LEELA
He was dead…
Dead…
Just like everyone else she had ever loved.
She thought she would feel worse. But instead, she was overcome with a numbness she had no idea how to describe—a sense of weightlessness, her body floating through space and time.
Like the last few minutes never happened, and she would wake up soon.
Because it wasn’t true. Rajesh wasn’t dead. He wasn’t. He couldn’t be.
No. She refused to believe it.
Right…?
Leela finally understood why Rajesh couldn’t love her. He was scared of this. This feeling of complete and utter heartbreak. She supposed it hurt even more, knowing the one person she could talk to about this pain was the one who was gone.
“Leela?”
The Viperess glanced at Hema, who was standing at the railing.
“Oh!” Hema said, clapping. “You will not believe tonight! The woman at the tavern was all—”
When Hema’s eyes settled on Leela, her lips drooped, arms falling to her sides. She took a hesitant step backward.
“Where will you go?” the Viperess said, Leela’s tongue dripping with a haunting vibration. “You cannot outrun me, Silver Fox.”
Leela finally tuned in through her sight, watching her life play out as if she were behind a sheet—unable to move or do anything. Her chest tightened as Hema stared at Leela with Hema’s lips widening and fingers twitching. If only Leela had stayed at that tavern.
“Do you wish to injure me, Silver Fox?” the Viperess asked.
Hema took a deep breath. “What have you done to Leela?”
“Leela is still here.” The Viperess stepped forward. “Your Purple Scorpion and Emerald Peacock, on the other hand. Tsk, tsk, tsk.”
Blood drained from Hema’s face. If the Viperess killed Navya out of jealousy and Rajesh out of vengeance, she could very well kill Hema out of spite.
Please, not her!
“Let her go,” Hema said, straightening her spine and hands turning into fists.
The Viperess flicked her tongue. “Not yet. I have one last thing I need accomplished before I go.”
“Who says we’d do anything for you?” Hema snapped. “A raging bitch with an attitude problem?”
The Viperess arched a brow. “I want to find this wish-fulfilling tree. I want to see it with my own eyes. Order the crew to take us between the mountains, or you will not get Leela back.”
Hema was quiet for a moment. She nibbled on her bottom lip, looking at Leela as if she were looking past the Viperess. “I… I….”
The Viperess stepped forward.
Hema stepped back.
“Alert the crew of anything that has happened, and I will kill her,” the Viperess pressed. “You know I will.”
Hema’s face cracked. Her body betrayed her thoughts, her fingers clenching and unclenching, foot tapping. She was debating.
But Leela wasn’t worth saving.
Standing, Leela punched the glass once more despite her bruised knuckles. She punched it, again, and again, and again. Until her skin split. Until blood ran down her forearms and her knuckles were surely broken. It didn’t hurt. Nothing hurt more than watching the person you loved die.
Leela screamed, and she finally felt herself waver between the yellow hue and full color, in and out. The Viperess winced and grabbed the railing to steady herself, shutting her eyes to close Leela from the world.
It worked.
It was enough for Leela to realize she could still do this.
If there was one thing Leela had that the Viperess didn’t know about, it was that she had grown in strength, and the Viperess had underestimated her in every step.
No. Leela was going to sit and wait and strike at the perfect time.
Settle, mortal.
Never.
The Viperess regained her composure and shook her head. “Go. Now. Tell them I want to be at the mountainside by the morning. We have some very important people to meet.”
People…?
Who in the flames would be helping the Viperess?
Before Leela could do anything, the Viperess was marching off to the quarterdeck. The Viperess curled her hands on the banister and stared at the horizon.
Eventually, the ship shifted.
“Why are we moving? Where is Rajesh?” Tanmay snapped as he stood beside Leela.
The Viperess did not turn. Merely glared into the dunes. “Fly the ship to the mountainside.”
Tanmay grabbed Leela’s shoulder to turn her around, but the Viperess did not budge.
As if sensing something was wrong, Tanmay dropped his hand and backed away.
“You’re not Leela…” Tanmay murmured. “What have you done? Where is Rajesh?”
The Viperess jerked her head around to Tanmay, and he gasped. “Tell anyone! And I will gut you too. I already have Leela captured in her mind. Do not make me kill her or anyone else on this ship. Get me to the mountainside by the end of tomorrow, or I will begin killing your crew one by one.”
Tanmay stared at Leela long enough to soak in the galaxies. Eventually, he must’ve noted the Viperess’s desperation and did as he was ordered.
Leela shut her eyes, tears sliding down her face. Another crew member was hurt by this outcome—hurt by her because she hadn’t been strong enough to withstand the Viperess.
“Hoist the sails. Raise the anchor! We fly until dawn!” Tanmay ordered the crew.
“What about the captain?” Vedant asked.
“I said fly. I am second mate. I can command this ship too,” Tanmay snapped, tears springing to his eyes. “We need to get to the mountainside by tomorrow’s nightfall.”
The crew nervously glanced at one another but eventually moved into position.
“We’ll never make it to the dunes by then. Where is Navya?” Vedant asked.
“Find someone who is a Vessel to the Hawk,” Tanmay ordered.
Before long, the ship lurched forward and soared across the plains.
Leela was too tired to think of who flew them now that Navya was dead. As much as Leela hadn’t liked her, she’d never wished her dead. She was just a lovesick woman who wanted Rajesh.
And who wouldn’t?
He was kind. Pleasant. Knew how to care for anyone. Knew how to work his fingers to entice a single moan. His heart was as thick as gold and as strong as a lion.
At the thought, Leela’s chest squeezed, and she fell back against the glass and didn’t move.