::SANDS OF TIME - Book 2:: Note and Request on Pg 46 - Page 11

Abhay pulled away from Piya while trying to process what Piya just said. 'What did you say? Trade of souls? Trade my soul for what?'

Piya wished she hadn't mentioned anything to Abhay. She didnt want Abhay to know any of this. She suddenly felt scared thinking what if Abhay takes this the wrong way; what if he thinks that Piya is using him to get her powers back; what if he sees this as a betrayal just like how Daniel betrayed him. She was helplessly in love with Abhay and the thought of him hating her again made her heart crumble in pain. Abhay asked her again but Piya shook her head, her cheeks stained with fresh tears. Abhay felt pained seeing the pain in Piya's face but on the other hand, he felt frustrated with Piya keeping quiet.

He caught her shoulders in a tight grip and stared deep into her eyes,' Answer me Piya!!'

Piya tried to push him away but he just pulled her closer tightening his grip on her. Piya felt her will crumble as his eyes bore into hers. What was the use anyway? The dark angels would eventually catch up with her and he would find out soon enough.

She threw her arms around his waist embracing him,' Abhay, I came down here to reform you and bring you closer to your humanity. That was my goal but somehow I lost my way. I gave in to mortal weaknesses. I am an angel and I committed sins. I fell in love with a vampire; Lucifer's creation. In our world, that is unacceptable and unforgivable and I will be made to pay for my wrongs. The dark angels know what I did. They will never allow me to return back to heaven and will instead cast me into hell with all the other trapped demons and then they will go after my family and punish them for my wrong doings. But all this can be avoided if I go through purgatory and purify myself and then hand you over to the dark angels'.

Piya looked up at Abhay's face which was now filled with disgust. Piya's heart fell thinking how much Abhay must be hating her right now. She waited for him to push her away but to her surprise; Abhay put his arms around her protectively and pulled her closer.

'Those hypocritical b*******!!! They think their will defines the definition of right and wrong. That wretched angel Daniel was responsible for my becoming a vampire and now they see me as their nemesis. They sold my humanity years ago and now they hold me responsible for taking human lives. They agreed to send you down to earth to revive my humanity and now they are punishing you for it. How are the angels any better than Lucifer if I may ask. At least Lucifer is honest and concedes to being evil. The angels are nothing but back stabbers'.

Piya pulled away from him and hesitantly asked,' Do you hate me?'. Abhay looked at her as if she had gone insane. 'Are you out of your mind! How can I hate you! Is this why you weren't telling me? You were afraid I'd blame you for the dark angels marking me down as their target. Piya, you are the reason I have started to feel again. You brought my dead heart back to life. As much as I try to deny but I care about you. More than I wish to admit'.

Piya felt elated hearing Abhay own up to his feelings so willingly. She was starting to accomplish what she had come for. But the cruel irony was that all her efforts will be laid to waste at the hands of the dark angels. It was because of her that now her family was in danger of penance and Abhay was marked down. Piya's heart ached for on every end, she was met with defeat. Abhay cupped her face in his hands and tried to read her mind. 'Piya, what's wrong?'.

Piya pushed his hands away and got up from the bed. She walked to the window refusing to look at him. 'Abhay, you have to leave. I cant hide from them forever. Sooner or later they'll find me. And I don't want to put your life on the line. Please go!'.

'Piya, I am not scared of them. They may be powerful but I am no less. I am not going anywhere without you. I'd like to see those angels try and take you from me. No one can take you away from me. No one!'.

Abhay came up behind her and slid his hands around her waist locking her in a tight grip. Piya tried to wriggle away but his grip just tightened with her each attempt to move away.

'Abhay, Please! Don't do this to me. I cant bear the burden of risking your life'. Abhay paid no heed to her words. He buried his face in her hair; kissing the back of her head. Piya pleaded with him but she was losing herself to his touch. Abhay turned her around and pulled her against his chest.

'I know you are worried. Don't be! They cant do anything to me. Piya, the angels agreed to send you here to reawaken my humanity for a reason. They are scared of me and how powerful I am as a vampire. The only one who can come close to defeating me is Lucifer himself. They are against your association with me and they know they cant overpower me so they are targeting you. I have to protect you. I cant let anything happen to you because'..'.

Abhay had kept his heart dead for too long to let it take over his mind. He wasn't ready to admit his love for Piya just yet. But he knew that it was only a matter of time before he willingly admits to being in love with her. Piya understood Abhay's reasons for not continuing what he was going to say. She knew it will take time or it might even never happen. She was hoping for too much. However, the thought bothering her was putting Abhay in danger which kept her unconvinced of Abhay's assurances. She had to find a way to keep him away. As if he read her mind, Abhay responded to her thoughts.

'Don't even think about it. I'll find you wherever you go. You can't hide from me so stop trying. I'll just drag you back with me'.

Piya sighed. She knew Abhay always meant what he said and her efforts would be in vain. But the thought that was frustrating her was that why Abhay wasn't willing to leave her alone. He can never love again because his heart was already claimed a long time ago by someone else.

'Why do you bother? You don't have a heart that can love'.

He didn't answer her but instead bent his head to kiss her. His actions said everything that he held back in words; the words that Abhay chose not to speak. It was the ego of a vampire which was unwilling to admit having been subdued by an angel. But time was gradually warping at the walls that kept his true feelings obscured.

The dark angels were perched high above on the clouds watching them intently. Unaware of the audience to their intimate moment, Abhay and Piya kept kissing each other helplessly. Apollonia and Cassiel smirked with satisfaction having seen what they wanted to see.

Apollonia turned to Adriel with a triumphant smile on her face, elated at having been proved right. 'So Adriel, is this sufficient proof for you or you want to see more. Piya Grigori's guilt has been clearly established now. And to top it off, she caved to the desires of the flesh and submitted herself to whom- a demon. It is utterly disgraceful. She does not belong in our ranks anymore and her sins are beyond penance'.

Adriel waved his hand and the clouds moved in shielding the earth from view. He paced his way to the far end and looked up towards the heavens. He was deeply disappointed with Piya. Although their families and allegiances were different yet Adriel had loved Piya as much as his own family. She was one of the purest angels he had encountered. Infact, he had himself trained her to be a watcher. He closed his eyes and remembered the last conversation he had with her. He remembered the beautiful lilting voice that used to brighten the skies at one point of time.

'Adriel, I want to be a dark angel'.

'Piya, you are destined to be a watcher. You were born into the Grigori clan. The watchers hold the most respectable ranks among the angels. Why would you want to give that up?'

'Because I want to spend more time with you. You know how far I have to come just to see you'.

Adreil laughed at Piya's logic and put his arm around her shoulder. 'Piya, you must understand. Unlike the humans, we angels don't have any say in our destiny. We are born into our duties and responsibilities. We are not at liberty to make our choices here. And besides, you don't belong with the dark angels. Look at your wings Piya. They shine brighter than mine. That's because your foundation is pure. The watchers are the heaven's blessing while the dark angels are the heaven's wrath'.

Piya saw the logic behind Adriel's explanation and nodded dejectedly. 'But why do both clans live in different parts of heaven and so far away from each other? Why the animosity between the clans?'

'Because the dark angels are there to battle the dark world as well as angels who stray from their duties and commit sins. The judge and the accused cannot be friends now can they Piya. It is just the way things are. Cordiality with the accused impedes the clarity of a judge'.

'We are friends Adriel. So what would you do if I stand to face the judgement of the dark angels?'

'That would never happen Piya. I know you. You can never do anything for which you will stand to face judgement so its moot'.

Piya stubbornly pushed on. 'Hypothetically, if I am guilty of committing sin then what would you do?'

Adreil faced away and spoke with much difficulty,' I would honour my duty as always and deliver justice. But I pray I never encounter this situation. I have faith in you Piya'.

Adriel stood silently by himself trying to gather his mind. Behind him, a roaring discussion was on. Arianna was in disagreement with Apollonia and Cassiel. 'I agree that Piya Grigori's sins are indeed atrocious but I still hold that we allow her to cleanse herself through penance'.

Apollonia's eyes were blazing with rage. 'What is wrong with you? How can you still let that Piya Grigori walk away with such a frivolous sanction. I don't know about you but I will not make the same mistake we made with Daniel'. Cassiel nodded along. 'Polly is right indeed. Daniel should have been laid to waste as soon as his guilt had been brought forth. And yet, he was allowed to go through penance and he walked away with a promise to help restore that wretched vampire's humanity. What purpose did that serve? That vampire continues to disregard human life and is now a threat almost as big as Lucifer. Piya Grigori seems to be following in Daniel's steps. When the others find out about this, we will become a laughing stock. No way! We have to make an example of Piya Grigori to keep the others in line. What do you say Adriel?'

Arriana's opinion was out weighed as Roland and Eve also agreed with Cassiel. Her only hope was Adriel. Adriel didn't not turn to face them. He spoke in a unusually cold voice; his words sounding like a death kneel,' Piya Grigori is guilty of sin and she must face the consequences. Justice will be delivered'.

It had been a while since they stood kissing each other. Abhay didn't answer Piya's question in words but rather let his actions do the talking. Piya broke the kiss gasping for air. Abhay leaned his forehead against hers as their breathing slowly returned to normal. The kiss lead Piya to make the obvious deduction.

'This is still an ego drive isn't it? I was the one woman you could never have and this allures you to me. I am an unaccomplished goal for you and that is the only thing keeping you here'.

Her own words kept stinging her heart with self-inflicted pain. He wants her but he doesn't love her. Abhay's face was filled with anger. How could she interpret his behaviour in such a crude way? What truly angered him was that after everything that they had been through, after all the pain he had gone through for her; seeing her lying in the hospital so close to death had almost killed him. And despite all this, she still attributed his desire for her companionship to his carnal needs. This stupid angel had robbed him of everything and she still wasn't satisfied. He gritted his teeth. 'You really want to see what I truly feel?' He lifted her up in his arms and laid her on the bed. He moved his face closer. Piya shut her eyes tightly. She could anticipate his intentions. But to her surprise, he kissed her forehead and moved back. Piya opened her eyes gazing at him. His expression was unusually soft. He lifted her hand and kissed it. 'Piya, I will only come close to you when you want, when you are ready. Don't ever doubt my intentions. I am here for you just to be with you. Having you in front of my eyes is enough for me. I wouldn't ask for more unless you wanted'.

Piya's eyes filled with happy tears. If she had any doubts about Abhay, they were gone now.