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“Oh, yes. We stopped the match when we realized she was paralyzed by fear.” He glanced at me. “Very clever, by the way, especially since the elixir you drank provided no such ability.”
I didn’t respond.
“How did you do it?”
I ignored the question. “The match is over. We fulfilled our contracts. Let us go.”
“I’m afraid there’s been a change in plans.” He prepared a syringe. “Consider yourself fortunate. You’re about to witness the true purpose of the match, a higher calling than mere financial gain.”
“I’d rather meditate, thanks.”
“You’ll get your wish soon enough.”
I squinted at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
He walked toward Kaleigh with the syringe. “It means my experiments serve a greater purpose than simply lining Mr. Magnarella’s silk pockets.”
“Yeah, I got that part. What’s the greater purpose?”
“A new world order, given time.”
I groaned. “Because that always goes well.”
He craned his neck to look at me. “You’re mouthy for someone strapped to a table.”
“Blame my grandfather. He wasn’t big on manners. What’s in the syringe?”
“Step one of Kaleigh’s ascension. A new elixir I’ve been developing alongside the one you took.”
I didn’t like the sound of that. I glanced at Kaleigh. “How is this new one different from the one you already gave her?”
He hovered beside an unconscious Kaleigh with the syringe in hand. “I’m so glad you asked. This one does far more than replicate a godly power or two. It is, in fact, the very essence of the deity. Kaleigh will act as a host to the actual goddess, one who is no longer capable of returning to this realm in her original form.”
“I’ll pass on that plan. I’m not really in the market for a roommate.” I tilted my head. “No vacancy at the inn.”
“Which is why I’ve developed this very complex procedure. Kaleigh’s consciousness will move to the back, creating a vacuum for the goddess to fill. The lucky deity is then given a new lease on her immortal life.” He leered at me. “Would you like to know which goddess won the auction for Kaleigh’s body? I don’t usually offer such information, but it was quite a competition this time. You both impressed them. Mr. Magnarella was irate when neither of you died, until I told him about the results of the auction. That seemed to placate him.”
“Lucky us. We’re the prize pigs at the fair.”
“Alakshmi has chosen to inhabit Kaleigh.”
The name would’ve paralyzed me, if I hadn’t already been strapped to a table.
“Do you know who she is?”
“Goddess of misery, poverty, and grief? Leaves a trail of jealousy and malice in her wake wherever she goes? That Alakshmi?”
His face reflected surprise. “Your knowledge of deities is impressive, Clay. I don’t normally meet women in your position with that level of knowledge.”
“I know a lot of things, like the fact you’re a world class douchecanoe.”
“How did you manage to display that unexpected ability? Was it magic?”
I jerked my head to the side to avoid eye contact.
“You may as well tell me the truth. No one is coming to save you.”
“You’re right. Because I’m what people need saving from.”
