by SGD Singh
“Ibubesi made a call and two Werewolves arrived in minutes. Wenzile and Chipo were their names, and they were every bit as grouchy and terrifying as Avinash ever dreamed of being. After a conversation in Zulu, which I understood precisely none of, Wenzile turned to me and growled, ‘Are you sure?’ I could do nothing but nod. He made it clear that the penalty for what we were asking him was death for all of us. He warned me that my husband would live hundreds of years after my own death. Looking at Avinash, covered in blood and barely breathing, I could only manage one word. Please.”
Asha knew that if she were in Kairav's place, that if Aquila were dying, she would have done the same.
“They spoke in Zulu again, Ibubesi obviously trying to make some kind of guarantee, and finally, Wenzile kneeled, taking Avinash's hand. He looked at me one more time, giving me a chance to change my mind, to be sure. I nodded, and he brought his mouth to my husband's wrist and… bit.”
Kairav cleared her throat, closing her eyes. “We took Avinash to a Werewolf owned resort somewhere in the Indian Ocean while he recovered. Ibubesi stayed at Headquarters to meet Guard members from all over Africa. Apparently something that can liquefy flesh had gotten past their security, but that's all anyone ever found out. The Portals were still secure, and besides lives, nothing was taken. When Avinash could speak, he didn't remember anything beyond a blinding flash of light.” Kairav shrugged. “It couldn't even be added to the books because no one knew shit about what happened or why. I mean, it could've been civilians with one of their weapons of mass destruction for all we knew. Although I've never heard of civilians leaving jewels and cash around after an attack.
“There was never any explanation of why Avinash survived the initial attack… all we could figure was that somehow he had been shielded by the other men.
Kairav offered Asha a plate of cookies, and she shook her head. “We stayed with Wenzile for three moon cycles, Avinash learning how to make sure he was securely plugged in and locked down before the full moon rose. At first, it was very hard for him, as you can imagine. You wake up to find you're a Werewolf—not quite Underworlder, but close enough. The fevers are horrible at first, too, and the first couple of times that he Turned were extremely painful, nothing like the natural Jodha shape shifting. Wenzile was patient, in his uniquely grouchy way, and Chipo worked hard to keep Avinash's spirits up. They entertained us with stories from all over the world, from the infamous Atala breach seven hundred years ago all the way up until recent history. Their firsthand accounts of the Werewolf-Vampire wars were mesmerizing, and we would sit on the beach and listen to them for hours. Wenzile showed us his watch, you know, the band that Werewolves all wear that sends off a signal if it's not plugged in every full moon. It was actually created by an ancestor of Avinash's, and, I remember, nothing cheered him up more than to study that thing.”
Asha leaned forward. “But Avinash doesn't wear a watch.”
“Most registered Werewolves wear watches, because they're something civilians don't look twice at, but most unregistered Werewolves wear rings, necklaces, or bracelets. I know one woman who wears earrings. You see, most Werewolves, even if they are unregistered, understand the danger they pose to everyone if they're not plugged in on the full moon and they agree with the concept that an out-of-control Werewolf endangers civilians and attracts the attention of The Infernal Guard.”
“What happens if they're not plugged in, and they're… caught?”
“They're easily found if they're not plugged in. And they're put down. Immediately.”
“Put down, you mean killed? But—”
“Think of it as an extremely dangerous and contagious disease there is no cure for.”
Asha stared at her. “But Avinash isn't dangerous. What if you're forced to not plug in? What if—”
Kairav held up a hand. “Avinash is potentially very dangerous. You don't want to even think about what happens if he doesn't get his food. Chipo told us multiple horrifyingly gory stories and made it very clear that Avinash cannot ignore his body's need for… blood.” Kairav suddenly laughed. “And Asha? I would love to see anyone, Underworlders included, try to force a Werewolf to do anything.”
“Is Dhevan a Werewolf too?”
Kairav laughed. “Not everyone who's grouchy is a Werewolf. And you will actually not meet a nicer person than Dhevan. He has the biggest heart of anyone I know, although, like his wife, he doesn't have much patience for Trainees. Dhevan's eyes are just… lighter. You've seen his scarred hands, at least, even if you haven't seen what's left of his leg. Werewolves don't scar.
Asha shook her head.
“So what did you do? Does everyone here know?”
“We couldn't go back to Colombia. They were all sure to notice Avinash's scarless skin. And fair or not, unregistered Werewolves put everyone who knows about them in danger of execution. We knew that your parents would stand by us, no matter the risks, and so we decided to move here where neither of us knew anyone except Dhevan and Arihan. Obviously, they know. And Janu figured it out the minute he met Avinash. Other than that, you.”
“Lexi and Nidhan will know I'm keeping something from them if I don't tell them.” Not to mention Aquila.
“Personally, I trust every single person in this building. I would have told them a long time ago. Avinash doesn't believe it's fair to put people in that situation, however, so…” she shrugged.
“Wouldn't a Werewolf make a good addition to the Jodha?”
“Hell, yes, they would!” Kairav grinned. “It's been a debate for three hundred years. Their bites are either crippling or fatal to all known Underworlders. And they are formidable fighters. But Werewolves aren't known for taking orders, and they are unpredictable in their wolf form, full moon or no. Wenzile could do it, though. I've often wondered why they don't just have their own branch, you know?” She lowered her voice dramatically. “Infernal Guard, Werewolf Division.”
They sat in thoughtful silence for a long minute.
“Who knows, Asha,” Kairav said, and her voice was full of sadness. “Maybe you'll live to see the first acknowledged Werewolf member of The Infernal Guard in your lifetime.”
Chapter 34
“There you are!” Lexi turned from knocking on Asha's door to jog along the veranda to meet her. “I was about to look for you in the kitchen. Again.”
Lexi squeezed Asha's shoulders and slapped them twice, ignoring Asha's grimace. “Okay, prepare yourself. You are about to behold the most awe-inspiringly beautiful weapon you've—wait. What happened?”
“Where's Nidhan?”
Lexi's eyes flashed with indignation. “Do I look like his babysitter?” Then she shrugged. “I think he went with Karan and Li Tsia to the shooting range. I'll text him.”
“Tell him to meet us at the bonfire,” Asha said. “And by the way, I happen to have the most awe-inspiringly beautiful weapon ever created already in my possession. Two, as a matter of fact.”
“Oh, is that right?” Lexi put a finger to her temple. “I feel an idea for a new training game coming to me…”
As Lexi and Asha entered the garden, seventeen other Trainees burst into applause.
“Asha has arrived,” announced Karan, turning to Tzirga and Ariella. “Now you have no more excuses!”
“She doesn't carry the speakers around with her, you bhonsdu!” said Tzirga.
Asha grinned. “You have exactly thirty seconds to decide what song you'll sing.” Asha sprinted for the door, calling over her shoulder, “And it better be good after making us all wait forever!”
“Did we say we were going to sing?” Ariella called after her. “I don't remember saying that.”
When Asha returned, plugging the speakers into her phone, Ursala crossed his arms. “Okay, ladies. Moment of truth. I've already proven without a doubt that I can't sing.”
Tzirga whispered something to Ariella and they gave each other a high-five.
“All right, Asha,” said Tzirga. “See if that thing has Pata
kha Guddi as sung by the Nooran Sisters.”
Ariella burst into laughter. “They did ask for it.”
Tzirga grinned at Lexi. “And now they're gonna get it.”
The first synthesized sounds of the song began, and within seconds, Asha and Lexi were blinking at each other in surprise as Ariella and Tzirga's powerful and uniquely scratchy voices rose in astonishing strength and clarity, drums amplified by their clapping. The song was beautiful, and Asha was surprised she'd never heard it before. When it came to an end, no one clapped louder than Lexi, who hugged Tzirga and Ariella, as they scolded her for doubting them.
Lounging on the grass around the fire, Lexi whispered to Mia, and soon everyone was insisting Himat sing for them. When he tried to turn away, Mia snatched Asha's phone and threw it to him. With a shy smile and a shrug, Himat tapped a few buttons, and Bilal Saeed's Khair Mangdi began, to shouts of approval from every Punjabi in the group. As Himat's exquisite voice filled the garden, the fire blazed, reaching for the stars, and soon there wasn't a single Trainee who didn't have tears in their eyes. Glancing at him, Asha was startled to find Himat's orange eyes fixed on her, all his previous embarrassment gone, and she turned her attention to her rings, glad she couldn't understand most of the lyrics. The glare that Kelakha gave him when the song ended, and the slap to the back of the head from Ursala, told her it hadn't escaped their notice either.
Everyone spent the next two hours comparing rings and weapons, and trying out Lexi's new training game which proved to be a disastrous, though hilarious, flop. Asha admired Li Tsia's guan dao spear and Wei Feng's crescent moon spear, refusing to tell them which she thought was better. Hua Tseng awed them with mind-boggling archery skills, using her new personal weapon of a Chinese bow and arrows, and Tzirga proved her diamond-tipped maru could destroy a coconut just as completely as Karan's nagani, and twice as fast, and he grudgingly accepted her laundry duty to uproarious applause.
At one point Tanvir brought them food and hot drinks, and Asha led Nidhan and Lexi to a quiet corner to tell them about Ranya and then Avinash. After getting over their surprise that a Werewolf worked at Headquarters, they made it clear that Asha would hear more about stalking Ranya the next time they were alone, Asha promised to meet them in her room during the next day's free time for a lecture on self-preservation.
Returning to the fire, they discovered that Karan was a genius at reciting horrible poetry in a wide variety of voices. They cheered so loudly that Asha worried it would disturb civilians outside the fort.
As dawn approached, the bonfire died down and the fog turned a milky grey beyond the walls, Asha played her mother's Swahili song while Lexi sang, a tradition that had started after Asha's Sphere Training incident and had become the Trainees' way of ending their nights around the bonfire.
As the harmonious sounds of the harp blended with Lexi's voice, Asha looked at the sleepy faces surrounding her, and wondered how she could have ever felt she had no family. Without a doubt she had the best family in Fourteen Worlds.
If she had known then that it would be the last time all of them would be together, she would have at the very least told each and every one of them how much she loved them.
Chapter 35
Ursala tells me Himat has a lovely singing voice.
Asha jumped, dropping her shoes on the silk rug. Aquila stood leaning casually on her balcony doorway, a crooked grin lighting up his beautiful features, a vision of perfection even in torn and bloody clothes.
“The security around here sucks,” Asha cried, stamping a foot in mock outrage. “Seductive shape shifters can just swoop into your room any time they please.”
In three strides, Asha was in his arms, luxuriating in the feeling of completeness that washed over her at his touch, smiling as his laughter resonated against her. Listening to his heartbeat, Asha closed her eyes and breathed deeply, content exhaustion filling every muscle as she relaxed.
“Did you know Avinash is a Werewolf?”
Aquila tensed, then laughed. “It makes perfect sense, now that you mention it…”
Lifting Asha in his arms, he moved to sit on the balcony, Asha's head resting on his shoulder. “Let's see your rings, Miss Multi-Talent.”
She held out her hands and Aquila whistled. “Makes mine look like they hardly put any effort into them at all.” He frowned. “And look at the detail on these katar. I think I'll have a word with Dhevan tomorrow…”
Asha slapped at his shoulder, laughing, and Aquila suddenly moved his leg out from under her. Asha fell with a startled yell, but Aquila's arm was under her shoulders, holding her inches from the stone floor. Looking into her eyes for a long, breathless moment, he smiled, cradling her face with his other hand. Asha's arms wrapped around him, pulling him to her, and as Aquila's lips met hers, exhaustion vanished from Asha's body, her heart pounding, hands moving of their own volition. Must. Remove. Clothing.
Play something for me.
Now?
Aquila kissed her again, soft and lingering. Yeah. Now. Before your chastity is dangerously compromised.
Asha held him tighter, filled with wonder at the curve of firm muscles on his perfect arms, rock solid shoulders, and slim waist as her hands wandered along his smooth skin.
My parents got married as soon as they finished training.
Are you proposing to me, Sandhu? Aquila moved his mouth along her neck, her collar bone, his hands snaking beneath her shirt to encircle her waist, pulling her closer.
Asha giggled. And if I am?
Where's the ring? When you propose to a man, you should have a ring.
Asha gasped, sitting up so fast she would have fallen if it wasn't for Aquila's arms encircling her.
“What?” Aquila blinked. “I'd marry you tomorrow, Asha. You know that, right?”
Bolting into her room, Asha returned holding her harp, and met Aquila's questioning look with a dazed smile.
“You said ring, and I just… realized.” Asha turned the instrument over and ran her hand across its smooth fractal design of wooden inlay. “Look. It's—a puzzle box!”
Aquila leaned forward, eyes sparkling with interest, and Asha moved her fingers along the top of the unusual harp. She touched three points in the design and there was a soft click. Pressing the narrow ‘neck’ with thumb and forefinger, she slid the wood aside, revealing a small compartment.
An emerald ring sat snugly in a red silk cushion.
Asha and Aquila stared at each other.
“¡Santa madre de Dios!” Asha reached gently, hesitantly, into the instrument and raised the ring into the light. A princess-cut emerald sat surrounded by pear-faceted diamonds between two deep blue and purple fluorites, the color swirling within the gems, reminding Asha of photos of Earth. It was breathtaking.
“This must be my mother's Seer ring. How could I not know this was here?”
“You just got your own ring, Asha,” said Aquila. “It will start to heighten your Seer abilities. Your mother probably meant for you to have that, if and when you were ready.”
“I can't wear it.” Asha quickly put the ring back in the harp and slid the wood back into place. “I mean, if it gives Seers… I can't just…”
“Talk to Janu tomorrow; he'll know more,” said Aquila, leaning back and stretching his arms over his head with a yawn. “We have meetings all night tomorrow with the DGP and the DCBI, so classes will no doubt be canceled.”
And I won't see you for a whole day.
Asha mumbled, “Kitchen duty is never canceled. What's a DGP and a DCBI?”
“The Director General of Police and the Director of the Central Bureau of Intelligence. Basically the heads of the Indian FBI and CIA.”
“Oh. Sounds… fun?”
Aquila laughed. “Yeah. Real fun. Directors, Special Directors, Inspector Generals, Deputy Inspector Generals. I always wonder why Directors are higher ranking than Special Directors.” Aquila laughed. “You should hear Barindra school the DGP. The poor guy barely survives it. And
the one time Chakori condescended to speak to him? I think he actually had a minor stroke. He never even imagined women like her exist. The last meeting we had, he sent his assistant ‘in his stead,’ and then you should have heard Afzal tear into him. I can guarantee that poor guy won't be coming back anytime soon.” Aquila reached a hand out and took Asha's, kissing it. “And now, play something for me, my bejeweled beloved.”
Asha smiled as Aquila pulled her toward him, wrapping his arms around her legs as he fell to his knees. “Oh, beautiful light of my soul! Grant your humble servant's request and play thy wondrous music, the memory of which will sustain me through hours of torturous boredom, until my suffering is ended and I am granted the priceless gift of thine glorious audience once again.”
“A shape-shifting tempter of young abstinence and a poet. Who knew?” Asha wiggled out of his arms with a laugh. “All right, but just one. I'm sleepy.”
Hands hovering over the instrument, Asha smiled. Would you really marry me?
Aquila leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. A smile lit up his perfect features and he cracked one eye open. “Absolutamente, mi alma. El amor de mi vida!” He wiggled his eyebrows and Asha burst into laughter.
Chapter 36
Asha woke with a start. Weak light leaked through the carved French doors and she looked at her clock. Fifteen hundred hours. Three o'clock in the afternoon. Two hours before her alarm would go off.
Turning over, Asha tried to fall back asleep, but it was no use. She was wide awake.
Getting out of bed, Asha decided to take a bath and really take her time getting dressed.
Maybe stalk Ranya before breakfast.
She moved to the bathroom, flipping on only the dim light of one Moroccan lantern hanging over the tub, and turned the knob for the deep tissue soak. Soon the room filled with the smells of wintergreen oil and tea tree, along with hints of lavender, calendula, and arnica. Asha lit the five candles around the tub and lowered herself into the water.
