“On the contrary, I expect she will. She’ll be curious. You see, there’s an interesting rumor floating around the Otherworld. It is said that thisTeej,the Dharma Raja himself is seeking a consort from among the lineup of eligible demon maidens, nature spirits, goddesses, and guardians. And this marks the last full moon beforeTeej,so it’s bound to be full of people and celebrations, would-be lovers and betrothed couples.”
“Who. Spread. That. Rumor?”
Gupta tapped his chin and a thousand little ink blooms erupted behind him, shaping into tiny arrows that all pointed… to him.
“But I don’twantto look through a lineup of maidens, I only want her.”
“She doesn’t have to know that.”
“Doesn’t that defeat the purpose?”
“She’ll be intrigued. She’s used to expecting you every day. Every day you’ve gone there and professed your undying love—”
“I never said those words…”
“Fine, you bored holes into her eyes with an intense be-with-me-forever gaze.”
I said nothing, but I felt my jaw tighten.
“Naturally, she will grow accustomed to that! Where’s the excitement? The tension?”
A few moments later, we were walking through the Night Bazaar. Every avenue was crowded with people of all shapes and sizes. TheTeejpodium floated over the crowd, a gliding bird with impossible wings.
Gupta kept patting his makeshift horns. “Do these make my head look big?”
“Yes.”
“Excellent,” he said, smoothing his jacket. “I had to do my best to look unattractive. Difficult to do, you know. Can’t have men and women falling over themselves because of me.”
Above us, small golden lanterns careened to the center of the Night Bazaar. Music poured out from unseen instruments, and the rhythm was heady with wonder and yearning. Even Gupta had begun to bob his head to the beat. We walked closer to the sounds of dancing, the raucous cheering and countdowns. When a clearingappeared beneath the split sky, theTeejpodium transformed into an unopened lotus bud. With one thunderous clap, the petals peeled back, revealing a golden stage filled withapsaras.The opening act before the dance of would-be lovers. I stifled a yawn, and kept looking.
Vendors crowded around the stage, hawking their wares before an entranced audience. Every time I looked around the room, something within me leapt eagerly.Was she here?A wisp of stars and smoke caught my eye. But it was nothing but iridescent serpent scales on a beautifulnaginiwoman. Across the room, I thought I saw the fall of impossibly black hair. But it was nothing but a ribbon of slow-moving shadows, eagerly wrapping themselves around whichever dancing couple most desired the privacy.
Beside me, Gupta inhaled sharply. I followed his gaze to the split sky above us. It wasbreaking.Rain. Rain from the side of day danced toward the ground like chips of amber only to transform into golden-throated birds. Rain from the side of night danced toward the ground like chips of opal only to transform into silver-tailed fish.
“The sky belongs to birds. The ocean belongs to fish. But love belongs to all,” said Gupta.
“Another horrific poem of yours?”
He pointed behind the stage, where the words stained a wall of ivy.
“This is nauseating. I’m leaving. She isn’t here anyway.”
“Are you sure about that?” he asked, jerking his head to the floating podium.
Theapsaradance had ended. Ayakshiniwith sea-foam hair lifted her arms to wash the stage of its discarded rose petals and broken bells. Shunted to one corner of the stage stood a small onyx podium. Halved fruit spilled across the counter. Dream fruit. And there shewas, pointed chin resting in a star-touched hand. Her hair thrown over one shoulder, twisted around with opals and jasmine. She waslaughing.With a man. A human man, no less. A moment ago, the sight of her had crowded out my very thoughts. Now, the sight of her—withhim—left me feeling strangely punctured. Like the air had gone solid and I could not possibly breathe it in. I watched them.
He was, I allowed, handsome.
But in his next life he could be a wild pig with a persistent gum disease. For one black second I tapped at my noose.
Gupta swatted my hand.
“Could you have a little faith in my self-restraint?”
He considered this. “No.”
And then, a shimmeringapsaraappeared beside her. Gupta’s mouth fell open. I jabbed him. He closed it. This must be Nritti, the Jewel of the Heavens. Her title was indisputable. Her skin was peerless, but it wasn’t drenched in night and scrawled in stars. Her eyes rivaled sapphires, but they didn’t shine with wonder or restlessness. Her lips would shame roses, but they didn’t tug into sly grins or tighten at the thought of something funny.
