Chapter 2
Saving Kelsey
“Shall we?” He found an overturned log and took a seat.
I still couldn’t believe that he was here. That he was alive.
“How have you returned?” I asked.
“I haven’t. Not exactly. When you witnessed my death, I did pass from this world. But you need to understand that this event, though it has already occurred in your timeline, has not yet happened in mine.”
“Not yet happened? I don’t understand.”
Kadam smiled patiently and asked, “Do you remember when I appeared with Nilima after you rescued Miss Kelsey from Lokesh?”
“Yes. You’d been missing for weeks.”
“Correct. I shared with you then that a power had whisked away Nilima and me when the harpoon shot toward us.”
When I nodded, he pulled the broken piece of the Damon Amulet he used to wear from his shirt and went on, “And since then you have discovered that the piece of the amulet I wear is the one that controls space and time.”
“Yes. But how is it that you are wearing the amulet once again when I know that your particular piece, the one used to send Lokesh to the past, has been restored to the whole and is currently around Anamika’s neck?”
“I have this piece because I still wear it in my own time.”
Standing, I began to pace. Kadam pulled a jar from his pocket and unscrewed the lid. A spicy scent wafted up. “Frankincense?” he offered. “It calms the nerves.
I waved his offer away and he shrugged, taking a piece for himself before screwing the jar lid shut. “Then tell me when you are from,” I pressed.
Kadam replied softly, “I am visiting you from just before my death. You all believed that I was under the weather after my return, but in fact I was doing the work that destiny had assigned me.”
“You were missing often,” I mumbled. “Distant.”
“Yes,” he answered. “Very distant, in fact.”
Kneeling before him, I pleaded, “You can go back then and undo what has happened. We can defeat Lokesh alongside you. There’s no need for you to sacrifice yourself. You don’t have to die. It hasn’t happened in your timeline, so we can prevent it.”
He shook his head. “Lokesh is too powerful. If you had helped me, Miss Kelsey would have been taken.”
“But we could’ve—”
Kadam interrupted by raising his hand. “Kishan, son, trust me when I say that my death is and was the only way to send Lokesh to the past, and his defeat in the past affects the future. Without a monster for Anamika to defeat, without a goddess”—he smiled—“or two, riding into battle on the back of a tiger, the fabric of our world would unravel. This is much more important than prolonging my life.”
When I didn’t respond, he reached over and gripped my arm. “Please accept this. Leaving you will be the hardest thing I’ll ever have to do, but I know, it must be done. Somehow, when the time comes, I’ll try to find the courage.”
Dismayed, I pressed my forehead to his knee. My eyes stung with unshed tears. “I know you will,” I said, grieving anew for his impending loss.
When I raised my head, I asked, “Did Phet ever exist or has he always been you?”
“Phet’s purpose was to orchestrate the tiger’s curse. I am Phet and he is me…most of the time,” he demurred.
“But we would have smelled you. Both Ren and I would have figured it out long ago.”
Kadam shook his head. “I was able to stifle my scent, not only by filling the hut with copious amounts of herbs but by shifting myself slightly in time. You have this ability as well. Both of you could see me and touch me, but if you think back, you will not recall that Phet had a personal essence.” He placed his hand on my shoulder. “Kishan, as much as I would like to, discussing Phet’s place in our world is not the reason I am here today. Today you must journey into the future to save Miss Kelsey.”
“Save her? How? Has Ren—”
Kadam held up his hands to stop me, stood, and said, “It will be easier to show you. You’ll need the Damon Amulet. Borrow it from Anamika but do not share with her that you’ve seen me, not yet. Meet me back here in one hour, and I will give you the instructions you need to fulfill your purpose.”
I blinked and he was gone, leaving only the crushed blades of grass where he’d stood. My world had been upheaved once again, but this time the idea electrified me. Every nerve was on edge, and adrenaline pumped through my veins as I ran through the trees. Unsatisfied with my pace, I switched to tiger form and covered the distance to the base of Durga’s mountain in a short time.
Carved into the towering Himalayan peak called Mt. Kailash, Durga’s palace was rarely seen since it often hid within the clouds, but when the sun chased away our dewy blanket, the vision of our home was stunning. It was modeled after the style of a Chinese temple with towers, pavilions, and archways that conformed to the contours of the mountainside. Five stories were connected by stairways and long corridors, and the steep rooftops were laid with glazed tiles that sparkled in the sunshine.
In the center of two symmetrical towers, Anamika had used her power to produce a soaring fountain that spilled over the granite stones on the lower level and then freely flowed down the mountainside, creating a waterfall that reflected rainbows when the afternoon sun slanted in just the right way.
Surrounding the fountain was an expansive flower garden with dozens of varieties of roses, and in one corner she had fashioned a large pond, where she cultivated lotus blossoms, her favorite flower. When I stayed in the palace, I preferred spending my time in her garden. At night I drowsed on the soft cut grass under a sky brilliant with stars and imagined what could have been.
A zigzagging staircase was cut into the stone leading from the palace down to the base of the mountain, where acolytes gathered to beg favors of the goddess. It was the only way for mortals to access our home, and because of this, it was gated and heavily guarded. There were always a good number of people camped directly under the palace, begging for admittance. Only a few special people were allowed to gain an audience with Anamika. Even then, as they climbed to the top, they were always escorted by the loyal remnants of Durga’s army.
Wanting to avoid being seen, I headed around the back side of the mountain to a private entrance only Anamika and I used. As dramatic as it was to ascend and descend on a cloud every day, we’d both decided we wanted something more practical and built secret entrances into the mountain palace that had once belonged to Lokesh.
Switching to human form, I placed my hand into a sunken depression where we’d created a lock of sorts using our power. It had been my idea to create handprints that would only read and accept us. I knew Kelsey had been able to use the magic of Phet’s henna design to enter the different realms where the gifts of Durga had been hidden, and the idea stuck with me.
The hidden door opened, and I made sure it shut behind me before heading up the long staircase. Suddenly, a thought occurred to me and I stopped cold on one of the steps. I realized that there had never been a henna design given by Phet. It had always been Kadam’s design. He’d been the one to start Kelsey on her journey. Shaking my head, I tried not to think about the strangeness of Kadam being Phet and focused instead on Kelsey. The stairs seemed endless most days but especially when I knew I’d be seeing Kelsey soon.
Bursting through the hidden panel and running into the main room, I shouted, “Anamika!”
There was no answer. Skidding briefly on the slick marble and kicking up the corners of a very expensive rug that had been a king’s expression of gratitude for the goddess Durga’s help in overcoming a drought affecting his nation, I searched room after room, my voice echoing in each extensive space.
Opulent and awe-inspiring were two words that easily came to mind upon setting foot in the mountainside palace Lokesh had created for himself. Cut deep into the mountain and filled with more riches than I’d even known existed, it was a greedy king’s dream.
Even if I didn’t already prefer the open spaces of the outdoors, the interior of Lokesh’s home would have driven me there. I suppose it was beautiful in a way. The walls were bordered with gemstone that the evil magician had called forth from the earth.
Durga’s throne, made of pink diamond, was impressive, as was the room where she received ambassadors, but I thought the whole place felt sterile and cold. Anamika had worked to make the large rooms homier, but when the ceiling of each room towered overhead, and there was no one to share the riches with, it echoed in a lonely way. I wandered around in it like a bee left alone in his hive. The space around me felt wrong—devoid of the everyday hum of normal life.
To be practical, Lokesh had been twice the size of a human when he lived there, so I suppose the sheer size of the place had been necessary. He’d merged his body with a buffalo and become a monstrous creature that’d probably needed the giant bed and the fireplace big enough to cook three deer side by side that had become my room.
Frustrated, I headed back to what I called the throne room and called out again, “Anamika!”
I felt her presence before I heard her. “What are you bellowing about?” she questioned irritably.
“Where were you?”
“I was—”
I peered at her through narrowed eyes. “Did you go off to help someone and not tell me?”
She lifted her stubborn chin. “What if I did?”
Exasperated, I ran my hand through my hair. “You know the rule, Ana. You don’t go off without me. What if something happened?”
“You were occupied with your brooding. And besides, these people really needed help. There was a fire and—”
I interrupted. “I don’t care if a whole nation caught on fire, the rule is come and find me first.”
She blew out a breath and mumbled, “Fine,” as she bent over to remove her boots. “Next time I will force your pitiable self to accompany me. Is that satisfactory?”
“Yes.”
She pulled the clasp holding her hair, and mounds of the silky black stuff tumbled down her back. I was riveted as she ran her hands through it and sighed with pleasure at being able to finally relax.
When she turned and announced that she was taking a bath and going to bed, I tagged along behind her until she noticed. She shoved my arm and placed her hand against my chest as if to stave me off. “That wasn’t an invitation,” she said.
The warmth from her touch spread through me, causing a languid feeling of deep contentment. Power flowed between us, rumbling like a gathering storm. The closer she was to my heart when she touched me the more powerful the sensation. I wondered briefly if the connection between Ren and Kelsey was as strong. Then I remembered I didn’t want to think about that.
Stepping away from her and rubbing my arm, I retorted, “Even if it was, I wouldn’t accept. You’re much too bristly to scrub a man’s back.”
Red crept up her neck and sparked her hot temper. “I am well aware that you prefer your women to be soft and malleable. And believe me when I say that I have no interest in even seeing your naked back, let alone scrubbing it for you!”
I held up my hands in surrender. “All right. Calm down. Sorry to upset you. I’m just thinking it would be a good idea to hold on to the amulet while you bathe. Then, if something comes up, I can take care of it while you relax.”
“What happened to us taking care of it together?”
“If it’s something important, I’ll come find you.” I grinned. “Whether you’re dressed or wearing nothing but soap.”
She hissed. “You will not disturb my bath.” She bit her lip in an appealing way as she considered what to do. When she puzzled things out, her green eyes always lit up. Those eyes lifted to mine and then darted quickly away.
“Ana, if I didn’t know you better, I’d say you were blushing.”
“The goddess Durga does not blush,” she declared as she lifted her chin haughtily.
I laughed. “Sure she does.”
With a growl of frustration, she tore the amulet from her neck and shoved it into my hands. “Take it, but do not disturb me for the rest of the night.”
“Not a problem.” She turned away. “Sleep well, Ana,” I said to her retreating back. She stopped and nodded before turning the corner.
I’d only threatened to interrupt her bath because I knew it would distract her from the odd request to hold on to the amulet, but I couldn’t deny that the thought of finding her in a bubble bath was not an unpleasant one. Standing rooted at the spot where she’d disappeared, I stared blankly for a moment, rubbing my jaw and smiling before I remembered I had something to do.
Kelsey!
In two seconds I was out the palace door and used the power of the amulet to transport my body through space back to the place in the forest where I’d left Kadam.
As the trees spun around me—a disconcerting and nauseating feeling—and came to a stop, I wondered if I was in the right place.
“Kadam? Kadam?” I shouted.
He materialized instantly. “I apologize for keeping you waiting. Miss Kelsey was worried about me.”
“She… You just saw her?”
“In my time, yes.”
Shaking off the confusion, I decided not to probe. “You said you had instructions?”
He took hold of my arm and nodded. “Follow my lead, and when the time is right, save her.”
Frowning, I said, “I don’t think you gave me enough infor—”
The forest floor spun away, and with a sickening wrench, I was torn from the past and propelled into the future. When we arrived at the destination he’d chosen, we were still surrounded by trees and our feet sunk deeply into the snow.
“—mation.”
As I staggered to one knee, overwhelmed by the time jump, Kadam whispered some words, and the tie he was wearing burst into thousands of colorful threads. The Divine Scarf worked according to his command, and we were soon clothed in modern snow gear. With its work finished, the scarf became a thick woolen version of itself in red. Kadam tossed the end over one shoulder and said, “Follow me.”
“How is it that I didn’t pass out?” I asked as I stumbled forward, my strength returning quickly.
“The Damon Amulet makes the transition easier, and as for me, I’ve traveled through time enough now that I’ve become used to its effects. You will adapt soon as well.”
The thick conifer trees surrounding us were heavily dusted with snow and were beautiful as the setting sun caused the thick snow to sparkle in a blush of colors that reminded me of Kelsey’s cheeks. In a few moments we exited the forest and came upon a resort. The exterior coloring and sloped roof mimicked the impressive view of the mountain behind it.
“We’re not in the Himalayas, are we?” I asked, though I knew the answer already.
Kadam shook his head. “This is Mt. Hood.”
“Oregon,” I said as much to myself as to him.
I was puzzled since I remembered that Kelsey didn’t have much fondness for snow. Perhaps that stemmed from her being attacked by a bear on our hike together on Mt. Everest as we searched for the spirit gate. But if memory served, she had mentioned that she didn’t enjoy what she termed “snow sports,” and this place, from the activity I was witnessing, was clearly designed for such.
Dozens of people, including young children, were making their way to the resort, many carrying skis or boards as they headed in for the night. They were dressed in varying colors in types of clothing that I knew were from Kelsey’s time.
They filtered into a main building flanked by two brightly lit wings that stretched out on either side. From the dozens of windows, I surmised that the wings were the guest accommodations. Warm light spilled from the building, and lampposts lit our way as the sun sank beyond the horizon. We soon caught up to a group carrying their equipment over their shoulders and headed into the building with them.
After taking our turn stomping our boots on thick mats at the entrance, Kadam led me to a stone fireplace and bade me sit. “Don’t get up,” he said. “Not until I tell you.” With those cryptic instructions, he left me alone.
A waitress soon brought me a mug of steaming chocolate topped with whipped cream and cinnamon, which I suspected Kadam had requested to be sent over. As the fire and the chocolate warmed me, my heart pounded, knowing I’d soon see her again.
Kelsey, the woman I loved beyond reason, would arrive any moment. I practiced what my first words should be. You have no idea how good it is to see you. I’ve missed you so much. I made a mistake. Please come back to me. I love you.
I still wasn’t sure which words would spill out of me first and I honestly didn’t care. If I could just lay eyes on her again, I was confident I’d know what to say. A family came in dragging their suitcases behind them and stopped at the seating area I was currently occupying. The mother smiled at me shyly while the father gave me the once-over before organizing their belongings into a pile, then he told his young daughter, “Have a seat by the fire while we check out. We might be a few minutes since there’s a line.”
The girl nodded and plopped her backpack on the chair next to me. Unzipping it, she took out a book and, after tugging her pink cap down to her eyebrows, buried her head behind it and began to read.
Glancing at the girl, I smiled and nodded, but then twitched nervously again thinking of seeing the woman I loved. Picking up my cocoa, I sipped, letting the aroma tickle my nose, then froze as a new scent assailed me. Kelsey! She was here! Whipping my head around, I searched for her amid the bustle of people and cursed the fact that Kadam had insisted that I stay seated. Still, I craned my neck and twisted every possible way to catch a glimpse of her.
“Are you okay?” the young girl asked as she peered at me over the pages of her book.
“Yes,” I replied irritably. “I’m just looking for someone.”
“Who?”
“I’m looking for my…my friend.”
“What does your friend look like?”
“Long brown hair, brown eyes, beautiful smile.”
Her eyes widened as she peered at me over the rim of the book and she giggled. “I’m guessing it’s a girl. Is she your girlfriend?”
“She was.” I spun in my chair, scanning the people walking out the door, worried that she’d passed me and already left. I didn’t see her, but her scent was still strong, so I relaxed and let out a sigh, reminding myself I should trust in Kadam. Still I kept my eyes peeled.
“And you’re here to win her back, right?”
“Something like that,” I mumbled distractedly as I picked up my cocoa and sipped.
“That’s so romantic,” she said.
I grunted and gave the girl a wry smile. “At least you think so.”
“Oh, I do. Your cocoa smells good. Is there cinnamon in it?” She was now peeping at me from the left side of her book so I could only see half her face.
When I tilted my head to see her better, she sucked in a breath and hid her eyes again.
“Would you like one?” I offered.
“Umm…I’m not really supposed to take gifts from strangers.”
“Then I’ll introduce myself. My name is Kishan.”
“That’s a strange name. Where are you from?”
“India. Where are you from?”
“Salem.”
I smiled. “I’m familiar with the town.” When she snuck a brief look at me from the right side of her pages, I said, “You don’t need to be afraid of me.”
“I’m not afraid,” she insisted. “I’m just being…cautious.”
“As you should be,” I said with a serious nod.
I summoned the waitress, who soon brought a second chocolate for the girl, and we sat quietly for a few minutes, me watching the steam waft into the air and her pretending to ignore my gesture. Finally, I said, “Aren’t you going to even try it? It’s very good.”
Slowly she shifted her book, still keeping her face hidden, and her gloved hand snuck out and grabbed the handle. After a few noisy sips, she deposited the half-empty mug back on the table.
Laughing, I said, “It’s nice to see a girl who enjoys her chocolate again. My girlfriend loved hot chocolate.”
“It’s delicious,” she said shyly. “Thank you.” At last she lowered the book and smiled at me. Happy at my small victory, I was about to tease her about being a bookworm when I looked in her eyes. Familiar chocolate orbs gleamed in a charmingly chubby, red-cheeked face. I trembled and my heart stopped.
“What’s the matter?” she asked, forming the words around a mouthful of wire brackets attached to her teeth.
“I…I…I’m not sure.” I swallowed, barely able to speak.
I stared at her in what I was sure was a frightening way, and she tossed her book aside. “Are you having a heart attack, Mr. Kishan? Why aren’t you moving?”
She approached me and shook my shoulder. Long braids swung back and forth like the pendulum of a grandfather clock keeping time, and as she leaned over me, I couldn’t help but laugh inwardly at the irony.
Kadam approached and the girl backed away. He assured her that I was all right but that I was likely a bit disoriented from a bad fall. As she took her seat, watching me worriedly, he sat beside her and introduced himself. She spoke much more easily with him, and after reassuring herself that I was recovered, she downed the rest of her cocoa and began telling him about her ski vacation with her parents.
Kelsey.
The girl I loved had been sitting next to me the whole time. Her unforgettable scent had been all around me. This was my Kelsey. I guessed she was all of thirteen. Her cheeks were pink from the warmth of the fire, and pink appeared to be her favorite color if her backpack and hat were any indication. How could I not have recognized her? It was obvious to me now. I should have known her from her eyes. Her voice.
After a moment her parents returned, and as Kelsey introduced Kadam, I took a long look at the two people who had influenced her so much. Her mother was plump and beautiful like her daughter, and as she listened to Kadam share his manufactured tale of the slopes, I saw the strength behind the sympathy that I so often saw in Kelsey’s eyes. She got her determination and openhearted kindness from her mother.
As Kelsey’s father sat down next to her and put his hand on his wife’s shoulder, Kelsey nestled between them and leaned her head back against him. A tender memory of her doing the same thing with me came to mind. As he spoke with Kadam, I recognized the sharp mind behind the gentle man. He cleaned his glasses as he considered Kadam’s story.
The young version of Kelsey fascinated me. She still moved her hands when she talked. Her brown hair was longer than I was used to seeing, and her braids were missing the customary ribbons. She had the same open laugh that reached her eyes. My heart wrenched at seeing her as she’d been, and at that moment, I fell for her even more than I had before. I loved her no matter what age she was, and if she needed saving, then I would throw myself down the mountainside to protect her. It was time to become an active participant in the conversation.
“It’s all right, Dad,” I said to Kadam. “I’m sure I can wait until morning.”
“Nonsense,” Kelsey’s mother replied. “There’s plenty of room to take you.”
“Well, Maddie, we do have a lot of luggage,” Joshua Hayes countered.
“I really don’t want to be a burden,” I said. “I’ll just stay overnight and go on the morning shuttle.”
“Now, son,” Kadam fussed, “It might be broken. I don’t want to wait that long to get your ankle checked out. If you could walk around on it, then it would be a different story.”
Taking his cue, I said, “Look, it’s fine. I can walk on it. See?” I stood, putting all my weight on my right leg, and then took a few awkward steps and grabbed a nearby wooden post, hobbling as if I were in terrible pain. Kelsey cried out and ran to my side. She put her arm around my waist, and her mother came to my other side and fussed over me as I sat down again.
“I simply won’t hear any more of this nonsense,” she said. “Joshua, we are taking this young man to the hospital and seeing him settled and that’s that.”
“Yes, dear.” Her husband smiled and began gathering the luggage. “I’ll bring the car around and stow our gear first.”
Maddie patted my arm and said, “I was a nurse until I had Kelsey, and I know that a broken ankle is no laughing matter. You just sit right here and let us help you. I insist.”
She had Kelsey’s determined won’t-take-no-for-an-answer expression, and though I knew that Kadam had orchestrated the whole thing, I couldn’t help but enjoy the situation. I smiled warmly at the two Hayes women and said, “Having two such lovely young ladies taking care of me has already healed all hurts but one.”
“What still hurts you, Mr. Kishan?” the young Kelsey asked.
Leaning my head toward hers as if telling her a secret, I said aloud, “The fact that I can have neither one of you for myself is what ails me the most.”
Kelsey’s mouth dropped open, and her mother charmed me with a blush that warmed her cheeks. “Now, now,” she said. “I’m much too old for you and Kelsey is too young. Besides, if my husband hears you flirting with us, he might change his mind about taking you to the hospital.”
“If the two of you belonged to me, I fear I would guard you just as jealously,” I conceded. “It’ll be our secret then,” I said with a grin.
After Kadam paid the waitress for our hot chocolates, Maddie Hayes stood as Kadam exclaimed with all sincerity, “My dear woman, you have shown me the greatest of kindnesses. There are not many who would deign to help another as you have. I entrust my son wholly to your care and know that you will treat him as your own.” He paused only briefly and then continued soberly as he cupped her hand in his, “I hope you know that I would do the same for your daughter should ever the need arise.”
“I only wish there was room in the car for you too,” she replied kindly.
“Alas, fate has deemed I should be left behind. But all is not lost. You are a remarkable soul, Mrs. Hayes. I am honored to have made your acquaintance.”
“As am I,” she said.
“What about your girlfriend?” Kelsey asked. “Shouldn’t we wait for her to come back?”
Lowering my gaze, I said softly, “If she wanted to return to me, she would.”
While retrieving her backpack, I heard Kelsey mumble, “Girl must be crazy to leave a guy who looks like that.” She didn’t know that with my tiger hearing, her words were clearly audible. When she returned, I grinned at her. She blushed and looked away.
Joshua Hayes soon came to fetch us and he and Kadam helped me hobble to the vehicle. Kelsey and her mother stood in the hotel entrance while the men helped me get settled. I overheard Kelsey ask her mother, “Why are we taking a stranger to the hospital? I thought we needed to be careful around strangers.”
Her mother, thinking I wouldn’t hear, replied, “My heart tells me they mean us no harm, and I believe that sometimes it’s better to listen to your heart than to your head. Never let fear stop you from helping others, Kells. You’re right that you should always be careful, but sometimes, if you don’t take a leap of faith, then you may lose out on an incredible adventure. I want you to experience all that life has to offer, and that means taking a risk every once in a while. Get it?”
“Got it,” Kelsey answered.
“Good. Now let’s go make sure our guest is comfortable, shall we?”
Kelsey soon joined me in the backseat, and as her parents buckled in, I realized what a miracle it was to see that glimpse of Kelsey’s past. Her mother was an amazing woman and one I would have liked to have known. She reminded me of my own mother, and I was sad knowing that Kelsey no longer had her parents to turn to. Their deaths must have devastated her.
The night was cold and crisp, and though it had snowed in the afternoon, the stars were clearly visible and the moon lit our path. Kelsey buckled her seat belt and put her book into her backpack. Before she zipped it closed, I saw the flash of a very familiar object.
“Is that a quilt?” I asked.
She nodded and, embarrassed, stammered. “I know I’m too old to have one, but my grandmother made it for me and she died a couple months ago, so I like to keep it close.”
Ducking my head toward her, I said, “There’s no need to feel self-conscious. My girlfriend has a favorite quilt too.”
Maddie gave me a grateful look and waved at Kadam, who nodded silently to me as Kelsey’s father started the car. I clutched the Damon Amulet hidden under my shirt, wondering how I might have to use it.
***
Kelsey’s father turned on the radio, letting the music play gently in the background as he drove slowly down the icy mountain. The small car settled into a rhythm that made a sort of music of its own when combined with the sound of the tire chains crunching a new path in the thick snow. Leaning my head back, I closed my eyes and could almost believe Kelsey was my own and we were visiting her parents to ask for their blessing, that she would introduce me as the one she loved, the one she couldn’t live without.
Instead, she caught my attention when she spoke about school with her mother. She seemed shy in answering her mother’s questions, and I wondered if it was the subject material or if it was my presence that made her nervous. Maddie had just turned her attention to me and was asking if I was visiting or if I’d moved to Oregon when Joshua adjusted his mirror and glanced behind us.
“What is it?” his wife asked.
I heard a car and looked out the back window. The revving of its engine was accompanied by uproarious laughter. Kelsey jumped when the driver blew the horn several times.
“Crazy kids,” Joshua said. “They’re probably drunk.”
“We have several miles left of mountain road. Just wave them ahead,” Maddie suggested.
Joshua rolled down his window and waved his arm, but the honking continued. Whoever was driving the vehicle behind us fishtailed back and forth in the thick snow and ice covering the road. They bounced the back of their car into a tall fir tree, and the impact sent a snow shower down onto their car. Instead of having a sobering effect, the boys in the car hooted victoriously as if they’d just won a great battle. They accelerated dangerously close to our vehicle. Kelsey cried out.
“It will be okay,” I reassured her. She nodded trustingly, but then the driver behind us flicked his brights on and off. Kelsey sunk down in her seat so her head could no longer be seen, wrapped her arms around her torso, and played nervously with one of her braids.
Seeing her frightened caused my fists to tighten in anger. I wanted to burst through the back window in my tiger form. Imagining landing heavily on the hood of their vehicle and raking my claws across their windshield as I roared and they whimpered gave me a measure of satisfaction, but I doubted that was the reason I was here.
Why am I here? To save Kelsey. But from what? From these boys? What do they want with her? As soon as I began to speculate, my mind filled with nefarious possibilities, ones that would cause me to rip out the throat of any boy who dared think it. Is that the reason I’m here? To prevent these boys from hurting Kelsey and her parents?
So far they’d limited themselves to being annoying. There was no reason to rip throats. At least not yet. Kelsey and her parents were safe for now.
The car weaved behind us, the headlights creating shadows in our car that lengthened and shrunk with each turn. I could see the strain in Joshua Hayes’ eyes, but to his credit, he was as calm as if he were reading a book.
He did his best to soothe his wife and daughter and refused to hurry down the dangerous mountain despite the pressure of the young idiots riding his tail. To distract them, he began talking about where they should go on their vacation next year, suggesting the beach or some other warm place, and asked them where they would like to go.
“Kelsey?” he asked, “what about you?”
She shrugged and when he asked again, she spoke quietly. “I chose this year. Maybe Mom can choose the next.”
“Perhaps you’re right.” Her father smiled in the rearview mirror. “Maddie? Where would you like to go?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” she said nervously. “Kishan? Perhaps you could tell us a bit about India,” she suggested.
I’d just opened my mouth to answer her when the car rammed into us and pushed us several feet to the left before Kelsey’s father regained control.
“Now that’s just going too far!” Mr. Hayes said sternly. He maneuvered back into his lane with the intention of stopping the car, but the drunken boys behind us hit us again, this time shoving us straight ahead. The right side of the car scraped against the mountainside. As sparks flew up between the windows and the mountain, Kelsey screamed and grabbed my hand. I squeezed it, trying to reassure her.
When the other car backed away, I leaned forward. “We need to get out of the car, Mr. Hayes. I can handle them,” I said.
“But you have a broken ankle,” Mrs. Hayes said anxiously. “Besides, it’s better to get away from bullies and report them to the authorities than to fight.”
“Running from bullies just isn’t my style, ma’am. No offense.”
She gave me a look. “No. I can’t imagine you running from anything.”
Kelsey watched me wide-eyed and pale-faced. “You’re not going out there, are you?” she asked nervously.
“If your dad can safely stop the car, I will.”
Joshua Hayes nodded in the mirror and managed to bring the car to a stop, angling the front wheels to the left a bit so that when my door opened I’d be facing the troublemakers, but instead of stopping their car, they accelerated.
“Joshua! Watch out!”
I’d just undone my seat belt when they hit us and the door on my side of the car folded inward, the glass breaking. Kelsey cried out and grabbed on to my arm in an attempt to pull me closer to her side so I wouldn’t be injured. Our car slid several feet down a hill so icy that even the chains on the tires couldn’t find purchase. We were pushed into the other lane and beyond it, where we hit a boulder.
Before I realized what was happening, my body became weightless and I slammed against the other side of the car, hitting something soft, which I soon recognized was Kelsey. We held each other and tumbled together as the car rolled once, twice, three times. I tried to shield her with my body as best I could, but the torn vehicle swerved to the edge of the road, and I heard the crunch of metal as we hit a post. Then my stomach dropped as the car spilled over the side of the mountain in free fall headed toward the tops of the trees in the forest far below.
Grabbing Kelsey close to my chest, I used the power of the Damon Amulet to whisk her away before the plummeting car struck a tree and the windshield shattered. There was nothing else I could do to prevent the horrifying accident that not only claimed the lives of Kelsey’s beloved family but would change her forever, impacting the woman she would become.