by T. G. Ayer
"Fine. What do we do then? What if they are still watching?"
"Wait here. I have a plan." Nik spoke and then a moment later he went invisible.
"That is so freaking cool," said Joss as she stared at the spot Nik had just occupied.
"Yeah," Maya sighed. "Would love that ability. All I got was freaking fire."
"Hey, don't knock fire. You're pretty much hell on legs for all the demons of the world."
Maya laughed. "Since you put it that way."
Nik returned in minutes, something black and long draped across his arm. Before he held them up Maya knew what they were. Burqas.
"These will be perfect," said Maya. "We could walk right past them and they'd never know."
Nik nodded. "That's the idea." He handed them the garments. The girls set their bags on the floor before slipping the Burqas over their heads. The black dresses covered them head to foot with only a lace grille over their eyes allowing them to see where they were going. They shrugged their bags over their shoulders and filed silently out of the store. Nik stayed behind for a few moments, giving them a head start. He remained invisible, following a few meters away, keeping an eye out from the rear.
Maya kept a firm bead on her surroundings, watching face after face, scanning every person slouching in a corner or half hidden by shadows.
She smelled him before she saw him.
Coming up behind her, the odor of rotten meat seemed to fill the air and Maya stiffened. She had to force herself to put one foot in front of the other. Had to steel herself against warning Joss who was walking just slightly ahead of her.
The demon came abreast of her but she ignored him and walked straight on, not even missing a step. He was scanning the street, looking for her and coming up short. He didn't bother to look at the veiled woman right beside him. Maya continued to walk on. The Rakshasa surged ahead, craning his head, scanning the street and then decided to cross to the other side. He shoved a messenger boy aside, sending him sprawling on the floor, his bags of clothing plopping onto the dirty sidewalk. Maya and Joss neatly sidestepped the fallen boy and though she felt a pang of regret at not stopping to help, she walked on.
She watched the demon disappear into the crowd up ahead and sighed with relief as they reached the address Chayya had given her. She paused in front of a fabric shop, where rolls of brightly colored material stood in barrels marked 'linen', 'muslin', and 'poplin'. She walked slowly through the middle aisle, flanked by large glass counters filled with flat folded fabric. Joss was close at her elbow and Maya met the glance of one of the men at the counter. He stared at her, his eyes flat and uninterested, as if making a sale was the last thing he cared about.
Maya didn't stop to ask him anything. Chayya had said go through the shop and into back room, then up the stairs. Maya did as the goddess had instructed and headed for a doorway covered in long ropes of beads. She pushed it aside and the wooden bead bickered and complained, like a forest full of chattering monkeys. Joss followed closely and then they were in a small, dingy backroom. Canisters of food lay half open and something moved along the back shelf. Something dark and covered in fur. Maya shuddered then pulled Joss along as she hurried up a set of small stairs at the left wall.
One flight up they pushed aside a second curtain of beads and both girls gasped in surprise as they walked into the room. They stepped into a whitewashed room, so clean and bright compared to the dinky room downstairs that it felt like they'd stepped into another world.
The floor was white marble, and dozens of white cushions were strewn across the tiles. The windows were covered with white silk and it blew in a soft breeze. Although the building itself was old, the room seemed timeless.
Both girls threw off their Burqas, eyes studying the room. Something shifted along the wall and Maya glanced at the small man who sat cross legged, his bony legs covered by more white fabric. She'd expected the orange ocher of most holy men and was surprised he'd dressed in white.
The sage lifted his gaze, meeting Maya's eyes with a sparkle, a hint of a smile at his lips. And Maya grinned at him. She'd seen him before. "I know you," she said as he inclined his head giving her a benevolent smile.
"Yes, my child. I know you too."
"How do you know him?" whispered Joss reminding Maya that she was still with her.
"From Swargaloka." Maya glanced at Joss who frowned.
"I don't remember him."
"I saw him on the way to the palace. On one of the city streets." Maya wanted Joss to shut up. Talking about the sage while he sat right in front of them was quite rude. So she turned her attention back to the ancient man, stepped toward him and sat on the floor, folding her legs into a loose yoga position. "Thank you for seeing us," she said, thinking she should perform some kind of formalize. Instead she just placed her palms together in the Namaste greeting.
"It is my pleasure, Maya Rao, to assist the Lord of Creation. And you, too. Your reputation precedes you."
Maya flushed. "Chayya has been to see you."
"Yes and do not worry. She has only good things to say about you, my child." The sage straightened as the beads at the door crackled furiously. Maya glanced over her shoulder and watched Nik walk inside the small white room.
The old man rose to his feet, not a single crack of old bones to be heard. He bowed low before Nik. "Welcome,my Lord."
"There's no need for ceremony, Father."
"Ah, but my lord, it is not ceremony to greet a god as befits him."
"I am but only half a god," said Nik, laughing.
"And half a greeting would no doubt seem strange," returned the sage and everyone laughed. He seated himself again, "I believe you are in search of Gandiv. And I can help you."
"How do you know where it is?" Maya asked, then flushed at the directness of the question. The last thing she needed was to offend the man meant to help them locate the bow.
"Gandiv is holy and all holy objects give off a certain resonance. If you have the power to hear the heavenly sound they give off, you can find all the holy objects in the world."
"Oh, so we're talking heavenly GPS. Interesting," Maya mused, intrigued by the inner workings of various heavenly abilities and powers.
"Exactly. The only problem is that it is easily warded if the person who possesses it knows how."
"Is it warded now?"
"I'm afraid that it is. I do know where it is. Or rather where I last felt its location. But it seems to have disappeared in the last day or so."
"So if you tell us where it is we'll have to search the entire property?"
"Not necessarily." The sage tilted his head and stared at Nik. "Heavenly GPS is much stronger to heavenly creatures."
Maya's gaze snapped to Nik. "Nik can sense the bow?"
The sage nodded. "Even if it is warded, a god can sense the presence of the bow through the protection spell. I'm not certain how it works or how close you need to be, but you will need Nikhil." Then the old man reached for something beside his cushion and handed a small slip of paper to Maya. "This is the address."
"Thank you," Maya said, taking the neatly folded sheet.
"The home is in Juhu Beach and the owner, Raj Thakkur, is an art collector. He is holding a fund raising dinner tonight. I will arrange for invitations to the event to be sent to your hotel room."
"Oh. We'll have to get inside during a party?" asked Maya, now worried. "Won't there be security?"
"The invitations with secure your entry. What you do while inside the building is up to you. So don't do anything to raise suspicion."
"Don't get caught, don't get thrown out," muttered Maya.
"Something like that," answered Narada.
Maya smiled as got to her feet. Joss rose too and the old sage followed suit.
"Be careful, Maya Rao. You have the power so use it. But do not be rash. Pick your battles."
There would have been a time when words like those would have sent Maya bristling but she didn't take offense. Instead she flushed a
nd nodded. When an awkward silence began to stretch Maya said, "Thank you so much. I'm not sure how we can repay you for your help."
"I haven't helped yet. Go and find Gandiv and I will be satisfied that I have helped at all."
Maya put her hands together and bowed to the sage. He repeated the gesture and with that Maya felt they were dismissed. The three turned to leave but when Maya paused at the door to take one last glance at Narada, the room was empty. He'd disappeared. She shrugged as she descended the stairs and followed Joss and Nik through the fabric store and past the sullen store clerks.
Chapter 31
Outside they turned and headed back to the hotel car. Once in the vehicle they remained subdued, refraining from talking more because of the presence of the driver than anything.
The drive back was hot and subdued as the air conditioner battled against the overpowering heat inside the car. Sweat tricked down Maya's back. She'd never been so relieved to see and air conditioned hotel in her life.
They all filed into the girl's room and Nik took a chair turning it to face the girls who'd thrown themselves on the bed.
"Room service?" he asked.
"Finally, someone mentions food," said Joss. "It is almost lunchtime you know."
"Yeah," said Maya. "I didn't think you'd be pleased to sample Eau de Mumbai on a full stomach. And I just haven't been hungry. I am now though, so room service sounds lovely."
"Well, let's order and once your meal is done we have training to do," Nik said meeting Maya's eyes.
"Training?"
"Yes. We have a few hours to kill before the party. You need at least one training session to keep you on your toes."
Maya nodded as Joss asked, "What about me?"
Nik pursed his lips. "You can go to the hotel gym. An hours run and a session on the punching bag should keep you limber. I'd take you too but I want to concentrate on Maya's fire."
Joss waved her hands in the air. "That's cool. I can take a hint." When Nik's face twisted with worry Joss laughed. "Hey, I was just kidding. I understand."
Maya grinned and said, "So, about that food?"
They ordered samoosas and a selection of pakoras club sandwiches.
"Oh and Joss, I don't think you should come with us tonight."
"What?" Maya hid a smile as Joss's face grew red.
"Three of us can't go creeping around a strange house by ourselves. And if something happens I can only get one of you out in an emergency. It complicates things with three." Nik looked unhappy but unapologetic.
"Oh, so three's a crowd then?" She looked hurt.
"In this case it is," Maya butted in before Nik got into more trouble. "Nik's right. With just Nik and me he can go stealth and if anyone see me its just one little lost girl. Or Nik can beam me right out of there."
Joss pouted. "I see what you mean but it doesn't mean I have to like it."
A knock on the door signaled the arrival of their food. Nik hurried to let them in while the girls cleared a space on the table below the wall mounted TV. The waiter left the food and was on his way out when Nik stopped him, placing something in his palm. The man grinned, bobbing his head up and down repeatedly saying thanking Nik as he left.
"Did you tip him?" asked Maya as the door clicked shut.
Nik nodded. "Sometimes that extra money counts." Maya watched Nik as he spoke, liking the effect that he was unafraid to reveal his kind and caring self.
The aroma of fried food wafted toward them and her stomach rumbled. She was famished. "Right. Let's eat."
They descended on the food and very soon all that remained on the silver platters were wadded napkins and the fine slices of plate decoration lettuce. As soon as they were done Nik said, "Get ready. I'll be back in ten minutes."
"Where are we going to train?"
"Somewhere special and somewhere you won't hurt anyone." Nik winked as he headed out the door.
Maya huffed as she scooted off the bed and dragged her bag out of the closet. Inside she found a pair of black sweats, a tee and hoodie. She shoved her feet into her trainers and stood up to face the mirror. She dragged her hair into a ponytail and then looked around. A hair-band danced at her shoulder and she mumbled her gratitude to Joss as she finished tying up her hair.
"Right. Done."
"Wonder what he has planned for you," mused Joss as she picked up the remote to skim the channels. She settled on a movie with English subtitles and was so absorbed that when Nik knocked on the door and Maya let him in, Joss barely noticed.
"So that's what we brought her here for? To watch Bollywood movies?" asked Maya, raising an eyebrow.
Joss waved them off and Maya grinned. Nik reached for her hand and they disintegrated into nothingness.
As they reappeared Maya's feet felt strange, as if she wasn't on solid ground. When she looked down she saw her sneakers half buried in fine golden sand.
"You brought me to the desert?" she asked Nik who stood beside her waiting for her reaction.
"Yes. It's the Thar Desert to be specific."
"Are we still in India?" Maya asked, eyes narrowed.
Nik nodded as he scanned the dunes surrounding them. "These are the Sam Sand Dunes on the outskirts of Jaisalmer." Maya put a hand to her eyes as she looked around. They stood in a valley, the dunes around them rising high enough to hide both Nik and her from prying eyes. Something tapped her upper arm and she took the pair of sunglasses Nik offered. "Thanks. You could have told me."
"I wanted to surprise you."
"I am. It's incredibly beautiful."
"So before we start I want to show you something." Nik held out his hand and Maya took it. Before she could ask any more questions they disappeared, then shuddered back into solidity, this time on solid ground. They were standing at the top of a set of stairs, facing a domed structure made from golden sand. Numerous carved archways held up the rounded roof and inside stood a square pedestal holding up a white carving. As Maya looked out of the structure she saw dozens of similar buildings built on the rise.
"It's beautiful." She sucked in a breath, staring at the golden domes. They shimmered as the sun hit them, giving them an ethereal air. So out of place in the barren desert, yet so much a part of it.
"These are the cenotaphs of the old Rajasthan kings."
"Cenotaphs?" asked Maya, confused. She'd never heard the word before.
"Cenotaph means empty tomb. The structure is a monument to the dead king but his remains are not kept here."
"Ah." Maya nodded and stared out at the line of cenotaphs. "Are they all for kings?"
"Many of them are. There used to be a lake here, and gardens built at the waters edge."
"In the middle of a desert?" asked Maya in disbelief.
Nik nodded. "One of the kings built a dam that fed the gardens and the lake. Unfortunately, the river changed course or dried up leaving this place a golden desert."
"That's sad. But it's beautiful," said Maya as she traced the carved pillars, walking from bright sunlight into cool shade. "Kind of hard to believe that it's still here after all these years."
"Let's hope it lasts a long time into the future. It's good to be able to see what the people of the past were able to create. When beauty like this can endure the passage of time, it can also give people hope that they too can achieve something memorable, something remarkable."
Maya eyed Nik. His words were so poetic and she realized she was seeing a side of him that he'd so far kept hidden. It must not be easy to live for so long. He'd been so quiet lately.
She inhaled, decided there was no time like the present. "Are you okay?" She walked toward him, partly to see his face beyond the black lenses of his sunglasses, and partly to be closer to him.
"Sure. I'm fine." He gave her a stiff smile.
"See, now I know you aren't fine." Her lips twisted wryly. "Unfortunately, the fact is I know you too well to believe that. So, tell me what's wrong. You know you can trust me, right?" Maya posed the question, her heart stilling
with the fear that he may confirm that he didn't trust her. What would she do if he said no?
Nik sighed and leaned against the pillar at his back. "I'm sorry. I know I've been a bit distant." He stared into the roof of the dome, then removed his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I suppose being here is quite appropriate. It's my mother."
Maya sucked in a breath, now more worried than ever. "Is she sick?"
Nik shook his head slowly, shadows of sadness hovering over his features. "No. It's just the passage of time that is taking its toll. I'm trying to convince her to return to Patala to live out the last days of her life but she just laughs and says no way she wants to die in the Underworld. That there is time enough to get there after she dies."
Maya frowned. "Nik. How come she lives here instead of being at your father's side?"
Nik smiled and Maya felt a little foolish, her question more romantic than practical. "They do love each other but it's hard for a human to live in a god's realm. And my father's responsibilities would never allow him to live anywhere but Patala. Mother loves the sea, the sunshine. And she thought an earthly upbringing would be more beneficial to me than being raised in Patala."
"And she was right. You turned out pretty well in the end," said Maya with a grin.
Nik snorted. "Mother did a good job, she raised me without airs and graces, and she made sure I was never arrogant, that my status never got to my head. Even now I'm sure she'd slap me up side the head if I set one foot in the wrong direction." They both laughed, the sound echoing around the pillars only to be eaten by the sand surround them.
"I like her already," said Maya still laughing at the thought.
"She will like you too," said Nik.
"So even though she's old and frail she's giving you a hard time?"
"Yes. I don't like that she lives alone." Nik paused. "Well to be honest she isn't alone. Father gave her a few servants a long time ago and they are still with her so it's not as if she needs the physical help. I just…"
"You're worried she won't have any loved ones around when her time comes?" Maya asked curling her hand around Nik's arm.
