Chapter 306

Silence. I looked around the room, and everyone was staring at Hanna, who was frozen in her chair. We waited another minute before I squeezed her hair. “Are you okay?” Hanna blinked a few times before she sat back in her chair. She turned to me, and her mouth opened, but still, nothing came out. I wiggled her hand, and then she seemed to almost deflate. “Talk to us.”

“My family is from Japan, though,” Hanna finally collected her thoughts.

“And they might have been for a few generations, but they could have moved to Japan from another country, right?”

Hanna considered it. “I mean, it’s possible.” She looked at me. “I don’t know where from, though.”

“That’s easy.” I closed my eyes.

“Wait!” I opened my eyes and turned to Wendy.

“What’s wrong?”

She blushed. “Before you figure out where Chang’e comes from, I think you should do Micca and me first.” She started to pick at her nails again.

“Why?” Toya reached across to stop her picking.

She looked up. “I’m not familiar with gods.” I wanted to laugh, but I just nodded. She sighed. “I am thinking that if neither Micca nor I know our goddesses either, you can find out all three at the same time. I don’t really know what you were going to do, but just in case, maybe you should wait.” She smiled, and it was full of confusion and regret.

I laughed this time. “I was going to call my grandmother, so you are right. The only other thought I had was to guess.” I lifted a shoulder when Micca threw her head back and laughed. “What? Wendy is right… I am about as familiar with the gods as I am with their origins.”

Hanna looked between us and then nodded. “She is right. We should wait. That way, we can find out everything we need to in one visit.” She stood and held the chair back. She looked at Micca. “You’re next.”

Micca looked terrified, but then she shook herself. “I don’t know why I’m worried. There won’t be any goddess that claims me.” She laughed and pulled the lighter to her, getting her bowl ready as I slipped into the chair. Hanna sat in the chair I just left. As I turned to her, she was already dripping her blood into the bowl. I slipped my fingers through hers, and in moments, dark blue smoke filled the air in front of her. “No way.” Her whisper was soft, but the goddess in front of her chuckled.

“That’s no way to greet your sire, child.” The goddess’s lilting accent was kind. Her eyes held a soft silver glow as she smirked. “I was wondering when you would remember your roots. Welcome home, lass. I, Arianrhod, claim you.” Then, she was gone.

Micca turned to me, and I gave her a soft smile. “You were right,” she whispered.

“I think so, but we won’t be sure until after Wendy.” Everyone turned to face our friend, who was almost vibrating as she grabbed the lighter. I laughed as Micca stood, and we swapped places. I had barely settled when Wendy was dripping the blood into the bowl in front of her. I grabbed her hands as she recited the words with me.

Dark smoke filled the air in front of her, and we all froze at the sight that took shape in front of Wendy. A man with dark hair and silver eyes looked down at her. “I had thought you had forgotten me, pup.” The god’s smile was full of mirth, and he winked. “I, Máni, claim you.” Then, he was gone.

I turned, wide-mouthed, to Wendy. “I didn’t expect that. I don’t know why I assumed we would all come from goddesses. But that…”

“Was a god,” she finished.

I nodded. “That he was.”

“I’m descended from a god.” She looked at me with wide eyes and a trembling lip.

“Yes, yes, you are.” I sighed and sat back in my chair, feeling validated. “Okay. One more thing, then we can sleep.” I closed my eyes. “Grandma, I need your guidance. I don’t know my gods and goddesses, but I need to know who these are.”

I felt the ghost of a touch at my shoulder, and I looked up to find her standing next to me. She leaned down and kissed my brow. “My girl, you are tired.”

I nodded as I opened my eyes. “I am, but this needed to be figured out tonight.” She nodded.

“That it does.” She turned to my friends. “Hello, my girls.” She smiled as she walked to Toya. “I know. I don’t have to tell you much. You know your homeland. Your stories are intact. Nut watches over her children. Her sands will always welcome you home.” Toya smiled and nodded.

“It was still amazing to see her.” My grandmother leaned over and kissed her brow. Then she turned to Hanna.