Deva, Temple of Treachery

Chapter 21

(If you are curious about the mantra in this chapter, there is an example above to let you hear it. Enjoy!)

"Amara." A distant voice called to her. She felt her head throbbing, wanting to curl up into a ball to avoid reality for just one more moment. "Amara!"

The voice came in closer and Amara could no longer ignore it as it sounded to distressed for her to do so, opening her eyes only to close it again when light flashed in her face. She slowly blinked away the tears, to see Silas stand there with a torch. Neither Amos nor Andhaka was in sight.

"Please, turn that torch away," Amara groaned, covering her eyes from the light. "How did you even make that thing."

"Skolex oil. I found some by the river and used it to create a torch. It burns fast though so I doubt that it will hold for long," Silas said, putting the torch away on a torch holder on the wall, before squatting to help Amara up. "Are you okay?"

"How long was I out?"

"I'm uncertain, I would think for at least three hours."

Amara let out yet another groan. Three hours... Had she really been out for so long? Looking around, Amara's eyes turned to the Brahma statue that now had changed its position. One of its hands where now pointing toward the cave wall behind it, showing a small opening.

"Where is Andhaka and Amos?" Amara muttered, noticing that Silas face was set in stone but his eyes darkened for a second.

"Andhaka tried to grab you when you fell unconscious, believing that he had done something Amos stopped him. The asura escaped but Amos followed him. They ran down the new opening, I haven't seen either of them since then."

"Then who called me back? I could feel someone pull me-" Amara followed Silas gaze and saw Prahlada stand by the statue of Brahma, seemingly giving his praise.

"I should have known that he would recognize you," Prahlada said, his voice quiet. He turned around to gaze at Amara, standing up on shaking legs.

"Did you know that I was necessary to open the path to the artifact?" Amara asked. "Andhaka said-"

"I knew, I also knew that it is necessary. Mortals have breached this sanctuary, they cannot be allowed to get the artifact."

"I am a mortal," Amara said, feeling her throat close in on her making it hard to breathe like she just have told a lie.

"Barely," Prahlada said, coming closer. Silas got in between the two, like he wanted to protect Amara but Prahlada just touched his forehead and Silas fell to his knees. Eyes turning sad, Prahlada watched Silas with pity. "Poor creature, so lost."

"Prahlada-" Amara started but the asura ignored her.

"Why don't you show your true face?" Prahlada said, slamming his palm together, bringing them to his forehead.

Silas looked somewhere between rage and panic as he tried to stop the asura but doesn't seem to be able to break whatever spell Prahlada had put on him. Prahlada opened his mouth, a gong followed his first word.

"Om A Ra Pa Ca Na Dhih."

Repeating the mantra, the air grew thick. Amara felt a burning sensation, and for a second she felt a body change, becoming larger, stronger. Her muscles becoming that of a man, her skin blue. Then as she looked down at her hands, it was gone. She looked up to ask what had just happened when air caught in her throat.

In front of Prahlada, where Silas once where was a red skinned demon. Large, with claws and fangs. A third eye, grew out on his forehead, and two fangs on his lower jaw grew larg enough to touch his cheeks. The black hair was long, eyes red while his four arms ripped through the hair breaking whatever mantra Prahlada used, sending him stumbling a few steps.