Follow Me To The Fire
RE
year
AI,
unny sprin
The vehicle was ta
old, and I was ent
next to me on the bench. - You need to liste
was, the new single from th
sic with Deevi. She was m
any difficulties. Grandma had health problems, and she supporte
time, my father ran away with another woman
l grandmother
had heard from my mother.
y a cell phone for me. I listened to music on an old MP3 player that had broken mon
ing to music when Deevi sha
like it? -
into th
losed my eyes
in a depressing life. D
k advant
. Explosive, quarrelsome, and down-to-earth. A punching girl - not a book girl. At scho
atch teachers givin
she'll never
The damn
not a good match. Low caste, no parents and no
d any ma
ting, the driver m
g to happen before every
e, the school bus ran into a vehicle going
olently. The only reason it wasn't worse was that everyone was weari
was over, I tu
you
. Her eyes we
k... I t
ts began to shout. From outside, th
ked from the engine. Within seconds, it
e coming first. He sto
out, ch
chance. As soon as he spok
nd incinerated the tw
lesh.... Dental arches and exposed bones....
s before I passed out. In them, I w
d to be dead.
ger conjecture
*
in a hos
ains separating beds. It wa
o people talking. A man wearing a uniform, and
as saying. "Was the girl inside a
escued her myself. Our platoon is in sho
n her hand th
other children
of them! How can
he accident cam
rn. I was wearing a hospital gown. There was
o
ain! I remembered
what to feel.
let's not panic. I'll ask the hospital to contact her
ly, the man stopped in mid-sentence. His mo
as pulled aside. A pers
w dro
white sari. Lots of shiny jewelry, a gold nose
seen anythi
iled,
o, dea
row
are
er. Your human life is over. It's time to go home
ell was a
ent you to pick me up? Where
oman laughed a
. Still, you must come with me
at h
hter of Dakti, the goddess of all Creation. You have gone through fifteen years of a hu
my br
en I unde
as cr
, a place for children of gods to learn,
ed my
respect... I think we'
d her hea
hink I am
e bit. No
ous person in a hospital. There we
live when all your friends are dead? You burned inside a
s happening. It wasn't she w
ough my hair, com
I? That's my half-burn
led hi
u are s
s got t
ou come with me? It won't hurt. Then y
llowed hard. - If I g
going to d
Grandma will b
rvival, or make the difficult decision to turn off her devices. Is this the kind of su
h hospital expenses woul
elirium, it wouldn
chance to re
is earth is over. As soon as I a
wake up
will die
randmother. She would spend years keeping me in a surrogate -
, eyes w
Pantheon
old enough to commit serious sins. I needed
held out her hand again. - Come,
ned heart, I t
at's
fter,
PTE
REN
the Pantheon
h clarity the
n told me
s above everything and below nothing. Somewh
spring. Days always sunny,
ool. A training center
n the middle of the heavenly city. In fact, it
g in shock when
s that the
de shr
ink Emperor Sha
in childbirth. Distraught, he had a castle built over her tomb. The Taj Mahal was a mausoleum in honor
find out abo
pered some detail
, having an epiphany. -
ryu
ed my
Emperor's wife! The one for
you h
e's
u a demi
ou think he fell so d
guardian-guid
on earth. The Princess was jus
ed herself "a
the Pantheon, expla
he god of creation. Venum, the god of perma
s in Hindu mythology, but th
me to earth to accomplish great things. Each incarnation had a name. Every tim
ren l
fifteen years old. At this age they suffered terrible accid
Or the hea
for decades, and became guardians of humans
ns wanted
s of our fathers. To promote spiritual
wenty-five. Our lives
it was born with divine blood. My previous generations did
dn't kill me. I was an
. But my destiny, specifically, was to be there. To die
guardian. I had only been in this school for seven year
told me
er of Dakti, a p
That is, human incarnations tha
r, Kali. Ironically, I was baptized with h
th blue skin and a frightening expression. She wore a necklace of severed heads and a
r wife of Lord Shikram -
ve. A troubled relationship with a pa
m's sons did not get along. In the
ikram's gre
s descended from Dakti - but they came fr
nly one in
course, but they had all left. They had complete
feud was so strong that we could not be alone i
m the fiercest lineage of
eelings for Shikram were mixed. Soon, so were my feelings for all h
e in the Pantheon. I could be attacked by a Shikram. Like a
we get kicked out
d-on. I only had seven years
rs here were.
and so on. This put me at constant risk. I was a novice and helpless demigoddess. I didn't
ere giving me bl
t of Kali? The wor
atalyst for her hat
our parents'. Unfortunately, rivalry
ty. I was a powerful demigoddess - but so was everyone else he
o learn how to
ical classes. I started training like crazy, and learn
ears, I had be
myself. I stopped walking
e Shikrams' communal halls and large groups. However, she no longer
eady a bre
ndu. We had brown skins and
always wore it in a tight bra
. In twenty-three years, I would become an official Guardian, and descend
It was my purpose i
s mor
riends down the main co
hantai grunted
g with students. The bell rang, in
ajan to our first class.
of the Pantheon: a Hindu god with five arms. Each
g again. Time for lunch. Being ha
ll. Students from all factio
ch had its own table, and they
a, Venum and Shikram. Then came two other factions - one degree dow
s the only fe
d with the worst of the other four, Shikram.
epresented the human incarnations of our fathers. I was
Shantai and Rajan. Both were sons of o
Rajan had shoulder-length hair
the Pantheon. The affinity was
about 200 students. Our rectangular table w
ables in the dining hall. Eac
hikram in the other corner. A strategic distanc
Shantai and Rajan. We
aised his eyes to t
h,
as it? -
ow, but Kamala
, fuck. She
y, she did not inherit the same qualities as h
t mission, guided by teachers. Veterans did this from time to time. It
her and grit
out with her entourage. A group of
icked me out to be with another woman - and broke my fucking heart. Since then, I nev
d me from your pre
ly, she had
eyebrow, smiling cynically
and loo
itc
icked hi
is... The K
ou mean? -
in a bad mood w
least I will be afte
ai si
three years. You need
ything for her an
never trusted anyone
humiliated me in front of the whol
man. She broke your heart, yes, but you don't have to run away from love f
ed my
I'll pass, thank you. I've had eno
n sn
la knows that she stil
ng someone else
ast it will wipe that li
d with his fork. - The bitch's
ove life. - Or lack thereof...
ange the subject. I
on't think I ever loved her. I was ju
and only - woman I ha
ee. Many immortal gods liked
t I did. Our breakup was painful and humiliating. I found out that she was cheating
had casual sex -
There were lots of parties. Ev
ender my heart again. Th
ed to be the best of the guardians and graduate with
ront lines against the darkness. In other words,
issions, and faced the worst evil entities. They had to be exceptional fighters and de
e Guard were open o
anted to work with the best.
d from my friends. We h
n the gardens. We always studied and talked on th
d, I could hear groups talking. There was
coming
? It's been t
true, this Pantheon wi
omeone overheard a conversat
roup was
eone will be fired. The Pantheon won't mi
ned, p
k? And why did eve
the Pantheon. There, students w
ree. I sat down next to them, t
coming back and why is
ai who heard
ems that some Guardians are returning to the Pantheon ton
I was amazed. - But
an
he Chief Guardian of this squadro
ost c
Soul E
Se
Dak
he highest rank. Around h
in the world. A fierce, irritable, dangerou
His job was to exorcise demons in the most remote places on the plane
er seen it
m in the Pantheon. I didn't know wh
. He had a different soul, powerful and wild. A soul with an ev
d him as head of the Hidden Guard. That way he could chann
the guy was
ed terror in the Pantheon. And no
discipline of Fighting
us and bring us back to the Heavenly Purpose. Too much time on Earth confused the guardians' minds. Th
ed. His name always generat
ay from the frontline for a while, because he was dangerous and in
a powerful ally.
our greate
Some were afraid of his return. Others were excite
fear. In fact,
nished telling the
I have
i shud
eon before the crazy mania
onvince him to
n the juice he
ou
him to
y? The guy wil
f he is my mentor, I will have a real
still in
derstand. He will devo
e. He can't be that bad. I bet they
w legends
d his temples. - Somebody tal
n si
y thing. You'll be lucky if you make
ather bold strat
cons. What could Aryan do to me? Embarr
would s
idden Guard. The competition was brutal. Five hund
s were la
ng to introduce myself and come out ahead of many competitors. Around here, it was impor
he only goal of my life. I wo
ightfall. The ret
n. No one was there at that time. I would stay hidden, and have a pri
alone, I would i
ctions. Many desperate students would try to get
tand out, to
ns did everything at dawn. It was the most favorable time fo
two o'clock i
the terrace, I s
wore dark, combat clothes. Boots, holsters full of weapons, and stern expressions. Although it was night, many wore
ardian was a gift
I saw
e feared captai
he first
e walked at the head of the group - as if the earth belonged to him. The soldie
or left no doubt. He
e doorman wit
A tapered nose, close-cropped beard, and full lips. Black hair was soft and messy. His eyes were as
not for the frightening scar that cut across the side of his face. It start
figure. A wild beauty th
I saw him
o be my
tter? Who would be a
was the mos
hey crossed the garden with quick steps. Their
ht to the principal's offic
ng, the guards would change shifts. The changeover
mon would dare enter a school full of gu
e cue and snuck up to the second floor. There
ded into the shadows. From there, I had a
for them at h
rived. They greeted
were like wild animals. Exuberant, dangerous,
s leadin
maintain his posture. You couldn't open your defense
t is very good to
d eyes and a
g to be home. - And he
the bones in the dir
ed his gr
go inside
d. It was a journey straight from hell.
d to hide his hor
ld just be a br
ched an
e q
the
ke that. It was a silent battle between authorit
he directo
inted to the door of the
d with firm steps.
p to his reputation as a cruel tyrant. Even the P
be diffic
. Finally, the first men began to come out. The
inside. Probably for a private
s opened. Aryan and
awake,
ds behind his back
end to teach, but I don't know if freshmen brats
en looking forward to for a long time. Please r
'll
mfortable. He was not us
hould I call a staff membe
once, I know this castle
Teachers' Wing. West sector,
ave finished, I will end the conver
rector
ght. Goo
d coldly, turned
t a warm
confused and dismayed expression. A
ounded. It
I have another chance like this?
ve
the hall. I left a very long distance between
ty area of the castle,
eac
diately. He did
, stopping a few me
d. - My name is Kali,
und. In response,
lip. Ba
you have a
mute. I heard the sound of his nostrils sniffing t
row
say hello? Or at the very
as worse than
nsi
myself to you. I know that many professors open special classes for the best students
. His jaw was clenched and hi
did y
. Up close, he w
yself not
f you are opening up positions, please don'
hreatenin
is this
Wh
om your body - he growle
around, c
Seventh grader and
s sud
om his holster and placed the blade against my throat. I was pressed
gasped. - Prof
and flat on the wall behi
of Dakti! How dare
y, I un
,
a son of
rrible idea to be alone in a
es - but the captain was bett
m. - He confirm
known. The captain's appreciatio
ed scor
not fall even f
akti wants my tra
want to
thing I intend to give
same time. Hatred, resentment, and unresolved love... His touch was e
have to answer before the Council. I
harder. I could feel the
s sparked
ll be w
kill me, my mother will personally hunt you down and ki
teeth. He kne
wiped his hands, a
ster. - If I see you again, not even your stupid mother can save you. I will gouge out
im was gone. All I could think
. You won't s
le woman would never set foot in the Pantheon. My father sho
s stronger than I was. The instinct to strike
pains that we
t for centuries. He only says he hates her because he got a foot
laughed di
ildren. Typical of your kind of trash. Do you rea
o. But you and y
uth to talk ab
on my mother'
our
urs,
ut then closed it. He
away my chance to teach at the Pantheo
ared at h
like a round
a mischiev
dea. - And it came
ed bac
come n
didn'
my ear. I froze. Under his touch, my skin became el
d a few wor
my chest. I put my hands over m
at have you
from my father to hi
wall. I leaned back and went down until
is with devil
n these halls again, you will be dead. Enjoy your
I ge
could see glimpses of Paatal,
nd red eyes touched my body. They shook my shoulders, wanting to speak
e from my fathe
t a fledgling! I was not psychologically ready
t help. I groped along the walls, finding my way. I had
ht, Kal
ardian-Guide's room.
at least, that's
nocked on the door and fell to the
were screami
n my me
into you
ome of you
uted. - I can't do
t, Aryumand o
cked. - What are you
ied to see her through the fo
nd... I
e I arrived in the Pantheon. A powerful guardi
wn and held
ho are you
ot of my hair
a curse on me. I
allowe
h,
oom. I repeated Aryan's wor
kind! You are not ready to see the nether world yet.... Eve
up on h
rom me. The demons are
ith much knowledge, but she did not master Dark Magic. Aryan, yes
o be activated and Aryan would be expelled. Shikram would be furious. Ary
he would work against us. A r
early morning, A
he massaged her temples, exhausted. - It is a forbidden m
k directly
treme! It can be
t a curse on one of her daughters, she wo
she would
one here has the power to un
tart a war bet
o much trouble to
sk we will n
s to be an
e this. The Goddess will know what
n the morning. The da
blindfolded. Only in this way would
ly went to that part of the
nd I took off my blindfold. It was sacred ground
ing. The mantras summoned the presence of the go
nd, your servant. One of yo
what he had to do. To get the goddess's attention, he would nee
of Shikram. It was a mess
trange wind opened the windows. But
was
ted and fell
but she wouldn't wake up. I sat down beside he
. Help
that matter. The gods lived in a higher world. Their appear
p and prayed. That
es later, Aryumand
ods! Are
p, expressi
there. I have s
up, pe
per
our mother gave me the solutio
eal
ousand times more p
fraid, for I will always be by yo
er and whispered the an
mantra, a
e riddled with a warm, delicious sensation - as if
Nothing more needed to be
ed Ary
. Finally I
he stroked my hair. - But I mus
th m
cklace from the pocket of his sari. - It is a protective amulet. As
as shaped like a woman holding a snake around her neck - th
rents. That was a great honor. But it was not typic
Aryumand,
ay anything abou
wouldn't miss a chanc
sigh
mething hidden. She said that you are to use this
ll I know the
d me that yo
ne of the bench
- How naive of me, Aryumand. I can't believe I appr
his best lapse of
e me. I've had a hell of a nig
at all costs, won't you? Aryan is not known for his b
threatened
was only t
honor, I was not happy. I had failed miserably. Not only did I n
teacher for the next
I couldn't believe
ave to be a s
in the Pantheon. Make my stay hell and delay my graduation. M
tune of running into hi
if I would mak