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Rehan joins hands with the vampire council to attack Abhay while Advik, Sama and Alina come to help Abhay. Liana joins in the end to protect Alina.
If the circumstances were different, Liana might have found it comical, the way everyone stopped whatever they were doing and stared at her. Alina was gaping at her, clearly speechless. "Liana!" she gasped in shock. "I thought- I thought-" Liana smiled at her, ignoring everyone else. "You're my best friend, Alina. I don't care what side you're on. I'm with you." Silence followed her words. Alina hurried forward to hug her, but a horrible howl rent the air. Shocked beyond belief, both Alina and Liana turned to see Abhay pull out the stake from one of the Council's body, even as the vampire fell to the ground, dead. Liana stared at Abhay. What monster was this? She wondered, as her eyes moved over Abhay's handsome face marred by flecks of blood, his fangs bared. But something inside her made her wonder. Was this really a monster?
Abhay smirked as Antonio fell. "Oops," he said coolly. "Witchy queen's entry made for a good distraction."
Suddenly, the atmosphere was charged again. Athanasius, Sedna, Elvern and Rehan flew at him, and it started all over again. Abhay concentrated mostly on dodging them, trying to score a hit, but it was difficult. Fighting the council was always going to be difficult, and Rehan... Abhay had never wanted to kill the werewolf so badly. And then, the ring they had formed around him was broken as Sedna was dragged away by Sama, who had her in a headlock.
Advik came to fight alongside Abhay, as Sama fought Sedna on her own. "Is this the right time to say 'I told you so'?" yelled Advik, deflecting a blow from Athanasius. "No, it's not, you idiot, shut up!" roared back Abhay, twisting in midair to avoid getting staked by Elvern. "Well, at least try to be a bit more gracious, will you?" snapped Advik, aiming for Rehan, who dodged it easily, laughing. Abhay didn't reply. Adrenaline and fury coursed through him, and he staked Elvern swiftly, then turned to Rehan, using the element of surprise to punch him hard , sending him flying.
Liana and Alina found themselves surrounded by six of the council members. They were outnumbered three to one, and it required all of Liana's spells and Alina's strength and speed to keep them alive. Liana wondered if this was going to be her last moment, as she caused the Earth beneath two of the vampires to become quicksand, causing them to sink below.
Oddly enough, she found herself beyond caring. She would get to die protecting her friend and ally in battle, and an honourable death was better than a dishonourable life. Suddenly, she heard a triumphant laugh. Her second's delay had allowed them to score a hit on Alina, who was thrown backwards, crashing into a tree and uprooting it. Liana watched in mute horror as Alina fell to the ground, her eyes closed.
"No!" she screamed, running forwards with no thought but to reach Alina. But her way was blocked by half a dozen vampires, smiling in triumph. Rage boiled over like poison inside Liana, and she lashed out with her powers, but she knew it was a losing battle. And when one of them caught her easily, she realized exactly how much faster and stronger they were than her. She tried to fight back, but they were all closing in on her now. This was wrong. She didn't want to die- not like this. But she was going to... she felt one vampire's fangs pierce her neck as it started to drain her dry. Her life flashed past before her eyes... playing tennis with Alina, arguing with Pia, watching the dead bodies of her clan members, Abhay Raichand asking for a second chance, arguing with Rehan, watching him, injuring him, Alina's smile when she had come back... Until suddenly, she was released from the jaws of death, and thrown backwards on the ground. She struggled to stand upright, gaining her bearings... and then she realized that someone had saved her life. Someone, meaning a vampire... one she had wanted dead not so very long ago...
Abhay Raichand snarled at the Council, standing protectively in front of Liana. "Touch her again, and die," he hissed.
Liana couldn't believe her eyes. Abhay was saving her life. Why?
To her right, Athanasius fell in front of Advik, who turned to them, looking bloody and bruised. It caused a sudden flutter among the council members, who started backing away. "Get Alina and go," said Abhay without turning to look at Liana. "And don't think too highly of yourself just because I helped you. It's all for Alina."
The council members had all surrounded Athanasius. Abhay glanced at Sama, who was getting to her feet, then at Advik. "He isn't dead, is he?" Advik shook his head, but his face had a grim smile. "Not yet. He's nicely injured, though."
The three of them stared at the Council members, who lifted up Athanasius' limp form and vanished.
"Well, well well."
Abhay turned around to glare at Rehan, who smirked. "So, Abhay Raichand. In the end... it all comes down to you and me, doesn't it?"
Alina blinked several times as Liana's face came into focus. "Alina? Alina can you understand me?" Alina's mouth felt dry. She coughed. "Hi," she murmured shakily. Liana pulled her into a sitting position. "Thank God. I thought I'd lost you."
But Alina was looking around, bewildered. What was going on? Where were the other vampires? She slowly got to her feet. And then what she saw made her gasp in horror. Rehan was pinned against a huge tree, his feet dangling almost three feet in the air. Abhay's hand was around his throat, a stake in his other hand.
"No!" she screamed. "No- Abhay! Stop!"
Abhay turned to her slowly, still holding Rehan's neck. Alina stumbled forward: Liana rushed forward in case she fell. "Abhay- no. Please- he's the only family I have. He's my nephew- please... please don't kill him!"
Liana was unnerved seeing the shock on his face. He let go of Rehan, who crashed to the ground. But Abhay was staring at Alina in undisguised shock. "He's your-" Comprehension dawned on his face. "Jeh's son?" Hatred crossed his face as he turned to Rehan. "No wonder. Like father, like son. Attacks innocent people and uses them for bait."
He turned back to Alina, whose brows were furrowed as she tried to work out what he was saying. "I'll let him go this time, Alina," he said finally. "But don't expect me to forgive him- ever- for torturing Pia. And next time, he will die. I promise you." He turned and walked away. Advik and Sama had already left.
"How could you?" burst out Pia as soon as they unlocked her door. She glared fiercely at Sama. "How dare you trick me- make me unconscious- I hate all of you supernaturals! Acting as you please, with or without my consent-"
"Pia, I'm sorry," began Sama, but Pia interrupted. "I don't care. You were WRONG to do that. I swear if I had fangs right now, Sama, they would be in your-"
"Pia, please listen to me- we had to do this. You could have been seriously hurt!"
Pia made a sound that sounded suspiciously like a snarl to Advik. He couldn't help but smirk. The girl had a temper to match Abhay's.
He glanced as footsteps echoed around the room. Pia rushed forward, brushing past them. "Abhay!"
Alina's House :
"No, Liana," said Alina. "I don't want to know why you hid it from me. I don't have anything to say to any of you." She turned away and walked into her own room, slamming the door.
Liana turned to Rehan, who was sitting on the sofa, his face devoid of its usual smirk as he stared off into space. "Rehan, this has gone on long enough," she said bluntly. "We were wrong. Abhay... he's not bad, Rehan. He really isn't. He saved my life-"
"He saved you life?" Rehan's voice was sharp.
"Yes," said Liana. "He saved my life against half a dozen vampires. Just because I'm Alina's friend. That shows he's a really loyal friend, right? I mean- I used to want to kill him! And I think you need to stop now. What you're doing with the others- allying with them to kill Abhay- you have got to stop. He's not the monster we thought. He could have staked you, but he let you go- again, because of Alina. Rehan, look at me. He isn't bad!"
Rehan laughed suddenly and harshly. "Really, Liana? He's not bad? What do you call a person who sent a spy to decimate our clan, destroy me, break me, and kill the only person I had- my mother, Avni? For no reason other than ambition?"
Liana swivelled around to stare at him. "What?"
Rehan smiled bitterly. "I told you not to judge me, didn't I? Yeah, I was in love. Zaisha, a vampire broke my heart when she killed my mother and it never healed again."
Liana glanced down, not knowing what to say.
"And she was acting on his orders. Hah! He says I dragged innocent people into this fight? My mother was innocent, too!"
Liana stared at him, watching the hatred on his face. Then she said, "He's not the person he was. This is what Advik was trying to tell us- I mean, why else would he save me- ask me to save Alina, take her away from the fight? Look- he was horrible, I know that. But he has changed, Rehan, and you need to accept that! Pia was wiser than all of us. Move on, Rehan. Two wrongs don't make a right."
Rehan said nothing as she walked away.
Pia flew at Abhay and flung her arms around him. "Abhay. Thank God," she said, almost in tears. She pulled away and stared at him. "You're hurt!"
"I'm fine, Pia," said Abhay, speaking slowly and clearly. "It's all right. They can't kill me."
"You should have taken me!" she burst out. "These two-" she pointed to Advik and Sama- "these two, they knocked me out, and they locked me up-"
A flash of gratitude passed over Abhay's face as he looked at them. "Pia, Pia, come on, look at me," he said, tugging her arm and forcing her to face him. Pushing away the hair from her face, he said, "Calm down, okay? Nothing will ever happen to me. Relax. I'll never leave you, I promise."
"We should leave, like now", muttered Advik, taking Sama's elbow and pulling her out of the house."I really don't want to see them start."
"You promise?" said Pia tearfully "Abhay, I don't want to be without you, ever. I can't."
He kissed her forehead. "You won't be."
She punched him lightly. "Don't give me that! I'm not ten, and this is not 2010. And you have a lot of making up to do..."
Abhay's lips twitched. In a flash, he had lifted her up in his arms. "Yeah, you're right. I have a lot of making up to do... but I don't think the living room is appropriate for that."
Pia's eyes widened. "Youuu...!" she hit him on the chest. "Put me down! Abhay, this is cheating-"
"I will," said Abhay. "In a minute. And who's cheating? I'm just negotiating."
She kicked out. "May I remind you that it is I who is holding you," said Abhay gravely. "You don't want to be dropped on the ground, do you?"
She glared at him as he carried her into the bedroom. "Can you let me down now?"
"In a few seconds."
She found herself carried into the bathroom and lowered on the ground in front of the shower. "What-" she began, but stopped as he began walking forwards. She backed away till she hit the wall behind and when she saw the small, triumphant smile on his face, she knew it had been his intention all along. He came even closer, caging her in with his arms, and Pia found herself lost for words at the look in his face... predatory. "I'm really sorry, Pia," he said, leaning down and brushing his lips with hers. Her eyes closed as he pressed a button and turned the shower on. She gasped at the shock of it, her eyes flying open and locking with Abhay's, who leaned down and claimed her lips. Her arms went around him, tugging off the overcoat, and soon, the only reality was Abhay, as everything faded away...
P.S: For PMs please send buddy request to PKYEK2-DFL.
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