“It was an eye-opening experience,” Johnny says. “Actually, I’d like to come by tomorrow and talk to you and Rose about it, if that’s okay.” Johnny darts a look at me, and I nod for him to continue. “I’d like to share what I’ve learned.”
My dad hugs me tighter to him protectively. “That would be fine. Can we meet in the afternoon, around one? I need to run some errands in the morning.”
Johnny nods. “Yes, sir. Any time is fine with me.”
I can’t help wondering how long he plans to stick around. It’s all too much to think of right now. At least he’ll still be here tomorrow. It’s enough to allow myself to give in to my exhaustion. I peer up at my father. “Can you take me home? My head hurts, and I’d really like to sleep.”
“Your head? From what?” He begins to examine my injuries. He gasps when he notices dried blood at the crown of my head.
I frown, not wanting to get into the story now. “Erebus banged me up a little, but I’ll be fine once I sleep it off.”
“Hold still,” my dad demands and places his hands on both sides of my head wound.
I do as he says, somewhat giddy to experience another person healing me. I’m usually the one healing others. He blows lightly, and I feel a slight tingling at the top of my skull then a tightening. Everyone’s eyes are on us.
Ah, that feels good. “All better,” I say with a smile.
“He could have killed you, Katrina. How can you be so smiley?” Rose scoffs.
“Erebus wasn’t here to kill me. He came trying to pry information about the energy source from me. Thanks to Rose, Queen of Secrets, I had no information to divulge.” I bat my eyes at her.
Rose narrows her eyes at me as all attention turns to her. “Is that so?” she asks dryly.
“He won’t stop until he uncovers the truth, Rose.”
Rose folds her arms defiantly. “While he may come close, he’ll never uncover the secret of our energy source. Only a handful know the truth, and I’ll die before exposing it to him.”
Too many thoughts running through my mind for me to sleep, so I wrap my throw blanket around me and trudge downstairs to the library. I take the stairs to the second floor and pull on the candle to open the door to the hidden den. With a slow wave of my hand, I light the wall candles, setting the room aglow.
There’s magic in this room—literally and metaphorically. The warm walls, candle-lit ambiance, rich ancient history, and closed-off space bring comfort and peace when nothing else can, not even my emerald. If there’s a place in this house that makes me feel safe, it’s this room.
After Johnny left on his hunt for Erebus, the library became my sanctuary—a place I could escape to and concentrate on things I could learn to control. Everything else just made me feel helpless and reminded me of the agonizing heartbreak of Johnny Pierce leaving me on that dock.
My emerald, a subject I rarely research because there has never been any reason to, is on my mind tonight. I’ve always known the family stone I wear around my neck calms my anxiety, helps me control my magic by giving me extra focus, and acts as a generator for my powers. What I didn’t realize was how lost I would be without it until I faced Erebus tonight. Out of curiosity, I scan the shelves for a book on energy and crystals. When I find one, I lay it flat on the desk.
I’ve become quite good at skimming books and digesting them quickly. Speed-reading has been a welcome addition to my heightened senses. Without knowledge of our history, the future is a desolate void. How else could I possibly begin to understand the life that brought us here today?
I flip quickly through the sections on moonstones, opals, and diamonds, until I arrive at the emerald. Beryl, apparently, is the proper name for the green stone I wear around my neck, and it has become a trademark among Enchanters due to our spiritual link with nature.
The symbolism alone gives Enchanters a good excuse to carry this stone around. However, its energy plays well with our magic, making the emerald the perfect stone for our bloodline. We who hold the stone close have a direct link with nature, but we don’t need it to use or control our powers. So why did I feel so weak against Erebus without it tonight?
I close the book and sigh. Up until now, my emerald has worked without any effort on my part—like in my sleep, banishing the unwanted dreams. It has failed my heart, though, when it comes to Johnny Pierce. Around him and only around him, my stone feels useless. Even with the stone pressed snugly to my skin, his presence always activates the tiny earthquakes in my heart. Even now.
My phone buzzes in my pocket.
Alec. He probably can’t sleep either. I start to tap the button to answer the call, but pull back almost immediately when I realize he might want to ask me questions about Johnny. I’m not ready for that. I hesitate too long, allowing the call to go to voicemail. I’ll talk to him tomorrow.
As I yawn, tearing up, I pick up another book on the Equinox then snuggle into the couch. When I get to the section on the first Enchanter-Equinox War in Athens, my eyelids grow heavy.
My dad is asleep in a chair in the corner of my room when I awaken. He must have found me and moved me to my bed. His brow is furrowed, hinting at where wrinkles will one day appear. The corners of his mouth dip naturally, just as mine do, and his hair is mussed, proof of the stress of last night.
I wonder if he was worried about me. My insides buzz with warmth as I note that he chose to stay at Summer Estate last night instead of his own home. After years of thinking he never cared because of the choices my parents made, it’s comforting to know he cares for me now. While my relationship with my father can still be awkward and confusing at times, we seem to have figured out a rhythm—and a love—that works for us.
He shifts as if sensing I’m awake and opens his eyes slowly. “Aargh.” He shifts again until he’s sitting straight up in the chair.
“I’m alive,” I whisper, a soft smile playing on my lips.
He rubs his eyes. “I couldn’t find you anywhere last night, but Charlotte had a good idea where you might be. What were you doing in the library so late?” The worry in his voice instills guilt in my heart.
I reach for the stone around my neck and stare down at it. “I was reading up on stones. I wasn’t wearing my emerald last night because I didn’t think I needed it, but apparently, I’m weak without it.”
My dad tilts his head. “What do you mean? You don’t need your emerald to use your powers. It helps, but you’re strong enough on your own. When did you start to feel weak?”
I shrug. “I felt drained the moment I came into contact with Erebus. But at the same time, I couldn’t fight him because I wanted to hear him out. If he wanted to hurt me, he would have.”
His expression cuts me to my core. “I healed a deep gash in your head last night, Katrina, and you had bruises all over your body. I’d say he succeeded in hurting you.”
A flash of an image from my encounter with Erebus spreads chills through my body.
“I have a theory.” He frowns.
“You do?”
“You’re half Equinox, which means you and Erebus share energy at some level. Not enough to overpower your Solstice gifts, but enough to disarm you during a surprise confrontation.”