The Equinox (14 page)

I have no destination in mind. No goal. I
vaguely remember Rose saying something about not going out alone in the dark, but
all I know is that I need to release this energy in me somehow, before I
explode. I run down the length of the coast and across the community beach. I
tear down the dimly lit streets until I reach the other side of town. I’ve
never seen the north side of Apollo Beach before. There’s been no reason to go this
way. Even Alec always turned right before we ran down this far.

What catches my attention first are the
homes; they look like they were once beauties, but have since been abandoned.
Lawns are the color of dried mustard and are full of sprouting prickly weeds. Building
exteriors are crumbling, notwithstanding the frequent storms.

My legs are stronger than ever now and I
can feel the flex of every muscle, large and small, expand and contract with
every motion. The newness of everything around me triggers my senses to kick
into overdrive as I continue to run. The end of the road leads to a community
beach, much like the one near Summer Estates, except this one is set up like a
park. I see a sign for a nature trail as I push forward.

That’s strange. It’s as if Apollo Beach is
split into two. North and South. New and old. Even the sand in the volleyball
area appears to be abandoned as the weeds grow between its shallow grains.

A couple sits under the gazebo gazing at
each other as a guy strums a string of notes on his guitar. They look to be
about my age but I don’t recognize them. The sight of their obvious love toward
one another makes my stomach feel heavy.

I continue down the concrete path as I
approach the edge of the park. I stop for a second to look down into the water
which beats against a set of stairs. I’m surprised to see the stairs lead directly
into the crashing waters of the bay.

It’s amazing, the sights I can see from
this part of town are completely different than my endless ocean view from
Summer Estates.

For almost two months now I’ve lived in
Apollo Beach and have never seen any of what I’m seeing now. Clearly my eyes
have been focused on other things—a million other things. So much has
happened since my arrival here. I shake my thoughts away and stare out across
the water. Directly across from Apollo Beach is a strip of land that forms St.
Petersburg.

I look right to view the large building
with the smokestacks that I remember seeing upon my arrival to Apollo Beach.

With little effort I push away from the
fence and continue down the concrete path until it turns to dirt and rocks. Tropical
wild life begins to spring from the ground on either side of me and I know I’m
on the nature trail now.

I cross over tidal creeks where mangroves
grow providing a habitat for large coastal birds, oysters, crabs, and fish. As
I move up a small hill, round a corner, and then back down to an empty,
semi-enclosed beach front. On the path past the beach, the walkway narrows so that
the exotic leaves and flowers are brushing my arms on either side.

When I finally reach a clearing at the
top of the trail I get a better view of the energy plant as it looms before me,
smoke stacks stand tall and dark, overlooking the water, with fenced-in
walkways surrounding all sides of the building.

My mom had once mentioned that my father
worked at an energy plant after high school. This must be the one. The thought
creates a heaviness in my chest—an unwelcome weight that I was trying to
release during my run.

With a deep breath and a sigh, I turn
back to the trail and pick my legs up to carry me faster than before.

I speed past the old town and back down
the main road until I reach the marina. I turn in naturally. This run is
familiar to me. It’s the path I always ran with Alec. Every now and then we’d
stop at the tiki bar to grab a water and watch the boats come and go from the
docks. On the nights we’d catch the sun lowering and turning a beautiful
mixture of orange and pink were some of my best memories.

Tonight I stand in the parking lot
watching the color in the sky fade to a dark night. All around me is eerie
silence but it’s a flicker of light through the windows of the boat house that
alert my senses. Just then I hear a latch of a door click and I watch two
figures, illuminated from the tall light post, talk animatedly as they walk
toward the dock entrance.

A gasp escapes me as I recognize the
figures as Alec and Ava. I muffle my own sounds quickly and duck behind a car
before they see me.

Is this what
came up
? Alec and Ava are hanging out. How can that be more important
than our first date? Maybe Trisha was onto something yesterday. Maybe Alec and
Ava do have something going on and I was too blind to see it.

I’m numb as I peer out at them and see
enough to conclude that Alec and Ava like each other.

They’re having an intense conversation
now—their bodies as close as two can get without kissing. Their words are
drowned out by my emotions but it doesn’t take a genius to understand that they
have grown close. Now I’m boiling. None of this makes any sense. Alec was just
kissing me earlier today. I can’t watch this anymore.

My escape back to Summer Estates can’t
come quick enough. I’ve seen all I need to see for my legs to push me hard and
fast back to the house and up to my room.

After I’ve had a chance to bury myself
under my covers and throw my head into my pillow, I let the tears fall freely.

Given
the events from the last couple of days, it’s a struggle to get moving and face
another day. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this way. Not only does my
new job force me to work with a complete and utter jerk, but Alec stood me up
last night to spend his time with Ava, of all people.
Ava.

With narrowed eyes and a shake of my head
I ready myself for new events. I somehow manage a run-in with Rose, who I know,
will be furious when she finds out that I went running after dark. Then again,
she has other important things to deal with.

Today, the Solstice community will face
the recent murder of Darryl French at the Island Meeting Center. We’re going to
spend the day remembering him and discussing the evil that must be dealt with.
There’s now a murderer on the loose in Apollo Beach with all signs pointing to
the Equinox.

All of this talk of the Equinox and the
horrible things they have done throughout the centuries has spiked my
curiosity—and I need to find a way to fill my time before the meeting, so
I head to the library after breakfast. Charlotte tells me that the Equinox
books are in the room that’s hidden behind the bookshelf, so that’s where I go.

The library has become my favorite room
in the entire house. It’s warm, ancient, and filled with history that not only
unlocks my past, but hidden truths that are kept from the world.

I’m no longer afraid of what I am, but why
does Erebus, the God of Darkness get to decide that now is the time to wreak
havoc among our town and community? What do we have that he wants? Rose has
already answered a lot of my questions, but there are so many more gaps to all
of this, and I’m determined to find out all that I can. Besides, Rose has yet
to explain how to defeat the evil that is the Equinox. How are we to defeat
them if we are faced against their darkness? We can’t defend ourselves if we
don’t know their weaknesses.

In the hidden den there’s a bookshelf
filled with ancient—mostly handwritten—journals from the early Enchanters.
The writing can be difficult to make out some of the text, but Rose and my
grandfather were able to preserve it all fairly well.

There’s a binding laying on the couch and
it’s open so I have to close it to read the title,
Lurking Evil
. Someone has already been looking into the Equinox’s
past.

I sink into the rose patterned couch and
pull open the pages to how the mark of the Equinox was born.

Just as Adam and Eve betrayed their
Father and plucked the red fruit from the tree, there once was an Autumnal Equinox
who chose a similar poison. This Equinox was tempted by power and high societal
rankings, and vied for Astina’s affection, only to be rejected, enraging him to
the core.

With a new mission for revenge, and in
hopes of overthrowing Astina’s chosen love to claim his spot beside her, he abused
his powers and used them to murder Astina’s husband, the first god of Enchantment.
Astina’s heart was broken and she sent men to kill the god of darkness, but as
his body died, his soul refused to see death and instead, used his magic to
give himself eternal life as a possessor. It was at this same time that Astina
learned that she was carrying the baby of her late husband.

It says here that the first being the
Equinox chose to possess was that of a snake. His mission was to wrap around
the neck of Astina and kill her, but her light was too bright. She eternalized
the god of darkness into his serpent form for all to see the evil he truly
possessed, unaware that he was still able to possess others.

Four decades later, Astina had
successfully built the foundation for Enchanters. She had three children total,
from two marriages, eight grandchildren, and her first great-grandchild was about
to enter the world—a baby girl named Elisa. On the night following the
baby’s birth, the Equinox took the form of one of his dozen Followers—a
servant that wanted to prove his loyalty—and went to Astina’s home where
she lived alone. He snuck into the bedroom, knowing that she was older and
weaker, and this time he was successful as he wrapped his serpent body around
her neck and strangled her to death.

This is how the Equinox knows to go after
Elders. Because they are weaker than those who are new to their magic.

And that’s it. With a shudder, something just
clicks. The importance of our power isn’t just to manipulate the Earth’s Elements,
but to protect ourselves and those around us by our light. The light Astina
Somer carried was too bright and powerful to be killed by the Equinox—until
she reached the age of an Elder, that is. What does that mean?

I set the book in my lap and wrap my arms
around myself as a form of comfort—it doesn’t help.

The Equinox lurks in the shadows of their
own darkness, and they can only attack Enchanters when they are weak and
lacking nature’s power. Elders naturally grow weaker over time, but can the Equinox
attack a weak Enchanter at any age?

I tremble at the thought of growing so
weak that my vulnerability is enough to be killed by the Equinox.
Like Fourth of July
. I remember being
tossed around in the bay, waiting for the darkness to finally take hold of me.
I was certain I was done. My powers were gone and it was like someone had
drained my battery entirely.

Could that be what the figure on the boat
was doing that night? Could that have been the Equinox, trying to take
advantage of my weakness—and then kill me?

* *
*

When I arrive at the Meeting Center the
halls are bare except for a few sulking bodies. No one wants to smile or use their
magic at a time like this. It’s almost as if the entire Solstice community has
been transformed into
Normals
.

Rose stands at the entrance to the Grand
Ballroom, her eyes dim, expression revealing her sadness. A pang hits me. I’ve
been so consumed with Alec and work, that I haven’t paid any attention to my
family. Rose is hurting right now. She’s just lost someone that she’s known for
a very long time. It could have been
her
locking up the Meeting Center that night. No. I can’t think like that.

As I approach I can’t help but feel that
my presence gives her some happiness. She smiles softly at me and wraps an arm around
my waist in a sideways hug. I smile too—happy to be of any relief to her grief.

Minutes later I take my spot next to
Charlotte, but this time, we sit below the stage. The Elders have the front row
with Darla at the center of their comforting arms. Rose stands at the podium in
silence as she waits to have everyone’s attention. It doesn’t take long until
the room is hers.

“Friends.” Moments of silence pass after
her first word is spoken. Already, a cry goes out in the crowd. So much
sadness. Charlotte clutches my hand and I clutch hers back. This meeting isn’t
going to end without tears.

“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?