“Sounds like everything is covered.” I stared at the jet as Casey swung the truck around to a group of people standing at the bottom of the stairs. Waiting for us. I didn’t rush to get out of the truck. Every second seemed to escalate my mortal emotion, despite knowing this had to be done. Tonight.
My parents were helping Joey with their bags, following him as they headed for the team of TSA agents. They tagged and scanned the suitcases, following all the federal protocol for any outsiders who happened to be watching.
Casey stood at the door. “I know this is hard on you, but you need to get out and say goodbye to them.”
“I know.” I reached for him as I slipped out of the backseat, clinging to him a moment. “Hang onto me.”
He did, guiding me to the six women and two men standing by the stairs up into the Super 7. They all wore the charter’s uniform of tan slacks and white shirts, with ties or scarves with the company logo, appropriately a Thunderbird. The women’s dark hair was pulled back at the base of their necks.
I recognized their Spirits, as they did mine. They stared back at me as I finally pushed myself towards them. I had to be Din’ah. Not Beth.
“Sister.” The oldest of them, maybe in her forties, stepped forward, holding her hands out to me. “Thank you for joining us tonight.”
“It feels necessary, though in the old days it wouldn’t be so complicated.”
“No, but we had no idea it would take so long.” The woman looked to the airport further down the tarmac. “Who would have seen this civilization finally grow so quickly? They staggered about for so long.”
“And they have a long way to go yet.” I looked to the other crew. “You will take our People home?”
“We will, though you will be the one to release our Spirits.” The older woman smiled and gestured to the plane. “I should finish pre-flights.”
“Certainly, Captain.” I released her hand as my parents came up behind me. She headed for the stairs, followed by one of the men and half the crew.
“It’s time.” My mother embraced me, hugging me tight, kissing me. She gave Casey the same hard embrace. “You take care of her, son.”
“I will. I swear.” Casey wrapped his arm around my shoulders.
“I’m sure you will.” My father extended his hand to Casey. “You are both on the same path now. It is a journey that should be taken slowly, so you remember each joyful step.”
Casey nodded at the advice. “Definitely a journey I have been waiting for.”
My father gave me a hug just as suffocating as my mother’s, then let me go. He took my mother’s arm and led her up the steps.
Joey took their place. “Okay, dude. Dito what they said, because if she doesn’t kick your ass, they will.” He jerked his thumb at my other brothers. Casey laughed. “Sis, you were always my favorite sister.”
I punched his shoulder. “I’m your only sister.”
“Yeah, but I meant ever. Out of all the sisters I’ve had in all my lives.”
The ‘awww’ moment made my eyes tear up, which earned me a hug. “I’ll miss you.”
“Take it easy on Francis.” Joey whispered in my ear. “You were always his favorite too, now and before. He took the obligation of taking care of you so serious because of a prior life mistake. Way back, which is why he’s been so crazy since you went Marines. Now you can just be his little sister again.”
“Really?” I gave Frankie a glance where he stood next to Chucky, not looking at me. “I don’t remember…”
“Like you’ve had the time to measure each life.” Joey rolled his eyes at me. “All debts are paid now.”
“Well, thanks. I’ll try to be nice to him.” I gave Joey another hug. “Still miss you most.”
“Time to go.” Daniel broke us up. “Flight’s on a schedule.”
“Okay.” Joey let go and ran up the stairs. “I’ll text you.”
I waved back, unable to say anything. The rest of the crew boarded and brought the door in. Casey pulled me away from the stairs as a guy jumped into the control seat to disengage the stairs and pull it away from the plane. The TSA agents headed for their vehicle to clear the runway.
As the engines were revved up to taxi the plane away from us, Daniel herded us back to the trucks. Ground crew waved the plane out onto the tarmac, waving them into the lineup for take-off. Slow, but too fast. My heart ached, pounding painfully faster with their acceleration. I thought it would explode as the wheels left the ground.
Only Casey kept me from running after them in an insane display of grief. He urged me into the backseat, Daniel taking over the driving. He waited until I couldn’t see the plane anymore. “We have another task to prepare for.” He didn’t expect me to answer, driving off the tarmac.
No one spoke as we headed back to the resort, back to our penthouse suite. A real cup of special tea had me out in minutes, in Casey’s arm. Not enough time to mourn. When I woke it was dark, way past sunset.
Stephanie and Olivia arrived to help me dress. Since I was already the Ci’in, I didn’t need to be purified with a bath, but they still sent the smoke of ‘herbs’ wafting through the room to soothe our Spirits. Probably for the best or I’d start crying.
Dressing in the silky buckskin and my blood-feather belt, they delivered me to Casey. He took me down to the river, to the private section where I’d meditated. On that pristine beach were Bound Ci’inkwia and our mates, sitting in a semi-circle. I sat facing them.
The strongest of the other Ci’in formed a crescent
