Page 12 of Her Soul for a Crown
The man looked up. “Great Yakka, please—”
“You seek mercy and healing for your wife?” The loophole solidified in his mind. “Your compassion must also extend to your neighbor. Pray to the Yakkas of Love that he find romance—then you may return for your bargain.”
“Yes, great Blood Yakka. Thank you.” The man rushed out of the shrine, bowing repeatedly, nearly tripping on his sarong in his haste to find Kama’s shrine.
Reeri did not stop there.
A woman came next.
“No.”
“But—”
“You seek vengeance in the form of festering sores? Then youmust also pray to Calu. Return when that bargain is complete, and you may give your offering.”
So it went. Reeri demanded bargains from the other Yakkas. For what was freedom if he was alone?
Years passed before the bindings of every Yakka loosened and fell. In total, they had three days. Three glorious days communing with the Earth and humans, beginning their experience of life together as one, as they were meant to be—or so Reeri thought.
It was late in the night when the thunder came. It shook the earth, and Reeri’s binding drew taut. With an earsplitting strike, Lord Wessamony descended upon the beach as the Maha Equinox began. Two twisting horns curved on either side of the Lord’s head. Sharp teeth hung over bloodred lips, and sharper nails clutched around the Great Sword, golden and bright. Their creator had finally come to see them. Yet the violence in his gaze suggested it was not for pleasantries.
The Yakkas fell to their knees in reverence, but the Lord roared. “What horror has been unleashed here?”
A shiver shook through the Yakkas. Not a word was uttered.
“Why are the humans trembling before the Heavens?”
Only silence met him.
“Answer me! Why have you left your shrines and destroyed the balance I created?”
That piqued Reeri’s ears. “Destroyed? My Lord, we have kept the balance and, in doing so, were granted leave of the shrines.”
The Lord darkened. “Who granted you this?”
Reeri tensed. In all his musings, he had not questioned it. “No one, my Lord. I found that with more bargains came more freedom. I encouraged the humans to offer to all.”
“You,” the Lord fumed. “You dare break my law and grant power to yourself and others? You dare steal authority from me?”
Reeri’s heart beat swiftly. “I did not intend—”
“You have disobeyed your creator, ruined, mayhap for all time, my plans for the Second Heavens, and led your clan astray!”
Dread trickled down Reeri’s spine. “I apologize, my Lord. I did not know.”
The shackle fell off. A collective gasp rose up on the Yakkas’ lips. Then lightning struck; screams filled the air as the blitz rained down. With the flick of the Lord’s wrist, the Great Sword swung. It sliced and shredded, cut and carved.
Pain lanced up Reeri’s spine; a cry bubbled across his tongue.
“Disobedience demands discipline!” Lord Wessamony thundered.
Bloody sores pulsed along Reeri’s arms, up his neck, and down his abdomen. Pure destruction festered him from the inside out.
“My eyes!” Baddracali screamed, white and black melting from her sockets.
“Stop!” Calu yelled, teeth falling from his mouth.
“Calu!” Ratti shouted, the Great Sword chopping a thigh, bone splintering with a crack.
