by T. G. Ayer
"Wow," said Maya, staring at the weapon. Despite her impatience to get moving, she was glad to receive the discus.
"Use it well," was all Chayya said, before reaching out with both her hands.
Maya glanced at her mom who gave her a short nod in answer to the silent question. They took the goddess's hand and disappeared from the room.
Chayya materialized with Maya and her mom in the middle of the bare stone cell. At first, the silence struck Maya as odd and she spun around looking for Nik.
She'd been thinking that maybe they'd made the wrong decision to bring the fight to such a tight space. But all thoughts of tight spaces flew from her brain when Kas, startled by their sudden appearance, flinched. His dark eyes widened as the group, probably surprised by the size of their contingent.
Unfortunately, Nik sat a foot away from the demon king. Kas barely paused, just lunged forward and grabbed a hold of Nik, his hand slipping around his neck lightning fast, a slim knife appearing within his grasp as if he'd picked if from thin air. He gave Nik the same treatment that his goons had given Maya. The cut on her neck had healed but the wound from the insult certainly hadn't.
Maya stiffened at the sight of Nik being threatened. She glanced at her mom, unsurprised at the fear reflected in her eyes. Great. Two terrified women were supposed to win this battle.
Maya choked back a laugh that bordered on hysterical, and said, "What the hell are you up to, Kas?"
He shrugged. "Nothing much. Just don't move, please? If you don't mind." He spoke as if they'd just met for a cordial dinner.
"What is wrong with you? Is this really necessary?" Maya asked, pointing at the knife that was now cutting into Nik's neck. She'd forgotten she was still holding the Shakthi, and only when Nik's shocked gaze fell on the weapon did she realize it.
"Well, considering what you're holding in your hand, I do think it's necessary." Kas had noticed too.
Maya snorted and let her hand drop to her side. "I hadn't planned on using it on you."
Kas narrowed his eyes. "Then, why are you here?"
"Don't be stupid, Kas. I'm here to save the two of you. Why else would I be here?"
"Oh?" he seemed genuinely surprised. "I thought you returned to kill me."
Maya sighed dramatically, shaking her head as she said, "Really, Kas. Why do you keep thinking I want to kill you? I don't have any reason take your life."
"You don't?" asked Kas, surprised. Maya could tell he'd thought she'd returned to kill him because he'd stabbed her. She had him well and truly off balance and she preferred that he stayed that way until she got the upper hand.
"You can drop the knife, Kas," Maya said dryly taking a step forward.
But Kas wasn't entirely letting his guard down. The knife pressed deep and blood trickled down Nik's neck. He remained still, but his expression revealed fury rather than fear. Kas didn't know how close he was to death.
But when Nik blinked, and looked a little cross-eyed, Maya's gut tightened. What had they done to him?
She cleared her throat. "What do you want, Kas?" Time to negotiate.
Kas grinned. "Get us out of here and then we can talk." He seemed very sure of himself, and though Maya hated that he knew she'd listen, she accepted that she'd do it anyway.
"Fine," she snapped. "Where do you want to go? Lady Chayya can take you."
Kas shifted his gaze to Maya's mom and watched her for a mom. "Do I know you?" he asked.
Leela stiffened, her hand tightening around the bow.
Kas laughed. "I won't bite."
"Leave her alone, and tell me where you want to go. We are wasting time while you stand there trying to bleed Nik out as you make you decision." Maya's voice was cold and the temperature matched the glare she gave Kas.
"Take me to your home. I do believe that would be neutral ground."
"No way. I'm not going to take you inside my house."
"Why not Maya? Don't you invite your friends to your home?"
Maya grunted. "Fine. Whatever. As long as you don't hurt Nik. Hurt him and you're no friend of mine."
"Strong words, little Hand." Kas laughed.
"What's so funny? How can defending someone's life be such an amusement?" Maya asked angrily. She was getting tired of him.
"Is that what you were doing? Defending him? A little hard to do from way over there isn't it, Maya?" Kas was taunting her and she'd about had enough.
"If you want to leave Patala you will need to come closer. Chayya can take us up two at a time."
"The wards," croaked Nik. He seemed to have forgotten the knife at his throat.
"Oh yes," said Kas. "I'd have to lower the wards so Nik can leave the cell. I almost forgot about that."
"Yeah, right." Maya rolled her eyes. "Release the wards, Kas."
"Once he releases the wards we can all go together. Nikhil and I both have the ability to transport humans across the planes, and the demon king can manage the jump under his own steam. Just don't let go of him." Chayya's voice echoed in her head and Maya had to force herself not to flinch.
Maya met Nik's eyes. "We go together?" He gave a short nod.
Turning to Kas, Maya said, "Whenever you're ready." She didn't hide the bite to her tone and didn't care if she hurt his feelings either. From his expression, the entire scene was just an amusement to him, which made Maya more angry.
He didn't speak, but the air around Maya grew dense, heavy, the pressure rushing in her ears. The magic surged out of the cell, and she could feel the odd absence of it, despite having been unaware of it to begin with.
"Let's go," she said, keeping an eye on Kas.
She didn't blink.
Not until they arrived in the hallway of her home back in LA.
Maya was staring right at Kas when he turned the knife and plunged it straight into the side of Nik's throat.
Chapter 47
Maya screamed and lunged, not caring that Kas had just winked out of existence. All her thoughts were for Nik as he fell to the ground. She caught him just as he landed, right before his head bounced off the wood floor.
She couldn't see through the tears that blurred her vision as she pressed her palm against Nik's neck. She scraped the back of her hand across her face, but didn't bother to wipe it as she leaned over Nik.
People were running around her, her dad for first-aid stuff, Chayya pacing and talking to herself Maya's mom on the phone with someone.
She wanted them all to go away. Nik's eyes were clear as he stared at her.
"Don't worry about me," he said, his words slurred from the blood pooling in his throat.
"Stop talking," she sobbed. She didn't want him to stop. What if she never heard his voice again? But her needs weren't important. "I have to concentrate, and you're disturbing me." She watched a smile flicker on his lips before he obeyed.
Maya focused.
It had been so much easier when she'd tried to heal herself a few hours ago. But now, with her mind filled with fear and on the edge of hysteria, her hands shaking and her heart going a mile a minute, she couldn't even summon her fire.
"Concentrate Maya, breathe and calm yourself. You are of no use to him, or anyone if you can't even control your own fire." Her mom's voice rang out, echoing through her head. She'd blocked everyone out so well her mom had had to raise her voice before Maya paid attention.
Maya inhaled harshly, the tears clogging her throat as she tried to pull herself together. Calm. She needed calm, even though Nik was dying at her feet, even though her mother was about to kill her own son, even though the undead walked the earth because Yama was nowhere to be found.
Shut up Maya. Get a damn grip.
The inner voice seemed to understand that she needed to be told what to do, and Maya finally allowed calm to filter through her veins and through her mind. It was taking precious seconds, but it had to be done or else she'd be a gibbering mess and won't be of any use to anyone, least of all Nik.
Calm at last, Maya pulled her fire, and a
fter a few false starts she managed to draw the energy and bring it to the fore. As she call the power, she asked Nik, "Can you use your own fire to help me?"
He shook his head. "Demigods have powers but not when their magic is bound."
"Kas?" she asked. He nodded his eyes glittery with pent-up fury. Maya recognized that expression. He'd given her the same look when she'd been in the cell with him. He'd tried to warn her about Kas, but she hadn't understood. She sighed.
"Okay, then. I'll go it alone."
Chayya came closer at last. "I will assist, but you are more than capable of focused healing. You don't really need anyones help. And we shouldn't wait. The more time that goes by, the further Narakasura gets."
Maya nodded. She'd needed that reminder. And a glance over Chayya's shoulder at her mom's face told her that she too didn't appreciate the interruption to their plan.
Get in, kill him, get out. Simple enough.
Total fail in the end
Maya pulled the energy to her palms, leaving the fire behind. She leaned forward placing her blood drenched palm onto Nik's neck and concentrate.
She stiffened. "Nothing's happening."
"It's the wards. You must persist." Chayya's voice was soft and encouraging. "You can break the wards but he must be healed fast because his energy is fading."
What if he dies, thought Maya, suddenly too terrified to move.
"He won't die as long as you get moving," said Chayya in her head.
She glanced at Nik's face, her stomach tightening. He hadn't had the strength to remain awake. Was it better for him to be asleep? She shook her head. No time to wake him. She sent the energy into his flesh, seeking with her mind, the edges of the incision, the broken flesh.
Kas had run his knife right through Nik's neck and the deadly sharp point had penetrated the other side before Kas had tugged it out. The vicious expression on his face had hurt Maya deeply, more because she'd seen the hatred in his eyes. Hatred that had been so unnecessary because everyone had wanted to give him a chance.
Even Nik and Yama.
Maya cupped the wound on the other side of Nik's neck and concentrated working her way along the gash from one side to the other. As she went, she sent healing energy deep within the flesh, urging the cells to knit together, the broken blood vessels to close and the wound to heal. Perspiration dotted her forehead, but she kept going, knowing that every inch she healed meant Nik would recover well.
At last she reached the exit wound, sealed the gash then closed the skin over it. She had never been more impressed with the power of fire than when she sat back, soaked in blood, and studied her work. Both wounds on Nik's neck had healed. Scarred, but healed.
But, he still slept.
Maya glanced up at the goddess. "Why isn't he waking up?"
"He is not fully a god. His human body needs to take time to heal."
"Can you make sure? I did what I could, but I can't tell if I succeeded."
Chayya nodded and knelt beside Nik, her eyes studying the wound with a glazed expression. When she flinched, Maya knew something was wrong. Chayya's reaction also drew Leela closer.
"What's wrong?" her mom asked. Maya couldn't bring herself to speak as fear spiked through her heart.
"Something is wrong. The wards are down now. I am able to detect something that isn't entirely magic." The goddesses voice sounded stained and odd. As if she found it hard to speak.
Maya got to her feet. "What's wrong?" She wanted to say that she didn't need protection, she paused. Was the goddess protecting her, or was she just finding it hard to deal with what she'd seen?
Chayya looked back at Nik's sleeping form.
"He has been poisoned."
Chapter 48
"Kas?" asked Maya knowing already that it was him. "The knife?"
Chayya glanced around, almost frantic to find the weapons.
"Where is it?" Maya asked, her voice a little to high-pitched for comfort. Maya scanned the room.
"There, on the sideboard," said her mom. They were still standing in the front hall and someone had taken the knife and put it on the table out of the way.
Chayya didn't move. "I can see it from here. It's powerful. Poison and magic mixed with evil."
Maya found she couldn't breathe. Her heart was racing but she wasn't planning on letting Kas win. He'd duped her into trusting him and it just might cost her Nik's life.
"What can we do? Is there a cure?"
"Let me find out," said Chayya, before she disintegrated into smoke.
Maya straightened her spine as she watched Nik's sleeping face. He didn't look like a damned demigod. In fact, he didn't look very imposing at all, lying there unconscious on their hall floor. Damn you Nik.
Maya sucked in a breath and it ended up being more of a hiccuping sob.
"Honey, you can go wash up, we'll make him comfortable."
Maya met her mom's gaze, her eyes hard. "I don't have time to clean up. We need to go as soon as Chayya gets back."
"You should at least eat something," said her dad, looking up from the floor.
"The last thing I need is food."
"That's where you're wrong. No food, you fall on your face instead of winning the battle. You think that fire of yours will last if you don't take care of your body?" Her dad's eyes rounded as he glared at her, and she knew that look. Do as I say or else.
But he didn't need to threaten her. She actually agreed with him. Using her fire did make her hungry and she'd been fighting the pangs for a while now.
"Fine. I'll eat." She turned on her heel and headed for the kitchen.
"Not looking like that you won't," snapped her mom as she overtook Maya on the way to the kitchen. She stopped in front of Maya and pointed down the hall. "Wash up first. Nobody sits to eat while looking like a damned bloodthirsty viking."
Maya laughed. "Mom, everyone knows that the Vikings weren't the killers they've been made out to be. It's all there on the History Channel."
"And how do you think that matters to me," Leela asked, finger still aimed in the direction of the downstairs bathroom.
Maya sighed and left without further argument.
As she scrubbed her hands and washed her face she tried to calm herself. She was furious. What was she doing washing and eating when Nik was dying? The sane part of her said that she had to take care of herself, but the part of herself that was angry and grieving and vengeful, that part demanded she head out the door. Now.
By the time she returned to the kitchen the break was over. Chayya stood beside the sink, her fingers linked in front of her. Her shoulders drooped and Maya's stomach churned. This didn't look good.
Dev came up to stand beside her and nobody spoke until Chayya broke the silence. "The poison is permanent. The only way to remove it is to kill the sorcerer who created it."
"The sorcerer? Is Kas still using that Balraj creep?" asked Maya. She certainly hoped not. The sorcerer had tortured Maya last time they were in a room together so she wasn't looking forward to meeting him again. Unless it meant the opportunity to burn him to a crisp. Only problem was the dude was a pretty powerful magician.
"No. Perhaps Balraj may have assisted, but the real owner of that magic is Narakasura. Only the creator can wield such a power against a god. And though Nikhil is not a pure-blood, he still bears the blood of a god. The magic will need to be just as powerful."
"That's a good thing, right? We kill Kas, and Nik is safe."
"It's only a good thing if we succeed," said Leela, her tone bordering on emotionless.
Maya schooled her features to hide her shock at her mom's words. And here she thought her mom would be a little reluctant to kill her child. Although killing her child did sound way worse that it really was.
Or was it?
Maya shook her head and glared at her mom. "Don't be such a negative Nancy, Mom. We'll get him."
Leela waved a hand in the direction of the front door. "He's gone. He could be anywhere. How the hell would we fin
d him if he doesn't want to be found?"
A thought struck her, a little like a lightning bold. Maya smiled, feeling a little triumphant. "We make him come to us." It was a brilliant idea, and the expression on her parents and Chayya's faces confirmed it.
"Only problem is we don't have anything that will make him come back," Dev words echoed like a death knell, and Maya wondered if the weakness in her knees was from hunger or loss of hope.
She began to pace a thin line along the kitchen floor. Either that or fall flat on her face. She could hear the soughing of breath as they all sank onto automatic, breathing, thinking, hoping.
A few seconds later, her mom broke the strained silence. "I know how to bring him here."
Maya stopped and looked at her Mom. "Do tell. I'm all out of ideas," she said drily.
Leela gave a small sad smile. "What better way to bring him here than to give him what he wants."
Maya folded her arms and waited. "So what does he want?"
"A mother."
Chapter 49
"No way. No way in hell am I going to let you be bait." Maya almost yelled the words.
She'd even attracted attention. Joss hurried inside the kitchen her hair in a ponytail, her mascara smudged. She looked exhausted and worried now as she looked from face to face.
"What's going on?" she asked wrapping her hands around her waist. It seemed like she was already preparing for the bad news.
"Mom thinks it's a good idea to tell Kas that she's his mother. She thinks it will make him come back so we can catch him."
Joss's jaw dropped and her pale skin went whiter. She sucked in a breath. "I'm not sure I think that's a very good idea, either." Her voice was softer that her usual vibrant self, and Maya wondered if the whole undead thing was getting to her.
"I know you guys are worried about me," said Leela smiling at both girls sadly. "But, really, we don't have any other options. I'm only one person in this awful worldwide horror. If I can help end this, then I will do anything." She didn't say it but Maya heard it nonetheless. Her mom was saying she was ready to die to save the world.