Listen—there is no time to waste! You must always remember that your intent fuels your will, and your will is your way. You must never look back. You must never regret. A new day has dawned—the old rules have changed. Unprecedented action is now required of you, and it will come at great cost. It is the creed of the Seeker and you must vow to heed it!
I nod vigorously, committing to every last word.
Watching as her face slowly fades, leaving me with the phrase:
It is your duty to protect them—look after them!
As images of Xotichl, Auden, and Lita flash before me, followed by a bat, an otter, and an opossum, respectively.
Their spirit animals. It’s got to be. Now that we’re friends, now that I’m getting to know each of them, the animals that guide them make perfect sense.
Like Xotichl, Bat can see in the dark.
Like Auden, Otter is fun and cute, with focused intent.
Like Lita, Opossum is a good actor, quick to assess and adapt.
When the images fade, I’m left to watch the flame sway to the melody of the firesong:
At the whim of the wind
I can smolder or singe
Comforting as easily as I harm
A single lick of my flame begets irrevocable change
Be like me when you seek to transform
After the third repetition, the flame simply dies. Leaving me to stare at its ghost—a slim wispy finger of smoke undulating before me—as Paloma whispers into my ear, “Well done, nieta. Now extinguish the rest. You know what to do.”
I reach toward one of the candles, raise my hand before it, and watch as it instantly burns itself out. Then I move on to the next, able to snuff it simply by blinking my eyes and willing it to be so. And when I reach the last one, I grab the double-sided knife Paloma placed by my side. Tightly grasping its smooth wooden hilt, I sanctify the athame by allowing it one slow pass through the candle’s sacred flame. Aware of the chorus—the glorious symphony that swells in my head—as the fire blackens the blade as it passes, only to emerge shining like new.
When it’s done, Paloma returns the knife to its case. Her fingers resting against the worn leather sheath, she employs a long pause before she says, “You were right.”
I lean toward her, having no idea what she refers to.
“As much as I’d hoped otherwise, I’m afraid there’s no denying Valentina’s warning. A new day is among us. The old rules are now obsolete. Which means Cade must be killed. And I’m afraid you’re the only one capable of doing it. The fate of this town—of your friends—relies upon your ability to slay him.” Her fingers run the length of the sheath, as a flurry of conflicting emotions play across her face. And when her gaze finally meets mine, it’s filled with an unfathomable sadness that’s impossible to deny. “If I could take your place and do this for you, nieta, believe me I would. But my time as a Seeker is done. Whatever powers I had have been passed on to you.”
I stare at her without blinking, without breathing. Startled by her sudden change of heart—the enormity of her words.
She slides the knife toward me. Looks me straight in the eye. “When you’re ready to kill Cade, you will use this athame. You will also use it to rid the Lowerworld of undead Richters, by either removing their heads or cutting them clean at the waist.”
I balk at her instructions. Unable to imagine committing such an act.
“I know the thought is unpleasant,” she says. “I’m afraid the act will be too. But this time, unlike the last time, you will not have the aid of the Bone Keeper with you. Thus, it’s the only way to release the souls that empower them. The only way to return them to the place where they belong.”
“And Cade—is this the only way to kill him as well?” I remove the knife from its case. Studying it with newly informed eyes, testing the weight of it in my hand, sliding the wide smooth part across the width of my palm. Assuring myself I can do this—it’s what I was born to do. I just have to find them, that’s all. When the time comes, there will be no hesitation. I’ll slay them all.
It’s a promise I make to myself, to Paloma, to the people of Enchantment who don’t deserve the kind of suffering they’ve endured.
I turn to Paloma with a determined gaze, wanting her to know I can handle the task. That I won’t disappoint her. I will see this thing through. It’s only when she returns my gaze with a deeply regretful look that I realize she’s left my question unanswered.
“Will this kill Cade?” I repeat, voice pitching too high.
She presses her hands to her chest and steeples her fingers. “This is all new to me, nieta. And I’m sorry to ask this of you. All I know for sure is that the knife is now fortified with Valentina’s essence. I’ve no doubt she will prove to be a formidable ally for you. From this moment on, you will keep the athame with you at all times. You will act when called upon. You will do whatever necessary to defeat Cade and his army of undead ancestors, no matter the stakes.” Her gaze softening when she adds, “Now let’s go see if we can’t make it snow.”
twenty-five