Chapter 307

“You come from a family of travelers.” She winked as she moved onto my next friend. Then she looked around and smiled. “All of you do. But you three, you lost your roots because of it.” She watched as the three of them all nodded. “Now, refinding your stories, finding your roots will become something important to you. And it should be.” She leaned over and kissed Hanna’s brow. “While Japan is dear to your family, China is where they stem from. Your goddess calls you home.” She moved to Micca, and she tugged on her strands. “It should come as no surprise that your roots are Welsh, rich in culture and redheads.” My grandmother laughed. “Arianrhod of the silver wheel and weaver. Tell her stories and bring her home.” Micca smiled as she played with a lock of hair as my grandmother moved past me. She stopped next to Wendy and kissed her brow. “A god brought forth your line. Norse roots date your family back years. Yet in their exploration, your men turned their back on their god, and now you have to find your way back to him.”

I watched as my friends digested the information. Then, as one, they all turned to thank her, but my grandmother was already gone. “Damn, she’s fast,” Toya smirked.

“We didn’t even get to say thank you.” Wendy sat back in her chair and I smiled.

“She knows.” I sighed as I sat back. “How are we all feeling?”

Everyone took a deep breath, sitting with all the new knowledge, but it was Hanna who spoke up first. “I had no idea we moved from China.” She looked down at her hands. “My father was sure we were Japanese, through and through.”

I bit the skin on my thumb. “Is that a bad thing? Being from China?”

“God no.” Hanna had to think for a moment. “It’s not a good or bad thing, just unexpected.” She sighed. “I doubt my father will even believe me.”

“And do you need your father to believe you?” Micca leaned her elbow on the table.

Hanna paused before answering. “No. I don’t think I need him to, but I would like him to. Chang’e deserves our line to recognize its roots.” I nodded. “I don’t know how to go about speaking with him about it.”

“I don’t think that is something you have to worry about right this second. And maybe you could find the immigration records, or something like that,” Wendy smiled, and I agreed.

“Wendy is right. You are focused on the wrong thing. How do you feel about everything?” I pushed her to focus on herself for a minute. “Push aside what anyone else might think about these revelations. Just how are you feeling?”

Hanna took a deep breath. “Vindicated.”

I tilted my head. “Why?”

“Because my father was so obsessed about being descended by Tsukiyomi that it became relentless. I told my father that we couldn’t focus solely on Tsukiyomi. We had to stop relying on a goddess that had turned her back on us. But now…I realized I was right, but for another reason. He was focused on the wrong goddess.” She sighed. “Vindication was probably the wrong word, but I’m tired.”

Wendy yawned. “I’m exhausted.” She looked over at me. “But I am honestly blown away. I never thought I descended from any god or goddess, but to learn that my family were probably vikings, that’s cool.”

Micca turned to her. “Vikings? How do you know?”

“Máni, he is a Norse god.” Wendy smiled. “I chose to do a report on the Norse pantheon when I was a child.” Micca sat back. “So you didn’t have to be told?” Wendy shook her head. “That’s good, but also a little upsetting.”

“Why?” Wendy chuckled.

“Because you already know about your god. I’m clueless about mine.” Micca crossed her arms.

Toya laughed. “Typical.”

“What?” Micca pouted more. “What’s so freaking typical?” She tossed her arms up.

“You get bratty and whiny when you’re tired.” I pointed out, and everyone else nodded. She opened her mouth and then stopped to think about it. She just ended up nodding and sighing.

“You’re right.” She yawned and rubbed her eyes.

“But,” I pushed myself to my feet. “It’s time to turn in. We have to get up early in the morning and we have to plan our next steps.” Everyone else stood as well. “Goodnight.”

“Night Amy.” We all trudged up the stairs and went into our separate rooms with a soft click of our doors. I made it to the bed and slid inside of it.

Today had been way too much. So much happened that my battery was completely run dry. How was I going to take care of a child? How was I supposed to be here and there at the same time? I groaned as I thought about home. I wanted to be with my mother, but having to face Morgan and Shannon was going to be hell.

But that was tomorrow’s issue.