Serpentine Love Read online

  “In a hurry, aren’t you?”

  “No point in wasting time.” He wanted to discuss the inagimi with Isaac as soon as possible. Time was one thing he was short of. Archan would not tolerate any delay or failure.

  A while later, he was standing in Isaac’s study.

  Isaac poured coffee in his mug and took a delicate sip. “Maya told me you are interested in myths and folklore regarding African snakes?”

  “Yes, I’m,” he admitted. He’d already taken the tour of the lab and found nothing unusual about the place. “Are there any magical or spiritual myths revolving around snakes you’ve heard of?” he said with a hopeful note in his voice.

  “Are you referring to the inagimi?” Isaac got straight to the point.

  Arya sat on a chair, tense with excitement. “Well, yes. Anything regarding inagimi you can tell me about?”

  Isaac walked to his desk and sat on it. He placed his coffee mug down. “Inagimi has fascinated writers and even filmmakers for decades. To think, a snake so powerful it can shape-shift whenever it wants and blend in among the humans. I believe there have been movies made in India on the subject.”

  “There have been, yes.” Arya had seen them all, talked to the filmmakers, researchers, historians, snake charmers and all snake experts in India during an earlier trip to this world. There was talk, as there always was, but no evidence and no eye-witnesses accounts. Kenya was his last hope. “Do you believe that there is some truth behind these myths?”

  Isaac laughed, his eyes crinkling at the corners in mirth. “It’s just a myth. Nothing more, nothing less. It would make for an interesting read in your book. Don’t put too much store by it, though.”

  Not willing to give up with such ease, Arya prodded the old man. “It’s said in some circles that you know about the inagimi than you let on?”

  “Why would I hide anything? What would it gain me?”

  Arya placed his hands on the desk. Isaac was right. It was too important a find not to share it with the world. If Isaac had found some hard evidence, he would have gone down in history as the man who had discovered a rare species. He would have been famous.

  To say that he was disappointed was an understatement. Had he traveled to another world for nothing? What would he tell Archan? He’d expected more from this source, and to have his hopes dashed so casually was disheartening.

  “What have you heard about the inagimi?” he persisted, hoping for any kernel of information that could give him a clue as to where to go next.

  “Well, Kenyan folklore doesn’t have too many references to inagimi. It’s said that centuries ago, pleased by a snake’s worship, the Goddess granted him the power to shape-shift into any form he desired, be it a human, an animal or an insect. Over the years, the snake, in the guise of a human, mated with an ordinary woman and sired children. The children had his ability to shape-shift, but unlike him they could only take the form of their parents, that is either they could become a snake or take a human form. Since then, all off-springs of inagimi have been blessed with the same powers. It’s a nice story,” Issac said.

  Arya leaned forward. “What of the Blue Stone?”

  “What’s that?”

  “It’s said that the inagimi protect a stone that has the power to grant immortality to any human who so wishes.” Archan had told him this when he initially took the contract. The stone was what attracted Archan. If he could take the stone away from an inagimi, he would become immortal and hence rule their world for an eternity.

  Isaac waved a hand. “Never heard of that. As I said it’s a nice story. Don’t base your book around it, unless of course you intend to write fiction.”

  Arya leaned back and tapped his index finger on the desk. “There has to be some basis of fact behind a myth.”

  Isaac took another sip of his coffee. “Well, the local Kenyan tribes around these parts believe Mount Kenya to be a sacred house of God. They believe their God resides on its peak and, hence, they face the mountain while praying or offering sacrifices. Hordes of tourists and hikers have conquered the peak, but none have yet to find evidence that there really is a god in residence on top. Some stories are just stories. If you seek to find facts behind each story or myth, you’ll disappoint yourself many times over.”

  “Isn’t there anything else you could tell me about the inagimi?

  “No. I’m afraid that’s all I know.” Isaac got up. “It’s time for dinner now. Come.” He walked out of the study.

  Arya chewed on his bottom lip as he followed. He was crushed. If Isaac didn’t know anything about the mysterious snake, there was nothing else for Arya to do in Kenya. He had no other avenues left to explore.

  Now, all he had to do was to figure out how to break the news to the most powerful wizard in his world--and save his life from Archan’s revenge.

  Chapter Five

  Early next morning, Maya strolled in through the study door. “Ready?”

  Arya and Isaac were having breakfast together. “Are you going out?” Isaac said.

  Maya patted the rucksack she held in one hand. “We’re going for a hike. I’ve my binoculars and camera.” She walked up to her grandfather and pecked him gently on the cheek. “No more coffee,” she scolded, waving her finger at him. “Too much caffeine is not good for you.”

  He saluted her smartly. “Of course, captain. Be careful out there.”

  Maya understood his fears. “Don’t worry. I always am. Come on then, Arya. We’ve things to do and places to see.”

  Arya joined her outside. Opening the car door, Maya sat down on the driver’s seat.

  “Do you have all the essentials?” she said.

  Arya placed his backpack on the back seat and sat in the passenger seat. “A torch with extra batteries, sunglasses, a cap, sun screen, insect repellent and two water bottles,” he rattled off the list she had dictated to him last night while they had walked outside. “Also, a digital camera and my notebook.”

  “So did you learn anything about the inagimi?” Maya gunned the car down the narrow road that led to the trail.

  Dawn was just breaking on the horizon and the sky was an interesting mix of orange, yellow and red. Ghostly shadows stuck to the forest and fog rolled over the car, masking the road ahead.

  Arya grimaced. “Nothing much. It seems to have been a waste of time all along. Your grandfather claims never to have discovered an iota of truth behind those rumors. I read his old research notes last night…and didn’t get any new ideas where to resume my search.”

  “You could put a spin on inagimi and write it in your book as one of those myths that exist for no reason whatsoever, can’t you? After all, as a writer, you can write pretty much anything.”

  “True,” he said.

  Maya looked out the window. Mount Kenya seemed so close, and now in the first flush of the morning light, streaks of gold and orange cast fiery lights on the snow nestled at its peak.

  “It’s an amazing sight,” Arya muttered as he looked out the widnow. “Your grandfather is lucky he gets to see this every day.”

  Maya parked the car under the shade of a dense tree as the sunlight splashed across the mountain’s forested slopes and broke the dark of the night.

  “That’s why he chose to live here. We’ll hike from here,” she said. After getting out of the car, she hefted her rucksack out from the back seat.

  Arya got his bag out, and watched as she locked the car and pocketed the keys. “Have you done this hike before?”

  “Wear your cap. You don’t want to get your hair wet in the mist,” she said. “Yes, I’ve been here a few times before. There is always something new to see. There is something about nature, the forests, the singing streams and the cool shades under the trees that make my blood sing.”

  He walked up to her. Lifting her chin with gentle fingers, he tasted her lips.

  “This makes my blood sing,” he whispered.

  Maya took a careful step back. Her head spun as the blood rushed through
her veins. “Didn’t I say that we weren’t going to do that? It’s one of my rules.”

  “There’s something about rules that makes me always want to break them.”

  Pulling her back, he kissed her again, his tongue moving in and out with a sweet abandon. Maya found herself running her hands up and down his back.

  What was happening to her? Why couldn’t she resist him? She didn’t even trust him completely. Her gut told her that he was hiding something from her. Still, despite her misgivings, she was attracted to him.

  A bird chirped overhead. Almost as if he was coming out of a trance, Arya raised his head and stepped away.

  “I don’t know…” He shook his head, looking perturbed. “Why the hell can’t I keep away from you?”

  Since she had the same question running through her head, Maya chose to ignore his frustration and began to walk. It took effort to force her frozen feet to take one step after another. She was staggered by his kisses more than she let on. The feel of his lips on hers, the taste of his mouth, his clean smell…everything fit together perfectly. It was almost as if it was meant to be.

  What was about this man that made her want to forget everything and take that unforgettable step forward? This wasn’t her way. She didn’t have the luxury of this choice, this man or this world. Hers was a different path, one meant be walked alone.

  “So what is it about these rules of yours?” Arya followed her. “Are they really necessary?”

  “Yes,” she said.

  Her life was complicated, and in order to simplify it, she compartmentalized it as neatly as possible. There was her work and her professional acquaintances and they remained separate from her personal life. Never before did she bring someone associated with her work into her personal space. There was a strict demarcation. And now suddenly, the lines were blurred.

  This sudden change confused her.

  What she felt for Arya, the deep longing, the pure lust coupled with a healthy respect for his intelligence and personality made it impossible for her to resist him. It might have been easier had he not been attracted to her.

  But he was. And there was no denying that fact.

  Given all that, how could she keep him at an arm’s length for long? But how could she afford to become involved with him?

  He was a stranger. He was a man, and he was researching something she wasn’t willing to divulge…there were just too many reasons for her not to get involved with him.

  And still, she found herself thinking of his eyes, his body, the feel of his hand on the nape of her neck and the scorching kisses they had shared.

  She walked ahead, heading for the dirt path hidden by the ancient rosewood trees, eager to make her body ache with exhaustion so that it might forget its baser urges.

  “We’ll follow the trail for a while,” she said. “Stay alert. You might see some unexpected sights today…if you’re lucky.”

  Quietly, they traversed the trail still wet with morning dew as it winded its way through glades of trees and bushy shrubs standing close together.

  “See there.” She crouched next to a rotten log. There, nestled among the dry leaves and shrubs was a puff adder, basking in the weak sunlight filtering through the dense canopy of the trees. “It can strike fast and hard. The twin fangs hinged into its mouth can inject enough venom to kill a man, if anti-venom is not administered quickly.”

  “Aren’t you a little too close to it?” Arya pulled her back.

  “Worried?” She smiled at him, her eyes shining with amusement at his concern for her safety.

  He let her go. “I’m sure you know what you’re doing.”

  Surprised at the abrupt change in his demeanor, Maya stepped back. “Come, there is a stream nearby. We might see some lairs over there.”

  Throughout the morning, they walked through dense forests and wet streams, through patches of heather as tall as a man and once passed by a herd of buffalos grazing on dry shrubs and grasses.

  There was little conversation. Occasionally Maya stopped to point out a snake cuddled near the base of a tree or dangling from the overhead branches. Once she stopped to show him a hornbill as it chuffed on a nearby tree.

  “We’ll stop here for lunch.” Maya stopped near a stream and washed her hands. “Don’t drink the stream water. It’s not safe for human consumption.”

  Unwrapping sandwiches, she handed him one and munched on the other.

  “We seem to be the only two people around.” Arya looked around. “In fact, it seems as if we’re the only two people in the world.”

  “Don’t be taken in by the calm of the forest. A whole world exists here. Apart from the wildlife, local tribes visit the mountain, some even live here. Then there are the park rangers, the tourists and the hikers,” she said. “This weather is perfect for hikers, and you will find many on the popular paths if you’ve a mind to seek them.”

  “I’m happy where I am,” he said, gazing at her as she stared out into the forest. “What?”

  “I sense something,” she whispered.

  For a moment all was still, and then a buffalo poked its head out from behind a massive tree trunk and gazed at them with soulful eyes.

  “Maybe we’re in his spot?”

  Maya shook her head. There was something else, a nagging feeling at the back of her head. They were being watched, hunted. “I don’t know.” Carefully she looked around, but could see no sign of danger.

  Was she being paranoid? Or was there danger lurking within the dense confines of the forest?

  “Is everything ok?”

  “Yes, I guess so.” She rubbed the back of her neck. “We should be heading back in a while.”

  “If there was time, I would’ve liked to trek up to the twin peaks,” he said.

  Maya finished her sandwich. “We could do it tomorrow. It’s a fascinating two day hike to the top.”

  She folded her napkin and placed it back in her pack.

  “I’ll leave in the afternoon. I’ve asked Isaac to arrange for a car.”

  Maya was astounded. He hadn’t said anything to her about this abrupt change in his plans. “What? I thought…you planned to stay.”

  “That was when I thought Isaac could help me. I…” He shook his head. “I need to find the inagimi. Perhaps, I’ll head to Indonesia.”

  “Can’t you forget about this inagimi and find some other material for your book?”

  “I’m not a writer.”

  “You’re not?”

  “I’m a snake charmer and a wizard. I know it sounds strange.” He laughs. “Actually, I’m from another world, sort of like a parallel universe. I’m on a mission to find the inagimi. I guess you don’t believe me. You’re probably thinking I’m crazy.”

  Maya realized her mouth was hanging open. “I’ve heard stranger things in life,” she muttered. Maya felt as if she was dealt a blow to her heart. “A snake charmer?”

  “It’s a part of my magical gift. I can sense feelings of snakes, but that’s not the extent of my gift. See there.” He raised his hands palm up and bolts of light shot out of his hands and speared the rock that sat six feet away. Sparks of fire flew off the stone.

  Maya felt beads of sweat popping on her forehead. “You search for inagimi to sell them?”

  Leaning forward, Arya took her hands in his. “Forget about the inagimi for a moment, and the fact that I am wizard. It’s hard to take in all at once. There’s something else I must say to you. I…I feel a connection to you. It’s too fast, too soon. We don’t know each other well enough…but still I’m attracted to you. And I know you’re attracted to me. Why don’t you come with me to Indonesia?”

  “I can’t.” Maya tried to pull her hands away. She couldn’t breathe…couldn’t think.

  “There are a thousand reasons you can say no…but there is only one reason to say yes. You want me as much as I want you.”

  “I…”

  “I know you feel the same way I do.” He locked his gaze with hers. “Your heart b
eats for me the way mine beats for you. There is something special about the way we feel for each other. It’s never happened to me before. It’s like destiny, or karma…the world is striving to get us together. I can sense it in my bones, in my heart. All my life I’ve done what my mind has dictated, just this once I want to listen to my heart. Say you will come with me. As soon as I find the inagimi, we’ll come back to Kenya. We’ll live wherever you want …we’ll settle down…”

  “The inagimi?” Maya whispered.

  “I’ve this contract to fulfill. I’ll convince them to give me more time. One year. No more than that. If I don’t fulfill it during that time, I’ll…somehow get out of the contract and we’ll come back here.”

  “What contract?” Maya shook her hands free and stood up. She was cold all over, so cold and so dead inside. It was like a world opened up inside her, and then it was smashed to bits. It was a pain like no other she’d ever experienced.

  She cared for him, was attracted to him. Perhaps, given time, this would have developed into something more.

  Now, there was no chance.

  She folded her arms across her chest and stepped away.

  “You’re a snake charmer?” It was a whisper. Maya could not trust her voice.

  “Well, yes.” His eyes narrowed, Arya stared at her. “Are you alight?”

  “I can’t…I need…” Turning her back on him, Maya took a few deep breaths. “We need to head back now.” She turned, only to find him gazing behind her, a strange look on his face.

  “What?”

  “Are there leopards in this forest?”

  “Well, yes…why?”

  “There is one behind you, up on the tree. Don’t turn,” he ordered, his voice clipped. “It’s poised to attack. Get behind me.”

  Ignoring his words, Maya turned and her blood ran cold as she took in the sleek young cat perched high on the tree. Its brilliant black eyes were fixed on them. Clearly, it had selected Maya as prey, for its powerful shoulders were hunched forward and its neck muscles were tight with tension. It was ready to spring off the branch on to her.