Return of the Asuras |Lesbian Story| (The Sequel)

Chapter 5

I heard Kesar's voice, which awoke me from my reverie. I turned to find her walking towards me. With some effort, I managed a dry smile. She sat down. Her hand held a roasted fish wrapped in a lotus-leaf.

"You must be hungry, my lady. You should eat."

I shook my head 'no'.

"I am sure Princess Amarisa shall be fine," she said again. Her warm words were like fine silk brushing over my skin, coaxing me back from my worries, but I looked away in shame.

"This is my fault," I said. "I drew her away."

Kesar shook her head.

"Blame yourself no more," she said. "What is done can't be undone. You are merely human doing what the gods bid, mistakes or merits alike. If you want to blame yourself, blame me as well."

I heaved another sigh. It was fruitless to prove Kesar that my wrongdoings were truly and inexcusably my own.

The winged maiden began to unwrap the fish she had cooked. The delicious smell aroused an appetite I didn't know I had.

"You can't bring her back if you have no strength," Kesar said.

Despite the gloom, I succumbed to her request. As I began to eat reluctantly, she helped pick out the fish-bones like she always did.

Looking at the Kennari, I wished time would turn backward. I wished the cruel love god had not plagued us with his poisoned darts. How I wished I had not dragged everyone along into my sins.

"Kesar," I said slowly. "Have you ever thought of being with someone else? Someone whom you so much deserve?"

She looked at me, shocked by my hinting words.

"I have never harbored such thoughts in my mind," she said.

"But you and I...we both can't be together..."

"I do understand, my lady," she said. Her eyes glittered in the brink of tears. "I have no place worthy of togetherness with you. But I desire no one in this lifetime and have no intention to leave...unless...unless it pleases you that I do."

"No! It does not please me at all, Kesar," I said, shaking my head in protest. "Even we can't be more than friends, I won't turn you away again, that I promise you."

This brought a sad smile to her lips. I wrapped my arms around her. Kesar leaned into me easily. She placed her cheek on my chest. Her hair smelled of sweet lilacs. For a brief moment, I felt strange in my body. A chill of some sort. I held Kesar's form tighter like I couldn't get close enough.

"What about the princess?" she asked.

I was silent for a while as I considered the question. I had no answer.

But then we heard Tusita's call. Kesar broke away. The avatar ran towards me. Atith and Samudra were in tow.

"Nikita, my father has answered me!" she said in excitement.

"He did?" I asked, feeling my body surged with delight.

"He said you have brought a gift with you."

"I have?" I was confused.

"Yes, what is it that you brought along?" Atith asked impatiently.

"Let me see," I said and rummaged around my satchel. "I have some apricots, Tepi's map, some drawing pencils, and...oh wait...Ravi gave me the holy fish's scales."

"Yes! The magical scales!" Samudra said. "The rivers would appreciate such offering indeed."

"Great," Tusita said. "Tonight, we shall do it."

When the darkness covered the sky, we went down to the edge of the river again. I took out the golden box from my bag. The fish scales glowed bright blue and red inside. With a silent prayer, I placed the box on the water and gave it a shove forward. It floated away over the trembling waves.

For a long moment, nothing happened, but true to Indra's words, the golden box began to spin and a whirlpool began to form. The water kept swirling until we heard distant haunting music from the bottom.

All of a sudden, something rose out to the surface like a whale taking a breath. We gasped as the water poured noisily from it. We saw a huge rowing boat beginning to reveal itself. It was painted in lustrous red and gold with a roof over it. There were ten men holding wooden oars at both ends. A band of musicians sat inside, playing strange music. The seemingly enchanted boat glittered over the river as it sailed towards the bank.

"Who summoned the ride?" one of the oarsmen said.

"We did," Tusita came to answer.

"Then get on board."

All the crews looked like the dead— hollow eyes and blank slimy faces. They wore a uniform of red silk with gold embroidery. But their skins were drippy and as green as moss. I tried not to stare too much at their odd appearance.

We exchanged glances and then did as we were told. We went over to the boat. Kesar tried to come along with me, but the same oarsman cried out with a loathing glare of his hollow eyes.

"No birds allowed in the Naga realm!" he said. "Vicious winged-creatures must remain on land or none shall pass the gate."

I frowned at the oarsman for insulting my Kennari. But I knew there was nothing I could do. Besides, I would rather want Kesar far away from all dangers. I looked back at Kesar, who gripped my arm tightly with pleading eyes.

"Kesar, you stay here and wait for me," I told her. "Be very careful while I'm gone. I'll be back with the avatars, I promise."

She bit her lip, but she finally gave me a reluctant nod. Then she cupped my face in her hands and kissed my forehead.

"Take care, my lady," she said after we parted. The last thing I felt was her hand squeezing mine as if to tell me to be careful. I didn't know what would happen after that. But one thing was for sure— whether things turned amiss or good in the end, Kesar and I would always be good friends.

When we all settled onto the boat, the musicians changed their melodies. Panic rose from my stomach as the whirlpool started again. The water was spinning and pulling the whole boat down. It was terrifying. I thought we were going to die from drowning, but once the boat submerged underwater, I realized we were still alive and breathing.

I stared at everything in astonishment. Lights ghostly shimmered off our moving vessel. The oarsmen kept rowing forward in silence. Deeper into the river, I could see silvery scales of innumerable fishes swimming by our windows.

"Tell us your destination," the sailor asked in a flat tone.

I answered boldly, "The Palace of the Serpent King."