The Equinox

BOOK TWO

The Summer Solstice
Series

T
he
E
quinox

* * *

K.K. Allen

B
ooks

b
y
K.K. Allen

The Summer Solstice: Enchanted

(BOOK ONE, The Summer Solstice Series)

The Equinox

(BOOK TWO, The Summer Solstice Series)

The Descendants*

(BOOK THREE, The Summer Solstice Series)

*not yet released

…………

C
opyright

This book is a work of fiction. Names,
characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s
imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or
locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2014 by K.K. Allen.


All rights reserved. This book or any
portion thereof
may not be reproduced or used in any manner
whatsoever
without the express written permission of the
author
except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

For more information, please contact K.K.
Allen,
[email protected]

T
able
O
f
C
ontents

Prelude

Chapter
One

Chapter
Two

Chapter
Three

Chapter
Four

Chapter
Five

Chapter
Six

Chapter
Seven

Chapter
Eight

Chapter
Nine

Chapter
Ten

Chapter
Eleven

Chapter
Twelve

Chapter
Thirteen

Chapter
Fourteen

Chapter
Fifteen

Chapter
Sixteen

Chapter
Seventeen

Chapter
Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter
Twenty

Chapter
Twenty-One

Chapter
Twenty-Two

Chapter
Twenty-Three

Epilogue

Want
More?

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Invited to Connect with

K.K.
Allen

Next…

Acknowledgements

About the
Author

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I didn’t ask for this life. To finally
have the one thing in this world worth living for and then be forced to give it
up is unbearable. He is forbidden to me, a temptation above any red fruit. He
stands before me, yet out of my grasp.

His eyes stare back at me with a look
that breaks my heart. A pained expression tells me that I have hurt him. This
look is far more powerful than the tears that threaten to surface, and I must
will them away. To reveal before him my own pain would only complicate things,
this I know for sure—this is how things are destined to be.

Forcing my eyes away from his is my only
hope in this moment, but even without my eyes on his beautiful face, I feel him
searching me for any signs of hope. I feel his love for me and a hole begins to
burn straight through my core.

How did it happen to be that the love of
my life would turn out to be the one I need to kill to survive?

Breeze from the bay wisps my ponytail
around as the freed tendrils of brown hair smack lightly into my cheek. I
tighten my grasp around the handlebars of my beach cruiser—a gift from my
grandmother on my sixteenth birthday. I place my right foot down firmly on the
concrete as cars exit the one-lane bridge that leads to Summer Island, and
smile easily at the drivers as they turn off onto the main road.

It’s a predictably sunny day in Apollo
Beach, Florida, a place I’ve come to love quickly. A little over one month upon
moving here and I’m finally on a job hunt, much to my grandmother’s chagrin.
It’s not that she doesn’t want me to work, but she’s become rather overprotective
in the last week. I don’t blame her.

Close to one week has passed since the
incident at Alec’s party—an incident that almost killed Iris and me. The flames
of the bonfire still blaze through my mind daily and my near drowning haunts my
nights before I drift off to sleep. Luckily, my nightmares have ended. Ever
since receiving my green amethyst necklace its precious stone protects my mind
from the unpleasant dreams I had upon arriving.

I take off on my bike again, pedaling
fast over the bridge that leads to Summer Island, the community center that my grandparents
funded. There’s something mystical about the growing ivy on the guard gate’s concrete
walls and the tall, dark kudzu-covered trees that surround the entrance.

Mystical.
The
single word defines my entire life-changing existence since moving to this
town. As my eyes narrow at the path
ahead of me I feel a lift of my cheekbones as my lips pucker slightly to form a
small smile.

I haven’t returned to Summer Island since
my first week in Apollo Beach. Charlotte brought me here for lunch one day and
I remember the awe that came over me the first time I entered the private
grounds. It has the same effect on me today.

Summer Island is open to all, but all
must check in at the front gate. The guard tips his head at me and smiles
joyfully. I don’t question how he recognizes me. I just assume he’s one of
us
—an Enchanter—a descendant
of the Summer Solstice gods and goddesses from Ancient Greece. I groan
inwardly. It’s confusing to remember what term to use to describe what
we
are—
beings that possess magic and are able to perform spells of Enchantment
.
There is still so much to learn about what I am. My grandmother, Rose, promises
that the answers will come in time. I’m still waiting.

To my left is the parking lot of the
Island Grille—my destination, but my curiosity has won in its decision to
tour the community, so I steer right.

Summer Island was founded by Rose and my
grandfather George—and then they named the island after themselves. It’s
all a bit pretentious but I try not to let my name embarrass me. I suppose it’s
not an awful thing to want to be a legacy. Apollo Beach is the Summer family’s
legacy.

As I follow the circular path of the road
I immediately notice what the town’s fascination is with this place. It has
absolutely everything you could possibly want to do in one beautiful space. It’s
no wonder Rose spends most of her time here.

A recreational spread sits at the center of
the island. There are basketball courts, a football field, a track, tennis
courts, and a pack of baseball diamonds. The community pool that takes up most
of the center of the island could easily belong to a resort. There’s a large waterfall
and hidden alcove beneath it with a narrow lazy river that winds around and
empties on to a large beach front pool.

I’m distracted by the sight of the
lifeguard at the main pool.

It’s Alec. He’s perched high above the water
wearing orange swim trunks that just reach his knees, and a whistle around his
neck.

My throat tightens as I debate whether or
not now is the right time to face him. His messy auburn hair glistens in the sun
as he rolls his head around his neck. His chest muscles move slightly, catching
a partial ray of light. Even though his eyes are hidden behind sunglasses, I
would recognize Alec from a mile away.

Guilt pulses through my veins and reaches
my heart, forcing it to begin pounding heavily. I grab hold of my amethyst
necklace and squeeze hard, allowing the power of the stone to bring my erratic emotions
to a steady calm.

Avoiding Alec over these last few days
has been like trying to pull a rock from cement, but with my grandmother and Charlotte’s
encouragement, I’ve been able to come up with some senseless reasons for why I
can’t see him.

“Rose
has me memorizing the dictionary.”

“Charlotte
needs my help cleaning the Estate.”

“I
think I have food poisoning.”

After the third excuse, Alec stopped
trying. I found myself checking my phone often, saddened by the sudden silence.

So much has happened since moving to
Apollo Beach and after Alec’s Fourth of July party, I have trouble making out
the difference between right and wrong. I know that I would never hurt Alec intentionally
but after seeing firsthand what my powers can and cannot do, I’m more afraid of
what I cannot control—
The Equinox.

Just thinking of that name pushes a
weight down into my stomach. Rose has yet to explain in full, concrete detail
what the Equinox is. All I know is that they have it out for Enchanters—and
they want us dead.

* *
*

“Summer, you say?” Roy, the restaurant
manager of the Island Grille, is looking at me as if I’ve just cursed at him.
“I suppose I have no choice then. The old woman send you here?” His voice is
deep and agitated—but I get the distinct feeling that he doesn’t dislike
my grandmother. He may even be fond of her.

My eyes flash with determination. I don’t
want to rely on the Summer name to gain work. “Rose didn’t send me here. I was
hoping you might be hiring.”

Roy tilts his head and folds his arms
across his chest. His eyes scan my face, as if performing a lie detector test. After
a moment he releases his stance and smiles. His teeth are big and white,
clearly false.

“Well just because you’re Rose’s
granddaughter doesn’t mean I’m going to hire you just like that. We’re the
busiest restaurant in Apollo Beach, young lady, and I need talented wait staff helping
keep this place afloat.”

“I am talented,” I say, comforted by his
assertion, and I stand up straighter placing my fists upon my hip.

“Oh yeah?” His eyes crinkle, most likely
amused. “How so? Have you ever worked before?”

So maybe I’ve never worked a day in my
life, but I’m not about to let him think that matters. “I have great
balance—I can carry a tray. I have a picture perfect memory—so I
won’t forget an order, and I am fast—your cooks will have to keep up with
me.”

Roy looks down at my application, bobbing
his head as his eyes scan it. “Well you’re under age so you can’t work the bar.
The only place I can put you is here on the main floor. Busiest floor around.
You’ll be waiting on six to eight tables at a time on the weekends. You think
you can handle that?”

His challenge causes me to raise an
eyebrow. “Of course I can.”

He smirks. “Is that right, pretty lady?
Well, we’ll see. You’ll need to audition. Monday night. If you make the cut,
I’ll keep ya. If you drop a dish, forget an order, or piss anyone off, you’re
out of here.”

I’m having trouble making out whether or
not to be intimidated by Roy. He seems well-meaning, harmless even, but his
gruffness throws me.

I’m about to ask Roy how he wants me to
dress but I’m distracted by a figure that appears through the entrance. It’s
Broody—at least that’s my nickname for him. I think Trisha called him
Johnny.

I’ve had a couple of uncomfortable
encounters with Johnny. He took an immediate and obvious disliking to me, for
whatever reason. It doesn’t help that when I was here a few weeks ago playing
pool with Alec I struck Johnny’s face with my elbow by accident. It happened
while I was celebrating a lucky shot, but he was less than forgiving about it.

Maybe
working here isn’t the best idea.
I quickly scan Johnny’s face for any
damage. My eyes fix on his perfect nose and then flicker to his eyes. When I
catch him staring back at me with an intensity that could cause the earth to
shake, I feel the heat rise in my neck.

Johnny’s eyes move toward Roy now, probably
assessing the situation. When he looks back at me his expression dims.

Does
everyone in this place have to give me a hard time?

“Hey Johnny.” Roy calls him over and I
immediately tense up, locking my knees together to help steady myself from
whatever the firing squad is going to shoot my way.

Johnny saunters over without taking his
eyes off me. For the first time since gaining my powers, I feel weak and insignificant
in comparison to the guy now standing tall in front of me. I’m freed from his
spell when he turns his eyes from mine and focuses them on Roy.

“Johnny, meet Katrina Sum—”

“Kat,” I interrupt. They both turn to
stare at me as if I’ve soured their milk. I take an automatic step back. My
eyes move from one grump to the next. “It’s just Kat.”

Roy rolls his eyes and looks back to
Johnny. “Just Kat over here wants a job. I’m auditioning her for a waitress
spot. We need the help. Show her around, will you? And I’ll need you to train
her on Monday.”

“You mean you want me to babysit?” Johnny
practically spits the words out.

Every fiber in my body is on alert and my
mouth falls open. “Excuse me,” I say, my eyes narrowed. “I don’t need a sitter.
I can handle myself just fine.”

Johnny’s gaze pierces mine. He obviously
disagrees.

Roy speaks up next, perhaps in a rush to
brush over the tension in the air. “Just show her around. I’m going to be busy
prepping the permits for the carnival so we can use the extra help.”

Carnival?

He shoots a final look at Johnny. “Be
nice.”

With that, Roy stalks off and leaves
Johnny and me standing there. I feel a fire burning within me, a feeling that
now terrifies me after what happened on Fourth of July. I instinctively grab my
amethyst and squeeze tight. Allowing the fire to dissipate takes a few moments,
but I feel calm now.

He watches me, evaluating every move I
make. I wonder if his dislike for me has something to do with Rose. Maybe he’s
friends with Iris and Ava. There does seem to be an entire
I hate Katrina Summer Club
that I don’t know about. The thought is
a stretch though. Johnny looks of college age. He most likely doesn’t run
around with high school girls, especially those whose pastimes include
shopping, drinking, and gossiping.
So
what is his problem?
I gulp.

The tension between us is exhausting. Johnny
stares down at me, eyes transparent, expressing his distaste for me. Why? I
shift my stance. I haven’t felt this uncomfortable since my Enchantment. I’m
used to being bullied and made fun of, but not this. The way he looks at me is like
a hungry lion, ready to pounce on his prey.

If he wants me to cower, it doesn’t work.
I am, however, annoyed. “You don’t have to give me a tour. I can find my own
way.” I step to the side but he steps out too, blocking my path.

I’m careful to avoid his eyes as he
speaks.

“Come with me.” He steps out of my way
and moves toward the double doors of the kitchen. My hesitation is slight. His steps
are quick and determined and I rush to keep up.

I could ask him what his problem is with
me but I choose a different tactic. “I’m sorry for hitting you that day—I
didn’t see you there.”