The Equinox by K.K. Allen Read Free Book Online

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