Page 190 of Tiger's Voyage
Kishan leapt to the floor as a tiger and immediately changed to a man. “Meet me in the wheelhouse!” he called out as he barreled out the door.
Ren gathered our weapons while I changed clothes. I emerged from my walk-in closet with a bump on my forehead. Another wave had hit the ship, and I smacked my head into the robe hook.
“It’s strange.” I made my way over to him while the ship straightened itself and commented, “It seems like the waves are timed rather than random. It doesn’t feel like a storm.”
“You’re right. It’s not natural.” Ren slid Fanindra up my arm, attached the Pearl Necklace, tied the Scarf around my waist, slid the Fruit into the top of my quiver of golden arrows on my back, and handed me my bow. The trident hung from a loop at his waist, and he carried thegada.
“Got everything you need?” I asked as I braced myself in the doorway.
He smiled and touched my cheek softly. “Yes. Everything I need is right here.”
I folded my hand over his, and he brought it to his lips. I leaned toward him when another wave tossed me into his arms. “We need to go,” I said.
“Yes.” He made no move to leave.
I pecked him on the cheek. “Come on, Tiger. We’ll …talklater.”
He grinned and tugged me out of the room. We ran as fast as we could up the lurching stairs to the wheelhouse.
“Are we under attack?” I asked. “Another sea monster?”
Before Ren could reply, we stepped onto the sundeck, and I stood there for a moment shocked. “The Shore Temple! We’re home!”
The city of Mahabalipuram stretched out before us on the shore. In just a few moments, we flew past the city, continuing to follow the shoreline. Wherever we were going, we were headed there fast.
“Kelsey! Come on!”
I caught up to Ren and grabbed his outstretched hand just as another wave pummeled the ship. I lost my footing as the ship tilted dangerously to the side. Ren braced himself on the rail and yanked me up until he could wrap his arms around me.
“Thanks,” I murmured against his chest as my feet found the ground again.
“Anytime.” He grinned and squeezed my waist.
We stormed into the wheelhouse where a frantic Mr. Kadam explained, “We’ve been discovered. I had no idea he had this kind of power.”
Giant waves rushed toward us, one after another, each one threatening to founder us. Black clouds moved out of nowhere and darkened the bright Indian sky. Wind whipped the ship so hard the windows rattled.
“It’s Lokesh?” I shouted over the noise.
Mr. Kadam nodded. “My calculations were wrong! We arrived at the Shore Temple at dawn—sooner than expected. I decided to give the city a wide berth, just in case. But he was waiting at the temple and launched an attack! We’ve got to try to disable his ship before he destroys us!”
He had found us.
I headed for the roof of the wheelhouse with Ren. Kishan caught up to us. The first thing I did was secure the three of us to the railing using the Scarf. Then I told Ren to use the Scarf, Kishan the Fruit, and I would use my firepower if Lokesh’s ship came within range and try something with the Necklace.
I focused on the black ship that was quickly gaining on us. It was still too far away for lightning power so I whispered to the Necklace, telling it to pummel their ship with rain and catch them in a whirlpool. Next, I asked for any creatures of the ocean that would heed the Necklace’s call to come to our aid. Ren created a giant tarp to drop down over Lokesh’s ship, and Kishan covered its decks with oil and weighted every free space in its hold with cream cheese.
I grinned as I imagined the panic we’d caused, but frowned when the wind whipped off the canvas and screamed when I saw large fins rushing toward our boat. Ren touched my trembling hand.
“What is it?”
In a barely audible voice, I whispered, “Sharks.”
His hand tightened over mine. “Don’t look at them.”
But I couldn’t help it. I stared at them circling our boat and froze. I heard Ren speak to Kishan though I couldn’t process his words.
Then Kishan answered back, “I dumped a thousand pounds of rare steaks nearby, but they won’t go for it.”
