Tiger's Voyage

  I quickly realized something. “Wait a second!”

  The boys paused in mid-sentence, and I walked around both of them, scrutinizing their costumes. “Our clothes aren’t random. We’re them! I’m Parvati.”

  They both turned to look at me, and Kishan shrugged.

  Ren studied me closer. “You’re right. You’re wearing her clothes.”

  “Then that must mean that this belongs to you.” Kishan smiled at me and held out a necklace.

  I mentally corrected myself. Not a necklace, the Necklace—the Black Pearl Necklace of Durga. Because all I could do was stare at it, Kishan stepped around behind me to snap its clasp. Instead of a chain, tiny diamonds set in silver arcs crossed over each other with tips overlapping. Hanging from each tip was a shiny black pearl the size of my thumb. A cluster of black and white pearls hung from its center to form a lotus flower. The Necklace draped heavily across my neck. I gently fingered the lotus flower.

  Kishan brushed his lips across the sensitive skin under my ear and whispered, “They suit you.”

  I heard the click of the clasp just as Ren shouted, “Wait!”

  Immediately, I was sucked into a tunnel of wind that deposited me in white space. The amulet burned at my throat where it rested. Confused for only a moment, I relaxed my stance and watched as a flash of blurry scenes tumbled into view.

  At first, I was back on the Deschen listening to Mr. Kadam and Nilima as they studied maps. They couldn’t hear or see me, though I tried to communicate with them for several minutes. Then the vision fragmented, and I was whisked away to another ship with what looked like Mr. Kadam’s ghost. Fins broke the water and then disappeared. A twenty-foot great white raised its head above the surface, snapping its powerful jaws and making a horrible sound. Lokesh stood above the fierce creatures, hand to his amulet.

  I stepped to the side and gasped when I recognized Captain Dixon. His right eye was swollen shut, and he had bloody lacerations across his chest and arms. I listened to Lokesh question him, but the noble seaman remained defiant, refusing to reveal our whereabouts or our destination— even when held over the rail where the sharks waited hungrily below.

  “Perhaps you need further motivation?” I heard Lokesh politely inquire.

  The dark magician waved his hand and an unseen force nudged one of his crewmen overboard into a melee of feeding frenzy. His screams were quickly silenced, but the sounds of the sharks feasting were terrible—the chomping, the crack of bones breaking, the splashing of slick torpedo-shaped bodies as they rushed after torn body pieces, tails swishing back and forth as jaws ripped flesh off in chunks to swallow whole.

  Lokesh smiled at the sound. “Last chance, Captain. Have you no care for your life?”

  The captain answered, “Since I was a young boy playin’ in de water, I know’d dat ma bodee wood be laid ta rest far away from de shores. Ma bones wood lie on de bottom of de ocean. De sea, you see … she is ma wife and yon sharkies are ma childr’n. I go ta her arms ta die in her embrace. I hab no regrets.”

  Frowning, the sorcerer flicked his fingers. “Then, so be it.”

  With another wave of his hand, Lokesh sent the prisoner over the rail. Silently, the captain fell, dropping slowly as he turned in the air. He descended toward the black water and when he at last touched it, the waves folded over him like a dark blanket.

  Without making a splash, his body sank and was quickly sought after by sharks. I gasped in horror, unable to make a sound. Their fins disappeared, and soon the water was as black and as still as the soul of the man at the rail watching.

  I saw Lokesh’s evil visage crystallize in an admiring glance before turning his back on his doomed captive—and then he froze.

  It was as if we had somehow stepped out of time and were ghosts in a white ethereal world.

  I saw both Lokesh and Mr. Kadam look behind me and turn. Ren was silent, holding my limp form in his arms while Kishan murmured endearments and smoothed back my hair.

  Lokesh addressed me for the first time. “Interesting. I assume you heard my recent exchange as I heard yours.” He studied the vision behind me. “I see you’ve captured the hearts of both brothers as my beautiful Yesubai did. How very … Machiavellian of you, my dear Kelsey.”

  “You will not speak to her,” Mr. Kadam’s form proclaimed.

  “Ah,” Lokesh smiled evilly, “and has the young one caused even your ancient heart to smolder with jealousy, my friend?”

  Lokesh turned his gaze back to me, and his eyes burned with an intensity I hadn’t seen before. “I must admit,” he laughed casually but his hungry leer belied his pleasant demeanor, “she’s captured my interest as well.”

  “She is my ward and thus falls under the protection of the Rajaram house,” Mr. Kadam warned. “Do not look upon her in that manner. I forbid it. She is an innocent and not meant for one such as you.”

  Not meant for him? Lokesh wanted … me? I felt sick, and the way he was looking at me made me want to scrub my skin with lye, gouge out my eyes, and pour bleach in my brain to cleanse him from it.

  “Murderer!” I spat. “You killed Captain Dixon!”

  “Come, come, my dear. It’s the fault of your precious tigers. They thought I was so feebleminded, so old, that I wouldn’t find the ship named after their mother? They are stupid. Weak. Like their father. Rajaram ran away rather than face me. He hid his family in the jungle and left his people to fend for themselves. They will leave you in the same way.”

  “They will never leave me.” I clenched my teeth to keep from sobbing as hot tears ran down my face.

  Lokesh thoughtfully considered me. “Think of all we could accomplish together, my young one. With the amulets united, I could rule the world, and you would stand by my side as my queen. I would lavish you with the luxuries of the ages. You have merely to wish for something, and whatever you desire would be granted. I am a handsome man, young.” The area around him shifted and blurred. “Young enough for a woman such as yourself to find … pleasing.”

  Startled, I studied his features. He was right. He was young and handsome. Why did he seem older before? Is this some kind of trick? He was thinner and his hair was slicked back. He still had rings on each finger but instead of stubby digits, his fingers were long and tapered, and his body powerful and muscular.

  “It’s an illusion, Kelsey. Ignore him,” Mr. Kadam pleaded.

  Lokesh went on, “I could give you a good life.”

  “What do you want from me? Why me?” I asked. “Surely you can have any woman you want.”

  “Just any woman is not worthy of me. As to what I want,” he laughed suggestively as his gaze traveled slowly up my body to settle on the amulet, “there is one thing even a man of my power cannot do alone. Can you guess what it is?”

  When the answer came to me, I sucked in a breath. “A child. You want a child?”

  “Yes. I want a son. I choose you because you are strong and brave. Yesubai’s mother was weak. Only one other woman has ever affected me in the same way and sadly, she inconveniently disappeared.”

  “Deschen,” Mr. Kadam whispered incredulously. “You wanted Deschen.”

  “Yes. She was beautiful and fiery. Deschen would have given me a fine son, an heir. He would have been splendid—as tall and courageous as Dhiren, as brawny and powerful as Kishan, but with my own wisdom, cunning, and thirst for power. A son of my own blood.

  “But you,” the sorcerer addressed me, “are the better choice. Not only are you bold, but you are also passionate and filled with power. Perhaps it only comes from wielding the amulet, but I think not. There is something special, something … different about you. And whether you want it or not, I will have you.”

  “No,” I whispered quietly. “No,” I affirmed as I shook my head in denial.

  Lokesh tilted his head and considered me. “Perhaps, if you came to me willingly, I would allow your tigers to live, albeit on a tiny island far away, in a place where they would be of little consequence. I assure you,
though, that once I choose a course of action, I am rarely thwarted.”

  “That is enough! She will be under my protection, and you will never touch her as long as there is life in my limbs,” Mr. Kadam threatened.

  Lokesh smiled. “Then we will have to see to it that life does not remain in your limbs much longer, my friend. I look forward to the challenge. Be forewarned, I am coming for you.”

  “And I’ll be waiting.” Mr. Kadam finished.

  Our bodies started to fade, becoming ghostlike.

  I turned my worried eyes to Mr. Kadam, and he smiled, trying to reassure me.

  “Oh, one last thing,” Lokesh added with a smooth leer. “I’m sure if he could, Captain Dixon would have expressed his sorrow at being unable to serve you any longer. His new position is one that is … interminable.”

  Lokesh noted the tears slipping down my cheeks and laughed madly. The terrible sounds rang in my ears as the scene before me disappeared.

  I woke with tears on my face. Kishan reached for me, and Ren reluctantly let me go.

  “What is it, my sweet? Can you tell us what happened?”

  Brushing away the tears, I leaned back against Kishan’s chest and told them I’d seen Mr. Kadam and Lokesh in a vision. When they asked what Lokesh had said, I lied.

  “Just the usual,” I hedged. I didn’t want to burden either of them with the knowledge of what Lokesh wanted. It would serve no purpose for them to know. It would only madden them to the point of insanity, and I thought they had enough to deal with for the time being. I’d tell them about Captain Dixon later too.

  For a fleeting moment, I considered the offer Lokesh had made. In a tiny part of my heart, I thought, What if? What if we lost and accepting Lokesh would save them? There was no reason for them to know that I now held tightly onto a trump card. If, in the end, the only thing that would save them would be my sacrifice, then so be it.

  The tigers were anxious to leave. Strong enough to stand, I took a step away, adjusted my dupatta, and patted my hair. When I looked up, I found Ren staring at me and blushed, remembering him kneeling at my feet, but this time his face was stricken.

  “What is it?” I asked. “What’s wrong?”

  “Kishan. He … he’s Shiva. He has to be with that third eye, his clothes, and then the way he presented you with the Necklace—” he trailed off.

  “And that makes you—”

  “Indra,” Ren declared wretchedly.

  “Right. So what does that mean? What are we supposed to do?” I asked.

  Ren’s face tightened. “We do what we came here to do. Indra slays the beast and Shiva,” his eyes darted to my face briefly, “claims his bride.”

  Kishan had moved up behind me and cupped my shoulders. I felt both of us stiffen at the same time. Kishan relaxed first and squeezed my arms without saying anything. Ren walked over to the window and studied the black sea beyond. I turned, smiled at Kishan, and patted his hand, and then walked over to Ren and touched his arm. I bit my lip, thinking I was right to keep the desires of Lokesh hidden. They could barely tolerate the idea of each other as rivals let alone adding their nemesis into the mix.

  “You aren’t Indra. You may be dressed like him, and I may be dressed like Parvati but I’m not her. I’m Kelsey, you’re Ren, and he’s Kishan. If there is a beast to slay, Indra won’t do it. Kelsey, Ren, and Kishan will do it together. We may be trapped in a myth, but we will make our own story. Okay?”

  Ren nodded and grabbed me in a fierce but brief hug, and then set me aside. I could tell he didn’t necessarily believe me, but he was trying.

  “I’ll get our things,” he said softly.

  I watched him walk off then went back to Kishan, who wrapped his arms around me in a hug of his own.

  “He’s upset,” he said.

  “Yes. But it’s more than the Indra thing. I had a talk with him in the ice palace. I told him that I couldn’t be with him anymore and that I was choosing you.”

  Kishan froze. “You did?” He asked hesitantly, “What did he say?”

  “He said that he will always be my protector and friend.”

  “Really? That’s it?”

  “Yes. Did you expect something else?”

  “Honestly? Yes. I’ve been expecting you to break up with me for a while now.”

  “Well, I’m not going to.”

  “I see.” He rubbed his jaw and frowned.

  “Do you … not want me anymore?”

  “Not want you?” he asked incredulously. “There is nothing I want more than to belong to you. To remain with you. I guess I have to admit, I’m surprised. Why didn’t you go back to him?”

  I thought about what would be the appropriate thing to say for a second, and then snuggled against his chest and wrapped my arms around his waist.

  “I stayed with you because … I love you, and you make me happy.”

  “I love you too, bilauta.” He tucked my head under his chin and stroked my back.

  I could tell Ren had returned when I heard the bags thump to the floor. I stepped out of Kishan’s embrace, straightened my skirt guiltily and heard Ren say, “Let’s get this over with. Kelsey, if you wouldn’t mind.”

  “Pearl Necklace,” I said, “please create a way for us to rise to the surface and don’t forget about the ocean pressure and that we need oxygen.”

  The Necklace sparkled and began to glow so intensely, we had to look away. After a few seconds it faded, but nothing had happened.

  “What are we supposed to do?” I asked.

  “I’m not sure,” Ren replied.

  “Something’s coming closer. Do you see that glow?” Kishan pointed at the black window.

  Sure enough, something was moving closer. Globs of pulsing white light came into view. “They’re jellyfish,” Kishan said. “Only they’re giants!”

  They were giants alright. Each one looked bigger than a hot air balloon. An idea struck me, I sucked in a breath, and said, “I think they might be our transportation.”

  “I don’t think so, Kells,” Kishan said. “How would we breathe?”

  “Stranger things have happened,” I answered.

  He grunted, and the three of us pressed our noses against the glass window, staring at the approaching globes. They were fascinating. Moving slowly but surely toward us, the pulsing domes puffed up and expelled water as they danced toward us like fleshy puppets on strings. They had long trailing tentacles that hung from their bodies like ribbons from a piñata.

  Their round hoods were bell-shaped, diaphanous, and luminescent. And dangling from the centers of the creatures were feathery arms that reminded me of wisteria hanging from a tree but instead of white or soft lilac like those blossoms, these feathery fronds were bright orange and yellow. The arms fluttered in the water and could also be seen through the hood. It made the jellyfish look as if they glowed with an inner fire.

  A jellyfish approached us, hung there for a moment, and then lifted several thin tentacles and touched the window. They trailed over the shape of the glass, feeling the surface delicately, like a blind man touching a shrine. Then, finding a chosen spot, the thin fingers actually pierced the glass and moved toward us. All three of us backed up, startled. The creature angled closer, while we stood frozen like statues. Somehow it had crossed the barrier of the window without breaking it.

  No ocean water surged in. Not so much as a drop trickled down the window. A tentacle reached Kishan and wrapped gently around his arm. He could have pulled away, but the creature was so delicate, to move back might have injured it. Softly it pulled on Kishan’s arm until he took a step forward. More tentacles surged in and wrapped around him, drawing him closer to the window. The creature pulled him into its gentle embrace, reminding me of a frail old grandmother trying to hug her strapping grandson.

  The jellyfish began to back away from the window, pulling Kishan along with it. His arm disappeared through its black surface and reappeared in the water outside. He sucked in a breath and with a gentle tug
the creature carried him through the glass, gathered him close, and held him tightly. Creating a bower, it nestled him so his head rested just under its hood. He gave us a thumbs-up sign and showed us he was breathing.

  Kishan’s jellyfish moved away and another one moved closer. As its tentacles entered the pagoda window, Ren adjusted the straps of his pack.

  I touched his arm and said, “I’ll go next.”

  Nodding, Ren stepped out of way as the tentacles reached for me. He watched as the creature slowly enfolded me. He seemed so sad, and he looked at me as if he was never going to see me again.

  As the jellyfish began to tug me slowly toward the window, Ren took my arm, pressed his lips to my ear, and quoted, “‘Like as the waves make toward the pebbl’d shore, so do our minutes, hasten to their end.’” He softly kissed my temple and whispered, “Remember, I love you, priyatama.”

  I was about to respond when the creature sucked me through the window and into the freezing ocean. I was only cold for a moment, because as soon as the animal pulled me into its feathery embrace, the temperature changed. My head was drawn up into the hood and was nestled against a warm rubbery pillow that glowed softly in the darkness like a flickering candle.

  From my shoulders up, I was suspended above the jellyfish’s interior water line and heard a rush of air like a bellows. I laughed as I realized the animal was making oxygen for me. The rest of my body hung in a sort of hammock created by the tentacles and a surge of warmth cycled around my body. It felt like I was lounging in a hot spa and, as if the jellyfish could read my mind, its body began to hum and vibrate. I sighed and relaxed in the capable “hands” of my abyssal-plain masseur.

  When I cracked open my eyes a moment later, I saw Ren had joined us. I could easily make him out through his transparent balloon, and slightly behind and above me was Kishan. The lights dimmed to a faint glow, and I felt the great pumping of my jellyfish as it began to move upward in the dark water. The Seventh Pagoda disappeared beneath us in a swirl of shadow and then was gone.