19. Leela
LEELA
Leela took the next week to rest. She would lumber around the ship, however, her abdomen still aching. The nurses continued to put a strange, green ointment on her wound, now the swollen reddened flesh was turning pink. Her scar felt warm when she traced it.
It hurt the most when the cold air nipped at it.
Viperess?
Nothing.
There had been nothing since the attack.
Distracting herself, she faced the dining room filled with candles hanging from an arched ceiling. Cooks brought the food out on big silver trays full of fruits, vegetables, and fish.
The walls of the dining room were made of a dark timber.
A line of arched windows stood to the side offering a view of the night sky.
The ceiling too high for a ship that even the door looked miniature against it.
She supposed, being on a ship with rooms that had the resplendence of a normal building was quite an extravagant thing.
“How are you doing?” Hema asked beside her.
Leela groaned. “As good as one can, I guess. I can’t believe I didn’t feel it.”
“That’s what adrenaline does,” Tanmay said. “Makes you survive until the attack is over.”
“Sometimes,” Hema explained. “Other times, it can hurt even more. Just depends on where the wound is.”
“Great,” Leela mumbled. “I’ll keep that in mind for the next attack.”
Hema smiled as she ate her dinner, which was a murky mix of vegetables, and mentioned growing food on the ship in one of their greenhouses.
Around her, the crew all lounged comfortably while eating a filling dinner.
By now, Leela had gauged the ship and the crew dynamics.
Among the members, there were at least several people not aboard the ship anymore.
She was pleased to still find Hema here—at least she had someone she could trust aside from Rajesh.
Not that she trusted him either, not with the Viperess who could attack at any moment.
“Does it feel different having war scars? Did you have any from your time in the village?” Hema asked. She leaned her chin on her palm and focused on Leela with a broad smile.
Leela wriggled in her chair, uncomfortable with the question. She hated talking about herself, let alone anything about her life. There were things even she didn’t want to recall or remember.
“Shit. You?” she replied.
Hema rolled her eyes. “Give me details. I want to know more about the infamous Leela.”
Leela arched a brow. “What has he said so far…?”
“Rajesh?” Tanmay butted in. “Not a lot, but you are the Leela he was with at the village.”
Leela’s cheeks tinted pink. “I… I… I mean, well, sure. We were sort of set to marry.”
A few more ears tuned in. The warmth on her face trailed down her back.
“Marry?” Navya shot.
Eyes turned to her. Vedant sat back in his chair with a glimmer in his eye. Tanmay fidgeted with the cloth beside him, and Hema leaned in closer.
Leela shuffled in her seat. “In my village, it’s customary for people to find a lifelong partner.
To ensure that a strong love exists between them.
So they sort of get people to find someone when they’re sixteen and work their way through a series of tests together as they get older.
It’s more of a ceremony that lasts multiple years, but it does ensure their lifelong partner is their lifelong partner. ”
“Except for you two.” Vedant beamed. “Because no one expected Rajesh to harness the Purple Scorpion and for you to harness the Golden Viperess. Correct?”
“I guess,” Leela said.
Hema shrugged. “I think it’s cute.”
“Ah, yes, beautiful, now that she harnesses the Viperess that can very well kill him,” Vedant mocked.
“You don’t like to shut up, do you?” Leela snapped.
Hema sucked in a breath, and Tanmay choked on his food.
Vedant’s lip curled. “I have a voice. I think I’ll use it.”
Leela scoffed and shook her head. She could not believe how much arrogance one man could have. Then again, she had gotten to know Vedant over the last few days and that was all that dripped off him—arrogance. And today, this asshat was about to get himself punched. “Use it to talk to a wall.”
Vedant braced his elbows against the wood with a sneer. “Don’t you care? That you harness the thing that can kill him?”
“Of course I do!”
“And you won’t kill him? Just because, oh, you have the Viperess? Because you loved him once upon a time?”
I can show him how I bite, if you like? The Viperess said, unfurling in ripples of darkness in her mind.
Leela jolted. Where have you been?
Healing. I got hurt too, you know, and your body is in bad shape.
You? An all-eternal-being?
Yes. This all-eternal-being heals because her mortal counterpart got hurt.
Leela frowned, an idea forming. But she had to deal with the asshat first.
“Can you even control her?” Vedant continued. “Make her come out. Join the party!”
“Not a good idea to poke the Viperess, Ve,” Navya said, bored as she twirled her cup.
Vedant’s lips tightened. “Try me.”
Leela shook her head. She couldn’t understand this fool. She wasn’t here to be pushed around, but she knew she couldn’t do what he wanted, and that made her blood boil. Why couldn’t she harness the Viperess and push her out like everyone else?
She knew why. Because it scared the shit out of her to have the Viperess come out of her and then not have any control, like she did now. At least the Viperess was in her head. At least Leela was still in control of her movements.
“You can’t, can you?” Vedant urged.
Leela clenched her cup. “No.”
“Knew it.”
“But I can still fight without her.” The words came out of Leela before she had the chance to stop them. But Vedant’s arrogance made her want to punch something. Everything made her want to punch something.
The Viperess.
Scorpion.
Rajesh.
Vedant smiled like he’d won, and she knew she couldn’t back down now.
“May I remind you that you’re injured?” Hema whispered.
But I am healed. Let me take him on.
Leela smirked. “Wanna make a bet?”
Vedant leaned further forward. “Sure. If I win, you bring the Viperess out to play with a bull. When you can, that is.”
“And if I win, you shut the fuck up and leave me alone. Never talk to me again.”
Vedant flung his hand over the table. “Sounds like a plan.”
Leela found herself in the training room less than an hour later. The night sky was adorned with the twin moons, glowing down against the red of her blouse. A gentle wind blew against her black, flowy pants, and her fingers itched with the katar in her hand.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Hema said beside her. “You’re still injured.”
Leela continued to stare at Vedant as he jumped up and down on the other side of the training arena.
The adrenaline pumping through her was enough to make her feel like she could fight anyone.
Besides, the wound was healing quicker than she realized, with the Viperess helping.
What would normally take months had taken less than a week, and only a small scar was in its place.
Ever since dinner, her muscles had relaxed tenfold.
“I’m ready,” Leela said.
The crew all sat in the stands, whooping and hollering. She tried to block out the people betting their coins or weekly dinners. Most bet against her, but a few bet on her.
It didn’t shake her confidence. All she wanted was to land the asshat on his head. If this was what he wanted, so be it. Leela would take the bitch out and see how he reacted. He came after her, the Viperess, and Rajesh.
Two could play the game.
Leela assessed his physique—knowing his height, weight, and frame were all advantages. Her tinier build hadn’t built enough muscle yet, but it was all she had.
I really am counting on you, you know.
Trust me. I am prepared, mortal. You have barely seen me fight. The Viperess reared back, her fangs flashing in Leela’s mind.
Then don’t let me get punched in the face.
The door whined open, and Leela turned to Rajesh, who had presumably come to assess the situation. He nonchalantly stood toward the back of the room, hands tucked in his pockets and eyes locked on hers. She couldn’t tell whether he was here because he wanted to see this or to protect her.
Either way, Leela’s nerves suddenly spiked, her heart thumping in her chest. She clenched and unclenched her fists, telling herself she had this.
“Are we doing this or not?” Vedant yelled over the arena.
Leela whirled her gaze back to his. The silence before the fight enveloped the arena, and it was just the two of them. The rest of the crowd became a backdrop as the moons flickered above, casting an enchanting light on the scene.
Vedant stepped forward.
Leela circled him like a predator. As she walked closer to the walls, her hands hung at her sides tense with anticipation. The mosaic ground was a soft comfort beneath her feet, providing a solid foundation for quick movements if necessary.
Vedant made the first move, lunging toward Leela.
Leela steadied her footing, preparing for him. She held up her katar, watching as the godsblade flew behind Vedant in a dazzle of blue as he swung up. She caught his blade with her own as he came down.
Her legs faltered under the pressure, her arms shaking as she held him off. Vedant quickly swiped at her with his blade, and Leela curved her back to stop her neck from getting cut.
Her wound pinched as she ducked.
Shit!
Patience. A Viperess strikes at the right time.
Are you even helping!?
Patience.
This wasn’t patience. Leela hoped the Viperess would be helping, otherwise, she had severely overestimated her chances of winning.
But she couldn’t get over the smiling asshat and let him sit there patronizing her.
Besides, it was too late to back down. She had to attack or show everyone the Viperess.
Vedant chuckled, head tilted to the sky. “You’re too easy.”
Leela snarled. She jumped to her feet and charged.
Vedant simply stepped right, then left, as she swung at him. She tried to injure him. Anything to feel a little slice of accomplishment.
Are you going to help or sit back!?
Patience.