The Spring Equinox

By Elizabeth Quinn

Cassy Johnson is your typical college freshmen. She goes to class, goes to parties, falls in love with someone she could never hope to have, and lives in a world of complete and utter bull shit. The only difference between Cassy and the rest of the world is... she prefers to live in that world. Cassy is an inspiring author. There's nothing she loves more than daydreaming up the perfect story, and when her creative writing class calls for her to write a short story, Cassy is all over that. There's only one problem: she can't come up with a good antagonist. With the help of her friends, Ava and Morgan, Cassy writes the perfect bad boy for her story. His name is Kaden. Later that night, Ava drags Cassy to their friend- and Cassy's crush- Liam's frat party, leaving Morgan alone to do her spring equinox celebrations. Morgan is a Wiccan and Cassy's best friend and roommate- she's also Cassy's editor. When something goes wrong with Morgan's spring celebration spell, Kaden magically comes to life. Once he's off campus, he begins to look for trouble when he spots Cassy. Suddenly, he’s driven by a strange kind of hunger. He wants to get to know this girl who brought him to life. But Cassy knows who he is the minute she sees him, and she knows what he’s capable of. He tries to capture her and make her his, but runs into obstacles along the way. The gang, along with the help of Liam, needs to find a way to stop Kaden before he carries out his plans on the town... and on Cassy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Elizabeth Quinn
• Release date: Dec 27, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311977908

Elizabeth Quinn

Growing up in Minneapolis, MN has its perks! Elizabeth is currently attending school for creative writing and photography. When she's not working on a story- or doing her homework- she's teaching a self-defense class for the women at her school, reading other books, and watching a multitude of television. The Spring Equinox is her first full length novel. She is currently working on the sequel to it, The Summer Solstice, as well as a brand new series called The Marked Ones. Be sure to check out her Facebook and Twitter pages for more updates!

Book preview

The Spring Equinox

By: Elizabeth Quinn

Text copyright © 2014 Elizabeth Quinn

All Rights Reserved

This one goes to Cassy, who gave the name for the main character and helped me out with ideas. Thanks, girl. I love you!

Chapter One

Come on, girl. Think. What is this guy going to look like? she thought to herself. She had her head buried in her notebook, trying to come up with the description of the antagonist for her short story. Will he have black hair? Brown hair? Blond hair? Think!

Ms. Johnson. Perhaps you’d like to enlighten us on why you’re so engrossed in your notebook instead of the class discussion? asked Professor Stevens.

Cassy Johnson lifted her chestnut brown head to look at her professor. He was glaring at her, his foot tapping impatiently on the floor. She turned a bright shade of red as a blush worked its way across her olive skin. Um, no reason, Professor.

He raised a gray eyebrow. "Are you sure? You seem so focused on that instead of our lively discussion on Romeo and Juliette. Would you mind reading what you’ve written?"

Oh, god no, she thought to herself. She opened her mouth to speak, but absolutely nothing came out. She couldn’t find her voice. Thankfully, a voice behind her spared her from her embarrassment. She was takin’ notes on da lecture, sir.

Cassy nearly melted at his Cajun accent. She’d lived in New Orleans for all nineteen years of her life, but she’d never met anyone with a sexier accent than Liam Deveraux. She turned to look at him and he locked his emerald green gaze on her sky blue one. He smiled coyly at her. She couldn’t help but smile back.

Professor Stevens’ gaze narrowed. Are you sure about that, Mr. Deveraux?

Yes, sir. She been takin’ notes da whole time.

The professor stared behind Cassy for a moment longer before he glanced at the clock. He sighed. That’s all the time we have today, class. Have a wonderful long weekend, and I’ll see y’all back here next Monday.

The class started chattering as they all got out of their seats. Dat was a close one, cher, Liam said.

She blushed once again. I know. Merci, Liam.

He smiled at her. Pas de qoui. What you was doin’?

Just working on my short story for my creative writing class. It’s not due for another two weeks, but…

Da creativity was flowin’? Liam guessed.

She smiled up at him. Exactly.

His smile widened. He bent down to pick up his messenger bag, giving Cassy the chance to look him over- something she quite enjoyed doing. He looked good in his tight fitting gray t-shirt. It clung at his well-sculpted chest and wide biceps. His jeans hung low on his hips and were a dark blue. They were a snug fit against his well-muscled thighs. Cassy always yearned to see him out of his jeans… and his shirt… and everything else.

Coming to his full height of six foot one, he slung his brown leather messenger bag over his shoulder and smiled at her. Ready to go, cher?

She blushed and nodded. Yeah, let’s go.

He motioned for her to lead the way and she walked up the stairs, at once wondering to herself if she actually felt his gaze on her ass or if she was just imagining it.

So what are your plans for da long break, cher? Liam asked her as they walked out of the Liberal Arts Building at the University of New Orleans.

I’m not really sure about the break, but tonight the girls are helping me work on my short story for a little bit, then Ava’s dragging me to the Kappa Sigma party.

Ya comin’ to dat?

Yeah. Are you going to be there?

He chuckled softly. I live dere, remember?

Cassy blushed. I know. But you could have other plans…

He laughed even louder now. "I’m a freshman, cher. I have to go. Dey don let us choose."

She frowned. That’s mean.

Liam shrugged. I chose dis, bébé. I like da frat life.

Then that’s all that matters.

Liam nodded. Morgan’s not comin’ with?

Morgan was Cassy’s best friend and roommate. She was also a Wiccan. Wicca is a spiritual religion that focuses on the elements around them. Because of that, and because tomorrow was the spring equinox, Morgan would be home, doing blessings for a good, healthy spring.

Cassy shook her head. Tomorrow’s the spring equinox. You know her. She’s doing some Wicca thing at midnight. She refused to come. Lucky for her, Ava’s letting her stay behind.

Liam chuckled once more. Da parties aren’t dat bad.

"You know me. I’m not much of a partier. Ava’s practically dragging me there."

He ran a hand through his wavy brown hair. I suppose. But I’m glad you’re comin’. It’ll be fun.

Cassy blushed, but nodded. She noticed his pupils expand when she blushed. She didn’t understand it, but before she could get a chance to contemplate what it could have meant, a voice interrupted them. Yo, Cass! We still on for tonight?

The two of them turned to find a raven haired girl walking towards them. Cassy smiled. Hey, Ava. Liam and I were just talking about tonight.

Dat we was, Liam said. He looked over at Ava, a smile curling at his lips, but Cassy could see a hint of irritation in his eyes. She wondered about it, but didn’t question him. You excited for it?

Hell yeah. There’s nothing more fun than a frat party during Easter break! Ava exclaimed, her gray eyes sparkling with mischief.

Oh, shit. That’s this weekend?! Cassy asked.

Ava rolled her eyes. "How could you forget? We live in New Orleans, for Christ’s sake. And our boy Liam here talks about Easter and Mardi Gras every fucking day!"

Liam rolled his eyes. Mardi Gras is part of New Orleans and Cajun tradition. The way he said New Orleans- Nu Orlins- made her melt. That was the way Cajuns pronounced the city, so Cassy was used to hearing it. But the way Liam said it… it gave her chills. Of course I’ll talk ‘bout it.

Ava put her hands up in surrender. Cool your jets, boy. I’m just giving ya shit. She looked at Cassy. When are we working on your story?

At eight. We’ll probably head to the party around ten.

Ava nodded. All right. We’re getting drunk tonight, Cass. I can feel it! She elbowed Cassy in the ribs and whispered to her, And you’re getting laid. Five bucks.

Ava! Cassy exclaimed, her cheeks flushing with blood. She risked a glance at Liam to see him watching her intently.

Just saying, Cass. Just saying. I gotta head to Human Bio. I’ll catch you guys later.

Bye, Cassy and Liam said at the same time. She turned to find him still watching her attentively. Her blush deepened. He noticed and his gaze darkened. She watched as his pupils started to expand. She swallowed hard.

When she opened her mouth to speak, she noticed his gaze shift from hers to her lips. Instinctively, she licked them and she could’ve sworn he suppressed a groan. I should probably go, too, she said then. Morgan wants to go to the store to get some stuff for her ritual tonight and then we’re gonna grab a bite to eat.

At first, Liam didn’t say anything. He just continued to gaze steadily at her lips. But finally, after he mentally shook himself, he looked up and captured her gaze. Den I should let you go. Au revoir, cher.

He gave her a peck on the cheek and walked off.

Cassy watched as the man of her dreams walked off in the opposite direction. She wished he’d either stop kissing her cheek every time he left or hurry up and kiss her on the damn lips already. Groaning in frustration, she turned to walk to Pontchartrain Hall North- the building where she and Morgan lived.

As she neared the building, she began to picture scenes from her short story in her head. Daydreaming was something Cassy did quite frequently. Ava always gave her shit about it, saying that she lived with one foot in the real world and one in the world of make believe- or bull shit, as she pointed out all the time.

She imagined her heroine, Crissy, walking down the dark alley where she was going to meet the unbelievably sexy antagonist that would try to seduce her into joining him. Cassy knew what she wanted this bad boy to be: he’d be a warlock who’d given himself a set of fangs and a taste for blood. He wasn’t a vampire, mind you. He just loved to drink the blood of whichever girls ended up in his private chamber. He’d be British as well. If there was anything Cassy loved as much as - maybe more than- a Cajun accent was a British one. She knew he’d be ripped- how sexy could the big bad be if he wasn’t extremely buff? The only thing she couldn’t picture was his face… and his name.

That was why the girls were helping her tonight. She wanted their help coming up with the perfect description of the alluring bad boy. They all had similar tastes in men, so she knew that whatever they came up with would be perfect.

As she walked towards the stairs that led to her building, a voice called to her. Hey, Cassy. Are you ready to go?

She stopped and turned around. A smile appeared on her face as she spotted her red haired best friend. Hey, Morgan. I’m ready when you are.

Morgan Reed smiled at her roommate-slash-best friend, flashing the straight white teeth that four years of braces had given her. I’m ready. Do you want to drop your backpack off in the room?

Cassy shook her head. Nah, I don’t need to. My wallet and keys are with me.

Morgan nodded. I figured as much.

That was Morgan. She always knew what Cassy was going to do. That’s what nineteen years of friendship will do to you.

Morgan and Cassy had been friends since they were babies. Their parents were best friends, so that pretty much ensured their friendship as well. Morgan’s mom and Cassy’s mom had been college roommates at NYU. They had become fast friends. When Cassy’s mom, Alicia, met her dad, the three of them became inseparable. The summer that Cassy’s dad, Erik, and Alicia became engaged, they traveled to New Orleans for vacation. When there, they met Morgan’s dad, Mark. He was the son of a Wiccan priestess; he was obsessed with magic. Low and behold, so was Gwen, Morgan’s mom. The two became extremely close and fell in love.

The four of them spent the entire summer after graduate school in New Orleans and they decided they didn’t want to leave. The two couples each bought a house no more than two blocks away from each other and started planning their double wedding. Three years later, Morgan and Cassy were born. Cassy on the twenty-eighth of February and Morgan on the twentieth of March. On the spring equinox.

Morgan was the baby of the group. Ava was born on the third of January and Liam was born on the twenty-first of December in 1993. They four were the closest of friends.

They met at freshmen orientation that August. Since Pontchartrain Hall was a coed building, the four of them found themselves on the same floor. At their first floor meeting, they all introduced themselves and instantly connected. Ava and Liam were already friends, so when the three girls became friends, Morgan and Cassy automatically became friends with Liam as well. And almost as instantly as their friendship arose, Cassy began to feel an attraction towards Liam. It was something she couldn’t explain- Liam wasn’t her usual type. She liked the artsy type, not the jock frat boy type. But she felt an unexplainable connection with Liam. And Morgan had known from the beginning. Another benefit of being friends for their entire lives.

Cassy smiled. Let’s go, then.

Morgan nodded and led the way towards Cassy’s Audi. Erik Johnson was a well off man that liked to spoil his only child. Both of her parents had extraordinary jobs that paid them an extreme amount of cash; Erik was the founding CEO of Johnson’s Publishing House, one of New Orleans’ biggest publishing houses, and Alicia was a world renowned cardiovascular surgeon. They both wanted what was best for their child, so they had a trust fund set up for her. A trust fund that was so large, Cassy didn’t have to work a day in her life if she didn’t want to. Her parents thought that Cassy wanted to be an author so that she could have a job, but not an important one. It angered her on occasion.

As the Audi A4 came into view, Morgan asked, So how was English Comp? Did you and Liam talk at all?

During class? No, but we did talk afterwards.

About? Morgan inquired.

The frat party tonight. I totally forgot that it was at his frat house.

Morgan laughed. Of course you did, Cass.

Cassy rolled her sky blue eyes. You’re sarcastic tone is not needed, Morgan.

She shrugged. I know, but it’s true. You know Liam is a brother of Kappa Sigma. You’ve gone to how many of their parties? You see him there every time!

I’ve been to three of their parties, Morgan, Cassy muttered.

Morgan went on as if Cassy had never spoken. Not to mention we’re best friends with the guy, who used to be our neighbor. Of course you know which fraternity Liam belongs to.

Okay, I had a blonde moment. So sue me.

You’re not blonde, Cass, Morgan pointed out, looking at Cassy’s chestnut brown hair.

Yeah, but I’m too young to have senior moments. So I have blonde moments.

Morgan raised an eyebrow. Cassy stuck her tongue out at her best friend, making her laugh. Very mature, Cass.

Thanks, Morgan. I try, Cassy said as they got into her car.

They drove to the store in silence. The only sound that was made was from the radio as it played the songs of Lady Gaga, One Direction and Fun. When Some Nights came on, the girls belted out the lyrics like there was no tomorrow.

As Cassy pulled into their local Target, she asked her friend, So what is it that you need?

For Ostara celebrations, I need three candles- a yellow one, a green one and a purple one- and I need an egg, Morgan informed her, as she did every year.

Okie dokie. Are you sure you don’t want company tonight? I wouldn’t mind staying if you don’t want to be alone.

Morgan rolled her forest green eyes. I’ll be fine on my own, Cassy. Besides, you’re my best friend. Why would I want you to miss a chance to hit on- and possibly sleep with- your crush?

Cassy glared at her. You and Ava are planning something, aren’t you?

Morgan smiled. Maybe.

Cassy groaned. Good god, I’m starting to wish I was Wiccan so I could skip tonight.

Morgan laughed. You’ll be fine, Cass. What’s the worst that could happen?

She stopped after the words left her best friend’s mouth. What’s the worst that could happen? Cassy thought to herself. Way to jinx it, Morgan.

It was as if those words had tainted everything. Cassy felt a sudden darkness wash over her. Could it just be her wildly overactive imagination, or was tonight going to go a lot differently than anybody had planned?

******************************************************

He had heard her groan as he walked away. And he could only guess at what had made her make that sound. It was probably him.

Liam had turned around after she made that frustrated groan and watched as she walked away from him. Something deep inside of him made him want to go chasing after her. But he reigned that side in and shook his head in mild confusion and irritation. She wasn’t running from him. There was no need for that side of him to want to chase her. But yet that urge had still been there, trying to claw its way to the surface.

He had shook his head and walked towards his car.

Now, he was standing half naked in front of the mirror in his room, his emerald green eyes glowing. He was surprised they were doing so. Tonight was a new moon. No one of his kind would feel the effects of their condition tonight- unless they wanted to, of course. They seemed completely normal until the full moon, when it was perfectly natural for their eyes to glow and their fangs to show. But the full moon was two weeks ago and wouldn’t happen for another two. So why were his eyes glowing now?

Everything was in stark contrast now. He could see the individual dust particles that lined his desk a few feet away, the signs of fading on his jeans, and he could make out each line of muscle on his incredibly ripped chest. He could hear kids getting off the bus a mile away, and a car pulling up to the Kappa Sigma house. After a few seconds, he could smell her perfume as she