Chapter 38 Surrender and Choice
Kiyan's scream had barely faded into the sterile hum of the lab when it was reborn as something else. It was not a sound it was a seismic shift in the air. He stopped struggling against the agents holding him. His body went still. Too still.
Then his eyes closed.
When they opened they were no longer the warm liquid amber Aarav knew. They were twin suns at the point of supernova a molten blinding gold that held no sanity only a primordial hunger and a rage that spanned centuries. His nails elongated with a series of sickening snick snick snick sounds becoming obsidian talons. His hair lifted from his shoulders not from a breeze but from a static charge of pure devouring energy.
He did not roar. He released a low guttural vibration that seemed to make the very steel of the lab vibrate in sympathy.
The chains binding his wrists thick alloyed steel tensed. They groaned. Then with a shriek of tortured metal they snapped the broken links clattering to the floor like fallen teeth. In the next blink he was a golden eyed blur.
The technician who had struck Aarav did not even have time to turn. Kiyan's taloned hand punched through the white coat through ribcage and out the other side with a wet tearing crunch. The man's eyes bulged a choked gasp his only epitaph before Kiyan flung the body aside like a discarded rag.
He was at Aarav's side in an instant his movements now fluid reverent. He cradled Aarav's lolling head his other hand hovering over the bleeding wound on his temple. The fierce predatory gold in his eyes softened into a warm healing glow. A gentle radiance seeped from his palm knitting the broken skin staunching the blood flow.
Aarav's eyelids fluttered. He opened his eyes blinking away the fog of pain and unconsciousness. He saw Kiyan's face haloed by the harsh lab lights those impossible golden eyes filled with a terrifying intensity and a desperate worry. Kiyan you came.
Kiyan's voice was a rough scrape of emotion. Yes Aarav. I am here. As he spoke another technician emboldened by panic swung a heavy metal baton at the back of Kiyan's head.
Thwack.
The impact was solid brutal. Kiyan's head jerked forward a spray of crimson flecking Aarav's face. But Kiyan did not cry out. He did not even stagger. He simply turned his head slowly the golden fire in his eyes now fixing on the new attacker with an impersonal chilling focus.
KIYAN Aarav screamed his own hand shooting out. An unseen force a concussive wave of pure Devanshik will erupted from him. It slammed into the technician lifting him off his feet and hurling him across the room into a bank of monitors with a crash of glass and sparks.
Aarav pushed himself off the slab his own power humming awake in response to the violence to Kiyan's pain. He grabbed Kiyan's face his thumbs brushing the blood from his brow. Are you alright.
Kiyan nodded the blood a stark contrast to his pale skin. I am.
Only then did Aarav take in the full nightmare. His sister Arushi still strapped and unconscious. His father Bhaskar held by two more agents his face a storm of fury and dread. And the woman the Chhayagrasini (a witch like entity who drains age and life force) bound and watching with ancient knowing eyes. And in the center of it all the lead Aagya Sangathan (the Aagya organization) agent the one with the red sigil observing the chaos with detached interest.
Papa. Didi. Aarav's heart clenched.
A fresh wave of white clad guards stormed into the chamber. What followed was a symphony of destruction. Aarav fought with a controlled silver fury. His movements were precise each block and strike amplified by an invisible energy that sent men flying that shattered weapons.
But Kiyan Kiyan was a force of nature unleashed. He moved through the guards like a scythe through wheat. One touch of his hand on a guard's face and the man aged decades in seconds collapsing into a withered husk doing umr choosna (age draining). A slash of his talons rent armor and flesh alike. He was beautiful and terrible a golden god of death in the heart of the sterile white hell.
The lead agent unfazed calmly pulled a small pouch from his belt. It was filled with Safed Ketaki (white Ketaki flower) pollen. With a practiced flick he hurled it directly at Kiyan.
The cloud enveloped him. The effect was immediate and agonizing. Kiyan screamed a raw animal sound of pure torment. He convulsed his magnificent power snuffed out like a candle in a hurricane. He collapsed to his knees then onto his side writhing his skin where the pollen touched blistering and smoking.
KIYAN Aarav abandoned his fight and sprinted to him pulling him into his arms shielding him from any further attack.
I am alright Aarav Kiyan gasped his voice thin with pain. Handle them I will handle this.
Aarav's jaw set. He closed his eyes reaching deep into the well of his lineage. When he opened them they shone with a cool unwavering silver light. He raised a hand not towards the men but towards the very structure of the lab. Outside the reinforced windows the twisted branches of a long dead decorative tree shattered the glass and snaked into the room. They moved with a life of their own not as wood but as extensions of Aarav's will thick coiling vines of animated energy that wrapped around the remaining guards binding them in an unbreakable grip.
He turned his attention to the lead agent who was now backing away pulling a Safed Ketaki laced garland from his neck. Kiyan pushing through his pain lunged at him but every attack was deflected the sacred flowers acting as a potent shield.
Aarav moved. He freed his father and sister first slicing their bonds with a sharp gesture that sent a blade of silver light severing the straps. Then his gaze fell on the bound Chhayagrasini. His father's warning echoed in his head.
Aarav do not Bhaskar shouted his voice raw. She is the Chhayagrasini. Free her and she will turn on us.
Aarav looked at the woman then at Kiyan who was watching him with desperate pleading eyes. He saw the resemblance the same ancient sorrow. No Papa Aarav said his voice firm. She is Kiyan's mother. We cannot leave her.
Ignoring Bhaskar's protests Aarav stepped forward and shattered the Chhayagrasini bonds with a touch.
The moment she was free she moved. But not towards the Aagya Sangathan agents. She moved towards Aarav her talons outstretched her face a mask of centuries old hatred. Devanshik (a divinely blessed one who wields divine power) filth.
Kiyan was there in an instant placing himself bodily between his mother and Aarav. NO Mother. Stay away from him.
He is our enemy the Chhayagrasini shrieked her beautiful features contorted. Can you not see you foolish boy.
I know what he is. But he is not my enemy.
With a speed that belied her recent captivity the Chhayagrasini long prehensile hair shot out not at Aarav but at Kiyan. It wrapped around him a silken unyielding bind. I am sorry my son. You will understand one day. With a powerful heave she flung him not gently back into the corner of the room where a discarded net of Safed Ketaki vines lay. He landed in it and the residual poison ignited his pain anew. He screamed trapped and helpless.
MOTHER NO. YOU CANNOT. His cries were ignored.
The Chhayagrasini turned her full attention back to Aarav her hair whipping towards him like a dozen black serpents. But as the tips touched Aarav's skin they did not pierce. They sizzled. A smell of burning keratin filled the air. The Chhayagrasini shrieked recoiling her hair smoking where it had made contact.
Aarav stood his ground the silver light around him intensifying. Come on then Chhayagrasini he said his voice low and dangerous. Try to kill me.
He took a step forward. Then another. He was before her in a flash of silver motion. His hand shot out and closed around her wrist. Where his skin met hers a harsh burning light erupted. Her flesh blistered and blackened. She screamed a sound of genuine shocking agony and tried to pull away but Aarav's grip was iron.
Aarav let her go Bhaskar commanded.
Kiyan thrashed in the Safed Ketaki net his voice breaking. Aarav please. She is my mother. Let her go.
Aarav's gaze flicked from the screaming Chhayagrasini to Kiyan's tortured face. The conflict there was absolute duty history his father's teachings warring against the bond that had saved his soul. With a frustrated growl he released the Chhayagrasini wrist. She collapsed clutching her burned arm her golden eyes wide with pain and a new wary fear.
Aarav did not spare her another glance. He went to Kiyan carefully methodically disentangling him from the cursed net ignoring the way the pollen stung his own hands. He pulled Kiyan free and brought him back to the group.
Kiyan immediately stumbled to his mother's side. Mother are you alright. The Chhayagrasini said nothing just stared at Aarav with a mixture of hatred and bewildered shock.
Bhaskar stepped forward his expression grim. Aarav you should not have done that.
The Chhayagrasini made to lunge at Bhaskar but Aarav simply moved to stand between them. Do not he said the single word carrying the weight of his power. The Chhayagrasini flinched and retreated a step.
Aarav Arushi's voice weak but clear cut through the tension. She was pointing a trembling finger. The one in charge he is gone.
They all looked. The lead Aagya Sangathan agent with the red sigil had vanished in the chaos a trail of dropped equipment leading to a shattered service hatch in the wall.
Aarav moved to the hatch and peered down a dark corridor. What he saw made his blood run cold. It was not an escape route. It was a gallery of horrors. Glass tanks lined the walls containing monstrous hybrids human forms fused with animal parts twisted by unspeakable experiments. Some were still alive their eyes pleading their mouths open in silent endless screams.
We have to go Aarav said his voice hollow. Now. Before anything else in here breaks free. He looked at Kiyan at his father making a choice that felt like tearing himself in two. Kiyan go with your mother. Get her to safety.
Kiyan stared at him hurt and understanding warring in his eyes. He gave a slow agonized nod.
Aarav turned to his family. Papa Didi let us go home.
As Bhaskar and Arushi moved towards the exit Aarav turned back one last time. He raised both hands towards the sprawling nightmarish lab complex. From his palms a shimmering translucent dome of silver energy expanded sealing the entire facility a temporary potent barrier to contain the abominations within. The Shakti Rakshak can guard the perimeter he said to his father his voice drained. Until a permanent solution is found.
The Chhayagrasini helped a limping Kiyan to his feet. She cast one last long inscrutable look at Aarav a look that held centuries of hatred a mother's fear and a dawning grudging confusion. Then she turned and mother and son melted into the deeper shadows of the complex heading not towards the city but back into the embrace of the wild.
Aarav watched them go until they disappeared. Then shoulders slumped with an exhaustion that went bone deep he followed his father and sister out of the hell of Aagya Sangathan back towards the ruins of a home that no longer felt like one.
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Far away in a sealed observation room overlooking the now quarantined lab the lead agent watched the silver dome settle into place on his monitors. He had removed his helmet. His face was ordinary forgettable. In his hand he held not a weapon but a small refrigerated vial. Inside a sample of dark blood swirled Aarav's blood taken during his capture.
He held it up to the light a slow cold smile spreading across his lips.
Perfect he whispered to the empty room. I have what I needed. The catalyst. The pure Devanshik essence. His smile widened devoid of warmth. You may have won this round Kiyan and Aarav. But you cannot hide from what comes next. The final experiment is ready to begin.
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