Alina knocked on the door of Raichand manor and was led to the private living room by Sitaram.
"Umm hello haseena aunty", said Alina in shaky voice.
"Alina. Come on in."
"Siddharth said you wanted to speak with me."
"Yea actually i wanted to give you something." She pulled a wooden box out of a drawer and opened it and showed it to Alina.
"Thats mine. I lost it few days back."
"You must be careful with such an object Alina. A necromancer's stone is very dangerous in wrong hands."
"Yes I understand. Where did you find it?"
"Abhay did. In Maithili's chambers. What were you doing there with it?"
"Aghreev has gotten my family under his spell he wants them to capture Abhay. They wanted me to call on Maithili's soul to lure Abhay in."
"Your mother doesn't know the truth?"
"No. I tried my best to hide that fact. But Jeh found it the other day and ..."
"Siddharth saved you from your brother's wraith", completed Haseena.
"Thats twice your sons have saved my life. I am terribly sorry for all this misfortune that has come upon you."
"Abhay told me you blame yourself for all this. Alina, child, you did nothing wrong. You need to stop blaming yourself. Besides we know a way out of this. Stop worrying." Haseena's eyes darkened thinking of the price she is going to have to pay for this. She quickly casted the thought aside and said "Siddharth told me about your mother. I want you to stay here as our guest until the battle is over. You will be safer here i think."
Alina was grateful to haseena for this gesture.
Outside Chand explained them brothers the information they gathered from ancient one. "Ministry won't stand back. They would definitely be present to ensure things turn out in their favour and the fact that we - or I - are not pulling a coup to overthrow them", explained Chand.
"Their presence can help us fight those packs of werewolves. Otherwise we will be outnumbered for sure.", said Sid.
"That could be an advantage no doubt. But I recommend caution"
"I am surprised ancient one gave you information this easily.", exclaimed Abhay.
"We - had a bargain of the sorts. We go way back. He is my creator so it helped.", said Chand thinking carefully.
"What's that mark on the back of your hand?", asked Sid.
"Aah nothing just a little something on our journey.", said Chand covering it with his sleeves. "So you boys clear? Then i am gonna go on a hunt.", said Chand getting up and Haseena joined him. Both brothers knew well that the two always hunted together. They did not want to know any more details about their parents' hunting traditions.
"Do you feel a melancholy in mom's aura?", asked Abhay looking at his mother leaving with Chand.
"She is tensed after coming back. I have noticed. There is pain. Though i cant get through her mind to reach those thoughts."
"Me neither. She is using her necromancer powers."
"We'll find out don't worry. Btw what is that smell i get around you? Is that Piya little brother? Were you - together?", said Sid in teasing tone.
"I liked you better before when you were uncaring brother.", said Abhay with a slight hint of blush on his pale cheeks.
"Awww did i get too personal? Did you not want to tell me something. Something very personal."
"Good bye", said Abhay as he left a teasing Siddharth.
"Make sure to hunt. You don't want to drain her entirely", shouted Siddharth.
*
Piya came home feeling dazed after her rendezvous with Abhay. As she sat on armchair removing her shoes her mind wandered off in the forests reminiscing.
"Ahme ahem. Kaha se aa rahi ho madam?", asked Misha.
"What nothing bas ese hi?"
"Aha blushing red face. Chehre par naya naya glow and", she inhaled the air around her, "i say love is in the air or definitely Abhay is."
"Shhhh chup pagal. Kuch bhi bolti ho. Acha now i am tired i am going to change and sleep. Bye", shushed Piya to Misha.
"Haan thakan to hogi. Itna mehnat ka kaam jo kiya he."
Piya ran away from there blushing harder and locked herself in her room. She undressed herself to change into pyjamas but stopped and kept looking at herself in the mirror, her hand hovering over her lips, face, neck, arms as she remembered his touch.
"Do you need some help there with that?", came the voice from her bed in the dark.
"Abhay?" She said startled turning on the bed light, "you scared the hell out of me", she said trying to cover herself with blanket looking at Abhay who was comfortably laying on her bed.
Abhay pulled her close on bed bringing her on top of him. "You are warm. How come?", asked Piya
"Just hunted. Blood will keep the body warm for few hours", replied he taking her lips in his and turned off the light.
His hands roamed over her, pulling her close to his chest. He pulled the blanket on top of them as Piya snuggled inside his jacket blushing and kissing him everywhere she could reach. "I love this. Laying in your arms. So long have I waited to be with you like this.", said Piya kissing his fingers.
"god you are tempting.", said Abhay kissing her lips again. "Then don't stop", replied Piya, pushing off his jacket.
"Good thing you are a vampire. You won't get tired.", said she reaching the buttons of his pants.
Abhay traced circles on her back unhooking the only piece of garment left on her. "I would never be content when it comes to you.", said he kissing her all over again.
"Will it always glow? My body?", she asked as the glow came back again.
"I like it. It makes you look even more beautiful.", replied he enveloping her in his arms.
"Does that mean i won't need you to heal me ever again? Well thats not fair."
"Yes but that also means i can do this". He took gentle bite again on her shoulder and then kissing it.
"Well then I'll take that bargain any day any minute", said Piya losing herself to him.
Any bite he gave her, she healed herself in moments. He bit his own wrist and let Piya taste him every now and then. The whole night passed in the moments of passionate kisses and embraces. Piya slept in his arms.
"Why does it have to end? I don't want to go college. I wanna stay here in your arms", said Piya waking up to the chirping of birds.
"Morning..", said Abhay kissing her.
"You don't sleep?"
Abhay shook his head.
"I think I need to get up and get ready."
"Shall i help you?", asked Abhay as she got in the showers.
"No you need to leave now. Its going to be light soon. If anyone saw you sneaking out, it will create a huge scene."
"Fine but I am coming again tonight."
"Definitely. Now go.", said Piya giving him a peck on his cheek and pushing him out.
*
"You are far stronger than you realise Alina. You helped transfer a soul to a body, trust me when i say it is no small task", said Haseena encouragingly as Alina tried to learn to use her necromancer stone.
"I have no idea how I did!"
"You genuinely wanted to help Sugandh and Maithili."
"Sugandh was a mother who wanted her child to live a happy life despite whatever betrayal and heartbreak she had suffered."
"She lived an unfortunate life"
"You love both Siddharth and Abhay as your own sons don't you?"
"They are my sons. I may not brought them into this world but i gave them this life. I would go to end of the world to protect them. They have suffered enough"
"I wish my mother ever loved me like so."
Alina's eyes moistened. She refused to let her eyes lift and facE Haseena.
Haseena gently lifted her chin and kissed her forehead and said, "You have been mistreated by your beloved ever since your father died. But you never lost hope. Your heart is as strong and yet the softest it can be. Its filled with compassion, the very compassion you felt for Sugandh and Maithili in that moment that let you pull off that difficult task. Don't ever restrict yourself from feeling that."
Alina who had never experienced a mother's touch before melted in front of Haseena and hugged her crying her heart out sharing years of agony.
"You are very kind Haseena aunty. Very kind. Abhay definitely takes after you. 200 saalki aapki sangat bhot saaf he us par."
"Ahh he was like that even before that. Thats what i love most about him. He just helps people because they need help. Nothing else. He expects nothing in return. No thank you, no gratefulness, nothing. Its just in his nature to help those who need it."
"This makes his souls even more precious. Every life he has ever saved has left its mark on his soul. Killing it wont be east. I am sure nothing will happen to him."
Haseena nodded swallowing a gulp.
"Aunty something has happened. I can see your melancholic soul. Please tell me"
"Aah nothing child. I m just worried because of this war."
"You called me your child. Then as your daughter i ask you to please share your pain with me. I can see your diminishing aura. Something has happened hasn't it?"
Haseena shared the information of how Chand had to bargain his soul for the information they received which will help them in war. "What does a woman got to go when she has to choose between her love and her child. Mere liye ek taraf khai and dusri taraf kuan he. If I save Chand I lose Abhay and if I save him I lose Chand."
Alina looked at her aghast not knowing what she could do to help her.
But Siddharth who had been standing outside knew what he could do. "You are in this mess because I did not listen to you mom. Had i listened to you we could have been a family. But i was mad with rage and brought this on you. But now I know what i gotta to do to make right for all the mistakes I have done. I promise you mother you will have your son as well as the love of your life." He took out his phone and texted someone.
*
Panchi came to the gate of dobriyal house and looked at Sid, "I am not ready to see you yet. Why have you come? What was so urgent that you had to talk to me now?"
"I came to say goodbye."
"Oh so you are running away again? Not surprised really."
"I am not running away. But yes you won't see me after this war"
"What do you mean?"
"Just little something to make up for my mistakes."
"Siddharth what are you doing? Bhot ache se janti hu me tumhe. Kuch to khichdi pak rahi he tumhare dimag me. Tell me what are you going to do"
Siddharth told Panchi the conversation he heard between Alina and his mother.
"I can not let dad sacrifice his soul for us. Had i been stronger at heart and had i listened to mom, none of this would have happened."
"Siddharth but what you are planning to do, I mean I don't see how Haseena aunty will compose herself after that. Jis tarah tum bata rahe ho, I don't think you will be helping her this way."
"I know it will pain her. But how can i just sit around and do nothing after I know what she is going through right now?"
"I uh... I think you are underestimating your mother. Parents are much stronger than we kids can realise."
"You strongly believe in that don't you?"
"Of course I do."
"I truly did love you. Even today I love you. I just had this prejudice that vampires should not feel emotions and I did not let myself feel that. I am truly sorry for breaking your heart. If I ever got another chance I would make it up to you."
Panchi looked at him and then down in her lap not knowing what to say. She managed to find some words, "may be I can find a way to forgive you."
"I wish I could wait till the day I could see you forgive me."
Panchi's eyes showed sympathy for him but they did not have the time.
"I guess I need to go. The war is about to start. I can sense them gathering at the edge of the forest. Let me just get Abhay."
"Abhay is not here"
"Aah panchi. Of course my baby brother is here. He is in your sister's room."
"What? At this hour?", Panchi said getting up going to house but Sid stopped him, "Panch Panch. Come on wait."
"Sid its too late for them to be together."
"Panchi come on. They are young and in love. Naya naya pyar. They are in that phase of kissing and talking and kissing and talking. Come on. Let them be. You remember what it is like!"
"How did you know he is here though?"
"We are vampires. And these days he carries her smell all day long. Trust me I know there is nowhere else he would be. Mom is in fact glad that in all this he has forgotten all about looming danger."
*
Abhay traced Piya's face with his nose and curled his hand in hers. The two lay there in each others embrace sharing one blanket. "I never get enough of you.", said Piya kissing him, looking at his eyes and his handsome pale face. "Why are you so handsome, I could just eat you". "But I can eat you.", said Abhay sucking on her vain in neck. She had started to control her glow with much ease now. She was now able to anticipate when Abhay craved her blood and be prepared. It was a beautiful sight to see his darkness being enveloped in her light.
"I got to go", said Abhay after a while.
"Why? Why cant you just stay here?"
He kissed her lips and said, "just let this war be over then I am yours for the eternity. Do whatever you wish"
He got up to put on his T-shirt and jacket. Piya watched him amorously and he gave her one more kiss before jumping out the window. She lay back in her bed smiling thinking about Abhay.