Thirst No. 4 (18 page)

To my left, on the other side of the stream, is a stone altar. Its design is primal and powerful. Three steps rise to an oval-shaped platform, over which stands an inverted triangle, a six-foot-tall etching encrusted with a thousand glowing rubies, with a single large pearl in the center, a symbol of Mother Kali. Near the bottom tip of the triangle someone
has kindled a bonfire, and close to it, lying on her back on a white cloth turned blood red by the light, is the body of a young blond woman.

It’s me lying there. I knew it would be me.

I don’t recall crossing the stream but I must have leapt over it. Suddenly the body is within arm’s reach and I’m staring down at her face. She looks at peace; it’s a lie. She looks almost alive; maybe that’s not a complete lie. On the sheet that covers her, near the heart, is a red stain. It looks fresh.

I drop to my knees as the strength drains from Teri’s body.

“Krishna,” I whisper. “Why?”

I close my eyes and weep. I’m not sure for who. It doesn’t matter, my sorrow is real, why should I be ashamed to share it with myself?

Time passes. It passes slowly when your body’s dead.

I hear a sound at my back.

Someone breathing. Someone alive.

I don’t turn. There’s no need. I know who stands there. I probably knew the truth from the start. I had seen the wisdom in her eyes. And it was that wisdom that had told her to position herself as the lover of the one man who still had the love of her enemy.

“Hello, Umara,” I say to Mary.

She moves until she is standing over my left shoulder.

“I took it here to protect it,” she says.

I open my eyes and stare at my body. “Do the dead need protection?”

“Yaksha died once and came back. You can do the same.”

I turn and look at Mary, at Umara, the oldest living creature on earth. She still wears her blue jeans and a plain red blouse. Her feet are bare. But the way she stands, so carefully balanced on those feet, she gives off a sense of incredibly coiled energy. I wonder if I, even at my peak, could have taken her.

“I didn’t see that story in his autobiography,” I say.

“You’ll find it. I notice you’ve begun to use your blood.”

“Did you put that idea in my mind?”

Umara gestures. “Perhaps this place did. It’s very old.”

“How old?”

“I’ve been coming here for three thousand years. The Native Americans built it for me. A wonderful people, you would have liked them. They called themselves the Rulan, although that name has become lost in history.”

“Did they worship you?”

“They tried but I forbid it. They were a simple people, attuned to nature.” She gestures to the triangle. “I taught them about Isis, the Great Mother. They had their own gods but they were wise enough to understand they were all the same.”

“India. America. Egypt. It sounds like you got around.”

“I can say the same for you. I’ve watched you, Sita, since you were young.”

“I know. You offered to kill me.”

“Couldn’t you tell I was teasing him? Yaksha would never have allowed that. And there was no need. When Yaksha took
his vow, you became the forbidden fruit, whereas Krishna wanted me to help Yaksha.”

“Lucky you. God blessed your union.”

Umara sighs. “It wasn’t that way. Our lives were filled with struggle. From the day I met Yaksha, I was never again to know peace.”

“But it was worth it.”

Umara is reflective. She nods.

I stand and face her. “When did you last see him?”

“It’s been over a hundred years.”

“Matt saw him fifteen years ago.”

“He was fortunate.”

“Why would he see his son and avoid you?”

“He didn’t allow Matt to have much contact with him, not toward the end. But I think he found it harder to say no to his son.”

“Yaksha was afraid the Telar would find all of you.”

“Of course. It was the primary reason for our separation.”

“What was the other reason?”

“You.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Yaksha knew his time was approaching. He didn’t want to leave the earth without fulfilling his vow. Yet he couldn’t imagine killing you. It tore him apart.” Umara pauses. “In the end, you tore us apart.”

“You say that like I should be pleased.”

“You’re obviously jealous that I was his wife.”

The need to challenge her feels silly. Still, I find it hard to resist. “I could have been with him if I wanted,” I say.

Umara treats my petty emotionalism with more respect than it deserves. “He often spoke of you. He kept better track of you than you realize. He was never at ease unless he knew you were safe. At the same time, he used to boast that you were invincible.”

I nod toward my body. “It seems he was wrong.”

She reaches out and touches my arm. “You’re a living miracle. Even in death, you found a way to survive. You stand before me in another body, true, but I believe your original form can be saved. Have you studied your chest wound? It’s almost healed.”

“How did you know I was in Teri’s body?”

“Matt tried to contact me as soon as you were killed. He left a long message for me describing what had happened.”

“Did you respond?”

“No. But I flew to Denver to watch over you.”

“And you knew I was in Teri’s body?”

“The second I saw you.”

“Are you a healer as well as an immortal?”

“You misunderstand. I brought you here to keep you safe from Haru and Brutran, and to help preserve your form. Up until this evening, I’ve kept your body anchored in this water. I kept you near freezing, as I did to Yaksha when he was fatally
injured. The cold halts the decay. At the same time the water gave your body the time it needed to regenerate.”

“What’s so special about this water? Besides its temperature?”

“The Rulan had a legend that said the source of this river was located deep in mountains that overlook this part of the coast. In a chamber filled with massive crystals that shine with their own light. There may be some truth to the story. Long before I came here, this cave extended deep into the earth. I was able to confirm that fact with my own excavations. But it soon became clear to me that a massive quake had closed off the bulk of the cave and I’d never be able to reach the stream’s source. Still, we’re lucky the water continues to flow. It has healing properties.”

“It can restore me to life?”

“No, but it has given your body a chance to recover. Now, with your blood, nothing is impossible. I know your history. Yaksha, Kalika, and John have all contributed their blood to yours. Think about it, Sita, that’s a remarkable trinity.”

“How did you resurrect Yaksha?”

“It’s better I show you than tell you.”

“How was he killed?”

“That’s a story for later, when you’re back in your own body.”

I shake my head. “You can’t do it. You’re not Krishna.”

Umara grabs me by the shoulders. “But I knew him. I
spent years with him. I can’t draw a breath without feeling his grace, and the instant I met you, I felt it as well. He’s still with us, you know in your heart he is, and I believe it was he who brought you here.” She pauses. “You can’t defeat the Telar or the IIC unless you reclaim your full power.”

For some reason I find myself staring at Teri’s hands. “If it works, what will become of this body?” I ask.

Umara lets go of me. “It will die.”

“No. You don’t know that. Maybe she could come back.”

“She’s dead, Sita. She died the day she was supposed to die.”

I stare at her face. “Matt doesn’t know I’m in here.”

That startles her. “You never told him?”

“He was furious when I tried to change Teri into a vampire. I only did it to save her life, and still he didn’t care. He threatened to kill her in the middle of her transformation. That’s when the Cradle struck and he shot me instead.”

Umara frowns. “The Cradle couldn’t have controlled Matt.”

“Why not?”

“Brutran would need a sample of his blood to get a hold on him.”

“I figured the same thing. Somehow, she must have gotten that sample.”

“From where?”

“I don’t know. It worries me. And it terrifies me how Matt’s going to react when he discovers I’ve swiped his girlfriend’s body.”

Umara turns and wanders around the cavern. “I only saw him with Teri from a distance. He seemed to care for her. But I never got to spend time with them. Tell me, was it a deep love?”

“She was the love of his life.”

Umara nods to herself. “He knew she was your descendant. It makes sense. I’m glad he got to experience a love like that at least once. It’s a pity she died so young.”

“I loved her a great deal. I wish I could have died instead of her. But what’s happened has happened. I need to get back in my real body before he discovers the truth. Even then I don’t know if I’ll be able to handle him.”

“He’s not going to hurt you.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I’m his mother.”

“Then you know how strong he is. How fast.”

Umara shakes her head. “I’m not going to fight him. I’ll talk to him, he’ll listen to me. Trust me. But we’re going to have to tell him what we’re doing beforehand. The one thing Matt can’t stand is to be lied to.”

“You don’t get it. When it comes to this point, I don’t trust you. There’s no way I’m going to call Matt and say hey, guess what, I’m not really Teri. I’ve just been pretending for the last week. He’s not going to accept that.”

Umara stops pacing and stares down at my body. “He’s still trying to reach me. He’s left messages warning me about the
Telar and a supervirus they’ve developed. Of course I’ve known about it for years.”

“Do you still have friends among the Telar?”

“Contacts. People who report to me. Telar who don’t trust Haru or the Source. You’d be surprised how many there are.”

“Have they told you when the Telar plan to release the virus?”

“Soon.”

“Why haven’t you tried to stop Haru?”

“I’ve been waiting for you.”

“Don’t bullshit me, Umara.”

“I’m not. My intuition is unlike Freddy’s. I seldom see things that are going to happen. But occasionally I’ll have something akin to a waking dream. I usually don’t see many details but I can sense the truth of these visions, if that’s what they are. And whenever I’ve considered attacking the Telar directly, I always remember a vision I had the night after the Battle of Kurukshetra ended. That was the day I saw you from across the battlefield.”

“What did you see?”

“I saw you chopping off the heads of a Hydra.”

“Krishna told Yaksha about the Hydra. That’s why you dreamed it.”

“I hadn’t met Yaksha yet, and Krishna never said anything to me about a Hydra, although I would have understood if he had.”

“Because you’re one of the first Telar. You were there at the start.”

Umara hesitates. “Yes.”

“You lied to your son when you denied that you were one of the original Telar.”

“That lie was necessary to protect him. None of the Telar alive today know how old I am.”

“Not even Haru? I heard he was your brother.”

She sighs. “Please. I don’t wish to speak of him. Now now.”

“Did the original Telar develop an array?”

“Yes.”

“Did they have a cradle?”

“Now is not the time to explain what happened then. You heard what Freddy said. Between him and Sharp, you’ve gained a basic understanding of how large groups can be used to tap into a vast field of psychic energy.”

“Sure. The two of them gave us an insight into how the IIC is making trillions of dollars while twisting people’s brains into mush. But I still don’t have a clue how to destroy Brutran or the Telar. Our time is short. You’ve got to come clean with me. I need to know what you know.”

“I can’t tell you. Not until you’re back in your body.”

“Why not?”

Umara kneels beside my body and puts a hand on its head. It’s strange—I feel her fingers on Teri’s forehead. We share similar blood. Perhaps that explains the link between our two forms.

Umara speaks in a dark whisper. “Because what I know could be used to destroy this planet. Literally, it’s possible to unleash a power so great it could detonate the earth’s core and transform this world into a second asteroid belt. And you’re not strong enough to protect such secrets, not in your current form.”

I kneel beside her and squeeze my ancient hand. It’s probably due to the nearby fire, but it still shocks me to find my flesh is warm. There’s no pulse, though, and my dead eyes remain closed.

“Put me back in my body,” I say.

Umara nods. “Tomorrow night. When the moon is full.”

“Does that matter?”

“Freddy’s system would say that’s when the energy of the Goddess is at its strongest.”

“Tomorrow night is fine with me. But you can’t bring Matt here.”

“I have to. If you’re right and she was the love of his life, then he has to be given a chance to say good-bye to her. He’ll never forgive either of us if we deny him that.”

“She’s dead! He’s not going to get a chance to talk to her.”

Umara strokes my body’s arm and I continue to feel the sensation on my own arm. “I’ll speak to him before he sees you. We have much to catch up on, and when we’re done, I’ll make sure he understands that you didn’t choose to enter Teri’s body. And I’ll explain why you kept the truth hidden from him.”

“Who else will witness this exorcism?”

Umara smiles sadly. “Is that what you think of it? I don’t know. Who do you want there?”

“Paula and Seymour.”

“They’re mortals. They won’t understand.”

“They’re my friends. They understand plenty.”

“Anyone else?”

I hesitate. “John, if he’ll come. Have you heard about the boy?”

“Of course. The Telar and the IIC are searching the four corners of the earth trying to find him.” She pauses. “Are the prophecies about him true?”

“I don’t know. I doubt he’s Krishna, but there’s something about him that’s wonderful. I’ll ask Paula to bring him. He helped anchor me in this body. Maybe he can help anchor me in my old one.”

Umara nods as she stares down at my body. “What we’re attempting to do is dangerous. I suppose you’ve guessed that. For this body to live again, the body you’re in must die.”