Deva, Temple of Treachery

Chapter 11

"That is him, all right," Silas said, looking up at the giant sculpture of Andhaka at our camp. Vihaan was looking at him with wariness in his eyes, still not entirely convinced that we should have taken him with us to our secret camp.

Silas didn't seem bothered though, his eyes going to the surroundings, staying on the clear water. "Well, that explains why you two is so damn clean after running around down here for a days."

"And you will as well, because there is no way you are sleeping close to me smelling like that," Amara said, throwing a towel at him. She was by far more relaxed as it was her idea to bring Silas back. This place was too dangerous to leave, what would be great, help behind. Silas is obviously trained in combat which is something that both Vihaan and herself was sorely lacking in.

Vihaan can shoot decently because his master had taken him hunting, but that was about it. Amara couldn't even do that since her mother had been adamant that no lady should ever touch a weapon. It is enough that the men darken their conscious, women don't have to do the same, had she said when Amara had wanted Amos to teach her how to shoot.

Silas looked down at the towel, then the water, his grey eyes finally meeting Amara's as she stared at him with unwavering determination. "Are you going to watch?"

He cocked an eyebrow at her, and it took a few seconds before the words registered in her mind. "Don't flatter yourse-"

Her breath caught in her throat letting out something more akin to a whine when he pulled off his shirt showing a fit body with glistening muscles. Amara's eyes were almost bulging out of her eyes, forgetting to breath when the grey eyes met hers again. A smirk on his face as he reached to pull down his pants.

Fortunately, or unfortunately according to Amara, Vihaan's hand covered her eyes and she was pulled away from the way to improper scene. "I know you have the modesty of a stumbling kitten but can you at least pretend to not disgrace yourself."

"It was his fault!"

"Of course, he was forcing you to gawk at him like a mare in mating season."

"I don't like your sarcasm..."

"I do."

Forced to look away, Amara could only wait as Silas finished his bath. She could hear splashing and water dripping, and finally was allowed to turn around when Vihaan ensured it was safe. Silas ruffled his wet hair, looking aloof as his eyes darted over the reliefs. Staying on a small relief behind some plants.

His face finally showed a strange expression as he watched what look like Kali, standing on her husband's body. His head being held by one of her arms above her head. Her tongue sticking out as she gulped down his blood with a terrifying expression. What he was looking at wasn't her though, it was what was formed on her stomache. A small child.

The reliefs following was identical but with one small change. For each relief, the child changed. From looking like a human to a terrifying creature with four arms, tusks like that of a warthog, a third eye on the forehead, pointy ears and four eyebrows.

In the last relief, Kali gave birth to the creature, coming out with swords in his hands standing on a pile of bones, while holding up a severed human arm to devour in its jaws.

A strange tale of the human eating demon race called Rakshasa. According to this relief they were born from Kali after she drank her husband's blood, that gave raise to the first Rakshasa which doesn't really fit into the text they have. Asuras like Andhaka and Mayasura, the creator of Tripura, were said to be rulers over the Rakshasa but according to this one, the Rakshasa wasn't burn until the city fell.