by SGD Singh
Asha closed her eyes and inhaled deeply as the smell of her mother's cocadas blancas filled the air. Sweet, milky coconut, a hint of cinnamon.
“Asha!” Ursala hissed, snapping his fingers in front of her face. “Focus. Janu is in there.” He closed his black eyes, listening intently. “And he's… barely alive.”
Asha's swiped her ring along her katar, one in each hand, as they transformed to full size.
Ursala nodded. “I'll take the Goblin, you get Janu. Tzirga, keep an eye on this corridor. Goblins never get their hands dirty if they can help it, so he's probably not alone.”
With one powerful kick, Ursala burst through the door. Spinning, he held a well-worn version of the tabar ax he chose in the Sphere in one hand, his revolver in the other, eyes searching the room. There was no sign of the Goblin.
Only Janu.
He hung from the ceiling by a thick chain, unconscious, fingers standing out at broken angles, his head hanging forward, hair covering his face. Blood pooled underneath his feet as it ran down his legs. Legs which had been skinned.
Asha cried out, running to him, and with one slash of her katar, she cut the chains, stumbling against his dead weight as she caught him. Lowering Janu to the floor, Asha tore off her long jacket, covering his naked body. Searching the room frantically for anything to heal him with, she jumped when his hand wrapped around her wrist. His one un-swollen eye flicked to his left.
“There!” Asha told Ursala, pointing.
Ursala disappeared, more wood shattering as he kicked another door in.
Asha saw a small plant on the desk and within seconds, Janu's face had lost some of its swelling and he blinked up at her.
“Telling you not to come was an order, Sandhu,” he said softly, through broken teeth. “You have a serious problem with authority.”
Asha smiled in relief. “So I've been told.” She tried not to look at his bloody feet. “Let's get you the hell out of here. Can you stand? Just until we get to the garden…”
Janu looked down at his legs doubtfully as a deafening crash filled the room. Asha heard Ursala curse a second before a respectable-looking old man in a suit ran back in through the second door.
“A little help, Asha!” Ursala shouted, and she spread her arms, pulling life from the Goblin and giving it to Janu. It fell mid-stride, hitting its white haired head on the corner of the desk with a crack.
Ursala stood over him, hatchet held ready to swing. “Finish him, Asha.”
“Wait,” said Janu. “Jodha will want to question him.”
“He's taller than I thought,” said Asha. “I always thought of Goblins as… well, leprechauns actually. He smells fantastic, though.”
“We can't wait, Janu,” said Ursala, glancing around impatiently. “When he comes to he'll—we have to kill him.”
Raising his weapon, Ursala tensed, readying to strike.
“Don't!” snapped a cold voice from the doorway. “Not unless you want your friend here to lose her pretty little head.”
Viktor sauntered smoothly into the room, followed by two handsome Vampires. One looked like an athlete, the other a movie star. They held Tzirga between them, her dark eyes flashing murderously. Asha saw she had been disarmed, her long jacket torn.
“Hello, Asha.” Viktor flashed an impossibly gorgeous smile at her. “Did you miss me?”
The Athlete Vampire grinned. “More Infernal Guard… yummy.”
Movie Star licked his lips. “Have you ever tasted a Jodha?”
“You mean the shape-shifting ones? Sure,” Athlete's eyes gleamed hungrily at Asha. “Tastes like chicken.”
Viktor laughed, said something in an unrecognizable language, then glanced around the room, frowning. “Now, where was I? Oh yeah.” He snapped his fingers at the Vampires. “Chain him back up.”
Shoving Tzirga into Movie Star's arms, Athlete moved obediently toward Janu.
And fell to his knees, holding his chest. His green eyes stared in wide confusion, while Janu's color improved considerably.
“Stop it!” Viktor commanded, one large hand going to Tzirga's throat. Asha froze, meeting Ursala's pleading glance.
Athlete took a deep breath and got to his feet, grimacing at Asha as he rubbed his chest.
“That's enough of that,” Viktor said. His eyes lit up as he studied Asha's hands. “I see you've acquired some new jewelry since we last met. I'll be taking that emerald now.” He held out a hand, the other still around Tzirga's throat.
Asha smiled. “Come and get it.”
For a fleeting second, a look of fear crossed his perfect features, and then Viktor laughed, tightening his hold around Tzirga.
And Tzirga smashed her fist into his face. Only it wasn't a fist, it was a hoof.
Stumbling back, Viktor loosened his grip, and Tzirga broke free in one swift movement, a large knife in her hand. Asha had her revolver out, shooting Viktor square in the face with holy water. Doubling over, he screeched. Asha's stake missed him by inches, and she cursed.
Three more Vampires swarmed into the room as Tzirga lunged at Movie Star, slicing open his chest with her knife before being thrown across the room. She hit the wall with a sickening crunch.
In a blur, two Vampires pulled Ursala from the Goblin as he swung his tabar, managing still to sever the Goblin's right foot. Athlete, Movie Star, and a third Vampire moved toward Asha, stumbling, screaming in frustration as she drained the life from them.
Viktor's wounds had begun to heal and he looked across the room at Asha, pure loathing in his shining eyes. With a disgusted gesture, he shouted over the Goblin's screams, “Kill them all!”
They were the last words he ever said.
A stake protruded from his chest, driven from behind, and his head fell forward, tumbling to the floor, his body bursting into flame even as it collapsed.
Dhevan towered in the doorway. “I don't think so,” he said.
Before Asha had time to fully register their presence, Arihan and Dhevan, staked and decapitated the five remaining Vampires with graceful, effortless speed. Flames filled the room.
Ursala held the Goblin down with his foot, ax poised over his head.
Tzirga sat against the wall, blinking. “What took you guys so long?” she said.
Arihan helped her up, and she gasped, holding her side.
Dhevan spoke softly to Ursala, shaking his head.
“Barindra's almost here. He stays alive until they question him,” Dhevan said. “You guys can go. We'll call the cops as soon as the others get here.”
“Dhevan,” Arihan called from the other side of the room. “Tzirga's injured.”
Kicking the Goblin viciously, Ursala rushed to Tzirga. Supporting her with one arm, he turned to Asha, “Let's get the hell out of here.”
“Go to Nidhan's house,” Dhevan said, standing over the unconscious Goblin. “It's closer. I'll call Senya and Prabhnoor to meet you there.”
Asha looked at Janu. His color was improved, the swelling in his face reduced. He could move his fingers, but he still looked horrible. Glancing at his skinned legs, Asha wasn't sure he could walk. “Ready?” she asked, trying to smile. “Just until the garden, and then we'll have enough to fix you up.”
Janu nodded, sitting up with obvious effort. Asha held the jacket around him, wrapping one of his arms across her shoulders as she helped him to his feet. He winced as his weight came to rest on bloody feet.
And then, with a sudden gasp, Janu pushed Asha away from him and she stumbled, turning just in time to see a knife bury itself in his chest.
The Goblin lay back with a frustrated scream, and Dhevan kicked him in the head with his metal foot so hard that Asha was sure he was dead.
Rushing to Janu's side, she stared in horror at the knife hilt protruding from his chest. “Somebody help me get him to the garden! Oh God, just… Janu. Somebody!”
“You can't heal this, Asha,” Janu whispered, shaking his head at her protests and waving Dhevan away. “There's no time… you
must go! Help Tzirga. Barindra and the others will be here soon.” He coughed, paling.
Asha felt hot tears rolling down her face. “No! I can't just leave you…”
Arihan and Dhevan took Asha's arms, helping her up, but Janu reached for her and they released her.
“You will save us all… You're the one, it's you…”
Asha shook her head. “I don't—”
“Word got out… about the prophecy… the birth of a Seer who… who would be able to close… and that Seer is you, Asha.” Janu blinked, fighting to stay conscious. “Ranya could have been… almost was you,” he said, with a strangled gasp. “The Asura had you… they had you and your parents—” He squeezed Asha's hand, pulling closer, crushing her fingers, and whispered, “Only you can stop her.”
And with one last look in her eyes, Janu—whose quiet compassion had given Asha more strength than he would ever know, and who had through his effortless kindness become like a father to her—died.
Chapter 38
By the time Ursala drove through the gate of Nidhan's deserted house, Asha knew, even through her fog of grief, that something was very wrong with Tzirga. Despite her best efforts, Tzirga was barely conscious, and her skin had turned an alarming grey.
Before the car even came to a stop, Senya and Prabhnoor were there, opening the doors, helping Ursala carry her to the garden. Nidhan brought a cot out from under the veranda. Ariella and Lexi carried blankets from inside, and Karan started a fire, illuminating the fog.
“Let's have a look,” said Senya, gently turning Tzirga on her side. He lifted her long jacket and examined her back. Straightening, Asha saw him exchange a look of alarm with Prabhnoor, and she felt a stab of panic like an ice pick through her ribs.
Rising, Senya grasped Asha's arm and led her to the darkened porch between the twin houses.
“What is it?” Asha said. “What's wrong with her?”
“She can't be healed.”
“What?” Asha shook her head. “No. What do you mean… can't be healed? She was thrown by one of the Vampires. She hit the wall… she's just—”
Placing a healing hand on Asha's shoulder, Senya stopped her. “She wasn't just thrown. The Vampire… Tzirga is missing parts, Asha. We can heal the body, but create organs?” He shook his head. “She can't survive without—”
“No!” Asha shouted, twisting away from Senya. She pointed a finger. “Don't say that. Do not say that. She just—no.”
Running back to Tzirga's side, Asha threw herself to her knees, grasping her friend's hand as tears of frustration sprang to her eyes.
She felt Nidhan and Lexi watching her, knew they were exchanging worried glances with Ariella. Ursala continued to whisper encouragement to Tzirga, who appeared unconscious.
Senya, Prabhnoor, and Karan gathered around the cot. Senya frowned in disapproval at Asha.
“Move,” she told them.
Asha raised her arms, and the two Healers scrambled to get behind her.
Tzirga's color improved as the plants in the garden died, turning to dried and shriveled versions of their former selves.
Finally, Tzirga's eyes fluttered open. She reached a hand out to Asha, glancing at the group surrounding her.
“Asha. Stop killing Nidhan's garden.” She smiled weakly, and Asha laughed with relief.
But Tzirga shook her head. “It won't save me.”
“No,” Asha argued. “Don't. You'll be fine, I just have to—”
Tzirga let go of Asha's hand and reached toward Ariella, who leapt forward.
“You just have to stop. Everyone's gotta die some time. How many are lucky enough to die a hero's death?” She smiled, taking Ursala's hand in her other. “Surrounded by people we love…”
But Asha wasn't listening. The garden began to give up life again, the palm trees that had faithfully stood guard over the house for so many years dying one by one.
Opening her eyes, Asha looked at Tzirga, nodding hopefully. But Tzirga shook her head, smiling with a shrug, and Asha screamed in frustration.
“At least I'll die looking good,” Tzirga said, running one hand through her shining hair. “Sit down, Asha. All I want…” She started coughing and winced. Everyone surged forward, instinctively hoping they could help. “I want Lexi to sing for me. And you too, Asha. Sing me a nice death song, huh? And it better be good, or I'll come back and haunt your asses.”
Lexi's eyes had gone wide and she shook her head almost imperceptibly. “Can't we take her to the hospital? I mean—”
Tzirga snorted. “You mean so I can die in some bright, smelly building, surrounded by pushy strangers? No, thanks.”
Turning to Ariella, Tzirga placed her Jodha ring into her hand. Tears streamed down Ariella's face as she leaned forward, her forehead touching Tzirga's as she spoke softly in Punjabi.
Tzirga laughed weakly. “Don't start with that shit. I will not have my last moments filled with a bunch of sniveling crybabies. We all go sooner or later… you might as well face that fact right now, because it's sooner for those of us who live fantastically exceptional lives.”
Ariella sniffed, nodding as she put the ring on, trying to control her trembling chin.
Tzirga took off her weapon ring and put it into Ursala's trembling hand. “You can add this to your collection of weapons. Here, I'll…” She swiped her weapon across the ring, the spear transforming one last time to its full size. “Remember me once in a while when you look at it.”
Ursala put the ring on his pinky, his eyes overflowing with tears. “I'll remember you always.”
“Well, hopefully not always.” She wiggled her eyebrows at Ariella, grinning. But Ariella burst into tears, wrapping her arms around her lifelong friend.
Tzirga said something in Punjabi that Asha didn't catch, smoothing Ariella's hair and taking her hand, reached for Ursala's hand with the other.
She joined their hands together and Asha noticed her color was quickly fading again. “Take good care of each other for me, okay?”
Tears glistened on their faces in the firelight as Ursala and Ariella nodded silently.
“And Lexi.”
Choking back a sob, Lexi stepped forward.
“Stop being such a stubborn idiot and tell Nidhan you love him already.”
Lexi laughed through her tears. “Just because you're dying doesn't mean I won't kick your ass.”
“That is more like it.” Tzirga patted the cot next to her. She reached into her weapons belt and handed Lexi a long knife, the jade and onyx handle sticking out of a worn leather sheath. “This was my mother's… and her mother's before her. I expect you to keep killing Underworlders with it for many years. See those marks in the leather? If you don't break both their records I will be extremely disappointed.” She smiled, wrapping the blankets around herself and closing her eyes. “And now I want my song.”
Lexi looked at Nidhan, pleading, but he only smiled, and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “You can do this,” he whispered, but Lexi shook her head, fresh tears spilling down her face. “Everyone should be so lucky to hear your voice as they leave this world,” he told her.
Asha took Lexi's hand and directed what little healing energy she could to calm her, taking the last remaining plants in the garden. “We'll do it together.”
With a shaky sigh, Lexi said, “The song from the Sikh hymn about death Asha, you know the one…”
And Lexi sang. Her tears dried as she focused on the lyrics, the notes carrying through the fog as the haunting old-European sound filled the night. Lexi's clear, strong voice defined the words slowly and distinctly, the mourning tune at odds with the hymn's joyful words. Asha joined in to harmonize, making up for the absence of an instrument, until the sorrowful beauty of the song lifted their spirits, bringing smiles to their tear-streaked faces.
The day of marriage of the Soul Bride, with her Lord has dawned.
So friends, my friends, pour the oil of love down on the threshold.
And give me all of you
r blessings
That I may know a perfect union with my Lord.
This call is being sent to all. Sent to all homes each day.
So forget not The One who calls, The One who calls each day
Oh my soul, the day is drawing near for everyone
Everyone. Everyone. Everyone.
For everyone.
As the last notes of the song faded into the night, Senya stepped forward. “She's gone,” he said.
They stood surrounding Tzirga's soulless body, Ariella's sobs muffled against Ursala's chest. Tzirga's face still held its beauty, and Asha thought a soft smile seemed to play across her peaceful features.
Ursala nodded at Senya, and the Healer stepped forward. Prabhnoor circled to the other side of the cot and, placing their hands to Tzirga's, they crossed them at her still chest, chanting softly in a language Asha didn't recognize.
Then, closing their eyes, they said, “Daag.”
Asha and the others stepped back as white-hot flames engulfed Tzirga's body, burning it to ashes within minutes.
Chapter 39
When Aquila knocked on Asha's door, Lexi opened it, looking more than usually pale.
“Thank God you're here,” she said, glaring at him. “She's been playing Toshiro Masuda's Sadness and Sorrow over and over again for ever. She refuses to eat. Or speak. You look like hell, by the way.”
“Thanks, Lexi. I try.” Aquila listened to the heart wrenching music for a second and said, “You can go now.”
With one last glance toward the balcony, and a stern look at Aquila's ruined clothes, Lexi left.
Sitting down next to Asha, Aquila peeled an orange.
After a few minutes, she caught sight of his bloody and torn clothes, and Asha hit the wrong key. The song came to a scratchy halt.
Are you okay?
“Me?” Aquila tried to smile but knew it didn't reach his eyes. “Sure. I am beginning to wonder why they teach us Vampires are rare in India, though.”
