Tiger’s Destiny (9 page)

When it was Kishan’s turn, he said, “And when all is said and done and we lay your four gifts at your feet, we ask for an opportunity for a new life in return.”

After a few seconds of silence, Kishan nudged Mr. Kadam, who had been staring absently at the floor.

“Oh, yes. I ask you to please watch over and protect my charges so that what is destined to be will come to pass.”

I turned and stared quizzically at Mr. Kadam, who merely shrugged his shoulders while Ren and Kishan changed into tigers.

What happened next scared me to death. The candles and matches burst into flame, the firecrackers exploded, and fire quickly spread around the dais and began licking the walls behind the Durga statue. From there, the blaze spread wall to wall, and we were soon encased in a box of fire.

Anything flammable was quickly consumed, but the four stone walls didn’t burn for long. Instead, the fire danced across the floor, burning moss and dust particles between the flat stones. In a snap, we were engulfed in a pillar of fire. Ren and Kishan turned back into men and tucked me between them, our backs to the encroaching circle.

I screamed when the tail of Ren’s shirt caught on fire, but Kishan quickly slapped the fire out. Smoke filled the room, and I buried my face into Ren’s shirt to stifle my coughs. Though a cold breeze blew through the room, it was still hot, hot enough that the wax effigy began to melt before our eyes. Her jeweled headdress turned into a pool of rainbow tears that slowly dripped down her beautiful face.

On the wall behind the figure, a handprint glowed red in the hot stone. Ren insisted on touching it first and burned himself. I asked the Pearl Necklace to cool it down and soon a curtain of cold water descended from the ceiling to meet the hot stone. At first, the water hissed and steamed, but within a few minutes, it slid over the stone smoothly and pooled on the temple floor.

I stepped forward, placed my hand into the hollowed-out print, and focused my energy. The henna design surfaced, and prickly heat tickled my palm.

Durga’s melted figure began to glow. Her hair burst into flame and stood out from her head like a fiery mane. Wax dripped off the figure to form a large puddle near her bare feet, leaving behind a beautiful woman who radiated the warmth of ten suns. Her skin was honey-caramel and her gown sunset-orange. She only had two arms, one adorned with a simple golden band, though the wax figure had boasted eight. With her eyes closed, she took a deep breath and smoothed her hands over her black, silky hair. The flames disappeared. The only jewelry she wore was the armband and a golden belt at her waist.

The goddess smiled at the four of us, and I heard the sound of tinkling bells as she spoke.

“It is good to see you all again.” Pointing to the floor, she laughed. “As you can see, your offerings have been accepted.” Durga waved her hand in a big arc, and the sooty walls and lumps of burned material disappeared.

A light squeeze on my arm reminded me that Fanindra was eager to see her mistress. Approaching the dais, I slid the jeweled cuff off my arm and handed her to Durga. The snake immediately animated, raised her head, and wrapped around Durga’s arm several times.

The goddess stroked Fanindra until Kishan cleared his throat. Without looking at him she sighed and censured, “You must learn to be patient where women and goddesses are concerned, my ebony one.”

Kishan quickly apologized, “Forgive me, Goddess,” and bowed chivalrously.

The ghost of a smile appeared on her face. “Learn to love the moment you are in. Treasure your experiences, for precious moments too quickly pass you by, and if you are always rushing toward the future, or pining for the past, you will forget to enjoy and appreciate the present.”

“I will endeavor to treasure every word that passes from your lips, my goddess.” Kishan raised his head, and Durga leaned forward to touch his cheek. “If only you were always so . . . devoted,” she said.

Ren took my hand in consolation while my boyfriend made goo-goo eyes at the gorgeous goddess.

When Durga finally looked at me, her expression changed from wistful to gracious.

“Kelsey, my daughter. Have you flared well?”

“Umm, mostly. A giant shark took a bite out of my leg but other than that, I’ve been good.”

“A giant . . . shark?” She seemed confused, and her eyes darted toward Mr. Kadam.

Something strange is going on.

“Yes. A shark. But we got the Pearl Necklace for you. See?”

I showed her the Necklace, which she studied with a smile.

“Yes, I am glad. This gift will be very much needed in your next quest.” Durga’s eyes drifted to my face, and she took my hands with motherly concern. “Your hardest days lay ahead, my precious one.”

“You must help her,” she addressed Ren. “Shore her up. A cleansing comes—a burning of the heart and soul. When the three of you emerge from this you will be stronger, but there will be times when you may be tempted to ask for the burden to be lifted from your shoulders.

“Kelsey will need both of you in the days ahead. Think not of yourselves or of your dreams, but focus on what you need to do to save her and on what you must do to save the rest of us. We are
all
depending on you.”

“The tigers get to be men full time after we find the next prize, right?” I asked.

Durga answered thoughtfully, “The form of the tiger was given to them for a purpose and soon that purpose will be realized. When this fourth task is completed, they will have the opportunity to separate themselves from the tiger. Come and take your last weapons.”

From her belt, the goddess drew a golden sword and, in one quick motion, split the blade into two weapons. With a flash of her arms, she spun the swords in each hand, twirling the weapons until both blades rested at Ren’s and Kishan’s throats. Her eyes gleamed with delight.

Ren demurred, and the goddess tossed him a sword, which he accepted gracefully. But she kept the tip of the other pressed against Kishan’s throat. His eyes tightened slightly, and I wondered if he was going to challenge the goddess.

Durga grinned at Kishan and twirled the sword again, but he anticipated her actions and avoided the blade. They did a deadly dance together, and Durga seemed delighted by his prowess. After a moment, she cornered Kishan, who froze, this time with the blade aimed at his heart.

I sucked in a breath while she teased, “Not to worry, my dear Kelsey, for the black tiger’s heart is very hard to pierce.”

Kishan glared at the beautiful goddess in fighting stance. Her orange gown was slit from hem to mid-thigh, and I couldn’t help but notice her taut and lovely long leg.

She might not be perfect, but her legs sure are. Even when I was practicing wushu regularly in Oregon, my legs never looked that good.

A scowling Kishan appeared to be noticing the same thing. His gaze traveled from her bare leg up her face, and when she raised a mocking eyebrow, he glowered at her.

I put my hand on his arm. “Kishan, she’s just demonstrating how to use the sword. Relax.”

He did, but the goddess grinned as if she could read his mind. He batted the blade away from his chest before sullenly taking the sword. The goddess straightened and removed two brooches from her golden belt. Taking a step down from the dais, she pinned one on Ren’s clothing and the other on Kishan’s. Kishan stood immobile, nodded hesitantly, and watched her every move as the goddess demonstrated how to use the seemingly innocuous pins.

Durga covered Kishan’s brooch with her palm and spoke. “Armor and shield.”

Immediately the brooch grew and golden metal shot out in every direction, encasing Kishan’s body. Soon, he was wearing a suit of armor and was holding his sword and a shield.

Durga pressed the brooch again and whispered, “
Bruucha
, brooch.” The suit of armor shrank back down until it was only a gleaming decoration once more. “Perhaps it would be better for the time being for you to remain in these . . .” she said in a low, sultry voice, running her hand over Kishan’s broad shoulder, “modern clothes. I have a weakness for handsome men dressed in battle gear.”

Kishan’s expression changed to one of surprise.

What was going on?
Durga had never flirted with Kishan this . . . blatantly before. It was as if we were watching a badly acted soap opera.

“These brooches were created especially for the two of you,” Durga continued. She stared into Kishan’s eyes; the heat between them was palpable. “Do you like my gift, ebony one?” she asked softly.

Kishan sucked in a breath, stepped forward, and took her hand in his. “I think you are . . . I mean, I think it is . . . incredible. Thank you, Goddess,” he said and kissed her fingers.

“Hmm,” she smiled appreciatively. “You are welcome.”

Ren growled softly, and Mr. Kadam finally broke the tension.

“
Perhaps
, we had best begin our journey. Unless you have more to tell us . . . Goddess?”

Durga immediately took a step away from Kishan, who looked at her like she was a tasty morsel he wanted to devour. She returned his gaze, and the looks that passed between them were steamy enough to melt the stone floor.

Durga glanced at Mr. Kadam and nodded her head. “I have said all that is necessary. Until we meet again, my friends.”

Her features began to solidify and desperately, I asked, “When will we meet again?”

Durga smiled and winked at me. Then flames rose around her body, obscuring our view, and when the fire diminished, she was an eight-armed statue once again. I stepped up to the dais and held out my arm for Fanindra, who stretched out and wrapped herself around my upper arm, settling into her normal position.

As I turned back, I jerked, shocked to hear an angry voice echoing in the quiet temple.

“
That
was entirely inappropriate!” Ren spat at his brother and punched him in the face.

destiny

K
ishan rubbed his jaw and glared at Ren.

“If I ever see you treat Kelsey that way again, I’ll do a hell of a lot more than just knock some sense into you. I highly encourage you to apologize. Do I make myself clear, little brother?” Ren’s tirade continued.

Kishan’s eyes widened, and then he nodded meekly.

“Good. We’ll wait for you outside, Kelsey,” Ren said and left, with Mr. Kadam trailing in his wake.

“He’s right. I apologize. I don’t know what I was thinking. I’m sorry, Kells.” Kishan wrapped his arms around me. “You’re still my girl, aren’t you?”

I nodded against his chest, and he took my hand and led me outside.

“You can be mad at me if you want. Go insanely jealous and beat me down. I deserve it.”

The odd thing was . . . I wasn’t jealous. I was more curious than angry. Making a mental note to discuss it with Mr. Kadam later, I hurried along the path and was shocked to see that all the ice and snow around the temple had melted.

Going down the mountain path was much easier than going up, but both brothers insisted on holding my arms as we descended, just in case I slipped. By the time we passed Katra, I was dead tired and not sure I could make it the last mile.

Mr. Kadam, who was usually so accommodating, insisted that we keep going and even suggested that one of the boys carry me. I sighed and trudged on slowly until Kishan picked me up and cradled me in his arms. I was asleep by the time we finally arrived back at camp.

While I rested my sore feet by the fire, I was able to sneak in a private conversation with Mr. Kadam.

“Mr. Kadam, I . . . well, I just wanted to know what you thought about Durga and Kishan. I’m not sure how I feel about what happened in the temple. You saw it too, didn’t you?”

“Yes. I . . . yes, I noticed.”

“Should I be concerned? About Kishan, I mean?” I squirmed under Mr. Kadam’s gaze. “The old myths talk about gods falling in love with mortals and even having children with them. Do you think Durga has a thing for Kishan? I’m not sure how I’m supposed to feel about that.”

Mr. Kadam looked up at the starry night sky and then smiled at me. Gently, he said, “How
do
you feel?”

“I feel . . . like I should be really upset, but I’m not, and that bothers me a little. I trust Kishan. I believe he loves me.”

“You’re right about trusting him. Kishan wouldn’t be with a goddess when he has you. He loves you.”

“I know he does, but Ren was so upset.”

Mr. Kadam sighed. “Ren . . . loves you, too. He confronts anything that threatens those he loves. He has always given of himself, even to the point of setting aside his own desires, to make sure that others have the things they need. In war, he would rather ride to the front lines and place himself in harm’s way before allowing his men to die.”

Yep. Sounds like Ren.
I nodded. “I’ve seen this first-hand. He broke up with me because he couldn’t save me when I almost drowned. He sacrificed himself so Kishan could get me away from Lokesh’s henchmen. He constantly pushes me away to save my life.”

Sagely, Mr. Kadam inclined his head. “Ren will always jump to your defense. That is how he shows his love for you, Miss Kelsey.”

What if that’s not the kind of love I need?
I thought.