Page 129 of The Burning Mountain
“Your apologies are wasted on me, Princess,” said Virat.
But Veer’s eyes had softened a bit. He understood that the apology was meant for him.
“Tell me what you feel, Princess. Are you angry, frustrated, horrified? Tell me.” Virat, leaned forward in morbid excitement.
“I can’t kill my husband.” Tears streamed freely from her eyes. Her nose had started bleeding again. “I can’t…I can’t”
“Your pleas are as tiresome as your preachings. You haven’t changed at all, Princess.” Virat’s brow showed beads of exhaustion. He held up a finger to his nose and it came away red. “How are you still talking? How are you still resisting my command? Stop fighting, Princess. Damn it, your will is as stubborn as you are. Finish my task and I’ll make this as painless as possible for you. It’ll hurt only if you fight against it. Surrender, and you can put all the blame on me.”
Chandra stood over Veer. Her eyes begged him to take up arms, to fight her, the same way she had pleaded with Kalpana all those years ago. But Veer didn’t show a hint of resistance. He was willing to be killed by her.
“She is the only one who can work the Lotus Key now, Virat. The writing on her wrist denotes her as the next operator of the key after Amarendra,” said Veer quietly. “I doubt even Bhupathican wield it anymore, now that the key’s allegiance has shifted. If you are wise, you will let her live, if for no reason but that.”
Fresh tears dripped down her aching face. Her husband was still trying to protect her. She placed her foot over his chest, holding him in place. The dagger was clenched painfully tight in her sweaty palm as she raised it. Chandra closed her eyes in despair. Her vision was filled with red, and she could feel the darkness encroaching.
Her own voice sounded faint to her ears. A rushing thrum was all around and was getting louder. Fluid ran down past her chin—a mix of blood, tears, and sweat. Her vision went blurry.
“A moment,”she prayed.“A moment is all I need. Let me have my will for a moment. Please, Mother.”
Therudrakshabracelet turned stiff and hot like a brand on her wrist. The pain was unbearable, but her physical body, still under the control of Virat, had no option but to follow his command and nothing else.
Veer was on the ground, unresisting. Vihari extended his plumage once again, the bird agitated, as it sensed his partner’s danger. Chandra felt his presence hammering away at her brain, seeking permission to merge, but Virat’s tentacles had a choke hold.
“I’m sorry. I am so sorry.” With both hands, she held the dagger high above her head. Her arms trembled with strain, under the influence of the dueling minds: hers over Virat’s.
“It’s not your fault, Chandra. Remember that. I love you,” said Veer, attempting a smile and absolving her before his death.
“Enough talk. I grow weary. Stab the bone knife into Veer like I ordered,” Virat’s words scored like a whip across her consciousness.
The pressure on her brain intensified with the repeated command. A chasm of despair seemed to yawn at Chandra’sfeet. Once she took this step, she would cease to exist in any meaningful way.
“You are my heart, Veer,” she choked, trying to infuse all her love into those desperate words.
“I know,” he whispered back.
Their words seemed to twist Virat’s magical control and she felt the threads of his command unspooling, dissipating like smoke.
A curious weakness fell over her; she could no longer feel the compulsion to strike her husband. She lowered her hands slowly, blinking in disbelief.
What happened?
They were still connected. Virat’s magic still gripped her brain in its clutches. And yet, it was no longer forcing her arms to plunge the dagger into her husband.
The truth slammed into her a few moments before it occurred to Virat. There was a loophole in his command.
Stab the bone knife into Veer like I ordered.
Before he could open his mouth to rectify his mistake, she gripped the bone dagger again and raised it once more.
There was only one way for this to be over. To follow his command to the letter.
Veer’s eyes widened as he realized what she intended to do and struggled to sit up, but it was too late.
“No. Chandra, no.” His roar went unheeded.
She placed the sharpened tip of the weapon against her ribs and then thrust it straight into her heart.
Veer caughther before she fell, the healing stone already slipping into his hand before he had a conscious thought. Heplunged it into the gushing wound just as the bone dagger dissolved into ash.
