by K. K. Allen
“I feel so—alive.” Trisha closes her eyes and takes in a deep breath. I sink back and watch her in admiration. She has no idea why she feels this way.
A voice cuts me off and I turn to see an unexpected face. It takes me a second to register who the short haired blonde with glaring blue eyes is in front of me. “Iris. You look—great.”
She looks between Trisha and me, letting her eyes linger on Trisha for a second. “Do you mind if I talk to Kat?”
Trisha backs up. “No problem. I’m going to get something to drink.” She steps away slowly at first and then rushes off, obviously eager to give us our alone time.
So awkward. Iris stands in front of me. She’s taller than I remember. Just as pretty, though as her hair frames her face now in an angular bob. She looks different—older.
It takes her a second to speak. It seems she’s just as nervous as me. “I want to say thank you. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I’ve been out of it lately—but I’m grateful to you for helping me when I was…” She shakes her head.
Thoughts of that night come back to me too but all I want is to move forward. I frown. “You don’t need to thank me, Iris. It was Alec who was with you, trying to put out the fire. Meanwhile, I was trying not to drown.” I let out an uncomfortable laugh. I’m not sure it’s appropriate.
She shivers dramatically. “That was a scary night. After how awful I was to you I didn’t expect you to be so…”
I smile at her. “It’s fine. Really. I’m just happy you’re okay. I’m glad to see you out and about.”
She rolls her eyes now, tension gone between us. Hopefully this means we can start with a clean slate. “My parents locked me up as if I was a prisoner. Finally summer is coming to an end. Maybe things will return to normal once school starts up.”
Maybe change is good for you. I choose not to say these thoughts aloud but I hope that maybe Iris has changed for the better after all of this. “We still have a few weeks.”
I begin to turn away but Iris isn’t finished. “I’m sorry about Alec.”
My feet jerk to a stop and I turn on my heel to face her again, hesitantly. “It doesn’t matter.”
She gives me a disapproving look. “It does matter. I would be furious if I were you. I am furious. Ava was my best friend but after the fire she never came around to see me.” Iris shakes her head as if her child disobeyed her. “But Alec came around. He told me that they were spending time together. I didn’t realize this was what he meant until today. I can’t believe she’s dating my ex-boyfriend.”
I cringe at the words ex-boyfriend. Alec made it clear that they never officially dated. Then again, he may not have been completely honest with me. The possibility that Alec wasn’t one hundred percent genuine with me could be upsetting if I dwell on the thought, so I don’t.
“Well,” I choose my words carefully. “I guess he just decided that Ava was for him. They look happy together.” This is as much conviction as I can muster, and although this is hard to say, I know that I’m telling the truth as I look over my shoulder and catch a quick glance at Alec and Ava moving together on the dance floor.
Iris doesn’t look convinced. “Ava’s evil. She’s always wanted Alec and now she’s stolen him from both of us.”
“Iris, stop. Alec can make his own decisions.” Is she serious? “Look, today is Trisha’s birthday. Let’s celebrate her and forget everything else. Okay?”
I reach my hand out, an offering that Iris doesn’t accept, but she does follow me out to the dance floor where Trisha and a small crowd are. Trisha is obviously having a great time, her laugh easily heard around the tent, and as much as I want to join the fun I haven’t yet finished processing the sight of Alec and Ava together. I certainly don’t want to be dancing with them.
Once Iris fizzles into the crowd I step back, listening to my empty stomach. I find the end of the buffet line and begin filling my plate with appetizers.
“Isn’t that your man out there?” Johnny’s voice greets me before I’m met by his face at the end of the buffet line. His tone is questioning, but I sense that he’s stirring up trouble again.
My entire body tenses. “And here I thought we made progress yesterday. Back to your normal self, I see.” I mutter this quietly but I know he can hear me. I haven’t yet looked at him. I can’t.
Today of all days—with the Equinox threat, Trisha’s Enchantment, facing Ava and Alec for the first time, and seeing Iris again—it’s too much to add Johnny’s broodiness into the mix. Not to mention, I haven’t used my magic in a while, so avoiding whatever Johnny is stirring up inside of me is probably for the best.
“What?” He asks me seemingly confused that what he said was insensitive.
I don’t answer but walk toward the tables on the outside of the tent, hoping to be away from the crowd for just a minute while I try to shake my annoyance.
Johnny is still behind me when I place my food on the table. I look back at him. “Can I help you?” I sit down but Johnny isn’t letting up. Something got under his skin, but why is he picking on me?
“Oh I get it,” Johnny says now. “He dumped you and that’s his new girlfriend. That’s why you’re here alone.”
His ah ha moment ignites a spark in me. “I’m not here alone,” I fire back with a drop of my fork. “My family is here and these people are my friends.”
Johnny laughs, making the blood beneath my skin rise quickly to a simmer. Oh no…not this again. I clutch my green stone and stand, but I have to brush up against Johnny to escape him. While doing so my heart begins to race like mad, but I’m not sure if it’s from the touch or from the anger he’s causing me.
I try to walk away but he pulls on my arm. There’s not much force behind it but I’m caught off guard and reeling into him until I’m just centimeters away from his chest. “Excuse me.” I say angrily now, staring up into his eyes.
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of, Kat,” he reacts defensively, as if he meant nothing by the comment. “Couples break up all the time. You’ll get over it.”
There’s something in his tone that creeps under my skin and injects itself into my blood. I want to scream at him, but instead I close my eyes and beg for my powers to calm me down. I’m afraid of what I’m going to do next.
And then I hear Johnny laugh again. Here I am trying to stay cool so that I don’t hurt him and he’s laughing at me.
My next reaction is purely impulse. My hand comes up and smacks him, hard, across his face. Just as quickly, I gasp and reel my hand back, knowing that I’ve gone too far.
I run from him, guilt slowly taking over me. I need to get away from everyone, including Johnny.
I make it to the back of the Island Grille van and let go of my necklace. I’ve confirmed it; my calming powers obviously do not work with him. What is it about Johnny that does this to me? I am going to explode if he keeps at me. I need to find a way to calm down, but I don’t have much time to think about it.
I watch as Johnny’s feet come around the front of the van. I steady myself while taking a few deep breaths.
He stands in front of me, confusion on his face. “Did you just slap me?”
“Stop following me! I know you’re trying to get under my skin, but why?” I shake my head. “No—never mind. I don’t even care.”
His hand reaches for his jaw and he rubs it. I see a red mark left on his face from the impact of my hand and I realize I probably hit him a lot harder than he was expecting. I forget my own strength, and it’s not like I usually hit people. I’m not sure of the strength that is required for something like that, but he deserved it.
“What the hell was that?” He doesn’t sound mad now. He sounds—impressed.
I give myself a second to calm down before responding. “I’m sorry,” I say this as tears threaten to come.
“Don’t,” he tells me, eyes wide. “It’s good to know your weaknesses.”
My face feels hot. “What do you know about my weaknesses?”
<
br /> He shrugs. “Simple. You don’t put up with people who mess with you. That’s a good thing—but you also have a temper. You need to learn to control that.”
He is so incredibly confusing. “Look, Johnny. You’ve been nothing but rude to me since we met. I’ve done nothing to you! So don’t you dare call me weak, or even allude to it. You’re the weak one for always treating me so coldly, and for no reason. If you have a problem then talk to me about it.”
He’s staring down at me, just inches from my face, expression unreadable. I can’t take him standing so close. I place my hands on his chest and shove him away, and again, I’ve touched him too hard. He barrels backwards into the van, creating a loud thud against metal.
His face is surprised but before either of us can continue arguing the ground beneath our feet begins to tremble. It’s a small movement at first but grows much too quickly for me to stay on my feet. I fall hard on my back, just as a large crate near my falling position slides off the box below it and heads toward my face.
Johnny slides into me, taking the hit of the crate and I watch it scrape his arm, leaving a line of quickly forming blood. I’m about to check his arm to see if it needs to be healed when a terrifying scream sounds from the crowd.
The earth beneath us moves again, but this time it doesn’t stop. Waves of movements throw us and loud crashes sound from where the party guests gather under the tent.
More screams put me on high alert. Johnny’s eyes shoot open and he’s off the ground and running for the crowd. I’m right after him.
Now that I’m aware of the ground shaking at high speeds beneath my feet, I’m able to control my movements and run.
As I approach the tent I’m startled by all that’s happened in just a few seconds. The scene is devastating. Party decorations have been torn apart by the ground’s movements. Rigid structures have been displaced and objects have struck and injured the shocked guests. I catch sight of a light fixture that sails down and slams into the back of Brent’s head, and then traps his legs.
The destruction continues, but I go to him first, removing the crushing light fixture. I block him from more turbulence but it’s almost impossible as it’s coming from all directions.
Just then I look up at the large white tent splitting apart from the uncontrollable earth. Bodies and party decorations are falling in every direction.
I close my eyes and cover Brent’s unconscious body, protecting him of the chaos around us.
Earth be still. Although I think the words, I’m not convinced it’s nature that I need to stop.
Where is Rose? Where is Charlotte? I don’t find them, but I catch sight of Ava and Alec, hovering together at the edge of the tent. Ava is holding Alec back as he struggles to move around her. At least two people have found shelter.
Earth be still. I try the words again with more emotion but nothing is going to stop this ground from shaking violently beneath my feet.
“Kat!” Charlotte is screaming with relief as she drops down beside me. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I shout. “Where is Rose?” I’m desperate for a quick answer.
“Rose is with the other Enchanters. They’re keeping the Elders safe.”
I shake my head. “We need to do something about this tent. The lighting fixtures and decorations are coming down all around us.”
Charlotte looks up and I can see fear enter her eyes as the white fabric is pulled down by the bending metal poles that threatens to fall on the party guests. Another light on the other side of the tent swings down and slams into another body, rendering another guest unconscious.
She kneels down and looks up. “We need to dismantle the tent. If I pull it out of the ground will you throw it? Do you think you’re strong enough?”
I nod, knowing that I am.
“Okay,” she says confidently. “Make sure to throw it as far as you can.”
I squeeze my eyes shut then open them again to focus on the top of the tent. The white fabric moves in giant waves as Charlotte uses her powers to release the four poles from the sand, and with a rip in the earth, the tent poles are removed.
This is my cue. I boost the white tent up at high speed and let my powers fling it out as far as I can manage. Adrenaline fuels the effort as the tent is carried above the beach and soars far into the raging waves of the bay.
To the others, it looks like a gust of wind saves us all.
Brent seems to be unconscious but his breathing is stable, so without another word, Charlotte and I take off in different directions to help others as we ride the terrain. I continue to bat away debris, redirecting its aim far from the terrified party guests.
I’m not sure how long the earthquake lasts because everything seems to move in slow motion. My thoughts are flying in a million different directions. I can’t focus on what needs to be done next. I’m frozen. Numb.
The earthquake comes to an end moments later; the scene around us sickens me to the core. The only sounds that can be heard are the chirping of birds, the crashing of the waves, sobs from injured guests, and footsteps in the sand as we all begin to peel away the destruction.
Charlotte finds me again and wraps her arms around my shoulders. She squeezes and I begin to feel again, even if it is just the pressure of her hold, it’s enough to lift me from my fog. Sirens sound in the distance and I know that this time the situation is very real and there will likely be many injuries to care for.
Rose appears moments later and I run to her, throwing my arms around her in relief. “Where were you?”
“The others took me somewhere I could be safe. We wouldn’t have survived that,” she says shaking her head. “Where were you?” She looks angry now. “We looked everywhere for you.”
I can’t answer her question right now. Where was I? I was with Johnny. Fighting with Johnny. Again, my rage got the better of me, but I didn’t do this. No. This was caused by something evil.
“It was the Equinox, I know it was,” I whisper to her. “I tried to stop it.”
She sighs. “You did the right thing. You and Charlotte. Thank you.”
Something in Rose’s expressions speaks sadness and guilt. I wonder if she feels like she could or should have done something, but she said it herself, she wouldn’t have survived it, so her leaving was the best thing for her to do.
For what seems like a century before the ambulance arrives, I help the other Enchanters by checking on everyone and tending to those who need help for cuts, broken bones, possible concussions, and worse. There are a few unconscious ones; Brent being one of them. Alec is the first one to offer to carry Brent to one of the ambulances as soon as it arrives and I follow him, wanting to make sure that Brent is going to be okay, but there’s no telling if anyone is going to be okay. There’s too much chaos, and too many injuries.
Once the ambulance doors shut Alec turns to me. It’s the first time in a month that I’ve been this close to him. It feels strange with him looking down at me, as if maybe, just maybe, there’s a flicker of the boy who liked me when I first moved here.
He stares at me, appearing to be deep in thought, wanting to tell me something—or maybe that’s just my wishful thinking, but Ava’s by his side quickly wrapping her arms around his waist. “Let’s get out of here, Alec.”
Alec begins to steer her away but I stand in front of them. “Aren’t you going to help us clean up?” My question surprises even me. “Everyone is helping, and you two are going to leave?”
Ava’s eyes shoot lasers at me. “Oh get off your high horse, Kat. We’re getting out of here before there’s an aftershock.” She walks past me, dragging Alec behind her. Something tells me she knows there will be no aftershock. Alec follows her without argument.
I’m left dumbfounded. Ava never surprises me anymore, but this is not like Alec at all. Something in the back of my mind nags at me. I’ve always thought the relationship between Alec and Ava was a strange one but it’s like he’s a completely different person now.
“Kat, we’re going to the hospital. Come with us?” Charlotte jerks me from my thoughts.
I shake my head. “There’s a lot to do here. I’ll see you at the house. Please let me know how Brent is. When he wakes up, tell him I’ll visit him soon.”
Rose and Charlotte leave me with the party guests who are all stumbling around a bit unsure of what just happened. Too many people are taken to the hospital; I count five.
As I pile chairs and help pick up the buffet residue I spot a group of Enchanters huddled together on the beach, most likely composing themselves before they start their search for the Equinox symbol. I’m about to join them when I see Johnny sitting on the edge of the van, wrapping a blood-soaked towel around his arm. A first aid kit sits beside him.
I approach cautiously. He looks up and greets my eyes with a seemingly relieved glare. The look reaches something deep inside me and suddenly I’m not so worried if Johnny hates me or not. I know he doesn’t, but he sure does fester under my skin.
“Can I?” I hold out my hands to touch the cloth. He extends his arm in answer.
As I sit beside him I examine the rest of him. It seems his only wound is from the crate that hit him instead of me.
“Thank you for taking that hit for me.” I slowly remove the bright red cloth from his arm and set it aside. The gash in his arm is deep and continues to pool with blood. I make a face.
He pulls his limb away. “You don’t have to do this. I can handle it.”
I pull his arm back to me and look in his eyes. “Let me. I’m good at this.”
After a breath-holding stare between us he gives in and relaxes his arm in my hands.
Johnny says nothing as I empty a water bottle onto a clean rag and apply pressure to his arms, trying to get the blood to slow. I could use magic to heal his wound completely but I can’t risk him noticing, so I continue to mend him the old fashioned way.
As I’m applying pressure on his arm I can’t help but notice how strong he is. Not the steroid-induced strong, but the ruggedly alluring, I-work-outdoors strong.
After a few minutes I unwrap the towel and notice the blood has stopped significantly. “You know what you’re doing.” Johnny says, impressed, as I fill his wound with ointment.
