by K. K. Allen
“Today we remember our dear friend, Darryl French; an Elder, a father, a brother, and a wonderful husband to the equally wonderful Darla French. He was loved by many, and will always be remembered.”
Cries are heard around the room. Rose commands the room well, and she always speaks so eloquently, even at a time like this. She is a woman to be admired.
“Darla,” Rose looks directly down into Darla’s eyes who finds the strength to meet her gaze through tears. “Don’t for a second think that you will ever be alone in this world. Every person in this room is your friend, your family—you can count on us for anything, my dear.”
Rose turns back to the room. “Darryl and I often spoke of my late husband, George. George and Darryl were very good friends and Darryl was always a friend to me too, especially after the death of my late husband. During one of our many conversations he said these words, “I found her—she’s the one I prayed for, she’s the one I knew I never deserved but I found her—and I will love her until my last breath.”
Rose smiles at Darla now with glistening eyes. Darla is buried in her hands, her body shaking with emotion at the beautiful words of her husband. “Love you, he did, my dear. Now he’s watching over you.”
Rose closes her eyes. I see her take a breath and steady herself before she continues. She wants to cry. I can see it in her shoulders. The weight of her own pain begging to be released. She needs to use her magic. I don’t know how I know this—I just do.
After a long moment of silence, Rose transitions delicately to the new topic of The Equinox. “If it were up to me we’d rid ourselves of the Equinox all together, but the god of darkness haunts us still. He wants what we have. He’ll never get it, but that won’t stop him from taking us down one-by-one. He attacks Elders, because he’s weak, and he can only hurt the weak. It’s no secret that as we grow older, our power lessons, but I don’t think he’s just after Elders this time.”
The room carries the heavy silence as everyone anticipates her next words. Where is Rose going with this?
“The wild fire on the Fourth of July was meant to harm teenagers; our children. The Equinox has possessed one of his own—possibly someone from this town—which tells me he’s not just after Elders anymore.”
* * *
By the end of the meeting, I’m still confused. Once again, I learn more of how the puzzle pieces connect but there’s more to it and I can’t help but carry this home with me.
Rose immediately retires to her den and I follow her. I catch the door just as she’s about to close it.
“Katrina.” Her surprised look catches my eyes and I sink back on my heels.
“Rose, can I talk to you?”
“Yes, dear. Of course. Come in.” Rose pushes the door open fully and steps behind her desk.
I look around the room. Nothing much has changed since I was here last, except for the stack of files I see on her desk. She quickly removes them and places them on the floor. With her hands now delicately on her desk, Rose waits for me to speak.
At times I feel like she is so distant from me, and then there are other times, like during our hug earlier today, when I feel like we’ve bonded. She’s not the cold woman I thought she once was, but there is a guardedness about her that I believe is impenetrable by anyone, including me. Does it have something to do with my grandfather passing?
“During the meeting you spoke of the Equinox. I did some research today too and I have some questions, if that’s okay.”
Rose nods her head. “Go on.”
I swallow and quickly try to formulate my first question. “Why do you talk about the Equinox as if it’s one person?”
Rose shrugs. “Because it’s one person who possesses others. One person who rules the Equinox community. He makes the decisions for them. One entity, rather. The rest are his Followers. If they don’t follow him, he kills them.”
My brows crease. “But my mom was an Equinox descendant. She didn’t possess evil?”
Rose’s eyes light up and I can see that she knows where I’m going with this. “I know it’s all confusing, dear, but your mom was not evil. I could tell that she was one of the good ones. She would have never followed Erebus which is probably why she was stripped of her magic, but her Equinox blood is what it is, and it’s been carried on to you.”
Rose sighs, appearing to believe that I haven’t gotten it yet, but I understand clearly.
She continues. “Consider the Equinox community ticking time bombs. When they are instructed to act evil, they do, and when they are possessed by their host, their evil contains magic, almost equal to ours.”
This Erebus sure sounds malicious. “So, my mom wasn’t bad.” I know my defense of her honor is useless. She’s dead.
Rose’s expression softens and she shakes her head. “No, dear. Your mother wasn’t bad at all. Your mother was very good. You have to understand that there are Equinox descendants out there that are so fearful of death that they will do whatever Erebus asks. It’s terrible that we have no knowledge of what really happened with your mother before I met her, because there’s a good chance it would explain a lot more about all of this. Right now, I only know what I’ve experienced and what our history books tell us.”
“Why do you think she survived?” My voice is quiet.
Rose smiles. “Oh Katrina. Don’t you believe in fate? I believe your mother was meant to be found by Isaac and come to Apollo Beach. Grace and Paul were meant to fall in love and have you—and you were always meant to live your legacy here in Apollo Beach, and take my place as leader of the Solstice community.”
Chapter Ten
Distractions with work help me avoid thoughts of Alec and Ava over the next week. Alec hasn’t reached out to me once since his last text message and the only conclusion I’ve come to is that he’s getting back at me for the times I avoided him. Alec doesn’t seem to be the vengeful type, but then again, I wouldn’t have thought he would stand someone up either. Could it be that this was all a game? Everything since seeing him at the Meeting Center? Did he want me to fall head over heels with him just so he could stand me up and make me feel like a fool?
It all seems a bit far fetched, but if that’s the case, then fine. I deserve it. I did spend some time ignoring him when I learned of my powers, and then again after the fire. Trisha even warned me that he had been spending time with Ava while I hid away. I didn’t want to believe that it was anything more than a close friendship, but they obviously fell for each other, and Ava hates me enough, they could have concocted the scheme to hurt me together.
It’s not like me to think such negative thoughts, but without anyone to talk to about this, I’ve come up with my own reasonable conclusion for Alec’s deception.
At least my work shifts have been complete opposite of Johnny’s, thanks to my quick thinking, so his rude glares aren’t around to make things worse. Trisha has been a big help too. Our shifts have worked out so that we’ve been together, and Roy loves us both. I can see what Trisha meant by his teddy bear insides. His rough exterior wears quickly. He’s even a bit on the flirtatious side but it’s nothing concerning.
From what I gather, Trisha’s visions and dreams aren’t what mine were. She isn’t having nightmares at all, just growing pains, as she calls them. Something tells me there’s more going on beyond the surface. Of course, she’s hiding something. She’s afraid and doesn’t want to say anything for fear people will think she’s going crazy.
There are a few Enchanter meetings that occupy my time too, mostly to discuss the carnival preparations which are well underway. Trucks are already delivering equipment, flyers are in design, and volunteer sheets are overflowing.
Charlotte puts in a great effort to help me understand that high school boys are unpredictable and uninterested in serious relationships. I see through her words As understanding as she is, I know better. Alec Stone deceived me. He wanted me to fall for him just to pull the rug out from under me, but since she’s putting so much effort
into helping me, I let her believe that I’ve accepted her words as truth.
It’s almost four o’clock when I leave the restaurant. I take off a few minutes early, knowing that Johnny will be arriving soon. I don’t want to ruin my great luck avoiding him.
I hop off the last wooden step of the restaurant entrance when my favorite red headed mermaid approaches me with a sparkling smile. “I was hoping I’d find you here.”
“Me?” What could Arabella possibly want to see me for? “What’s up?”
It’s honestly a pleasant surprise to see her. There’s comfort in her presence, mostly due to the fact that she’s proven to be the only one who openly tells me the truth.
“Have you found your mom’s pendant yet?”
My happiness turns sour and I frown. Another negative reminder that I’ve been working hard to avoid. “No. It hasn’t turned up. I don’t expect it to.”
Arabella pouts. “Don’t be so negative, Kat. Come on. We’re going on a mission to find it.”
She yanks me toward her, but we stop right before pummeling into Johnny. He stares at us both, one, then the other. I imagine his eyes linger on Arabella longer than they do on me. “Hey Kat,” he says evenly.
I almost choke on air. “H-Hi, Johnny.”
And that’s it. No glaring, no rude comment, just a greeting. I’ll take that as a start. He walks off and Arabella looks as if she’s about to pounce on him.
“Who—is—that? Holy turtles.”
I giggle at her reference. “Are turtles Holy in your land?”
She giggles back. “No. I don’t know why we say that, but Kat—he is hot.”
I roll my eyes. “Yeah, but he’s a complete jerk. Always so angry.”
Arabella’s entire body visibly melts like summer snow, right before my eyes, and I have to yank her away. “Focus. You wanted to find my pendant. I don’t know how that’s possible, but I’ll follow you.”
We walk toward the beach entrance after exiting Summer Island. Arabella must have traveled these trails before to know them without asking.
“So how have things been going?” She asks nonchalantly. It’s possible she doesn’t know yet.
“Darryl, one of us, was killed last week, by the Equinox. There was a symbol left in the fountain where he drowned on the Island.”
Arabella jerks her head toward me. Maybe Isaac didn’t tell her. “Wait. On the Island? But the Island is protected. It’s why we send people here.” Her voice, her expression, her entire attitude drops decimals and I realize at this moment what a huge turning point Darryl’s death is, not only for our community, but for our species. Eww, that sounds weird in my head, but what else do I call us?
“It’s all happening again. History—repeating itself.” Arabella’s tone is low. It makes me feel lost. She’s usually so full of confidence and has answers to everything.
“Can you tell me more? What do you think is happening? What do you think they want from us?” Something tells me that Arabella will tell me what I ask, unlike my grandmother who is determined that I find things out on my own.
“Well, the stories from a decade ago all point to our destruction, and I’m not just talking about Solstice descendants. Sea descendants were attacked too.”
I look at her with a sideways glance. “What happened? I heard that a huge population—of sea life…” I can’t bring myself to finish, but by Arabella’s reaction, she knows what I am trying to say.
“Obviously the Equinox can’t kill us all at once, as much as he wants to. He and his community just aren’t strong enough to take us all on. There are too many of us, and our powers are much stronger, but someone a long time ago figured out a way to kill us in mass, by pollution.” She shudders. “The Equinox polluted the bay, and then the Gulf. It’s the quickest way anyone can hurt us. They poisoned our water at such a slow rate that we didn’t see it coming. I was very young, but I remember the deaths. We migrated from Apollo Beach to Weeki Wachee and we saw what the poison was doing to everyone around us. We tried to prevent it with magic as much as possible but there was only so much land we could cover. It was awful, Kat.”
My shoulders weaken in strength just from the words Arabella speaks. The thought of the Equinox causing that much damage is unimaginable. Why would anyone want to hurt us? We’re no threat to anyone. “So is the Equinox out to kill just Solstice or is it more than that now?”
Arabella shrugs. “I think the Equinox will kill anyone they can. I don’t think they have a rule they stick by. If they feel threatened or less powerful, they will find a way to get rid of those standing in their way to take over the world. It’s safe to say that the issue is the same as it always was. The Equinox wants to be the most powerful. You see, Solstice descendants, in the eyes of Zeus, are second to him, along with Poseidon’s descendants. Enchanters watch over and protect the earth, Poseidon and Triton’s descendants protect the sea and its creatures. We’re all connected. Our responsibilities are to the Elements—Water, Earth, Air, and Fire. The Equinox are castaways. Once upon a time they had a chance to choose good, to be like us, but they chose to defy us instead and that’s what makes them what they are.”
“Wait.” I want to understand this. Arabella seems to know a lot more than I can find in the ancient library books. “But if Zeus has the power to stop the Equinox, then why would he allow their powers to remain? That’s the problem right now. They have power, and they are abusing it.”
Arabella frowns. “That is a big question. The Equinox has figured out how to pull one over Zeus. The host, Erebus rather, has been alive since the beginning of all of this. He is an eternal being with powers so great that he can control any of his descendants. Why Zeus hasn’t put a stop to him is something we’ve always asked ourselves.
“Do you think Zeus is scared of Erebus?”
Arabella shakes her head. “I can’t imagine that’s it. There must be something bigger going on there.”
And I’m sick to my stomach again. If Zeus can’t or won’t stop the evil, how are we expected to? I reach for my amethyst to release some of the pressure I feel in my body. I am certain that my mind is suffering emotional turbulence from every new question. The necklace would ease the pain in my stomach but without it, the negative thoughts don’t go away.
“I want to know about the pollution. Where did it come from?” I still don’t understand how so many lives can be affected so quickly.
Arabella waves a hand toward the water. “My guess is that they dumped it in the bay and it reached the Gulf which killed our plants and small fish. As the pollution became more widespread and stronger; it started killing bigger fish, sharks, dolphins, manatees, and then our merpeople started to get sick. That’s when Father led the migration. Still, some died, but we were able to start a new life.”
There’s silence between us. I think of all the lives that were tortured because of the Equinox. Why hasn’t he been stopped by now?
“We need to find your pendant.” The change of subject is Arabella’s clear way of telling me that the topic on pollution is over. Obviously it’s something we’ll have to deal with, but right now, we concentrate on the mission at hand.
“So this pendant of mine will protect me from the Equinox?”
She nods. “Yes. You’re too powerful Kat.”
“How do you know I’m too powerful?” I ask her. I should know better.
She glares at me in a sideways glance. “Really? By now you should know that I’m Rose and Isaac’s messenger. I know most of what they know. They do keep some secrets from me, but not much. Besides, what you did on the Fourth is legend now to all of us. You created a wave—by yourself to put out a wild fire created by an Equinox. If Erebus wasn’t threatened by you before, he sure is now. That’s why I think he was testing you. To see what you could do.”
She sighs before continuing. “If the Equinox is back after a decade, I guarantee he’s after you. That pendant will help mask some of your brightness. It’s your brightness that attracts him—
but that same light can also kill him.”
Okay, this just got wholly complicated. “I’m not sure that makes sense, Arabella. Erebus is attracted to what can kill him?”
I watch her face scrunch up as she realizes how odd it all sounds. “I suppose that does sound strange but it makes sense to me. He’s doomed for eternity; our light attracts him because we possess what he wants, but he’ll never have it.”
We’ve reached the beach and I watch Arabella as she looks around, ensuring that no one is looking. She pulls off her top revealing her white bathing suit, then she shuffles out of her shorts and throws everything into a net bag with a rope drawstring that she wraps around her wrist.
“Here,” she hands me a bathing suit. Does she expect me to change right here?
Arabella rolls her eyes and sighs. “Kat, I’ll cloak you. Just change.”
I do as she says, knowing full well that she’s the boss. I change into a sparkly blue bikini that miraculously fits me perfectly. Arabella is already sticking her feet into the water. She bends over and searches for something in the sand.
Did Johnny think Arabella was hot? Is that why he was nice to me back there? Nice is a strong word for Johnny, I know, but how else am I to describe him? Reserved? I laugh out loud at the thought.
“Come on!” Arabella is calling to me impatiently by the water’s edge. Her feet are submerged into the sand, underwater. Shouldn’t she have grown a tail by now since her feet are wet? Or is that not how it works?
As I approach her I notice her giggling, as if she’s about to achieve something momentous. “Are you ready to experience life as a mermaid?”
My eyes grow wide. So this is what she meant. “But how?”
She opens her hand, palms up and smiles, revealing a sea shell filled with a white glitter substance. It reminds me of the night Rose, Charlotte and I cast magic together on the balcony overlooking the bay. Rose taught me how powerful we were together, and Charlotte showed me what our energy looked like as we released it into the air; microscopic particles of shimmering vapor. It was beautiful.
