The Dakini spirit lunged forward, long hair rippling in the wind. Like a flash of lightning, Lord Bhringi drew his steel and sliced through the infernal specter. And nothing. The sword passed through her like she did not exist.
The Dakini landed before the two of them soundlessly like a cat and laughed, her ringing voice piercing the ears. "I am not a god, you fool, nor a demon to slay. That weapon of yours will have no play."
Vyom stole a look at the bee demon beside him and then at Sachi, who was still lying at the base of the gnarled tree. The Dakini was drifting closer, looming like an angry mass of freezing clouds before them. In the distance, wolves howled in a manner of warning, but it was too late. All the shadows were closing in, even the rocks, and Vyom could feel the cold ether of the spirit on his face.
All of a sudden, Vyom felt a strong pull on his robe, and the next moment he was flying, carried by Bhringi. The bee demon had even managed to grasp a hold of the boy, and up they went. For a moment, Vyom felt relief, only the moment did not last long. A sudden lurch broke the smooth glide, and the three of them came tumbling down.
Thud!
"Shit!" The fall hurt Vyom, palms scraped against the gravelly soil. But luckily, none of his bones were broken. It was fortunate they did not soar too high.
Vyom glanced up, and the boy was lying before him, with his face pressed against the ground. Vyom crawled over to him, quickly turning him around and placing his outstretched hand across the boy's chest. The beat was still there, faint but definite.
Vyom turned around, jumping to his feet. The Dakini spirit had a full hold of the bee demon, who was still trying his best to keep flying, his large, flimsy wings flapping wildly mid-air. But one of his three legs was bound by an air chain that the spirit was holding. Vyom's lips uttered a silent chant, and in an instant, he was holding a circular air blade, the chakram. He sent the tantric chakram whirling at the air chain that splintered into two, and Bhringi was free once again.
But now, he had invited the Dakini's full wrath. She groaned in dismay and charged at him. Vyom stumbled backward, and his feet found the sharpest pebbled to trip on, and down he went, plunging to the ground. He scrambled away, wriggling like a worm, back grazing against the coarse ground, fast but not fast enough. The Dakini spirit pounced on him, her claw-like hand straight to his throat. The bee demon attacked the spirit with his weapon fruitlessly.
"FIND ANOTHER WAY!!" Vyom wanted to scream, but all that came out were muffled grunts.
Vyom felt his Tantra leaving him, making its way out of his system through his neck, where the Dakini was holding him with a vice-like grip. The long fingernails dug into his skin, and warm liquid began to trickle. As a daze began to cloud his brain, he prayed that the bee demon cremates his body and not leave it outside for the crows to feast on.
Suddenly, an arrow came flying in. It was only a split second of notice, but Vyom clearly saw a talismanic amulet stuck to the arrow's end. And in the blink of an eye, the Dakini spirit disappeared into smoke, her skull cup knocking to the ground. Vyom sat up, coughing and sucking in a chest full of breath.
"That was…..close," he said, alternately coughing and panting. The arrow had impaled itself to the ground right next to him. With his hand still shaking, he extracted it and held it close to his face to examine.
Vyom recognized the talisman. The artistry was uncommon, unique to the Dimbasuras, the class of asuras famous for creating the most powerful talismanic spells. He struggled to his feet, looking around for the bee to convey his discovery, when a loud thump drew his attention. It was the bee demon, Bhringi, lying senseless on the ground amid a scatter of stones and rocks. Another arrow of the same make was sticking out of his chest.
Vyom wheeled around and found a familiar figure standing before him that he was already expecting.
"We had only planned to meet one ghost tonight. Two seem too many," he called out, voice still scratchy from the strangling.
The red-masked ghost stood there, still like one of the rocks, his arrow aimed at Vyom. Vyom raised his hands willingly without a word from the masked assailant, laughing in his mind at his fresh string of troubles.
"We have crossed paths so many times in a short time, should I call you my friend?" Vyom could almost feel the steely gaze of the ghost behind the red, fanged mask. "If you want to be…..more than a friend, you must let me live, though. I like my lovers less bloodthirsty."
The drawn arrow came flying at Vyom, and he ducked just in time for it to whiz past him and strike a rock, blasting it into pieces. He turned again to the ghost, who already had the next arrow fitted to the bow.
"If not love, then is it gold perhaps that you seek?" Once or twice, Vyom had to bargain for his life before, but they were always men with a crack in their honor and a taste for coins. The ghost before him, however, smelled of a loyal dog. It won't be easy to find a crack in his fealty.
The ghost stepped forward with the bow and arrow pointed at Vyom. The fangs glinted in the moonlight. Vyom backed up until his legs were touching a low rock. His sharp eyes noted the inhale of the ghost as he steadied his aim. And….
CRASH!
The masked ghost sagged to the pebbly ground like a ragged doll. Behind him, Sachi was standing with a rock in his hand.