Page 127 of The Divine Lies We Weave

I never lied.

Why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you just explain it?

Because I needed you, Leela. It was always you. Your journey led you to me and only me so that I could harness your body and one day really destroy the Scorpion. Heartache creates the best revenge, no? And love creates the biggest monsters.

Leela frowned. Wait… what? The Viperess wanted something more than simple revenge? Had she wanted Rajesh to love her to form a bigger monster?

Leela jumped to her feet. Her gut roiled with the realization of what the Viperess said. Her breath was too shallow, and Leela felt the need to vomit all over the sand.

It had all led to this moment.

To the moment Leela broke Rajesh’s heart.

To the moment Leela and Rajesh fell in love.

Because what was a better revenge than that of a broken heart?

Leela kept spiraling, thinking of everything that had transpired between her and Rajesh. Oh shit. The Viperess was always close, not close enough to kill Rajesh, but close enough to be there in case she could kill him. All the rumors had always stated she wanted to kill him. The Viper had even stated it so, but it was never the true thing she wanted. She let Leela fall for Rajesh, over and over. All of it was woven so intricately and polished like a fine blade.

What do you plan to do…?

Leela was almost too scared to ask. If the Viperess had played everything else to the beat of her own drum, then what else did she have planned? What else had she staged? Did she stage the confession to the Scorpion too?

All Leela wanted to do was flee, but how could she flee from her mind? The Viperess had become a part of her. The voice in the back of her mind. Incessant and frustrating.

Leela went through all the little things and words she spoke to Rajesh. If only she had managed her thoughts or even stayed away from him. If only she had realized sooner that the Viperess wasn’t who she said she was. Did Leela suddenly feel sorry for her because she confessed why she was sent into the Netherworld? Or did she suddenly think the Viperess was a part of her?

Either way, Leela had no idea how to process any of it. How was she meant to proceed now? If she went back to the ship, she would endanger Rajesh. She would endanger the crew, and while some of them had grown tense with her, she didn’t wish anything ill on them.

No. Leela had to do something. Anything to stop the Viperess from conquering her next part of the plan.

You cannot stop me, mortal.

I will. Leela walked away from the ship. I won’t give you the satisfaction.

Leela stopped—like she was stuck in quicksand. She tried to control her movements, but her arms had grown slack. Horror tore through her, and Leela gasped.

No!

Oh. Yes. I have waited centuries to bring the Scorpion down. Now is not the time to play victim, child. Now, it is time to rise. To kill the man I came to kill.

Leela’s soul ripped itself, as if it were being sucked in through her toes, up her spine, into her skull, and encasing her behind the glass wall where all she could do was watch. She had no control over her body. Nothing. The Viperess uncurled from her pose and stood on the other side of the glass in all her glory.

It was the first time Leela examined the Viperess. There was a golden glow wavering around all her curves and edges. Long hair flickered out like a thousand coiled snakes. Her eyes were as golden as the surrounding glow.

She was beautiful.

Like sunshine dripping in stardust.

Like the moons had crashed and men had fallen at her feet.

No wonder the Scorpion fell for her.

Leela banged against the glass. Please… Please, don’t do this. Don’t kill him!

There was almost a somber dip in the Vipers’ voice. I am sorry, mortal. But your love for Rajesh is the reason this all has to come to an end. Do you not want the sandstorms to stop? To bring the chaos across the world to a stop?

Leela fell to her knees. I…