Kris banged his hand on the coffee table.
"This might work! This is perfect!"
"I am not that sure, guys, but like I said, I'll be with you. You have my wholehearted support." Pama quipped.
Leibniz adjusted his glasses and wiped the sweat off his forehead.
"Let's bring Sive in." Kris suggested.
The blank faces in front of him failed to stop him, he dialled the number.
"We need you here."
"I'll be right there."
------------------------------
"So you're suggesting that we announce a battle of clans and strategically pit JS against Nietz, and then ask Nietz to send him to a parallel universe using his powers? That's your super plan?!?" Sive was in utter disbelief.
"You've oversimplified it. What Leibniz said was to constitute a panel of top warriors amongst the vampires. The winners will fight for the president position for four years. This will excite everyone because like JS, they all want power. So even if JS loses out, there'd be a top player. That's the only flaw. Nietz is an oddball. He'd want peace than to win this war. That'll work in our favour. " Kris tried to put some emphasis on the key ideas.
"I share Sive's scepticism but I can't think of anything else, so whatever." Pama threw her hands in the air.
"I'll think of alternatives but you can start working on this as Plan B." Sive agreed.
"All.... Right! Let's begin!"
----------------------------------------
When Kris and Leibniz entered Nietz's lair, they sensed an air of confusing and fierce energies. Just when they were about to enter the study where Nietz would be found, they heard a voice from within.
"Why can't you join me? For ages you've been claiming that God is dead, but you can't join me to kill one? You're not sane, young man."
"That was a philosophical proposition, old man. I'm not sure you have the right bend of mind for that. You can come to me when you do. Please leave, I have a lecture to prepare for."
Jerassand stomped his way out; Kris and Leibniz hid in the cupboard nearby until he was gone. Leibniz gently knocked on the door before opening it.
"Professor." He addressed Nietz.
"Leibniz, sir! What a surprise!" Nietz got up and reached out to hug Leibniz. "How come you never come to see me? I keep thinking about you."
"Oh yeah? That's why you never mentioned me in your books?"
"That was ages ago. And I was vary of what they'd say about our relationship. I didn't want any obvious connections or speculations. I thought you'd understand. Yet, you have been avoiding me for all these years. Centuries. How could you?"
Kris felt that he was intruding upon a very intimate scene. He was confused as to what he should do and decided to keep quiet.
Leibniz held Nietz's hand, "I missed you too. That's why I came running to you when I got into trouble, you see." He grinned.
Nietz frowned. "What is it?"
"It's JS."
--------------------
"Do you really think he's fall for this trap? That he wouldn't see through it?" Nietz asked after listening Leibniz. Kris was still standing at the doorway, yet to be introduced. Had he been another god, he'd have been pissed. But Lord Krsna understood the ways of the world.
"So, he's your God?", Nietz did a hand gesture suggesting Kris.
"One of them. He's responsible for JS's transformation and therefore, that guy is out to seek revenge."
"The gods can't even clean up their own mess?"
"Let's not be blasphemous right in front of them, please. I'm God-fearing, still, you know. I know your reservations towards the idea, but look at you. You are a superman. Maybe according to your philosophical definitions of it, but you are. And you are as responsible for your species as Kris is to his. So please for this once, let's join hands with them. " Leibniz pleaded.
Nietz thought for a while, "Under one condition: 50 dates."
Leibniz chuckled and looked at Kris, who knew that this was his cue to leave.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Mira focused on cleaning the house and doing the chores to avoid thinking of Kris : why was he not back? Is Pama ok? Would something rekindle between the two of them? The thoughts kept escalating. Even the work couldn't really shut her active imagination of how Kris would be cooking for her, feeding her, sleeping next to her....
BANG!
Mira thumped down a glass jar too hard that it broke into a thousand pieces. The door opened just then to let in a weary-faced Kris. Seeing Mira he ran to her side.
"You're bleeding! What are you doing, Mira?"
Mira was in a trance. She could hear him faintly. Soon she fell into his arms, losing consciousness.
When she opened her eyes next, Kris had already bandaged her arm and brought her to the room as well. Her room, not the guest room. She felt strange as it was his room now. Everything smelled like him. The scent was strangely intoxicating. It was a tender fragrance of the night-flowering jasmine. Images of those coral flowers trickling over Kris's chest rose in Mira's mind and she blushed.
Just then, Kris entered with a bowl of hot soup.
"You need to eat, you seem too weak. Are you anaemic?"
Mira shook her head.
"You seem to be, though. Sit up, I'll feed you."
Kris, then, helped her sit up and started feeding her the broth.
"How's Pama?" Mira asked.
"She seemed okay. I had an errand to run so couldn't spend much time with her. She'd call if she's not okay, I guess."
"Oh, that's good to hear," Mira replied weakly.
Kris smiled at the dove of a woman he had before him. He felt a sudden surge of affection but he held back, fearing he'd make her uncomfortable.
"Kris... Do you think you'd go back to her? I mean in a romantic way."
"Hmm. Highly impossible. We've left that alley way back. We've experienced all sorts of ups and downs and that has taught us that we're more compatible as friends."
"Okay."
"And I like someone now. She knows. She approves."
"W.. Who? Whom do you like??" Mira felt dizzy with anticipation.