Page 131 of Tiger's Destiny
“Fanindra, help me,” I begged, weeping openly.
Green eyes flashed, and the golden cobra came to life. She launched herself from Durga’s arm and with jaws wide open sunk her fangs deep into Lokesh’s hand. He screamed, but she managed to bite him again before he ripped her away. The golden snake disappeared in the grass.
Immediately, the dark sorcerer’s hand began to swell and golden venom dribbled from the puncture wounds in his palm. He dropped my piece of the amulet onto the ground and clutched at the medallion controlling Durga. “Kill her,” he ordered.
The goddess raised thechakramabove my head. I closed my eyes . . . and then felt something hit us hard and push us over. Claws scratched my thigh. It was Kishan! Shaking the last remnants of the net from his body, he leapt onto Durga while Lokesh bellowed in frustration. He tried to use his magic on Kishan but he screamed in agony and clutched his hand.
I hoped it was a permanent situation, while acknowledging it was probably not the case.
Kishan and Durga struggled together, and she slashed him with thechakram. Lokesh called out for Sunil, who inched forward, a mangled leg slowing him down.
One of Durga’s arms flailed near where I lay bound on the stony soil. I grasped the edge of the Scarf. Instantly the threads holding me captive melted away. I inched my fingers toward her and took hold of the Rope of Fire trying to move as little as possible. I clenched the Rope, knowing this was my last chance.
Sunil drew near and hollered in anger, but Lokesh tossed him like a rag doll.
“Never mind! I’ll take care of the black thorn in my side myself!”
Manipulating his good hand, Lokesh grit his teeth and created a dozen shards of ice that he aimed at Kishan. I could see that using his power cost him. Lokesh moved back a step, almost tumbling over Ren. In retaliation, he kicked my white tiger brutally.
Ren lay quietly, spears sticking out of his body at every angle. I could no longer feel Ren’s presence at all. Closing my eyes, I called out in my mind.
Ren?
Nothing. No warmth. No heartbeat. Not even a whisper of thought.
Blinking, I looked into his tiger eyes. Their glassy stare reminded me of the stuffed tiger I’d purchased so long ago. Tears ran down my face in rivulets, and I shook with grief. Ren was gone.
Anger shot through me, and I felt a wave of power flow through my frame. Using the only power I had left, I repositioned myself behind Lokesh, drew back the Rope, snapped my arm forward, and whispered, “For Ren.” With a crack, the Rope of Fire wound around Lokesh’s neck.
Lokesh screamed in agony. He lifted his hands to the Rope and tugged on it, trying to remove it but it only tightened. The zombie medallion was still clutched in his fingers. I channeled all of my remaining power into it. Light coursed through my body, and I felt Ren’s spirit. I closed my eyes, and it was as if he were standing behind me, pressing his cheek against mine, one last time. Our combined life-force was greater than earth, wind, fire, water, or space. I knew this power was love.
Golden light poured from my hands and streamed along the Rope. Lokesh’s medallion turned into ash. A wave of golden magic picked him up in the air. The light was so intense that it shot out in a blast and filled the sky with color. A sonic boom accompanied the flash, causing the mountains to shake and funnels of water to erupt from the nearby lakes.
With a final terrible scream, it was over. The lifeless body of Lokesh, the demon Mahishasur I’d been destined to defeat, dropped heavily to the ground.
My energy waned, and I felt ghostly hands slide away from my skin. My hot cheek became suddenly cool.
Ren?I begged.Please don’t leave me.
You are in my heart. Always.His warm voice whispered softly and then faded away.
I collapsed to the ground, my body quaking with torrential sobs.
30
amulet united
Awarm hand slid over my shoulder.
“Kelsey?” Kishan’s loving voice trembled.
I shook my head back and forth wildly, not able to comprehend what had happened, not wanting the comfort of anyone but Ren.
Kishan stumbled to the body of the white tiger. Carefully tenderly he pulled out each spear.
“He’s really gone, isn’t he?” I asked.
Kishan looked at me, tears filling his golden eyes, and nodded. Swallowing, he stared at the lifeless body of his brother. Then he dashed the back of a hand against his eyes and let out a terrible roar. He yanked out the spear buried in Ren’s chest, which jostled Ren’s tiger body, and spun.
