by T. G. Ayer
Rishi shrieked and scurried over to his mother’s side, but Ishanie brushed him off. “Be quiet, or I’ll send you back to Naraka.”
The demon fell silent although he hid his body—or whatever of it that he could, considering he was twice the size of his mother.
“You can’t touch him,” Ishanie said taking a step forward. “And neither will I allow you to endanger my plans. Kill her!” she screamed, thrusting her finger at Vee. “Kill them all!”
Too many things happened at once.
“Five seconds,” Shivani said, while Syama scurried backward toward the pair. Vee pulled the conch from her own satchel and raised it to her lips. Akil took flight and aimed himself at the ball of energy containing Lucy. Vee flung her chakra at the oncoming demons and sent the trishula flying through the air.
Vee took a breath and blew on the conch, the sound flooding around the room and bringing everything to a standstill. Ishani’s eyes were blood-red and filled with rage and Vee registered that the demon hadn’t been entirely incapacitated by the power of the conch. It was clear she did have some sort of deific protection, but Vee wasn’t sure which of the gods would stand with demons against humanity.
Not humanity, just you, said a voice in Vee’s head.
Vee’s weapons continued on their paths, and she raced toward the ball as it disintegrated. Lucy was frozen in position inside the sphere and hung there suspended by time. Vee surged into the air, snapping her wings out behind her. Though they’d never been able to allow her to fly through the sky, they were powerful enough to allow Vee to rise at least two stories to grab hold of the pregnant woman. Vee descended and laid the girl on the floor. Then she turned to Akil who’d been frozen mid-flight, his wings spread.
Vee flew to him then drew him down to stand beside Lucy.
Then Vee grabbed her trishula and faced the destruction caused by the chakra as it flew around the room, slicing into skin and causing untold physical damage to more demons than Vee could count.
She raised her hand, and the chakra returned to her palm with a flat thunk.
Time began to right itself as eyelids shifted and fingers moved.
And just like that, the power of the conch faded.
“3…,” said Shivani.
Akil flapped his wings and shifted into human form, wrapping his arms around Lucy.
Syama reached Vee’s side as three demons fell to the ground around them.
“2…” Shivani murmured as she pulled the two bombs from the satchel and threw them flying toward Ishanie and her royal retinue and the others in the midst of the remaining demons behind Vee’s team.
Akil disappeared with Lucy. Rishi let out a shriek of horror, putting his hands to his head and then screaming as he stared at the empty space where Lucy had been only moments before.
Ishanie raised her hands and sent a bolt of lightning straight at Vee.
“1,” Shivani called out as Syama turned and grabbed onto the two of them yelling, “Vee, watch out.”
As they disintegrated, Vee watched the lightning bolt fly closer, her nerves making her feel nauseous as she realized that it was going to hit even if they managed to get out of there in time.
Then the bombs went off, spreading fire and brimstone around the small room, the shockwave throwing Vee and her team off their feet.
As she flew through the air, Syama jumped them to the basement of Shankar Industries, but Vee and Shivani continued to fly through the air. The remnants of the shockwave had jumped with them and flooded the basement sending the gathered members of Alpha and Bravo teams flying. They’d all been in the process of running to Vee and Shivani’s aid when the shockwave caught them and threw them backward.
Vee hit a large concrete pillar so hard when she heard the crunch of bone she knew she’d broken something.
But broken bones were the last things on her mind as she watched the lightning bolt streak toward her. Stunned as she was, she couldn’t move, could just watch as Syama shimmered to nothing, likely intending to jump to Vee’s aid.
But it was too late.
The lightning shifted color turning from bright white to pale blue and then it split in two, the large bolt kept coming at Vee, the second one moving off at a shallow angle. The bolt seemed intelligent, as if it knew that it had to cause the maximum amount of damage possible.
The two lightning bolts hit at the same time. One high on Vee’s chest just below her collarbone. And the other through Shivani’s abdomen. The power of the bolts cut through their armor and impaled both girls before embedding themselves into the concrete at their backs.
Wracked with pain, Vee barely managed to shift her gaze toward Shivani, only to see the Alpha team leader slip forward, unconscious.
Then reality slipped away, and Vee was most grateful for the reprieve from the most excruciating pain she’d ever felt.
Chapter 43
When Vee opened her eyes, she saw a face that she had least expect to.
“Mac,” she croaked, her throat raw as she swallowed against the pain.
“Shh,” he said, leaning forward and putting a straw into her mouth. “Drink. You need the water.”
Vee sipped and then fell back drained after only the small movement. Her body ached, and her chest was on fire. “How long have I been out? Is Shivani okay? Did we get all the nurseries? Is the demon queen dead?”
Mac let out a bark of laughter, his skin crinkling at the corners of his eyes. He cupped her cheek. “You be quiet. Too many questions aren’t good for you.”
“You’ll have to answer them at some point,” Vee grunted.
Mac nodded and deposited the water onto the nightstand. He took a seat on the mattress beside Vee and patted her hand. “To answer those questions…You’ve been unconscious for two days. Your body is still fighting the lightning bolt’s effects. I hate to say I told you so but you should have taken my offer of bulletproof clothing.” Mac chuckled.
“That bad, eh?” Vee smiled.
“Worse. It was potent. Old earth magic embedded within the electric bolt. There’s worse news though.”
“Hit me with it,” Vee said then laughed. The vibrations sent sharp stabs of pain into her chest, and she coughed. “Ow, that bloody hurts.”
Mac shook his head. “That’s what I’m trying to tell you. The bolt split inside you. It left a shard embedded inside your collarbone. The docs don’t think they can take it out without completely removing your collarbone.”
Vee stared at Mac, eyes wide. “Shit. I’m stuck with this?” she asked in a whisper. The fire flared again within her chest, and Vee’s breath caught in her throat. She was going to have to live with this agony?
Mac nodded. “But it gets worse,” he said and then fell silent as if struggling to get the words out.
Vee nodded for him to continue and when he didn’t, she reached for his hand. Though the blood was rushing through her ears, she knew she could take whatever he was going to say. She could handle it.
Mac cleared his throat. “To answer your second question, no she’s not okay. The bolt that entered her abdomen broke off into multiple shards. The surgeons removed as many as they could, but they had to stop before they caused more harm than good.”
Vee’s ears were ringing with the revelation. Shivani was injured far worse than Vee. “Is she conscious?”
Mac shook his head. “They’ve placed her in an induced coma. Your mom’s using her advanced status program to put her deeper under than a normal human. The guild thinks that she’ll be fine. Shivs is strong, has always been. But we’ll only know when she is awakened.”
“How long will it take?”
“Devi has spoken with the medical team. They feel two weeks, to begin with, will be a good place to start. They’ll run an MRI scan then to look for changes.”
Vee nodded. “And her family? Have they been told?”
Mac smiled. “Shivani was an orphan. The Guild and…all of us, we’re her family.”
Mac’s words brought t
ears to Vee’s eyes, but she blinked them away. “Syama? Akil?”
“They’re both fine, working on clean-up with Raj and Devi. Which brings up to question three.” Mac grinned. “You succeeded. All the nurseries that we know of were obliterated.”
“That we know of?”
Mac shrugged. “Syama insists she got all, but you know me, Vee. I don’t work in absolutes.”
Vee grunted. “Probably means the answer to question four is also a non-absolute.”
“Well, you learn, my young padawan.” Mac smirked.
Vee rolled her eyes. “Thanks for your wisdom, Yoda.”
Mac laughed, but his response was cut off by Devi as she glided into the room, Raj following close behind. “The pey queen is dead, but we all know with pey demons they can return. Whatever contingencies she had in place, she’d have been stupid not to plan for such an event. We’ve had word from our sources within the Demon Horde Assembly—”
“We have sources in the DH Assembly,” Vee asked.
Devi gave her a harsh glare, “—and they’ve confirmed the pey demons have been banned from the assembly until they elect a different leader. All those who participated in the attempt to undermine the assembly have been rounded up and ‘taken care of’.” Devi used air quotes to emphasize what she thought of the phrase. “Alpha and Bravo teams have coordinated the clean-up, and it seems the Assembly are leaving us to it. Rumor has it they would prefer a peaceful transition but—”
“That ain’t happening,” Vee finished for her.
Devi smiled and then shook her head. “We still don’t know the identity of the goddess the pey demons mentioned.”
“How many goddesses of creation and life are there?” Vee asked wryly. She had her mind on one particular goddess, but it seems blasphemous to even mention her name out loud in conjunction with such an accusation.
Devi nodded, her face dark with worry. “I’ve reached the same conclusion. Which is why I have a suggestion, a way for us to identify her once and for all.”
Raj raised his eyebrows, and Vee saw Mac frown. The two men shared a glance of concern, but neither said a word.
Vee cleared her throat. “We’ll do with me what you wish. We need to know for sure, or I’ll be dodging killers every day.”
Raj cleared his throat appearing of the mind to change the subject. “You’ve had messages from Rossi, Monroe, Brent, and a Doctor Feldman. I counted sixteen.”
“Did you guys not tell them what happened to me?”
Devi shook her head. “We messaged saying you were taken ill, but we didn’t give them any further details. They are probably messaging to wish you well. It’s not a surprise they are concerned.”
“More likely they are looking for answers,” Vee said wryly. “Rossi will be easy, but Monroe might be a different story altogether.”
Devi cleared her throat, then glanced and Mac and then at Raj. There was an odd expression in her eyes and Vee had to suppress a grin. She’d had an image of her mother as a queen of a great kingdom living in a lap of luxury, with a harem of handsome, intelligent men at her beck and call. The ultimate reverse harem story.
Vee schooled her features and straightened as a knock on the door opened a floodgate of visitors. Syama entered bearing a box of chocolates and what looked like bath bombs. Akil held a fat bouquet of helium balloons. And Nivaan entered with a bouquet of flowers in one hand and a squirming kid in the other.
“Sorry,” he said as he twisted his niece around and secured her on his hip with one hand. “I’m babysitter today.” He leaned over and kissed Vee hard on the lips, not caring in the least that both her dads were watching him.
When Nivaan straightened, he passed Sona over to Syama who grabbed the child and swung her around in the air, eliciting a chorus of high-pitched giggles from her. Vee shook her head. Apparently, a lot happened when a person was unconscious.
The door opened again, and a few new faces appeared with Syama calling out informal intros to some of the guild agents. Though they all appeared in good spirits, Vee could see the underlying worry in their eyes.
With her hospital room filled with people, she realized that whatever happened she was surrounded by people who loved her.
The only person missing was Radhima.
“I’m right here, dear,” the old woman said from the other side of the bed. Today she wore a cerise peasant top, a long denim skirt, and a pair of brown leather cowboy boots.
“Snazzy, Ma,” Vee murmured under her breath.
“Nice pink top, Ma,” whispered Raj as he grinned over at the ghost.
Two voices hissed at him. “It’s cerise!”
Chapter 44
Lord Agni strode into the large boardroom. His heart was heavy at having to perform a task which Vishnu would do with such ease.
The members of the council shuffled around as they greeted each other and took their seats. Two places were significantly empty.
That of Lord Shiva, whose absence was still deeply painful. And that of Lord Vishnu, whose disappearance was going to damage the solidarity he’d fashioned from this eclectic team of gods.
When Agni took Lord Vishnu’s position at the head of the table, he heard the rumble of confusion and discontent among the gods.
“What’s going on, brother Agni. Where is Lord Vishnu?”
Agni swallowed and took the seat, feeling the fire well up inside him, fueled by worry and grief and uncertainty.
He cast a glance around the room, ensuring that when he reached one particular set of eyes that he didn’t flinch, didn’t give any indication of his suspicions.
Agni cleared his throat. “I am afraid I have bad news, brothers, and sisters. I sit here today in the position rightfully belonging to my brother Vishnu. He left instructions a while ago that should he be incapacitated in any way, that I take over the reins for him.” Agni waved a hand at Hanuman. “With the help of a handful of other gods that he elected. I am not solely responsible here and neither would I want to be, as this is a burden for one much stronger than I.”
The gods spoke soft assurances that he was underestimating his abilities and Agni nodded his thanks before clearing his throat.
“Now, our first issue on the agenda is to find out what happened to Vishnu. Brother Hanuman and I spoke to him not two nights ago. And even then, he had expressed concerns that there was one amongst us that sought to divide us, who wished to cause dissent among our family.”
All eyes remained on Agni as he stared around the room. Vishnu had singled out Parvathi, but oddly the mother goddess did not display any form of guilt or concern that she may have been found out. Agni filed that observation away, wondering if it meant something important.
Then he cleared his throat. “In addition, we have heard from various sources including the Guild of the Apsaras that there was an attempted uprising within one of the sub-cults of the Demon Horde. The pey demons, under the governance of Queen Ishanie, broke away and attempted to establish their own assembly in order to challenge the Demon Horde Assembly over territorial rights to New York. We are still unclear on the details, but as far as we know, Ishanie and her enclave have all been destroyed.”
Agni glanced over the faces who all stared at him, expressions ranging from shock to distaste. Parvathi’s expression reflected those of the other gods at the meeting. Again, Agni made a note that her reaction didn’t match that of a guilty party. Either that or Parvathi was an accomplished liar. Something he didn’t want to believe.
“What is our next move,” Hanuman asked leaning forward.
“We ought to gather an army, build a defense against the next uprising. Because I can guarantee there will be one. Everything Vishnu warned us of has come to pass. Our main aim is to control the Horde, to ensure they do not break the final chains that hold them at bay.”
“How long before that happens?” asked Yama, his brows furrowed. “I am doing all I can to bolster the gate from my end, but they’ve managed to overthrow Naraka already. I am of
the mind to retreat in order to save my people. But I will not do that. If you think we can hold them back long enough…just until He returns…”
Agni nodded. “Vishnu was certain. He did everything in his power to ensure it, going to extents which I did not believe we were even capable of.”
“What does that mean?” asked Kali. “What extents?”
Agni smiled. “Nothing bad. It is just that Vishnu visited the human plane, lived there for a time in order to infiltrate, to uncover information, to help those he believed would be of help to us.”
Kali nodded, her expression determined. Agni was certain that after this board meeting he would be receiving a visit from the goddess. She had that look on her face that said she wasn’t done, but she was happy to wait.
Agni looked at the faces of the gods around the table. “In our brother’s absence, we must continue his work. I know we have all had our doubts that He still watches over us—or even that He will return to us—but it is time we stood together. The dangers multiply in untold powers if we ignore Vishnu’s words.”
“Did you know that Vishnu has been speaking with Him?” asked Parvathi, her voice ringing out across the room, eyes flashing.
Agni shook his head then sighed. “I suspect we all believed that to be the case. He knew too much. But I am glad for it. He was our conduit to our Lord. Now, I am uncertain as to how we will survive being totally away from Him.”
Hanuman got to his feet, then placed his weapon on the table in front of him. The rounded head of the weapon gleamed, shedding a golden glow onto the many faces that watched him. “You have my weapons, my might, and my heart. I will do anything that it takes.”
One by one the gods rose and presented their weapons. And Agni watched them smiling. At last, they were joining together to work as one. He stared at the weapons on the table from Yama’s sword to Surya’s gleaming scythe to Parvathi’s fragile red lotus, and he felt a surge of power run through him, and he believed now.