The crystals wrapped around their bodies, and soon we were surrounded by a herd of gleaming qilin. They nickered and kicked up their heels as they sped off through the forest, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. They were as stunning as I remembered. I’d thought Shangri-La was beautiful, but the fire forest was equally lovely. If it hadn’t been for the rakshasa, I wouldn’t have minded staying longer.
When I told her of the cave and of the rakshasa, she tilted her head, listening carefully. After I was done, she said, “The rakshasa are with the Bodha now. They will break away at some point, but that time has not yet occurred. We will allow them to progress naturally over the centuries. Perhaps it is the Lords of the Flame who will one day drive them away. Perhaps they will indeed go against my counsel and damage this land, leaving the people suffering. In that case, it would make sense that those who break off will become eaters of flesh.”
After we created a handprint inside the lava tube where Kelsey would enter the City of Light, I touched her shoulder. “Ana,” I began, “I just want to say…”
“There is no need to speak of it further,” she said. “Come. It is time to find a phoenix.”
We spun out of the fire realm and rematerialized atop a great mountain. There was a cave not too far up. “Does he live in there?” I asked.
“I believe so,” she answered.
I placed a hand on her back as we climbed to make sure she didn’t fall, but she moved away from me. Her raven hair whipped in the wind and she growled in frustration as it got in her eyes. When we made it to the lip of the cave, I offered to help her up but she ignored me again. I knew what I said was harsh, but even if I could go back, I’d still say the same thing. If she was going to get married to the first guy who came along, I didn’t want to be anywhere near. Just the idea of it made me want to crush something.
Ana was out of my league. I knew it. I’d always known it. But my dream had meant something. That kiss had meant something. Hadn’t it? I guess it was forgettable to her, but I would certainly remember it. Till the day I died, I’d remember that kiss.
We stepped into the darkness of the cave and Ana created a fireball in her hand to light it. “Hello?” she called out.
I heard a distant tapping. “Over there,” I whispered, and we entered a yawning cavern on the right.
Lights of all colors danced on the sides of the cave, and as we turned the corner, we gasped as we saw thousands and thousands of phoenix eggs, each one gleaming with its own luster. We had to pick our way carefully across the floor so we wouldn’t accidentally step on any.
“Come closer,” a voice called. “I’ve been wondering when you would come.” We looked up and from a nest set high in the cave, a large phoenix peered down on us. “Well,” the bird said. “The two of you are slightly less impressive-looking than I’d hoped you be, but then again, aren’t we all?”
Lifting his great blue wings, he flapped them a few times and landed gently before us.
“Great phoenix,” Ana began. “We are—”
“I know who you are, Goddess,” he said. “We’ve had our eye on you for a while.”
“Have you?” she asked with a smile.
“Indeed. My name is Eventide. And before you ask, yes, I’ll go with you to the fire realm. Someone’s going to have to keep an eye on that place.”
“Thank you. May I ask a different question then?”
“You may,” he said to Ana.
“How did you know we were coming?”
The phoenix laughed. “I am also called the Knowledge of the Ages, the Watcher of Mankind, and the Fire Found in All Hearts. If I didn’t know of the goddess Durga or her tiger Damon, those titles wouldn’t mean much, now would they?”
“I suppose they would not.”
“Ah,” the bird said with a flap. “I suppose I can relax the rules of formality around the two of you.” He leaned closer as if whispering and said, “Fanindra told me.” I frowned and was about to ask another question when Eventide interrupted, “And speaking of hearts, I’d like to offer a blessing on your marriage.”
Ana sputtered, “I…I have not yet taken a mate.”
“Oh?” The bird blinked a knowing eye. “Your heart says differently.”
Scowling, I said, “We have many things to do, Eventide. Perhaps you can offer your blessing at a later time.”
“Perhaps,” he said. “Perhaps.” He shifted, ruffling his feathers, and then touched his beak to Fanindra. “Hello there,” he said.
The snake came to life and raised her head, opening her hood.
“Ah, yes,” the bird said as if speaking to the snake. “He is a bit thick-headed. He’s got a good heart though. How clever of you to utilize the truth stone.”
Ana, who had been carefully listening to Fanindra’s exchange with the phoenix, straightened. Her trim eyebrows shot up. “Is Fanindra related to you then, great bird?” she asked.
“In a way,” he chuckled. “In a way.”
“You do not mean to tell us, do you?” she asked.
“There are things yet for you two to discover,” Eventide said cryptically. “I wouldn’t want to deprive you of the surprises that await.” He clicked his beak and added, “We will go now.”
“Do you need assistance?” Ana asked.
“I think not.” The air around us shimmered and the eggs disappeared. “Until we meet again,” he said and flapped his wings. Each lift of his wings created wind that grew fainter and fainter along with his body. Soon we were left standing alone in a dark cave.
Ana turned to me and clenched her fist, putting out the ball of fire. I reached for her automatically and drew her to me. In the dark it was easy to pretend there was nothing standing between us. I closed my eyes and was soothed just by being near her. Can you still hear me? I asked her silently. If she did, she didn’t reply.
We appeared next inside a temple next to a wax statue of the goddess.
“There’s no tiger,” Ana said.
“No. Not at this temple. Don’t you think we should get things back on track and head for the City of the Seven Pagodas first?” I asked.
She shook her head. “The shrines must be paired with the realm. We’ve finished the fire realm so we need to gift Kelsey with those weapons now.”
“You’re sure?” I asked doubtfully.
Softly, she replied, “I am.”
Lifting a hand, she touched a garland hanging around the neck of the statue and pressed her nose into the jasmine. “An old grandmother gave me this,” she said. “Her knuckles are large and twisted with disease and yet she strung these flowers for me.”
“How do you know that?” I asked.
Ana turned to me. “I hear her call. There is much work to do when this is over, Sohan.”
“Yeah? Well, I’m sure your new husband will want to help out as much as he can.”
I heard her soft sigh. “They are coming,” she said. Quickly, we placed our hands, mine over hers, on the stone near the statue, and a glowing handprint appeared.
Touching the amulet, I phased out of time and Ana disappeared altogether.
Kelsey, Kadam, Ren, and my old self entered the temple.
“She’s beautiful,” Kelsey said.
“She is,” I murmured softly at the same time my other self did. I watched as they laid out their offering and began taking turns to ask favor of the goddess. My old self and Ren were posturing over Kelsey and I was surprised to note I didn’t feel an ounce of jealousy.
When my past self said, “We ask for an opportunity for a new life…” I wondered what she was thinking about that. I’d certainly gotten what I asked for. I had a new life now, serving the goddess as a tiger. It was one I had come to enjoy. Could I really give it up? Walk away from her without telling her…telling her what? That I liked being around her? That watching her sleep made me smile? That kissing her in Shangri-La was all I could think about? That I couldn’t imagine existing without her? That I…loved her?
The fire started and my heart clenched as I watched the statue melt. Ana?