by Smith, T. L.
She crossed to the wall she’d exited and with a wave of her hand it opened to reveal an elevator. It wasn’t a small elevator, apparently intended for ‘entourages’. With the six of us and luggage, there was still room left over. There were only a few buttons on the panel. Ground floor, concierge level, four penthouse levels and a roof lounge.
She pulled a small tablet from inside her jacket and slid a black key card over the scanner eye, handing it to me. The second my fingertips touched the card, her screen flashed an acknowledgment. “This is your access card, keyed to your fingerprints alone. If you lose it, it is of no value to anyone who finds it. If you would insert it here.”
It was an impressive security measure. The black card had nothing on it. Not even the hotel’s name. I followed her instructions and the elevator started up. “You and your immediate entourage have access to all floors serviced by this elevator. The concierge level will give you access to the main casino. The other members of your convention will have access to all penthouse levels, except yours. That is exclusive to your immediate entourage.”
My convention? Entourage? Four penthouse floors? Daniel said no one would notice “a few dozen” more of us. If we needed four floors, that qualified as a convention. I wanted to ask Daniel what was going on. Instead I kept my mouth shut. Ms. Begay seemed to think I was the leader of this group, instead of the village idiot.
The elevator ride up lasted only a few seconds, bypassing PH4, PH3, PH2, stopping at PH1. “Here we are.” She extended her hand with a head bow, inviting me to exit first.
I obliged, stepping out into a glass hallway wide enough to entertain a large reception or party. Possibly used for exactly that purpose with the layout of elegant tables, chairs, sofas and a full-service bar. The floor-to-ceiling glass wall faced east, towards the mountains. If not for knowing what those mountains protected, for what Yazzie and her crew were doing this instant, recovering Lutz’ body, they might have made for a breathtaking view.
But I knew the truth.
Cherise cleared her throat, drawing my attention away from the view. There were more security guards, large, broad-chested, clean shaven and dressed impeccably. They stood at either side of the elevator. “Mr. and Mrs. Adams are at the end of the corridor.”
Mrs. Adams… oh yeah, my mother.
She didn’t seem to notice the second of confusion. “The rooms between are assigned to the Adams brothers.” She bowed her head to Daniel, but urged me down the long corridor in the opposite direction of my mother’s room. “And these are your rooms.”
She stepped ahead of me to open a set of double doors, stepping into the apartment and waving her hand like a game-show model. “I hope this meets your needs.”
Two steps in and I did my best to not drag my chin on the deep carpet. Daniel gave me a little nudge to snap me out of my moment of brain fog “Thank you, Cherise. This looks… lovely.”
She smiled with that hint of smugness that said she knew they were the best accommodations to be found, on par with the best in the world. Not conceit, but certainty. She waved to the security guards with our luggage. Frankie was quick to intervene, stopping them and pointing out my and Casey’s bags.
He took them from the guard. Daniel gave me an eye flick, that silent language we had as kids that said to get rid of the outsiders. Cherise had already started to point out the room’s amenities. I stepped up and put my hand on her arm. “I’m sorry. I’m exhausted. I think I’ll show myself the suite, if you don’t mind.”
“Oh, certainly!” She smiled at me warmly. “If you have any needs or questions, I am at your 24-hour disposal.” She turned to Daniel. “I will await you by the elevators and get your keys set up.”
He bowed to her, giving one of his charming smiles we saw so seldom, as he walked her and the guards to the doors. “We’ll only be a moment.”
He closed the doors on her and Frankie carried our bags to the bedroom. I followed him and was as stunned by the opulence of this room as I was with the sitting room. “Who the hell is paying for this? Let alone four floors of suites.”
“That’s not your concern.” He swung our bags up on the luggage shelf next to the dresser.
“Actually, it is.” Daniel joined us. “The Cocopah will bill the Council.”
“The National Council, as in Tribal Affairs, in DC?”
“The one and only.” He went to the wall of curtains and pulled them back. “Wow, spectacular view.”
“Seriously, Daniel.” I stomped up beside him, trying to ignore the dizzying twenty story drop straight down the back face of the hotel. I could see gardens below and the river. There was a dock with a paddleboat moored down, allowing tourists to board. I pulled myself away from the view. “What does the NCTA have to do with this?”
“Everything.” Daniel leaned against the window, making me nervous, though I was sure the hotel had installed glass thick enough to be nearly bullet-proof, if it wasn’t. “Long story into the short, our tribe is scattered throughout the Nation, assimilating into areas where the Maxa’xak might have fled. We constantly track events the local police can’t explain. Or things most people write off as drugs or alcohol. Strange sightings of large snakes in the rivers, ghost men, unexplained, gruesome deaths...”
“Shit like that happens all the time.”
“Increases in unsolved missing persons.” Daniel raised an eyebrow at me. “Whole family groups have disappeared. The Yahi. Now illegals. The Maxa’xak found a perfect source of bodies to infest.”
“Mom said we failed the Yahi, but that’s not what I read in the history records.”
“The real story was suppressed. No one, particularly the white men, were going to believe that an evil Spirit grabbed adult males and killed everyone else. They were a lot more willing to believe their own were responsible for the murders. Our people tried to kill the Maxa’xak, but it got away with a few of its children, and we’ve been tracking it since.”
“And the NCTA knows this.”
“The NCTA is the Nation.” Daniel leaned closer. “It’s nearly impossible to keep this big a secret, unless you believe. Ten thousand years they have kept us secret, because they believe. They know we’re here to kill this monster, or it will destroy more than the People.”
Frankie came into the room. I hadn’t seen him leave, but he carried a steaming cup. An odd smell rolled up into my face as he handed it to me. “Mom says you’re to drink this and get some real sleep.”
I took the cup. It wasn’t tea, though it had the right color. It had flecks in it I remembered. She always made us bark teas when we were sick. “I should talk to her first.”
“She’s not available.”
“Really? Do I have to go knocking on her door?”
“No, but she is in one of her meditations.” Frankie squinted at me. “Do you really want to try to interrupt that, or just do as she says?”
“No.” Whether I needed the tea or not, I drank it down. It was bitter. Way more bitter than I remembered. I shifted to say something to Daniel, but I couldn’t remember what. He just nodded in a strange slow motion.
CHAPTER
21
“It’s time to wake up, Din’ah.”
Hearing my name, I opened my eyes, then struggled up to my elbows. “Lutz?” I looked around. I was in the penthouse suite at the casino. Last I remembered I was talking to Daniel. Then Frankie gave me one of my mother’s tea. “Wow, I guess they really wanted me to sleep.”
As I went to brush a strand of hair off my face, I saw my hand in front of my face, but also laying on the bed next to my leg, as if I were lying on top of someone. “What the hell?” I tried to roll away, but my body felt stuck, my torso not moving.
“Stop fighting.” Lutz reached out and held my shoulder. “Your body is asleep so we can speak to your subconscious, your mortal Spirit. I think it’s called Spirit Walking.”
I shifted to one side and could see how my being lifted out of the body I was attached to. I felt a lifeles
sness in my physical body. “You sure I’m not dying, or something?”
“No, dear. You’re fine.”
I jerked around to see a woman on the other side of the bed. It took a moment to recognize her. “Mom?” She looked so young, so pretty, like pictures of when she was a teenager.
She sat down on the edge of the bed, both Spirits blocking me in. “You grow stronger by the minute.” She caressed my face. “You bring me great pride and my deepest fears.”
I caught her hand. “I haven’t done anything to inspire either.”
“You’re a decorated soldier who has served this country, in this life and many before, but when you were born I recognized your Spirit. I knew the Great Mother chose you to face the Maxa’xak.” She smiled, a sad light in her eyes. “You must allow your Spirit to Rise.”
“But…” I looked at my hand again. I wasn’t glowing, but I could feel the heat building. “…what happens to me if this Spirit comes out? Where do I go?”
“You will be one person.” It sounded simple, but something in her tone told me differently. “Rising brings your inner Spirit into this world. You only know your mortal strengths, but totally awakened, she possesses the ability to draw upon all our Spirits, upon the Spirits of this world. Without these powers, you will be helpless against our enemy.”
She squeezed my hand. “You saw that monster. You know you can’t fight it as Beth, or as a Marine.”
Lutz patted my leg, feeling as real as when he was alive. “You need her. Your people need her.”
“So I let her out and...” My heart beat faster, but in this state it felt as if I was feeling someone else’s pulse. “…hope I’m still me.” It was disconcerting, but oddly familiar. “Okay, so what do I do?”
“Normally the Rising happens slowly, but your Spirit is pressing to come out now. You have to let this happen. Stop fighting her. Trust your Spirit. Trust me.” My mother placed her palm to my forehead, pushing me down into the bed, down into my body. She held me there, silently gazing into my eyes. “Surrenders to her.” She pressed harder. “Awaken, Din’ah!”
A jolting spark shot through her hand, into my head. My body jerked, but then froze. My vision closed in on itself, turning into my own head. I saw that spark tearing open cells and images flooded out. Strangers, for a split second, before I recognized the Spirits beneath their mortal bodies. Time passed from century to century. Faces changed, but not the Spirits. These were memories. Her memories. The Spirit inside me.
She showed me all her past lives, all the battles, all the deaths, all the rebirths. I saw flashes of my own life, my own experiences, the battle scars I carried on my soul. She had been with me, in a state of conscious hibernation, stirring when I was in danger. Subconscious nudges I took as intuition. But mostly waiting until she was needed.
She had a duty and I could see what was expected of her. I could feel her resolve to fight the Maxa’xak. To free this world of this monster. She had a duty. I just had to let her out. I had to surrender my will to her. I had to surrender.
“Surrender”.
I blinked my eyes. It wasn’t my mother and Lutz with me. Daniel leaned over me. “Are you awake, Din’ah?”
“Not sure.” It took a few more blinks to focus past him. All my brothers stood around the bed, along with two of their wives. Stephanie and Olivia. And Casey, looking worried. “I guess so. Nothing like a little magic tea to knock you out.”
Daniel moved away from the bed. “It’s time. The women must prepare you.”
I sat up. My body was whole again, but felt… fuzzy, slow. “I think there’s still some residual effects from the drug.”
“What drug?” Casey stepped forward.
Stephanie blocked him. “You can’t touch her.”
Casey stepped back, not about to push a woman out of the way, but his concern turned to annoyance. “Excuse me?”
“You can’t touch her until after the ceremony.” Joey slid up to Casey’s side. “It’s part of the next ritual.”
“She’s not even awake yet.” Casey protested as Olivia helped me out of bed. “Are you okay, Beth?”
“I’m fine.” My words were as slow as my body. Then I realized my Spirit was speaking to me, through me. I shook off Olivia’s hand. “Nothing has started yet and his Spirit is pure. Leave us for a moment.” I said it firmly enough everyone stepped backwards.
Daniel bowed to me. “The moon favors us tonight, an August Super-moon. Great power for the rituals.”
How appropriate. “I only need a few minutes.”
Casey waited until they left, the door closing behind them. He stepped towards me, ready to grab me, but held back. “They said I couldn’t touch you while you were asleep, or… spirit walking? I don’t know any of this. Are you okay? If not, say so and I’ll put a stop to this.”
“I was Spirit walking, and I’m all right.” A step put me into his arms. “I’m going through something I can’t really explain, but it’s more of this transformation. I’m scared, but I understand why I have to do this.”
“I think I do too. Your father tried to explain what to expect, about being the husband of a Ci’inkwia priestess. That this Spirit inside you is special among them. As special as you are to me. That I need to be strong enough for both of you, as you face the Maxa’xak.”
“Wow, you managed saying all that without stuttering.”
“I finally saw the video. I gave him my word I’d stand beside you, no matter what came at us, even that… thing. I intend to be there, no matter what.”
“No.” I pushed my head into his shoulder. “We’re not married. You can still go and…”
“And what, pretend none of this happening?” Casey took my arms and pushed me back enough to make me look up at him. “I told you, I’m in this to the end, no matter what happens. No matter what they ask of me. I’m in this because I love you. I won’t pretend that isn’t real.” He kissed me, hard.
I clung to him, kissing him back, wanting this moment to not end, but a rapping on the door and announced our ‘couple minutes’ was up. Casey didn’t let go, holding me tighter. “I’m not going anywhere.”
I refrained from pointing out that he was, that he had to leave now. Another rap on the door delivered the message. He let go, giving me one more kiss as Daniel knocked louder. “I’ll see you at the ceremony thing.”
As soon as the doors opened, Stephanie and Olivia brushed past him, Chucky wrapped an arm around Casey’s shoulders making sure he couldn’t come back. I couldn’t help but wonder if it was also to make sure Casey wouldn’t take off.
Olivia knelt over a trunk someone had delivered to the room while I slept. Three trunks in total. Stephanie pushed me towards the bathroom. She started drawing a bath, ordering me to undress. I wasn’t sure what they had in mind until Olivia joined us. She poured a golden oil into the water, then stirred it with eucalyptus branches.
The smell confirmed I was going to get a ritual cleansing bath. A bath to cleanse away any taint of the dark Spirits that crossed my path. As soon as the bath was full and steaming, Stephanie ordered me into it.
The water was so hot my flesh felt it was one degree from being burned off. The air was suffocating with the scent of the oil and leaves. I gasped as my body sank down into the water. Did my Star Spirit have control of my senses? Could my mortal body bear this?
The bath lasted nearly an hour, Stephanie and Olivia sang Navajo songs meant to drive away the evil they washed off my body. They waved feathers through the rising steam to dissipate any darkness I exhaled. Stephanie poured water over my head, the strong eucalyptus soaking into every pore, until they were certain I was purified.
Numbly, I followed a path of towels into the bedroom. Out the massive glass wall I could see the sun over the western mountains, almost ready to set. It was morning when we arrived at the hotel, meaning I’d slept most of the day. Dreaming. Spirit walking. I stared into the distance as they rubbed my body with more oil and braided my hair with wild Starbursts.<
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Normally I’d have objected to all this touching, especially standing in the middle of the room naked. But my Spirit expected this and held me there, perfectly content with the attention. This was all part of what was yet to come and she… I… was calm. I was prepared.
CHAPTER
22
They wrapped me in ritual clothes I’d never seen before. The white leather was velvety soft, nearly as thin as silk from age, and had a shimmer only accentuated by quartz bead where the fabric was woven together. I’d never seen these clothes with these eyes, but I knew their feel against my skin. She knew the feel.
Stephanie fastened the last shell button at my hip, stepping away from me. The leather molded to my every curve. Olivia set leather slippers in front of me, backing away as I tucked my feet into them, fitting as if made just for me.
Both women knelt down as the last rays of the sun blazed through the windows, casting shimmers around the room as they reflected off the crystal beads. They sang a Blessingway, but there were words I hadn’t heard before, in a long time.
They sang to the Great Father and Mother, to the children of the gods, the Ci’inkwia left to battle for all the peoples. They sang a prayer to recognize and bless the offspring... to bless me, Din’ah, as a Star Woman. As the Ci’in.
Not a Ci’in, but the Ci’in.
They used my real name, her real name. Her real title. Even through the thick-paned glass, those rays of sunlight were a warmth glowing over me. Through me. My Spirit was alive. I took a deep breath, smelling eucalyptus, leather and Starbursts. Smelling life, as if for the first time in a very long time.
The song stopped as the sun disappeared. None of us said anything as they led me out of my suite and to the elevator. The guards stood statuesque, not a flinch of emotion, not the flicker of an eye as I passed between them. They took me to the rooftop, moving aside to let me step out alone.
But I wasn’t alone. The roof had been designed as entertainment space, glass panels surrounding the perimeters for the safety of the guests. Any other time I had no doubt there were awnings with misters, tables, chairs and any sort of other special furniture for events. Right now furniture was replaced by people. At least a hundred, if not more.
