Maithali smiled widely, exposing her fangs. Tugging at his collar, she pulled his body to hers, intoxicated by triumph and the knowledge that he was hers...he would always be hers... "I love you," she whispered, with more sincerity that she had ever felt before. Sid's eyes blazed, and she thought she saw a note of triumph in his eyes before he lazily ripped her gown in two. His hands and mouth brought her to greater heights of pleasure than she had felt for a very long time...
"So how did you know?" said Piya curiously, as the car sped up. Abhay turned to her. "The way you acted. I was almost about to bite you- and I knew you had seen my fangs- and Siddharth's , too. You didn't show any shock, fear, anything...the last time something like this happened, you freaked out in a big way..." She flushed and looked down. "I know. It was stupid and childish of me- but I wasn't thinking straight. And then I hated you for making it impossible to stay away from you..."
"I understand," said Abhay quietly. "I was angry, too. I'm sorry about all the things I said to you after that. It used to hurt me as much as it hurt you, every time..." "Why did you do it then?" said Piya. "Answering her own self, she replied, "Oh, right. To protect me. When are you going to stop doing that?" "Never," said Abhay. "I can't do that. And now, you're more at risk than ever...I must be mad." She noticed his furrowed eyebrows, and said almost wistfully, "If I were a vampire, then you wouldn't worry so much about me, would you?" "Yes, I would," said Abhay shortly. "But you're not a vampire, and I don't want you to be a living dead. So forget it right now, you understand?" She heard the underlying fear in his voice, despite his sternness, and she was touched. "Who were those people?" she asked, in an attempt to change the subject. "Lucas...and Natasha?"
"Natalya," he corrected. "They're both vampires, in case you didn't know. They're all right, I guess, but you still ought to be careful- as you should be with all vampires-" "Including you?" she interrupted, smiling. "Especially me," said Abhay unsmilingly. "You do realize that I came close to biting you- more than once? My control is horribly shaky these days when it comes to you. I told you that." "Yes, I know, and it's very flattering," said Piya. "Why should I be careful about that?" Abhay frowned. "Well, I don't know, Piya, but normal people are supposed to not want to be bitten, so you are supposed to be careful, you understand?" "But who told you I didn't want to be bitten?" said Piya softly. He turned to her, to see her eyes half closed as she gazed at him with raw emotion in her eyes that almost was his undoing. His focused on the road, his hands gripping the steering wheel. "Don't talk like that." "Why?" she asked with mock innocence. "Because- oh shut up," he said, sounding extremely frustrated. She felt a thrill go through her veins as she watched him. He wasn't even looking at her now, and she thought she knew the reason...
"So, Lucas and Natalya," she continued, as though the moment had not occurred at all, "What were you doing with them? Who are they, exactly?"
His face softened. "They...Luke is sort of...an ally." He glanced at her questioning expression and continued, "I don't know Natalya very well, but she is a powerful vampire- and a member of our Council. She will be our next Queen." "Council?" repeated Piya. "Like a ministry?" "Sort of,yes," said Abhay. "Anyway, so, she sired Luke...about eighty years ago. And the last time I saw Luke was in...1978, I think. " "So how did you become friends?" said Piya, interested. Abhay shrugged, giving her a quick smile. "Not really...an ally, I guess."
Piya stared at him. "Don't you have any friends?" "It's not like that, " he said quickly. "I-Alina is a friend, i guess. Although she's highly irritating at times. But I guess it's better this way. Having friends isn't good for me. I don't do relationships well- you of all people should be the best judge of that."
Piya couldn't help it.
She reached over and took his free hand; his fingers clasped around hers tightly. "So- anyway," continued Abhay after a pause, "I sort of ...helped Luke save Natalya's life. Nothing spectacular- don't look at me like that. And tonight I came to know that Natalya and Luke have been here for the past few weeks...well, I needed an outlet, and I was angry...Luke offered to fight a duel with me. You have rotten timing, by the way. If you'd just come five seconds later, I could have defeated him well and good-"
"So you were fighting him!" she exclaimed. "I thought so. But- just as- a game? Because you were angry?You need to have a cooler head, abhay. You could have got yourself seriously hurt-"
He snickered. "Listen to yourself, Piya.You're lecturing me on the merits of keeping a cool head and avoiding danger? Touche!" She flushed. "This isn't a laughing matter."
"Never said it was," said Abhay, in all seriousness. She opened her mouth to retort, but stopped as she realised she had rarely ever seen Abhay like this- amused, mildly teasing.
A wave of shame swept through her.Why, why had she caused them so much trouble? She should have talked to him, told him something- "Piya?" said Abhay. "Something wrong?" She looked back at him. "No. I'm happy, Abhay. I'm happier than I've been in ages...but- but I can't stop thinking- if only I hadn't acted like that- I could have spared us so much misery-"
"And if I had given back your memories, you wouldn't have to deal with all this," he countered. "So both of us acted like idiots. Even?"
Her face lit up in a sudden smile. "I love you. Truly and honestly, Abhay-"
"I know," he said quietly. "Although I swear I will never understand why."
"It's your family," she jibed. "Your mom loves me. We'd be great friends!"
"Oh yeah," said Abhay, rolling his eyes. "She thinks of you more than me. You should hear her sometimes-" "There's one thing I don't understand," said Piya, as a sudden thought struck her. "Why did Haseena aunty say you were angry with her?"
"She said I was angry with her?" said Abhay.
"Yes," said Piya. "She rang me up, and she said you had left home, and she couldn't go after you because you were angry with her. That's why I came..."
Abhay whipped around to stare at her. "Good God," he said in disbelief.
"I swear that woman is sitting idle too much these days." "Don't be mean," chastised Piya. " She was so worried you could be in danger-"
Abhay shook his head , rolling his eyes. "She told you and you believed that?" he said incredulously. "Even you must know that she lied so that you would come...she should take up a matchmaking job or something. Honestly!"
"That's sweet of her."
"That's interfering of her," corrected Abhay. "Yeah, no wonder you two get along." Piya laughed, throwing back her head on the headrest.
"I feel so happy," she told him, as lights began to appear. They had reached Dehradun. "Yes," said Abhay. "You look half drunk- which is an adorable look on you, don't take in any other sense, all right?"
"It really is true," she said wonderingly. "I didn't think it would happen...but we're together. For real."
Abhay smiled, too. "I know. I didn't think it would happen, either."
They lapsed into a comfortable silence.
Piya couldn't stop looking at him, drinking in the feeling of belonging with him. He's mine, she thought. And I am his. Now and forever...
"Here." Abhay braked the car to a halt outside her house. "Oh." She hoped her voice didn't show too much disappointment, but when she saw him smirk slightly, her hopes dashed. "Come on," he said, getting out and holding the door open for her. but Piya didn't want to go in. She wished she could stay right there... "Piya, come on," she heard him say. "I'll pick you up for college tomorrow."
Piya took his offered hand and got out, adjusting his jacket around her. It had stopped raining, and puddles glistened on the semi dark street. He walked her to the main gate.
But Piya stopped suddenly. Abhay looked back at her. She had an odd sparkle in her eyes. She looked at him and smiled innocently. and he wondered if he had mistaken the look in her eyes a moment ago. "What is it?" he said. "I forgot something, " said Piya. She cast her eyes down as if slightly upset. "I want to give you something."
Abhay stared down at her. He wasn't taken in by the innocent tone. "What is it?" He asked, his voice low and deep. She looked up at him, lips quirked in a mischievous smile. "Close your eyes," she demanded. He complied, because he had a shrewd idea what she was going to give him...
Piya reached up to touch his face. She ran her forefinger along his cheek. Then she stood on her topes and kissed him on the mouth. He remained motionless even as she drew back, his eyes were still closed.
"Well, goodnight, then," she said, turning to go. "That's it?" Abhay's quiet voice made her stop and turn bacl.
"Well,yes," she said, slightly confused. "What were you expecting?"
"Oh, I don't know," he said, casually snaking an arm around her waist and pulling her closer. "I would've expected something a bit more...like this." She had barely time to process what he meant when she felt his lips against hers.
He nibbled on her bottom lip, insisting on entry, which she granted readily, her hands on his chest. She felt his fangs extend, and he began to pull away. "No," she mumbled, pulling his head back to hers.
She ran her tongue along his fangs, and found herself pushed back against a wall. He released her mouth, his eyes indigo. She watched as he retracted his fangs, her own eyes dark with desire, as her breath came in short gasps.
His mouth latched onto her chin, moving down the column of her throat; she had to fight to keep her voice down. her palms ran over the hard planes of his chest through the wet shirt. She fumbled with the buttons on his shirt, her lips running over his earlobe even as he slid one sleeve of her wet top till her elbow, his fingers dancing over the heated flesh. She caught her hand as it reached the fabric covered curve, preventing him from moving any further. And then slowly, deliberately, she placed her lips on his chest.
"Piya-" his voice was hoarse.
"Yes?" she looked up, demurely, as if they were in the middle of a political discussion.
"Minx," he muttered, wrapping a hand around her head, pulling her head closer. Their lips had barely touches when Abhay suddenly grew rigid. He moved away light lightning, tugging her sleeve back to it's place, adjusting the jacket, zipping it up over her. "What-" she began, and then she heard it. The low hum of a motorbike, arriving closer. She stared up at Abhay, who was buttoning up his shirt, and flushed, realizing how close they had been to getting caught. "Yeah, that's Misha," said Abhay. "With Kabir. You really should-"
He broke off as she sneezed violently and looked horrified.
"Shit...I'm really sorry," he said apologetically. "You should go in- now. But Piya was staring with trepidation at Misha, who was taking off her helmet as she dismounted from the bike, Kabir in tow. "I should probably go," said Abhay quietly. "Your sister...she's worse than Alina at times." She nodded, just as Misha wolf-whistled. Abhay's lips twitched, but he said nothing, turning and walking back to his car even as Misha ran up to Piya. "Hi, Piya," said Kabir, walking up to her , a few paces behind Misha. "Heard you got back your memories. Why didn't you come to college?"
"I guess she had a hot date," said Misha slyly. "Look at the look on her face- just look at her, Kabir-"
"Misha!" said Piya and Kabir in unison : she in indignation, he in awkwardness. Fighting to stop blushing, Piya snapped, "Don't imagine things, Misha. Just because he dropped me home doesn't mean- I went out, all right? And it was raining, so he offered me a lift. It doesn't mean anything!"
"Oh no, of course it doesn't," said Misha, smirking. "The way your hair is looking doesn't mean a thing. Neither does wearing his jacket mean a thing-"
"Misha-" Kabir tried to speak, but she waved him away. He threw an apologetic glance at Piya. "But you know," continued Misha, "I really wonder at your speed. Didn't waste any time, did you? The minute you get your memories back-"
"Stop it, Misha!" said Piya, trying and failing to look unaffected by her teasing. "I'm going in."
She turned away from them and walked inside with as much dignity as she could muster. Misha's laughter followed her.
"Oh,you're back," said Haseena as he entered. "I thought you'd be late tonight." Abhay frowned at the knowing look on her face. "Mom, stop it."
"Be polite," chastised Chand, who was lounging on his favourite armchair near the fire, a goblet in his hand. He turned to face Abhay. "Especially since she has acted for your benefit."
Abhay shook his head, moving forwards. "Natalya was here," said Haseena. "Both her and Lucas. They were here-"
"Yesterday, I know," said Abhay. "They've been here for quite a few weeks. I met them today." "Oh, very well then," said Haseena. "We're invited to the Succession. I suppose you know that." She went back to her seat on the sofa, picking up the latest issue of Tatler.
Abhay went up to his own room, thinking of her smile when she had sat in the car.It still felt as though it was his imagination : she knew everything, and she was still happy, just because she was with him...He smiled ruefully as he unbuttoned the damp shirt, and pulled out another from his closet. A memory he would always carry with him was the way she had looked when he had held her. He knew he was being a fool, letting his emotions guide him- surely it would spell disaster for her. But he wasn't strong enough to fight himself anymore.He couldn't exist any longer without having her with him, smiling,happy... He never wanted to see her cry again.
"I want to know more humans," announced Luke.His foster mother looked up from her sketching of an elaborate necklace. "No, Luke," she said gravely. "I know meeting Piya Dobriyal has made you more curious, but don't forget that you have hardly ever interacted with humans. What if you lose control? Not only will humans die needlessly, but our credentials will be destroyed. The Succession is very near, you know."
Luke frowned. "But I won't go around biting people!" Natalya shook her head. "You don't understand. Luke, it's way past the time you were born. You wouldn't know how to converse with people in this day and age-" "That's not fair," said Luke indignantly. "I haven't even got a chance to talk to anyone yet. Besides, I've watched many movies, I know how to talk- how much more different can it be, really?" Natalya opened her mouth to retort, but she was distracted as her aide entered, bowing. "Your Highness, High Wizard Marcus of the Ophius clan requests a meeting with you immediately." Natalya's eyes showed surprise, before she changed it into a more neutral expression. She turned to Luke. "Fine then, you may go. But please be careful and return before daybreak."
Luke had never felt happier, as he walked out of the house, and in the streets of Dehradun. A few passersby glanced at the foreigner , but looked away. Tourists were quite common, after all. He felt slightly disappointed that none of them spoke to him, but then again, it would have been foolish to expect it of them. None of these humans knew him, after all. Nevertheless, it was lovely to be out of his house for something other than hunting. He inhaled deeply, smelling the many different smells around him. Flowers, paint, rainwater, mud...a dog. It was a dog on a walk. He had never understood why humans kept pets. Fruit,the fuel they used in cars- petroleum- something bitter he didn't know, ink...paper... "Ah!" The exclamation brought him back to his senses as he realized he had violently bumped into a young woman. The many books and folders she was carrying tumbled out of her arms and would have fallen on the wet road if he hadn't reacted swiftly, catching them before they had even touched the ground. "I do apologize," he started to say, then stopped. He could smell the woman's essence. She smelled of apple and vanilla- with a hint of something else. Lavender? Whatever it was, it was heady. "Thank you," she said politely. "Please do look where you're walking. It doesn't pay to be absent minded, you know." She began to walk away. "Wait!" The word was wrenched from him almost in spite of himself. She stopped. "Yes?" she said. "Can I carry those for you?" She looked very surprised. "Why? I assure you, I am perfectly capable of carrying them on my own." Shoot. He hadn't bargained for this. Didn't humans like to be helped? "I- um- I'm really sorry about what happened...I'd like to make it up to you..?" He trailed off, awkwardly. The woman stared at him as though he was slightly mad. "Do you not have anything else to do?" she asked him. "I-um-not really," said Luke. "I'm just...passing the time." She stared at him for a few seconds, then her face softened. "Very well then. You can help me carry these home."
"Father!" Natalya's face broke into a surprised smile, which lit up her entire face."Please-have a seat. What would you like to eat?" The wizard shook his head as he sat. "Nothing, Natalya. I merely came to congratulate you on the Succession. To be honest, I did not think I would hear of you like this. Where have you been all these years?" Natalya laughed.
"Here and there, Father...it's been a hard time building contacts in the vampire world...and then getting the council on my side...but then again, a High Witch converted to a vampire is way more powerful than a human converted to a vampire, isn't it? I think they like to know that they have a powerful head...and also, I saved one of them from a rogue vampire attack a year ago. Pity I couldn't kill her, but I'm getting there..."
Marcus smiled, his onyx eyes gleaming in the light. "My child." He reached to pat her hand. "It is heartening , even we may belong to different races now..that you still call me Father. Why not the vampire who sired you? You never tell me..."
"Because he was a sick b****** who converted me purely to use as his personal slave." The words, delivered in a clinically neutral tone, shocked Marcus, who uttered an exlamation of anger and horror. Natalya stared off into space, expressionlessly, but her eyes were dark with anger. "I did not wish to tell you, for this very reason. You will always be my Father."
She laughed suddenly. "Fool, that he did not know that I was not a mere mortal!I am a witch-a High witch. I could have stopped him, if he had not had the element of surprise-" "Where is he now?"hissed Marcus. "We shall kill him-"
"No need," said Natalya. She locked gazes with him. "He was killed, in this very city. Do not worry- he suffered. Oh, how he suffered!" She smiled in triumph. "What-but- but we alone cannot kill a vampire!"said Marcus. "You are forgetting that I, too, was a vampire then," said Natalya gently. "But in any case, you are correct. It was Luke's friend who killed him. The vampire helped us without asking for compensations...anyway, I tortured him, I weakened him. He did not die a painless death, you may be sure on that score, Father." Marcus nodded, though the fury has not completely left his face. "My child...why did you not tell me this before?" "I did not want to burden you," she shrugged. "Anyway, that chapter is dead and done with."
"So what have you come to India for?" said the woman, as she set off at a brisk pace, Luke beside her. "Business purposes, or a holiday?" "Uh-a holiday, I suppose," said Luke. "I- I'm actually visiting a few Indian...friends of the family." She turned to him, eyebrows raised. "And yet you wander the streets alone, and you say you have nothing to do?" Snap. She was sharp. What was he supposed to say now? "I- we're not really friends." The truth came tumbling out of its own accord."We, um, don't talk that much." The woman looked at him steadily, but her eyes softened, and she nodded, without commenting. "It's not that he's rude, you know," Luke continued. "It's just the way he is. Sometimes I wonder what went so wrong in his life...but he doesn't have any friends, I guess." "So...you consider him a friend, but he does not?" said the woman. "That is...curious." "Well, yes," conceded Luke, "but I admire him a lot. He has done me a huge favour..and I will always be indebted to him for that." "Make other friends," said the woman seriously. Up close, Luke could see that she was quite pretty. Not in a way that made him catch his breath, but in a way that warmed the coldness in his chest. He wondered how she would look smiling. "You're putting yourself in for a lot of hurt,"she continued. "You need to make new friends." "Will you?" She raised an eyebrow as she turned to look at him. "Will I what?" "Will you be-my friend?" She laughed, and it was then his breath caught; her laughter made her look very young indeed. "Friendships don't happen overnight! They grow over time." Seeing his disappointed face, she added, "Let's see. Maybe I will. And ...we've reached my house." Luke felt a pang of disappointment as she took her things from him and went to ring the bell. She glanced back to see him still standing in the same spot. "Well? Are you going to keep standing there? Don't you have to go to a hotel or something?" "You didn't tell me your name," he said. "You didn't ask," she replied simply. "What is your name?" he asked after a second's pause. She studied him for a moment. "Disha," she said finally- and then the door was opened by another woman. "What kept you, Dishu?" she began- then her eyes fell on Luke. "Oh, I see." "I'm Luke," he said. "He did me a favour, Alina," said Dishu in a trying-to-be-patient tone. "Well, goodnight, Luke," she said, turning to him. "And thank you." She strode into the house without a backward glance. Her companion studied him curiously for a moment before she shut the door.
Piya switched off the lights in her bedroom and turned on the lamp by the side of her bed. Chucking off her slippers, she climbed into a bed, and sat. She ran a comb through her damp hair, wincing slightly when its teeth caught on the tangled ends. She wondered about Abhay. What was he doing now? Talking with his parents, probably. Maybe with Alina. Or maybe he was reading. Would he be thinking of her? "Hi," said a quiet, amused voice in front of her. She jumped in shock, and let out a shriek before Abhay's hand covered her mouth. "Shh!" he hissed. "Do you want to invite the entire household over here?" He removed his hand. "The door," she said, panic in her voice. "The door- I have to shut it-" "It's shut and locked," said Abhay. "I locked it. I had an idea you would react like this- but your scream was louder than I'd thought." "I-" Piya was lost for words for a few seconds. "How did you get in? When-" He nodded to the open window. "A minute ago. You were thinking of something, so I didn't disturb you. You're cute when you concentrate. I like it when you smile." Piya smiled at him. "I like it when you smile, too," she told him. "And I was thinking of you, by the way." He smirked. "Of course. What were you-" But Abhay suddenly stopped speaking. Piya stared at him in surprise. She opened her mouth to speak, when there came a knock at the door. "Piya, angel? Are you all right?" Abhay moved to stand behind her the second Arnab's voice filtered in. "Ye-Yes,I'm fine, Dad," she answered, her voice slightly strained, hyper aware as she was of his hands snaking up her sides. "But you screamed," said her father. "Are you sure-" "Yes, Dad, I-" Piya broke off as his lips touched her bare shoulder. Her hands fisted, she gritted out, "I'm fine, Dad. It was just-" she struggled to think as his hand came from behind on her waist, then moved upwards, till it settled over her frantically beating heart. "Stop it," she hissed, struggling against him, but it was futile exercise. He simply swept her hair away from one shoulder and flicked his tongue against her earlobe. "Piya?" called her father. "Open the door, please." Piya had a good mind to go and open the door. Serve the idiot right. "I'm in bed, Dad," she called out. "I only screamed because I thought there was a cockroach on my pillow, but it only chocolate. That's all." "Oh," said her father, sounding relieved. "Well, goodnight then. Sweet dreams, angel."
She waited for a full minute before she tured away and punched him in the chest. "You idiot!" she hissed. "What in blazes were you thinking?"
"Was I?" said Abhay.Irony dripped from his tone. "No,I don't think I was."
She picked up her pillow and smacked him with it. "You did that just to watch me squirm!" she hissed. "Voice down,Piya, or your dad will come running here, searching for snakes and cockroaches," he quipped. "And this time, I'll make you scream, not squirm."
Piya paused mid-blow as his words registered. Hot color rushed to her cheeks and she turned away from him. "Was that why you came here? To tease me like this?"
"Hey." His hand touched her arm; she jerked it away. "I'm sorry. That was too far. I didn't mean to upset you."
Piya smiled secretly. Aloud she said, "No, you're not sorry. You came here just to torture me!"
"Piya, no," he said gently, turning her around to face him. "I'm sorry. I just wanted to talk to you, honestly...and ..I don't know what came over me."
Piya couldn't help but giggle. "I'm not upset. I just wanted to make you apologize."
Abhay shook his head. "You'll make me start ageing. I swear, Piya-"
She giggled. "You'd still have girls swooning over you," she told him. "Maybe you could date some of my aunts or something, then-"
"That's enough," interrupted Abhay, looking highly displeased. "Go to bed."
"Oh, all right."she said resignedly. "Which side do you want?"
"What?" said Abhay. "Oh, no, I don't need to sleep. You can take any side you want."
"You're not staying?" she said, looking disappointed. "Do you want me to?" he asked.
"Well, obviously," she replied. "But that's okay. You can go if you want."
"Oh, fine," said Abhay. He got in , and Piya cuddled up to him. "I guess I asked for it," he muttered, more to himself.
"What did you ask for ?" said Piya in surprise, looking up at him. "Oh, nothing," said Abhay. "You know that word you were using before? Yeah. Torture."
PS. So what did you think? Too mushy? I really hope not.😛
Members Lounge
2