Jyothi was cemented where she stood with pure shock. When Aastha completely ignored her warning, she moved to prevent her a second time. Just then, there was a soft click as the other door of the limo opened, momentarily distracting her. A devilishly handsome hunk got out of the car and locked his dark stare on her. His lips were pulled into a smile but his eyes were void of any mirth. She felt an icy sensation creep up her spine. A wave of helplessness and terror washed over her. She tried to run, but was frozen with fear. Jyothi tried with all her might to will her muscles to move, but terror froze every inch of her being. She couldn't take her eyes off him, even as he casually strolled around the car and he stood directly in front of her. He was much taller than her. She managed a small gasp as his hand came up and caressed a lock of her dark-brown hair between his fingers, without taking his icy stare off hers.
Sid could smell the fear radiating from her. Unfortunately for her, fear excited and attracted him, like bees to nectar. He spared a glance at Aastha who was captivated with Shlok and then glanced around their surroundings. The tall woman, who stood behind the brown-haired one, was too captivated with Shlok to even notice that Sid had left the car. He turned his attention back to Jyothi, he leaned close to her and smelled the lock that he caressed and notice her eyes widen. Then he heard Shlok summon him back to the car in his mind. His lips brushed her earlobe as he whispered, "You will not remember me" He said it with a deep soft tone, forcing all her senses to grasp it as her own thoughts. He then turned and obeying Shlok, got back in the car. Then, within seconds, they were gone.
A full minute passed before Sojal spoke saying, "I think I'm in love with Mr. Blue Eyes." Jyothi had not been able to shake the fear that she developed, though she didn't know what exactly she feared. Was it because that blue-eyed man was a stranger, and Aastha didn't think twice about walking up to him? She knew Aastha was naive, but anyone would have thought twice before walking up to a stranger. "I don't like the feeling I got from him." Jyothi said. Then she noticed Aastha who had not spoken at all. "Aastha, are you okay?" But Aastha said nothing. She was still staring at the corner the car disappeared around. "Well, I loved the feeling I got. He's dripping with hotness" Sojal made an overdramatic gesture by fanning her face with her hand. Jyothi ignored her and turned to Aastha, "Aastha?" "Yes?" Aastha finally responded while her eyes were still fixed on the corner. "What is the matter with you? You're trembling." Jyothi grabbed her hand and shook her. Aastha looked at her hand which was visibly shaking, "I don't know why I'm trembling. I feel fine." She admitted.
Jyothi saw a blush creep into Aastha's cheeks as she looked away. She could definitely understand why. Despite her apprehension, the stranger was gorgeous and he clearly only had eyes for Aastha. "She's in love too." Sojal's voice was loaded with jealousy. "And what exactly does that mean, Sojal?" Jyothi accused, not missing Sojal's tone. "I saw him first, okay!" Sojal defended. Jyothi placed her hands on her hips, "It doesn't matter. I didn't hear him calling your name!" She still didn't like what had just happened with the stranger and Aastha, but she refused to let Sojal pester Aastha just because of her jealousy. She watched Sojal turn her head away in angry defeat and rolled her eyes at the childish act.
"Who do you think he was? Did anyone recognize him?" Aastha's face was glowing with rich new emotion. The two girls stared at her for a moment in awe. Jyothi spoke first trying to downplay the episode, "Aastha, probably he was some mobster." Although she said it, she didn't believe it. She just did not want to get Aastha's hopes up. She still couldn't displace the deep terror the whole episode caused her. "What made you go up to him like that?" Aastha brought her hand up to where he had touched her cheek, "I don't know. He seemed familiar; as though I know him since a long time." Then something else occurred to her, "How do you think he knew my name?" "We were talking rather loud." Sojal interjected, "Come on, let's go or we're going to be too late and I'll miss all the fun." She smiled in excitement before turning and walking toward the house. Jyothi shook her head as Sojal's recent act of jealousy was practically dismissed. Jyothi and Aastha followed close behind.
Finally the limo had reached the building. Shlok's blue eyes locked gazes with the driver, who looked at him when he opened the car door for them. The driver blinked once before surrendering helplessly. Every sense he had was now controlled by the voice entering his soul. "You will not remember anything of my friend or me. You will drive home and forget you were even here." Shlok could not deny he relished his power, and using it just heightened that feeling. His skills of persuasion had been perfected over the centuries, thanks to the teachings of his father. The driver simply obeyed and nodded to the voice in his head. Even if Shlok asked him to jump off a bridge, he wouldn't hesitate.
They watched the car pull away and disappear into the night. "Can you trust him?" Sid watched the departing car, always thinking of Shlok's well being. Every time he influenced a human instead of killing them, Sid was concerned. Shlok managed a half-smile. Sid knew that Shlok didn't like to take a life unless absolutely necessary. The driver wasn't an evil man, just an honest man trying to make a living. However, it was his responsibility to be concerned for Shlok's safety and if the man remembered anything, there was a risk. Shlok sensed his concern, "Don't worry, my friend. That is one human we need not worry about." He turned his attention to the old warehouse behind them, "Now, time for business." He said as he straightened the crease of his fine suiting.
Mr. Pawar sat on one of the huge crates that filled the big building. He was a chubby man with a thick moustache, rough cheeks and huge black eyes. He was dressed in a dark grey suit. Two heavily armed men stood on either side of him. "I was informed this meeting would be private." Shlok said as he kept his expression serious. The man may have been wearing a suit worth a few thousands, but he still looked like a grease ball to him. Pawar laughed, "Of course, Mr. Agnihotri. This is a private meeting." He stood up, holding his arms out in a welcoming gesture. "But, I am an important man and I need protection..." and nodding toward Sid, he continued, "...just as you do." "Of course", Shlok forced a smile and opened his suit jacket saying, "However, as you can see we are not carrying any weapons." We are the weapons, Shlok thought. "Well, you must be careful of your friends when you are in a position such as I am. I know you can understand that." Pawar didn't act fearful of Shlok. "I never said we were friends." Shlok simply stated as he retrieved the briefcase from Sid and held it out to Pawar, whose smile faded slightly at the insult but then decided to let it pass especially with the contents of the briefcase on his mind. "I assume it's all there?" Pawar asked. One of his men stepped in front and took the briefcase from Shlok. He looked into Shlok's gaze causing him to hesitate as if he imagined something in Shlok's eyes. Then, he snatched the case out of his hands, as though touching it at the same time as Shlok would cause him to be burned to ashes. Shlok smiled, as the man refused to have eye contact with him again.
The man placed it one of the crates and opened it. He began to count the bundles of one Thousand notes contained within. "Of course, it's all there. Take your time." Shlok responded. Pawar waited until his man finished counting and gave a brief nod. "Crack it open." Pawar pointed at the crate he was perched upon when Shlok first entered the building. The sound of splintering wood reached Shlok's ears as the man removed the lid off with a crowbar. He then pushed it back showing the contents being nothing, but straw.
Pawar stepped forward and dipped his hand deep into the crate pulling out a sealed plastic bag of white powder. "You can imagine my surprise when I heard that the Shlok Agnihotri wished to buy from me" He pulled a pen knife from an inside pocket of his coat and tore a small hole in the bag. "I never, in a million years, would have considered a reputed businessman such as you to be interested in dealing drugs." He dipped his knife in the bag leaving a small amount of substance on the tip of the knife. He lifted it towards Shlok, "I always thought you were an honest businessman, with all the charities you support and fund raising events that you coordinate." Pawar stood grinning at him, "Who would have ever thought you would deal with a man like me? Then again, we shouldn't believe everything we hear, should we?"
Shlok wanted to rip his throat out right then, but restrained himself. He wanted to put fear into him first. He wanted to see this son-of-a-gun dealer stare at him with ultimate terror as he drained the life out of him. Shlok stuck the tip of his finger in the coke and tasted it. "What do you think, Mr. Agnihotri? It is good, is it not?" Pawar stood there grinning. Shlok nodded and his expression turned angry; he had just about had enough, "What do I think? I think you are a drug dealer Mr. Pawar."
"I have the best stuff in whole of India." he boasted, missing the change in Shlok's expression. "I'd hoped so." Shlok stood straight and stared down at the little chubby man. He was smiling but here was no amusement in his expression, "I dislike drug dealers, Mr. Pawar. You people have small children manufacture this crap for you, then destroy them by selling to them on the streets." It took a few moments for Pawar to realize that he had just been insulted. "What the hell are you talking about? I just sold this to you!" He shook the bag of coke, spilling a little of its contents on the ground, "You're crazy, man!"
Sid took a step forward at the insult, Shlok held up his hand and motioned for him to stop without turning around. "You have created more death in your lifetime, than my kind has done in ours. Also, you are tainting our food supply. Something I really don't appreciate." Pawar had no clue what Shlok was talking about, but he reached into his coat for his gun and smiled at Shlok's stupidity to come here unarmed. His men also levelled their guns on Sid and Shlok with their boss's movements. Pawar was shocked at the fact that the two expressions of the men took on amusement at three huge guns aimed them. Shlok smirked as his eyes flicked down to the insignificant means of protection and back to Pawar. When the smell of adrenaline reached his nostrils, he knew it was time. He kept his piercing stare on Pawar and his voice deepened, "All that shit, Mr. Pawar, just gives me a splitting headache. So, what I am talking about is..." Shlok pulled back his lips to reveal his unnaturally elongated canines, and said, "... is a little crime prevention."
Pawar staggered back in terror with his mouth hanging open. "What the hell!" His arms waved furiously, "Kill him! Kill him!" he shouted. His men opened fire without hesitation. Shlok stepped backwards at the force of the bullets shot at him. Sid lunged with lightning speed in a cat-like motion through the air knocking one to the floor and ripping out his throat with his bare hands. The other man screamed at the disturbing graphic scene and turned to run, but it was too late. Sid was already up off his first victim and seized the second man by his coat collar. He circled his arms around the man's thick body and crushed his rib cage, puncturing his lungs. He then broke his neck in an effortless fluid motion while an inhuman roar ripped from deep within his throat and bent his head to feast on his prey.
Shlok stood for a moment willing his body to repair itself. The bullets, one by one, exited his body and hit the ground with a tiny "plunk" as his flesh immediately repaired itself. He didn't feel pain like normal human beings; it was just a slight discomfort. He was willing to put up with it just for the prize. The more frightened his victims were, the better the feast. He took a brief moment to study the scene before him. Sid was feeding, and Pawar was gone. Shlok tipped his head toward the darkness of the vast warehouse and released a snarl of satisfaction. He could hear Pawar's panicked footsteps echoing off the crates. More importantly, he could feel the rush of blood mixed with adrenaline push through Pawar's thudding heart. By itself the taste of blood was bland, but mixed with a rush of adrenaline, it was a delicacy.
Somewhere in the dark recesses of the warehouse, Pawar stopped and rested against a pile of crates, his breathing heavy. He was out of shape and with the rush of adrenaline over what he'd seen, he was quickly exhausted. At least he knew that there was no way Shlok Agnihotri could find him. These warehouses could go on forever. It was easy to get lost in them. He would figure a way out later. Right now he had to get away from that monster. "What the hell was that?" Pawar thought to himself. "No one could take that much lead and still stand."
"You're right" came an inhuman voice directly beside him. "No one could take that much lead and survive. But I can." "What the f**k!" Pawar swung his head around just to face Shlok, who'd just stepped out of the shadows of the huge crates. He saw the definitive power held in Shlok's luminescent blue stare and he turned pale in sheer terror. In a flash, Shlok seized Pawar's throat in a tight grip of immeasurable strength and lifted the obese man effortlessly in the air such that his toes were just touching the floor and slammed him back against a wall of wooden crates making him grunt in pain and echoing the sound of splintering wood through the warehouse. Pawar gasped under the pressure on his throat, "What... the... hell... are... you?" "I think you know what I am, Pawar." Shlok grinned hungrily. Pawar saw Shlok's mouth open, revealing the inhuman teeth within, "This cannot be! You monsters don't exist" he said and began to stutter prayers in Sanskrit. Shlok effortlessly pulled Pawar's head to one side exposing the pulsing of the jugular vein, "Your prayers cannot help you now, Pawar. You have brought your own death upon yourself." With lightning speed, Shlok sunk his teeth into his neck. Sid lifted his head and grinned, showing his razor sharp teeth, hearing Pawar's scream echo through the vast building, and then abruptly stop. Shlok had found his prey.
Aastha had a horrible time. The house was packed mostly with people several years older than her. Sojal and Jyothi got lost in the crowd as soon as they entered the house, leaving her all by herself. She was feeling very exposed in the dress and humiliated at being treated like a piece of meat as many guys tried to grope her. She wanted t leave, but couldn't bring herself to ruin the evening of her other two friends, just because she was miserable. She made her way outside, to the back of the house facing the beach. She climbed down the stairs and her heels instantly sunk into the loose surface, so she bent over and removed her shoes. The cool grains felt wonderful between her toes. Surprisingly enough, it lifted her spirits a little bit. She looked around and found a shady area next to the steps that the glow from the lights of the house didn't reach and sat down. She leaned back on her hands, stretched out her legs and was quite content to stay there for the next few hours until Jyothi and Sojal were ready to go home. The next hour passed quite slowly. She felt herself relax as she heard the sound of the waves crashing on the shore. Something bounced off her shoulder and she reached up to brush it off, still lost in her thoughts. If this is what Sojal and Jyothi's idea of fun was, they would never drag her out again, she promised to herself. She felt so out of place because she couldn't see why an event like this would be enjoyable. Again, she felt as though she was an outsider. However, she had to give it to Sojal and Jyothi, they tried. Sighing she tried her best to concentrate on other things, like the feel of the sand between her fingers, the crashing of the waves on the shore and never too far from her thoughts, how many papers she had due by the end of the month.
Sometime later, she felt someone walking around, who seemed to be looking for someone. It was Jyothi. Aastha stood up and called her. When Jyothi turned and saw her, instant relief flooded her worried expression as she marched toward her. "Aastha, have you been here the whole time? I was really worried when I couldn't find you." Aastha shrugged feeling silly. She wasn't having a good time and Jyothi practically found her hiding in the shadows. She studied her for a moment, and then curtly nodded, "We're going home." "No." Aastha protested, "I don't want to ruin your fun." Jyothi smiled, "Leave it to you to worry about us. Don't feel bad, I'm ready to go. There's always another party like this in the near future. We'll leave together. Sojal is checking upstairs for you. So we'll find her and tell her we're leaving. She can come if she wants, or stay, is she wishes to." Aastha nodded relieved. Sojal decided to stay after all, but Jyothi and Aastha left in a cab. Aastha was elated to be back in the safe confines of her hostel room where she wouldn't be mauled by strangers. She stripped off her clothes, used the bathroom and brushed her teeth before she pulled on a large t-shirt and crawled into bed. Blue eyes haunted her dreams.
At the beginning of sunrise, Shlok lay back in his bed; his arms were folded behind his head as he stared, deep in thought, at the ceiling, recalling the events that took place a few hours back. When they were done feeding at the warehouse, they shoved the remains of the bodies in a small crate that required some creative folding and bone breaking. They tossed the guns on top of the lifeless bodies and Shlok knotted several metal bands around it as easily as he was tying a ribbon. Then he effortlessly piled another three dozen, two to three hundred pound crates around and on top of it to hide the evidence. Of course, no one would make the discovery for several months or even years, and by then the bodies would be too decomposed to make identification of their deaths. When they left the building, Shlok's limousine and personal driver were already waiting, thanks to Sid. They got in the car which pulled out of the street and headed in the direction of home. Shlok instructed his driver to swing by the beach house.
Sid cast him a worried look, "Shlok..." "Don't worry Sid. I won't be long." He reassured. "I'll go with you." He offered. He shook his head, "Go home and don't worry." What Shlok didn't need is a six foot bodyguard following him around. Shlok could move unnoticed and quicker without him. "I am not comfortable with leaving you alone." Sid protested. "Sid, this is important to me. Something about her drew me to her. I just need a few hours." He explained trying to dispel Sid's worries. He should have known that it wouldn't work. Sid shook his head, "A few hours is all I need to have my gut in knots worrying about you. Don't make me do this." He pleaded. "I've made my decision." Shlok tilted his head slightly and stared at him with an unspoken order. Sid nodded reluctantly and held his hands up in surrender. "As you wish." He grunted out. Slapping his hands on his thighs in frustration, knowing any further argument would be fruitless, he sat back in the seat of the limo, looking away from Shlok, trying to control his anger. He had to obey Shlok even if he didn't want to. Shlok had the right to have a few hours alone, but it would only take a few hours for the rebels to kill him. However, he knew they weren't being followed tonight. So at least he had that in the back of his mind. He actually thought about hanging around, but Shlok would sense him and then all hell would break loose for him not obeying him.
Shlok didn't need to read Sid's thoughts to know that he was not impressed with his decision, but as always he knew he'd get over it. He stared at Sid's profile as he looked out the window not focusing on anything in particular. "Sorry my friend" Shlok thought while watching the muscle bulging and pulsing in his jaw. After that, he ended up enduring the rest of the ride in silence, except for the curses that kept coming through to him from Sid's mind. Shlok himself turned away, so that Sid couldn't his amused smile. Now that Shlok had fed, he wanted to see how the green-eyed girl affected him. Maybe it was because he was overwhelmed with thirst before, that she was able to illicit such cravings in him. Then again, maybe not.
The alluring sensation hit him again when they pulled up in front of the house, and then engulfed his being even more, when he got out of the car. He directly walked to the roof of the house as the limo pulled away and with it, Sid's thoughts cursing him in four languages. Grinning, he watched the limousine disappear out of view before he focused his attention back on the girl. Already he was having difficulty resisting the pull of her scent. His shoes crunched lightly on the roof tiles as he walked around the peak of the roof to the back of the house where that delicious sensation lured him. Again, her innocent scent washed over him like a sudden warm gust of wind. And again his mouth watered. So much for a fresh feed, he thought as he crouched down on his hands and looked over the edge. Instantly his predatory eyes spotted her in the dark. She was sitting in the shadows in the sand by the deck and she was completely miserable. Her shoes lay on the ground beside her and she was wishing she was anywhere but here. He smiled slowly. It was interesting that a woman of her age didn't enjoy such functions. Not only that, it also gave him an indicator of her personality from that part of her mind that he couldn't read.
When someone leaned over the deck and vomited, disgust radiated off her and with it, memories of her childhood surfaced in her mind and he read them. "Makes sense as to why she isn't enjoying herself. Someone in her family had problems with alcohol." He thought and watched her lean back on her hands. He knew it would be so easy for him to scale down the side of the house and possess her. He stretched over the roof and dug his fingers effortlessly into the stone wall like it was butter, to get a better view. Small crumbles of stone fell behind her in the sand, and one bounced off her shoulder to which she absently brushed off, but she didn't look up. "Good thing", he thought, "I would have scared the shit out of her, if she saw me hanging above her head." Now he was only about ten feet above her when he inhaled her innocence again and sighed. He could not kill her to remove that rich liquid that flowed in her pure veins. He wanted to, badly, but not only was it against his principles to take an innocent life, this girl was special. He needed to know why he was attracted to her. To him it was an unfavourable weakness. One, he really shouldn't explore, and if he had half a brain, he would just leave her be. However, the unusual aching that he had for her was very disturbing and impossible to ignore.
Just then the brown-haired girl, Jyothi, he was sure her name was, appeared. Shlok could sense slight darkness in her, more than the tall girl who had shallow aspirations. He could tell from Jyothi's thoughts that she was highly intelligent, eager and determined. But the darkness hadn't emerged quite yet. As soon as she would have a taste of power and money, she would change. It was something he had been witness to for centuries, and he had never been wrong. He directed his attention back to Aastha with her long glorious legs stretched out in front of her. Highly intelligent, but there was absolutely no darkness present anywhere in her beautiful soul. Pure as the sky is blue, and so angelic, it's hard to fathom her mortal soul remaining untouched by the world's harsh realities even with alcoholism in the family. He watched her get up, brush the sand off of her curvaceous bottom after she had spotted her friend. Although she wanted to leave she would have stayed for her friends despite the miserable time she was having. "Selfless too? What a combination. Could this mortal be any more desirable?" He was thankful that Jyothi was considerate enough to take Aastha home. Backing up silently to crouch on the roof, he admitted that it bothered him that she was unhappy. It actually made him want to make her feel better. He shook his head. Why would he feel the need to do such a thing? He was not emotional. He was devoid of feeling anything. He hadn't let anyone close to him since Swathi, and he certainly didn't want to open that door again. If he were any other vampire, he would have sucked her dry just to taste the rich blood that she possessed. Despite the hunger she brought out in him, the thought sent a wave of dread through him. Not this girl. He wouldn't harm her. She was unique.
When the two of them went back inside to talk to the tall woman, Sojal she was called, he stood up and casually walked to the other side of the roof, crouched down on his toes of his shoes perfectly balanced, and waited. Ten minutes later, a taxi pulled up, and Jyothi and Aastha walked out of the house and got into the cab. He would follow the cab to see where she lived. He leaped off the roof and landed effortlessly on the lawn with a slight bend in his knees to absorb the shock from a jump off the four-storey building and watched the cab pull away as he erected himself. He would follow them at a distance to make sure he wasn't seen. He could move quickly enough, that mortals would not see him. He had to watch her and know more about her; nothing else mattered...
*Awaiting your feedback 😊
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
