Seeds of a Legend
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Chapter 12
Karan gathered the unconscious form of shilpa in his arms and made his way out of the witches place, as he was still invading the heavens he wrapped the invisibility shadows around him and shilpa. With the shadows cloaking them he continued to make his way back to the underworld taking in all the drama's that were ensuing in the heavens. Throughout the time he made his way back to the underworld he had a speculative gleam in his eyes.
The dark shadows that had wrecked destruction in the heavens had the instructions that once Karan and Shilpa were out of there they were suppose to leave the heaven too.
Karan strode through the corridors of his castle with the unconscious form of shilpa in his arms. He walked without any hesitation to his bedroom where the servants snapped to attention and followed him. Karan kicked open the door to his bedroom as he walked into the lush surrounding, one glance towards the maid had her rushing forward pulling back the silk covers from the bed.
Without acknowledging the maid's existence Karan leaned forward and very gently placed the still unconscious form of Shilpa in the center of the bed. One glance had another maid scuttling away lighting candles beside the bed, throwing soft light on the bed illuminating the sleeping form of shilpa. Karan stood there taking in the picture she made lying against his sheets, her dark hair spread across the champagne colored silk sheets a perfect foliage for her creamy skin. The color of her dress of peaches somehow merged with the color of the sheets. The overall effect was as if she was draped in honey.
Without conscious thought Karan's hand lifted towards shilpa, it was only when he felt the feel of her skin against his own he realized what he was doing. He lightly smoothed the skin of her cheeks where even though she was not deathly pale as before, the roses were not blooming. He traced her cheek and then proceeded to smooth his hand down her neck, even in sleep shilpa turned her face away pushing his hand away.
Karan pulled back with a frown on his face, as he moved back his gaze landed on her legs which had become exposed as the hem of the dress was risen. The creamy skin beckoned his touch he moved forward but with a final glance towards shilpa's face flicked the hem back into place and turned to leave. Just as he was about to close the door he looked back and spoke in a serious tone to the maids: look after her!
He left the room but the pull to go back and to wake shilpa up with a kiss was strong. He wanted to see her eyes color change with desire as he made sweet passionate love to her. Frustrated and the desire still burning in his veins he quickly walked away, he strode to the main hall where he knew Rahul would be keeping watch over the coming and goings.
Rahul turned as he heard foot steps coming towards him, one look at Karan and he knew something was cooking in his head. Karan gestured to him with a nod that he wanted a word with him, Rahul fell into step with Karan and waited for him to speak.
When they were completely alone Karan turned to Rahul and announced: I'm going to marry Shilpa!
Rahul looked at Karan not sure whether he had heard right: I'm sorry! I thought I heard you say that you are going to marry shilpa!
Karan looked at Rahul with eyes that were intense: you heard right!
Rahul gave his head a shake: let me get it straight! You want to marry shilpa! Daughter to Lord Shashank, demi goddess.
Karan lips twisted into a smile: I don't want to, I am going to marry her! There is no doubt there!
Rahul cocked his head to one side: why?
Karan's smile widened: b'coz I'm going to rule the universe!
Rahul alert now: explain!
Karan: our dear lord shashank has been a very bad boy! You know that shilpa is a demi goddess! (Rahul nodded) but what you don't know is that demi goddesses have deep well of power that we have no idea of. Once the demi goddess marries a god they transfer their power to the god, making the god more powerful than any other god.
Rahul: and you intend to be that god!
Karan smiled wickedly: Shilpa's powers are very rich and powerful but she herself is not aware of them. But before she becomes aware of them I need to get them for myself.
Rahul brows furrowed: but why isn't shilpa aware of her powers?
Karan threw his head back and laughed: b'coz daddy dearest has been lying through his teeth. Firstly he lied to all the gods of the heaven that shilpa though a demi goddess( he made a point by lifting finger) has no powers. Then he lied to the very delicious looking Shilpa that she was a common demi goddess with a small range of powers with which she could brighten a room or bring a color to a flower.
He smiled: oh but she is so much more than that!(his eyes reflected at the desire he felt for her but then with a blink of an eye, he turned an amused face to Rahul) but we need to do it fast and we need to do it so that that the lord of the heaven Shashank can't spoil our plans.
Rahul: do you think he'll try and kill you?
Karan: not me! But the very lovely shilpa!
Rahul: he'll kill his own daughter!(thinking it over) I don't think so!
Karan amused still nodded: you're right! He doesn't have the stomach for it! But the rest of the gods would be! Plus (Karan turned around with amusement glinting in his eyes) I have a desire to win this battle without any bloodshed!
Rahul: you are forgetting shilpa! Do you think she is going to agree to marry you so easily!
Karan grinned wickedly at Rahul: that Rahul my boy! You leave it to me! She will marry me! And willingly!
At the same Shashank looked around at the destruction caused by the dark shadows in the realms of heavens. The heavenly gardens lay burned, the trees stood charred to the ground, beautiful sky looked hazed as if by a film of dirt.
Another god made his way to Shashank: it has to be Karan! The dark shadows are governed by Karan!
Shashank looking grim: I know!
Other god: we need to take action! We can't just sit here wringing our hands while karan goes around flouting laws.
Shashank turned on the other god: do you think I want to sit here helpless! Do you think I don't want to squeeze the life out of Karan but I can't!
God: why?
Shashank: b'coz he's got my daughter! He's got shilpa! And I won't do anything to jeopardize her safety!
God: you fool! Its b'coz of shilpa that we are in such a predicament! When are you going to realize that she is trouble!
Shashank: I will not listen to this! (he tried to pull away but the god held his arm)
God: you can't run away! Shilpa is a demi goddess! She's got powers that you have hid from her, from everyone but you can't hide them anymore Shashank! Its time that you took responsibility!
Shashank: She's my daughter!
God: that's why it your responsibility to take care of the situation. Shilpa needs to be taken care off if not she would cast a blight on all of us. We need to take her out of the equation otherwise the destruction she would cause will haunt us for the rest of the eternity.
Shashank: I have formed a commission to send message to Karan, to the underworld! We are trying to establish contact!
God: no! this is not what I meant! Yes we contact Karan! We talk of getting shilpa back but once she is back shilpa needs to die!
Shashank head jerked towards the god: what are you saying?
God: you know what I am saying is the absolute truth! You can keep running away from it but it won't change. You need to kill shilpa!
Shashank: but how can i…
God: you are not only a father but a god too, will you push the rest of the world into despair so that you can save your daughter. You have a responsibility, Shilpa needs to die!
Shashank looked at the god with despair in his eye, he closed them and nodded his head: I will do it!
Shilpa opened her eyes slowly as the felt weighed down for a second she thought of closing them and falling into oblivion but didn't. She tried to recollect what had happened, where she was but she felt weak as a baby, all she wanted to do was sleep. She closed her eyes floating in a state of semi consciousness when she heard the door open and shut, the sound making her frown.
She moved restlessly on the bed sounds permeating her state of semi consciousness, it was the sound of footsteps heading towards her. She frowned and turned her face to hide it under the pillow but then she heard the whispering of the maids. The maids talked in hushed tones but their next words made her eyes snap open, she heard a masculine voice order: Leave!
That one word brought the memories rushing back, she sat up with a jerk, her head felt dizzy, as she swung around towards the voice. He stood there looking totally at ease as the maids left the room, his strong gaze landed on her taking in her tousled hair, pale cheeks and eyes wide open.
Shilpa: how did I get here?
Karan raised her brows: I brought you here!
Shilpa: you did something to me! I felt…
Karan: don't worry you've been taken care off!
Shilpa looking around: there were women, (trying to remember she pressed a hand to her eyes) chanting!(she looked up at Karan) they were witches! Where are they? How did they come here?
Karan couldn't help but smile: where they should be? In heaven!
Shilpa: what were we doing in heaven? And how did you manage to get out of there alive?
Karan laughed: princess you really shouldn't worry about all of this you've got bigger problems!
Shilpa crawled backward on the bed and stood up: I'm not scared of you! (she eyed him defiantly trying to think of a way to get away from him)
Karan smiled mockingly at her: sweetheart! I'm the least of your worries but you need to be scared but not of me but of those whom you trust.
Shilpa keeping an eye on his movements: dream on! You think that you can make me doubt my loved ones by saying all these innuendos. I don't believe a word you are saying! I will never believe you!
Karan stood with his head cocked to one side with thumbs stuck in the pockets of his black pants: you are not going to believe a word I tell you! Fine I won't say a word!
Shilpa relaxed a little but still kept a watch on his movements, she took tentative steps towards the chair that stood in front of a mirror and table. She would've sat but before she could even blink she felt him behind her, she looked up and gasped as she his reflection in the mirror in front of her. He stood behind her almost touching she tried turning around to push him but he held her in place by holding on to her shoulder.
Her skin burned with his touch, she struggled to free herself but he gave her a shake to make her teeth rattle and spoke: you don't believe what I say to you but you'll believe what you see with your own eyes. Let me show what is happening in the heavens that you call home.
He leaned forward and touched his palm to the mirror making it waver and shimmer as the surface of water, slowly their reflection shifted into a different view of heavens.
Shilpa leaned forward her hand lifted as if to touch the image infront of her: papa!
Shashank stood with other gods in the court, while one god spoke: Shilpa is a demi goddess(with distate apparent in his tone as if talking about something vile) a demi goddess! A blight on all of us! We have already let her live long enough amongst gods! Her type should be ridded of heaven a long time back!
Another god to Shashank: you are responsible! Kill her! And get it over with!
Shashank: I know! And I will take care of it! I won't make the same mistake twice!
Shilpa tried to breathe through the pain, she blinked her eyes rapidly as she felt the sting of tears. She lifted her hand and reached out to touch Shashank's image but the moment her fingers came in touch with the image, the image dissolved.
Shilpa whispered: papa!(the word a painful entreaty)
Karan stood behind her and saw the devastation on shilpa's face, he felt the dark edge of satisfaction as he saw the pain of disillusionment flash across her face.
Shilpa whispered to herself: mistake! I'm a mistake!
Karan: they want you dead! Even your father!
Shilpa closed her eyes against the pain: I'm a curse! A blight!
Karan leans in close and whispered in her ear: not to me!
Shilpa's lashes swept upwards revealing vulnerable eyes: what do you see?
Karan without touching her: I see a girl so beautiful that she makes the flowers that bloom in heaven look pale in comparison. A soul so pure that she makes even a jaded guy like me believe in good. Your passion, your desire to live all makes me want to draw you closer till I can bask in the light of your heart and soul.
Shilpa felt her eyes tear up as she heard him describe so beautifully, she saw his gaze drop to her lips and then back up to her eyes. She saw desire swirl like smoke in his eyes, desire for her, they stood there in silence, while Karan touched shilpa with his gaze only. Shilpa stood still under his intense gaze, her breath turning shallow as his gaze leisurely traveled over her. From her trembling fingers to the rapidly beating pulse point on her throat, to her heaving chest in the middle.
Shilpa felt on fire his smoldering gaze as if leaving trail on her skin, she felt her lips part on an indrawn breath as his gaze latched on to her soft tempting mouth. Looking at him look at her like this she forgot the hateful words of the gods, she forgot that her own father was willing to kill her. All she knew was that this man infront of her wanted her, thought of her as beautiful and something to be cherished.
She took a fraction of a step closer to him and stopped as her gaze landed once again on the mirror bringing her back to the reality.
Shilpa took a step back, then another, her limbs shaking as she realized the meaning behind his words and her own reaction: I can't ! (she whispered)
Karan not breaking eye contact, willing her to respond to him: why not?
Shilpa looking pleadingly at him: I'm promised to someone else!
For a moment Karan didn't move and then in a quite tone asked: who?
Shilpa: a human! My father (pain flashed through her as she recalled him) he arranged it! I'm promised to marry him!
Karan: you can't marry him! You don't want to!(then on a after thought) do you?
Shilpa looked at him feeling the pull between them: I can't walk away! Papa would never allow it!(when she saw amusement flash across Karan's face) he is the lord of the Heaven and he is the most powerful!
Karan couldn't help but smile, the smile reflecting his arrogance: sorry to break it to you! But daddy dearest isn't the most powerful but I am!
For a moment shilpa was confused as she looked at the amused expression on his face but then it came flashing back. Her abduction, her attempts at escape, everything, with her cheeks burning with embarrassment as her mind remembered the reaction to the man infront of her, she took a couple of steps backwards: who are you?
In response Karan just threw his head back and laughed, shilpa felt embarrassment replaced by anger she took two steps forward standing facing him with eyes blazing: who the hell are you?
Karan couldn't help but appreciate the sight she made he closed the gap between them: you know!
With questions swirling in her mind she took a step back: what do you want?(when he stayed quite and looked at her with a disturbing intensity) why have you brought me here and what do you plan to do?
Karan took a step forward and lightly traced a finger across shilpa's cheek: they changed the moment I saw you! That's why you are here!(shilpa stilled under his wandering finger)
Shilpa closed her eyes to steel herself against the feelings he roused in her, she willed herself to think to make sense of what his words meant. She kept circling over the fact that he claimed that she knew, she went over all that she had seen since she had come here. What did it all mean, her mind came up with the stories her mother had told her. Of places that existed beyond the heaven, stories of how the earth opens and swallows up people, dragging their souls to the pits of the hell.
Shilpa opened her eyes and looked at him with a sense of awareness, the sense of foreboding increased as she saw him smile at her and say: do you want a hint?
Shilpa could only swallow, Karan continued: do you remember the day at the carnival? How you tried to wade off those dark forces with your powers? Do you remember demi goddess how your powers were unable to beat me?
Shilpa felt her heart beat rise: but how is that possible? We were in heaven at that time, those dark forces, those shadows were not something common, they were part of the god of….(she trailed off as her eyes widened with knowledge of what he was)
Karan gave her a smile which made chill run down her spine: finally! (he lifted her limp hand and raised it to his lips, grazing her knuckles) God of Death! At your service princess!
Shilpa pulled her hand out of his grasp and took a step back, her back coming against the wall. Karan moved in effectively trapping her against the wall, he moved closer yet bringing their faces close, with his lips clearly aligned with her he whispered against shilpa's lips: Scared?
Shilpa felt her heart thud not sure whether in fear or excitement: do you plan to kill me?
Karan with his breath fanning her lips, with his hands placed on both sides of her head: why would I do that?
Shilpa moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue forcing the words out: the gods of the heaven (she looked up in his eyes and forgot what she was going to say)
Karan felt the blood in his veins spread fire of desire making him growl out the words: you are not a curse or blight to me! When I look at you I don't see a mistake I need to correct! When I see you I want to commit a mistake!
Shilpa could feel her body go hot and cold and then hot again, her chest heaved almost touching the muscular wall of his chest. He leaned in closer and whispered in her ear: but this is not a mistake!
He drew back and looked in her eyes, knowing if he wanted he could push her and she wouldn't have said no. He decided to go for the kill, his eyes gleaming with triumph just as he was about to lower his head and claim her lips he took in the shadows under her eyes. Her cheeks had gone pale except for the twin flags of red staining her cheeks.
Karan stopped why he was not so sure, he swept shilpa up in his arms and carried her to the bed. Shilpa looked at him dazed, he placed her on the bed and stood back and looked at her. Shilpa waited for him to make a move he kept looking at her and then: rest! (saying that he walked out of the room)
Written by Amani.
Edited by -KaShHeaven- - 12 years ago
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