Page 195 of Tiger's Dream
I do.
My old self had leapt in the air, his face full of fury, as he attacked Lokesh. Ana inserted herself between the two men and used the power of the wind to lift the airborne body a bit higher. She placed two of her hands on his cheeks and looked to me.
I turned to the open jungle and called out, “I know you’re there. If you will serve, come forward.”
We waited for the space of one moment, then another. I felt the weight of his presence but he was still undecided. Finally, I heard a snarl and a second tiger leapt up the stairs in a bound. He paced before me, his teeth bared. When I lifted my hand, he whipped around and roared loud enough to scare the myna birds from the trees.
“You know who I am,” I said, “and what I ask.”
The great cat strode in a circle, his tail whipping back and forth as he took in the scene. The animal was beautiful. The fur was dark, his stripes thick and black. His eyes flashed with intelligence as he watched me. Seeing I wasn’t going to make a move, he stopped his pacing and sat, panting. Then he leisurely licked his paw.
“Will you serve?” I asked humbly.
The tiger lifted his head, mid-lick, and growled, then he shook himself and approached the goddess. “Hello, handsome,” she said and reached down to stroke his head with a pair of hands.
The animal twisted his head so she could scratch the ruff of his neck and then rubbed the length of his body against her thigh.
“He’s clearly claiming you,” I said.
“That’s as it should be, is it not?” Ana said with a smile. “What say you, great cat?” Ana asked. “My Sohan may not be as beautiful as you, but he is a worthy fighter. He embraces the hunt and favors long, lazy naps,” she finished with a wink in my direction.
The tiger looked up at the goddess and then over at me.
“I do not know when or if you will be released,” I said, “but I can promise a long life and, if we’re lucky, a beautiful goddess willing to scratch our back.”
Sitting, the great animal considered me for a moment and then finally chuffed his agreement, twisting his head so the goddess could play with his ears. I strode closer, careful not to alarm him, and placed my hands on Ana’s back.
“Are you ready?” I asked.
“Are you?” she countered.
In answer, I removed the Damon Amulet from my neck and used the power of the wind to position it against the chest of my old self. One of Ana’s hands held it in place as I put my hand on the tiger. The old me screamed. The tiger next to Ana dissolved into light and his life essence shot into the body Ana touched.
Once the tiger was there, struggling inside his new form like Ren had with his tiger, I assumed our work was done, but Ana, her hands still on my former self, said, “Now we must make him Damon.”
I furrowed my brow. “I thought gifting him with the tiger was enough.”
She shook her head. “We must name him and seal the amulet to him forever. This tiger’s curse of yours was never about Ren or Kelsey. It was about you, my love. It was always about you.”
Closing my eyes, I let the impact of her declaration sink into me and settle. Damon was a name I would carry for the rest of my life. The black tiger and I would be together until the universe deemed our sojourn was over and the work was done. Sucking in a breath, I considered all of the things I had given up and would give up, but then I reflected on everything I’d get in exchange. When Phet offered me the soma, he’d said it would give me what I wanted most in the world but would leave me lacking something as well. I’d accepted that drink of the gods then and I’d still accept it now.
“Will you help me give him this final gift?” Ana asked, pulling me from my thoughts.
“I…I don’t know how,” I confessed.
“Do you remember when Kelsey and Ren touched?”
“It produced the golden light.”
She nodded. “We must create a light of our own and pour it into him.”
Pressing my cheek to hers, I slid my palms down her arms, careful not to come into contact with my former self. He was still moving in the air, but it was slow enough that we could compensate for it. I closed my eyes and let my mind and heart open to Ana. Our energy mingled until our hearts beat as one and the air entering and exiting our lungs moved in perfect synchronicity.
“Prince Sohan Kishan Rajaram,” Ana said with the voice of thunder. “We gift you with a new name. Henceforth, you will be called Damon, and you will be imbued with all the powers carried by the goddess Durga as well as those of her tiger consort. All our manifold abilities will be yours to wield. You are tasked to serve the goddess for the remainder of your days. The Damon Amulet is, and has always been, your legacy. We charge you with guarding it and its power. Do you accept this duty?”
My old self, mouth still wrapped in a scream, was unable to respond, so I did instead.
“I do,” I murmured softly.
