Season 3 Episode 8: The Echoes

Jade – Ashley McAnelly
Laura – Erika Sanderson
Oliver – Elias Yates
Layla – Naomi Richards
Eric – Lou Sutcliffe

Gale disappears before the police arrive. Roz does most of the talking, but I give them what information I have. Basically that Alaina came for a reading about her husband. I see the fight in the officer’s eyes to not mock my tarot readings, or at least be professional as he completely disregards it as hocus pocus bullshit. That’s fine. I don’t need him to believe me. I just need him to find the husband, and believe Roz when she tells them the woods are dangerous right now.

But even if the police believe us and put out a statement, there are rebellious teens or, even worse, arrogant adults who will still venture into the woods. They’re untouchable, not because they are superhuman but that it just won’t happen to them. That kind of thing happens to other people. Until it finally happens to them, and it’s too late.

I wonder how many victims, or worse, followers, the Buried Mother has enthralled this way. I hope Gale is right, that the circle will finally act, and do something, before it’s too late.

[Intro Roll In]

I let Roz think out loud on the trek back to the house. She’s planning what she and her mother are to say to the circle to make them take action. I hear her words, but my focus is on the Buried Mother, and what she said to me that night at the Glory Hole. The deal I made with her. It seems the time is coming quickly when I have to pay up, but that’s only if she delivers on her side of the deal. Part of me thinks she’s lying, but another part of me, a smaller part of me that grows day by day, wonders how she can deliver on her promise. And if she can, I have to be prepared to deliver on mine.

By the time the cops are done questioning us and shoo us away from the crime scene, Laura has made their way to Maureen’s house. She and Maureen sit in the wooden patio chairs around the firepit by the back door, waiting as Roz and I approach. I’m sure this will not bode well for me.

I let Roz fill in Maureen and Laura on what’s been found. Laura hides nothing on her face. She feels shame for not finding them sooner. I want to tell her it wouldn’t have mattered, that even if she sent the search party as soon as we asked, it still wouldn’t have made a difference. But I don’t. Sometimes we need to wear some shame to help us grow. Maybe she’ll realize the duty and responsibility of a high priestess isn’t just spiritual but communal, and she’ll take it as her first wake up call to do better.

But as I look more closely at her, I realize it’s less shame and more fear that’s on her face. Fear that we could use this as a reason to usurp her. She looks right at me and I see it plain on her face. She thinks I’m bitter and trying to do just that. I’m sure Sam’s questioning during the lesson the other day did nothing but stoke those paranoid flames. I do not want to get sucked into these stupid in-fighting politics, but also, she’s just proving more and more that she doesn’t deserve it.

Maureen assures me she will bring this in front of the sealing circle for action. I leave her to it. If I go I’ll probably say something not so nice. I just tell them if they need any help or anything from me to let me know.

Laura walks with me as we both leave. I slow my pace to let her pass me, but she doesn’t.

“Jade, if you have a moment, I’d like to talk to you about something.”

“Laura, I swear on the Goddess, I did not put Sam up to that.”

“No, I know that wasn’t you. At least, I know that wasn’t by your direct request. Sam and the recent initiates look up to you, that is plain to see. And I would be a fool to ignore it.”

“What does that mean for me?”

“I would like you to become one of my Priestesses and teach the coven lessons to the pledges. Roz and Maureen also think it would be good for you.”

I just bet they do.

“I would be open to teaching the classes, but I do not want to be your priestess.”

“Come now, Jade. Don’t let your stubbornness get the better of you. Priestess is a step away from High Priestess.”

“If the Mother wanted me in such a spiritual role, I would have been given her blessing. Instead she gave it to you, did she not?”

I see that twinkle of fear igniting in her eyes again. Me making it a question instead of a statement that she had the mother’s blessing, I wonder if she knows I know the truth.

“I may have been the better candidate, Jade, but that doesn’t mean you are hopeless.”

“I’ll teach, but not be a priestess.”

“They go hand in hand, Jade.”

“They don’t have to. And if you want me to be in that leadership role, those are my terms. I will not be your Priestess, but I will help the coven how I can.”

“Being my priestess is the only way you can help the coven.”

“Maybe in your twisted view, but it’s not the only way.”

We’ve reached the cars and I am so done with this conversation. I open my car door to get in but she puts her hand on the window to keep me from pulling it open.

“I am doing what I think is right for the coven, against my better judgement. You can join me as my priestess and teach the class, or you can face expulsion.”

I laugh and startle her. Good, more fear for me to feed on.

“One, the bylaws say that expulsion must be a unanimous vote, and as you said, the neophytes look up to me. Two, there is no way I’m leaving this coven to fend for itself against a High Priestess who had to cheat to get the job. Oh, yes, I know. I know and I let you be High Priestess anyway. Because I thought it might be good for you. That maybe you would grow into the job, rise to the occasion, as it were. But all I’ve seen you do the last few weeks is rake the title through the mud with your hesitation and indecision. Everyone has been patient with you in the transition and you take advantage of it. Now this, this ultimatum of yours? It’s strike three.”

“They won’t believe you. You have no proof.”

“Rachel is all the proof I need.”

She steps back from me as if I just slapped her. Good. I take a step towards her, smiling.

“She and I could have you recalled in an instant, but we won’t. Because I have bigger plans for you.”

She relaxes when I say I won’t tell on her, but she’s smart enough to tense again.

“What plans?”

“I need you to be High Priestess, Laura. I need you to represent the coven at the sealing ceremony. And when the time comes, and you’ll know when it comes, I need you to do exactly as I ask. That’s it. If you do, I will never let your cheating come to light, and I’ll make sure Rachel doesn’t either. But if you fail me on this, you’ll lose your title and more. Do we have an understanding?”

She thinks about this for a moment. She could absolutely run and tell Maureen and Roz that I’m up to something, especially around something as important as the Buried Mother’s sealing ceremony. But, as always, Laura takes the route of self-preservation.

“Yes, we have an understanding. But don’t you dare try to undermine me in front of the coven.”

“I don’t have to do that. You’re doing it all yourself. If you really want to stay High Priestess, Laura, you’ve got to do better.”

I fling open my car door and she doesn’t stop me this time. I shut it and start the car, but roll down the window as she walks to hers.

“Oh, and Laura. One more thing. Thank you so much for allowing me to lead the coven lessons without becoming your priestess. I’ll see you at the next meeting.”

She deflates but nods her head. I’m surprised how easily she broke. If I’d have known, I would have pulled that move weeks ago. I don’t plan to blackmail her to do much, but as the sealing ceremony draws closer, even closer now with these killings, I need to cement my plan as quickly as possible. God and Goddess help me.

—

The next morning I opened the store with headphones in, a clear indication to Efrain that I was not there to talk to him. After a wave and a small smile, he went back to making a fresh pot of coffee. I still don’t know how he can spend all day in the store and not be bored out of his mind, but maybe God keeps him company?

Who knows. I’m certainly not going to ask him.

We spend the morning orbiting around each other, staying just far enough away from the other person that we don’t have to interact. At least, that’s what I’m doing. If he’s purposefully staying away from me, all the better.

I’m still listening to my comfort music and dusting the crystals that live on the top shelf behind the counter when I feel a tap on my arm and nearly fall off of the stepstool. Efrain holds out his arms to catch me, but I grab the shelves to steady myself and glare at him. He points to the door, and I see why he interrupted me; a young woman and a little boy, probably around eight years old, stand just inside the store. In his hands he clutches a bundle of dollar bills and coins.

I take out my headphones and climb down, pointedly ignoring Efrain.

“Welcome to Which Way Between the Lines. Can I help you?”

The young woman gives the little boy a nudge.

“Go on. She’s not gonna bite you.”

I smile at that. If only she knew….

Looking down at the boy, I try my best to look non-threatening.

“Hi. My name is Jade. What’s yours?”

[quietly] “Oliver.”

“Hi Oliver. Are you looking for something special today?”

I glance up at the woman with him, hoping she can shine some light on why she’s making a child talk to a stranger. When he looks up at her, tears coming to his eyes, she finally takes over.

“We lost our dog Rupert this week, and Oliver is having a hard time with it.”

“Oh, okay. Did you want me to help you find him?”

At those words, the tears that had been glistening in Oliver’s eyes finally fell, and I realized my mistake.

“Oh, I see. Lost, but… not lost. Got it.”

The woman knelt down and rubbed the boy’s back as she explained.

“Rupert was our chocolate lab. We got him when I was five, so he’s been in our family for a long time. He’s always been there for Ollie, sleeping in his room as a baby and laying under his high chair. They had a real special bond.”

“I see. Was he… Sick?”

She nodded as Oliver’s tears slowly tapered off.

“Yeah, he had a lot going on. Arthritis that made his hips hurt so that walking became difficult, fatty cysts all along his belly. Eventually, though, he started showing signs of heart disease, and then he stopped eating, and…”

I nod along. I know how hard it can be to watch a pet grow old. I thank the Goddess that Mr. Giggles is of a species that lives as long or longer than humans. I won’t have to watch him pass.

“So what brings you both in today? Did you want to talk to Rupert? Because I do tarot readings, but I’m not what you would consider a pet psychic by any means.”

At my words, Oliver looks up at the young woman.

“Layla, you said she could help!”

“I know, Ollie, I know. She’s not a pet psychic, but that doesn’t mean she can’t help.”

“Did you want to do a tarot reading? See how Rupert is doing?”

Oliver nods his head vigorously, and I lead them both to the reading room. Layla sits in the opposite chair, and I pull over a stool for Oliver. It’s been a while since I’ve had more than one customer for a reading. Maybe I should keep extra chairs in here, just in case…

Pulling out my deck, I hold them up to Oliver and Layla.

“These are tarot cards. We use them to get answers from the universe about things we may not be able to figure out on our own. So all you have to do is ask a question, and we will see what the cards want to tell us.”

Oliver thinks it over for a second.

“Do I have to ask it out loud?”

“Usually I like to hear the question directly from the person asking it, but since I know more about your situation, you can ask it in your mind. The cards will pick it up.”

He scrunches his nose and stares hard at the deck of cards. With one big huff of air, he relaxes his face and nods at me.

“All right. This first card is going to represent the situation.”

I flip it over, nodding at the swords thrown to the ground.

“Three of Swords. This means you’re going through a really tough time. You are suffering, and your heart is broken. Clearly, you loved Rupert a lot, and the loss of him is a big hole in your heart.”

Oliver’s lip quivers at that, and Layla puts her arm around his shoulders, tugging him in close.

“The second card is what you want to see happen. [SFX: card flipping] This is the Four of Wands. This card is about community and coming home.”

I share a glance with Layla before turning my focus back to Oliver.

“It sounds like you want Rupert to come back. Is that right?”

Oliver nods his head, hope sparking in his eyes.

“Can you do that? Layla says you’re a witch, and witches can do magic. Can you bring Rupert back?”

Damn. I’m going to have to break this kid’s heart all over again.

[sighing] “I’m sorry, Oliver. I don’t have that kind of magic. And even if I did, I wouldn’t do that to Rupert.”

“What?! Why?! He was the best dog! He deserves to be here forever!”

“I know. I don’t doubt that he was a wonderful dog. But sometimes, our bodies get tired, and they can’t support us anymore. Rupert was hurting at the end. You wouldn’t want him to be here hurting, would you?That’s not what he would want for you.”

Slowly, Oliver shook his head. Quiet tears slid down his cheeks once more, and a glance at Layla showed she was crying as well.

“Good. I’m glad that you and your family loved him enough to do what was best for him. It’s going to be hard for a while, but someday, it won’t hurt so much to think about him. You’ll remember all of the funny things he did, and all of the ways he made you feel safe, and made you smile. That’s what Rupert would want you to remember of him.”

For good measure, I turn over the last card, revealing a rainbow behind a group of cups.

“The Ten of Cups. Happiness, fulfillment, love. Rupert loved you so much. You made him so happy while he was here, and he wouldn’t have wanted to be with any family but you. You loved him, and he knew it.”

[through tears] “See, buddy? We gave Rupert a good life. He knew we loved him, and we know he loved us. We just had to say goodbye before we were ready.”

“I miss him!”

Oliver threw himself at his sister, and she rubbed his back in soft circles.

“I know, Ollie, I know. I miss him too.”

Trying to stay out of this emotional moment, I collect the cards from the table and quietly put them away. When they’ve cried themselves out, Layla and Oliver stand. As I’m showing them out of the reading room, Layla falls back.

“Thank you, for taking the time to give us a reading.”

“You’re welcome. I hope it helped him find some peace.”

“Yeah. Me too.”

They stop at the front counter and Oliver pulls out his small bundle of one dollar bills, but I wave him off.

“This one is on me, Oliver. I think you were very brave to come here and ask for help. I hope when you think of Rupert, you remember the good times first.”

His lips pull into a tight line as he tries to stop the tears from coming again, and he nods.

“What do we say?”

“Thank you.”

I watch as they walk out of the store, and the flicker of an idea becomes a full thought in the front of my mind. The dead dog reminds me that I have more than one way to find out more about the murdered hikers and potentially the missing husband. I’ll just need some help from one of my two favorite necromancers.

—

I have to make a choice I really don’t want to make. Silas is out of town performing one of his shows, but Eric was happy to help without his dad. I know he’s been getting the hang of it. He and Silas check in regularly and ask me ritual questions as they apply. Necromancy really is it’s own thing, another natural ability like me able to take and give energy, but sometimes magical practices help with the routine and feel of control. So of course I’ve given my advice when I can. I know he’s doing great.

But to use only Eric to call upon the dead and ask about the Buried Mother doesn’t feel great. Yes, Eric is grown and can make his own decisions, but in my eyes he’s still a kid. And I’m sure in his dad’s eyes as well. It feels a bit off letting him do this on his own.

But he made the drive all the way across the state at a moment’s notice. He’s here and he’s willing. It’s hard to tell him no, now. I wish I had known his dad was out of pocket before reaching out to the both of them. Group chats will be my downfall.

We’re sitting at my reading room table. I made sure Efrain was already out to dinner for the evening. I so did not need him to be here when we call upon the dead. I doubt he would be for it and I don’t have time to listen to his lectures. So it’s just me and Eric in the room. I stare long and hard at him as I consider all this. He just shakes his head at me.

“Come on, Jade. I’ve got this. All dad would do if he was here is just worry over my shoulder. I can focus better without him.”

“I believe you, but I’m still going to protect you as much as possible. Which is why I’m going to draw another protection circle on top of the one that’s already in this room. And why there is…someone outside monitoring us. If they hear us in trouble they are to come and help.”

I almost told him it was Gale and Marcus. Almost. Eric’s a necromancer, he deserves to know there are more supernatural races that are real, but I don’t need him distracted with the thousands of questions I’m sure he has for them. Maybe after we get the info we need, then I’ll reward him with it. Gale might be delighted by the questions, Marcus, not so much.

I don’t so much draw a new circle of protection as supercharge the one already in my room. The circle thrums to life so subtly no one without a magical bone in their body would notice. Eric straightens up a bit as I close it.

“Okay, you are as secure as you are getting for this. If at any time you feel like it’s too much, you bail out, understood?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Alright. I’m ready when you are.”

Eric takes a deep breath and closes his eyes. He goes to that inner place where his power dwells. He told me in those early days it was like letting a dam loose, but now it’s just like opening a door and walking through. I’m glad the kid is doing so well. I was afraid he would just try to hide from it like his dad, but I think seeing his dad heal through his own trauma with it encouraged him not to walk that path.

[SFX: slight gag and wet noise as the ectoplasm drifts out of his mouth, whispers echoing]

The ectoplasm drifts out of his mouth like he’s exhaling smoke from a cigarette, only this shit is sticky and something I never want to touch again. Its webby copper texture glows under the orange light of my reading room, pulsating with hands and faces trying to push through. What they say, I can never make out. They’re always just whispers. But I like it that way. I can’t imagine what it must be like for the dead to constantly berate me into listening.

(slight lisp from the ecto hanging in the corner of his mouth, he’s gotten a lot better at talking with it) “Ask your question Jade.”

Dang, the kid has gotten a lot better talking with his mouth full. Maybe I’m overly paranoid because he’s so young, and Silas’s son.

“What is the Buried Mother’s plan? What are her minions doing for her?”

[SFX: whispers intensify]

Eric grips the arms of his chair tightly.

“It sounds like I’ve got a group warning us and a group…persuading us? (pause, listening) Some are saying follow her, others are saying stop her.”

“But how do I stop her? What exactly is her plan to get out this time?”

The cloud of ectoplasm grows bigger as more and more hands reach out to speak. More faces press against that otherworldly membrane, desperate to be heard.

“I don’t know if they can give that answer, Jade. (pause, listening) The mountain. Now they’re all saying unleash the mountain.”

“She’s buried in the mountain, they must mean to release her. Wait, none of them are warning you about her anymore?”

“No. Either those voices were pushed away or –”

“Or they’re all on her side now. Eric, break the connection. They’re not going to help.”

“I can’t.”

“What do you mean you can’t?”

“I can’t shut the door! Jade help!”

The ectoplasm grows bigger, casting a shadow over us. I reach across the table to touch him, to push my power into him, to somehow help him push them back. But he grabs me first, hand tight on my wrist. He snatches me so quickly I’m caught off guard and I just stare up at him. He begins to choke, and I watch as the copper color of the ecto fades into black. This blackness begins to drip, and when a drop lands on the table I realize it’s tar.

Shit. She got in, and I let her walk right in by using Eric.

I push my power into him, but immediately hit a metaphysical wall. She’s already in him too deep, her blackness, now covering the ecto, begins to spread across Eric. His choking stops, and he looks at me with eyes seeping tar.
God, how do I save him? Alone I am no match for her, but I try anyway. I push with all my power against that wall she’s put up around him. So much power it ripples through the room. With that ripple, Gale and Marcus are finally alerted. Gale comes storming in, but can’t get past my protection circle. I have to open it to let him in. I quickly throw power at my circle to let it open, but as the tar seeps out of Eric’s nose and corners of his mouth, I fear it’s all too late.

Eric’s body leans forward, but I know it’s not Eric that’s looking at me. He smiles with tar-stained teeth, and slurps the ecto back into his mouth.

“Unleash the mountain.”

[SFX: trapdoor beneath the chair opens]

Without another word the trapdoor beneath Eric’s chair opens and he’s gone. Gale goes rushing after him, but comes up empty handed. She took him. I don’t know how she could take him like that, but she did. I let Eric open the door straight to her. And now I’ve got to figure out how to get him back.

Written by Ashley McAnelly and Morgan Valko

Featuring the voice talents of Ashley McAnelly, Erika Sanderson, Naomi Richards, Elias Yates, and Lou Sutcliffe

Theme Music by ThaArsonist

Outro Music by Athan