Chapter 13 A Warm Touch in the Cold Wind and a Frozen Threat
The raindrops were hardening into something solid now. Tiny shards of ice swirled through the air stinging Aarav's face the moment they touched his skin. The forest darkness had grown thicker. Tree branches groaned in the wind as if some ancient pain had stirred awake once more. Aarav's breath misted white before dissolving into the air. His feet sank deeper into the mud with every step.
Kiyan walked ahead of him. His long black coat gleamed wet in the rain but there was no weariness in his stride. The cold and the rain seemed to mean nothing to him.
Aarav finally pushed forward. He reached Kiyan and touched his arm just lightly. Kiyan stopped. His back stayed turned.
Kiyan. You are here. Aarav's voice cut through the rain clear despite everything. Surprise and an unspoken relief were tangled together in his words.
Kiyan turned. His golden eyes glistened with raindrops. His face was wet water dripping from his hair. He stayed silent for a moment then spoke softly. Yes. I am here.
Aarav stepped closer and looked into his eyes. Raindrops kept falling on his own face but he did not blink. But how did you know where I was.
Kiyan glanced around as if someone was listening. Then his memories pulled him backward. Two days earlier.
He had been standing at the college gate watching the classroom windows from a distance. Aarav's seat was empty. Second day in a row. Kiyan's fists had clenched on their own. He had thrown his bag aside and sprinted straight toward the city. Toward Aarav's house.
He knocked on the door. Arushi opened it. Her eyes were red. Her face was exhausted like she had been crying all night. She startled when she saw Kiyan and then the tears spilled over again.
Kiyan. You.
Kiyan looked past her into the house. Bhaskar was lying on a bed in the drawing room. His face his neck his shoulders had all turned a sickly blue green as if some venomous color was crawling through his veins. His breathing was slow. Weak. Arushi grabbed Kiyan's hand and pulled him inside.
Aarav. He left. The Himalayas. To find the Neelmukhi flower. To save Papa. Her voice was broken. There were only fifteen days. Now just thirteen are left. He is alone. If something happens to him
Kiyan's face hardened. He looked at Bhaskar again. That blue green stain had spread down to his knees now as if death was slowly creeping lower. Kiyan turned back to Arushi.
I will go. I will help him.
Arushi gripped his hands tight. Please. Kiyan. He is alone. Protect him. Without you he will break.
Kiyan said nothing. He just nodded and walked out. From that night on he had been following Aarav. In the shadows. Unseen.
Kiyan pulled himself back from the memories and looked at Aarav. You did not come to college for two days. I went to your house. Arushi Didi told me. And I saw your father. His body. It had turned that blue green from his head down to his knees. Now we only have thirteen days. In these thirteen days we have to find that flower and save him. Remember Aarav. Just thirteen days.
Aarav's eyes brightened. He smiled. A small smile but deep. It spread across his lips. Then you came here. For me.
Kiyan looked away. His face was half hidden in the rain but there was stubbornness in his voice. No. I came here only because Arushi Didi asked me to. She told me to protect you. To help you. Only because of that.
Aarav smiled again but he said nothing. There was a warmth in his eyes that challenged the cold itself. They both moved forward in silence.
The wind had grown sharper. Biting. Tiny flecks of ice floated in the air around them as if an invisible hand was scattering them. The leaves of the trees were whimpering. A thin layer of frost had begun forming on the ground. The cold was sinking into Aarav's bones now. His teeth were chattering.
Then Aarav's foot slipped. A mix of mud and ice. He started falling downward toward a deep ravine. Kiyan spun around like lightning and caught his hand. Aarav hung there his legs dangling in the air. Kiyan's grip was tight his arms straining.
Aarav looked up. Kiyan's golden eyes flared bright for a moment. That touch from Aarav as if some old flame had roared back to life. Kiyan pulled hard and hauled Aarav up. They both fell onto the ground gasping. Their eyes met. After so long. Despite the cold there was heat in Aarav's eyes. Kiyan's golden eyes slowly settled back to normal.
Aarav stood up still shivering. Kiyan took off his wet coat and draped it over Aarav's shoulders. The coat still held Kiyan's body heat. Aarav looked at him then wrapped the coat tight around himself.
They moved on again. The cold was still there but the warmth of the coat kept Aarav going.
Then Aarav stopped dead. His eyes went wide. He grabbed Kiyan's arm and pulled him hard. Kiyan. Move.
Kiyan pressed close to Aarav and froze. Something was emerging from the snowy mist ahead. Massive. Multi headed. A creature like a Hydra. Its heads swayed in the air and from each head flames of green blue fire poured out. Its eyes both sets of eyes were burning with that same green glow.
They stood frozen right there. Their breathing stopped.
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