::SANDS OF TIME - Book 2:: Note and Request on Pg 46 - Page 15

Pia looked at Abhay, her eyes full of happy tears. The next moment she got up and jumped into his arms, throwing her arms around him, hugging him tightly. Abhay did not move. He was amazed with this sudden act.

She spoke in a heavy voice "Abhay, I'm sorry. I… just…it's ..I can't believe.." She could not say more and stopped. Abhay who was unmoved till now, embraced her tightly. Pia felt she wanted nothing more, but him. After a while Abhay made her look at him and said softly "Pia, you don't need to say anything. We don't need words to convey what we feel Pia!"He wiped away her tears. "I am sorry. But I have banished my emotions long ago, the day I became a vampire. I can only hate and I can express my hatred well. But feelings…." saying this he stopped. It was next to impossible to break through the invisible shield of Abhay Raichand and discover the feelings that lay hidden beneath this rough, ruthless pretence but Pia could sense there was something in his deep blue eyes that pierced her heart. Was it her imagination or did Abhay's eyes really looked painful?!! Pia couldn't understand but she knew what he meant. He went on – "I'am sorry. I can't speak romantic words. Pia I have seduced, ravaged, killed, don't know how many women, but even then it did not give me pleasure for once, as it was my way of taking revenge for the unbearable pain, sense of loss that I was forced to endure. But mind you, I never felt guilty for that! And then you came and it changed everything and now I'm able to perceive and see things the way I never did before." He cupped her face. "I don't know what happens to me, but whenever I am with you, and when I look into your eyes, you always make me forget who I am and it all seems like a dream!" he said.

"But yes if you want, I can however you know…" he winked at Pia and smiled mischievously. Pia blushed with a faint smile on her face, but she did not move her gaze away and kept looking at him with the same intensity. His eyes burning with love, evoked some hidden feelings that Abhay Raichaid thought he had long since buried. The expression on his face changed and he looked at her intently, his deep blue eyes drinking her heavenly beauty. His eyes moved down to her lips, his angel's lips, those beautiful soft lips and he murmured "Ohh damn I can't…hold.." and his voice faded as he bent his head . He looked at her, and Pia closed her eyes giving him approval silently. He placed his lips on hers. It was a tender kiss but slowly it became fierce. His emotions breaking all the barriers, wanted to savour every ounce of her and he could feel nothing more but her! It was after a while when he realised his tongue tasting the sweet taste of her pure blood along with the intoxicating smell! Blood, her blood - his angel's blood! What the hell is he doing? He tried to stop himself but Pia's blood was a poison for Pia itself, as it always drove Abhay insane. Her smell, the inexplicable sweetness of her blood ignited the fire inside him. Abhay could take it no longer and instantly with a jerk he broke the kiss and pushed her away. He turned to leave but Pia held his hand firmly. He tried to push her hand away but Pia refused to let go, and blocked his path.

Abhay hissed, still trying to subjugate his over heightened feelings "I am a monster and that is an understatement Pia! The truth you know very well and you have seen the real Abhay Raichand. I am not a vampire from any romantic teenage flick, neither am I a hero. Pia, you have dared to love the most dangerous predator." Abhay stopped suddenly and said coldly, "Let me go...I don't want to…" but Pia blocked his path. "Abhay i know what you mean, but do you want the dark angels to find me and take me?" She looked at Abhay with deep intense eyes.

Abhay roared "NO!! Never! He strongly held her by her arm protectively and gritting his teeth murmured, "I cared for none, I had none but now when I have you, I won't ever let anyone take you away from me!! Never! And if anyone dares to come between us, I will destroy this whole damned world!!! They will see the Abhay they have never seen before! Your freaking angels will forget LUCIFER! THEY WILL REMEMBER ABHAY and only ABHAY RAICHAND!" his eyes blazed as he spoke those last words.

Pia was afraid to see this side of Abhay, getting worried thinking what would he do if ever something happened to her. She knew him too well to understand he meant what he said. But pia had always had this effect on him, her soft brown eyes, filled with immense love calmed him and abhay came back to the normal self that he always was in front of his angel. Abhay's contour softened, he brought his face near Pia's and whispered in his husky tone "Pia,don't think ever that I will push you away, as it's beyond my capability to avoid you. I can't leave you, and I can't allow you to leave me. Before I met you nothing ever mattered to me, but now you have become an indispensable part of my existence."

Pia remained silent, her eyes shimmering with joy and though she felt happy and hoped to hear more she considered herself fortunate for what she heard, as it was too much to hope for ,when Abhay himself had opened up and revealed a lot to be enough for the day, knowing well how unwilling he was in expressing his feelings.

Abhay hugged Pia tightly. They remained like this for quite sometime, and then Abhay said gently looking at her, "come now, go to bed. It's too late. You need to rest" and he beckoned her to go to bed but she refused to leave his hand. Abhay led her to the bed making her lie down and then he sat beside her. Pia closed her eyes, leaning on his chest holding him tightly.

The first rays of sunlight fell on her face making Pia look even more beautiful in her sleep. Abhay could not take away his eyes from her. He forgot when was the last time he felt so content and at peace.

She was in a beautiful garden. All around there was a beautiful glow, golden and bright, giving the place a beautiful feeling. She smiled. Everything seemed so peaceful, so filled with love. She smiled even wider. This place made her think of Abhay. To her love and Abhay was synonymous. And there he was, walking towards her. Dear Lord, was he always this handsome. Which idiot had ever thought he could be a monster? Who would dare to say he was heartless? Those eyes, those beautiful deep eyes held so much love for her, so much care.

"Abhay!" screamed Pia horrified.

"Why did u do this Pia? He is not the prince of your heart. He is a monster. A heartless vampire. You being an angel, lost your heart to him? See Pia, you are a mere mortal now, all because of him. Now both of you will be punished for your sins."

The angels closed in on her and she saw fire starting to erupt at the place where Abhay had stood.

"No" screamed Pia, starting to struggle but she was no match for them as they gripped her tightly. "Nooo...leave him please, he's not a monster, he's Abhay, please - I love him'"

One of the angels laughed harshly, "Love? Oh my angel Pia, you know not of the sin committed by you. A shame in the name of an angel you are. If you name this love, then let's say" the angel leaned forward, his voice soft and cold. "Your love was doomed'."

"NOOO" Pia screamed thrashing wildly on the bed, her face contorted in pain, tears trickling down her face. "Noo" she sobbed, "please, don't do this, don't kill..please.."

"Pia, Pia" shouted Abhay worriedly, trying to wake her. She had been sleeping so peacefully just a minute ago, what had just happened? Was she having a nightmare? Why was she crying? "Pia!" he shouted more desperately,frantically pushing away the strands of her hair. "Open your eyes, Pia, open your eyes...please…it's ok."

Pia's eyes jerked open. For a moment she stared at Abhay, the tears still flowing down her cheeks incessantly, and then with a strangled cry, she launched herself on him, holding him in a tight hug. "Oh Abhay! Oh God" Abhay was surprised by the intensity of the hug, the desperation with
which she was clinging to him. His hands held her gently but firmly against him, rubbing soothing circles on her back .."Pia shhh'"

"Abhay" Pia sobbed, her body shaking uncontrollably. "Hold me tight Abhay, hold me tight. I won't let you be harmed…Abhay I love you'"

"Pia calm down" Abhay spoke against her hair, his heart – did he even have one? seemed to soar as he heard her say those three words. But he needed to calm her down first. "I'm here. Right here. Holding you tight Pia. See?" His arms tightened around her. He remembered her words as she was thrashing about on the bed and his face suddenly turned grim. "Pia did the dark angels invade your dreams?"

Pia let out a whimper of fear as she pulled back, reaching out to cup his face between her hands. "I won't let them.. Abhay'they want to keep us apart - kill us.."

"Pia, please, we are all right see? Allright" he repeated, though his eyes blazed with anger. Every damned dark angels would pay. Every single one! If they ever dared to do anything to Pia!

Pia suddenly craved for him. She needed him. She needed to believe that he was really here, in his arms, that the dark angels hadn't ripped him apart. How would she live without him? She leaned forward, desperately touching her lips to his.

Abhay's eyes widened as he felt her desperate need mingled with desire in the kiss. He couldn't do this. He couldn't lose control. This was dangerous, and Pia was now human, and very weak. Pia had pressed herself closer to him, kissing him even more hungrily, desperate for his response. She
tugged at his hair, biting his lips in passion. "Please kiss me, Abhay" she muttered desperately.

Abhay groaned. When had he ever been able to see her cry or refuse her? He crushed his lips to his, pulling her even closer if possible, his arms moving up and down her back. Pia moaned, and he almost lost his control. He bit her lip, his control slipping as he tasted her blood. It was so alluring, so sweet, so tempting, her blood was calling to him, and her closeness, their heat and passion, the flow of warm blood and her thudding heart was absolutely not helping. Abhay's eyes was starting to change colour and he couldn't help but lick the little blood on her lips. This was ecstasy. He moved his mouth from hers and moved towards her neck, lightly kissing it, feeling the blood thudding in the veins. His hands gripped her as his lips hungrily kissed her pulse point. He could practically feel the blood roaring in her veins.

"Abhay" Pia moaned, feeling his hot breath on her neck.

Her voice sent him crashing to reality. What was he doing! This was Pia! He was trying to drink -

As Pia's eyes swam before his face, Abhay took a harsh breath and clenched his fists tightly, moving away from her.

But Pia held his hand.

"Piya" Abhay spoke through clenched teeth, not trusting himself to breathe. "Don't. Leave me. You have no idea how close I was - '"

"Abhay" Pia murmured gently again. "Look at me"

"No" How could he look at her? His eyes had still not returned to their normal colour, and he was still trying to control his bloodlust.

"Please Abhay" Pia gripped his hand tighter. "Don't look away from me Abhay, please. "

Her voice was desperate again.

Abhay closed his eyes tightly, willing himself to calm down. He could still taste her blood, smell her alluring scent. This was the second time that he lost control.

"I trust you, Abhay." He heard her say in a softer tone. "You are not the monster everyone thinks. You will never harm me Abhay, I know."

Abhay looked at her shocked. His eyes had already turned back to blue now. "Pia'"

Pia leaned forward wrapping him in a hug. "Let me in Abhay. Let me in. Now I know, nothing will ever be able to separate us. "

"But-"

"No buts. It's normal for you to be tempted by blood right? But you can control Abhay, and that is what makes you different. Becoming a vampire wasn't your choice. Showing your humanity is."

Abhay gulped as he heard her speak. Who had sent this angel to him. She made him want to believe in the light, made him want to live again, made him see himself as something less than a monster, more as a human with a heart.

With trembling hands, he hugged her back, holding her close.

She made him want to love again.

High above, the dark angels watched them embrace.

"Look at her," Apollonia exclaimed in disgust. "Your plans seemed to have backfired Adriel. I don't believe it. Wasn't the dream supposed to scare her away?"

Adriel's face betrayed no emotion but a storm raged in his eyes. "You do not know Pia as I do. Even as an angel she was unpredictable. It's true we can control dreams, but we can't control their reactions."

"Then, are you saying that manipulating her dreams were worthless?"

"No" Adriel spoke coldly. "I'm sure it has affected her. Planting the seed of fear in her mind will help us in the long run. It is despicable for even a human to love a monster, and by an angel the deed is absolute blasphemy."

"Fallen angel you mean" Cassiel sneered. "A mere mortal. Doesn't she realize that developing feelings for that horrible beast has stripped her off her powers, her ranks in the heavens and that nothing but doom awaits her?"

"Even if she realizes, it will be too late" said Adriel, in a low, powerful voice. He turned his eyes away from the Earth, stretching his dark wings. "She has done wrong, she has deviated from her purpose and has done what is taboo. She must face consequences."

He took off into the sky, disappearing behind the clouds.

Apollonia laughed. "I must admit, I can't wait to punish that watcher angel. Personally, I tell you, being a dark angel is fun, when you get to show what these white-winged angels truly are."

Eve Sighed. "This Grigori clan has always been trouble. And this Pia Grigori is the biggest of them."

Arianna knew that her opinion or views would not count, and that she would have to act as per the plan to punish Pia and Abhay but somewhere, a hint of doubt nagged her mind. Were they wrong in judging, after all??

Somewhere in the upper atmosphere, a tall dark figure stood stone faced , his shiny purple wings lay folded on his back, as he remained engrossed in deep thought on executing the plan he had jotted to save his clan's reverence. His trail of thoughts would have lingered long had it not been hindered by a voice behind. Without turning back Ryan knew who it was. He spoke in a solemn tone "what is it Johan?"

It seemed Johan was waiting for that one word, because before even the words could vanish into thin air he exclaimed in a perplexed tone "I should be asking you what is it? It's me who wants to know what's all this! And you are asking me? Please answer me Ryan, I won't accept silence for an answer. It's about our sister!!" He paused after speaking at a long stretch waiting for a justified reply.

"I presume you already know everything Johan. So why ask me!" said Ryan in a husky and sad tone. "Ask you because I thought you would do something but to my dismay you're against your own sister!"

"I'm not against anyone…" Ryan began but Johan did not let him complete and furiously reprimanded, "If you're not then what were you doing there in Abhay's mansion where I saw you moments before?" Ryan remained silent. There was hardly any expression to be seen on his face.

It made Johan further agitated, "You know everything. You know what the dark angels want but still you're reluctant! Why? You know they are looking and have always looked for that one opportunity to disregard us, our clan. But still you're supporting them going against your own little sister?" Johan demanded.

"I'm not supporting them Johan and neither am I going against my sister, as she is no longer our sister, not our Piya Gregori, but a human, who has committed a heinous crime." He paused and continued "therefore you should not think about her anymore! She is none to us. Infringement of rules is considered as crime even among humans whereas Pia was an angel, which means her crime is ten folds bigger than that of a human's. She will have to suffer for what she did. There's nothing I can do! She herself has chosen her fate." Ryan's voice reverberated a sense of dreadful end. But Johan was young and unlike other angels, emotion always had a grasp on him though angels were not allowed to feel. They were born to perform their duty and serve the lord.

"No she has not! The dark angels have, and I won't let them harm her! Let me remind you that when Pia decided to reform the vampire the dark angels and everyone else supported her. The reason - we all know, and it's not to reform him but to save our existence from a vampire who holds similar powers as Lucifer. And may I ask in what way you think did it serve higher purpose? It was clearly to endanger us! Then? Did lord ever say, that we should or can punish people or our fellow beings? No never! At least I don't think so! But still we do! So tell me would you still hold Pia responsible for an act which could save a vampire and the entire humanity?" Johan stopped as he felt Nolan's hand on his shoulder. Nolan was their younger brother who was equally unhappy due to the recent turn of events. After a brief moment Johan spoke again, his voice holding a strong determination, "I'm going to save Pia. are you with us?" Johan turned to Ryan who answered him, his voice calm "No! I have to serve my duty. And I would request you to do the same as well, else it might land you to the same place where sia had degraded herself and us! Try to understand Johan, it's our rule! We can't cross it and if we do we have to face the consequences as well! So stop behaving like a human and if not join me, at least don't dishonour our legacy!"

It was Nolan who spoke this time – "Please Ryan! Think for once before you make any decision," he urged.

"There's nothing left to think Nolan. It's decided and I am going to do whatever I can to save my clan from the shame that Pia had caused us. I have to do this and if needed I will stop Pia as well!" Ryan said firmly. His voice cold, devoid of any feelings. He flapped his wings ready to fly for regaining the lost glory of his family.

Johan scowled "That's decided then brother. You go your way and I shall go mine. Let's see who wins!" Ryan did not reply and flew without looking back, vanishing behind the clouds.

"You cannot win unless I help you Johan!" a soft sweet voice made Nolan and Johan turn their heads and their eyes widening in surprise to find the beholder of the voice, who was none other than Arriana!