| Abhiya FF - His Firefly | COMPLETED Chapter 108 Pg 88 - Page 35

Originally posted by: Abhaythevampire

Nice chapter meghs. Nature is captured. What hell metz plan to unleash on the world? 🤓😲😈

And i am curious to know why she wants to meet her sister? And what is abhay doing ?

utter chaos 🤣 glad you liked it 😃

let's see what happens next chapter 😉

oh dear god it was so scary to read this chapter😒

that bloody maithali getting more power don't like it😡

uff why madhu why? why do u have to go there alone without telling siddharth & abhay

that was really stupid idea knowing very well what bitch maithali is out there

now she is got in trap don't know what gonna happen to her?

hope abhay & siddtharth will save her in time

continue soon

Originally posted by: cuteariya

oh dear god it was so scary to read this chapter😒

that bloody maithali getting more power don't like it😡

uff why madhu why? why do u have to go there alone without telling siddharth & abhay

that was really stupid idea knowing very well what bitch maithali is out there

now she is got in trap don't know what gonna happen to her?

hope abhay & siddtharth will save her in time

continue soon

Thanks for reading! 🤗

Chapter 75

Didi

The sun was bright, but it was pleasant. Strangely enough, Mandu didn’t remember the last time she slept with the blinds open, or slept at all in the past month. Getting sleep as a vampire was just not that comfortable, only a means to an end.

The sun cast its rays over her delicate eyes. Her hand hooked the blankets, and pulled them over her face.

The sheets….are warm…

Something didn’t feel right. She shoved the bedcovers aside, sitting up. Her eyes flew open, taking in the sun like it wasn’t a bother anymore. She felt a thumping in her chest. Underneath her body were the sheets of her bed, at the palace. The woven fabrics of a particular old scent. Yes, this was her old room.

Siddharth lay next to her, fast asleep. She stared at him for only a moment.

Where….

Her palm pressed itself against her chest, feeling her own heartbeat. Vampires didn’t have heartbeats. She was human, which was impossible. She then looked to Siddharth again, and lay her head to his chest gently. He stirred, and wrapped his arms around her, still in deep sleep. There was a heartbeat in him too.

He was warm, she was warm. They weren’t vampires. They were human. Mandu carefully placed his arms away from herself, and sat up straight. Birds were chirping outside.

Was all that….a dream?

It couldn’t be. Even a lucid dream wouldn’t be so real. She looked around for a sign of reality. Ayushmaan was the last to meet her.

You’re messing with my head, aren’t you you snake?

She stood up abruptly, and searched the room bare-footed. Her fingers could sense the softness of the curtains, the smoothness of the gold finishings on walls, and the polish of the wood on drawers. Behind her, a rocking cradle, far from empty. It rocked in sync with the cool breeze. Vaibhav was awake, crying restlessly for his mother. Her gaze softened, and filled with all the love she could never give him. She picked him up and held him against her bosom, rocking him while humming his lullaby.

“Don’t cry, my baby…..”

Vaibhav went silent as soon as he was in his mother’s arms. He cooed, and filled his fists with locks of Mandu’s hair. She kissed him and began to undo them, then looked outside. It was bright and green all around, like heaven on earth. Her home. The Pandher she knew and loved.

What a strange dream…

But so wonderful.

Her guard was let down. As soon as the simple thought of bliss crossed her thoughts, it was snatched from her. A thick haze blanketed the room and blinded her. Wisps of smoke began to fill her nose, and burn with ash. Her arms suddenly felt empty, and she heard Siddharth call her name. There was urgency and pain in his voice.

The burning throne room, but this time she was standing. Child taken away, and husband at death’s door. This wasn’t a dream. It was her worst nightmare.

Mandu screamed, arm shooting out in front of her. It was dark, and the air smelled of blood and ash. Everything went black, and the illusion was removed her eyes.

She blinked several times to adjust her vision.

Around her arms were restraints made from some strong elemental energy. No matter how much strength she tried to put against them, they wouldn’t break. It was unlike anything she had seen before. She took heavy breaths and looked up.

Oh….he said….she wanted to see me…

Before her eyes, Maithili sat cross-legged upon her stone throne. Twirling some kind of crystal between her fingers. She looked down at her elder sister, who was kneeling and bound beneath her feet, with a chuckle. Messing with people’s memories was quite fun. And Mandu’s were quite painful.

“Didi….I’ve been trying to get your attention for so long. Where are you lost? Haven’t you missed me?”

Mandu looked behind the massive throne. A cage of sorts, surrounded by Vitael, and a sneering Ayushmaan. An older woman was trapped inside, who also didn’t seem human. The scent was missing completely. She shared a look of pity, and stared at the floor.

“Over here.” Maithili said coldly, snapping her fingers in her face.

“What do you want?” Mandu hissed, baring sharp fangs. The binds seemed to be getting tighter.

“What I’ve always wanted. Everything you have. Status, power, love, everything. But especially my Abhayendra.”

Mandu fought at her restraints, angry tears filling her eyes.

“Abhay will never come back to you.”

“Why not? He’s my husband.”

“Was. Not anymore. He belongs to someone else.”

“Piya, correct?” Maithili’s scowl while uttering her name took form of a menacing cackle. She looked back at Nature, clutching her stomach from the pain that laughter brought. “You should be angry too, am I not right?”

“I am bound by the will of Fate.” Nature sputtered.

Maithili leaned down, gripped and squeezed Nature’s aged visage between her fingers, and coldly gave her reply.

“But I’m not.”

Mandu furrowed her brows. Ayushmaan took steps beside her, running a palm over her hair. She jerked back, and tried to bite his hand.

“Don’t. Touch. Me.” She hissed. “And who is that?”

“Mother Nature herself. I hear she gave Abhayendra at lot of trouble back in the day. Not anymore, since he has a soulmate now.”

Maithili looked back at him, furious. Her eyes shot daggers. Ayushmaan but his tongue:

“I am his soulmate! Not that girl!” She roared. Nature flinched. Mandu let out a painful breath and started to chuckle.

“Piya is his fated. After all, a person wouldn’t try to kill their own soulmate. Right?”

“And who are you to say that? You don’t know what happened that night. Abhayendra is lying.”

Mandu stayed silent, but kept her glare intact.

“Well?”

“Why would he lie if he truly loved you? If you did no wrong? Please, enlighten me, Maithili.”

Maithili fumed, but couldn’t reply. She had gone mad with obsession.

“Speak up. Why have you gone silent?”

The chatter amongst the other Vitael grew. Maithili shot a glare so intense that they all shook with fear.

“I’ll get rid of her. Simple.”

“I won’t let you. None of us will let you.”

“Don’t be like this, didi. It brings me great pain, you know? Remember, you once said to me that Abhayendra and I make a beautiful pair?”

“Things have changed. Times have changed. Both of us have changed.”

Maithili opened her palm wide, and shot out her arm. Nature shrieked in the back as she created a whip made of pure silver, extracted from the underground. Mandu’s eyes widened in fear.

“You aren’t human anymore either, right? This might hurt more than it would if you were.”

“You’re a monster.”

“I know. But I’m also playing God. It’s quite fun.”

She cracked the whip at Mandu’s knees, and began to strike her with it. It brought great pain to her skin, and blood oozed everywhere.

“If I can get my hands on Time next, then I can simply wipe her from existence, can’t I? And you too.”

Mandu managed to stagger herself up, but Maithili continued to strike her down. Burns were everywhere. Blood was everywhere. It had gone a little too far. Ayushmaan stepped forward, unusually silent for the majority of the time, and seized Maithili’s wrist.

“Now now, your highness. I don’t think it’s awfully fair for you to fight your sister while she’s unarmed.”

Maithili stared at him and clenched her jaw, imprinting the handle of the whip into the skin of her palm.

“Why do you suddenly care?!”

Ayushmaan tightened his hold and threw the whip to the side. Mandu backed away from it as much as she could. He gave Mandu a creepy smile.

*Don’t scar my dear Mandakini’s beautiful face.*

“Enough. She is far too weak. They will finish her off.” He scolded.

Those ‘they’ appeared before her, the slaves Maithili had control over. He gave his commands by the flick of a wrist. The werewolf dragged Mandu outside but the sleeve of her salwar, and the two vampires followed.

Maithili looked at Ayushmaan. He let go of her and bowed.

“Your next orders, my queen?”

“Tell that woman to take care of the task I gave her. She should be well rested by now.” She hissed, departing towards another room.

———————————————————————

Siddharth never felt such a strong sense of dread in a very long time. An entire night almost went by in searching for Mandu. Should the sunrise arrive before they found her, the search would be cut short. Supernaturals never committed any sketchy acts in the daytime. He was close to going mad, separated as such from his soulmate. While he could sense something was wrong with her, he couldn’t see it, nor could he reach her through mindlink.

“I can’t….I still can’t sense her.” He breathed out, exhausted. In frustration, he slammed a hardened fist into a nearby tree, bark digging into the knuckles. Some roots popped out from under the soil. Abhay put a palm over his shoulder. Enlisting Maya’s help, they set out to find her.

“We’ll find her. Don’t worry.” He said firmly.

Maya stood from the ground, and dusted her palms. The light shimmering in the soil burnt out. In her hands, a pair of Mandu’s earrings. Letting out a heavy sigh, she looked towards a direction they hadn’t yet pursued. Retrying the locator spell there could hopefully bring leads.

“There’s nothing here. We should go that way.” She pointed downhill, deeper into the forest. “We haven’t checked there.”

“The palace is that way, isn’t it?” Abhay noted.

“But why would she go there?” Siddharth asked.

“We can only ask her if we find her there, or even nearby.” Maya said, taking the lead.

Siddharth couldn’t walk properly and repeatedly was bent over against a tree, experiencing a searing pain in his chest. At one point, he even coughed up blood. It was getting worse by the second. Abhay’s eyes widened. He took Siddharth’s arm and slung it over his shoulders.

“She’s…in great pain, little brother…” He murmured, clutching his chest.

“I know.”

That he could see with his own eyes.

Maya stared on with acute curiosity. Danish had told her of the ceremony that takes a blood bond to its peak. Souls are tied in such a way, that if one left this world, the other would too. Seeing Siddharth in this condition, it meant Mandu was getting closer to that other plane of existence. It was literally killing him too.

For some, eternity without your soulmate was a death on its own.

“We should hurry.” She urged, pulling on Abhay’s sleeve. He nodded, and tried to help Siddharth along. Holding the earrings up in the air, she chanted a spell that would guide a wisp of light in Mandu’s direction.

“Wait!”

The wisp finally appeared, and zipped through the air eastward. Siddharth, with eyes full of hope, took a deep breath to numb the pain and took off. Abhay and Maya followed right behind. The noses of the vampires twitched.

The wisp circled and landed on Mandu’s body before disappearing. Her eyelids fluttered, struggling to stay awake.

“Werewolves? Again?” Abhay exclaimed, hiding the volume of his surprise under his breath.

And two vampires. However, none of them looked normal, in supernatural terms. They looked like puppets. Robotic movements.

Mandu knew they were there. She looked up, whilst writhing in the leaves with a stake hovering dangerously over her heart. Siddharth shot out his arm, and dove in, without thinking of his health, to save her. The vampires were much faster, and they knocked him back and held him down. Mandu screamed, but Maya stopped the stake from going too deep with a small shield in between her heart and wood. Abhay lunged forward, and ripped the stake away from the werewolf. In equal speed, he drove it clean through his body, skewered from chest to back. The puppet-like vampires vanished.

He cast a shadow around them.

“Thank goodness….” Maya said, kneeling in the soft grass. She then looked at Mandu, who had seized up from immense pain and couldn’t say anything.

Siddharth screamed.

“What’s happening?”

“The stake…some is in her…I need to...”

His shirt soaked red with blood, a warning of what was to happen. Siddharth leaned over Mandu, and clawed his fingers into the flesh of her chest. He hated doing it, but hated the idea of seeing her die. There was a piece of wood left, inching its way closer to her heart. As they were tied, he could sense where it was. Like they had been staked together.

He ripped it out and collapsed from exhaustion. The pain subsided. Mandu coughed up blood and passed out. Abhay examined her arms and legs.

“Injuries from silver.”

They looked like lashes from a whip.

Siddharth passed out next to her, bloodied hand sticking to leaves and dirt beneath him.

“Siddharth!” Maya shouted, shaking his side. Abhay put his hand on her shoulder.

“They’ll be fine. Can you help me?”

“You really don’t have to ask, Abhay.”

They each took one individual and Maya teleported them to the mansion. There, Piya opened the door, frightened at the sight. Abhay asked her to be there, in case Mandu showed up hone herself, before they found her.

“Are they okay?! What happened?”

The amount of blood dripping on the floors made her dizzy. If they were human, they’d absolutely be knocking on death’s door by now.

“They will be. Don’t worry.” He replied, with a steady tone. Piya was amazed to see how calm he was. She, on the other hand, was a shaking mess. Maya was somewhere in the middle.

Siddharth was gaining consciousness going up the stairs. He looked over to Mandu, and breathed a sigh of relief.

“Almost there. Hang in there.” Maya said, as they entered the bedroom. Piya followed right behind them. Abhay laid Mandu on her side, and Siddharth weakly sat next to her.

“Piya….I think you should stay outside. It’s dangerous for you.” Abhay said.

Piya tried to protest, but she knew he was saying it with everyone’s best interests in mind.

“Will they be okay?”

“Yes. I promise.”

———————————————————————

“I can’t wait to finally graduate from this place.” Misha said, basking her arms in the open halls. She high-fived Kabir, then Ruhi. Piya clutched a book to her chest, walking alongside them. They were all graduating after this semester, even Abhay.

“How does it feel? Being almost done with school?” Piya asked.

“So liberating. No more bickering with my parents about school work again.” Misha beamed, swinging her arms.

“But now they’ll start bickering with you about a job or worse, marriage.” Ruhi joked, running in front of them.

Misha groaned, and chased her in a circle.

“Don’t jinx it. Marriage is the last thing I ever want to do in my life.”

They passed the practice rooms, and Kabir looked around with nostalgia. He would really miss all the times he spent in them, and with his friends.

“Let’s promise to meet up often once this is over. Piya will need company too.”

“Of course, how can we forget our sweet Piya?”

Misha hugged Piya tight and squished their cheeks together. She smiled back. In the midst of chaos, simple times like this was refreshing.

“I’ll soon join you all too. In the former students club.”

Piya was unable to catch a glimpse of Abhay today. Both brothers were at home, tending to Mandu. Even Haseena came by to visit, planning to stay until she was alright. She too wanted to see her.

Misha tapped Piya’s head.

“Looking for your Romeo?”

Piya shook her head, blushing.

“He’s not even here today.” She said.

“I wish I had that much freedom, then I would never come to lectures.”

They reached the gates. Misha’s scooter had broken down again, so Arnab was coming to pick her up. Piya didn’t want to be there when he arrived, lest they made eye contact, so she made an excuse of practice with another friend.

Abhay was on his way to pick her up anyways.

She waved them goodbye, and mindlessly dashed down the halls, bumping into someone. Her violin case left her hands, and would have almost hit the ground were it not for the person she bumped into.

“Oh! Thank you so much!” Piya huffed. She hastily collected herself, looked up, and saw Madhu aunty’s face. “Aunty, you’re—“

“How are you, Piya? It’s been a few days.”

The wind picked up. Piya nodded, though confused. Did she come with him? Or alone? She looked around and behind them.

“Don’t worry. I’m here alone.” She gestured toward the benches. “Shall we take a seat?”

Piya’s heart raced, and she gulped nervously. She nodded, and the two sat at farthest away from other ears. People certainly recognized the lady of the Dobriyal household. They didn’t need to hear this discussion however.

“Is something the matter, Aunty?”

Madhu folded her hands in her lap, unable to find a proper way to start. She herself was quite rattled from the night prior, when Arnab himself told her the truth.

”Piya is…..my daughter,” he said, voice wavering.

Even she didn’t expect her own reaction. Not anger, but apprehension. The family that she sought to protect from this secret was facing it once again.

“I….know who you are. You’re…Sugandh’s daughter, right?”

Piya looked away, and bunched the fabric of her skirt in her palms. She was sweating, in cooler temperatures. Her mouth was sealed shut.

“Piya dear, I’m not here to yell at you. You’re an innocent caught in the crossfire.”

“Do you hate my mumma?” She blurted out, wiping tears from her eyes.

“I….not really. At the beginning I was. Then I realized, she didn’t do this intentionally.” She paused, then looked at Piya again. She was about to ask for something selfish. “But I request of you, if Arnab ever asks….”

Piya took her hands and clasped them between her own. She shook her head. Frankly, she didn’t want to deal with this headache anymore. Whatever the request was, as long as she could remain friends with Misha, she was fine with.

“You don’t have to request me of anything. Your family will stay together. I’m okay on my own.”

Madhu felt bad, but nodded. That was all she wished to ask of her. From now on, she was just a good friend of Misha’s. She caressed Piya’s hair and picked up her purse.

“May god bless you with happiness. I should go. I made an excuse to meet you, so I need to get home. Take care.”

“I will…” Piya murmured.

———————————————————————

Abhay, on Piya’s request, took her to his home directly. She really wanted to see how Mandu was doing. Siddharth was fit and fine after a day and after emptying many blood bags, but Mandu needed longer to recuperate. Wounds caused from silver took longer to heal, and she had many. All the human blood went to her to speed up the healing.

Piya sat at her bedside, wincing on inspection of each lash. Mandu looked at them with her and laughed. The wound on her chest was healed, but it was a visible pink scar in its place.

“Hey, why the long face?”

“How can I not? I saw you covered in blood only recently.”

“Silly girl, I’m fine.”

“The whole family is crazy. You all only know how to give one answer.”

Piya rolled her eyes at Mandu’s giggle, and smiled at Siddharth who came in to check on her. Mandu tried to sit up, but he stopped her. The pillows under her had to be adjusted first.

“You’re going to kill me one day. Now Piya is here too. Tell me the truth. Where did you go that night?”

Her mood went somber, and she tried to avoid eye contact. But everyone wanted to hear this answer, and the room was then crowded.

“Where do you think? Even I was surprised that I decided to go there. But they took me elsewhere after that, and I don’t remember.”

Mandu took Piya’s hand.

“I’m not worried for myself. But I am for you, Piya. I saw it. She’s obsessed with Abhay. You’re one of her biggest obstacles, one of her biggest prizes. She has already captured Nature.”

Mandu recalled the sight of the poor woman as a slave to her sister. She shuddered. With Piya’s soul, she could do much more. Abhay took a defensive step forward. Now he understood, why he hadn’t been hearing Nature’s voice in his head lately.

“And she used her to destroy the headquarters.”

Behind them, a voice boomed. Their guest stood at the door, hands behind his back.

“Dragomir?”

very scary chapter in fact now the story getting more scary

that monster maithali got more power she even got nature😡

that bloody maithali & anshuman hurt madhu really badly😡

they almost kill madhu😡

glad abhay siddharth & maya found madhu before the silver kill her

poor siddharth also almost died with madhu as they r soulmate🥺

pia was horrified seeing madhu & siddharth full of blood she was hell worried for them😲

in collage misha is really happy finally they will be graduate & no more school works😆

pia is thinking abt abhay siddharth & madhu

so arnab told madhu abt pia somehow madhu want pia not to disclose the truth

awe madhu joke so nobody get worried for her

madhu is really worried for pia as that bloody maithali will do anything to get abhay😡

hope dragomir found way to kill that monster maithali

continue soon

Awsum update. Maithili is obsessive and has definitely lost her mind also and that makes her very dangerous also and she is very powerful also. It’s gonna be very tough to stop her

Originally posted by: cuteariya

very scary chapter in fact now the story getting more scary

that monster maithali got more power she even got nature😡

that bloody maithali & anshuman hurt madhu really badly😡

they almost kill madhu😡

glad abhay siddharth & maya found madhu before the silver kill her

poor siddharth also almost died with madhu as they r soulmate🥺

pia was horrified seeing madhu & siddharth full of blood she was hell worried for them😲

in collage misha is really happy finally they will be graduate & no more school works😆

pia is thinking abt abhay siddharth & madhu

so arnab told madhu abt pia somehow madhu want pia not to disclose the truth

awe madhu joke so nobody get worried for her

madhu is really worried for pia as that bloody maithali will do anything to get abhay😡

hope dragomir found way to kill that monster maithali

continue soon

Lots of scary to come 🤣 thank you 🤗

Originally posted by: MS-meghasharma

Awsum update. Maithili is obsessive and has definitely lost her mind also and that makes her very dangerous also and she is very powerful also. It’s gonna be very tough to stop her

thank you 🤗 yes crazy can be very dangerous and unpredictable

Chapter 76

Til Death Do Us Part

What do they mean, by capturing Nature?

Piya’s world view was in a constant motion of change. She looked closely at Dragomir, who just made his appearance before the family. He looked weaker and paler from the last time they shared each other’s presence. Unkempt hair, and for his standards, lacking the strict neatness in clothing. She wasn’t nearly as tensed to be in the same room as him as previous, but it was clear that he still didn’t like her.

Underneath a dangling sleeve of his woolen cloak, a gash similar to that of Mandu’s peeked out down the center of his wrist. But it didn’t look nearly as bad. Of course, he was one of the first. He’d heal faster than all the rest combined.

“What does that mean? Capturing Nature?” Piya blurted out. She couldn’t sit still anymore, and bit her tongue. Every bone in her body shivered when Dragomir stared point blank in her direction. Abhay sat beside her and clasped her hands between his, holding tight.

Dragomir gathered his words carefully. This was the first time where he would ever be seen explaining things like this to a human.

“We’re not the most powerful in this world. There are many more above us all in stature. Cosmic beings that humans talk about in mostly religious and mythological contexts. Akin to gods and deities. We never see them, like how humans never see us.”

He paused for a moment, watching her make sense of what he just said. She seemed to take it in quickly. With her nod, he continued.

“Imagine those on the other side taking control of a godlike power. In this case, Nature. Imagine have the ability to control the elements, natural catastrophes, as well as the balance of life and death. Quite the cause of concern, isn’t it?”

Mandu nervously swallowed, remembering Maithili’s words. She wanted to play God. That was a dangerous and destructive want.

She looked at Abhay, then Haseena, who had just entered the room with a goblet of blood for their esteemed guest. Haseena listened in on this information, remembering it as clear as the stars in the night sky.

“If she succeeded the last time, we probably wouldn’t be standing here right now.” Haseena said. Dragomir nodded in agreement. “But we were lucky that she was also learning their ways. Inexperience saved us.”

“Mom, did she do this last time?” Abhay enquired. He always kept his distance from any news of hers, so too didn’t know. Siddharth and Mandu both listened in with urgency, since neither of them were actively present in that wartime at all.

“All I can recall is she failed the ritual on the previous attempt. Though one soul in her possession had the Mark of Celeste, it was believed that she used it improperly.”

Piya squeezed Abhay’s hand, trying not to look at Mandu. Only she knew the truth behind the soul’s owner, and it was starting to chop away at her conscience. Abhay caressed his thumb across the back of her hand.

Are you okay?, he asked, voice echoing in her mind.

I’m fine.

“And you said, she brought down the entire castle?” Mandu exclaimed, straining her voice. The wounds stung and she leaned back against the headboard. Siddharth rubbed the back of her hand. Dragomir nodded. It was all smoke and rubble now.

“Half of those inside were killed. Those who managed to escape, I ordered them to keep this under wraps. No one knows except for the survivors. And now, this family too. We’ve also deactivated the keys, under the pretense of security.”

Had he not gone back in for Seraphina, he would have lost a council member as well.

He briefly stared at Piya, hiding the acquired displeasure. Abhay suppressed a scowl, siting between them. They really didn’t like each other.

“May I have a minute with you, Abhay?” He grumbled. “I wish to have a word.”

“Share it here.” Abhay grumbled. Haseena squeezed his shoulder and shook her head. She reminded him in thought that it wasn’t wise to keep angering him like this. He sighed.

“Do not make this difficult. I already have enough on my plate to take care of.”

“After you….” He said, after a period of silence. Piya watched them leave with worry in her eyes. Mandu took her hand, and rubbed its backside.

“Don’t worry. They’ll be back soon.”

Piya nodded. She looked down, away from the horrid wounds. A simple sight could translate to pain. Her violin was propped against the nightstand. Mandu gestured to it.

“You promised you’d play me something, right? I think we all could use something to lift our spirits. What do you think?”

“I wholeheartedly agree.” She replied with a smile.

——————————————————————

The wind was already blowing in strange patterns, without its caretaker. For one second, it would blow with immense force, and another, it would cease movement completely. It alternated in precise ticks as such, enough for anyone to take note of its peculiarity. Those who knew why, reckoned it would get worse as the days go on.

As the two went outside into the gardens, Abhay noticed in particular that the flowers were of glowing vitality. In the gardens of all their homes, Mandu had subconsciously filled it with those that Maithili liked when they were growing up. A way to preserve a happy childhood. Anything else, was beginning to wither at the tips of their petals.

Dragomir followed Abhay towards the center of the garden, hands folded behind his back. He looked briefly at the natural decor. It was the first time he came to visit their residence here.

“We may talk here.” He said, stamping his foot into the grass. Abhay stopped, and turned. From behind them, inside the mansion, Piya began to play her violin.

“Carmen Fantasy….Hmm...” Dragomir said to himself, rubbing his chin. Piya had exceptional talent, he had to admit. There would be some who’d want to keep that talent alive for longer. Centuries longer.

Both could hear the notes just fine, and it helped to calm Abhay down. A smile played on his lips again, and the love in his eyes shone bright like a star. Dragomir made an face so trifle, and so nauseated, by Abhay’s affection towards Piya.

Then, perhaps he won’t object.

“May I lay out my proposition?” He said, breaking Abhay’s little blissful bubble. He dropped his smile, crossed his arms and leaned against a tree. Dragomir began to pace to and fro, staring at the grass beneath his feet, while waiting for him to answer. There was an awkward silence filled with animosity towards the other party.

“Go ahead.” He muttered, eyes focused on flipping a flat stone with an apathetic flick with his foot, over and over.

“All are privy to your relationship with Maithili. Have you met her, or has she met you?”

Abhay looked up sharply, and kept tight-lipped for a moment. He then nodded.

“You’re her first love. I can’t imagine she’d be too happy that you replaced her. Even back then, she didn’t seem right in the mind.”

“I met her a few nights back. She’s dangerously obsessed, with me and getting rid of Piya. Power over all supernaturals has become secondary. But regardless, she poses a greater danger this time.” He paused. “What are you suggesting?”

“It’s quite simple. There is a ceremony we vampires indulge in with our partners. You must know about it. I always thought it was a bordering extreme.”

Abhay stopped moving and planted his feet firmly on the ground. He never had a reason to actively think about it till now. The ceremony vampires conducted as a marriage for themselves, shying away from the customs of a human marriage. Too many holy things equaled too much exhaustion. On the peak of a full moon night, blood is exchanged between the couple to strengthen the blood bond anew and then a ritual is done, one that ties their souls as one. Literally speaking.

It was a common practice indeed. Siddharth and Mandu did it as a way to renew their vows about a century ago.

Piya and I could….

Abhay felt the emotions and energy swell in his heart, as his soul resonated with the thought. It wanted to become one with its mate in this sense.

This ceremony, it connected lifespans, but ensured the souls remain together for the rest of eternity. Through many lives and many deaths. It was a swell thought for a vampire. What use was eternal life without their beloved soulmate? But how would it fare for a human? They didn’t have eternity.

Abhay focused on the sound of Piya’s violin, closing his eyes briefly and tapping the trunk of the tree behind him in rhythm. He would’ve liked the idea, if Piya was like him to begin with. Even now, at least, they wouldn’t have to worry about living a single day without the other.

But he still felt it to be wrong.

“How would this benefit our side?”

“It has much benefit, and I would imagine you would want to marry her after the amount of effort you put into opposing my views on the relationship. My advice, complete the ceremony with her. Once your souls are tied, Maithili won’t have the motive to take Piya’s when it will also kill you.”

“It sounds like you’re making many risky assumptions.”

Abhay looked him dead in the eyes, trying to come up with a way to oppose him again. The reason wouldn’t come, because he was right in a sense. And sometimes, Abhay hated it when he was right.

“No. I can’t.” He continued, staring at the mansion. She had stopped playing.

“Always no. You sound like my sister.”

Abhay broke into a mocking chuckle.

“I’m her creation, after all. Runs in the blood. And my answer won’t change. Suppose in this conflict, my life ends. I can’t let hers end with it.”

Dragomir rolled his eyes and stepped closer to Abhay with authority. There were reasons why he thought love blinded intelligent thought, and this was one example.

And I thought you were quite intelligent, Abhay.

“You know you can’t die so easily. You’re no ordinary vampire. The blackened blood of shadow runs in your veins. You are a Duralis vampire. And the secrets to killing one lie only with myself and my family, and the rest of your lot.” He said.

“I’m aware.” Abhay asserted, digging his nails into the wood. Bark crumbled at their feet. “But this would cut my own life short. To that of human’s. Wouldn’t this be at a loss for you? Iolanda would be devastated. Us Duralis vampires are quite valuable, last I heard.”

“There are many ways to bypass that. As the mark upon Piya’s soul denotes, she will join this world someday.”

Abhay tore a chunk out of the tree, and threw it aside. Scarlet eyes blazed. But his anger did nothing to the ancient vampire in front of him. Not even a wince.

“It was cute of you to try.”

Abhay hated the position he was put in. Piya would probably have a different answer than him. It was a curse that both of them were the poster children of stubbornness. If it meant keeping him safe too, she wouldn’t mind it.

“So? I don’t see a negative to this proposition. Tell me, what is it that I’m blind to?” He exclaimed, throwing his arms out at the sides.

Abhay let the thought dwell in his mind a little longer. No one was truly immortal. No one knew the future. If something happened to him, even by chance, her life would get needlessly cut short. The light that she was would extinguish too soon.

The beast interjected.

But you’ll always be together. Forever and ever…., he said, in a sing song voice. True eternity would be attained.

“Maithili won’t stop because of this. It will only make her angrier.”

His soul wasn’t a weaker variety either. After all, it being strong was what made him a Duralis vampire in the first place. Maithili could just kill them both and win on both fronts.

Again, risky assumptions.

“It’s the only route we have currently. Piya is incredibly vulnerable right now since they know she has the Mark. Otherwise, finding a Mark of Celeste takes time, or immensely pure luck. We’re trying to find others before Maithili, and keep them hidden. But she currently has the upper hand.”

The wind began to whistle again to fill their silences.

“Please, let me think about it.” He muttered.

It was the first time Dragomir ever heard the word please from Abhay. Intrigued, he stepped back, and adjusted his cloak.

“It will protect her, you understand? Dwell on it. I will come back in two days.”

——————————————————————

The gentle hum of the heater and the warmth of Abhay’s hoodie eventually began to aid her in finding sleep. It was as cold as a winter night outside, even in the middle of spring.

“So this is what happens…when Nature is not around.”

She pulled on the hood and pulled up the zipper, then hid under the sheets. Sleeping without Abhay next to her was incredibly difficult. Luckily, he left her this hoodie one night, for extra warmth. The scent of sandalwood and roses lingered in its fabric, and it was larger in size on her. It let her pretend that he was there with next to her.

If she ever missed him at night, she would wear it to bed.

Outside her window, her gaze remained. She concentrated for a second, trying to find Abhay. He wandered in her mind often since the connection was made, where they made conversation without any sort of interruption, and at any distance. She was slowly getting the hang of talking in their minds. And contrary to his outside demeanor, he was quite the talkative individual in their shared headspace. He had a habit to bother her during class, as he was often bored in his.

Of course, it was quiet in there. She told him to focus on his family tonight, and until Mandu was completely healed.

Abhay, if you’re listening, don’t sit around worrying about me. I’m fine.

She didn’t get a reply back, which meant he was doing what she asked, not waiting for her to say something. Satisfied, she cuddled a pillow close to her chest and closed her eyes. Sleep came quickly.

A pair of big hazel eyes watched from outside, tail brushing against the bushes.

——————————————————————

https://youtu.be/pNGoAUz0nhE

Enjoy the music! 😃
I will be taking a one week break so updates will resume two weeks from now 😉 need time to sort out story things and also recover from writer’s block

Awesome update

Dragomir suggestion is best for abhiya

If abhiya will compete the ritual then I am sure maithli will be in fire mode

Excited for next action..