Chapter Twenty-Five
………………………….
Ily
I OPENED MY EYES TO HEAVEN.
Sunshine set a silver and white room on fire, painting every surface with gold. Silver-scrolled wallpaper danced sunlight around, sending it bouncing off a white tallboy, two chairs, and a dreamy painting of horses galloping in wave froth on the beach.
I was so warm and comfy.
So content and safe.
But wait…pain crept into awareness. A low ache in my veins and a steady burn in my chest.
What happened?
Yawning, I looked to the right.
And all my discomfort vanished.
I smiled. “Krish.”
My brother grinned and came to sit on the bed. He sat lightly beside me, careful not to touch. Placing something white and fluffy beside him, he shrugged. “Missed you, Khushi.”
Happy tears pricked my eyes.
Any pain I felt couldn’t compete with the sheer wonderment of this moment. I wanted to reach for him, but I didn’t know what level of tolerance he had today. Instead, I just drank him in. I studied the glossy blackness of his hair, the endless wisdom in his dark eyes, and the quirk of his handsome mouth.
People often said we looked similar despite not sharing blood.
I liked to think we did, even if it wasn’t possible.
He never looked away from me, not finding it awkward to hold eye contact like some. We shared an entire conversation in that look, all while his hand kept petting whatever it was he’d placed beside him.
Looking down, my eyebrows rose. “That’s a bunny.”
He smirked. “That’s a Tiger.”
“Tiger?”
He rubbed his fingers along the rabbit’s short white ears. “His name is Tiger. He’s a jersey woolie.”
I snuggled against my pillows, melting with joy. My heart smouldered with pain as if it’d been punched a few times. But it still knew how to love, how to thrum.
God, it’d been so long. Too long. I’d missed him so much. Missed our connection, our unexplainable bond, and how he viewed the world.
Innocent and all knowing.
Calm and centred.
“And why is Tiger on my bed?”
Krish stroked the adorable creature’s black-splashed nose, his finger ever so soft, his eyes pooling with love. “Because you left, and I had no one. No one quiet to be with anyway.”
I nodded, memories unspooling the longer I solidified in this dream.
I had left.
First by choice with a few days holiday with my ex-boyfriend and then by duress with Henri.
Henri…
My aching heart pinched. I looked around the room. “Where’s Henri, Krish? Do you know?”
“I don’t know anyone called Henri.” He looked down, petting, always petting his little bunny. The rabbit was more than content to accept his love, curling its little front feet and collapsing into a ball. Its cheeks chattered, and brown eyes half closed.
“He’s purring,” Krish whispered. “They do that, you know.”
I smiled even though my pulse picked up, worrying about Henri. The last I’d seen of him was when he ran after Victor. He’d been bleeding and hurt. Everything had been so dark and smoky. The air reeked of death and bitter blood.
Glancing down at my body, I noticed clean skin and a white t-shirt.
This definitely had to be a dream. I had no fear. No wounds. Just pure sunshine and love with my brother.
Maybe you died back there on the island.
I stiffened.
Perhaps.
Maybe we’d never won.
Maybe we’d failed and all the jewels had perished.
So…this is heaven?
With our family’s faith, I shouldn’t be here. I should be choosing another lifetime or waiting for loved ones before starting again.
Yet this…this was nice.
“Where are we?” I asked softly.
Krish looked around the room. “In the home of the man with the black heart.”
I instantly tensed. “Victor?”
His eyebrows knitted together. “No, I don’t think so? We came on a plane.”
“You…” My mouth fell open. “You came on a plane?” How was that even possible? My brother could barely stand walking through our neighbourhood if there were too many cars or people. The very idea that he’d gone to an airport and sat in a congested aircraft?
Just… it’s not possible.
“Tiger came too. The pilot said he could.”
“I think I’m missing a few pieces of this story, Krish. Do you think you can help fill in the blanks for me?”
His shoulders bunched, but he kept his hand on Tiger and relaxed again. “You left, and everything was so noisy. You know they mean well but they’re ever so loud.”
“Our parents?”
He nodded. “They missed you. They were on the phone a lot. Crying. Shouting. Looking for you. One day, I couldn’t take it anymore. I slipped through the back gate and sat on the swing in the park. It was noisy there too but at least it came from the pigeons and children, not adults and their worries.”
I risked touching him.
Placing my hand over his on Tiger, I murmured, “I’m so sorry I left you.”
He shrugged. “It’s okay. In the park, I found Tiger. He huddled under a bush. He was so scared. Everything was so noisy for him too. He can’t help it just like me. The vibrations were just too jagged, too sharp. When I touched him, I had to be the quiet for him, just like you were the quiet for me.” He beamed at the rabbit. “We were the same. We helped each other. When I went to go home, he hopped after me. I scooped him up and took him. We found quiet together.”
My heart swelled. “So he’s been helping you, then? Is that why you were able to travel and come visit me?”
He nodded with a proud smile. “When I’m with him, we’re the same. Everything about his energy is quiet, so I get quiet. Papaji says he’s a little bunny Buddha. That we were meant to find each other because we’re the same. He says Tiger’s eyes are full of endlessness. An endlessness that sees everything. I like that.”
“I like that too. I agree with Dad.”
“It’s okay, Khushi. Tiger taught me to just be in now , not later, not before. He helps shut out the mess of questions and people’s worries and I’m happy.” He smiled. “I’m happy you’re back, but I don’t need you anymore.”
My heart kicked at his honesty. I’d learned long ago not to take it personally. Krish didn’t have a mean bone in his body, but he said exactly how it was.
“I’m so glad, Krish.” I studied him, seeing a happier version of my brother even though he was far from home and routine. “It seems Tiger has taken my job.”
He grinned. “That’s why I called him Tiger. ’Cause he protects me. Just like I protect him.”
I stroked Tiger’s fluff. He was so delicate and fragile, so soft and fuzzy. In the past, Dad had tried to get Krish a service dog. A best friend to always be with him.
But no matter how many dogs we’d introduced Krish to, he’d never clicked with any of them. He said they were just as noisy as humans. Sometimes worse.
I laughed under my breath.
All this time.
Who would’ve thought.
A rabbit.
“Well, I love Tiger, and I think he’s adorable.”
He touched my hand. “Where were you, Khushi? Why didn’t you call?”
I sighed.
Out of anyone, my brother would understand what I’d gone through far too deeply. He’d feel my pain if I spoke about it. He’d hear my fear and taste my panic. He’d always been ever so sensitive, and I couldn’t do that to him.
Turning my hand up, our fingers laced. “I went somewhere very, very noisy. But I’m back now.”
“I heard you sometimes.” He shrugged. “I spoke to you, but you didn’t come home. Did you lose your sense of hearing?” He looked at me sadly. “You feel…different. You’re hurting.” He looked at my chest. “In there.”
I squeezed his fingers. “I’ll be okay. Especially if you can find Henri for—”
The door swung open, and our mother tripped into the room. She carried a tray of fresh-cut fruit and croissants. She didn’t look at us as she bustled toward the side table and placed the tray down. “She’ll wake up soon, Krish. Mind you don’t let Tiger jump off the bed. His little legs won’t make it. Your father has gone for a walk with that nice man who’s looking after your sister.” She turned to face us. “How about you and I—”
Her eyes met mine.
Her gasp cut her off.
Tears welled, and she drifted toward us, her hands cupping her mouth.
Krish rolled his eyes in my direction. “She’s going to get noisy now.”
“I think you’re right.” I smiled as he gathered Tiger in his arms and removed himself to sit by the window.
She fell on me. Her familiar scent of spices and flowers shot up my nose as she sobbed against my cheek. “Oh, Ily! Ily, Ily, Ily .”
I hugged her back. I gasped as fresh pain seared in my chest. “Hey, Mama.”
She cried harder, kissing me like a madwoman.
Krish sniffed in the corner. “Be happy, Mama, not sad. She’s okay.”
“Oh, I know. I know.” Mum pulled back, her black hair tied up in a bun, streaks of grey on her temples. “These are happy tears, baby. Happy tears.”
Holding my cheeks, she studied me for ages. Finally, she pressed her nose to mine and stepped back. “Almost seven months since I last saw you. Seven months I’ve feared the worst.”
“I told you she wasn’t dead,” Krish muttered, giving Tiger a grape from the tray and placing him on the floor to eat. “I heard her. Remember?”
“You truly heard me?” I glanced at my wonderful brother. “How?”
Was it the same as with me and Henri?
I’d always known Krish was a soulmate. He’d found me that day on the steps of the hospital because he recognised me. Just like I recognised Peter as someone I’d known for far longer than I had.
After so much physical abuse, the lessons I’d learned the most were how profound emotions could be. How strong feelings were. How spiritual energy could cross seas and enter hearts, linking us wherever we might be.
“I just told you I did. In here.” He tapped his chest. “It hurt sometimes but every time I thought of you, I knew you weren’t far.” His gaze dropped to my throat. “Where’s your necklace?”
I flinched and ran my fingers along my neck.
I stilled.
No collar.
My heartrate picked up as I looked at my arms.
No cuffs.
“I…I’m so sorry, Krish, but someone took it and—”
“It’s okay. I’ll get you another.”
“That would be amazing. Thank you.”
He nodded as my fingers returned to my neck, tracking a thick bandage.
Victor.
I remembered him cutting me.
How everything had gone slowly weak and wobbly.
A crack of gunfire.
Peter!
I jack-knifed up in bed.
A machine beeped loudly to my right as my pulse skyrocketed. Pain lashed through me. A deep, syrupy kind of pain that lurked in my very veins. I gasped for breath, willing the discomfort to subside. “Peter. Has anyone seen Peter?”
“Peter?” My mum wrinkled her nose. “No, I haven’t heard that name. There’s a Rachel and a few others. And the man who owns this place is called Quincy, I believe. Oh and there’s Tess and Franco and Suzette, but no Peter.”
“She’s looking for a Henri too,” Krish said helpfully.
“Oh. No.” Mum wrinkled her button nose. “I haven’t seen him either, I’m afraid.”
Wrenching back the covers with feeble arms, I went to stand.
Only…two men walked into the room.
I froze as my eyes locked on the one beside my father even as my dad charged to my side and bundled me into his arms. He kissed my entire face as madly as Mum had, his tears mingling with mine. His bushy beard and shaggy hair looked far too unkempt for a renowned cardiologist.
“Oh, thank goodness. Thank goodness. ” He cupped my cheeks. “I can’t believe you’re here. That you’re awake. How’s your heart? It restarted approximately eighteen hours ago but sometimes those who have been defibrillated suffer dangerous arrhythmia. The doctors who cared for you have been wonderful. They ensured you had two transfusions and were stitched to the best of their care, but I would still like to assess you myself.”
Defibrillated?
Transfusions?
My mind swam with words that made no sense.
“I’m okay, Papaji.” I cupped his weathered whiskered cheek. “I’m a little sore but honestly, I feel better than I have in a while.”
He probably thought I was crazy for saying that. For actually meaning it. But it was true. After a month in a dungeon and hardly any food, followed by a month of being chained to a wall watching Henri being tortured…this was easy.
A holiday compared.
“Wait.” I blinked, the words finally making sense. “My heart stopped?”
“You died,” Krish piped up, sitting cross-legged on the floor watching Tiger as the rabbit hopped around under the side table, sniffing for more grapes. “But you came back.”
The man who looked almost identical to Henri—if Henri hadn’t lost so much weight or been tortured within an inch of his life—cleared his throat and threw my brother a scowl from where he stood by the door.
I went to reprimand him.
To tell him not to look at Krish that way, but then he marched toward me and scowled at my condition. “I’m assuming, seeing as you’re sitting up on your own accord, that you’re feeling much better than you were?”
“I am.” I nodded, stroking the bandage on my neck again. “What happened? Where’s Peter? Where’s Henri? How did I get here?”
“We can get to that. But first…I need your help.”
“My help?”
“May I?” The man looked at my parents. “Can I talk to Ily privately?”
“But she just woke up.” Mum wrung her hands. “Surely, you can—”
“It can’t wait.” The man who I assumed was Henri’s brother crossed his arms. “It might already be too late.”
“Tiger and I will be in our room.” Krish stood and scooped the bunny into his arms, careful to cradle the bottom-heavy creature closely. “See you soon?” He glanced my way, a flicker of fear in his eyes.
I nodded. “Definitely. I want to hear everything you’ve been up to.”
With a short nod, Krish walked toward the door. “Mama, Papaji, leave her with the man with the black heart. His panic is too noisy.”
Henri’s brother shot him another wary look before glowering at my parents until they followed Krish. “We’ll be just outside,” Mum said. “We won’t be far.”
“Okay.” I blew them a kiss, my arm slightly sluggish. “We won’t be long.”
Only once the door shut behind them did the man turn his full attention on me. I stiffened despite myself. His pale green eyes were so aggressive compared to Krish, his temper creeping below the surface of his skin.
He reminded me of Henri so much.
Henri the Master.
Henri from before.
Raising my chin, I said, “I’m assuming you’re Q?”
“I am.” He nodded. “And I’m assuming you’re in love with my brother? That he didn’t lie about that?”
“You spoke to him?” My gaze shot to the door. “He’s here? Why isn’t he—”
“He was here. He hasn’t left your side, but…he witnessed you die last night. He drove away just as your heart started beating again.”
“Drove away?” My nose wrinkled. “Drove away where?”
He sighed and paced the room. “To hunt.”
“Hunt?”
Spinning to face me, he snapped, “I don’t have time to explain. I need your help. Before he does something stupid.”