Star People Legacy by Smith, T.L. (feel good books to read .txt) 📕

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 lifelessness 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