“I felt trapped,” I say, looking between them. “I didn’t mean to push Iris into the flames, or to make the wind fuel the fire. And the wave—” I choke on my words. “I didn’t mean for it to drown me.” I bow my head. “I lost control, just like you said I would.”
Neither of them says a word and that make me feel worse.
A million thoughts race through my mind, but one stands prominently there. I’ve read the Solstice law book from front to back, and one thing is abundantly clear. Those who abuse their powers will be punished. Rose has echoed those same words often. So now what? “Am I going to be punished for what I did?” My voice is weak, scared of whatever consequences I face.
Rose looks at me, her brows bent as a look of confusion appears on her face. “Punished for what, dear?”
Every thought I’ve had recently is halted by her words. Rose doesn’t think I should be punished?
“Didn’t you hear me? I caused all of this. I was angry. The wind got out of control and took the fire with it. I couldn’t stop it. I tried, but I couldn’t control my own powers. The law book says that punishment is worse than death.”
Charlotte places a hand on my leg. “Kat, listen to what you’re saying. You couldn’t calm the fire because you weren’t the one controlling it. The same goes for the wind.”
My thoughts slow to a canter. “I don’t understand.”
Rose narrows her eyes at me, halting me in mid-breath. “You pushed that poor girl toward the fire, which you shouldn’t have done, but someone else caused the fire to get out of control.”
Again, I replay the events in my head. Only this time, I keep the law book in mind. “I can only control the powers I create.” Although I should be elated at my relief, I’m struck now with a flood of new questions. “Then who? Who would want the fire to get so out of control? I swear that thing had arms and legs, and it was reaching for Alec and Iris.”
Rose and Charlotte look at each other, fear evident in their eyes. It’s as if they are deciding who should deliver the news. “Kat,” Rose stars slowly. “Do you remember the stories of Astina Summer and her evil counterpart? The enemy and his army that still exists today?”
I don’t have to think too hard to remember her story vividly. “Yes. The God of Darkness, right?” Something clicks. “You’re saying he was at the bonfire?”
Rose nods carefully. “Yes. And if Erebus is here, that means his Followers are here also. Erebus doesn’t travel alone. He’s too much of a coward. He forms groups where he travels, and he teaches them to hunt, taunt, and kill. Erebus hides behind his Followers. They do his bidding, but if they get caught or killed in the process, he can just walk away. He cares for no one.”
It all feels like too much to process. “Maybe it wasn’t him,” I say, desperate to believe history isn’t repeating itself. “Maybe it was all just a coincidence. There were fireworks near the fire, and—”
“We found his mark tonight, Katrina.”
“His what?” My heart is beating so hard and fast, I need to focus to hear what she says next.
“Erebus leaves a mark in the wake of his destruction. A signature of sorts. An Enchanter who was there tonight found it carved into a log from the fire and brought it to us.”
“What?” A shiver races down my spine.
Rose pauses for a moment, like she needs time to process all of this too. “It’s a warning. He wants us to know he’s watching. Erebus isn’t an impulsive nemesis. He’s calculated, manipulative, and clever. Tonight was only the beginning.”
“The beginning of what exactly?”
Rose shakes her head. “I wish I knew.”
I let out an exasperated breath. “What do you think he wants this time?”
“What he’s always wanted. Power. Our community has only grown over the years, despite his threats. There’s more for him to gain by killing us, but we’ve also made it much harder for him to do so. One of your grandfather’s biggest legacies was using magic to protect certain areas of Apollo Beach to act as a safe haven for Enchanters. Erebus can’t step foot on Summer Island or in an Enchanter’s home, for instance.”
I think about what happened on the beach tonight and frown. “Why didn’t he protect all of Apollo Beach?”
“It’s not that simple, dear. That form of magic is… complicated, to say the least.”
Like during every conversation with Rose, I’m frustrated. She’s so careful to not give out more information than a person can handle, but right now, I just want to know all of it. “What about his Followers? Are we protected from them too?”
Rose searches my eyes like she wants to tell me something but changes her mind. “Astina stripped them of their magic when she saw what Erebus was commanding of them. Erebus still employs his Equinox army to carry out evil acts. And they only have powers like ours when he possesses them.”
I shudder. “He possesses them? As in takes over their body and controls their every move?”
Rose nods. “Precisely.”
“But why hurt innocent people like Iris?”
“He can’t fight us unless he makes us vulnerable first. So he causes harm to innocent people, then his army looks for those who do as an Enchanter would.” Her eyes pierce mine and I’m taken back to Rose, Charlotte, and me on the beach, healing Iris.
“The fire was a trap?” My heartbeat quickens. “I created that wave. Do you think he knows about me?” My voice is shaky and full of emotion because I already know the answer to my question.
“You need not worry, Katrina. Erebus cannot harm you. There’s a reason your mother gave you that bracelet. It protects you from Erebus. It…” Her voice trails off as her gaze drops to my wrist. She gasps, her shocked eyes rising to mine.
I clutch my bare wrist, and an overwhelming sense of loss fills me yet again. “I know. I must have lost it in the ocean.” Tears blur my vision. “What do you mean it protects me from Erebus?”
Rose shakes her head like she refuses to say whatever it is on her mind. “It doesn’t make sense,” she whispers to herself.
“What doesn’t make sense?” I rise to my feet, my anger blossoming rapidly.
When Rose looks back at me, I can tell she’s trying to maintain a calm appearance, but whatever the loss of my bracelet means to her is making it impossible. “It doesn’t make sense because without that bracelet, you’re vulnerable to Erebus.”
“Vulnerable how?” I demand.
Rose stands, her movements slow, her eyes set firmly on mine. “You said you almost drowned under that wave. Your energy was depleted. Is that right?”
I nod, shuddering at the memory.
“Without that pendant, you wouldn’t have had a chance against Erebus. He could have ended your life tonight, Katrina.”
“Then why didn’t he?”
In true Rose fashion, she pauses dramatically before speaking. “I don’t know, but I have a feeling we’re all about to find out.”
Thank you so much for reading Cursed, Book One in the Enchanted Gods Trilogy. I hope you loved it. Fated releases on August 17th. Get ready for more romance, mystery, and twists you’ll never see coming!