10. Leela #2
Leela spun around in her seat as three people stalked toward them. One was the woman with the Green Peacock from the ship who flew them across the dunes. Another was a stocky man, with biceps big enough to crush anyone he hugged. The last was a short petite woman with a black bob.
It was the woman with the bob haircut who had drawn Leela’s attention. “I can’t believe it!” She gawked like Leela was something magical. “You are the Leela? Rajesh’s Leela?”
Leela glanced at Iravan, who rolled his eyes.
“Yes,” Leela said. Who else knew about her?
“I’m Hema, Vessel to the Fox,” she said. She plonked herself down on the wooden bench next to Leela, almost too close for comfort. “I can’t believe I’m meeting you. When I heard the news, I was shocked, I tell you.”
The stocky man chuckled. “Ignore Hema, she tends to be a little overexcited about things.”
Hema scoffed. “Do you not remember Rajesh talking about her? And how he loved her sugar cakes?”
Leela’s chest twisted. “He did…?”
“Oh yes!” Hema said, clapping. “He fawned over you so badly. There was a while there I was sure he’d never shut up about you.”
“Easy, Hema,” Iravan said. “Let the new girl settle in and don’t overwhelm her.”
Hema bit her lip and sat back. “Oh. Sorry. Am I overwhelming you?”
“It’s not you,” Leela lied. “It’s everything.”
“I bet harnessing the Golden Viperess doesn’t help,” the man said.
Leela met his dark brown eyes. A small smile crinkled around his lips. Stubble dotted his chin. His muscular frame clearly showed he was a fighter, and his shadows took the shape of the Bull with glowing yellow eyes.
“No, it doesn’t,” Leela finally replied.
Leela glanced around the dining room. The heat was stifling.
That, or it was the countless eyes on her.
She twirled her hair. She hadn’t noticed it earlier, but everywhere she looked, Gilded Thorns glared in her direction, specifically at her shadows.
She supposed that was a given, considering the Flame she harnessed.
She cowered in the bench and told herself to find a weapon later.
Leela realized she hadn’t heard or felt the Viperess all afternoon. There was a heaviness in her mind whenever the Viperess stirred and heat on her spine whenever the Flame was trying to control her, but now there was nothing. And that scared her more.
“This is Vedant, he’s a Vessel to the Bull, and Navya, Vessel to the Peacock,” Iravan said. “They’re all in the Silver Gild of the Thorns with Rajesh.”
“Pleasure to meet such a celebrity,” Vedant said. He leaned back with his arms crossed and a sneer. “Who do I have the pleasure to thank for standing in your grace?”
Leela frowned. “I…”
“Ignore him,” Iravan said, tone tight.
“What?” Vedant said. “We have the Viperess in the vicinity of the Scorpion. How are you, of all people, calm?”
“Stop talking, Ve,” Hema said. “No one cares about your opinion.”
Vedant barked. “Oh, you’re funny, Hema.”
“Either shut up or leave,” Iravan snapped. “I’d like to keep my bloodfruit down, thank you.”
Vedant shook his head. “I was just saying—”
“I know you were ‘just saying,’ but don’t. Shut the fuck up. I’m trying to catch up with an old friend,” Iravan said.
“Why, did you fuck her too?”
Leela gaped. She had no idea who this man was, but she really didn’t like the arrogance of his tone. It reminded her of the bullies back in the village, and of the men in the Crimson Palace who ordered her to submit to the palace rules. Any asshole deserved to be crushed.
Iravan threw the bloodfruit at Vedant, who simply parried it. “If I could, I’d rip your fucking skin from your face.”
“But you can’t, can you?” Vedant said, a taunting glint in his eye.
“He can’t, but I can,” Leela said. She stood and leaned over the table. “What is your problem?”
By now, the few people who were sitting nearby had tuned in.
“Problem?” he mocked. “Nothing. Except you standing there, acting like you’re a tough bitch. What are you going to do? Call the Viperess onto me? I must tell you, bulls kill little snakes who get their feelings hurt.”
Heat flashed down her spine, and before Leela could blink, warmth dug into her skin. Yellow coated her vision and she blinked before it disappeared.
Vedant’s smile vanished from his face. Fear blanketed the sarcasm, and he got up and stormed off.
Leela glared after him, anger sizzling through her. Hopefully, that was the last time she ever came near that arrogant asshat again. She flexed her fingers, nails digging into the table.
“What is his issue?” Leela asked.
“Vedant is… How do I say this?” Hema started.
“A fucking asshole?” Iravan suggested. “Say it like it is, Hema. He can’t hear you.”
Hema shuffled. “It’s the Bull. Sometimes, it takes over.”
Iravan rolled his eyes. “You say it like it’s all the Bull’s fault. Vedant was strong-willed and arrogant beforehand, which is why he is the perfect Vessel for the Flame.”
When the warmth subsided from Leela, she sat. “What does that mean?”
“Vessels have to have a sort of personality or skill for the Flame to harness them,” Iravan explained. “Harness the Bat, and you have a good sense of navigation. The Camel? Emotionally vulnerable people. Caracal? Stubborn people. You get the idea.”
“Unless you’re a Peacock,” Navya said, twirling the bloodfruit between her hands with a bored expression. “You only get picked if you’ve nearly died.”
Leela met Navya’s dark green eyes, a smile twitching on the woman’s face.
“Yes, well, I was just giving her some examples,” Iravan mumbled.
Leela frowned. “So how come the Golden Viperess picked me, then?”
“Why else?” Navya continued. “Revenge.”
Leela’s brow lengthened, and the realization made heat rise to her cheeks. She told herself she needed to brush up on her Vessel and Flame knowledge. While she knew the tales, the Vessels were completely new to her.
“Not many Vessels to the Peacock exist.” Navya shrugged. “I don’t think I’ve ever met another like me, if I’m honest. So as you can see, the Flames can be quite selective on who they harness.”
“I’m learning that,” Leela said, mouth drying. “What else should I know…?”
“One thing at a time.” Iravan patted her on the back. “Let’s get you settled first, shall we?”
Leela was about to respond when a reverberating whoooooosh cut through the air. She glanced everywhere, trying to decipher where it came from as it echoed and caused her muscles to lock in place. She really wished she had her katar right about now.
“What is that? What is happening?” Leela asked.
“It’s the conch, it calls us when there are missions,” Hema explained as she grabbed a bloodfruit and tossed it in the air. “Why don’t you come on a call?”
Navya scoffed and walked away rolling her eyes.
Leela ignored the tiny spit. “I…”
“Might not be a bad idea,” Iravan said. “Gives you a chance to get to bridge the gap with Rajesh. You can come and find me when you’re back, and I’ll catch you up on this Flame knowledge.”
“Come on! It’ll be fun,” Hema squealed.
Before Leela could protest, Hema hooked her arm with Leela’s and guided her down the halls. Footsteps echoed off the cave walls. Leela struggled to keep up. Despite Hema’s small frame, she was very quick.
Hema led Leela into the stifling heat at the docks. Several ships floated off and flew into the opening before zooming in different directions.
Rajesh stood at the closest ship, hands on his hips, and watched as his crew rushed up the ladder.
Leela met Rajesh’s gaze and froze.
“What is she doing here?” he snapped at Hema.
Hema let her go. “I thought she could come!”
“No,” Rajesh said. “Not until she can learn to harness the Viperess.”
“Oh…” Hema gave Leela a gentle smile. “I’ll catch you another time, yeah?”
Leela focused on Rajesh, who stared her down with hatred she had never seen before. Not from him. Not ever. It was almost like he was driving a dagger through her heart, repeatedly, with a simple look.
Before Leela’s emotions spilled, she snapped and walked off.
A tear rolled down her cheek.