Volume 2 The Great Betrayal
Chapter 1 Shattered Trust
The damp air inside the Andhkaar Guha (dark cave) was thick with the breath of death.
Kiyan sat clutching his mother's rapidly cooling body in his arms. His molten gold eyes had turned crimson weary from weeping yet the tears refused to stop. On the cave floor tiny droplets of tears that shimmered like liquid silver gathered as if a shattered star had scattered its remains there.
His hands pressed against his mother's wound. A golden luminescence emanated from his palms but every time the light touched the gash the venom of the Safed Ketaki (white Ketaki flower) repelled it. Kiyan's own hands were burning his skin sizzling yet he did not stop. His teeth clenched against the agony but his lips formed only one name
Ma Ma wake up do not leave me please
His mother's breaths had become agonizingly shallow. Her chest rose and fell with a faint desperate struggle. Her eyes were closed her face pale as ash. Kiyan laid his head on her chest as he used to in childhood when fear gripped him. But now it was more than fear it was an abyss a void tearing through his own chest.
Ma you were right you were absolutely right. His voice was a broken rasp. I did not listen to you. I trusted that Devanshik (a divinely blessed one who wields divine power) and he he did this to you
He could not finish the sentence. A painful lump lodged in his throat. He lifted his head and stared at the cave walls as if the ancient stone could offer him answers.
Aarav. The name left his mouth like venom. You brought my mother to the brink of death just because she came between us. You said it did not you we are friends we will stay together
His fists clenched. His nails dug into his palms drawing blood that dripped onto the cave floor.
Friend hah He let out a bitter laugh an echo that reverberated through the cave twisting into a chilling scream. You played me for a fool Aarav. You taught me how to live and now you are the one teaching me the lesson of death.
Kiyan pressed his mother's hand to his cheek. That hand was now completely cold.
I promise you Ma I will save you. And the one responsible for this I will make him pay for every breath he takes.
His golden eyes had now turned utterly black an ancient darkness suppressed for centuries was finally surfacing.
Aarav you will face the consequences of what you have done. For every drop of blood. For every tear.
Outside the cave the wind stirred. The leaves seemed to sob as if the entire forest resonated with Kiyan's anguish.
And then Kiyan's memories began to blur. His mind started to recede far far back to a time before any of this had begun. When he was not alone. When his mother was his entire world
and his eyes closed.
Two hundred and fifty years ago
On the open fields beyond the village a small hut stood surrounded by the lush greenery of farmlands. Suddenly the door of the hut burst open and a little boy ran out laughing and playing. His eyes unlike those of ordinary children held a faint golden gleam. Behind him a young woman emerged from the doorway smiling as she called out Kiyan wait beta Kiyan wait.
No Ma the boy shouted giggling. Catch me if you can.
The young woman whose name was Nishi flashed a playful smile. Alright then consider yourself caught. And with that she moved with lightning speed and appeared right in front of the boy. There I caught you.
The boy clung to his mother and laughed Ma you caught me.
Just then a young man stepped out of the hut. His face bore the marks of hard labor and the sun but his eyes were filled with affection. He was a farmer. Nishi do not use your powers like that. It could bring danger upon you and our child my dear.
Nishi holding her child came out and said You are right. It was my fault. From now on I will not use my powers. You can rest assured.
The farmer's expression grew serious. We are farmers and our child's golden eyes set him apart from us. You are a Chhayagrasini (a witch like entity who drains age and life force) and I am a human. Our son is a part of both a Chhayodhbhav (a nightborn entity who drains age). But we must keep his powers hidden.
Nishi nodded. Yes. She fastened an amulet around Kiyan's neck. Do not worry. This amulet will prevent his powers from fully awakening. His complete abilities will only return if I remove this talisman myself. He will remain a Chhayodhbhav but with his powers suppressed.
The farmer lifted his child into his arms and said It is settled Nishi. Our child will live an ordinary life. Do not worry.
Nishi moved closer to her husband and the farmer embraced her as well. Kiyan laughed with innocent joy.
A little while later Nishi went inside the hut to cook and Kiyan began playing outside. The farmer went to work in the fields. Not far from the hut a man was walking and happened to pass by. He noticed a child playing outside. He approached the hut and said Child is anyone home.
Kiyan called out to his mother. Nishi came out.
The man said Could I have some water.
Nishi smiled and replied Of course I will get it for you right away.
The man thought to himself Today I will cut off this Chhayagrasini hair and take it with me. Then this beautiful woman will be my slave and I can make her do whatever I want.
He slipped quietly inside the hut. Nishi was filling a vessel from the water pot her thick black hair cascading down her back. The man silently approached the Chhayagrasini Nishi drew his knife and began to run it through her hair intending to cut it.
Nishi whirled around instantly and seized the man by the throat. Her nails dug into his neck and her eyes blazed with a golden light. Her hair flew wildly in an unfelt wind. Her feet twisted backwards and she hissed You came here to cut my hair. I will sever the very thread of your life from your body.
Opening her mouth she began to draw a golden energy from the man's form doing umr choosna (age draining). He writhed and screamed in agony. Hearing the commotion the farmer rushed into the hut and saw that Nishi had drained all the life energy from the man. He was now ancient and withered and lay dead.
The farmer was stunned. Nishi. Nishi.
Startled by her husband's voice she calmed down. Her hair eyes and feet returned to normal. She pushed Kiyan further inside the hut and cried What have you done. Why did you kill him. Tell me.
Nishi explained He came to cut my hair. He asked for water and when I came inside to get it for him he tried to cut my hair and started forcing himself on me insisting he would take me away. That is why I killed him.
The farmer wiped the sweat from his brow and said Now we have to bury him.
They took the corpse and buried it deep in the forest. But the villagers found out. In the darkness of night they set the farmer's hut ablaze. Terrified Nishi and her child screamed.
The farmer with immense effort pushed Nishi and Kiyan out of the burning hut but he himself was consumed by the flames. The Chhayagrasini emerged weeping but the villagers saw her and captured her. She fought back killing several of them but then the village priests appeared. They threw a net of Safed Ketaki (white Ketaki flower) over her trapping her. They then tried to capture her child.
But the Chhayagrasini screamed Run my child. Run away from here. Or they will kill you too.
The boy crying tried to flee but villagers blocked his path. He scrambled up a nearby tree leaping from branch to branch and escaped. From a distance he watched as his mother was dragged away and imprisoned in a Andhkaar Guha (dark cave).
The boy wept and wandered for years searching for his mother. When after two hundred years he finally found that cave again its door was open. And his mother was gone.
Kiyan's eyes flew open. He screamed MA.
The Chhayagrasini wounds had healed. She suddenly sat up and cried out KIYAN.
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