Page 145 of The Divine Lies We Weave

The group didn’t need to be told twice.

It was a flurry of people and animals, shadows and mortals. Elephants thundered forward, adding to the heaving sound of the lustisha’s feet. More Hawks, Bats, and Ravens ascended, disappearing into the fog with open claws and beaks. Tigers, Foxes, and Bulls pushed forward, their powerful legs striding across the grass and toward the beast.

Leela watched on in horror as the chaos unfolded. The Viperess didn’t move, merely observing from her position as the animals and mortals either swarmed the lustisha’s legs or ascended into the skies.

The fog lifted, and two sets of heads leered down at Leela with giant tusks and gnashing teeth. Its hands swept the air, trying to swat the animals attacking from every angle.

A slice of hope flitted through her. With this many Flames, they surely had an opportunity to bring it down. Mortals hacked at the legs, jawblades crunching against the flesh.

Why aren’t you moving?

I do not kill friends.

Leela snarled. No. Just supposed enemies.

Friends who betray you are worse.

Before Leela could say anything else, the Viperess turned, the ground shaking with each footstep. But that didn’t deter the Viperess from walking in the other direction.

What are you doing? Turn back! Help them!

No. It is not my fight.

Leela bashed against the glass. Turn the fuck around!

A gust of wind knocked Leela off her feet, and she stared up into the golden eyes of the Viperess. Leela didn’t care. She ran at the glass and glared at her.

I have more important things to do than fight a lustisha. I am surprised you have not realized it yet, mortal. But there are bigger monsters than you and I could ever imagine.

And what? What do you plan to do?

The Viperess shook, as if in laughter. Have you ever wished to have one wish? One thing beyond your wildest dreams?

Leela scoffed. Of course I have.

Then you know you’d stop at nothing to get it. Why would I come this far, destroy everything I loved, to fail now?

Leela frowned. The words sank deep, digging into her bones. She realized the Viperess hadn’t just come here to enact her revenge. Perhaps that was a cover story she told people so they didn’t harass her or see what she really planned to do.

What do you plan to do? Leela asked again, this time, calmer.

One wish. It is all it takes. To bring it all down.

Her eyes widened, fingers loose at her side.

The Viperess didn’t plan to just bring the Scorpion down. No. She planned to also bring down the Awakening.

One wish.

That was all it took.

And all Leela could do was sit and watch.

37

LEELA

The Viperess walked further than the screams reached.