21 Shades of Night, page 354
My lightning tree unfurls its anger in full.
I slip off his blindfold to find his eyes are shut. "Panky." I pat his cheek. He moans.
He's still alive.
I gently turn him over, trying to undo the ropes which tie his hands. As I fumble around, a knife appears in the corner of my vision, pointy tip aimed at me.
"Looking for this?"
It's Vishal, a thread of humor running through his voice as if he is amused. Swallowing down my anger I seize the knife and cut through the ropes that bind Panky.
Getting to my feet, I hold it out, intending to give it back.
All Vishal does is grin and hold up his hands, before looking to the crowd as if sharing a joke with them. They roar with approval. A voice screams out, "Fight."
And another yells "FIGHT" and another, until finally the entire crowd is chanting once more in unison.
"FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT!"
They are bloodthirsty, these kids.
If a show is what they are looking for—I seize the knife, and raising it, I face the audience, turning my back on Vishal.
I am not scared of him. At least that's what I hope my body language signals.
The crowd falls silent as she steps onto the platform from the other side, coming to a stop just by Panky's feet. I dart an anxious look at him. His eyes are still closed, but he moves his head, just a little, and I can't tell over all that noise, but I think he moans.
She raises her hand and silence falls. "Tonight, one of them will die." She pauses for effect, looks around, then flings her hands out. "Only one will come with us into the new world. Who will it be?" She points to where Vishal and I stand illuminated within the circle of the spotlight.
Seriously? She wants me to fight Vishal? And just to provide entertainment for this crazed crowd?
Before I can say anything, a voice pipes up. "Kill" it says.
Then another and another.
And then the entire crowd erupts once more. "KILL, KILL, KILL!"
They are crazy, this crowd, and all I can think is so many of them have exchanged one prison for another. They are happy to be pushed along on a path drawn by someone else.
Unlike me.
Dr. B. steps back and Vishal and I face each other. Once more, I wish I had my sword with me. Just holding it in my hands made me feel strong. Now all I have is this borrowed dagger.
Vishal and I circle each other and shuffle to the side, leading him away from Panky.
I leap, and Vishal simply steps aside so I sprawl to the floor, hitting my chin. The crowd roars in approval.
Then he does something surprising.
He holds out his hand to me.
I look from his hand to his face, and shake my head.
Using my legs for leverage, I push myself up to my feet.
The crowd is back to chanting now. "Vishal, VI-SHAL, VISHAL!"
We face each other again. I am half his size and a little shorter than him. I'll never be able to defeat him in a battle of strength. I am going to have to use my wits.
I focus my eyes, shutting everything else out. The noise from the crowd fades, the area around me shrinks. There is no more Panky or space beyond the platform. There's only my opponent, my knife, my throbbing lightning tree, and me—.
All my anger, my rage trapped in the veins of the leaves on the tree—everything is concentrated in that second. I jump.
So does Vishal.
We slam into each other and it feels like I have rammed into a wall. This time I fall on my back and lie, stunned.
I push myself back to my feet as quickly as possible and rush at him, the small dagger flung out in front of me, ready to slice through him,
"Here," Dr. B throws a sword at him and, catching it, he holds it in out in front like a shield.
My knife bounces harmlessly off the steel, sparks flaring at the contact.
We are back to circling each other now. It's my knife against his sword.
Chapter 33
VISHAL RUSHES AT me, sword held out. I am a little too slow this time, my strength already flagging. His sword cuts through the skin on my hand.
The pain stings, adrenaline rushes right behind. It wakes me up. The edges of my vision clear. Around me, it's as if everything has been touched by a bright, pulsing light.
I turn to where Vishal stands, his back to the audience.
"Ruby!" Vik's voice calls out to me and I grab the sword he throws at me.
How did he get hold of it? He would have had to get past Rock for that.
Does it matter?
All I know is that I have it, and now I must use it to save myself. Without breaking the move, I thrust the blade at Vishal and pull it out, blood spurting in the wake.
He looks down, stares, as if not understanding what he is seeing, before falling with a thud. I place my leg on his chest, holding him down. Then I raise my sword. And let it stay up. I am panting, my breath coming in short, sharp bursts.
Vishal's eyes swivel from me to the blade in my hand, then back to me.
I know he is wondering why I haven't killed him off yet.
I am wondering the same thing too.
My gaze slides away towards where a hundred upturned faces are staring at me in disbelief. Yes, I want to tell them. I want to scream. It was me. I did that.
Then, silence, as if the crowd is inhaling a collective deep breath. Chaos breaks out. Voices rise in bewilderment all at once, and many in the crowd rush towards the stage.
I bolt from the stage to a waiting Vikram, who hauls Panky over his shoulder.
"Get Vishal to his feet." I hear her voice in the distance, trying to calm the crowd. "Now, everyone—"
This is our chance. I race to where a motorboat is fired up and waiting for us with Bonny at the wheel.
I keep looking behind to see if we are being followed. But there's nobody. I can't believe it. Are they going to let us get away?
Dropping a still moaning Panky into the boat, Vikram gets in, and before I have settled in completely, we take off.
Well? I raise my eyebrows.
"He's one of mine," Vikram says in response to my unspoken question, before yelling, "Watch out!" He pushes me to the floor.
Just in time too, as bullets cut through the air.
He covers my body with his, and despite the danger we are in, my lightning tree pulses at his nearness.
"Stay down." Vikram's breathing is urgent, his voice tense with strain, yet all I can think is that his body feels solid, a wide expanse of muscle. I breathe deeply of his warm, cinnamon smell and a coil of desire rises in my belly.
Then another barrage of bullets hissing by and I feel his body jerk, the vibration running through him travelling over me
Vikram swears aloud.
No. No. No. Has he been shot, again?
"Let me up." I push against him. My heart catches in my throat.
My lightning tree is now throbbing at rhythmic intervals, sending sparks of restless energy up my back. Vikram groans, and I can feel his body grow heavier as he becomes unable to hold his full weight. Mad with concern, I push against him.
I don't know whether to be relieved or more worried when he moves off me to rest his back against the shallow walls.
He holds his left upper arm. "It's not serious," he says through gritted teeth.
Bonny is lying almost parallel to the floor of the boat. He peers over the steering wheel, trying to keep the small boat on course.
Pulling off my shirt, I tie it above the wound on Vikram's arm.
"You okay?" I ask
He half groans, and nods through an ashen face. "Nice," he mutters his eyes half-closed.
"What?" I ask puzzled.
"You." He smile, "I like what you are wearing."
I look down at the thin, sleeveless T-shirt, cut low enough to reveal the swell of my breasts.
I flush. "Now you tell me that." I try to joke, but my voice wobbles.
"How did you get past Rock to get to the sword?" I wonder aloud.
"You have your secrets, I have mine." His voice trails off as he continues to stare at me. For the first time I see naked desire in his eyes.
I start in surprise.
His features are animated, glowing in the starlight, despite the pain. He loves the chase as much as me.
Our eyes meet and hold.
"When we get out of here—" His features resolve into lines of hope. I wouldn't have believed he had all those emotions hidden inside him. But he is full of surprises today.
"When we get out of here, I promise to kiss your wounds better." I complete his sentence, trying to be flippant.
But neither of us smiles. It's as close to a promise as he is going to get from me, and he knows that.
I look behind us to find two boats in the distance. They may have stopped shooting, but they are not giving up the pursuit. I look at the sword on the floor. Its blade glistens dully.
"How much further?" I yell, to make myself heard above the noise of the motor.
"Another ten minutes, max," Bonny, yells back, his words scattering in the wind.
I peer through the mist hanging over the waves to see the island silhouetted through the velvet of the lightening sky.
"Umm! What am I doing in a boat?" Panky suddenly speaks up. Sitting upright, he looks around with bewildered eyes. There's utter confusion on his face, combined with a look that says, Have you lost it completely?
I chuckle.
Vikram leans over to pat him on the shoulder. "Good to see you join the living, and just in time to see all the action."
"Like I don't see enough, being around her?" He may have been tied up and browbeaten by Dr. B, but Panky has arrived in far better shape than either Vikram or I.
"And you." He points to Vikram, "You are just like her. Both of you attract trouble wherever you go."
I grin, my smile threatening to split my face. It just feels so normal to hear Panky complaining.
"I think I prefer you unconscious like all the times I've seen you so far," Vikram says, in a considering voice and I stifle a chuckle. "It's Vik by the way," He adds and Panky rolls his eyes. "Like I don't know that by now." He turns to me, "Your boyfriend sure is formal,” he says.
Before I can respond, another spray of bullets zings by. We duck, but they miss us, instead throwing up a spray of water as they slice through the water
"Couldn't you have killed them all before waking me up?" Panky complains.
Vik and I exchange a grin at that.
"So you haven't yet told Vik about Dr. B, have you?" Panky says, taking me by surprise.
"Shut up, Panky" I say but Vikram's already heard him.
He looks at me, curious. "What about you and Dr. B?"
"Nothing." I shoot Panky a murderous look. He holds his hands up in apology but it's too late.
"Well?" Vikram has his cop face back on. That steady gaze, the dogged expression, which signals that he is not giving up till I speak.
I sigh with enough force to rustle the hair on my forehead.
"Nothing to say. You've already met Dr. B. She is … my ma." I look at my blade with renewed interest.
Complete silence in the little boat. I look up to meet Bonny's startled look. I glare at him fiercely, and his gaze skitters away.
Vikram growls, "What do you mean?"
"Told you already." I stick out my chin at a defiant angle. "She is my mother. Should I spell it out for you?" My tone is belligerent.
The angrier I get, the icier his gaze grows. I swallow and look away, my gut churning at the look in his eyes.
"And you were planning to tell me this … when?" His tone is casual, cold. I much prefer him to be angry with me. Anything, but this hell-frozen-over sheet that has slipped between us. I am very afraid I will never be able to break down this barrier.
I gulp, not replying.
He reaches out with his unhurt hand to wrap his fingers around my throat.
"You lied to me." He leans in so his lips almost touch mine. "You said you didn't know her."
His breath whistles over my cheeks, raising goosebumps on my skin. His palm is wide enough to span my neck, his fingers almost meeting. It's warm, and rough enough to send tingles of awareness down my back.
"I am sorry." I shudder with desire. With regret. "So sorry."
And I am. More than he will ever know. And not just for lying to him.
"I knew right away, of course. But, it was as if a part of me simply didn't want to acknowledge what I was seeing. My mind just shut down."
The look on his face tells me he doesn't believe me.
"Whenever I see her, it is as Dr. B. Do you understand? She was never a mother to me anyway." I finish, my voice shrill with desperation.
Vik's looking at me as if seeing me for the first time.
I've lost him. He is never going to believe me again.
"Any idea why she wants that sword you are holding in your hand? Why she is hell-bent on destroying this city? And don't give me that bullshit about her new world."
His voice is still soft, but his fingers are stiff. Just get angry with me already. Hit me, throw something, get it out okay? But no, he doesn't do anything like that. He just pins me down with that amber gaze.
"What is she up to?" he asks. "You should know, after all you are her daughter."
I wince at that, and feel the pulse thundering at his wrist. I was mistaken. He is beyond angry. He is livid.
"I don’t know," I lie to him. Again. "Perhaps she really wants revenge for her son's death—"
"You mean your brother?"
I nod. "My brother." I let everything I am feeling for him show on my face, hoping he'll read my unsaid plea.
"Perhaps you are right. She wants to take revenge for your brother's death. But surely laying waste to the city is a little extreme, don't you think?" He says.
"She may have given birth to me, but that's all there is between us." I swallow. I know it's not enough, but how can I tell him it's all my fault? Everything. If I tell him I am the cause of my brother's death, of her wanting to destroy Bombay, he'll never forgive me. Not this cop who has sworn to protect his city.
"Anyway, does it matter now? She's done what she has to do and now it's my turn—"
He is looking at me intently, yet it's as if he hasn't heard a word I have just said now. Vik tightens his fingers, and to my shame desire once more crawls up my belly, making me shiver.
"If you want to kill me now, do it," I whisper.
Anything is preferable to this horrid feeling of guilt raking my insides, making me feel angry—with myself.
"Always full of surprises, aren't you?" His voice slides over my cheek.
Yeah, that's me all right. Nothing is ever simple in my life.
His hand falls away, eyes sliding over my bare shoulders and the tattoo, my lightning tree that wraps its leaves over my left upper arm.
"You're right, it doesn't matter." His eyes trace the pattern for a second longer, before he turns away as we hit the choppier waves near the shore of the island
"We're here. Let's go." At Vik's signal, Bonny cuts the motor. I grab my sword and jump out, followed by the others.
Barely have my feet touched shore when bullets pepper the boat behind us. The small vessel instantly catches fire.
"Hurry!" He yells and we double our speed, clambering over the rocky mini-beach to reach the foothills of the small hillock before the boat explodes behind us.
Chapter 34
"WHERE ARE WE going?" I yell at Vik, who's already halfway up the small hill. He doesn't reply. Panky and Bonny are just behind us.
We make it up to the top of the hill in record time. The peak is flat, like a tabletop. It's a plateau. There are a few trees scattered around, but otherwise it's barren. A full moon hangs in the sky as if it's a static flying saucer weighted down by the sins of the humans on this planet.
Palm trees fringe the hilltop. The space feels eerie, ghostly, as if the spirits of generations past linger here, refusing to leave.
There, in the center of the clearing, is a small temple, a domed structure made of white marble, which glistens with an iridescent greenish fluorescence, reflecting back the moonlight. Our tiny party is silent. Is it my imagination, or does a tiny current of electricity run through the sword? I raise it in front of me. It's glowing with the same fluorescent light, matching the temple.
It's obviously a coincidence. Right?
As if in a dream, I walk towards the temple. I am drawn to the structure. It reaches out to me, alluring, glinting in the milky rays, more comforting than a lover's embrace, more secure than I have ever felt clasped in my mother's arms.
All thoughts drain from my mind. The noise in my head completely disappears.
Silence.
The only time I have been this clear in my head is when I have cut myself. Now I see clearly without hurting myself. With every step, I am more sure.
I have spent my entire life preparing for this moment.
I know now why I survived PW.
I am sure this is why she cut me out of her life.
I was spared for a reason.
Spared by ten thousand volts, reborn for facing my worst fears.
I walk at a steady pace towards my goal, Vik at my heels.
The other two fall in behind, Bonny supporting Panky, trying to hurry him along.
A shout rings out, and I hear footsteps behind me. Still, I can't stop. Not when everything in my life has been leading up to this moment. Right here, right now.
I continue.
There is a scream, sounds of a scuffle, guns being fired. I keep going through it all. One step in front of the other. Isn't this what life is about? Living, just one second at a time. To keep going.
My eyes are fixed on the goal ahead. I can't see anything else. The sounds behind me fade. It's just the temple and me.
I walk up the steps and under the low-hanging roof. Stepping over the threshold, I am in the inner sanctum. Here, the ceiling of the room tapers overhead into a dome.
It is empty, save for a small altar right in the center, a circular structure made of white marble, shaped like a large tulip with a plate fitted over its rim. Even as I watch, the surface shimmers—sparks of purple, green and white swirl up through the air. On the side facing me is a thin groove, running all the way to its center like the hand of a clock.
