Page 139 of Tiger's Destiny
“She will take on the role destiny created for her.”
I looked over at the woman who would become a goddess. She shifted uncomfortably at the news.
“You must leave all Durga’s weapons and gifts with her, for she will need them,” Phet instructed.
Ren, Kishan, and I handed over everything to the leggy Amazon.
She stood stiffly. Her brother said something softly to her, but she refused to make eye contact with the three of us. Her expression was stony, and she seemed determined not to say good-bye.
Something in me softened, and I put my arms around her waist. I hugged her fiercely and said, “You’re the bravest woman I know. You’ll be a wonderful Durga.”
She hesitated only a moment before hugging me back. Her rigid expression relaxed into one of sadness.
“Thank you for returning my brother to me. It is more than I deserve.”
I slipped Fanindra from my arm and pressed the snake’s nose to mine. “I never thought I’d get used to having a cobra for a pet. Thank you for saving all of our lives.”
The cobra’s golden body grew and she coiled herself around my hands. Her pink tongue shot out and tickled the tip of my nose, and her emerald eyes gleamed. I passed her to Durga who carefully readjusted Fanindra’s coils over her arm.
“Take care of her,” I whispered.
“We will keep one another company,” the goddess replied. “Goodbye, Kelsey.”
Sunil smiled and squeezed my arm.
As we parted, I saw Ren nod to her. She gave him a small smile in return, but when Kishan stepped toward her with his hand outstretched, she turned away and wrapped her arm around her brother’s waist. He stubbornly waited for her to look at him, but she refused.
I took Ren’s hand in my left and Kishan’s in my right. I had only the clothes on my back. Durga would keep the Damon Amulet, the golden weapons, and all the gifts, and I would return to my time with only myself and my tigers and a crazy story. I was ready.
“There’s still one last thing that must be done before I send you back, Kahl-see,” Phet said.
He began speaking words in Hindi and then asked, “Do you remember the first piece of the prophecy that was translated?”
“‘Seek Durga’s prize. Four gifts, five sacrifices. One transformation. Beast becomes mortal.’”
“That is correct. You have found the four gifts of Durga.”
“We’ve also given sacrifices at her temples,” Kishan said.
“You have, but in this instance the five sacrifices spoken of are not worldly in nature. You have offered four of the five sacrifices. The first sacrifice was when Ren gave up his memory of Kahl-see to save her life.”
Ren squeezed my hand as my breath caught.
“The second was when Mr. Kadam gave up his life to send Lokesh into the past.”
I clutched Kishan’s forearm. Tears welled in my eyes.
“The third sacrifice was when Kahl-see gave herself up to the Phoenix as a Sati wife. Her body burned so the tigers would be safe. The fourth sacrifice happened yesterday when Kishan gave up a piece of his own immortality to bring life back to his brother.”
My mouth suddenly went dry. “Then the fifth sacrifice . . . ?”
“Must be made before you can return.”
I couldn’t control the trembling of my limbs. I suddenly felt like my entire body was made of water, and it was all I could do to remain upright.
“What else do we need to do?” I whispered.
Phet looked at me with deep regret. “Durga needs a tiger.”
