Chapter 37 Mother and Disillusionment
The air in the cell tasted of death and crushed Safed Ketaki (white Ketaki flower) petals. The Shakti Rakshak guards held the black coated figure now revealed as a woman bound and pinned a trophy of their hunt. The forceful removal of her mask had been a violent unveiling the clatter of its landing echoing the shattering of Kiyan's world.
Kiyan's breath died in his throat. His eyes moments ago glazed on the precipice of unconsciousness were now wide drinking in an impossible truth. The face beneath the mask It was young. Unblemished. Yet the eyes held the weight of centuries a reservoir of pain and a fierce unyielding tenderness. It was a face that matched the faded aching template in his deepest memories. His lips trembled and a whisper dredged from the very core of his soul escaped him
Maa You you are here.
Bhaskar's voice cut through cold and clinical like a scientist noting a result. Interesting. Not a man. A woman. The Chhayagrasini (a witch like entity who drains age and life force). The one said to have been slain centuries ago. Yet here you are. Alive.
Now everyone could see. She was young her features strikingly beautiful almost ethereal. But the golden fire in her eyes was ancient her nails were elongated black talons and a wave of dark hair cascaded past her waist. Her feet were inverted a rare terrifying mark of her kind. Yet her face it was the face from the statue in his cave given life and breath and pain.
She looked at Kiyan and a smile touched her lips a painful tender thing that seemed to hold all the sorrows of the world. Yes my son. I am your mother.
Tears not of silver but of pure salt water broke from Kiyan's eyes carving clean tracks through the grime on his face. A sob wracked his chained body. Mother where were you. Where did you go leaving me alone.
I was always near you my child the Chhayagrasini said her voice a melodic strain that warmed the icy air of the chamber. Even when I was far I was close. Watching over you. Protecting you from every shadow.
Bhaskar watched this reunion with detached distaste. Enough. He gestured sharply. Move them.
Mother Kiyan wept the chains rattling as he strained towards her. You were there I have waited so long to see you Are you alright.
I am my heart. And you. Are you hurt.
I will be fine now Mother. Now that you are with me.
The Chhayagrasini let out a soft bitter laugh. What a foolish question I ask. This poison this Safed Ketaki it drains our very essence. And I am powerless against it. Her golden eyes so like his own filled with a furious helpless love. My son how do I free you from this.
Mother Aarav will come Kiyan said the conviction a lifeline in his voice. He will come and save us. I believe in him.
His mother's face contorted a mix of pity and a deep seething anger. He will not come. It was his own father who caged us. That boy he played you. His friendship was a trap a Devanshik (a divinely blessed one who wields divine power) game. A Chhayodhbhav (a nightborn entity who drains age) and a Devanshik can never be allies. Centuries ago his ancestors slaughtered our kind. And today his bloodline has captured us. It was all a charade.
No Mother Kiyan's voice was raw with desperation. Aarav is not like that. He will come.
You think he will. If he intended to he would have been here by now. He is merely toying with you.
Kiyan fell silent the seed of doubt planted by his father's betrayal and now watered by his mother's certainty taking root in the cracked soil of his faith.
Bhaskar returned this time holding a long slender blade that glowed with a faint holy silver light. You have taken countless lives he stated his voice devoid of emotion. Now it is your turn to give yours Chhayagrasini.
The Chhayagrasini strained against her Safed Ketaki soaked bindings. I will have your life first Devanshik scum. I will wipe your line from the earth. She thrashed a wild beautiful thing caged but the chains impregnated with the essence of her bane leeched her strength making her struggles pathetic.
Bhaskar watched unmoved. Your threats are empty. These bonds are steeped in Safed Ketaki extract. Your powers are useless here.
Kiyan twisted towards Bhaskar his voice breaking. Please. Let us go. We swear we will harm no one. I promise you.
Bhaskar looked down at him his eyes holding not a flicker of mercy. If letting you go were an option we would not have captured you. You are corrupted energies. Your eradication is the sacred duty of my bloodline.
We have hurt no one. Trust us.
The Chhayagrasini cut in her voice a venomous whisper. Save your breath Kiyan. Like father like son. His boy played you and now this one thinks he can play me. I will get you out of here. These Devanshik vermin will not touch you.
Bhaskar turned and left the heavy door sealing shut leaving them in the silent poisonous garden of their prison.
Then the world exploded.
Not from within but from without. A deafening concussion rocked the stronghold. The main vault door of the chamber did not just open it was blasted off its hinges flying inward in a shower of molten metal and concrete dust.
Through the smoke stepped not red robes but white.
Dozens of figures in pristine clinical white Aagya Sangathan (the Aagya organization) field suits flooded in their faces hidden behind featureless tactical masks. Their weapons were a bizarre fusion of technology and alchemy rifles with glowing barrels nets that crackled with energy.
They immediately fanned out surrounding both the prisoners and the few remaining Shakti Rakshak guards who had been stationed inside.
One figure marked by a single red sigil on his chest plate stepped forward. His voice was mechanically distorted. Well done Bhaskar. You delivered exactly as we predicted. We knew your fanaticism would lead you to capture both the Chhayagrasini and her spawn. That is why we let you walk out of our lab so easily. Now they are our specimens. A dry staticky laugh emitted from his mask.
Bhaskar's face hardened into a mask of fury. You are walking into your own graves. If they break free you will be the first they consume.
Do not concern yourself with that Bhaskar. Though you might be more concerned about the whereabouts of your son and daughter.
A jolt went through Bhaskar's body. My children. Where are they.
Worry not. They are safe in our custody. At the main lab. If you are cooperative I might even let you see them.
A wild desperate light entered Bhaskar's eyes. The commander the zealot was gone replaced by a cornered father. Take me to them. Now. Secure everyone and move.
The Aagya Sangathan agents efficiently rounded up Bhaskar the struggling Chhayagrasini and Kiyan forcing them into a large windowless black van. As the doors slammed shut the Chhayagrasini snarled at Bhaskar her golden eyes blazing in the dim interior light. This is your doing Devanshik. Because of you my child and I are in the hands of these butchers.
Bhaskar met her gaze his own eyes now reflecting a cold grim realization. Your death was always certain Chhayagrasini. Whether by my hand or theirs. But you will die today.
The van plunged into a network of subterranean tunnels emerging finally inside a vast sterile complex of steel and blinding white light the heart of Aagya Sangathan. They were marched through echoing corridors into a massive central laboratory.
And there on the other side of a thick pane of reinforced glass in a separate containment cell were Aarav and Arushi.
They were strapped to upright medical slabs unconscious their heads lolling. Wires and sensors were attached to their temples and chests. A slow rhythmic beep from a monitor was the only sign of life.
Kiyan's heart stopped. AARAV. His cry tore through the sterile silence of the lab. He threw himself against the invisible barrier of his captors' grip. Aarav. Wake up.
The Chhayagrasini let out a bitter heartbroken sound. You see my son. Do you see now. He is one of them.
As if on cue a lab technician in a white coat approached Aarav's still form. He was not administering a sedative. In his hand was a heavy metallic prod. Without ceremony he drove it into Aarav's side.
Thwack.
The sound was sickeningly solid. Aarav's body convulsed violently in its restraints a pained gasp escaping his slack lips. But his eyes did not open.
AARAV. Kiyan's scream this time was not just a name. It was the sound of something breaking irreparably inside him the last fragile thread of faith the hope that had defied centuries of hatred the belief in a bond that transcended blood and ancient enmity. It was a raw shattered echo in the cold white hell of the lab the final devastating note of his disillusionment.
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