Luke wandered aimlessly around the house. Natalya had gone out for one of her mysterious visits.
Not that he wasn't worried. He knew she was planning something big, soon after her coronation.
Yes, there was definitely something going on...
But Natalya was so evasive. There were bits of her life he knew nothing about.Like a blank hole.She didn't have many friends. She barely ever lost her cool- or her guard.Almost cold, Luke would think sometimes...yet, he knew she wasn't. He'd seen her worried, tense, during Disha's birthday party. Had she said anything to her?
No. He pushed the idea out of his mind immediately. Natalya would never do something as underhanded as that.
Wouldn't she, though? He knew she could. She was far more...diplomatic that he was.Lost in his thoughts, he found himself standing outside her bedroom door.
He hesitated. It felt wrong. But...he wouldn't be harming anything. He would just take a look and find...what?
If Natalya had anything to hide, she would certainly not leave it lying about for him to see.
But...if he could find anything at all...
He walked in, his eyes moving over the four-poster bed, the rich crimson curtains...the book on the floor.He walked over to it and picked it up. A scrap of paper fell out onto the floor.
Keeping the book on the desk, he bent down ...to see a handsome man stare back at him.
The photograph was rendered only in black and white, but the man himself was quite good looking. His hair was slightly longer than his own, and his arms were around a laughing girl.
His eyes widened and he almost dropped the photograph. It was Natalya.
"That's Mikhail," said a soft voice, and the photograph was taken away from him. His head shot up to see Natalya, as expressionless as ever, tucking it back into the book.
Then she turned to face him. "He was my brother."
Luke couldn't think. "Your-" but something she said registered. "Was?"
"He's dead now," Natalya said shortly, her voice sounding raw. "A vampire killed him, then stole his powers. Don't you know about High Wizards and Witches falling prey to such people?"
Luke was speechless. "I'm- I'm sorry. I didn't mean- I - "Her eyes softened. "Your eyes are just like his...Chocolate. And sometimes, you are so much like Mikhail...my Lucas."
She touched his cheek, a rare affectionate gesture, and then turned away from him. Luke knew she wanted him to leave now.
So he turned and walked away to his own room. His own mind still whirling. Natalya had had a brother. And she had laughed with him.
And he'd been killed...
Maithali stared outside the window, lost in thought. Sid had gone off for one of his hunts. He never hunted with her any more. The thought made her feel strangely lonely.
If she were honest with herself, she was feeling lonely a lot over the past few months. Earlier, it had been easy. She hadn't loved him, so it was easy to focus on Abhayendra. See his face in Siddharth's. But now...
Now, it was him. She thought of Abhayendra with regret. Why hadn't she chosen Siddharth instead? She knew he loved her, would always love her. He'd known her worst traits, been turned a human and back to a vampire, but he still hasn't left her side. So what if he'd lied to his brother about her existence? He'd only done it to keep her. Had she not done the same thing to Abhayendra, by cursing him to be frozen, Piya's memories erased?
No, she hated him now. Hated him, because what Siddharth said was right. If he'd cared enough, he would have come back. He would have done something, like Siddharth had.
She'd fallen in love with Siddharth almost without knowing. To the point where his a sense bothered her. She'd come to miss his quick, sarcastic sense of humour. The quirking of his eyebrows. The smirk.
Dear Satan, she was spouting poetry in his praise now.She turned away from the window.
Trust. She trusted him. She trusted him in a way she had never trusted his brother. Because Siddharth would never condemn her, never judge her. And perhaps, that was really the reason why she had fallen in love with him.
Enough drivelling, she told herself. Piya had to be killed. And she would have to devise a way to kill Abhay too. After he finished watching her die.
Yes, that was a comforting thought. He would have no chance against her. No ordinary vampire would.
Two weeks later
Piya smoothed down her bun as she glanced at herself in the mirror. The bun itself was messy, but it would have to do. Misha banged on the door. " Oi! Are you done primping? Bodyguard's here and waaaiting!!!"
Piya rolled her eyes and opened the door. Misha was grinning. "He's in the car," she said. "I told him to wait outside. The amount of looks you two have been giving each other the past few days, it's disgusting. You lot can keep the making out in the car."
"If what we do is disgusting, then what about you and Kabir?" Piya retorted, as she gathered up her files and her bag. "Just because I don't say anything, doesn't mean I like seeing so much of your-"
"Shut up!" Misha hissed, as they descended the stairs. " We aren't half as bad as you two! Why, you two act like you're married or something-"
"Married?" said their father, Arnab Dobriyal, looking up from the newspaper he was reading."Who's getting married?"
Piya shot her sister a glare.
"No one, papa," she said placatingly, kissing him on the cheek, then giving one to her mother, who looked oddly amused. "See you."
She went out, to see Abhay standing, holding her door open wearing a half smirk. "Good morning, madam," he said, ushering her in.
"Abhay, I told you I don't like- "
He nodded, now smiling like the devil as he started the car. "I know," he said, "You're just too much fun to tease."
She tried , and failed, to glare at him, so she settled for a mild frown.God, but she loved him. Whether he was being her angel, or just plain wicked, whether he was teasing her, or standing up for her, everything about him made her heart constrict.
It had been his idea , that she join the Raichands' company. His idea, that she become his secretary - apparently, he hadn't had one for ages, simply because, in his own words, they were supposed to know too many things.
"That's why I'm asking you," he'd said. " So I don't have to worry about that aspect anymore- you already know too much."
And she knew exactly why he was really asking her. So he could keep her under his eye at all times.
She had felt angry, but then she realized he was right. He had been right, and she hated it, but he deserved some peace, she thought. So she'd said yes, with some conditions - that he treat her exactly the same as the rest of the office. As long as she was working.
And she was beginning to regret it. Abhay Raichand, the boss was relentless and barely responsive. He gave her an endless list of things to do, everyday.
And she knew why. She'd caught him staring at her through the glass pane that separated their cubicles; he was wearing a slight smirk, as if he knew exactly what she was thinking. And she wouldn't let him win. She would not give him the satisfaction of asking him to give her less work.
"Piya," said Abhay, breaking her reverie. " We've reached office, you know."
"Oh- right," she said, opening the door.
"What, no goodbye kiss?"
She turned back to him, her lips curved . She leaned over to kiss him on the cheek, but he simply turned his head , capturing her lips in a very brief yet explosive kiss.
He grinned at her flustered face as he pulled away.
"Now, you may leave."
This time, she didn't have any problem glaring at him as she got out, slamming the door behind her.
Without giving him a backward look, she stalked inside the building,discreetly checking her makeup as she internally mulled over the options. Oh, Abhay was going to pay.
Abhay lifted his head, staring in spite of himself, at his lovely secretary. It wasn't just her looks; it was a heady combination of so many things : her doe-eyes, her persistence, her temper-
Right now, Piya was going through the files he'd just given her. Her mouth was pursed in concentration , a pen in her hand.
And then, almost unconsciously, she put a hand to her hair, pulling the clips out , letting the curls cascade to her shoulders.Abhay forced himself to look down at his work, trying in vain to rid himself of the sensual image. He gritted his teeth. He was not a teenager; there was no need to act like one.
For all his noble intentions, he could not help looking up. She was still , blissfully engrossed in her work. As he watched, she turned the page, absentmindedly sucking her pen.
His fists curled with frustration at himself.
He determinedly turned his attention to the work at hand. If he didn't know better, he would have said Piya was bent on seducing him. But she'd been the one who'd made the professional-in-office rule. Surely she wouldn't...
Stop thinking of her and get a grip, he told himself.
A few hours later, he summoned Piya. He wanted her opinion on the blueprints.
Piya entered, hair down and tousled, and suddenly he couldn't look away.
"Sir?" She asked. " You were saying-""Miss Dobriyal," he said coldly, "Please adjust your hair and return."
A small smile played on her face. "As you desire, Sir. Please excuse me for a few minutes."
And when she left, he knew. She was seducing him on purpose. And he was irritated that he'd fallen for it.
Oh, she was no innocent, his Piya- not anymore.
Piya returned, hair perfectly in place, her face a demure mask.Concentrating on work, he stood, and spread it out in front of her.Piya leaned over, as if poring over it and that was when he realized that the top two buttons of her shirt were undone.
"Stop it," he said abruptly. " I'm...sorry,all right? Just stop."
She straightened and faced him, smirking openly now and crossed her arms over her chest. "Stop what?"
Gritting his teeth, he tugged her to him, then deftly did up the buttons. " You know what you are doing. I'm sorry, so please stop it."
"Fine," she replied. "You can make it up to me by dropping me over at Alina's today."
His eyebrows rose. "Why?"
"Girl talk," she snapped, refusing to tell him. " And you are going to stay outside. Serves you right for leaving me like that in the morning-"
He looked heavenwards. " I don't have a choice, do I?"She grinned, shaking her head.
Then, as if nothing had happened, she leaned down, poring over the blueprint again, this time for real.
Alina sipped her tea as she looked at the two designs Dishu was showing her. "Um...the crimson one, it'll go with the cream on the cushions."
"Yeah, you're right," said Dishu. "How's your arm?"
Alina grimaced. "Still a bit sore."
The doorbell rang.
"I'll get it," she said, standing up.
She opened the door to see Piya standing. A black car was parked outside the gate, and Abhay sketched her a grim half salute , before reversing the car and disappearing into the night.
"Don't mind him," said Piya. " He's just throwing a hissy fit because I told him he couldn't hear what I wanted to talk to you about."
Alina grinned. "Come in."
She ushered her in. " Good evening, Miss Gupta," said Piya to the petite woman sitting on the sofa.
Ms Gupta looked up. " Good to see you , Piya. Have you been well?"
"Yes," she answered. "How are you?"
Ms Gupta smiled ever so slightly. "Well enough, dear. Excuse me."
She rose and went inside.
Piya looked confused. "What happened? She looks...upset."
Alina sighed. "It's nothing to do with you," she said. " Dear Dishu loves to talk about everyone's problems but her own. Anyway. What happened?"
" Nothing," said Piya. " I wanted to talk to you about something... I would have asked earlier, but Abhay keeps giving me so much work, and you're busy too..."
"That's okay," said Alina. "You can ask now."
Piya sat down on the sofa. " I understand this is private," she said, " but you're a High Witch? Immortal? And you were made-"
Alina's face had become closed. "Yes. I am somewhat of a hybrid, though. I can use spells as well as anyone, but I can Shift, you know, into my wolf form."
"And...there's no one like you?"
"Not any werewolf that I know of," said Alina. "Natalya is something in between, too. She can use spells, but her magical powers are less than mine. She's way stronger,though..."
Piya swallowed the other questions rising up, and simply asked, "Who turned you?"
Alina gulped her tea, setting it down on the table.
"Someone who was saving my life. I... I can't..."
" I understand," said Piya. "You told me so much...why?"
Alina smiled bitterly. "Piya, sweetheart, you're in the middle of a war. You have the right."
She rubbed her elbow subconsciously.
" Are you hurt?" Said Piya, getting up and moving to her.
"Oh, no," said Alina. "Just a scrape. Maithali was being a bit fiesty, I guess."
"You fought her?" Piya gasped, wide eyed. "Are you crazy? What if-"
"Yes, I did," said Alina. "And it's not crazy. Sometimes you don't have a choice."
Then, very deftly, she changed the topic.
"So, Abhay's keeping you busy, hmm?" She said, smirking.
Piya flushed. "Not you too! It's bad enough having to listen to Misha-"
But Alina could be relentless, and Piya squirmed in her seat for the next half hour, till Abhay rang the doorbell, to pick her up.
Alina grinned as she thankfully walked out. "Putting her through her paces, are you, Raichand?" She said,making him narrow his eyes.
"Piya's been telling me all about you keeping her busy..."
"I haven't!" Piya protested.
Abhay smirked. "Maybe you ought to get some action instead of trying to live vicariously through my lover. I mean, it's sweet you have a crush and all, but I'm kind of taken, so..."
Alina snorted. "Some of us have better things to do. Good night guys."
She closed the door after them and leaned against it, eyes closed.
"Were you really on a hunt?" Piya said curiously, eyeing his immaculate appearance. "You don't look...you know..."
He shrugged. "You don't drop food on your dress every time you eat, do you? After two centuries..." he trailed off.
" It gets neater?" She asked.
"Something like that," he conceded. "You know, it's going to take me a long time to get used to you talking all casually about all this. It's unnerving."
"Yeah well, it took you more than a year to get used to me being in love with you," said Piya. "So I suppose I'll have to stick around for a long time, so you can get used to me...once you turn me, you'll have eternity to get used to my ways."
"I'm not turning you."
His voice was curt. "We've been over this. You are staying human."
"Abhay, I'm not leaving you!" She said crossly. "Why don't you understand? If our places were reversed, what would you have done? Be honest."
Abhay was silent a long time. Then, as they reached the driveway of her house, he said, "I suspect I would have done the same thing."
She saw the sadness in his eyes as he reached to cup her cheek. "Piya, if you knew what you're asking... though I guess you do. It's... I would never want this life...for you."
"Even if you spend years lonely?" She said quietly.
"Eternity," he corrected. "I'm not going to leave you until you want me to...and by then, you'll have spoilt me for anyone else.You already have... Maybe you could come back...reincarnate or something..."
They made their way to the house, holding hands.
"And how will you recognize me when I'm reincarnated?" She asked. "You'd go all Darcy-slash-Heathcliff on me again."
"Well, you'll recognize me, won't you?" He said wryly.
"I'm sure you'll pester me till I recognize you, too."
And then he stiffened.
Piya, who had opened her mouth to reply, stopped and stared. His eyes were closed, his entire body tensed, like a snake about to strike.
And then, a minute later, he opened his eyes and gave a rueful smile."Sorry, Piya," he said.
Then he led her inside. Piya's confusion deepened when she saw the Raichands sitting in the living room with her parents.
She glanced at Abhay, whose face was a mask. What had happened?
"There you are," said Madhu, looking suspiciously elated. "We were just discussing your marriage."
Alina rolled her eyes. "I told you yesterday. It's nothing."
Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin
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