Dead After Dark (Companion #6.5)(107)

“Hello, Shiva,” Macha greeted him, bowing her head. “It’s good to see you again.”

Sen relaxed, his body returning to the one Trey had heard women idolized.

“Hello, Macha,” Shiva said. “I wish our meeting was under different circumstances. A break in the truce saddens me.”

“I agree, but what are we to do?”

Shiva turned to Ravana. “I thought you died many years ago? How is it you are here now?”

“The Beladors broke the truce,” Ravana repeated, his voice pitching high. “I rule the Kujoo and demand justice.”

“You avoid my question, which perplexes me. I would know if a god such as yourself still lived,” Shiva pointed out.

“A god? Wait a minute,” Sasha called out.

Trey groaned. He couldn’t walk away from Vyan, because the bastard might attack. The members of his tribe were still linked with him and would die if he made a mistake.

“Sasha, please don’t interfere,” Trey warned quickly before Macha took offense and vaporized her.

“But he’s not a god. Trey, my ears were burning. I just realized he has to be a witch, a powerful one.”

A collective gasp sucked through the group. Trey raced to think of what to say. Sasha had insulted an entity.

“Goddess, do you think—” Brina started, only to be silenced by a lift of Macha’s hand.

“All entities, show your true form now,” Macha called out, an order no entity could deny.

Ravana shrieked, “Nooo, nooo, noooooo,” then wavered and bent double. His clothes spun in a fiery blur of red. When he stood upright again, he was no longer Ravana, but a woman who would be gorgeous if not for the sinister shape of her eyes.

“I should have known this was your dirty work, Moran,” Macha said, her voiced no longer sweet. “How could you do this to your own people?”

Moran lifted off the ground, sneering at Macha. “Your tribe still broke the truce. What say ye to that?”

“I would ask that Shiva pass judgment with compassion for a tribe that has upheld the peace for eight hundred years and will continue to do so,” Macha answered, her attention on the Hindu god.

Shiva tilted his head, a thoughtful expression on his calm face. “Your warrior spared a Kujoo life when he could have taken it. I am inclined to allow the truce to continue.”

“The Beladors must be sanctioned,” the witch Moran ordered.

Shiva and Macha stared at each other; a silent communication flowed between them until Shiva nodded and turned to Moran. “No, the Beladors will not be sanctioned, but you will be for impersonating another entity.”

“You wouldn’t dare.” Moran lifted higher away.

“Oh yes,” Macha answered. “We’ll call the tribunal if need be. Our only dilemma is just what you deserve.”

The crater unearthed by the lightning bolts yawned open and vapor escaped, arching high over their heads and settling in the center of the area.

“I should choose,” the vapor whispered in an eerie voice.

“So you did die, Ravana,” Shiva said, identifying the vapor.

“Yes, I demand the witch as my slave in Fene for one year.”

Moran gasped. “You cannot—”

“I accept that decision,” Macha interjected.

“As do I,” Shiva agreed.

Moran spun around, but her hair yanked toward the vapor. She screamed in pain, clawing to break free, begging for mercy. The vapor grew, drawing her closer until she was wrapped in a swirling cloud of red smoke. In the blink of an eye the entire mass was snatched back into the crater.

Shiva turned to the demons remaining and said, “Go. Now.”

The demons scrambled to the hole and disappeared one by one. As soon as the last one vanished, the crater filled with earth, returning to its original state.

“What about him?” Trey asked, indicating Vyan.

“He has suffered enough and came to save his people,” Shiva replied. “I will not release the others from Mount Meru, but he may remain if he swears not to attack you again.”

Trey backed away and allowed Vyan to stand. What would this warrior do now in a world where he’s an outcast and unfamiliar? There was one place Vyan could thrive if he would truly keep the peace. And in spite of all that had transpired, Trey knew he would be just as tortured if Sasha were killed.

When Vyan retrieved his sword and slid it into the sheath at his side, Trey said, “I understand the depth of your pain and feel for your loss, but as I told you to begin with, I’m part of a Belador tribe that is sworn to protect the innocent, not ravage them. If you can put aside your hate, I might be able to get you into a group called VIPER where your abilities would be welcomed. A place where you could belong.”

Vyan’s hard gaze shifted to one of defeat and exhaustion. “I want nothing to do with you, Belador. I will not attack you, but neither am I ready to join you, either.”

Trey nodded, understanding Vyan’s reluctance. “When you change your mind, find a nightstalker and tell them you’re looking for VIPER and me. Someone will find you and bring you to me.” That was the best he could do for Vyan at the moment.

Vyan stepped toward the pond and Trey tensed. The warrior was going for the stone.

“No, Vyan,” Shiva said, stopping the warrior. “Now that the Ngak stone has been released from the hold of Mount Meru, it will choose its next master. It has already done so.”