The Equinox (3 page)

My face feels hot. Sometimes I forget
that we all have enhanced senses. Enchanters can hear from a great distance; we
just have to focus in on what we want to hear.

Charlotte gives me a sympathetic look and
ushers me back to my room.

This
is going to be a long night.

Charlotte drives us all to the Enchanters
and Friends event. By the sound of it, and with the way that I’m dressed, I
half expect to enter an elegant ball. It wouldn’t surprise me, really. After
seeing what Rose and Charlotte accomplished at my sixteenth birthday party, I
know not to underestimate them, and once again Rose is tight-lipped about what
to expect. What I do know is that I’m all done up in this beautiful dress and
we’re on our way to discuss the Equinox.

When we emerge from the car I see that
we’ve parked near the tennis courts in the only lot on the island. Rose excuses
herself when her phone rings and tells us she’ll catch up when she’s done.

I look over my shoulder at Rose who speaks
in an angry whisper. “This is
not
a
great time.” The terse tone, I recognize, is reserved for those close to her. I
know, because she’s used it on Charlotte and me more times than I can count.

Charlotte tugs me forward forcefully, and
I hop to avoid the curb.

“Come,” she says flatly.

Does Charlotte know who called Rose? My
guess is, yes, since she’s dragging me away.

We approach a tan colonial building with
dark brown pillars.

I watch Charlotte as her narrowed blue
eyes sparkle bright, her lips pucker slightly, and she points her chin
down—a very telling sign that she’s performing magic. She’s proud of what
she is, and like Rose, she takes it very seriously.

The door opens for us but there’s no one
on the other side. I give Charlotte a questioning look and she smiles in a way
that only
she
can. My eyes lift as we
make our way through the entrance. And as the doors close securely behind us,
an invisible curtain lifts before me, revealing the sight and sound of dozens
of elegantly dressed guests mingling about.

I gasp. Charlotte laughs joyously at my
surprise. “It’s a cloaking spell, Kat. Only descendants can see what goes on in
the meeting house—for our protection of course.

Groups of familiar faces and strangers
crowd the entry way, extending down the hallway which leads into a forum—or
reception. I don’t know yet, because we barely take two steps before an
exuberant Darla French approaches.

“Kat, you’re here!” She pulls me in for a
warm embrace and kisses my right cheek. Her friendliness is just the same as I
remember but this time I’m not frightened by her. I smile back, grateful to see
a familiar face in the crowd.

“Hi Darla,” I laugh lightly. “It’s good
to see you again.”

At the same moment, Charlotte gets called
over by a group down the hallway and walks off.

The last time I saw Darla and her husband
Darryl was at my sixteenth birthday party and they were covered in glitter, masks,
and wore funky costumes. This time, she is much more sophisticated, wearing a
royal blue blouse and a black skirt.

“I’m so glad you could finally make it to
one of our events.”

I tilt my head. “Don’t you have these
once a month? I think I’ve only missed one, but Rose thought that I was too
new
for a Solstice meeting.”

Darla chuckles. “Oh Rose is just
overprotective of you. Today’s event is a rare one actually. We usually have
monthly Enchanters meetings and weekly committee meetings. Everyone is invited to
the weekly committee meetings—Normals and all.”

The word
Normals
triggers my sour face but Darla doesn’t notice. I don’t
like the sound of that—as if what we are is superior to everyone else, but
I guess magic isn’t exactly normal.

It’s a bold move on my part but I press
myself through the crowded hallway, like a sausage being squeezed through its
packaging. I find a pocket of space in the corner of the room and release all
of the air that I’ve been saving. Nerves still get the better of me, but not
for long. I relax my shoulders and look around to find some sort of escape.
There are so many people here.

I can’t imagine everyone in this building
being an Enchanter like me. Did everyone else find out who they were at their sixteenth
birthday party? Did they too escape their former life in a blink of an eye?

I recall the freak-out episode I had when
Rose, Charlotte, and I were finally alone on my sixteenth birthday. Rose revealed
the knowledge of our magical nature, and I was certain she belonged in a mental
institution. I was angry. I was curious. So many emotions invaded me. It wasn’t
until the next morning that I finally began to take in what she was telling me and
could see for myself that it was all real.

My eyes take in as much as they can
around the room as I’m interested to see how others carry themselves amid such
chaos. All I see is confidence in everything about these people, from their
clothing and demeanor, to their body language, even their most subtle of gestures.

I witness graciousness as couples
separate and greet new faces. I see kindness as refreshments and appetizers are
offered to guests. I recognize genuine smiles and laughter that light up the entire
room. This is what makes Enchanters magical; it’s not in the power we possess
or the strength of that magic, but the people we are within. We are confident,
graceful, giving, and kind. Now, I smile.

Something in the opposite corner of the
room catches my eye. Or rather, some
ones
.
There are six girls, I count; each one a stunning beauty. I can’t help but
stare. All of them have long wavy flowing locks down to their waist. Their hair
colors differ, but I wonder if they are sisters.

The red haired goddess of the bunch
catches my eye and I almost blush. She smiles before I can look away in
embarrassment. She is looking at me too, after all. I am surprised when she makes
her way over to me, and even more surprised when her maybe-sisters follow.

She steps in front of me and I try my
best to appear as confident as everyone else. It’s not as hard as I imagined.

“Hi,” I say to them with a smile. I hold
out my hand. “Katrina Summer.”

“Arabella,” speaks the red head.

She looks like an Arabella. I examine her
flawless features up close now. A speckle of light dots cover each side of her
nose. Her cheeks are naturally rosy. Her hair is a fiery red color that brings
out the greenish-gold of her eyes.

“Nice to meet you.”

Arabella looks to the girls who surround
her now; they appear to be a bit older than me. My guess is that they are in
college.

The darkest haired beauty speaks up next.
“I’m Latuana. This is Dennity, Marabella, Sophania, and Zanna. We’re sisters.
Not sextuplets, so please don’t ask.”

Their names are almost as beautiful as their
looks. “Where are you girls from?”

Arabella speaks up again. “We’re from a
town on the coast, just north of Tampa.”

“Have you heard of Weeki Wachee Springs?”
cuts in the blonde goddess to my left. Marabella. Thank goodness for my great
memory.

I shake my head. “No. I haven’t”
Weeki Wachee
. What a strange name for a
town. It doesn’t sound Greek. Maybe it’s another Solstice settlement

She says nothing in response, so I feel like
I need to explain myself. “I’m pretty new to Florida. I haven’t been too far away
from Apollo Beach since moving here.” If I come across as disappointed by this
fact, I am.

I’m about to ask them if Weeki Wachee is
a settlement when I follow their line of sight focusing on something behind me.

Before I turn, I hear Rose speak. “My
favorite Valli sisters.” Rose is smiling wide as she embraces each of them
one-by-one.

She pulls away and wraps an arm around
me. “How are you, my darlings?” The syrupy sweetness that Rose pours on now is
genuine. She seems to be fond of these girls.

“Oh Rose, we’re keeping out of trouble, but
we’re here to listen and help. Whatever you need us for, just let us know.”

As Marabella speaks to Rose, I notice
that she has a tattoo on her neck, between her ear and her collarbone. It’s all
black and looks like a cross with an overlapping U-shape. It’s hard to make out
exactly.

Rose squeezes Marabella’s hand. “I
appreciate you all coming. Tell your father hello for me, please. I owe him a
meeting the next time he comes to town.”

Latuana flips a lock of hair over her
shoulder without touching it. “We will. He asked us to apologize for his
absence. He had some issues back home to tend to.”

Rose smiles back tenderly, forgiving
without effort. “Of course. I’ll be in touch with him.”

I feel the grasp around my shoulders
tighten but it’s the security of Rose’s hold that I am comforted by. Rose has
definitely grown on me this past month. She may be an old stubborn woman, but
she’s done well for herself and for our family over the years. It’s hard to not
feel proud to be her granddaughter.

“Let’s all go inside now, shall we?” Rose
speaks warmly to us all.

Charlotte finds us just as we’re entering
the large double doors that empty into a larger room. From above, the glinting
sign informs us that it is the Grand Ballroom.

We stand off to the side of the entrance
as Rose greets all who enter with a shake of the hand, a hug, or a kiss. The
formality of it all fascinates me.

The hallways have emptied and an older
gentleman with dark, beautiful skin, white hair, and a kind smile steps into
the room. “Rose, I’m locking the doors now. Everyone is here.”

Rose gives him a simple nod and turns to
me. “Your first Solstice meeting.” Her cheeks lift tightly, as if she’s
suppressing a smile. I can tell that she’s excited about the fact that I’ve
finally joined her.

“Enchanters and Friends meeting, Rose.” I
correct her with a teasing smile.

The heavy wooden door shuts and locks
behind us, becoming a barrier to the real world, as if the invisible cloaking
spell wasn’t enough. A current runs through me, anxious for what is due to
happen next.

As packed as the hallways were, I had no true
concept of numbers, but now, as Enchanters fill the large circular clothed
dinner tables that fill the massive Grand Ballroom, I’m finally getting an idea
for how many of us there are.

Loud chatter and laughter spreads through
the air. There are hats, books, and scarves, flying playfully across the room
as Enchanters find any excuse to use their magic. Levitating pitchers of water tip
to fill drink cups and bread baskets soar around the room until they are
plucked from the air. It all appears to come naturally to everyone in the room.

In the balcony above, amused onlookers watch
us like we are their circus entertainers.
Followers.
I identify them immediately as descendants of our Ancient Greek ancestors who
do not possess magic. They are bound to secrecy by the Laws of Enchantment,
just as we are.

Rose leads us down the center aisle, and Enchanters
create a path for us to walk; each one of them smiling respectfully as we pass.

A tingle of energy races through my body
and enters my chest with a jolt. This is how I feel when I’m energy sourcing.
Could the mere presence of other Enchanters give me greater power?

We reach the stage and climb the few
steps to the top. A long table of Enchanters sit to the right of the podium.
The privileged smiling faces of the group include Darla French and her husband
Darryl. I recognize the other faces from my party; Rose calls this elite group,
the Elders.

A gentle touch on my shoulder causes me
to look back to Charlotte who gestures toward a smaller table on the other side
of the stage.

“Why are we up here?” I ask Charlotte as
I look around the room.