The Summer Solstice ~ Enchanted (15 page)

Again, Rose is vague. I sigh internally but I am
beginning to understand more. And then I think about her last sentence. “So,
what happens when you stop energy sourcing?”

Rose gives me a heartening smile as she says her
next ominous words. “I die.”

Early July brings a new world to Apollo Beach. Now
that it’s officially summer the sun is at its best, kids are out of school, and
adults are still tucked away at their 9-5 jobs. Everything around me is fresh
with excitement.

Charlotte has spent most of her time dedicated to
my powers, teaching me everything she knows. Every power has a backstory and
consequence if misused. The laws of the Solstice are serious and the punishment
of mishandling them is unfathomable. The Law Book states that
what makes us
most powerful can also kill us
. The thought makes me shudder.

There are an infinite number of powers to learn,
but Rose is adamant that Charlotte teach me protective powers first. She says
that the most powerful magic is the magic that can save us from darkness.
Charlotte obeys her wishes, of course, and shows me everything there is to know
about cross-dimensional awareness, a heightened sense of awareness that alerts
a Solstice if there is danger. She also shows me all forms of manipulation of
the physical and non-physical. I’m not sure how this lesson could ever help me
but I’m fascinated still.

Charlotte finally let me in on how to control my
nightmares. As she saw me remove my necklace one night before bed she grabbed
it and placed it back around my neck. She told me that I must wear it always as
it acts as a shield of sorts. And with its calming powers, the dreams will be
less disturbing. So far, she’s been right.

Almost two weeks have passed since “lockdown” as I
call it. Rose is finally allowing me a day off to enjoy Apollo Beach. As I peer
out over the balcony of my room, internally debating what it is I want to do, I
zoom in to watch the happy faces among the shore of the neighborhood’s private
beachfront. I see that today’s weather calls for skimpy bathing suits and
Hawaiian oil. Smiling at the sight of it all, I decide to join them. But
there’s something I want to do first.

I dress quickly, throwing a bright green sundress
over my black bathing suit. As I pass by Rose, who sits in her normal chair in
the great room, I spy her effortlessly filling out the white boxes of a
crossword puzzle. She doesn’t look up or say a word. We’ve already had this
argument. I want to get out of the house. She wants to lock me in. She is
certain that something awful will happen once I leave this house. But Charlotte
agreed that I can’t be locked in this house forever.

Once I’ve freed my bike from the garage I hop on
and take off down the street. I don’t have a plan. I don’t know where it is I
want to go. I just want to ride and explore Apollo Beach without my caretakers
by my side.

As I ride I’m struck with an overwhelming sense of
restoration as the sun hits my face and washes over me. A gentle breeze sweeps
through my hair, blowing it wildly in the wind. I giggle, loving the effects of
euphoric freedom.

The heat is significant today in the high 90’s. But
I don’t mind it. My body generates the temperature I need it to. I practically
have a built-in central air system now.

All homes that line the wealthy neighborhood are
manicured perfectly, reflecting a picture book image to anyone who cares to
look. I wonder how many of these owners are part of the Solstice community.

After I’ve circled round and peddled through every
neighborhood I see, I come to the neighborhood beach. I push through, fighting
the resistance of the sand and laughing into the wind. Flying by the Bay-facing
homes, I’m consumed with my thoughts of all that these past two weeks have
brought me.

I slow down when I near Alec’s house. He’s pulling
a net across two metal poles. I see boxes of fireworks on the folding table
closer to the house. Having been so consumed with my powers I didn’t realize
that today was Fourth of July.
His party
.

Knowing that now is the time to face him, I hop off
my bike, remove my shoes, and sink my feet, one-by-one, into the warm sand.

It’s been a week since he called me. I frown,
wondering what excuse I’ll give him now.
“Hey Alec, sorry I haven’t gone
running but I’m been practicing magic. I’m pretty good at it now.”
Probably
not.

Alec is holding a box of fireworks when he spots me
but tosses them aside, expression unclear. My heart sinks as a result. In spite
of my disappointment, I slow my steps and smile.

“Wow, I was wondering if I’d ever see you again.
You look great.” His brows crease inward as he speaks. I look different to him.

I laugh lightly. “Thank you.” Then I gesture to the
volleyball net and the box of fireworks he’s holding. “Your party is tonight.”

“Yup. My parents and I throw a party every year for
the Fourth.” He tilts his head, a challenge in his eyes. “Speaking of, you
should really come. I can promise a good time and a lot of new people to meet.”

Unable to drop the smile that he put on my face in
the first place, I show him my hesitation. “Well, I’ll have to make sure Rose
is cool with it. Can I let you know?”

Alec makes a face. “Of course, but to be honest,”
he pauses, taking a quick one-over of my face, “I might be offended if you
don’t show.”

Squinting up at him, I ask, “Why is that?”

“Well, to be frank, you are new here, it’s not like
you’ve had time to make any friends, and you’ve been ignoring me since your
birthday and I’m still inviting you to my party. Obviously, I’m making an
effort to be your friend here and I’m starting to wonder why.”

My face falls. I didn’t expect that. “I’m sorry.
Really. I thanked you for the sand dollar though. That was sweet.”

I know this isn’t giving him much, but he makes a
face, then shrugs. “Well, it’s okay.”

“I
hoped to see you out here.” My bold words seem to affect him. “Things have been
– well – crazy around the house for the past couple of weeks, but
it’s better now.”

The question in Alec’s eyes is now hidden by his
curiosity. “So, you can come tonight?”

Why
does Rose have to be so stubborn?
I
frown at the thought that she may say no. “I don’t know yet.” I see his
disappointment and instinctively reach my hand out to touch his arm. I move it
away just as quickly. “I will do my best.”

He nods as if he doesn’t believe me. “Okay, I’ll
accept that.”

We stare at each other now and the word
friend
plays on my mind. Could that be all Alec’s interested in?

“So
what’s up with all this craziness at the Summer Estate? Rose been keeping you
busy?” The question puts me off balance for a moment, but I’m quick to recover
lately.

“You can say that. Rose had me studying.” This is
true.

He squints. “But school hasn’t started yet.”

I make an unpleasant face. “Did you know Apollo
Beach High School requires new students to take a placement exam? Something
about how the education differs from one county to another.”

“Well – did you pass?” He waits, curiously.

My eyes brighten as I lift my shoulders and smile.
“I passed.”

“Awesome.” He practically cheers. “Did
they let you pick any of your classes?”

I nod. “Some, just the electives though. I got into
Photography and Theater.”

Alec perks up. “No way! Me too. So we at least have
those classes together. But how did you get in? Last I heard there was a
waiting list.”

I smirk. “Rose went with me. She’s very –
persuasive.” Again, I’m twisting the truth and guilt sabotages my confidence.
Rose never took me to the school. She did everything for me over the phone. I
just had to pick all of my electives and it was a done deal.

Silence fills the air and I take that as my cue. “I
should let you get back to work.” I take a step back from him, still gripping
the handlebars of my bike.

“Where are you headed?”

I nod towards Summer Estate. “Home. I need to start
negotiations.” Although I’m dreading another altercation with Rose, I’m eager
to get it over with so I can enjoy Alec’s party. There’s no way I’m missing this.
No matter how difficult a time Rose gives me.

Grinning he points to the bike. “Hop on. I’ll walk
you home. I walk. You ride.”

I beam and do as he says, not wanting to waste an
opportunity to hang out with him.

He tells me all about his family and their move to
Apollo. It turns out that his father has worked for some prestigious schools
but his dream was to bring his family to Florida. The University near Apollo
offered him a position that he couldn’t turn down. I learn that he has an older
sister that is in nursing school at Emory University.

I also learn that Alec is adopted after all. But
he’s been with his parents since he was an infant and naturally calls them Mom
and Dad. He thinks it’s funny when others ask if he’s adopted. They get
uncomfortable but he really doesn’t mind.

As we laugh our elbows brush and my muscles tense.

“So you’ve been running?” Alec asked.

I shake my head.
Another lie.
I hate
secrets. I swallow my guilt. “I miss it. I had a lot of fun with you.”

He nods. “Me too. But that’s okay. We can pick it
up again.”

A smile spreads across my face. “Okay. I hope
you’ve been practicing.”

He grins. “I have.”

There’s a twinkle in my eyes now and I realize that
I’m flirting. “Oh, you just got yourself a competition.”

I stop in front of the Estate. Alec changes
subject. “So tell me the truth about tonight. Are you just politely trying to
brush me off?” I can see that he’s teasing, but there is a part of him that is
serious.

“I’m not trying to brush you off at all. I promise.
Trust me, I’d love to come. I haven’t gotten out of the house much since I’ve
been here. Rose is just being overly cautious about me – since I’m new
here. I’ll beg.”

He seems to accept this answer and smiles. “Okay,
but don’t be surprised if I throw pebbles at your window tonight if I don’t see
you. I could always rescue you with my ladder.”

I laugh softly. “Are you trying to be my Romeo?”

He winks again, making my heart flutter in my
chest. “Just trying to be your Alec.”

My heart does about a thousand flip-flops in those
few seconds. I realize how close he is to me and immediately grow flush as I
look up at him. “Have you always been this smooth Alec Stone?”

He chuckles. “Not really. You’re just fun.” He
playfully nudges me.

I glance at the house behind me and give him a
hopeful look. “Wish me luck?”

He nods and releases my bike into my hands. “See
you tonight, Summer girl.”

Of course Rose doesn’t agree with my decision to go
to Alec’s Fourth of July party. We argue over it for almost an hour until she
finally gives in.

“Rose, it’s Fourth of July, I haven’t made any
friends here yet besides Alec and I really want to go. Everything will be
fine.”

Rose finally sighs and I know she’s done arguing
with me. “Look dear, you asked me if you could go and the answer is, you can do
whatever you want. I’m simply sharing my opinion. We just don’t know how much
control you have of your powers yet and it’s just not safe.”

“What could happen?”

“A lot could happen.”

“With my powers, Rose. What could happen? What
could go wrong?” I stop my foot impatiently.

“I don’t know, anything. You could accidentally use
your powers and someone will see you.” This statement confuses me. She narrows
her eyes at me. “Like the way people have seen you jumping out of your window
at night to go running.”

It’s as if someone’s kicked me. “Rose! You’ve been
spying on me.”

She shakes her head. “No, I don’t spy. Another
Solstice saw you and told me, because you were being reckless. And don’t turn
this around on me, young lady. You’ve been sneaking out. You’re only 16 and
your powers are not ready yet. Accidents can happen.”

“I was not being reckless. But I thought my powers
don’t come out accidentally anymore. Since I turned 16. I’m supposed to be in
complete control of them. Why would anything happen unless I willed them to
happen?” I am so exhausted by the end of this conversation.

Rose throws her hands in the air – defeated.
“You’re right. But this is all still so new. I just don’t want to find out the
hard way that there’s something we didn’t know about –.”

I know now that there is something Rose isn’t
sharing with me. Something more about me that she doesn’t want me to know.
“Rose, I know when you’re keeping something from me. With all of your knowledge
of the Summer Solstice, how could you possibly think that anything bad could
come of what’s in us?”

For the next few moments, silence fills the air as
Rose stares at me blankly. I’m sure deliberating what she wants to disclose
next. I’m not going to let up this time until she tells me. “I’ve told you
before. You’re a rare Solstice. You were born the day when our powers are the
strongest, and your powers came to you on the celebration day. History proves
that Solstice just grow stronger and stronger over time. Your powers are easily
more powerful than anything we’ve ever seen before. And to be honest, I’m
scared for you. Scared of what we don’t know which is why I’m trying to
convince you to take it all slow.”

A new sensation comes over me – one of
undiscovered power. Could it be? That there’s something deeper in me than even
Rose has considered? Was that the big push that my mother needed to take me
from this place when I was so young?

“Katrina,” Rose’s voice is calmer now. “You can go
to your party. You’re right; you’ve been locked up since being here. You need
to make friends. The last thing we all want is for you to be the outcast at
school because you aren’t socializing. I want the opposite for you. I want you
to have lots of friends and to become a leader as I have in the community. I
just want you to be careful tonight.”

Charlotte steps in now to comfort Rose. “She will
only be a minute away, Rose. If something were to happen, we could step in.”

Rose glares at
Charlotte before responding. “I said Katrina could go.” She spins to face me
now, much gentler than she was to Charlotte. “Have fun.” With that she turns on
her heel and walks out of the room.

By the time I approach the beach party it’s just
past seven o’clock and it’s like a scene from a movie. Loud, happy voices span
across the beach, some crowds bigger than others. A bonfire sits at the edge of
the shore as teens feed the growing flames with sticks, paper, and cardboard.
Others are frolicking along the coast of water, shrieking and laughing with
joy. Farther up the beach a volleyball game is in full swing. And on the bottom
deck of Alec’s house a crowd has gathered around a Ping-Pong match. The
majority of people are crowded below the band that plays on the terrace. The
party guests, as far as I can see, seem to range from high school to
mid-twenties.

I begin to search the crowd for Alec.

As I forge forward, closer to the scattered crowd,
I hear my name. “Kat,” It isn’t Alec. Disappointed, I turn to see Ava squinting at me with over-exaggerated
confusion.

“Hi Ava. How are you?” I give her my friendliest
greeting but it’s tough. I’ve had time to look back on all events leading up to
my
Enchantment
and the few memories I have of Ava has left me with a
sour taste in my mouth – my taste for Iris is no better.

“I’m fine.” Her tone alerts all my senses with its
sugary sweetness. “What are you doing here?”

In the past I would have cowered at the
confrontation, but not this time. A wave of courage rips through me. I
straighten my posture and capture Ava’s eyes with mine. I smile brightly. “Alec
invited me.”

Ava loses ground slightly as she shrinks before me.
She stammers, “I-I know that. But I still don’t understand why you came. You
obviously have no friends here. Alec just feels sorry for you.” The first time
I met Ava I thought she was pretty. Right now, I can’t get over how ugly she
looks as she sneers at me.

Her wandering eyes and unsteady stance make me
wonder if she’s been drinking. I take a step forward to eliminate some space
between us. I want her to listen to what I have to say next. “You don’t
intimidate me, Ava.”

Ava narrows her eyes at me and takes a step back.
“You just come into town and you think you can go after Alec just because of
who your grandmother is. You don’t know who you’re messing with.” Even as she
says this, she looks defeated – or maybe a little sick. She sways
slightly.

I just shake my head now. It’s not worth arguing
with her. “I think you have it wrong Ava. I’m not going after anyone. And I’ll
be friends with whoever I want. I’m not sure why you think you get to dictate
that.”

I expect her to retaliate but she doesn’t. Her eyes
drop in her head and she almost falls backwards. I’m quick to catch her but she
shoves me away. “Don’t touch me, you witch!”

She spits the words and I reel back with wide eyes.
My heart thumps in my chest with a quickening pace. Fear is the first emotion
that comes to me.
What does she know?
And then another emotion creeps in
as the blood beneath my skin come to a boil. Anger.
I’m not a witch.
My
insides begin to shake with fury and my eyes narrow in on her. The look she gives
me now is one I will never forget – terror. She falls back into the sand,
eyes staring up at me as if I’m a monster.

Instinctively, I grab my necklace and squeeze as
tight as I can. I shut my eyes and shove the darkness deep down further into
the back of my mind with every breath I take.

“I told you to stop drinking!” I’m shaken from the
blackness as I hear Alec’s voice and Iris’s giggling. Alec is standing behind
Ava, looking annoyed.

Iris helps Ava up. I just stare – waiting for
Ava to say something that will make me angry again but she doesn’t. Instead she
begins clutching her head and shaking it as if trying to get something out.
“Ouch.”

As much as I want to go to her and help her in some
way I know Alec and Iris can handle it. The last time I tried to help her she
didn’t take it very well. I take a few steps back as her friends tend to her.

A few minutes pass as Ava recovers slowly. Iris is
encouraging Ava to drink some water and Alec heads towards me. I’m leaning up
against the pillar of the house now, unable to shake the disturbing start to
the night.

“Welcome to my party,” he says as his eyes twinkle.
He touches my arm and it’s like an instant calming effect. He looks good. He’s
dressed in navy blue and white pinstriped swim shorts and a navy blue tank top.

I laugh lightly, meeting his eyes. “It looks like a
great party.”

“Yeah, well, some people are having too much fun.”
He points at Ava with his eyes and then grins at me. “But you made it.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “I did. And now you owe
me.”

Alec leads me a short distance to the refreshment
table where a bowl of pink liquid sits in the center. In a second he has poured
a drink and offers the cup to me. “A token of my gratitude,” he bows
sarcastically.

“Funny,” I say as I laugh.

I look into the cup, checking out the substance. As
if he can read my mind, he laughs and responds. “It’s just punch.” He gives me
a boyish smile and I grow weak in the knees.

“Thank you.” I say with a teaser glimmer in my eye.
I raise my cup in cheers. We tap cups then take a sip – our eyes never
leaving each other.

I can feel Iris and Ava staring at us and I know I
can’t ignore them much longer. I turn towards Iris and smile. “Nice to see you
again, Iris. You having a good time?”

“I was,” she says evenly, loud enough all of us to
hear. The girls burst into a fit of giggles. Maybe they’re both drinking.

I simply nod my head and turn my attention back to
Alec who seems to be staring at me, amused. He lifts his head towards the house
in a private gesture, only meant for me.

He leans in, his fragrance pleasing. “You want to
take a walk? I’ll show you around.”

He wants to spend time with me – even if it’s
just a tour. Either way, I have a great feeling about tonight. “Yes, let’s go.”

As we walk off, I take a quick glance in Iris and
Ava’s direction to see them watching the departure of Alec and myself. “Are
those two going to let up on me soon?” I ask Alec.

Alec smiles and places a hand on my back, leaning
in closer. He smells of salt and a hint of punch. “Probably not.” He whisks me
away from the group, past the volleyball game, and up the stairs, to his
oversized deck. We run into a few friends of his parents and Alec introduces me
as Rose’s granddaughter, Katrina.

I’m guessing that these people weren’t at my
birthday, but I probably wouldn’t remember either way. As we make our way
through the throng of guests, Alec points out features of his house; his
bedroom, the game room, the theater room, his father’s den, the sitting room,
the great room, the living room, his parents bedroom. The house reminds me of a
smaller Summer Estates in the intricacy of the detail. The marble floors are
similar in color and panel size. And the layout seems similar as well, from
what I can see anyway. Mahogany wood furniture dominates the décor of the
estate, which throws me off. Probably because the only thing I can compare it
to is Rose’s house. The differences are glaring.

We make our way through the entire house and then
we’re downstairs at the kitchen. I almost expect him to take off to tend to
other party guests. Surely, he can’t have me by his side all night. But to my
satisfaction, he stays with me, leading me through the double French doors,
opening to the outside patio.

There is some sort of traffic jam as guests
struggle to either enter or exit the house. To narrow our space in the doorway,
Alec stands behind me and leads me slowly through the crowd. He places his
hands on my waist and a shiver runs through me at the thrill of his touch.

Once we are back outside on the patio, he doesn’t
let go right away. I manage to contain my excitement.

“See that?” He points out near the beach where a
bunch of teens are lighting sparklers. “Wanna join ‘em?”

The excitement in his voice is contagious and I
follow him, certain that I would follow him anywhere. But to be fair, he’s not
exactly giving me the opportunity to say no. He tugs my hand, leading me to a
spot of the patio where fireworks are spread out on a folding table. He reaches for a handful of sparklers
and a lighter and motions for me to follow him to the beach. Iris and Ava are
there to intercept us. Of course.

Alec is quick to include them, dropping my hand in
the process. Disappointment washes over me. I can’t help but wonder if maybe he
does have a thing for Iris. Why else would he drop my hand?

He hands them a box of sparklers. “Let’s go over
here,” he points to a group of kids on the beach who are waving their lit
sticks around, laughing and making invisible shapes. To my discouragement, Ava
and Iris follow us to the shore, quickly shoving past me in order to get closer
to Alec.

The sparklers light up in all different colors as
they wave through the sky. Fire particles flying through the air and then
vanishing into the night. It’s silly how much fun one can have waving around a
little stick.

Alec starts up a game of “guess the invisible word”
and we’re forced to watch as we each spell out a word and then others have to
guess what the word is.

When it’s my turn I begin to spell the word
“Summer” and as I’m concentrating on the words I barely notice I’ve made the
words linger in the air longer than normal. I make the letters vanish from
sight with a swish of my hand, but everyone saw the word and my turn is up. But
no one seems to notice anything out of the ordinary.