The Equinox

by K. K. Allen

  I smile but steady my eyes on his cut. I place a pad on it and wrap a gauze around his arm, securing it with a silver clip.

  “There.” I smile up at him, happy to know that I’ve helped in some way.

  “Thank you.” A smile reaches his eyes more than his mouth but that’s okay. It’s a look of appreciation all the same.

  His eyes linger on mine, and I think that they flicker to my lips and back up. He has beautiful eyes—the kind that you can immerse yourself in as they wash over you. His thick, full lips. His strong jaw. How could someone be blessed with such perfection? I can only imagine the girls he dates. Older, sexier, feistier.

  “I should go help clean.” Because it’s all I can think to say. I stand but I don’t want to leave.

  “Okay, well, thanks for working your magic on me.” Johnny says this nonchalantly so there’s no reason for my nerve endings to alight, but they do. Maybe I used a little magic on his wound, but not enough for him to notice anything strange—I hope.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Arabella, her sisters, and King Isaac are sitting in the Great Room with Charlotte and Rose when I return home. The girls have red-stained eyes and everyone is talking so quietly that dread washes over every inch of me. It’s an eerie reminder of when I walked into a room full of Enchanters and the news of Darryl French’s death.

  “What’s going on?” My voice is barely a whisper. My hand rises slowly to my stomach, a quick knot tightens. What’s happened now? “Is Brent okay? The others?”

  “Kat. Sit. Brent is in the same condition, but others…”

  I take a seat quickly, hoping Rose will just blurt it out.

  Rose tries again. “Two people died tonight after they were taken to the hospital. An Elder and one Follower. The Equinox symbol was found on one of the tables that held the food.”

  I gasp. “No.” Not again. Not another death.

  Rose nods with sad eyes. Tears flow down my cheek before I can attempt to stop them.

  “There’s more,” Rose clears her voice, most likely in an effort to mask her sadness. “The Valli’s are here to discuss the growing pollution. It seems to be effecting sea life already. We’re seeing early signs in the bay. Fish are already dying. Obviously this is really upsetting, as we’ve seen this before.”

  “Is there anything we can do to stop it?” I look around the room, searching to see if anyone has an answer.

  The girls are nodding. “We have teams out there cleaning it up. Whatever the substance is it doesn’t stay poisonous. We think it was created to kill on first impact, but then it just vanishes.”

  I make a face. “That’s strange. Why wouldn’t they make it stronger?”

  “Creating poisons isn’t something that comes naturally to us. There’s a science behind it,” Rose begins. “But that’s exactly what this stuff is that’s entering the water. It’s possible that they are trying out different recipes and they haven’t yet gotten it right.”

  King Isaac clears his throat. “So what is this about a manatee getting injured yesterday? Did you find him?”

  “Yes, but Johnny, my co-worker—he knew what to do. The Manatee rescue boat came and took him. He’ll be fine, but he had a marking on him.”

  There is a loud gasp from Arabella and her sisters. “The Equinox?” Arabella shrieks.

  “Johnny said that he had some broken bones. I found the marking on his back, close to his neck.” I scramble to take out my phone and scroll to the photos. “It looks like a tattoo. Here.”

  I let Rose peer at the image first; she turns pale. Then I hand it off to the girls to view. They finally pass it to Isaac and Charlotte but I’m already speaking. “Johnny said he was hit by a boat. I guess it happens a lot. So I’m not sure why the Equinox symbol is there.”

  “Because the Equinox hit him,” King Isaac tosses my phone to me from across the room. “Why are there manatees in this area anyway?” he shakes his head.

  “Johnny said he’s been seeing a few at a time come in, earlier than usual.”

  Isaac shrugs but then turns to Rose. “Okay. That’s it. We can’t keep this from everyone anymore. There are too many things going on. We’ve seen the Equinox marking four times now.”

  I quickly count through the incidents one by one and realize Isaac is right. First the Fourth of July fire, and then Darryl’s death, the manatee, and most recently at Trisha’s Enchanting.

  Rose is shaking her head. “We can’t, Isaac. We’ve been through this before. People are already scared because of what happened to Darryl and the other victims. Some Followers have already moved on. If we tell them a poison has entered our water we’ll have no support left.”

  Isaac looks furious. “There are people already dead and in the hospital, Rose. How can you want to keep this a secret? Maybe you should let them move on. Maybe you should move on too.”

  Even I glare at Isaac now. He may be right in wanting to tell people the truth, but to ask Rose to leave her home and everything she’s built is a bit much.

  Rose shoots daggers at him. “You know why I can’t just pick up and move, and you know why the others shouldn’t leave either. There is more good in this town than bad. The Equinox can never destroy us. Erebus may try, but he will not succeed.”

  Isaac backs off. There’s something there, a secret that the two of them share that he agrees with. “Okay. You’re right.” His voice is gentler now. “But we still can’t keep this from everyone. It shouldn’t even be a discussion. You cannot let people live here knowing that there is no safe house anymore. Their blood would be on your hands if you refuse to let them make their own decisions. You don’t want that.”

  “I don’t want people to feel like they should have a reason to leave. This is our home.” Rose says this and my heart instantly breaks for her. I can hear the emotion in her voice. I never thought I’d see Rose’s strong demeanor falter. I reach down to grab her hand. I want to stand by her. No matter what decision she ultimately makes.

  Rose squeezes my fingers and I suddenly feel a rush of emotion come over me. I look around the room again and notice that everyone seems to have given up. Eyes are without light. Shoulders slumped. Permanent smiles have turned to frowns. I stand.

  “I know that everything happening right now is terrifying—for so many different reasons, but giving up is not an option.” I try to meet everyone’s eyes but most everyone is looking down. “I agree with Isaac.” Now I’m getting attention. “We need to tell the others.” I phrase this sentence gently and turn my eyes toward Rose who is frowning but listening.

  “I don’t think telling them will scare them away. It will empower them to make the decision that all of us have made—and that’s to keep fighting for our lives. Isn’t that what this is all about? Isn’t this why Astina became a goddess in the first place? We help others. We make the world right. We promote good decisions. No one is going to run away, Rose. You’ll be giving them a purpose.”

  Everyone is staring at me now. Although they have blank stares, it’s an improvement over gloom and doom.

  “We’re all in this together. Descendants, Followers, and whoever else is out there that I don’t know about. We all have a choice whether or not we give up or face what’s in front of us. Maybe we all need to remember why we’re descendants. Our ancestors wouldn’t stand for us to sulk in all that’s happening. Or hide from it. Let’s start spreading awareness, and I’m not just talking about awareness among our community—but the Normals deserve to know too, to an extent, of course.”

  “We can’t tell the Normals.” Marabella says anxiously.

  “They can know that something out there is deliberately sabotaging our town, and pollution spreads. Others must know that our water isn’t safe right now, but there’s something we can all do about it. This isn’t just about us anymore. It’s about everyone. The Equinox will see that they aren’t just up against Enchanters—but against an entire community.”

  I feel another squeeze of my hand and I know that Ro
se is on my side. She stands and wraps an arm around my waist. I smile back, knowing that we’ve broken down a wall.

  Isaac speaks up next. “Well, now I believe she’s a Summer.” He stands and walks the few feet to me to shake my hand. I blush.

  “Girl doesn’t speak much but when she does she makes some sense.” Latuana smirks at me and I take it as a compliment.

  “What should we do, Kat? What do you suggest?” Arabella is looking at me with all seriousness.

  “Let’s start a campaign.” The words just come out. I haven’t thought any of this through yet. “We can get others involved to create flyers. I’m sure the volunteers that are helping with the carnival will be happy to help with this. We can post them all over town and use the Summer Island Carnival as a venue to really promote environmental awareness. If anything, it will help open some eyes. If anyone sees anything suspicious, we can give them a number to call. Rose, can we set up a hotline at the meeting center?”

  She straightens her posture proudly. “Oh yes, dear.” She turns to the rest of the room. “I’ll set a meeting for two nights from now. We already have an Elder meeting tomorrow night where I’ll discuss this with them first. If they are all nods then we’ll get started right away.”

  Everyone seems to be reluctant but satisfied with the end of this meeting. I know it’s not a solution but it’s a means to one. We all just need to stick in there.

  * * *

  I go to the hospital early the next morning, unable to wait any longer to see Brent. There are a few others here but I don’t know them. I may end up paying them a visit anyway. Trisha sits in the hallway leading to his room and she’s crying. Panic takes hold of me.

  “Trisha, is it Brent?” I’m doing my best to hold myself together but I know if she gives me bad news I will lose it right here.

  She shakes her head. “No, no. Brent is fine. I’m just a mess.”

  I wrap my arms around her and hope to offer her some sort of comfort. It must be awful coming into a world full of such heartbreak. I’ve had a couple of months to adjust. “Everything is going to be okay, Trisha.”

  “People are here because of me, Kat. Because they came to my Enchanting.” She blubbers. “I didn’t even know it was an Enchanting. Who are these Equinox people anyway?”

  “Shh.” I shush her and pull her into the closest empty room I can find. “You need to keep quiet about that, Trisha. We don’t know who the Equinox is. They could be anywhere so you need to keep your voice down.”

  And maybe I am too harsh because tears explode from her eyes and all I can do is hold her again and wait for her to calm down. “Trisha, I’m sorry, but what happened at your party is not your fault. The Equinox feeds off of these public events. It’s where they get the most attention and cause the most pain. There’s nothing you could have done to prevent it.”

  “Sydney is in critical care.” She sobs next.

  I don’t know who Sydney is but now I feel like crying too. “Has anyone tried to heal her?”

  Trisha bobs her head frantically. “My parents are with her now. A few other Enchanters are making rounds too. They say she’ll be fine, but two people died last night.”

  I shudder. “I know. It’s horrible.”

  “We were here all night,” she continues. “I found out what I am here, in the hospital. My parents tried to tell me it’s this magical thing—but look at what happened because of what we are.”

  I shake my head. Events have made Trisha see things all wrong. “No, Trisha. What’s happening is because of the Equinox. We are good, but the Equinox, Erebus especially, is very dark and his Followers—well, they carry out his madness.”

  Trisha’s shoulders shake but her breathing returns to normal, dried tears remain on her face. “You know so much. Why didn’t you tell me?”

  My face crumbles. I’m reminded of arguments I’ve had with Rose about all of her secrets, and now Trisha thinks I’ve kept one from her. “Oh Trisha. Telling you wasn’t my place. It’s Enchanter’s Law that we find out our ourselves on our sixteenth birthday. My Enchantment wasn’t as chaotic as yours but it wasn’t easy for me either. I thought Rose was nuts.”

  Trisha giggles through her tear-streaked mouth which makes me smile. “I thought I was dead or unconscious or hallucinating. When my parents told me I just stared at them for a good ten minutes.”

  Now I’m laughing. “You’ll have time to adjust. Obviously there are things to take care of now, like making sure everyone is okay. You’ll be fine. I think you’ll make a brilliant Enchanter.”

  Trisha smiles at me. “Thanks Kat.”

  “Have you tried healing Brent yet?”

  Trisha shakes her head. “No, I don’t know how.”

  I smile. “Come with me.”

  Trisha follows me into Brent’s room where he watches television. He looks more like he’s on vacation than injured. A spread of food sits beside his bed. His left leg rests up in a gurney, and stacks of comic books lay out all over his bed.

  Once he spots us his smile grows wider and he waves us in. “Perfect cure for my broken leg and concussion. Two beautiful girls.”

  I smile back at him and nudge Trisha to wipe the frown off her face. “How are you doing?”

  He shrugs. “Can’t feel a thing. These meds are amazing.”

  I grin. Typical Brent, making light of such terrifying circumstances. “Well good. Maybe all your bones are just fine.” I stand beside him and lean down to give him a hug. As I’m nearing his ear I whisper, “sleep.”

  Brent’s head flops back and he immediately begins snoring.

  I giggle. “See that?”

  Trisha rushes over, jaw dropped. “Is he okay? What did you do to him?”

  “He’s just sleeping,” I say, pleased with myself. “Shut the door. I’ll teach you how to heal.”

  Trisha looks both lost and amazed as she hurries to shut the door and returns to me.

  “Stand here.” I place her directly next to Brent and I make my way to the other side of the bed. “Place your hands on his right leg—gently.”

  Trisha does as I say. Her hands tremble and I remember that feeling of new magic all too well. Using powers can be daunting in the beginning. She looks at me. “Okay.”

  “Now you want to say something, anything really, that speaks to your powers. You want to tell your powers to heal his leg, as you concentrate your energy in that area. Watch me.”

  I focus on my hands which touch Brent’s broken leg that is still trapped in the gurney, and I focus on the words to heal him. “Magic, heal this broken leg and relieve Brent’s pain.”

  I can feel my energy radiating against Brent’s injured leg. Trisha’s hands pull away for a second, but then they are back on him, helping me restore Brent back to good.

  “Wow,” Trisha says once we’ve pulled away. “What was that?”

  “That’s our energy leaving us and providing Brent what he needs to heal. No surgeries, no medicines, just natural healing—only expedited.”

  I give her a grin and she’s grinning back. “I can’t believe we just did that.”

  “You’re a natural,” I say proudly. I’ve just taught Trisha how to heal. Two months ago I wanted nothing to do with my powers, and now here I am, embracing it and teaching others.

  Without my instructions, she does the same thing for his head and his ribs. Then she looks at me. “Now what?”

  “Now, we get you out of the hospital so you can rest,” I say, knowing that Trisha really does need some sleep. “And when you’re ready—I’ll teach you more…”

  Now that Trisha is an Enchanter I’m not sure what the rules are. But if Rose and Charlotte taught me how to use my magic then surely I can help Trisha as much as I can. If I’m not allowed for whatever reason—well, I’m sure Rose will have something to say about it.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Throughout the week the Island is livelier than normal, despite recent events. Enchanters are working hard to ready the carnival and involv
e the Normals as much as possible. I haven’t seen Trisha since the hospital either. My guess is that her parents are keeping her busy and training her on their own—at least I hope they are.

  “This town needs encouragement, hope and strength,” Rose said at tonight’s Enchanters meeting. Her words are true, but Enchanters are outraged with what happened at Trisha’s party and the fact that we aren’t any closer to finding or stopping the Equinox from causing more harm to the residents of Apollo Beach. Naturally there are Followers and even a family of Enchanters who made the decision to leave town, and although Rose was upset about their departure, she stood strong and accepted their parting without argument.

  It’s just after dark when I leave the Enchanters meeting and walk my bike the short distance to the Island Grille to pick up my check. I told Rose I’d go directly to Summer Estates but a short pit-stop should be fine. Other than the lights on at the restaurant, the Island is empty and dark, only streetlamps light the Community Center. A group of customers walk out of the Island Grille laughing at closing time. I don’t want to distract anyone. I just want to run in, grab my check, and leave.

  After yesterday’s events, I’ve been anxious to see Johnny again. I know that he’s working tonight and the chances are good that I’ll run into him. I see him immediately, but he doesn’t see me. He’s on the other side of the room taking an order and faces the other direction. I continue to the break room, snatch the check from my locker, and practically collide with Johnny as I’m walking back through the kitchen. “Sorry.” I force myself to look up at him. “Just picking up my check.”

  Johnny just stares at me without a word. My face feels hot and I know it’s probably pink. “Have a good night,” I smile and head toward the door before he can see me bake under his glowering eyes.

  Once I’m out of his line of sight, I frown. He could have at least said “hi.” It’s not like we hate each other now. The awkward exchange leaves me restless, I walk past my bike to the edge of the carnival where the Ferris wheel towers over the Island, creating a dark shadow against the illuminated moon. Without another thought, I’m using my heightened strength to climb the ladder and shimmy along the long poles until I’ve reached the top car of the Ferris wheel. I pull myself in effortlessly and take a seat.