Chapter 19
WHO DOESN’T WANT A GEM AS BIG AS A FIST?
The light crystal gave me a stellar view of the inside of the serpent’s mouth, and honestly, I could have done without it.
Ravi grabbed ahold of me, pulling me tight against him as we fell back onto its tongue. The marsupin who’d done nothing but squeal for the past few minutes was now silent, content to nestle in the space between us. Maybe this meant we were truly safe.
“This must be Vasuki,” Ravi said, his voice a hush.
I was suddenly thrown forward and lost my grip on Ravi. His bellow of shock echoed in my ears as I hit hard ground.
I scrambled to my feet, spotted him a few yards away, and rushed toward him. He grabbed my hand and pulled me close, the marsupin still clutched under his arm. A soft scraping sound rose around us, and the hairs at my nape stood to attention.
The darkened chamber, the pile of fist-sized iridescent gems to my left, and the glistening waterfall to our right all faded into the background as Vasuki rose in front of us, tilting his epic head to peer at us with bright silver eyes pinpricked with darkness.
I tensed as something moved to my right and quickly glanced over, heart slamming against my ribs at the sight of Vasuki’s gargantuan body sliding around to circle us.
For a moment, I was back in the labyrinth in that serpent’s grip. A fist closed around my throat, and I flinched as a soft, sibilant voice filled the chamber.
“You have nothing to fear, child. I will not harm you. Although I suspect that the forcesss that sent you to me hoped you would not make it thisss far.”
His words helped to calm my nerves. “Something like that. They blocked off the safe route.”
“There isss no safe route to my lair,” he said. “But yesss, the route they sealed is the royal route. One I would have met you in and welcomed you into my home.”
“Thank you. We appreciate it.”
His head turned slightly, and his gaze focused on Ravi. “It hasss been too long since I looked upon your kind, blood of my ally.”
Ravi inclined his head. “I am honored to be in your presence.”
“The honor isss mine,” Vasuki said before turning his attention to back me.
“I see your heart, child. I know itsss call, and I have waited a long time to hear it again.” He loomed closer, inky pupils dilating so I could see myself reflected in them.
“The ancient onesss remember because we exist out of time. And soon it will be time for you to rise.” He turned his head toward the gems and lifted his chin.
“Take what it isss you came for but know that it will change nothing. Thisss was merely a diversion.”
“What do you mean?”
The tip of his tail slid between us. There were three thick hairs sticking up from it, but two fell off and drifted to the ground.
“Take one each,” Vasuki said. “Weave them into charms. A bracelet. A necklace. It matters not what you create with them. For if you wear it, you will have safe passage to me always.”
He began to slide away, backing into the gloom.
“Wait! What do you mean this was merely a diversion?”
“I will see you soon, child.” He vanished into darkness, leaving us alone in the chamber.
Ravi picked up the hairs, wrapped one around his wrist, and put the other around mine. “Come on. Let’s get a gem and get out of here.”
“What did he mean?”
“That the Authority is wasting your time? That this whole mission was pointless? I don’t know. We can discuss it once we’re out of here.”
He was right. This was a conversation for later.
I headed to the pile of gems, Vasuki’s words scrolling through my mind because despite what Ravi said, my gut told me that they’d been more than an observation. They’d been a warning.
The vortex to collect us wouldn’t be arriving until just before sunset, which was still hours away, and the mood was high as we made our way back to the pickup point.
I’d been hugged and patted on the back and hugged some more on my emergence from the mountain.
Our little marsupin buddy had been quick to run off, probably eager to get back to his family.
But it wasn’t until the gem was tucked in a box under the carriage seat and I was back in the driver’s cab with Ravi and on the move that it hit me fully.
I’d done it.
I’d survived the mountain despite the Authority’s efforts to sabotage me.
The bastards had failed, and I’d make sure they paid for their efforts once I had the crown firmly on my head.
Until then, I’d keep my peace. I had no proof that they’d ordered the safe route to Vasuki blocked off, only valid deduction.
And that wouldn’t be enough to act against them.
“What will you do once you get back?” Ravi asked.
“Shower, eat, and sleep. But before all of that, I’ll tell Chandra that I want you on my security team.” Far up ahead, Yudh, Dhoona, and Shalani slowed their pace and stopped. My scalp pricked, and I sat up straighter. “Ravi, why have they stopped?”
“I don’t know.” Ravi pulled on the reins to slow the horse, and we also clipped to a halt.
A strange weight settled in my belly, and a shiver raced over my skin. The air crackled, the scent of ozone and sulfur stinging my nose.
Shalani turned and began running toward us, Dhoona and Yudh close behind her.
“Shit!” Ravi jumped down from his seat. “Leela, get down!” He reached out a hand for me.
I obeyed on instinct, taking his hand to allow him to help me down, the urgency in my body matching that on his face. “What’s happening?”
“Get in the carriage.”
“What? Why?”
“Because the carriages are warded.”
A fist squeezed my chest as I recalled my first day on Svargana soil. Umbra had collected us from the beach to take us to the vortex. We’d traveled in carriages, at least the others had. My big mouth had gotten me put in a crate, but…the carriages had been warded…Warded to protect us from…Oh gods…
I stared at Ravi in horror. “Revenants?”
“Yes,” he said.
His gaze flew over my head.
“Leela!” Keyton appeared beside me. “Get in the carriage.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me away from Ravi.
Revenants were about to attack us, and they wanted me to hide? I’d been weak and untrained during my first encounter with those creatures. But I was stronger now. I pulled free of Keyton, my hands going to my axes. “I can fight.”
Ravi scooped me up. “Not today you can’t.”
“What? Put me down!”
He threw me into the carriage and shut the door, his eyes like wildfire. I tried to push it back open, needing to get out. Needing to act. “Damn you, Ravi. I’m not helpless. Not anymore.”
Dharma pulled me back. “You need to stay put. Your fight isn’t with these beasts. It’s with the Authority, and for that you need a pulse.”
“You cannot risk your life here,” Ravi added. “Promise me you won’t leave the carriage.”
“He’s right,” Keyton said. “We have the weapons to fight them. Trust us.”
Everything in me wanted to argue, to insist that I fight with them, but Dharma was right. I had to think of the bigger picture. I swallowed my frustration and nodded. “I’ll stay in the carriage. Just…Don’t you two dare fucking die.”
“Help will come eventually,” Keyton said. “It always does.”
And then they were gone.
“Leela needs to stay protected, but we have to fight,” Bina said.
“There is no fighting that,” Joe said, his gaze fixed on the view outside the other window. I scrambled across the carriage to join him, heart in my throat, blood thundering in my head as I took in the horrifying sight of a wave of revenants running across the field toward us. We were so fucked.