Page 64 of Damned and Broken Gods
I settled into a focus that maintained my grip, which kept me upright and vigilant on Pakshiraj’s back, aware of Araz flying to my far left. The ground below was hidden by mist, but I caught glimpses of greenery—the tops of trees and the shimmer of winding rivers.
At some point, Chaya and Dharma joined us, coming up on our right. I caught her eye, and she fist-pumped the air. A little while later, the beat of distant wings grew louder as the others caught up until we were flying in an arrow formation.
I looked back and spotted Joe, Priti, and Bina. Elata and Alia made up the rear, but it was impossible to know which was which because they were too far away.
Everyone was safe, and that was a huge achievement; still I didn’t relax, not until the tang of the sea hit my nostrils and we began a slow descent.
We passed through the mist, and the air pricked my skin, salty and wild. The ocean came into view. A primal force, vast and unbound, it clawed at white sand and crashed against rocky cliffs as if demanding its existence be acknowledged. A small island mass sat off the coast, green and rocky and…wait, was that the sail of a ship? Yes, yes, there was the structure of a huge ship anchored to the land mass.
Ah, Vairanya awaits,Pakshiraj said, his voice low and reverent.
Vairanya?
The being you see is a Kaalmukha. A great, ancient turtle, born of Shantivan, the isle you are going to, and mother of the Shattiraksha, the protectors of the ocean.
The ship was aturtle. A living being?
She has slept for centuries, sailing in her sleep to ferry worthy souls to the heart of her becoming. It won’t be long before she fuses with the island, never to sail again.
You’re saying she’s going to die?
Yes, child. One day soon, she will sail no more.
I wasn’t sure why my eyes heated at that thought or why my chest grew tight. There was no time to dwell on it before we dove and glided across the sea, toward the land mass that was both a ship and a living entity.
Get ready to jump.
What?
I’ll sweep as low as I can, then you jump.
For a moment I thought he was joking.
“Leela, get ready to jump!” Araz yelled, his voice catching on the wind.
The ocean rushed by, sea spray kissing my skin. The ship loomed closer. Shit, shit, shit.
I braced, lifted my ass up, and positioned myself to slide off Pakshiraj as we got to the edge of the land mass.
Now!
I leapt. Falling, heart in my mouth, brain scrambling to recall the landing protocol from a parachute jump. Bend knees and hips a little, align body and?—
I hit the ground boots first and threw myself into a roll to soften the impact, coming up to face a pair of powerful thighs dressed in black pants.
I looked up at the figure. Male. Tall. He had the sun behind him, so his face was in shadow.
“You landed well.” He held out his hand to me.
I took it, allowing him to help me up, and as I stood, his face came into focus. My heart stalled for a moment, because although his hair was green and his build stockier, his face…
Oh gods, he had Pashim’s face.
Part Four
No one tells you how badly sea air can fuck with your hair, and don’t even get me started on sand and butt cracks.
Chapter 22
