by T. G. Ayer
Maya sighed. "Living room, dirty plates, and cups and serviettes. Ms Harris picks stuff up. Then she picks up the cheese knife-" She paused. "Oh."
"Exactly," was all Kali said.
"Okay. Let's try this again."
"Remember, use your energy to force your suggestion to the surface. Get it right this time because the earlier you arrive each time the less you are able to control the actual event. Now, you can ensure she uses the knife. If you go in any earlier you won't see what you've already seen. If that makes sense."
Maya gave a nod. "Ready when you are."
Maya lay in wait. If lying within an unsuspecting person's body could be described as lying in wait. Of course, Ms Harris had no idea what was in store for her today.
Ms Harris wriggled beneath her sheets and groaned, stuffing her face into her pillow before lifting it and shifting into a sitting position. Ms Harris stared at the fabric of her white pillowcase, streaked now with remnants of eyeshadow, lipstick, and foundation that she hadn't bothered to clean off last night. She ripped the pillowcase off the pillow and padded to the bathroom on bare feet, throwing it into the hamper before going to the basin and grabbing the toothpaste.
Maya would have jumped with shock at the sight of Ms Harris's reflection, but unfortunately she was stuck inside her teacher's body. Or rather her teachers very much underdressed body. Apparently all Ms Harris wore to bed was a silk negligee, its fabric so transparent it barely qualified as fabric. Maya averted her eyes and stared at Ms Harris makeup-smeared face. Geez. She was as bad as Maya in the makeup removal department. Raccoon eyes and lipstick streaked up her cheek. Yup, just like Maya.
Maya closed her eyes and sang loudly while her teacher performed her morning routine, only opening them when she was pretty certain she was clothed. Ms Harris headed into the kitchen, picking up trash and then she stooped to grab the knife.
Maya pulled the energy from deep within her, and focused it on Ms Harris's hand. Her teacher gasped as Maya took control of her fingers, tightening the digits around the hilt of the knife.
And then the demon appeared, with Maya well prepared. Maya had expected her, but Ms Harris stiffened, stunned.
She dropped the trash, but despite her fingers slackening their hold on the knife, they didn't let go. Because Maya held on with all her might.
Thrilled by her small success Maya tightened the muscles in her right leg and stepped back, willing with all her strength for her teacher to follow her direction.
Ms Harris didn't fight Maya, probably because she was moving away from the red-eyed creature, putting the sofa between them.
But even as Maya coaxed Ms Harris backward, the demon followed step-for-step. And then she grinned, revealing hideous sharp teeth, and launched herself at Ms Harris.
But Maya was ready, putting the power of her fire behind her hand she pushed, forcing Ms Harris to throw her hand out in front of her.
Just in time.
The demon landed in front of Ms Harris, knife sharp fingers outspread, eager to end the teachers life. But instead of taking possession of the human body, the Rakshasi hesitated, staring at Ms Harris with the oddest expression, a strange amalgamation of surprise, frustration, fury and pain.
And then, in a conflagration of red and orange flames, she was gone. All that was left were little sparks of gold and flecks of black soot which floated to the white carpet on Ms Harris's living room floor.
Mission accomplished.
Maya floated back to her body, wondering how Ms Harris was going to handle her strange experience. Would she chalk it up to too much partying the previous night? Or would she assume she was going a little nuts.
Either way, the demon was dead and Maya had saved the boy's life.
Maya opened her eyes and Mother Kali had already left.
Paper crinkled in Maya's grip and she glanced down, opening the folded newspaper to see the headline.
* * *
Apartment Burgled By Crazed Woman
Residents advised to increase security.
* * *
Maya laughed. So that's what Ms Harris had told people.
But as her amusement died down she began to wonder how her actions had affected the timeline, especially where it had anything to do with Maya and her school.
She flicked her phone open and dialed Joss, who picked up on the second ring.
"What's up?"
"Ms Harris."
"What?" Joss asked, her tone clearly indicating that she'd concluded Maya was nuts. "What about Ms Harris?"
"She's free."
"Free from what, Maya?" Joss was speaking slowly and firmly, the way one did to naughty little kids.
"From the demon, Joss." Maya held her breath and waited for Joss's answer.
"What demon? What's Ms Harris got to do with any demon?" The lilt in her friend's voice as she asked the question told Maya that she would happily commit her right now.
Maya laughed. "Nothing. It's a long story. I'll explain when I see you."
"You are not going to get away with that so easily. Spill." The threat in Joss's tone was enough to make Maya burst out laughing.
"Where are you?"
"Spare room," she snapped.
Maya cut the call and turned on her heel.
The moment she'd confirmed that her attempt to save the boy had worked, a plan had begun to form in her mind.
Chapter 29
After Joss had left, Maya had time to sit and contemplate her actions. She turned the idea over in her mind, that time was so fluid, that a person could move through the past, could even manipulate people and their actions.
And despite the banter and teasing about how powerful she could be, Maya knew she couldn't be tempted to use this ability for personal gain.
She'd never done so, even after she'd received her fire power either, so why would she start now?
Maya, still exhausted from the flight, climbed under the covers and lay very still, her mind buzzing with possibilities. She'd expected to be way too energized to sleep, but within seconds she'd fallen into the numb slumber of the deeply fatigued, or the deeply troubled.
Maya just happened to be both.
She dreamed of a single face, red hair, eyebrows and cheeks.
She dreamed of a pair of curious eyes, of a boy who'd stared at her because he'd felt privileged to have even seen her. A boy she'd failed to save.
Stefan.
Maya sat up, suddenly wide awake, decisions and plans racing across her mind. She knew what she wanted to do, but a trill of fear ran beneath the anticipation.
Kali had said such power was not to be used lightly, and never to be used for personal gain. Was saving Stefan personal gain?
She'd be saving his life, yes, but wouldn't she also be satisfying her own need to feel better, assuaging her own guilt in her failure to keep him safe? Wasn't that just a different type of personal gain?
Maya shook the doubt from her head. Of course, it's not personal gain. She intended to save the boy's life. His parents would certainly appreciate the effort, even if they'd never know it had even happened. And what was the point of having such a power if she never used it to do good?
Maybe it's time she did something to define her own existence, something other than what she'd done in her previous life, something that would be just as worthy of Mother Radha.
She nodded.
She'll save him and deal with the consequences later.
As she settled back against the pillows, Kali's words rang through her head. "There must always be balance."
Maya frowned, wondering what exactly the goddess had meant by that, but she didn't let it trouble her too long.
She took a breath, calming herself.
Then she closed her eyes.
Chapter 30
When Maya opened her eyes, it was like rising from a deep, soundless ocean to be born into the eye of a hurricane. The stillness held a certain similarity but the mortal threat was vastly different.
She
blinked and Priya's demon lunged for her. Stefan pulled the trigger and the demon went flying. Maya spun on her heel and ran to the boy who was still standing on the threshold, a glazed look in his eyes.
She grabbed the rifle and shoved him out of the hut. "Get back to the car if you want to live." She growled out the words and Stefan pulled back, shocked at the vehemence in her voice.
But she didn't care.
She just turned back to Priya, and the demon who was slowly getting back to his feet. She didn't give him a chance, just sent supercharged fire at him until he disappeared in a little puff of amber light. Second time around she knew better what it took to incinerate him.
Done, Maya turned to face Priya who'd launched into a run when her demon went down.
But instead of tackling the Rakshasi head on, Maya was shoved roughly aside. Pain burst in her side and warmth began to trick down her hip as the impact ripped her stab wound open.
As she fell, Maya watched Claudia swipe a dagger at Priya. The demon's claws were long, but Claudia managed to skirt past her far enough that the demon couldn't touch her.
The hut was too small, the confines of its walls keeping them all cloistered together.
Too close
And, as Priya advanced, Claudia had nowhere to go.
When the Rakshasi plunged her dagger-like fingernail into Claudia's stomach, Maya let out a scream of horror.
She scrambled to her feet, her fingernails digging into the packed soil of the floor, and staggered over to her aunt. Her fury built in much the same way as it had the last time she'd been here, only much more potent.
Fueled by her anger, she destroyed Priya with a super-charged flare of fire and heat.
Then she found herself falling to Claudia's side instead of Stefan's.
Oh God, what had she done?
Chapter 31
Maya's heart crashed against her chest during the ride to visit Claudia. Sabala had pushed his nose against her hip until she let him get in the back seat with her. Now, he sat beside her in solemn silence, as if understanding what she needed.
The more she worried about what she would say and what Claudia's reaction would be, the more she twisted the little leather ties on the cuffs of her sleeves. She'd dressed on automatic, her subconscious in full force.
With her jeans, boots and silky blouse, she was already channeling Claudia. She'd been surprised when her parents hadn't driven to the local hospital. They'd entered the centre of busy downtown LA, and headed into a parking garage beneath a bog standard high-rise. Maya had paid little attention to the address, but her eyebrows had risen when they'd parked in a reserved space complete with her dad's name on it.
"Where are we going?"
"To see Claudia, honey. We promised to bring you," said her mom, looking over her shoulder as her dad pulled the handbrake and opened his door. Her mom's eyes held a hint of sadness and Maya wondered if she was disappointed in her hurting Claudia. They'd assured her they didn't blame her but it was human nature to place blame, even if the person in question is their child.
She'd messed up and she did deserve their disappointment.
Now, she pushed away the niggling shame. "Uh?" said Maya. "This isn't the hospital."
Neither of her parents seemed to be listening as they alighted and shut their doors, so Maya followed suit, telling herself it was better to ask less questions right now. She'd rocked the boat plenty, and already felt like a piece of three-day-old pooch poop.
The parking space had proclaimed 'KALIMA' so maybe they were making a stop at the offices of the Kali organization before heading out to see Claudia. When she followed them into the elevator, Sabala close at her heel, her dad thumbed a blank button at the top of the bank of numbered ones. A floor with no number?
Stranger and stranger.
The ride within the multi-mirrored elevator was silent and Maya couldn't help but see the irony being stuck in a tiny space with a million reflections of herself to stare at. What better way to enjoy being disappointed in yourself than by seeing it multiplied over and over until you're cross-eyed, or nauseous.
Or both.
Maya chose to keep her eyes on the row of floor numbers above the doors, watching each one light up, then darken until suddenly none of them were lit. And yet the elevator came to a smooth halt at the unnumbered floor.
Okay, so nobody is meant to know what floor this place is on. Secretive much.
Maya frowned as the doors slid open and they entered a small cream-carpeted reception area. A surly security guard rose from behind a large desk and opened an inner door for them. He gave her parents a formal nod, and Maya a wide-eyed glance before lowering his eyes. The invisible dog remained invisible as the guard returned to his seat.
She snuck a look back at him as they entered the internal room but he paid them no further attention. Inside, another desk and this time an older man stood behind the smaller reception station, flipping through a stack of files, his face enigmatic.
He shifted his attention from papers to faces and gave a small smile, his features transforming from neutral to borderline cheery.
"Ah, Dev. She is waiting for you," he said, his clipped English matching his striped bowtie. His piercing gaze shifted to Maya.
A tiny nod; neutral was good.
Then he did a double-take as his gaze lowered to where Sabala stood beside her, supposedly invisible. He glanced back up at Maya, his eyes a fraction wider than before. Boy would he be good at poker. He held her gaze for a moment before flicking back to Sabala, as if he wanted to re-assure himself of what stood before his eyes.
Maya's dad offered the man a short greeting and a familiar smile before making a left and hurrying briskly down the hall. Her mom slipped a hand into the crook of her elbow and gently pulled Maya along.
"He's an adept," she whispered as Maya restrained the urge to look back at the old man.
"But he's-"
"Old?" asked Leela as they followed her dad. Sabala clacked along beside her, unperturbed by having had his glamor penetrated by a mere human.
Dev made a few turns, left, then right, then left again and seemed to be leading them to the other end of the building.
"White?" said Maya dryly.
"That's racist."
"Mom!"
Leela laughed. "Kali has had followers all over the world for hundreds of years. Edward McCullough is one of the founding members of the modern version of our organization."
"Modern version?" asked Maya.
They reached a pair of glass doors and Dev drew a card from his pocket, then swiped it through a little card reader on the wall.
"Organized, formalized, with infrastructure for making money to fund the rest of our work."
The door hissed open, as if the entrance sealed the area off so thoroughly that even the air didn't mix.
"Sounds so . . . boring," Maya said, nonetheless impressed. "At least you guys aren't unemployed, riding around in an old car with a bunch of weapons stashed in the trunk."
This section of the floor seemed no different from the rest, same decor, similar occupants except for the nurse behind a station on their left. She glanced up at them but barely paid any attention as they passed and headed down the corridor.
"Maybe not unemployed. But the car and the weapons pretty much sums it up," whispered her mom, her voice filled with laughter as she watched Maya's face.
Maya schooled her features as they reached a room at the end of the passage. The door stood ajar and they entered a deluxe hospital room, kitted out in a decor of oak and plush carpet, complete with fresh flowers and a big screen TV. The beeping of the machines dispelled the notion that this was a luxurious bedroom, bringing Maya to full awareness.
If the noises of hospital equipment hadn't succeeded in slamming Maya with a reality check, then the wheelchair tucked beside the door would have done the trick. Sabala sauntered over to it, then sat back on his haunches beside the wheelchair, his expression inscrutable.
Maya a
verted her eyes, refocused on Claudia who sat on the bed, the top half elevated so she was in a comfortable sitting position. She looked tired, pale, but in good spirits. She had a novel on her lap, something raunchy from the looks of it, and she didn't seem in the least embarrassed about the half-naked couple in an x-rated clinch splashed across the front cover.
Claudia smiled happily at the sight of her visitors, and a stab of pain ripped through Maya's heart. She'd soon be the one to single-handedly end that short moment of joy. She moved aside and let her parents gather beside the bed to complete their greetings. Even so she had no intention of waiting too long to get things off her chest.
Little point in approaching the subject with too much tact either, and as the conversation lulled Maya knew the time had come at last. This must be what it's like to walk the plank, or climb up on the gallows.
Dramatic much, Maya.
Claude glanced around Leela to get Maya's attention, so she moved closer and took a deep breath.
"So you have something to tell me, kid?" asked Claudia looking at Maya as if she was going to reveal a special surprise, as if it was going to be something good. Clearly, she was unaware of the bombshell Maya was about to drop.
Maya nodded, her throat feeling like she'd swallowed a handful of razor blades. "Hey," she said, her mouth twisting in a semblance of a smile.
"So? Tell me. Your mom made it sound very important." She gave Leela an unimpressed glance before returning her attention to Maya.
"It is, and you aren't going to like it. I'll understand if you hate me." In the ensuing seconds, breathing became difficult as a strange pressure began to compress her chest. She had to force herself to inhale slowly.
Claudia laughed, but the look she gave Maya was a little nervous. "Spill, Maya. You know how I dislike long moments of awkward silences." Sabala chuffed and Claudia grinned, searching the air in the hell-hound's direction. "Hey, pooch." When she looked at Maya again, her smile was gone.
