LEELA
The red sands turned yellow. Days turned into more days. Each one more agonizing than the last.
So what do you plan to do now?
Nothing.
You don’t want to kill him?
Why do you care? Are you, too, not hurting?
Hurting and healing. Leela took a deep breath and ran a hand over her face. She was tired of staring at the captain’s quarters, waiting for Rajesh to come out. But he had shut himself away for days, and now she was worried the Scorpion had done something. Do you think the Scorpion forgives you?
Judging by our last conversation, yes. His shock was enough for me to really feel it.
Ah yes. I’m sure.
Will you forgive Rajesh?
This isn’t about forgiveness. This is about the future and the state of the world. If I love him, I risk more lustishas being born. If I haven’t already.
He was quite heartbroken the other night, mortal.
Leela clenched the railing. Gee, thanks. Your support is always welcome.
The Viperess slithered from the darkness. I have come to know you and Rajesh, mortal. There is love, and then there is love. And what you two have is beyond even what I had with the Scorpion. He will come around. You two will conquer.
The words oddly didn’t calm Leela. She was more frustrated than anything. Their circumstances meant they couldn’t love one another, whereas the Viperess’s circumstances meant she didn’t love the Scorpion. There was a clear, distinct difference.
Leela still loved Rajesh.
That was what hurt the most.
Would you, if he did not harness the Scorpion?
Of course I would. As long as he doesn’t have the curse on him, which, funnily enough, you put on him.
The Viperess hissed. He deserved it. At the time, he wounded me, and he deserved to feel all the emotions I felt during my descent.
Leela sighed. I understand. A scorned heart will make anyone bleed fire.
Where did you hear such a line?
Never have. Just thought of it then.
The Viperess made a noise, almost like a chuckle. Something Leela hadn’t heard from her before.
For what it is worth, mortal, I am sorry your circumstances are this way.
The knot in Leela’s stomach rose into her throat. It is what it is, right?
The Viperess hesitated. Right.
Leela stood on the deck as the crew loitered downstairs. She kept wringing her fingers, watching as Tanmay took the wheel and guided them over the sands. Navya continued to float them over, and Leela had to suppress the spite of jealousy coiling within her.
She had to wonder how many times Navya was with Rajesh, but then that unleashed more emotions she wasn’t comfortable feeling.
Navya was a beautiful woman, with glowing eyes like dark, rich emeralds and long, wavy hair.
Who wouldn’t be attracted to her? She almost imagined her fingers sliding over Navya’s curves and edges, over the crest of her breasts and—
Leela shook her head. She didn’t have time to think about being with someone else.
Not for a long time.
Leela woke to a knock on her door.
“Wake up, sunshine!”
Leela groaned and stumbled to the door, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Hema stood on the other side, as energetic as ever. A broad smile was plastered across her face, her eyes twinkling with excitement.
“Morning,” Leela groaned.
“Oh, don’t be like that, this is a good morning! We’re finally getting off this Flames-forsaken ship,” Hema said.
Leela’s hand stilled on the door. “What did you say?”
“We’re going outside,” Hema said.
“I heard what you said. I was just processing,” Leela said
“Oh…” Hema frowned. “Well, ready to explore a city? I’m so ready to stretch my legs.”
“The ship isn’t all that bad,” Leela argued.
“When you have to grow resources on your own and travel for days, then yes, staring at walls all day long can get boring. I long for adventure. Why do you think I became a hunter?”
“Because you were forced to be a Vessel by the kingdom?”
“You are such a know-it-all, you know that?”
Leela groaned and clutched her abdomen as pain stabbed her. Her mind was a mess, like there was a swarm of bees buzzing too loudly and filling her head with honey. The thoughts were looming, and she was best left alone.
“I can’t today,” Leela said, wiping her face. “I don’t feel like it.”
Hema put a hand on her hip. “No. You are not doing this. You need help, and someday you’ll learn it’s better to be with others than be alone.”
Leela stared at Hema, her forwardness stunning the words on her tongue.
Deep down, Leela knew Hema was right. It was better to face challenges with people who were willing to support her.
But Leela hated feeling like a burden. And honestly, she didn’t want to drag them down with her. Especially not always-optimistic Hema.
Hema’s expression softened. “I can see you’re struggling, and I’ll say it again.” She stepped closer. “I am here for you. Through thick and thin. Any storm cloud or rainbow.”
Leela’s lips hitched. “I know. Sometimes asking for help is the hardest part.”
“It’s not hard with me and it won’t ever be. I can help you. Always.”
Leela smiled and nodded. Despite her emotions, she knew Hema was right. “Let me get dressed.”
Leela shut the door and walked over to the wardrobe, grabbed a new band to wrap around her chest, slipped on a red blouse with golden embroidery, and shuffled into a pair of black flowing pants.
She checked herself in the mirror. Since the start of her voyage, she had grown stronger.
Muscles had thickened her arms and legs, and her stomach even had a few lines she never thought possible—no matter how good she ate or worked out.
Her hair was longer, growing past her shoulder blades, and her eyes looked aged.
She stared at her eyes the most. The memories of the journey were trapped within them, and were obvious if she stared long enough.
Gulping, she forced herself to turn.
When she opened the door, she half expected Hema not to be there.
“I thought you went back to sleep.” Hema straightened her spine after inspecting her fingernails and smiled.
“Tempting, but no,” Leela said. “Some fresh air will be nice.”
Hema clapped and wound her arm through Leela’s. They went through the hallway plastered with oddly shaped picture frames and up onto the deck.
Leela swayed, pulse quickening. She was grateful for Hema holding her.
Rajesh stood on the quarterdeck, shirt billowing in the wind and hands instinctively tightening on the banister. He looked like he’d aged years, like he hadn’t slept for days, and her chest pinched tighter at the reason why.
Rajesh avoided her gaze and glanced over his crew.
“We need to get some more supplies. I’ll station a set of you on duties.
The rest of you are free to do as you wish.
Just be careful around Kithium soldiers or anyone else.
State we’re here on business to find a rogue lustisha we saw cross these borders. ”
A collective ‘aye’ swept over the crew.
Rajesh assigned people on crate duty, some to get loads of milk and others to refill their water supplies. Some were told to get wine, and others were told to get seeds to grow in their farming sets downstairs.
“What about Leela?” Hema asked as soon as the crew all moved into position.
Rajesh walked down the stairs onto the main deck.
Leela’s stomach tightened as she waited for him to catch her gaze. But he never did. He simply walked by, ignoring Hema’s question.
Hema huffed. “What in the Flames happened between you two?”
Leela glanced at the ground.
“Well, if he’s not going to answer, then we’ll just go, anyway,” Hema said. “Come on. I know the perfect place.”
Leela met Hema’s gaze. “How could you know anything in Kithium?”
“I did grow up in Kithium. Just because I work for Nihikia doesn’t mean I am Nihikian.”
“Oh…” Leela had never asked. She didn’t have any grudges toward Kithium, but there were clear tensions between the two kingdoms.
“What made you decide to join us, then?”
Hema shrugged. “You had a better fighting system. Plus, when monsters tore apart my village, no one ever came to help me. I ran off into a Nihikian village and was actually helped.”
Leela had to blink to keep the sympathy from showing in her eyes whenever someone told their sad backstory. She knew how frustrating it was to see the emotions swirling in their gazes, like they were sorry for it, when it had nothing to do with them.
“Let’s go, then,” Leela said, grabbing Hema’s arm.
Hema smiled so brightly it almost looked like it hurt her face.