Michael
Juliet was nestled in my arms around the campfire, lying on a little mat after she fell asleep; I didn't have the heart to move her to our tent. I stared into the flames, listening to the logs crackling… My captivity had been borderline savage, even if I didn't let it show… because I didn't want anyone to find out what I went through… At some point, I would have to tell her. My heart beat a little faster when I thought about her finding out. The next fitful moment, I lifted my arm to take another look at the cut. With Kaia and Nami's help, the wound took only two days to close. My tats were ruined by a heavy scar. Once she woke up, I would test my manifestation again. Travel only for short distances if it works... I couldn't wait. I lifted her chin and pressed my lips to hers, kissing her longingly… Juliet didn't even wake up; she was exhausted and couldn't let me out of her sight. I had my own little leach stuck to me for however long this phase for her would last. I kissed her again.
The fact that the teleporters didn't work anymore was in the back of my mind the whole time. Would I need to sacrifice again? Chris couldn't do it this time… Who else would volunteer? Juliet had not spoken at all about the future. We sat around and spent time with the group, sharing stories about what had happened in the last hundred years. I was forty-something going into the whole story; suddenly, I was a hundred and forty. Time really did stand still. Disappeared… How did I survive?
For that moment, I knew she would come for me. She always did, and I wanted to be there, waiting.
"Why can't you sleep?" Basaam asked as he came around and sat across from us. "I hear your heart pounding all the way."
"It's nothing… I feel like I want to burst…" I chuckled, "I think this must be what Chris felt like before your mother… Your body knows you need to manifest, yet you can't. Meat and blood don't satisfy you if you're not some type of creature… I have all three raging."
"Have you tried?"
"Nothing… I think tomorrow… Maybe we can go out hunting and let it happen naturally."
"It's a good idea… Juliet didn't want to say anything, but she wanted to stay until we knew for sure all Uzail and his people were not wolves anymore… Maybe if you see one of them."
"That's an excellent idea… Murder. A good enough motive."
He laughed lightly. A tent flap opened, and two feet walked through the sand. Nami sat down next to him and rested her head in his lap, closing her eyes. "Do they always cling like this?" Basaam asked in English.
I giggled, "Only when they love you… Never wish it away… Once they stop, you lose something… Once I pushed your mother too far… We nearly broke up even after the branding."
"She told me."
"It will never happen again… I have gotten a proper handle on my issues…"
"I believe you…"
"Why can't you sleep?" I asked.
Basaam stroked caressingly over Nami's face, "Louis."
"Your father. You must be burning to see him."
"I don't know… I'm torn… Conflicted all of a sudden."
"Why?"
"So many reasons… What if Louis moved on and doesn't want to come home? What if he's worse than he was a hundred years ago… The messages he sends her are cold and sometimes, in my opinion, cruel… I don't want to end up having to choose."
"Does she worry?"
"I don't know? She is ever the optimist… That gene skipped me."
"Do you want me to go make sure? Before you tell her."
"No, I'll listen to what she wants… Then only make a decision… Juliet and Caleb are my family… Although our family will grow really quickly, and I don't know how you guys stayed together?"
"Oh, that's easy… It was Charlene and Carl…" Basaam frowned. "The three of them were together, the youngest three kids you can imagine… They were her family for years, and we just had to fall in line… Our whole life formed around their friendship and how committed they were to one another… Even Kubra was drawn to the connection between the three… For us… All of us… We had no one. We were alone, and then we were part of this unit…" I took a deep breath, hoping it would stay that way… "Once you're in—you're family… No one can change that but you…" I caressed her hair, thinking about our past. "I can just be very glad your mother fought for me the way she did when I was at my worst." Basaam looked deep into the fire... "You will have to fight if you want it."
"I do," he said quickly. "And I will even if he is at his worst."
Juliet snored rather loudly, gasping for air.
We both laughed, and I kissed her again. "Why is she so tired?"
Basaam blew out a heavy puff of air, "She is overtired… I can't tell how—" Basaam choked up," Difficult it was… Endless… Every day from morning to night… looking, never finding what you were searching for… I think she'll be like this for a few weeks. Able to breathe. Let go of the reins… The best thing you can do is make some decisions for her."
Our lives changed dramatically. Drastically. Who of us couldn't have changed during so long a separation… Juliet didn't; not much… I smiled and pulled her into my arms… I did. I experienced the pain of a timeless, never-ending capture. And in some way—had—to cope with everything happening… The consequences it may unleash… Would we weather the storms to come?
I wanted her to have only a few good years… "Just a few, please."
Basaam was watching me—worriedly.
***
In the morning, Juliet grabbed my fur and shook me awake, "Michael, you manifested."
"Into what?" I asked groggily.
"A wolf."
"Yuk."
She laughed, hugging me anyway... I sat up, looking at my handy paws and my furry arms, feeling my face. Strange. Weird to be something else entirely… I tried and was a riphath. "Better." I tried and stayed in my vampire form for a few minutes, staring at her, waiting. She nervously chewed her lips. I suddenly grabbed her shoulders and softly bit her neck for effect.
Juliet giggled, "Are you fine?"
"Yeah, I'll wait for the lust to kick in and drag you by the hair to the tent."
"Okay," she caught my lips and lingered.
"Honey," I mumbled between kisses.
"Yes?"
"Let's go hunting."
"Thank goodness, I'm starving."
I stood and pulled her high into the air, catching her as she came down. Juliet shrieked. "I can hear your gut complain." I teleported and landed in the camp, which I didn't want to ever see again. They were all human and drowning their sorrows with alcohol. Uzail looked up.
I put Juliet gently on her feet. As if I was manifested the first time, I moved from person to person and ripped their heads off their bodies. "Don't," Juliet's voice was soft in my ear.
Immediately, I halted and looked down. Ben was covering his head with his arms. "The queen has spoken. You should leave. If the dheka get here, you'll die… Did you drink the water?"
He shook his head, "No, I got Caleb's message… Can I come with you, please?"
"You better start walking," I pointed in a direction. "If you can find Francis and Jack, you can stay."
Juliet held out a hand, and I moved toward it. Her tiny human hand slipped into my large clawed paws. It felt so good to have connection again. I lifted my nose in the air and waited for a scent. In a second, we were both smack dab in the middle of a large herd, chasing strange-looking, two-legged, bird-like beasts and running in different directions. Juliet laughed, reaching out and stumbling. "I heard you went back in time."
"Yeah. You should see what the two of us did. It was amazing."
"I will as soon as I catch one of these things."
"They are quite fast." Abruptly, I came to a stand. "What? What's wrong?" she asked. Her voice tight—at the possibility of any pain for me.
"The kids! Your parents!" I disappeared and left her there, landing in Cindy's living room, bent at the waist to fit in the space. My paws landed in the sand; I was unable to balance my heavy body. I shook my head, getting rid of the whiplash of it all. Maybe not the best idea I'd ever had. My gaze drifted over the house—open to the elements—filled halfway with tiny sand dunes blown in over the years. Is no one alive? "No!" I sniffed as a wolf on all fours, covering every inch of the few rooms. No scent of bones. Nothing? Did they all die together somewhere else? I struggled out the door, skidding down the little hill only to gallop on all fours down the street to her parent's home. It was eerily quiet all around me. Again, I found nothing. I went into each house on the small island. The rest was riddled with bodies… They were not there? Where?
I moved to Marcus's house and dropped down on the lawn with my arms out by my sides like a toddler on a balancing beam. A woman screamed and dropped a tray. In two seconds, Silvanus's hand was around my throat. I laughed. My heart skipped a beat. He slowly let go. "Who's this?"
"Miné."
"No!" my smile broadened. "Look at you! Wow! Everyone is here? Alive?"
She hesitated to approach me; I came back from my manifestation, hoping she would remember me. Miné was a fully grown woman—her face mature—body round and sculped. Short like her mother. "Michael? I do remember you." I opened my arms and gave her a hug whether she wanted it or not. I was the reason they were on En-gannim in the first place… I looked to Silvanus, hoping he would tell me everyone I left here had survived. For years, I had mourned them, and the guilt consumed me. He nodded. Relieved, I traveled and picked Juliet up, and in a blink, we were standing there. She jumped down and ran to Cindy, "Mommy!"
Cindy cursed, running out the door. The two were in each other's arms, crying and hugging. "Julie. You're okay. I missed you so much." Cindy kissed her cheek and hugged her again. "Where is Liam? Did he find you?"
"Dad's not here?" Juliet's voice pitched.
"No!" Juliet looked past her mother; her whole body stilled. Her breathing deepened. She slowly let go of Cindy and approached the man.
At the same time, a woman pushed under my shoulder and wrapped her arms around me. "Hi, Dad."
"Sammy!" I pulled her into a tight embrace, tears threatening to overwhelm me. "Hey, nugget. I missed you so much."
Juliet turned around. "I don't know who to hug first or go to. She turned to Naji. "You're alive."
He smiled, "Yes."
"Can I hug you?"
"Yes."
Juliet broke down crying, holding him. Sammy walked over and hugged the both of them. Juliet, still softly sniffling, kissed her cheek and looked her up and down. "I thought you were dead… I was so sure… You are so beautiful… And you, too," she placed a hand on Naji's cheek. Two more strangers walked out of the house. "Jaali! Fia?" They nodded. "Come here!" The two joined the group. "Mom, look at them."
"Yes, I was here raising all your children."
"Mael? Where?"
"He and Ira are out hunting."
"Mom, I have a brother!"
"Yes, he looks like you too."
"He does?" Juliet finally looked at me. "Michael, come meet everyone."
"Well, now I get a baby." I began shaking hands because there were so many to get through.
"After the last two days, I'm probably already pregnant."
"You only found him two days ago." Cindy gave me a long hug.
"Yes, it was only me, Caleb, and Basaam for all this time."
Cindy grasped her shoulders, "You had another baby?"
Full of emotions, Juliet nodded, "Well, he is a man, but yes… Louis and I, well, you know how it happens."
The crowd chuckled and mumbled a few things... Sammy drew closer to me and rested her head on my shoulder. "Someone remembers me."
Juliet moved to Miné and held out her hands. The once little girl took them affectionately, "You look like your mother… She is well and never stopped believing you guys were okay."
"Oh, how the kids cried at night… Poor Aries… He was heartbroken for years," Cindy went on.
"He died?"
"Yeah, about ten years ago. Reached ninety."
Juliet turned her head in the direction of a small hill in the distance. On top of it, Ira and Mael stopped walking and looked down at the crowd. In an instant, Ira was next to us, picking Juliet up and shaking her, "I'm going to kill you."
Juliet laughed, "Oh, I spent a lot of time with you and Silvanus. I'm rather sick of you guys, too."
"Hey, Mael, come meet your sister," Ira yelled.
He was tall. Really tall. More than me. Large and sturdy. A man in every way. Mael kissed Cindy's cheek, "Introduce us."
Brother and sister stared at each other. "Surreal," Juliet finally said and stuck out her hand to him.
He shook it, "Nice to meet you, sister."
Juliet leaned toward Cindy, "How is he?"
"Uhm… he has my seriousness and the furrow fire."
"What a combo. So, nothing like me… I got your mother's heart."
"No," Cindy laughed. "Total opposites."
Juliet turned to Silvanus and swore loudly. Agatha was in his arms, leaning her head against his chest—loverlike. The two fit like a puzzle. My brain caught on, and I let out an expletive. The two laughed and actually kissed—lingering. Agatha signed to her, and the two embraced as Juliet reached them. "Marcus is alive." Agatha happily cried, pushing her away and looking into her eyes." Juliet looked back at Naji. "He's alive and well. I've not seen him all this time, but I spoke to him only a week ago. And that was the first time he told me where he had been this whole time."
Agatha asked if Juliet was angry at him.
"No. I can't wait to get my hands on him." Agatha patted her cheek. "Who else?"
"My mom and dad are here somewhere. Agatha's parents." Ira went to stand behind Cindy and placed two hands on her shoulders, rubbing them affectionately. I looked from Cindy to Juliet, whose eyes narrowed at her mother and the man claiming his space. "Now, Juliet!"
"I'll kill him. I'll rip him apart. You don't even know if Dad's still alive!"
"I know, okay! And no one here is going to utter one word about what happened here. And neither are you! Do you understand Juliet?" Cindy turned on Ira, "You couldn't wait!"
Ira took Cindy's face in his hands and kissed her, "You are so worth it."
I gasped audibly and met Juliet's eye. Her mouth gaped. Who was this man? I've never seen him with a woman all romantic. Monogamous. Faithfull? "If Liam is not here and not on Mirach, the only place he could've gotten stuck is Nahrima," Juliet said softly, her voice shaky.
"You want me to go first."
"Please." I smiled at the pleading tone in her voice. Please let him be alive.
I teleported to the tower; Juliet's office floor was my destination. It was dark, dusty, and quiet. So, quiet. How did I tell her? I traveled to her bedroom. Nothing. Not even bones. How could this be? Where were they? Did they also get out on Mirach? My next stop was the floor for the core power. Voices droned faintly. I immediately stepped forward. They became louder from the bottom floor. How in the world?
A man-size hole led to the floor beneath me. I slowly moved closer and looked down. Liam looked up at me. Sam and Jessy were on his other side. More floors down, a few more faces I couldn't remember also looked up. "He has to go to the origin city right now."
I had Sam in my arms and disappeared. We were on Zoreah. Sam clutched me and hugged me, unable to speak for a moment… "Thank You!" He pushed me away, holding my elbows in his hands. "We didn't know who was dead. I'm so happy to see you… Tell me… Is Cindy dead?"
I shook my head, "No. No one died."
"Good. Take him to his family."
Out of thin air, we were surrounded by guards with spears, "I will… Will you be okay alone?"
"Yes, get out of here."
"Juliet has a plan. We'll see you soon."
When I was in front of Liam again, I hesitated, wanting to make a decision for Juliet so she wouldn't have to lie to her father. "Michael, tell me… Is Cindy dead or Mael."
"No, Liam. No one died…" I turned to Jessy. "Can you give us a few minutes apart… I want to see this." Jessy smiled.
I lifted Liam into my arms and teleported back to the island. The whole group was off to the side, and Cindy was standing alone. Liam broke down all the way to her, "I thought I'd never see you again. How?"
"Juliet's bad luck rubbed off on me." The two embraced for a long time, mumbling sweet words to each other. Nestling. Both sniffling.
Liam kept her in his arms and looked at everyone. His eyes landed on Mael. Juliet really did look like her brother. A delicate face with fine features. Like Caleb… Cindy's arms were around Liam's waist, leading him toward his son. Liam stuck out his hand and grasped Mael, pulling him against his chest. Father grasped his shoulder and looked his son over in silence.
Liam lifted his head and scanned the crowd, taking in the faces. His eyes came to rest on his daughter. For a moment, I didn't know what would happen. Juliet's breathing was shallow. Liam manifested and went into a pursuing run toward her; she shrieked and ran for her life. "Come here! I'm going to whip you till the sun goes down."
"No, Daddy, please," Juliet screamed and ran even faster.
"Juliet, you stop right there."
She was moving between the laughing people, dodging Liam for some time. Mael stepped in between the two; Liam had to stop and look up. "You'll have to get through me."
Juliet laughed and clung to her brother, "Oh, I'm going to love this."
Liam was angry for a second longer, only to relent, "Come give me a hug, Julie."
She stepped around Mael and fell into Liam's arms. The two burst into tears. "I thought you were dead… I thought everyone was dead," Liam stroked her hair, and she snuggled against his chest. "Come, we all have a lot of catching up to do… Michael took Sam to Zoreah."
She looked back at me, heading into the house, "Thank You."
"I'm going to get Jessy." Juliet's eyes lit up, and she nodded. "Then I'm getting the food and hunting some more… Your stomach is still complaining."
I walked away past Silvanus and Agatha, who were holding hands. My head followed them as I backtracked, staring at the new couple. Strange... The two men were so against interspecies relationships, and there they both were sleeping with a vamp.
I brought all the people from Nahrima and forgo the reunion to fetch Juliet a meal and hopefully make her feel better about her father. It was going to catch up eventually. Juliet never said anything about her parent's choice of monogamy, but suddenly, seeing your once devoted mother sleeping around would affect her, even if it was only initially. I wished Ira had kept it from us all. Why did he show us? Sometimes, Ira could be a little cruel in a way.
I moved slowly up the path to where Ira dropped their hunt for the day and continued on further inland. Juliet had taken me around the whole island one day, showing me all her favorite spots, where the beasts roamed, and which lanes went which way. I was so glad to be out of my confinement, free once more, ready to travel anywhere… I should bring Caleb and Basaam. No! Careful. I couldn't; it was too much for my first day.
The gentle lapping of a stream pricked my ears. Water? They did survive in some way. It was so green, purple, and turquoise all around; plants grew enormous; different species of foliage stood lush and far over the horizon. Through a thicket, I came onto a water feature and stepped through the stream to get close to the rocks they built it with. A shallow type of bowl crowned the top. Did En-gannim have natural water sources? I leaned over; inside the filled little pond was soil, and in the middle lay a shiny brownish-colored stone. I reached in and lifted it. The water slowly drained away into the ground and stopped running altogether. I took a step back; my eyes followed the path the stream usually took, which filled the trenches everyone had laid down to reach all the areas of the island. Impressive. I smiled and placed the rock onto the soil again. Instantly, water bubbled up, filling the feature to overflow, and the dykes trickled downhill. One stone saved their lives.
I didn't really care when Juliet said she was going to the dark city or that she stayed vague about her reasons, but back then, I was walking around in my submissive form. My feelings had a hundred years to catch up. Chris said she was going back in time. Juliet told me our life was extraordinary… It meant she gave everyone a chance to do what? To figure what out? To make what decision? And even then, she could've made it permanent. Choose only one?
I turned to walk through the water back to the path. Ira was there looking at me. It took me a moment, "Don't tell me the stone is why you slept with Cindy. Or revealed it the way you did!"
He walked to a tiny bench they built and sat down. Ira's eyes slowly drifted over all the fields they had maintained, what they created. He gently shook his head and stayed quiet. Did being off his own planet really make such a big difference? I was in my werewolf manifestation for three months, and I was a completely different person. "Once you're on Zoreah again, things will even out."
He nodded; his features were quiet and controlled like they'd always been. Never fidgeting or even a tiny tick. "I never understood… Because I knew no other way… I haven't manifested in a long time… I was here for ten months before I kissed her the first time and asked her if she wanted to sleep with me…" His voice was a little breathless. "It was our last day… We were about to die… It took her twenty years to climb into my bed… Was it so wrong?"
"No, Ira… If you put it like that… No…"
Juliet appeared next to him on the bench. He yelped and swore a few times. Juliet laid her head on his shoulder, "It's your stone… We won't take it."
He took her hand and squeezed it, "Thank You."
"Caleb doesn't want to come back because he doesn't know why you don't want him to rule… He said you had issues with him being half-vampire… But now I'm even more confused after my mom and 'my women' you used to have babies with."
"Did Caleb also go back in time?" Ira asked.
What were they talking about? I didn't want to interrupt.
"Yeah."
Caleb went back in time? So I could, too?
"Do you know?"
Know what? I desperately wanted to know everything.
"I do," Juliet answered.
"My only goal was to keep you and Chris apart… We fought so hard to separate the species… My father did… Three thousand years is a long time to live a certain way, Juliet... I was angry. Scared… Caleb was the reason for it all. It wasn't him or who he was… but Caleb was proof—a slip—that our plans failed… All Ahasuerus's father had to do was not react. There was no way—on all four planets—anyone could figure it out and execute it. And then the idiot sent you all to Earth. The one place…" Ira shook his head, "With the few people who knew about it… Almost as if the old man planned it… I still don't understand why?"
We were all quiet for a while.
"I never meant for anyone to die." Ira's voice strained. "And now almost everyone has. The universe is all screwed up, and I was here, of all places… On En-gannim going to die... In a few days… And then your mother tripped over a box…"
Juliet and I left him walking toward the herds in the distance. She sniffled, wiping under her nose with a sleeve. Her quiet sobs became louder and louder. Tears rolled down her cheeks; her breath caught with each upset in her body.
I left her to kill a beast and dropped it at her feet. Scary face came out, and she ripped the poor creature to shreds instead. After the thing was half eaten, she looked up more calmly, yet hurt in her eyes. "I'm as angry as you are… You can always go back in time."
"He doesn't even know Satya is alive."
"Who the hell is Satya?"
Juliet laughed, blood spraying everywhere. She waved her hand in front of her as if to say, 'She'll tell me now.' I loved seeing her so full of emotions; crying one minute, eating the next, then laughing. "Chris… Chris and Charlene… are brother and sister."
My laughter bubbled up and exploded. I dropped onto my ass and lay on my back laughing. Juliet mounted me and thrust down on my cock. I pulled her mouth down on mine, licking her clean. She took out all her frustrations—on me.
***
The whole family was in the living room later that night, staring into the fireplace with a drink in hand. I had a girl on each side of my chest, gently stroking both of their hair. I looked around the room. Naji and Fia were sitting very intimately next to each other. No inbreeding there. Sammy didn't look like she had formed an attachment to Jaali, which would have been bad. Mael wasn't staring at Fia or Miné, so no love triangles or further complications.
"What are you thinking about dad?" Sammy asked.
"Inbreeding."
Juliet dug her head into my chest and muffled her chuckle.
"Why would you say that?" Sammy asked.
Juliet sat up and turned to Silvanus, "Now… give me a second! She's safe and healthy… I know where she is… Satya is still alive—" Ira and Silvanus were on their feet. "But… she's also Charlene's mother." The men smiled and hugged each other; while in the embrace, their gazes drifted over the crowd of children. Silvanus was the one to speak, "Fia and Naji—safe. Mael and Miné—safe…" Their gazes traveled to Sammy and Jaali. "Did the two of you…?"
Sammy laughed and shook her head, "Would it really have been so bad?"
"No, no," Silvanus said, detaching himself from Ira. "I mean, it was end times… Or beginning times…" [ mmm chuckle sound ] He didn't change in stressful situations.
"I slept with Omar over there," Sammy said. "Jaali slept with Zinnia."
"How did none of you get pregnant…? Agatha, you two knew the risks."
I looked at Ira, who was adoringly staring at Cindy, watching her laugh and listen. Blush a little… Liam couldn't see him or her, but if he could. What would Liam do?
"Your birth control is stashed in the cellar," Sammy went on.
"It is?"
"Marcus has a mountain of everything you'll ever need down there for your demonization. Your well-being. Drugs. Vials. All of it."
"Hmm… Basaam's wife might be pregnant… Caleb also fell in love with a dheka… The two sisters chose two brothers."
"See inbreeding!" I nudged her ribs.
"Will I ever meet my father?" Naji asked.
"Of course… It might take a while… If you guys can hold on for a little longer," Juliet said nervously.
"I want to see my mom," Miné said.
"I know… I…"
"I'll do it. If that's the problem," I interjected, preempting another decision for her.
Juliet jumped to her feet, "Forget about it! No! I have a plan… I'm going to ask Satya for the stone… And you—" She pointed to the group of scientists, "Will make it happen."
I sat up enthusiastically, "You think it could work? It will be sustainable."
"Yes, I think it can… I really hope so…" Juliet turned to Jessy, "What do you think?"
"I'll make it happen! For a wife." Juliet laughed and fell down on his person, digging her nails into his sides. "You still owe me."
"I know… I missed you. I'm so sorry I didn't take you with me."
"Next time, listen to me, huh."
"My advisor to the throne."
Mael stood up, drawing everyone's attention, "What throne? There is no one left," he walked out of the room and then the door to go outside.
Juliet, Liam, and Ira got up. The three stared at each other. Who would go after him? "What did you indoctrinate my son with!" Liam spat.
"Dad!"
"No, Juliet. Everything we've been through is their fault. Why can't we get a chance to create something… Why would you teach him to be so narrow-minded."
"Liam!" Cindy stood up.
"You too? How hard was it for me to raise my daughter to be all she has become! And you want him to be like who, Ahasuerus?"
"No, Liam! Not me, too. We were twenty-one people on this island for a hundred years… He doesn't know anything but books! No one beat him every day of his life. They grew up the best we could manage… He and Aries were really good friends… He lost someone…" Cindy's voice was brittle—a little weepy through her speech. She walked out after her son.
"Now look what you did, Dad." Liam rushed out after the two. "What a mess."
Ira wanted to go after them. Juliet grabbed his arm and pushed him down into his seat, "He'll come around… Liam… was just alone for too long."
Ira sighed and relaxed back in the seat.
"Maybe we should all get drunk," Sammy said.
"My girl. My daughter. I love you!"
Sammy stood, "Let me go show you my distillery." Sammy manifested and towered over her mother, opening her arms.
"Oh, I want to come." I held out both hands to them. The two pretended to struggle to pull me up, faking the effort. This was good. We would be a family again.
"I also want to go," Naji stood to follow us.
"My children. After my own heart."
"Juliet! You'll be glad to know Ira and I got drunk many times," Silvanus said.
***
Juliet and I said our goodbyes. It was difficult; everyone wanted me to come as soon as I felt able to take them anywhere but there. I turned to Ira, "I know you want to see him, but I can't risk it."
"I understand, and if we all want to be together, we need to be on Mirach."
"No more islands, please," Cindy interrupted. "I don't want to ever come back to En-gannim."
Juliet hugged her mom. "We'll see you soon… Let me just find Marcus and Chris."
***
We arrived on the other side, bombarded by more hugs from all angles. "Where were you?" Kaia complained.
Juliet was patient with the soft little woman and pulled her in under a shoulder, "Michael took me to En-gannim." She looked at Caleb, full of emotion, "Everyone is alive." Tears were on the brink of spilling over.
Caleb hugged both of them together, "You saw them? All of them together? How?"
"They found the water stone."
Caleb's own tears welled up and softly rolled over his cheek, "They were on Marcus's island."
Juliet nodded against him, "Ira, Silvanus, and Sammy were there. My mom was not alone or in danger."
"Sammy? What does she look like?"
"Like your father…" Juliet looked at me, "She has a little Ira in her, right?"
"Yeah, and now that I think about it—"
"Charlene's mom," Juliet laughed.
We sat and told them everything that happened, but not about Ira and Cindy.
"Are you guys safe? Any trouble?"
"No… So what now?" Nami asked.
"Michael can't go to Chris… It's too dangerous," Caleb said.
Ahh, he cared about me. The man was so happy to see me. How will it be for him to see his father? "No, but I can go to Marcus."
"Can we please wait a few days?" Juliet's tone begged me to take my time. "I just want to spend some time with you before I lose you again."
I pulled her in for a kiss and picked her up. "I'll come right back."
"No!"
"Okay, okay. We'll wait."