by SGD Singh
“God damn it, Asha!” she said, spilling her water all over herself. “That's not funny!”
When Lexi looked up again, Asha sat, wearing her Bugs Bunny pajamas and laughing.
“It's a little funny.”
Asha noticed they'd set places for her and Aquila and started filling her plate with food. “Nidhan, Aquila needs clothes. Apparently when I called him, he rushed over without… well, just go get him something to wear so he can eat.” Asha was blushing furiously, and it was Lexi's turn to laugh.
Nidhan got up and went downstairs, shaking his head.
“So whatever you're wearing, or not wearing, when you shift is what… I guess it makes sense.” Lexi filled her glass with more water. “And we know that whatever weapons you carry on you will still be on you—Wait, when exactly did you call Aquila?”
“I can kind of talk to him… telepathically, so to speak.”
“Telepathically, so to speak?” Lexi slammed down her glass. “What does that mean?”
“How the hell do I know?” said Asha. “But it explains why he came to my room that time I saw Ranya on the hill. He just knew something was wrong. Also, it explains the Vampire thing.”
“Yeah? Why'd he take so damn long then?”
Nidhan and Aquila rejoined them, Aquila in a T-shirt and sweats that hung off him, grinning proudly at Asha as he sat down and they ate in silence for a few minutes.
“So!” said Lexi, “Flying! Do tell.”
Asha and Aquila grinned at each other. Asha said, “Just as mind blowingly awesome as you would imagine, except, double what is even imaginable.”
“I wonder…” said Lexi softly.
“Don't worry, Lexi,” said Asha. “There's still what? Six weeks 'til your birthday. I'm sure—”
“You're sure?” Lexi said, glaring.
Nidhan put a hand on Lexi's arm. “Lexi, you have more Talent in your little finger than our entire class put together.”
Asha and Aquila raised their eyebrows at each other, trying not to smile.
Lexi cleared her throat, blushing. “The others will be here soon. We should finish up.”
She hurried to take the dishes to the kitchen and they gathered in the garden, as Karan and Himat arrived. Asha leaned against Aquila's firm shoulder and watched Lexi spar with Karan across the garden. Nidhan and Himat stood watching, their remarks and laughter distorted by the sound of clashing bamboo.
Karan means… handsome, beautiful. Not much of an Infernal Guard name.
Asha realized she was falling asleep. “Can Karan shape shift?” she mumbled.
“Yep.” She could hear the smile in Aquila's voice. “Guess what his first animal is?”
“Something… beautiful?” Asha looked up at him curiously. “A peacock?”
He shook his head. “An Asian wild boar, with very crooked teeth.” They both laughed, Asha looking at Karan. “Although, he'll blend in very well around here. Handy for spying missions.”
Asha yawned. “The Seer who named you guys has a weird sense of humor.”
“That's not even the best one.” Aquila yawned, too. “Ibha means elephant, right? Well, his animal is a rat.” Stretching, he wrapped an arm around Asha, and she snuggled against him. “I should report in…” he said softly, running his fingertips up and down Asha's arm, leaving trails of tingling fire.
Asha sat up, the thought of being separated from him felt… painful. “Do you have to go? Can't you just…”
Aquila straightened, looking at her in mock horror. “Are you asking me to spend the night with you, Sandhu? Why, goodness gracious! You take a girl flying one time, and next thing you know she's—”
Shoving him, Asha laughed. “Go! Be gone, you scabrous knave!”
Aquila stood, bowing low, and kissed Asha's hand. “Until our next meeting, I remain truly your most devoted servant, my lady,” he said softly, his eyes dancing. Leaning forward, he whispered in Asha's ear, his lips brushing against her cheek. “Also, I really want to kiss you right now, but if I do I'll definitely be late.”
Asha reached for him, but Aquila was gone, a silent shadow through the night sky.
And even though it was only ten o'clock, Asha waved to Nidhan and Himat, went to her room, and was asleep the second her head touched her pillow.
† † †
Wake up! Something is wrong!
Asha blinked in the near-darkness, wide awake. Her eyes adjusted in an instant, making every detail clear.
Lexi's bed was empty. Still training in the garden.
The certainty, the Seers flash of realization that Janu talked about, was stronger.
Kushi! Get to Kushi—now!
Asha's weapons belt was on and she was out the door within seconds. Transforming, she glided to land on Kushi's balcony, back to her true form just as her feet touched the marble tiles.
Bougainvillea fluttered in the breeze. Asha stood, listening, her hand on the door, just as Kushi's light came on, illuminating cascades of magenta petals. Then, a strangled cry, and Asha was through the French doors.
Kushi stood in an elegant wine-colored nightgown, wide eyed, her perfect mouth gaping in disbelief at a boy of about seventeen who stood smiling at her from across the room. Grotesquely obese, he had badly bucked teeth and even worse acne. But his eyes shone with such pure kindness that Asha immediately felt a sense of sympathetic goodwill toward him.
He reached out a chubby hand to Kushi and she stumbled back.
“No!” she hissed. “You died, Deepak… you're not… you can't be…” she began to tremble, and she looked like she was going into shock.
Asha stepped between Kushi and the boy. “Kushi. Look at me.”
Kushi stared around in wild confusion. “He's not real. He can't be real. No matter what we wish, when someone is dead, they…”
Asha blinked. Not a Revenant. A Wraith. Who she desires most is… dead!
Asha held out her revolver, pushing the button for the holy water round, but Kushi grabbed wildly at her, scratching her arm with manicured nails. “No! What are you doing?”
“He's not your Deepak, Kushi. It's a trick, like a… like an illusion. A very dangerous illusion.”
Tears ran down Kushi's cheeks as she shook her head, her hair sticking to her cheeks.
Then shoving Asha, Kushi screamed a horrible, bloodcurdling screech. Her rage filled the room, the entire house, and Asha stood frozen, hesitating to hit her, wondering if she were part Banshee.
Continuing to scream incoherent curses, Kushi threw herself at the Wraith, ripping out its hair.
Putting her revolver in its holster, Asha wrapped her arms around Kushi's waist, pulling her away from the Wraith. They stumbled back, landing on the bed, and Kushi scrambled up, elbowing Asha sharply in the stomach.
“Let go of me, you stinking bitch scum!” she bellowed, but Asha had a clear shot. She pointed her revolver at the Wraith and pulled the trigger.
Deepak stood still, a look of shocked disbelief on his pimpled face as he fell to his knees.
Grey worms thick as fingers began to slither out of his mouth, writhing around his teeth. His face dissolved into a clear, gelatinous mass, and his wide, stubby legs disappeared as he collapsed into a slimy puddle.
Kushi stood rigid against the wall and stared, her eyes wide. “What the fuck is that?” she whispered.
Then, with a shriek, Kushi rushed forward. Asha lunged, wrapping her arms around Kushi before she could touch it, holding her back with all her strength as Kushi kicked and spat hysterically at the Wraith.
The door burst open, and Nidhan and Lexi spilled into the room.
“Holy shit!” Lexi exclaimed, looking from the writhing thing on the silk rug to Kushi, still trying to kick it, struggling in Asha's arms.
Without another word, she rushed back through the open French doors, and Asha heard the pop and whine of a flare.
Ignoring Kushi, Nidhan said, “Are you okay, Asha?”
Asha nodded, not trusting Kushi e
nough to let go of her.
Lexi strode back into the room, shooting the Wraith twice with chili powder rounds and Nidhan made a sound of irritation. “No, Lexi. You're supposed to use holy water.” He had his revolver out, and with one perfect shot between its hideous teeth, the Wraith was finally still, a smell like rotting seafood filling the room. Nidhan turned on the fan.
Kushi finally went limp, sobbing as Asha half dragged her to the bed.
“Would you guys… get rid of that?” Asha said.
Lexi and Nidhan both nodded, leaving the room.
Asha looked around for anything to heal Kushi with, settling on a small plate of grapes.
“Get your hands off me, you skanky bi—” she began, her eyes widening as the healing poured into her. “How… ?”
“It's okay,” Asha said, wrapping a blanket around Kushi's shivering shoulders. “Will your husband be home soon?”
Kushi sneered. “My husband.” Her beautiful eyes were glassy. “Deepak would have been my husband if it weren't for spoiled, stuck-up pricks like Bobbie and everyone he knows. Rich boys who think they can have whatever they want…”
“It's all over now,” said Asha, taking her hand. “You should rest.”
Tears rolled down Kushi's cheeks, dropping onto their joined hands, leaving black streaks of kajal in their wake. “They couldn't understand why I loved him… they couldn't see what I saw… and so they killed him!” Her eyes flashed with hate. “His only crime was that a desirable girl loved him! And for that, they tormented and teased him relentlessly, as if being rich and good-looking gave them some kind of moral pass. They ran his bicycle into a truck after school… laughing like a pack of hyenas. He was only sixteen.” Kushi shook her head. “It still feels like yesterday… Don't you see? He alone made me… human. And when he died, he took what little kindness, what tiny speck of goodness I ever had with him.” She squeezed Asha's hands painfully. “Of course, not one of those selfish bastards even got a slap on the wrist. But I knew. I knew as if I had been there.”
The look in her eyes sent a chill up Asha's spine. What happened to them? What did you do, Kushi? She wanted to ask, but stopped herself.
Nidhan and Lexi entered the room, looked at their clasped hands in surprise, and went on with gathering the remains of the Wraith into a steel bucket.
Kushi pushed Asha's hands away from her and stood. “Pinku!” she snapped, glaring at Nidhan. “If Bobbie thinks I'm going to spend one more night in this fucking hell-hole! Tell Chotu to send my servants. I'm leaving—now!”
Nidhan nodded and, without a word, took the bucket and left the room.
Lexi and Asha followed him.
Crossing the courtyard to the kitchen, Lexi said, “Pinku? What is a Pinku?”
“What I want to know is,” Asha said, “what the hell took you guys so long? Someone's screaming like a Banshee, and you don't even show up for, I don't know, hours?”
“Yeah, but… Pinku?” Lexi said again.
Nidhan stopped short and spun. “First of all, Pinku is a very common nickname in Punjab. Second of all, Kushi screaming like a Banshee is an everyday occurrence around here, and ordinarily not cause for alarm. And third of all, anyone who calls me Pinku will wish they'd been fed to this Wraith.” He lifted the bucket.
Lexi smiled. “Okay, whatever you say… Pinku.”
He pointed a finger at her, opening his mouth just as a giant owl swooped toward them. Asha just had time to admire that it was an unusually large Indian eagle-owl before it transformed fluidly into Chakori. Bird who loves the moon…
Fixing them with her bright orange eyes, she said, “Get back to Headquarters. Now. All of you.”
Avinash emerged from the orchard, walking smoothly toward them, his grey eyes shining like mirrors in the darkness. “Give me that bucket, Sandhu,” he said to Nidhan. He turned to Asha and his expression softened. “It's not safe here anymore.”
“But… my grandmother,” said Nidhan. “My brothers, my parents! We can't just leave them here!” He looked between Chakori and Avinash, his expression desperate.
“We'll take care of that,” said Chakori, her tone leaving no room for argument. But Nidhan glared down at her, motionless, until she sighed. “They will go on a vacation while we sort this out, okay? Just go.”
Hua Tseng and Freya Castillo walked through the open gate, and Chakori jogged to meet them.
They use Illusions to make civilians do what they want, Asha thought, watching the three of them disappear into the orchard.
A taxi pulled in a minute later, and Chotu came outside to meet it.
Asha, Nidhan, and Lexi watched as the driver and servants loaded it with suitcases, and then Kushi, without giving them so much as a glance, emerged from the house, got in the car and disappeared through the gates.
“Well,” said Nidhan, “no one can say Wraiths aren't good for something!”
Asha elbowed him in the ribs.
† † †
An hour later, they sat on Asha's balcony at Headquarters. Lexi filled her glass with grapefruit juice. “You know something?” she said. “Kushi actually showed a lot of courage. I doubt many civilians would attack a Wraith in its true form.”
Nidhan choked on his ginger milk. “Kushi would attack a puppy if it wandered into her room. That's hardly courage. I think the word you're looking for is…”
Lexi glanced at Asha, no doubt noticing her wince. “Why her anyway… I mean…”
“I think it was looking for me.” Asha shrugged. “Ranya assumed the best room in the house would be mine.”
“So you're saying Ranya controls Wraiths?” Lexi didn't sound convinced.
Nidhan sat up straighter. “Are you sure you're okay? I should get Senya—”
“No, I'm just tired.” She didn't want to think about Kushi anymore. Misery like hers spread more misery and pain. “Maybe we can talk about this later?”
They both jumped up. “Sorry,” Nidhan said, squeezing her shoulder and taking the dirty dishes.
“I'm right next door if you need me.” Lexi gave her a quick hug and left.
You can come out now.
Before she finished the thought, Aquila landed on the balcony with effortless grace. He had changed into his own clothes, a black, high-collared long jacket and pants, his weapons gleaming on his belt. Even with everything that happened, a part of Asha was struck with how handsome he looked. Because your mind has turned to love-sick mush.
Settling into the chair next to her, Aquila scanned the forest beyond the lake.
He ran a ringed hand through his messy hair. “I should have stayed…”
“What are all those rings for?”
He looked at her in surprise. “Uh, let's see… this one is my room key, obviously.” He pointed to a smoky quartz and tiger's eye. “This one is my personal weapon ring.”
“I don't have a personal weapon,” Asha said.
“Well, you will, don't worry.” He smiled. “Your weapon ring is connected to your weapon.” Touching his belt, Aquila's hand came back with a huge inwardly-curving hatchet the size of his arm.
Asha's eyes widened. “There is no way that thing was in your belt.”
“Cool, right? It expands… like magic!” He leaned toward her and wiggled his eyebrows, and Asha blushed, slapping his arm. “They only work for the person they're made for, like the revolvers.”
“What is it?”
“It's called a khukuri. Or a Ghurka blade. It's a Nepalese knife. This one is larger than most. And check this out…” He pulled a smaller blade out of its handle, easily flipping it around in his hand. Asha admired the smoky quartz in the hilt, the faceted tiger's eye stones all along the side of the handle perfectly matching his ring. The blade's razor edge shimmered in the light from the room behind them.
“Quartz is for endurance, tiger's eye converts anxiety and fear into logic and action,” he recited, putting the smaller knife back into the handle and touching the hilt with his ring. It vanishe
d within his hand, and he replaced it to his belt.
“There's no way I'm telling Lexi about this. She will drive us crazy until she gets her own personal weapon,” Asha said, laughing.
Aquila held up his index finger. “This is my Jodha ring.” A large almost black-green tourmaline surrounded by garnets and diamonds, glittered on a ring of onyx. Asha realized that Chakori, Javin, and Uma wore similar rings and wondered why she hadn't noticed before.
“A-ha! So you are on active duty!”
Aquila grinned. “Where else would I have been the past weeks?” He leaned toward Asha again, lowering his voice. “I would have been wherever you are if I could choose. You know that, right?”
Asha felt herself blush as she fought the urge to kiss him. “And what are those for?” She pointed to the last two rings.
Aquila held up two fingers. “These are my parents' rings. This ruby and opal on copper was my mother's Healer ring. And this one, agate in carved mystery steel, was my father's Tvastar ring.” He shrugged. “I wear them to remember.”
Asha thought of the delicate gold ring that her grandfather always wore, and nodded. She wondered where her parents' Infernal Guard rings were.
“How did your parents… ?” Shit! I'm sorry, Aquila!
Aquila laughed, tapping his forehead. “I'm still getting used to that. It's okay… I want to tell you.”
He filled a glass with clove water and, drinking it, leaned back, surveying the forest again.
Asha reached a hand out to him and he took it, studying it as he ran a finger along her palm.
“My parents went back to Nepal for a two-year vacation after they got married. It used to be common practice among members of The Guard before… anyway. That's where me and my twin sister, Varina, were born.”
Thorn, thought Asha. A nice name for a Warrior. A thorn in the side of the enemy…
“When we were six months old, the Asura came for her. No one expected it… our house was supposed to be secure, and Asura had never tried to take a non-civilian baby before… or since.”
Aquila sighed, letting go of her hand.
She was reminded of what Ursala had said, He's not exactly the sharing type.
Asha whispered, “It's okay, Aquila. You don't have to…”