Echo Soul Seekers

place they never should’ve left.
    When it’s over, I still my athame, wipe a hand across my brow, and lift my gaze skyward. Dazzled by the constellation of brightly shining souls glittering overhead. Twinkling, circling, blinking, and spinning in a flurry of movement—unbounded and free. They float briefly, allowing me to see them, appreciate them, before winking out of sight, and soaring toward home.
    Then I lower my gaze to the heap of remains at my feet, marveling at how it looks exactly as I envisioned it. And as I continue to pick my way through, I’m amazed to find I’ve wrought more change than I ever would’ve thought.
    With each Richter felled, with each soul released, the Lowerworld has taken one giant leap toward healing itself. Patches of once-dead grass now sprawl into a lush and velvety lawn. While the hollowed-out trees, once bent like old crones, begin to straighten and stretch, as though encouraging their branches to shake off a long arthritic winter.
    And it’s not long after when the animals begin to venture out of hiding. Raccoon, Red Fox, White Wolf, Wildcat, Monkey, Squirrel, Jaguar, Bear, Lion, Bat, Opossum, Hummingbird, Eagle—even Horse and Raven come out to greet me.
    Their bright and happy eyes providing all the proof I need to know that with the Richters finally evicted, the curse has been lifted.
    The Lowerworld thrives once again.
    I head for the mine, ensure that it’s cleared, then make a quick assessment of the wounded, and discover that while it’s not nearly as bad as I feared, that’s not to say that it’s good.
    With no way to attend to them all, I turn to the animals for help. Pairing those who can’t walk with the bigger, stronger ones like Horse, Bear, and Jaguar, while the rest follow the path set by Eagle and Bat, who fly overhead.
    Trusting the elders are doing their part, working their magick, and remaining alert to the signals that will lead them to the crowd soon to be arriving at the vortex of twisted juniper trees, I take leave. Guided by Raven soaring ahead of me and the whisper of wind that swirls featherlike over my skin, I go searching for Cade.

 
    forty-five
    Dace
    I check all my pockets. Hands obsessively patting my jacket, my pants, assured by the solid weight and heft that I find there.
    This time I’m ready.
    This time I’m armed.
    With my blowgun loaded with darts dipped in poison no beast can survive, I make my way across a dry and scorched land, which, although it seems crazy, appears to be improving with each passing step.
    Leaves are forming on trees. Buds are sprouting from the tips of once-barren flower stems.
    Even the spirit animals, having spent the last month in hiding, are now out and about. Though, strangely, once they spy me they beat a fast retreat, eager to keep their distance and steer clear of my path.
    Probably still suffering their version of post-traumatic stress disorder after all the hell Cade put them through.
    Or at least that’s what I tell myself, until I pass the reflective surface of a pond and see an image of Cade staring back.
    I run a hand through my hair, ensure it’s still long, unlike his. Then I press a hand to my cheek, relieved to see the image reflects the same thing.
    Still, there’s no doubt that it’s Cade’s eyes staring back. The very reason the animals fled—they’ve mistaken me for him.
    I’d be lying if I said it didn’t bother me. Still, there’s no time for regret, so I return my focus to finding him.
    Needing to settle this before Daire can arrive.
    I can’t bear for her to see me this way.

 
    forty-six
    Daire
    When Raven and Wind lead me to the Enchanted Spring—and it truly is enchanted again, no bloated fish, no rat-infested vines—I can’t say I’m surprised. Allowing the Richters to pummel me has left me in a pretty sore state. A quick dip in its healing waters can only help to revive me.
    Still, I take a moment to glance all around, needing to make sure I’m alone, that Cade isn’t lurking in the shadows, waiting for the perfect opportunity to pounce. Finding the assurance I seek when Raven lands on my shoulder and nudges his beak to my shoulder, and Wind curls around me, prodding me toward the glistening pool.
    “It’s good to have you back,” I say, watching as Raven flits toward a nearby rock. “I missed your company. It wasn’t the same without you.”
    His purple eyes glimmer and dart, keeping careful watch as I strip off my clothes, kick off my boots, and