Echo, p.37
Echo, page 37
It turned out Viessa loved her older brother, but she also feared him, and what’s fear if not hatred in disguise?
***
The fight on the roof escalated quickly. Though the witches hid under a shield they created, Ahmed and two others were badly injured, and a flock of beasts soared overhead, throwing stone-like missiles.
On the bright side, the witches rescued Cassandra, who spewed out her digested breakfast on the floor. "This is not enough," she cried out, covering her mouth. "We need to close the portals o-or m-more attackers will come."
"We need to live," someone said sarcastically.
"We can’t keep hiding," Cassandra replied. She glimpsed the bags of capsules outside the shield. Without thinking, she rushed to them and started to throw handfuls. The capsules burst into the sky, scaring away a few beasts, but a big one fought them off and flew towards her.
Cassandra hollered. She would’ve been killed hadn’t it been for Zachery, who showed up, grabbed her hand, and hastened along the roof.
"Faster, faster," his wife shouted so they’d make it back to the shield, but no matter how fast they ran, they couldn’t escape the beast’s deafening screech. Like a thousand microphones, it emitted a high-pitched ringing noise that tore through their eardrums. They pressed their hands on their ears, their eyes bulged out, and their faces went pale and sweaty.
Rose screamed when her husband collapsed. His glasses dropped, and his ears spurted out blood.
Cassandra swayed, unable to balance.
The beast was about to vocalize again, but it fell to the ground before the sound came out. Vanna jumped off its back and to the roof, flipping in the air like a parkourist. She carried Zachery on her shoulders and motioned Cassandra to the shield.
"We need to re-strategize," she said. "Everyone, follow my orders. Do we have any doctors here?"
"I go to nursing school." Mindy raised her hand.
"Then take Zachery and the injured downstairs," Vanna ordered. "Rose and Sara, help her."
Having the spirit of light in charge gave Cassandra a sense of safety. Yet, she wished Vanna had been faster. If she had arrived a minute earlier, thirty second earlier, ten second earlier...
If only.
She could’ve saved Zachery’s life.
***
"Restrain," I shouted. Magic strings came out of the ground and wrapped themselves around Jivar’s ankles and wrists.
"Baraqu." He freed himself and attacked me with a Lightning Bolt.
I faced his bolt with an energy orb that deflected the electricity and dashed towards him. "There’s no point in fighting," I said. "Qitrubu." I drew him closer despite his resistance.
"You’ll not kill me easily," he warned.
Swatting his hand, he created a gust that lifted me off my feet. I flailed my limbs, trying to gain control of my body. The edge was inches away. Is this my nightmare coming to life? It sure resembled it. There was no escape. If I didn’t fight, I’d fall.
But I did fight.
I pushed against the gust until I landed on the ground. Before Jivar attacked again, I teleported to his side and pressed my hand to his chest.
"You’re wrong, Jivar. I’m not trying to kill you. I’m here to give you what you always wanted." His eyes darted as he realized my intentions. He tried to escape, but it was too late.
"Your soul," I added.
When I first explained my plan to Doyle, he thought I had lost my mind. "You want to use the essence of your soul to bring Jivar’s back? What if you die? Or worse, what if you lose your soul? Jivar deserves to be killed, Echo, not rescued."
But I had been through that road before. I had hunted Katarus, slaughtered the Mortons, and even murdered one of my selves. It took me a long time to learn that my magic was meant for healing, not destruction. I wasn’t willing to unlearn that.
"Heal his soul. Let it awaken. Let it return with a pulse of life," I chanted, inscribing a new spell in my grimoire.
All weight disappeared as I abandoned my body and stepped into Jivar’s inner world. His eyes became mine, and the emptiness within was shared between us. I dove into his memories, witnessing the most significant moments he had lived, the ones that made him who he was and the ones that broke him.
Suddenly, Jivar and I were closer than any two people could be. We were soulmates. Except, he didn’t have a soul, not yet.
"This is my will, so mote it be," I invoked.
I never understood what the Magic of Recreation meant until the essence of my soul was weaved into Jivar’s body. That’s when I discovered the last element of magic, the grand one, the original one that held the Octagram together: Light.
As light rekindled the missing pieces of the soul, feelings rushed into Jivar and me as if by an injection. That was the rush he craved, the rush he welcomed with a loud howl that echoed in the merged worlds. At last, the excruciating void disappeared. It was filled up with joy and sorrow, love and hate, remorse and bliss—all the contradicting feelings that made us human.
When Jivar’s grief for his beloved Rimanis came to the surface, it forced us to fall to our knees and gulp for air. I backed away, escaping to the comfort of my body. The taste of blood stung my mouth.
"It worked," I cried. "The spell worked." I could barely believe it.
But my ending was not as happy as I had planned. While Jivar’s soul settled in, he found it hard to endure the feelings. Plagued by his heavy heart, he stood up and swayed like a drunk. He tried to fight, but how could he win against his soul?
"Wait."
Before I knew it, Jivar hurled himself off the mountain, choosing death. My heart sank, and my guts tried to push their way out of my ribcage. That feeling, that fall. I used to see it in my sleep. All that time, I had been dreaming about him.
It turned out that Jivar and I were more connected than I knew.
As the shock wore off, I returned to Ebba and teleported her body to the hospital. I looked around. The battle in the Land of No Return continued, and four portals were still open. Something is wrong. They should’ve closed them all by now.
From my pocket, I produced a crystal ball the size of a lemon. "Show me the hospital," I chanted, and glimpses of the fight on the roof appeared to me. Vanna swung her sword against a hail of missiles. The witches huddled under the shield.
I have to help. I knew fighting Jivar had drained me of energy, but the battle wasn’t over yet.
"Claude portale. Eice bestias."
My heartbeats quickened. A sudden shiver coursed down my left shoulder and arm, forcing me to kneel. "Protege terram nostram contra omnem calamitatem."
I watched as the portals shrank, forbidding more beasts from entering the merged worlds. One got its wing stuck in the closing hole. My lips curled into a smile that faltered when the fighting beasts let go of the Katarus and headed towards me in a swarm. They wanted to keep the portals open. Whoever attempted to close them was the enemy.
My hands grew clammy. Coming my way was a large insect with green and red markings—a Grave Bug that could send a soul straight to hell. Out of its abdomen, it squirted its venom, and I closed my eyes in surrender.
But I didn’t die.
The venom never hit me.
Someone came in the way.
I opened my eyes to see Dragon Kirby rearing up on his hind legs and blowing his fire at the bug.
"Eíbùr." I surrounded us with a protective barrier before more beasts attacked.
"Echo..." Dragon Kirby wheezed before he dropped to the ground. Only then did I realize he was stung. I cradled him in my arms and watched as the slippery scales disappeared and he transformed into his human self.
"Kirby. Please," I cried. "I just lost Ebba, I can’t lose you too."
"It’s okay, Echo." He coughed out a puff of smoke. "I’m ready."
"No, you’re not. You have a whole life before you. You have to live and find your name." I sniffled. The beasts outside crashed into the shield, trying to break in.
"I’ll get you out of here," I said, weeping. I tried to teleport him away, but I was out of magic. "God, no. Why did you do this, Kirby? Why did you save me?"
"Idiot," he chuckled. "Of course, I’d save you. Of course. I love you, Echo."
"You love me?" I wailed.
Kirby’s love was the purest of all, kind, brave, unbridled, and even overprotective at times. Ever since he came into my life, he brought nothing but joy. His brotherly love made me stronger. It helped me survive this far.
"You love me." I tittered as I wiped off tears and blood on my sleeve.
"Why are you laughing?" Kirby asked.
"Because I’m happy," I said before bringing my lips to his forehead with a kiss. "I just figured out your name, Kirby."
***
I woke up in the Miles’ guest room. The last I remembered was Kirby getting his powers back and fighting off the beasts with his sword. The entire battle seemed like a distant memory, or perhaps a nightmare.
Someone knocked on the door. "Come in," I called out hoarsely. I must’ve lost my voice from all the screaming.
"Feeling better?" Doyle entered the room. A red scar ran down his forehead, right above his left eyebrow.
"How long did I blackout?" I brought my hand to my swollen throat and tried to swallow.
"A few hours," he said, sitting by my side.
I sat up, resting against the headboard. "How did we get back from the Land of No Return?"
"Viessa used this..." He extended his hand with the amulet. "She has her memories back. She remembers everything. I have no idea how it happened, but she seems to be taking it well."
"Oh, God," I muttered. Losing Ebba was hard for me, but it must’ve been devastating for Viessa. Now, she had to deal with the memories too.
"I’m sorry about Ebba." Doyle reached for my hand in a comforting way.
"And I’m sorry about the Katarus," I said, remembering how enraged and heartbroken Doyle was to watch them suffer. "I can’t imagine the damage that happened to them."
Doyle looked away. With a loud inhale, he stopped himself from speaking. He seemed to want to say something, something painful.
"Doyle?"
His chest lowered with an exhale. Although his eyes welled up, he tried to stay strong. "We lost Zachery."
Up until that moment, I didn’t know Zachery and Rose were in Shady Mews, but it wasn’t a good time for questions. All I could do was wrap my arms around Doyle and hope to comfort him.
It took him a second before he reciprocated the hug and held tightly. "He was brave. Cassandra said he saved her."
"I know he was," I said.
As we parted, Doyle forced a small smile on his face. "I have to go be with Rose."
"Yes, of course." I nodded. "Do you want me to come with you?"
He shook his head. "Kirby and Vanna have been waiting for you to wake up. You should talk to them first."
***
The sun sank behind the Lone Mountain, declaring the end of the war. The lingering afterglow beaconed hope for tomorrow, and for a moment, I was relieved from grief. No longer did I have to worry about Jivar or carry a burden larger than myself. Yet, my heart continued to ache for the people we lost. I wasn’t ready for more goodbyes.
"Is it time?" I asked. Kirby and Vanna waited in the Miles’ front yard. A flicker of excitement crossed their faces, entangled with the pain of farewell.
"Where do I begin?" I said with a sniffle. "How can I thank you two for everything you’ve done for my mother and me? You aren’t just my guides. You’re m-my b-best friends." The feelings burst out through my tears. "I hate that you’re leaving, but I can’t hold you back now, can I?"
Kirby patted me on the head. "It’s gonna be okay, Echo."
"On the bright side, you two found your names," I said, grinning. "You’ll graduate and fulfill your purpose as spirits."
"If I had a choice, I would come back to serve you, Echo." I was surprised to hear these words from Vanna, evoking even more emotions.
"That means a lot," I told her. "It really does."
I took a breath to contain myself. Reaching into my pocket, I grabbed the amulet that I offered her. "I know it’s been eighteen years, but I still believe you can save Faith."
Vanna’s face gleamed with hope. "Echo, are you sure about this?"
"I want to keep my mother’s promise," I said.
"Thank you, Echo." She extended her hand to shake mine, but I pulled her in for a hug.
"I can’t believe we’re leaving!" Kirby cried out before joining the group embrace. "We’re gonna miss you so much."
Standing in front of the Miles’ house, I watched my friends walk into the horizon. Our mission had come to an end, and it was time for their new beginning.
"Where are they going?" Viessa’s voice startled me. I turned around to find her sitting on the front porch with her knees pulled to her chest.
"Viessa. How are you feeling now?"
"My mom is gone, and I have the memories of a psychopath."
I sat next to her.
"I want you to know I’m here for you, Viessa." Though I hadn’t known Viessa for so long, she had grown on me in the few days we spent together. She was lively and bright. Unexpectedly innocent. And she was Ebba’s daughter, an official Blackwood. "You’re not alone in this."
"It’s all confusing, you know," she said thoughtlessly. "There is a me I was, the one Doyle killed, and there is the me that grew up with Mom by the ocean. I don’t know which one is real anymore."
"You are. The you I’m talking to now is real. She might not be as cheery as the Viessa of the ocean or as intimidating as the Viessa I fought in battle, but she’s still outstanding. She’s containing two different versions of Viessa, taking the best of both worlds."
"I’m Viessa 3.0." She tittered.
"Yes, you are," I cheered.
There was a short pause as Viessa fell into thought. "Where does Viessa 3.0 go now?" she asked. "She doesn’t belong anywhere."
"You’re a Blackwood, aren’t you? You belong in the family with me and Tara," I assured her. The thought of getting closer to Viessa scared me a little, but I was sincere. "Even if everything seems unfamiliar now, I promise you’ll get the hang of Viessa 3.0."
Viessa rested her forehead on her knees. "Do you know what a witch familiar is, Echo?"
I creased my forehead in confusion. "Ahhh, a pet?"
"A familiar is more than a pet. It’s a witch’s spirit guide and loyal companion."
"Interesting." I wondered why the sudden change of subject. A part of me was worried about her. Tough day, she had.
"Viessa 1.0 always wanted a hellhound as a familiar."
"Uh..." I would’ve laughed if she hadn’t been serious.
"But only a noble witch can summon a familiar," she added before looking up at me with a wide smile. "I bet the chosen Blackwood can summon two."
***
"Okay, Tara. Give Lillian a kiss for me. Talk to you later." I put the phone away and then opened the window to inhale the sweet fragrance of the climbing jasmine vines.
I glanced over the sun-filled room; we had done a lot of redecorating. We moved the study desk to my lair and replaced my small bed and closet with larger ones. On the dresser, I kept an old picture of my parents and another one of my family and friends, the one we took the day Vanna returned from the hospital. Grandpa, Tara, Jackson, Lillian, Vanna, Kirby, Ebba, Doyle, and I—it’ll never be all of us again.
"Honey, wake up," I said with a lilt. "It’s time for work." I sat next to Doyle and gently rubbed his arm. "Come on. Get out of bed."
"How about..." He grabbed my waist and rolled me over so I was beneath him. "You get in bed with me?"
"No, no, we can’t."
"Why not?" He asked in a childlike tone.
"Vanna is watching." I pointed to the corner, where our one-year-old beagle crouched on the carpet, staring at us with her glassy eyes.
"She has always hated me, hasn’t she?" Doyle pulled himself away from me.
The dog whimpered.
"She says ‘not at all.'" I grinned.
Doyle sighed and brushed his fingers through his ruffled hair. "I have a gift for you," he said as he pulled a white envelope from the nightstand drawer.
"A trip to Norway!" I cheered when I saw the tickets. "I can’t believe you remembered."
"Of course, I did," he said. "It’s on your list."
"I love you so much." I jumped in for a hug.
"I love you." He wrapped his arms around me. "Is it time to kick Vanna out of the room?"
"We’ll see." I tittered.
Doyle and I spent our honeymoon exploring the multiverse. We traveled between realms, discovering, seeing, and experiencing things I’d never known. The land of spirits. The panel of warriors. Haakishe. Sattarum. Cotton candy world. 1665 on Planet R. Everything I can imagine is probable. Despite that, I still yearned for a human-like adventure to the waterfalls I’ve always wanted to visit.
After the unusual honeymoon, I re-enrolled in college, and Doyle started an administrative job at Grandpa’s firm. Once I graduate, I’ll join the managing partners and officially become my husband’s boss. We’re both looking forward to that.
We’ve asked Rose to move in with us, but she preferred to stay in the house she shared with Zachery. Still, we make sure to have dinner with her at least twice a week—teleportation helps with the commute.
As for magic, it remains a big part of our lives. We co-founded an organization for anyone who wants to rebel against the Magic Board. Witches have always been selfish with their powers. Because they feared getting exposed, they kept the magic for themselves and let the world fall into chaos. The witches in the “Heal The World” organization join their powers to make the world a better place and protect each other from exposure.
Viessa and Joshua’s team is in Udruonia, trying to solve the social and economic issues in the country—starting with child labor. Cassandra and other Winbolts are participating in secret research to see if magic can cure chronic diseases.
Meanwhile, I decided to use my powers to help the environment. It turns out the Magic of Recreation can dispose of the non-biodegradable trash in the oceans and clear the air, water, and soil from pollution. With the help of Doyle and my familiars, I’m undoing the damage done to Earth.
