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“Have you had any luck figuring out what you are from the books I gave you on supernatural beings and gods?”
“No. Nothing quite fits. I mean, there are death and psychic elements for a bunch of the gods, but all the descriptions are vague,” I say with a frustrated voice. I don’t mention the book I found at Carmen’s shop, which is hidden in my secret compartment in my luggage. I’ll read it tonight after this meeting is over. “Do you have any ideas?” I ask.
Let’s see if he will offer information.
“Not much. I have confirmed there are several death agents in every city, but there’s usually no contact between them and us,” Evan explains. “Chara actually spoke to one, but apparently that was because they had the same target.”
“What is your take on Karma and Death having the same target? Doesn’t that strike you as odd?”
“It really does.” He rubs his chin, which is just beginning to show stubble from this morning’s shave. “But we don’t understand the mechanics of how Karma chooses targets.”
“In a way, the incident with Chara would suggest that Karma is closely related to Death,” I surmise. “It makes sense if the Indian traditions are based in truth and that reincarnation is real. Original Karma would help set up one’s next life. Part of the cycle.”
“Or as some suggest, we choose our lives based on our karmic path of learning lessons,” Evan adds.
I hedge my bet and ask, “Does Instant Karma just feel like a parasitic god to you, especially when you consider her media ploys?”
“Parasitic?” His eyes go wide.
Crap, maybe I shouldn’t have gone there with him. “Uh, maybe that’s a bit strong.”
“Maybe, but you have a point.” Evan frowns and hangs his head. “There are theories that most of the gods were created by the needs and energy of their followers. We have a god of war because we have glorified conquering others. We have a goddess of love because we were in love with the idea of love, and death because we fear death. It’s a way for us to barter, and in some small way, negotiate our fates. It’s a way for us to feel in control, so we manifested entities to fill these roles.”
“Then we needed immediate retribution for bullshit people and now we have Instant Karma,” I conclude. “It’s our fast-paced, instant gratifications that’s created a need for such a goddess.”
“The gods gain power from our thoughts and attention,” Evan explains. “Even quantum physics theories suggest our attention can shift reality. I would say we are feeding Instant Karma energy every time we do a job. Every time someone even wishes instant karma on someone else,shebenefits from it.”
“In most stories, the gods are selfish and petty, or at least they end up that way. They look down on humanity.” I recall my limited knowledge of Greek and Norse gods.
“Yeah, most really didn’t help humans, instead helping themselves, at least according to legends.” Evan’s shoulders slump. “I… I don’t know what to do.”
“About what?” I ask. Maybe he will confess what Karma has planned for me—ifhe knows.
“I suppose there isn’t muchtodo.” Evan wrings his hands together. “We are stuck in this job. You experienced the consequences of leaving Karma’s employment. We’ll be killed.”
“Yeah. There isn’t much we can do, so perhaps we should just let learning about my powers go. So what if I have a bit more oomph than most agents?” I wave it off like it’s of no concern. “If Karma is going to use me for her will, then that’s that.”
As I say it, I fear that I’m actually going to give up. How can I compete against a goddess? Why do I always have to fight?DoI have to fight? Should I just give in to my crappy life instead of constantly struggling like I have been up to now?
Evan stands up, walks over to me, and pulls me into an embrace. It’s odd. He hasn’t been touchy-feely before.
Instead of soothing me, all I wonder is what his motives are.
“I’m sorry,” he whispers into my ear.
“For what?” I feel a pinch as a needle sinks into my neck. My vision blurs, and my body gives out.
18
INTERROGATION
Ican’t focus. Not only is my vision fuzzy, but my brain is fuzzy too.
I try to move, but my body doesn’t respond.
Pausing, I take a moment to remember what happened. I also need to assess what’s going on now. They tied my wrists behind me, my ankles are zip-tied together, and I’m sitting on the ground, propped up against a log.
My head wobbles as I tilt it back to see Evan, Dante, and Kurtis glaring at me.
