaking, but I cannot hear them.

  He leans in slowly so we are only inches apart. “Great first day of work, huh?”

  I grin, but the flirting is over quickly as I catch sight of Johnny across the room, glaring at us. It brings me back in the present tense, and I decide to tell Alec the truth about how great work is. Maybe he’ll have some good advice.

  “Work is good, so long as Mr. Grumpsters over there doesn’t look my way again. I think I might just get through this day.”

  He chuckles and pulls me in again so that his lips brush my cheek, sending heat up my throat and into my cheeks.

  “I’m excited for our date tonight,” he whispers.

  And there it is; the flutter in my stomach reignited. I quiver slightly and smile. “Where are you taking me?”

  “There’s an Italian place just outside of Apollo Beach. I thought we could go there and get out of the city for a bit.”

  “That sounds perfect.” He has no idea.

  He smiles. “Good. Then I’ll pick you up from work at four?”

  My eyes grow wide. “I just realized I haven’t eaten a thing today. I’ll be starved by dinner.”

  “Uh oh. I better take on another shift at the lifeguard post.”

  I push him away and roll my eyes. “Watch it, Stone. This is our first date, remember? You have to be on your best behavior.”

  He grins and leans into me. I catch one last look of his emerald green eyes and melt before he touches his lips to mine.