Echoes in the Wind

By Marisa Quinn-Haisu

Echo, a beautiful Greek Goddess, has a problem. Pan, Lord of the Satyrs, believes that she is his soul mate and wants her for himself. Years ago he captured Echo and imprisoned her in his castle, claiming her as his bride. But now Echo has escaped and fled into the forest and is determined to find her true soul mate. Will she be able to avoid Pan and his minions and find freedom?
Narcissus, a handsome and vain River God, has been searching for his soul mate for hundreds of years with little success. He has legions of women longing to bed him and to be his bride, but he cares very little for them. He beds them and then rids himself of them, uncaring if he leaves them with child or breaks their hearts. He cares about nothing more than finding his soul mate.
When Echo appears unexpectedly on the edge of his riverbank one day, Narcissus is awoken from his slumber by the sounds of her screams. She is being chased by satyrs who have been tasked to take her back to Pan. Narcissus immediately feels a connection between himself and Echo.
Could this be it? Could she be his soul mate?
Has he found her at last?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Marisa Quinn-Haisu
• Release date: Dec 25, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463172001

Marisa Quinn-Haisu

Marisa Quinn-Haisu lives in Australia and is a fiction writer, a blogger and a freelance journalist.

Book preview

Echoes in the Wind

Written by Marisa Quinn-Haisu

Published by Marisa Quinn-Haisu at Smashwords

Cover design by Katie Quinn

Copyright 2018 Marisa Quinn-Haisu

Thank you for downloading this ebook. This book remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be redistributed to others for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy from their favourite authorized retailer. Thank you for your support.

Ancient Greece, The Golden Age

Narcissus was tired. The woman he had chosen to bed was chatting about something, but he wasn’t paying much attention. Her cheerfulness was like the chirping of birds in his ears. It did little to rouse much emotion in him. Finally, she noticed he wasn’t listening, and caressed his cheek with a brush of her hand.

My lord? Is something the matter?

They were lying on a patch of grass under a tree. The sun was shining and there was a slight breeze in the air and water was rushing over rocks in his beloved river. Narcissus shifted his weight. He didn’t like her touching him.

Be silent, woman. He waved a hand at her in annoyance. Corina wasn’t fazed by his show of irritation and continued to smile at him.

The sun is bright. Shall we go for a walk along the river?

He sighed. Woman, I am weary. Leave me be.

Narcissus was one of the Gods. It hadn’t taken much effort for him to be able to persuade this woman to indulge in a love affair with him while her husband was out of town. He had lost count of the amount of lovers he had taken over the centuries. Any other man would have felt guilty, but not him. He felt nothing at all. He had been alive for so long the only thing inside him was emptiness.

Corinna rambled on, pretending to herself that she still had his attention. Every few minutes she would pause in the middle of a sentence, giggle to herself, then snuggle against him and continue speaking.

Narcissus stared up at the sky, silent and still, his face devoid of emotion. The woman lying next to him meant nothing to him. None of the lovers he had taken over the centuries ever had. There was only one woman meant for him, one destined for him, one that he ached for with a desperation that bordered on physical pain. Somewhere out there he had a soul mate.

Soul Mates were paired together by the Three Fates, the Goddesses of Destiny, because they could see which souls would make the best matches. Narcissus knew he had a soul mate out there somewhere but he had no idea who she was or where he could find her. He had just one clue from the Three Fates to help him and that was a mysterious mark on his arm.

The circular symbol had appeared on his wrist two hundred years ago. It resembled a tattoo. It had appeared on his arm the moment his soul mate had taken her first breath. It was her symbol. An image crafted by the Three Fates to mark him as her soul mate and to give him a clue to her identity. The only problem was Narcissus didn’t know how to read the tattoo to help him figure out what her name might be. The mark on his arm continued to be a mystery to him.

Is something troubling you, my lord god? Corinna sounded worried now. He had been ignoring her for too long. She put a hand on his shoulder. Narcissus pulled away, anger rising sharply in him. Corinna… He flicked a glance at her over his shoulder. His eyes swirled and changed from glittering white to icy blue.

A quivering smile touched the corners of her mouth.

She’s nervous. A frown flitted across Narcissus’s face. She thinks she has done something to displease me. He lowered his head. She has done nothing. He took a deep breath and let it out. I am the one at fault. There is only one woman meant for me. No one else can take her place. Why do I do this to myself?

Narcissus?

He remained silent.

Shall we bathe in the river?

I am so alone.

We could take a walk through the forest if you like.

Where could my soul mate be?

Or would you like to pick some flowers together?

I cannot bare much more of this. Corinna…

Corinna pulled herself into a sitting position. Her eyes travelled over his face nervously. Is something troubling you?

Narcissus felt his insides twist with guilt. How many times am I going to break the hearts of others? He straightened to his feet and squared his shoulders.

Clothe yourself and leave. He threw the harsh statement in her face then turned his back on her. Her breath escaped her lungs in a rush. He pressed a hand against his forehead and cringed. I am weak. So weak.

Corinna stood upward slowly, her entire body trembling. Did I do something wrong? she sounded so wounded, so fragile. Narcissus balled his hands into fists and gave a barely audible sigh. You did nothing wrong.

Corinna began to cry, deep wrenching sobs. Then why do you wish for me to leave after what we shared? she crossed her arms over her breasts and looked at him with large, sad eyes.

Narcissus felt a stab of anger. Did you think we were destined for each other? High above his head the sky darkened with thunderclouds. The wind rose to a whine. The trees started to sway as if awoken from a slumber.

Narcissus stood up slowly, his hands balled into fists. His eyes flashed, one minute the colour blue, the next metallic green. "Did you think we would wed?"

You don’t seek a bride? Her voice was trembling.

Narcissus made a sound of disgust at the back of his throat. You could never be my wife. Do not pretend to love me, woman. I can read your thoughts.

His hair rippled around his shoulders like a long, silken cape. All you see when you look at me is someone who can rescue you from mediocrity. You want to become like me. His teeth flashed white. Immortal.

Corinna threw herself at his feet. Forgive me, Narcissus. It was wrong for me to think such terrible things. She peered up at him. I love you, She shuffled towards him on her knees. I really do. Give me a chance to prove it.

The anger smoldering in Narcissus rose to boiling point. A roar welled up into his throat, built and built until it burst past his lips and echoed throughout the woods like a thunderclap, shaking the ground itself.

Corinna whirled and tried to run. Narcissus snagged hold of her wrist and pulled her backward. He circled her within his