The Equinox (5 page)

My face colors at the introduction, but I
walk toward my grandmother who wraps an arm around my waist. “It’s just Kat,” I
correct her into the microphone.

The crowd welcomes me with hoots and
hollers and applause. I feel very welcome and grateful to her for not making me
speak as she did on my sixteenth birthday. Instead, she holds my hands as she
finishes my introduction.

“I hope you all get a chance to meet
Kat
today.” Hearing Rose call me by my
nickname sounds strange. Even the way it comes out tells me it’s not her
preferred way of addressing me.

“And please, tell her your Enchantment
stories. Show her how we welcome our newest members—with open arms.
Although we are blessed, we all know how intimidating it can be to enter this world
for the first time.”

She embraces me once more, her fragile appearance
masking the enormous strength that she really has. Her hold is rock solid.

That was easy. I am relieved for the
brief spotlight announcement and the quick return to my seat.

“Now, down to business.” Rose continues. “In
spite of what is going on, we are still planning our annual carnival which is
set to open on the second week of August. That’s five weeks from today, giving
us more than enough time to plan. Everyone in this room is invited to attend,
and please, feel free to invite others. All profit made from the event will be
donated to my charity, Nurture Nature, and the Save the Manatee® Club.”

High pitched cheers and applause come from
the audience. The six Valli beauties must love the manatees because they are
standing and applauding at the news. I don’t quite understand the roar of
excitement but I follow suit, clapping along with everyone else.

“I know you girls are excited about
that.” Rose’s voice is light with laughter. “But before we can start inviting
guests and making money, we need volunteers, and not just Enchanters. Ask your
friends, your relatives, anyone who you think may want to volunteer some of
their time toward setup, or to working some hours at the carnival. Darla has
been kind enough to put together a list of volunteer roles, categorized so that
you may pick anything that interests you. We’ll pass the lists around now.”

With a flick of her arm, Darla propels a
stack of papers in the direction of the audience. They scatter around the room,
landing in different hands. Tinkles of laughter sprinkle the room like
raindrops on metal during the mad rush to contribute.

Rose approaches me holding a single piece
of paper and puts it down in front of me. “Since you will be working at the
Grille,” she grins, “would you mind working with Roy to order and schedule the food?”

“Sure,” I say. “I haven’t been hired yet,
but I have an audition. To be honest, I’m not sure I want to work there anymore.”
I don’t know why saying this causes me embarrassment. Perhaps because Roy gave
me such a hard time. Or maybe because Johnny clearly does not want me to work
there.

She makes a face. “Roy giving you a hard
time?”

I shrug. “He’s harmless. I just don’t
know if I’ll like the people.”

Rose’s eyes widen. “Trisha works there.
Trisha Sparks?”

I nod my head, wondering what that has to
do with anything. Rose’s eyes sparkle as she points at the audience. It takes
just a few seconds to gauge where her finger is directing me—on a petite
blonde haired couple with bright smiles as they sign the volunteer sheets. I
register what Rose is about to tell me.

“Trisha is one of us?” I just
knew
there was something I liked about
her.

“Yes, but not yet,” Rose adds quickly. “Her
birthday is at the end of this month. You should introduce yourself to her
parents. I’m sure they will be grateful to know that Trisha will have a friend
in all of this.”

I hurry down the steps, careful not to
trip over my heels. Sometimes I forget how much more control I have over my
body now that I’m an Enchanter. I’m lighter on my feet, faster, and stronger.
The chances of tripping and falling all over myself like I did before is
unlikely. My insecurities haven’t vanished completely but they’ve improved
greatly.

The Stones cut me off once I reach the
center aisle. They glance at each other before looking back at me, hesitant in
their approach. I’m reminded of the first time I laid eyes on them at my party,
awkward—uncomfortable, and I remember thinking how odd they looked
compared to Alec. I wondered then if he might be adopted and I was right. So it
makes sense that they are Enchanters and he is not.

My throat feels heavy, hard to swallow. I
try to find the words to say, but I’m rendered speechless in this moment. I
still haven’t had time to think about what all of this means. I’m part of the
same secret club as Alec’s parents and he is an outsider.

I’m saved because Mr. Stone speaks first.
I notice now that his eyes are wide, searching mine, and there’s something
almost fearful in his expression. “Kat. We wanted to welcome you to the
community. We only recently announced ourselves…”

I look to Mrs. Stone, and she has the
same look in her eye as she searches my face. I wonder if they’re worried that
I’ll tell Alec about this. Don’t they know the rules? I am sworn to secrecy
just as they are. If anyone has the choice to tell him, it’s them, but I get
the sneaking suspicion that they have no intention of telling Alec.

“Mr. and Mrs. Stone,” I say the words
carefully, just as I would pluck a delicate flower. “Thank you. I must say, it
was a surprise to see you both here today. I had no idea.”

Their expressions give away their
discomfort and as I think about Alec again my mind feels heavy with guilt, knowing
immediately that this is yet another secret that I must keep from him.

Mr. Stone speaks up again but I cut him
off before he can say anything.

“You don’t have to ask. I won’t mention
anything to Alec.” As I say the words I see their shoulders relax and relief
flood their faces. Mrs. Stone’s eyes appear watery and I turn away, unable to
look at her.

My stomach is already in knots. I know
that as hard as it is for me to keep these secrets from Alec, it must be a
million times harder for his parents.

“Thank you, Kat.” Mrs. Stone’s words
sound choked.

There’s nothing else to say.

I stand in the hallway of the meeting
center, waiting for Charlotte and Rose to say their goodbyes so that we can
leave. After the run-in with Alec’s parents, I’m doing everything possible to
avoid everyone. I just want to go home.

I see Marabella exit the ballroom first,
followed by the rest of her sisters except one. Looks like Arabella is still
making conversation with Rose. Arabella seems to be the ringleader of the
group, and she seems to have a familiarity with Rose that confuses me.

A smile spreads across Marabella’s face
and I’m surprised when she pulls me in for a hug. “It was so nice to meet you,
Kat. We’ve known about you for a long time. Rose and our father have been good
friends since they were teenagers.”

My eyes widen. “Oh, really?”

Their eyes brighten with identical
sparkles, as if a light shines from their insides-out. They really are
beautiful. “You should come visit us some time. Our father would love to meet
you.”

I remember Arabella telling me that they
are from a place called Weeki Wachee. I’m not sure it’s a place I’d ever think
to go, but I smile. “Yes, definitely.”

“Here,” Latuana pulls herself forward and
hands me a thick half sheet of paper. On it is a photo of the six girls
submerged in water as their hair swims above them, but it’s their mermaid tails
that catch my attention.

UNDER THE SEA MERMAID SHOW

Well that makes sense. They are
entertainers. That explains the thick long hair, perfectly manicured nails, and
flawless skin—the same traits that I’ve had since my Enchantment. I look
back up at the girls. Sort of.

“So Weeki Wachee is another Solstice
community?”

The girl’s laughter is like a musical
instrument strumming a series of notes in perfect unison. “Not exactly.”

I wait for them to tell me what I don’t
know when Rose exits the Ballroom with Arabella. They hug and Arabella heads
toward us. Rose gestures to me that she’ll just be a minute.

“Well,” I say impatiently. The last thing
I need is another secret. “What type of community is Weeki Wachee if it’s not a
Solstice settlement?” I look back at the photo in my hands and feel a tingle
spread through my body.

I look back up and catch Arabella’s eyes;
her pupils dilate when she sees what I’m holding.

“You told her?” She looks to her sisters
but I can’t tell if the look is anger or happiness.

Latuana shrugs. “Should it be a secret?
Everyone else here knows. Rose did invite us here.”

“Kat should know what we are,” says Zanna.
Sophania, Marabella, and Latuana incline their heads in agreement.

Arabella shrugs. “Okay.” She doesn’t seem
to hesitate long. It makes me wonder what her reservations are. What are they
holding back? “That flyer you’re holding…”

I’m not as confused as I look. Something
has already clicked but I don’t allow myself to agree with my thoughts.

Arabella just nods, agreeing with the
realization I’ve come to. “We are descendants of King Triton, Messenger of the
Sea.”

I shake my head now, feeling as if
another wall of my world has crashed in on me. “Like the Little Mermaid?”

Arabella grins, apparently proud of the
parallel. “Exactly like that. Except we have what Ariel always wanted.” She
wiggles one of her feet. “See. We can live on land or in the water. The sea is
our birth place and where we spend the majority of our time, but most of us have
evolved to enjoy the comfort of a mattress.”

Part of me wants to run, the other part
is too curious to leave. “So you’ve always had powers?”

Arabella shakes her head. “Sea
descendants get fins at birth, but we don’t have
those
kind of powers until our sixteenth year, like you.”

My heart rate picks up speed as I stare
back at the girls in front of me—six real life mermaids. Obviously I’ve
learned that this world isn’t a normal one, but mermaids? This one might take
more time to grasp.

If they are descendants of Triton then
who else is out there? I look around at the fast emptying hallway. Again, Rose has
kept something from me. She owes me an explanation.

“I can tell you more,” Arabella says,
distracting me from my thoughts. She must see my discomfort.

I notice now that she’s not far from my
age, and perhaps the youngest of the other girls. Yet, she probably understands
much more than I do about all of this. “But not here,” she continues. “Come to
Weeki Wachee. We can talk there.”

I watch the girls walk off, frozen for a
few moments in time with my unstructured thoughts. What more could Arabella
possibly have to tell me? And how on earth am I going to come up with an excuse
to get to Weeki Wachee? I don’t even know where it is.

The girls have gone by the time I make my
way outside the meeting center. I crave the feeling of the moonlight filtering
into my veins.

The night’s events have drained me and I
feel as if a million new locked doors have been added to the world that I
belong to. There’s still so much more that I don’t know.

The warm night breeze feels comforting as
it takes hold of my hair and swishes it gently to the side. As it lifts a
tendril of hair from my neck I feel air prickling me and a hint of citrus left
from my shampoo enters my nostrils. I release a sigh as my temperament returns
to normal and my shoulders relax.

As if tonight couldn’t get more confusing,
I catch sight of Alec perched against the black wrought iron gate that
surrounds the meeting center. He must be waiting for his parents.

His eyes are already on mine before I can
decide whether or not I want to be seen. I probably would have chosen to run,
or hide, anything but face him after everything I’ve learned. Especially since
I’ve been avoiding him already.

He pushes off the gate effortlessly and
slides his hands into his pockets as I approach. Wearing an unreadable
expression and by his shifting stance, I gather that he’s surprised to see me too.

With a squeeze of my amethyst I’m
comforted slightly, but my mood dims as I make eye contact with him. He doesn’t
have the ‘happy-to-see-you’ expression he once had when he looked at me. A lot
has changed in the short time we’ve been apart. I may not be responsible for
our physical distance, but our loss of friendship is what hurts the most. He
was my only friend in this strange town.

Alec tilts his head as though encouraging
me to speak first. I don’t know what to say. His eyelids flutter, and I suspect
that it’s a failed attempt at an eye roll. He shrugs in defeat. “Well this is a
surprise,” he says.

My lips are tight, but the corners lift
as I shrug back. “It’s nice to see you.”

“Really?” His disbelief stabs me.

My smile is gone and I sigh. “Yes, Alec.”
I search desperately for the right words, but he is too quick.

“Where have you been, Kat?” The odd tone
to his voice and crease in his brow tell me I’ve hurt him. There’s a pounding
in my chest as I recall his lips on mine, just minutes before the wild bonfire…

“I’ve tried calling and texting,” he
continues. “You just completely disappeared. I wanted to make sure you were
okay after everything…” He pauses just seconds before his voice lowers. “I
wanted to see you again.”

A dark imaginary hole opens beneath my
feet and swallows me. This conversation isn’t starting off well. “I know. I’m
sorry.” I search deep for any possible excuse that can explain my distance. He
didn’t deserve it, but I can’t tell him the truth.

“You know how Rose can be,” I finally
say. “She freaked out after that party—after I almost—you know.” I
shake my head and stare down as I kick my right toe into the ground, not liking
my partial lie.

To my surprise Alec reaches for my arm
and squeezes gently. “Hey.” His soft tone draws my eyes toward his. I take a
sharp intake of breath at his touch. He’s a beautiful specimen of a boy. My heart
rate quickens, and suddenly I’m embarrassed with the direction of my thoughts.

“I should be mad at you,” he finally
says. “But I’m not. I’m just glad you’re here now.” He smiles at me revealing
his perfect set of white teeth and an automatic smile appears on my face.

I pull myself up taller, thankful to him
for not giving me a hard time. “Thank you.”

I look over his wardrobe now, recognizing
his orange shorts. “Did you just get off work?”

He looks down at his attire, then back up
at me. “Yeah, long day.”

More than happy that we’ve changed
subjects, I remember an earlier discussion of ours. “I thought you said you
worked at the marina.”

Alec nods. “Yeah, this gig is only a
couple of days a week. I really just do it for the discount. Work on the Island
you get forty percent off purchases.” He raises his arms as if he’s just sold
me a prize.

With a grin, I remember playful Alec. I
like him. “Wow, that’s quite the deal. What do you plan to buy next?” I humor
him.

He gets a mischievous grin and I almost
regret asking. “How about I buy you dinner?”

A flashback of the last time we hung out
plays on my mind and triggers an image of Iris, hair burnt, scalp red with flesh. The
image is not a welcome one. I frown at the memory. “Hey, how’s Iris anyway?”

His expression darkens and I can feel him
distancing himself from me. “How does me asking you on a date remind you of
what happened to Iris?”

My chest puffs out with an intake of
breath. “Alec,” I plead. Although I’m forcing him to tell me this, I already
know that Iris is doing great. Rose made sure of it. I guess I just want to
hear it from him, and I’m curious if he’s paid her any visits recently.

He sighs. “She’s great, actually, never
been better. Her hair is growing back fast. Some treatment the doctors gave her
or something.”

I hold back a smile, knowing that the
treatment was something from Rose.

“But she’s home and feeling a lot
better,” Alec continues. “Actually, she seems to have turned a new leaf.”

I tilt my head. “Why do you say that?”

“Because, she’s been spending more time
with her family. She’s been positive lately. She even talks about you and how
grateful she is to you—for being there for her that night.”

The news is surprising, but it makes me
happy nonetheless.

Alec’s eyes catch on something at my
waist level. I look down to see the mermaid flyer in my hands. He takes it from
me and scans it. At first I panic, but then I remember that the flyer is meant
for the public. The girls from Weeki Wachee are entertainers; no one knows that
they are
actual
mermaids. I groan
inwardly.

“This looks like fun,” his voice is
filled with intrigue, as if the flyer solves a problem. “I’ve heard of this
place. The Springs near Tampa. It’s a bit of a drive but if we leave super
early and come back late we can do it. We can get a group to go. Do you think
Rose will let you go?”

“You want to go to Weeki Wachee?” I ask,
just to confirm.

He agrees eagerly.

There’s no way I’m disappointing Alec
after he’s been so forgiving. Besides, Arabella wants to talk to me again and
I’m anxious to know what she has to say. I’m tired of secrets. Rose will just
have to understand, and this could work out perfectly.

“It shouldn’t be a problem. I think
that’s a great idea, actually.” I smile at him now.

The idea of spending time with him again
is a welcome reprieve to all of the strange things that have come into my life
as of late.

“Where did you get this anyway?” He asks
as he hands the flyer back to me.

I can tell him the truth. “I met these
girls tonight—at the meeting. Rose knows their father and they get
involved with our community activities. They’re going to help with the Carnival
coming up. We all signed up for some volunteer work. You should sign up too.”

“I will. My parents mentioned something
about that.” His eyes flicker up above my head and he lifts his chin. “Speak of
the devil. There they are.”

I turn to see a smile plastered on Mr.
and Mrs. Stone’s face. “Hey, Son.” Mr. Stone looks at me cautiously.

I’m not sure I can act so casual around
the three of them. It’s bad enough that I have to keep this secret from Alec,
but now I feel like I’m in cahoots with his parents. It feels too much like
betrayal.

“I better get going,” I say with a forced
smile. “I need to find Rose. Have a nice night.” I take off before the Stones
can look at me further.

Hopefully Alec isn’t put off by my quick
getaway but I just can’t handle any more. The hardest part of what I’ve become
is the pool of secrets that continues to deepen. The last thing I want are for
those secrets to hurt anyone I care about—especially Alec.

* *
*

Later that night Rose suggests that
Charlotte and I join her on the back patio for dinner. We eat, for the most part,
in silence, and when we’re finished, Charlotte clears the table with a swoosh
of her hand.

We stare out at the bay; my thoughts on
mermaids, Alec, and the Equinox.
It all
plays on my mind, not in that order. A jumble of thoughts and emotions twist into
an endless ball of string, ready to snap if pulled tight enough. Why can’t I
have a simple life?

“Why didn’t you two tell me that there
are other deities out there?” It’s my first question because it’s the one
that’s weighed on my mind the most today.

“Of course there are other descendants,”
Rose says, waving away my frustration, as if my concerns are devoid of reason.

Heat beats into the walls of my chest. Does
she think I should have known this bit of information? Is she forgetting how
new I am to all of this?

Rose speaks much calmer than I feel but I
choose to listen rather than argue. “Descendants of Triton have been
long-standing friends of Enchanters. We’ve worked together for centuries,
helping each other protect water and land.”

“That’s great Rose, but you could have
warned me.” I shake my head. I’m going to try and explain because I really want
her to get it. “It was hard enough to get used to this new life with my
mom—gone.” I pause, but not long enough to let Rose interrupt me. “And
I’m not just talking about life as an Enchanter, but life
here
, in Apollo Beach, with you and Charlotte.

I know my words are harsh but Rose has
got to see what I’m feeling. She’s got to understand that the secrets need to
stop.

Rose raises an eyebrow at me.

Charlotte looks as if she’s evaluating
everything I say with a measuring spoon.

“I just want transparency. You did a
great job telling the entire community the story of the violence and destruction
that occurred a decade ago—but you never told me that. Not even after
what happened on Fourth of July. I don’t get it. Don’t you think it’s important
that I know these things?”

Rose raises her eyebrows, challenged by
my question. “Yes, I do, but in that instance, I was only planning one speech
and it wasn’t ready until tonight. I’m sorry I didn’t give you that information
first, but it was important that the entire community heard what I had to say.”

“I get it. That isn’t what bothers me the
most though. It’s all of the secrets. It’s your hushed conversations with
Arabella, and then me finding out from her that mermaids are real.” I let out a
laugh, though I’m not amused at all. “Do you know how ridiculous it all sounds
to someone who’s new to this life? I think you’re forgetting what it’s like to
be new.”

Rose stares at me for a good long minute
before she responds, but I can tell that she’s processing every word I say.

“Okay.” She scoots her chair in, facing
me directly, and folds her hands on the table. “You are right. I do forget what
it’s like. Thank you for reminding me.”

It’s like someone’s just inflated me with
the best kind of oxygen. I feel like I can float to the nearest cloud. I want
to thank Rose for seeing things in a different light, even for a moment.

“The daughters of the Sea…” Rose continues.
“They have always been close friends of our family. I grew up with their father,
Isaac, here in Apollo Beach. There are more of them, but he is their leader,
and Arabella is their messenger. She’s the youngest daughter but she’s also the
one that he confides in, making her a leader among her sisters. That is why
you’ll find me speaking directly to Isaac or relaying messages to Arabella. We
consort often while making important community decisions and solving problems
that arise.”