Chapter 1
Present day
From the dining table, Khan begum yells, "Azaad!" Azaad stops at the entrance of the house, turns and looks at his mother pointedly, annoyed with her interruption. Glowering at him, Khan begum asks in a booming voice, "where is your ring?" A ring specially designed and with a protective spell allowing vampires out into the sun. Without the ring Azaad would be burnt to crisp were he to have direct contact with sunlight. Shuddering at the thought of the near loss of her beloved son, she glares across the room angrily.
Oblivious to his mother's anger, Azaad looks down at his right hand... Seeing no ring, he looks up and shrugs nonchalantly. Seeing this, Khan begum roars and races towards him with the speed of light. Grabbing him by the collar, she scolds, "how dare you be so neglectful!" Her voice softens, emotional, she continues, "if anything happens to you..." Unable to complete her sentence as she choke on her emotions, she turns away.
Azaad looks at him mum with guilt, races up the stairs to his room to get his ring.
Taking deep gulps of air to compose herself... she allows her emotions, her fears to flow out of her system. Hearing the door bang shut, she looks pointedly at Amaad who is drinking a glass of blood. Sighing, he gulps down his breakfast, stands up to leave. Kayanath seeing this, cannot resist to tease, says to her brother, "watchdog duties." Glowering at her, Amaad does not respond, instead races after Azaad.
Khan begum instructs her son telepathically, "don't forget to keep your distance. Azaad does not like it."
Amaad replies telepathically, "your wish is my command, mother!"
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500 km away, a small town.
Azaad smiles, his gaze softening at the sight in front him, a shrivelled up old lady of 97 years was fast asleep on the pallet, snoring away. He crouches by her side and says softly, "daimaa." Grinning as he hears the word aloud, mentally chuckling that he a 340 year old vampire was calling a 97 year old... A fledgling in his world... granny.
His smile falters as he recalls the first time they met. "Honestly boy, is that all you know,"daimaa scolds. Raising his eyebrow, Azaad exclaims, "boy!" Daimaa blushes. Unable to resist, Azaad teases, " just because I look 30ish does not mean..." Daimaa hits him on his arm, saying, "stop teasing an old lady." Sitting up, she raises her hand, saying, "come. help." Leaning on him for support as she stands up.
Daimaa gives him a searching look, says softly, "I am dying." Azaad looks around the small room for a chair, asking, "does Maheera know?" Daimaa misunderstands and says, "we are alone. Maheera has gone to the market... and of course Maheera knows. It would not be the best kept secret now would it." Looks at him skeptically and asks, "how did you know she is here?" Shrugging, not bothering to answer, he helps her onto the chair. Shaking her head, daimma says, "don't bother answering. I forgot about your keen sense of smell."
Holding his hand in hers, daimaa asks, "you will keep your promise, na? Maheera won't be alone?" Releasing her hold, he replies, "I have honored my promise to you that fateful night. I have..." Daimaa interrupts, "I know. You have looked after my family. I guess I am a little worried. Maheera will be all alone." Looking at her with understanding, Azaad replies, "she will not be alone. I promised to be guardian of your family line. I always honor my promises."
Nodding her head, reassured, certain that Azaad will always look out for her granddaughter. Daimaa absent mindedly rubs the inner of her left wrist as her memories race to the night Maheera was six. She was lost in the woods. She remembered how she had screeched for help and within seconds Azaad was there. That night she had insisted that he bite Maheera... Binding her to him.
Packing their belongings Azaad recollects the first time he met Maheera, fifteen years ago. There was a burst of colours everywhere... For the first time ever he saw colours other than black or white. He had stood there startled as he realised that he had found his life mate. Handing Maheera to her grandmother, he took several steps away, his soul shuddering at the word... Mortal... Lifemate. Memories racing to another mortal... The words... Monster... Monster... Hounding his inner peace.
Watching him pack their belongings, Daimaa says, "she doesn't know what you are." Without breaking stride he replies, "don't worry. She will never find out." Stops, amends, "I will try my best to make sure she never finds out." Adding quietly to himself, "I will never claim her as my lifemate." Looking around the black and white room, he repeats with determination, admist the chaos in his mind... Monster... Monster... "I will never claim her."
Seeing colour, his heart begins to race as awareness seeps in... Because he had not claimed his lifemate, he was only able to see colour when he was around her. Angry with himself, he lashes out at Amaad, telepathically, "make yourself useful. Arrange for transportation." Chuckling Amaad replies, "yes sir!"
With a closed expression he turns towards the entrance, his eyes drinking in her warm, friendly smile. His gaze automatically goes to her neck, the spot where he had bit her the first time... Clenching his fist as the call of blood from his lifemate becomes over powering... Reminding him that the last time he drank from her was several months ago.
Unable to meet her gaze or daimaa's, he looks away guiltily, not sure how they would react were they to find out. He thinks sadly, "I am at the mercy of my nature... The monster within me."
Unaware of the battle Azaad is facing deep down, Maheera chirpily walks in, saying, "daimaa, see I told you Azaad was coming over today to take us with him." Daimaa smiles affectionately, saying, "yes you did."
Surprised, Azaad stares at Maheer a for several seconds, then asks, "how did you know?" Putting away her purchases, she replies, "you told me in my dreams." Grabbing her arm, wanting her full attention, he asks, "you remember your dreams?" With a confused smile, she replies, "of course. Don't you." Aghast, he realises how strong their subconscious link has become, thinking, "it must be the blood link... Over time it has strengthened our bond." He releases her arm and says gruffily, "not all dreams come true."
Edited by angelpureness - 10 years ago
Seher Hone Ko Hai
Anupamaa
Naagin 7
