IMMORTALITY - THE CURSED SPELL

  

"UNNHHH!!!" wheezed Karishma & woke up with a jerk. Her pulse rate was suddenly high & she was perspiring in the cold room. Her heart throbbed as if it might be audible to the person sleeping next to her. "What happened didi?" probed little Richa, who happened to notice the sudden arousal of her sister. Karishma nodded & asked her to go back to sleep.

Karishma had recently met with an accident while road-tripping to Goa with her parents. Her parents couldn't survive & she miraculously survived the treacherous accident as mentioned by the witnesses. After the death of her parents, she shifted to stay with her Nanu's family which included her mama Rakesh Bedi, her mami Kamini Bedi, their little daughter Richa & her nanu Jaswinder Bedi. Her nani had died years ago when Karishma was just 5 years old & had left her a necklace. As told by her nanu, that necklace was ancestral & had been carried forward for ages. From that time onwards Karishma never departed herself from that jewellery. She wore that all the time. It had become her lucky charm.

"You had those nightmares again, didn't you?" inquired Kamini, a very friendly & concerned aunt. "Richa told me you woke up suddenly, all sweaty. Why don't you consult a good psychiatrist for this!" "I can't help it mami. These nightmares have become a part of my life now. Not a single day must have passed without such flashes. But today I saw something that I never had before. I saw myself dead, lying in a coffin all dressed up in some weird looking dress," stated the disturbed girl. Kamini was much concerned now & mentioned everything to her husband & her father-in-law. Karishma had always been a tough girl. And her history stated that she always managed to fool death or any major injury miraculously.

"Karishma, what is this?" asked Rakesh in a tough tone while handing over an envelope to Karishma at the dinner table. The envelope had just arrived through courier which contained the approval letter for Bachelor of Science in Archeology from the University of Cape Town. "Yeah, I had applied for education outside India... Wait... What did you just say? Cape Town? I never applied for Cape Town!" stated Karishma. "That is not my concern Karu. You applied before notifying any of us. If you think you are being a burden on us then to tell you, you are like our own daughter & moreover, we have equally treated you like one since you were born," demanded Rakesh.

"I know mamu. I'm not being any burden on you guys. I applied for it after the accident of my parents. And I simply wanted to escape off. But trust me I never applied for Cape Town. That foolish agent must have goofed up."

“Karishma, come out of it child. You are very dear to us. I have lost my sister, I don’t want to lose you. We love you.”

Rakesh hugged her tightly with tears in his eyes.

"I'm sorry mamu. I should have talked to you about it. I'll call up the agent & ask him about the cancellation. Moreover, I never opted for CAPE TOWN!"

Karishma called up the agent & thrashed him for his mistake. He checked her application & stated that Cape Town was in fact stated as her priority in the records. Besides, it was non-refundable. Karishma had no choice but to accept it.

"It's okay Karishma. Don't worry. Go ahead & explore the world. Rakesh & I shall be in touch with that agent & see if we can transfer your admission to US or UK," asserted Kamini with warmth. "We don't wish to trap you here. We just want you to consider us as your parents & share everything as you did with your parents. Nothing has changed."

"Be safe & keep us updated with your activities. And don't get yourself involved in unnecessary adventures," demanded Jaswinder. "Nanu, it's archaeology, it's ought to be adventurous. Besides, as long as nani's blessings are with me I'm always safe," winked Karishma while holding the necklace. The departing ceremony was very emotional & Karishma didn't know what to feel about the catastrophe. But she could sense the tension within her nanu's subconsciousness.

At the University of Cape Town, Bachelor of Science, Archaeology - Karishma's freshmen year. She was first reluctant to be friends with her dorm people but their warmth made her comfortable enough. Within a few weeks, Karishma had made quite a bunch of friends. She realized she was happy being there & she agreed to complete her graduation in the same university.

"Hey, look! It's a camping trip to Table Mountain. Who's in?" exclaimed Josh handing out a pamphlet in the break time to the group. "Looks interesting! Furthermore, it's a weekend so no college the next day," asserted Karishma. "So what are we waiting for? Let's enroll for it," stated Oni. Josh & Oni had become Karishma's best friends in Cape Town. Josh Smith was an American & Oni Bello was African from Egypt. Oni had some supernatural powers, she was a witch & only Karishma & Josh knew about it. Oni always told Karishma that there was something weird & unique about her & that her existence was supernatural.

It was getting dark & the campfire was being lit when everybody gathered around for a game of charades. Suddenly out of nowhere a woman dressed in black with a veil covering her face showed up & offered to share a story with the college mates. Though her face wasn't visible she had a charming voice that convinced the youngsters to hear her out in the long night. All the youngsters gathered around her to hear her out.

The charming lady started:

"Long time ago, around 19th century when the country was ruled by the Dutch East India Company, an Indian girl from, now known as, Goa fell in love with a Portuguese comrade named Arsenio Marques. The girl's name was Maya. They decided to get married & came all the way from India to the Cape of Good Hope. They dreamt of starting a family but fate had their dreams crashed. The Britishers declared the war over Dutch & the consequences being they won & Maya lost her love forever in that war. She was captivated by a British Sergeant & had to serve as his mistress. Maya's life was hell. She came with a dream of paradise & landed up being assaulted in hell. All the support she had was a dear friend named Sheila who happened to be a witch. Sheila offered to help her in any way she could. Maya demanded to avenge her husband's death by becoming more powerful. Sheila used her supernatural witch powers & spelled her to face an unexpected fate. Maya died! But her ghost haunted that Sergeant so much that he committed suicide out of brainsickness. And Maya laid there in her coffin dead but never at peace."

There was a weird silence amongst the group. Karishma was stunned by the story that she heard. She started building the flashes of her nightmares with the story that she had just heard. The story kept her wondering, who was telling the story? And whose story was it anyway? The words fluttered and flew in the wind. She stood up to find that lady to know more about her but she was long gone. “What makes you so disturbed Karishma? It was just a story,” consoled Oni. “It was not just a story Oni. They were my dreams. My nightmares to which I wake up trembling. How does she know all these? How am I connected with this? I have to find her,” scorned Karishma. “Hey, relax. Tomorrow we’ll figure out how to get hold of this lady. Right now just sleepover it,” comforted Josh with a hug.

The next day Karishma, Oni & Josh gathered at the campus cafeteria to discuss last night's encounter. They had individually inquired each one of the students present there about the directions of that lady in a black suit, but no-one could direct them. "Can't you do the locator spell to locate her?" asked Karishma to Oni. "It doesn't work unless I have something that belongs to her personally. But I can see it if I can penetrate into your thoughts. So if she's thinking the same thing as you are I might be able to see her whereabouts. But those might not be accurate," stated the smart witch. "I'm ready to do anything to locate her. Help me if you can. You are a resident so you might know all the places around here," pleaded Karishma desperately.

The trio left the cafeteria & proceeded towards Oni's grandma's place as she was powerful enough to do it. They narrated the entire incident to her grandma, Amina. Her grandma was astounded to hear the name, Sheila. She told Oni that Sheila might be their own ancestor as she was a witch that believed in Dark Magic. Amina further stated, "She used to live in a village now known as St. James. I can use your thoughts to assure whether she's the same Sheila that we are talking about. Amina held Karishma's hand & started chanting some spells. She opened her eyes & confirmed that she's the same person she's talking about. She warned the kids, "The place is too dangerous for you to go. As long as I have heard about Sheila she might have cast a spell over her house even after she died. And Karishma, you are no ordinary person. You have escaped death a lot of times. You have to be careful there. I shall be giving you people protection from here. Oni dear, don't involve yourself in the Dark Magic unless necessary."

The trio immediately set off for St. James & reached the place where Amina had directed. Oni channelled the protection spell from her grandma. They came face to face in a very secluded place with a small old hut surrounded by a small garden of dead herbs never seen before. Oni realized those were magical herbs & they were at the right place. Oni tried to open the door but couldn't as it seemed to be locked magically. Suddenly out of nowhere, they heard a voice that startled all three of them, "Trying to break into someone's privacy?" They turned around to face the same woman in the black suit with a veil on her face. She removed the veil on her face. Josh, Oni & Karishma were dumbstruck at the sight. The lady came closer to make them believe what they just saw, "Hi, I am Maya." Karishma was frozen to see a body completely identical to hers. It was as if she was standing in front of the mirror, the only difference being clothes. Karishma gathered the strength from her guts & broke the silence, "What are you?" Maya reverted, "Bad manners! Or should I say, wrong question!" She smiled & moved ahead to open the door of the hut. She invited them in. The trio reluctantly entered the hut. The hut smelled of magical, charming herbs. As soon they entered, Oni felt the protection spell broke its channel. Maya looked at Oni's discomfort & stated, "Oh dear, I forgot to tell you. Your witch channeling wouldn't work in here because all the energy has been focused on something very important here." Karishma could no longer stand her curiosity & intervened, "Listen. Who are you? Why have you been haunting me in my dreams all these years? What do you want from me? And how are you even alive if you are the same Maya of the story?" Maya smiled, "You youngsters these days are so restless & impatient. So many questions! You'll get all your answers but in the remaining part of the story. Sit down & listen to me very carefully. No hocus pocus from the witch & no recordings in your phone. Everything is disabled. You are not allowed to leave unless I permit." The door of the hut suddenly closed & the room was filled with darkness. Maya lit an ancient lamp & started with the remaining part of the story.

I was devastated with the fact that Arsenio was dead, because the spell that I spoke about was already cast by Sheila & it had to be both of us in the spell. Instead, I had to drink it all to myself. Sheila had cast an immortality elixir for both of us. We were to have that. Not many knew that I was pregnant. When the British Sergeant knew he tried to kill my baby as soon as it was born. But I had drunk that elixir while I was pregnant so the baby couldn't be killed. I didn't know what happened to the baby afterward. The Sergeant molested me every day & I couldn't take it so I escaped his place somehow & took shelter in this hut where Sheila lived. Learning about Sheila helping me, the arrogant man ordered his men to burn this hut down with both of us alive. I am immortal so I lived but Sheila was burnt to ashes. Somehow the hut was spelled too so it grew out of the ashes. The first thing I did was avenge Arsenio's & my friend's death. The Sergeant thought I was dead & so did others. They thought I was a ghost & I took advantage of it. He died out of the madness. And I got to live. So I am here, right in front of you living dead since 1814.

“But this doesn’t explain the existence of us being so identical,” asserted Karishma

"The next thing that I'm going to tell is the craziest thing that you might have heard in your lifetime. You are my doppelganger, a spirit double. I went against the rules of Nature when I drank the Immortality Elixir. So, to maintain the balance of nature, it creates a shadow self who can die in place of me. As long as I live on this earth, nature shall continue making my shadow selves to die. Each time my shadow self dies, I die with her & revive all over again. Nature has its own ways of punishing. And now I want to end it. You are my third doppelganger & I had been waiting for you for 100 years. I had kept you safe from all the dangers of your life so that we can meet. You turned up in Cape Town because of me. I changed your priority of universities."

Oni interrupted, "But the immortality elixir has to be used to preserve the body as well to stop aging. Where is the body then?"

Maya smiled at her inquisitiveness & suddenly a coffin showed up. They could swear on their lives it wasn’t their earlier. The coffin was under the protection spell by the spirit of Sheila. A rusted old paper flew into Oni’s hand out of nowhere. She knew it was the spell to open the coffin. And only a descendent witch of Sheila can open it. Oni started chanting the spell & opened it. Karishma was shocked to see the body dressed in the same clothes that she saw in her dreams.

“What do you want from me? How can I help you end it?” asked Karishma.

“The necklace around your neck is mine. It keeps the doppelgangers alive & recreate. To end this lineage, I need to break the spell & die with the necklace,” replied Maya.

"That's impossible. You need to drink the cure to break the spell & die as a human. And the one who makes the elixir is the one who makes the cure. And Sheila is dead with the cure in her heart. It would take a lot of energy to connect with her & make the cure. And it would have dangerous consequences as she needs to possess a human body to do that. And history says once a witch possesses any human body, she would never leave the body in her lifetime," informed Oni.

"You are quite a brilliant witch of your age. But I have spent 200 years figuring out the cure. And I have one. Only if I can trust you I shall reveal it, because I have already been fooled by the previous doppelganger. You need to bind yourselves with a Trust spell with me. I'm sure our brilliant witch can do that," stated the desperate soul. Josh, Oni & Karishma agreed to help her out.

*****

“What was the name of the deceased?” asked Kashiramji Pandit at Haridwar, on the bank of the pious river Ganga. “Maya Sharma,” replied Karishma. Kashiramji Pandit made Karishma do the pious ritual of shraadh, the ritual that the Hindus believe is a must for achieving freedom of the soul from the body.

The cure included stabbing the original doppelganger with the witch’s enchanted dagger by the other doppelganger. Then Karishma incinerated her onto the collection of white oak wood, used in making the Immortality Elixir, along with the necklace that she wore. She collected the ashes & flew down to Haridwar in India, a pious place where the souls find peace & salvation.

Karishma completed the ritual & proceeded to immerse the ashes into the river Ganga. To her astonishment, the necklace revived & floated over the water. She took the necklace & came out.

Maya was now at peace & so was Karishma. They successfully broke the doppelganger spell. She left her necklace in Karishma's possession as a token of gratitude.

 

LOVE ME FOREVER

 

"Hey beautiful, here's your coffee," said a loving voice as he approached the table where a pretty lass was seated with her books open. "Oh come on! Keep them off for a while Kiara," demanded Rajiv Joshi. Kiara smiled & put her books off on his loving boyfriend's demand. Kiara Kalra & Rajiv Joshi were the hottest & most envied couple of the Arts college. Kiara loved Rajiv so much that she never paid heed to others when they told her that he had been a casanova all his life & he won't be able to handle a commitment.

"My parents want to meet your parents & want to talk about us Rajiv," stated the beau. "Let's get hitched & plan our future together. What say!?" "I say yes… I'll tell my parents right away," agreed the felicitous boyfriend.

The old family meeting ritual was just a formality as both the parents knew that one day this had to be done. The date of engagement was decided right there. The couple was beaming with joy with the thought that they shall be hitched for life & that they can work together with all their life, wandering around the historical monuments.

The D-day approached like a blink of an eye. Since morning everyone was rushing into preparations & Kiara couldn't be happier. She was trying her outfit for the final time when her mom called her into their living room. She rushed down to face her future parents-in-law. "What is it mummyji? You are here to fetch me so early?" asked the excited bride. "Oh, dear! I hate to break this to you," said Mrs. Joshi in a low, embarrassed voice. She handed her a small note which read,

Dear Kiara,

I'm sorry I tried a lot to be happy with the setting but I can't give up my freedom. No hard feelings Kiara. I just cannot handle commitment. Hope you will be able to forgive. I'm really sorry to ditch you, my love.

                                                                                                 Love Rajiv. 💓

                                                                 

Kiara stood there confused. Confused whether all this was real or was it just one of her nightmares. She stood there silently & without uttering a word she went straight into her room.

"We are really embarrassed at this disrespectful behaviour of our son. We were really not expecting he would do that. Please forgive us for his hideous act," apologised Mr. Joshi to Mrs. & Mr. Kalra. The host accepted their apologies knowing that fighting won't make things right.

"I'm not sad that he left me mid-way. But I'm sad that he hid it from me. He could have told me once & I would have set him free myself," sobbed Kiara while hugging her dad tight. All he could do was to console her lovely daughter whom he hadn't seen upset ever in her life.

*****

"I wonder you've still kept your ex-boyfriend's photo with you," said a concerned voice from behind as she saw Kiara with hers & Rajiv's photo in her hand. It was none other than Kiara's mom. It was five years since that incident took place yet it seemed only yesterday. Kiara was a well-known archaeologist with a masters degree in ancient history & runes. She wished to study world history & was packing off to St. Augustine, Florida for the same. "Is it necessary to run away like this?" asked the desperate mother. "I'm not running away mom. I told you I'm done wandering over here in India. I wanna explore the world. Now that I'm not committed to anyone which I do not even wish to, let me take an advantage," explained the girl. "She's right. Let her conquer the world," agreed Mr. Kalra to her loving daughter. "Live your dreams. But stay safe. Our blessings shall always be with you." And he handed her a chain of basil seeds with a small gold pendant with peacock feather carving over it. "What's this Dad?" asked the curious girl. "This will keep you safe & out of evil's eye. This is your grandmother's. She left it in my possession to gift you when the time was right. And not a better time than today."

As she was leaving, her parents could remember their late mother's last words, "This bird is born to fly & win deadly battles. Set her free."

Kiara got settled in St. Augustine like she hadn't in all these years in India. She got involved with the local history & after a year of a course she got a job as a lecturer in Flagler College in Public History department. St. Augustine became her home & for the first time in her life she wished to stay down at a place for a little longer. She was one of the favourites amongst all the lecturers. She found a place in the historical council in the city. There was something about the city that thrilled her. Two years in the city & she had measured each & every nook of the city out of her curiosity.

"Meet Mr. Daniel Wood. He's an aspiring writer & wish to weave a historical story in St. Augustine. He wishes to meet someone who is as crazy as him about exploring places. So I thought I should make him meet you. Who else could guide him better than you!" stated the over-excited Head of the Department to Kiara. Daniel was a tall, fair Englishman, with green eyes & brown straight hair. He was very charismatic. There was an instant connection between them. "Hello Mr. Wood. It would be my pleasure helping you with your work," reciprocated Kiara politely. Kiara always wore a smile on her face & people could always experience the warmth in her nature. There was something about Kiara that everyone got attracted to her. "Call me Daniel. I like it that way," demanded the gentleman.

Daniel was an all time companion with Kiara. Kiara had made many friends in the city but this one was different. Daniel was a quick learner & an enthusiast. Soon all the historical places were visited & discussed. Slowly the historical discussions started getting converted into personal ones. As good a learner he was, so was his charm. Months passed & Cupid's bow had struck their hearts.

"Will you be my Valentine tonight?" asked out Kiara to Daniel for a Valentine's day party in the college. "The pleasure shall be all mine!" agreed Daniel. It was exactly 12 noon & an alarm beeped on his wrist watch, "Excuse me! It's my lunch time. Shall I catch you in a bit?" "Umm.. Isn't it an hour early for that?," asked Kiara.

"Of course, I know. But I usually don't like changing my eating time. Old school types, you see."

"You are indeed old school types. But do you mind if we do lunch together?"

"Who would want to say no to such a beautiful company?"

"Great! Then I'll see you after the class?"

Kiara gave a blushing smile & left. Daniel waited for her in the college yard seated on a bench exactly in the middle of the direct sunlight.

"Hey you're sunbathing or what?" asked Kiara when she was out with her books.

"Somewhat! Just recharging myself in the lovely sun," Daniel smiled. "Let's proceed?"

They started walking towards the cafeteria. They would have been just few yards away & suddenly out of nowhere a man on a bike tried to snatch Kiara's purse but in a fraction of a minute Daniel caught hold of him & banged him down. Kiara was aghast. "How did you do that?" enquired the confused lass. "Nothing! Adrenaline rush with a trick of martial arts," explained Daniel in return. "Are you okay? Here's your bag." Kiara just nodded in affirmation still in confusion what she saw. The lunch date was ruined by that intervener. They couldn't talk a lot while having food.

Kiara wanted to divert her mind from whatever happened in the afternoon, so she decided​ to stay back after the hours & do some reading to lighten up. Basically she was avoiding Daniel. She realised that it was getting late & she needs to go back home. It was dark. She was walking towards the parking lot when she sensed that someone was following her. As soon as she turned back, there was no one. "Today had been the weirdest day," she thought to herself.

Kiara opened the door of her house & entered. The living room was all spruced up & there was some rattling in the kitchen. "Hello? Who's there?" Kiara asked out loud & clear. When she didn't get any answer she caught hold of the stainless steel vase on the shoe-cupboard & proceeded in the kitchen feeling courageous. She raised the vase to hit the person in the kitchen hard when he turned just at the spur of the moment. "Hey, it's me Daniel! Don't hit me please," pleaded Daniel. Kiara let out a sigh of relief & enquired, "Wait! How did you get in my house?"

"Oh! That was simple. I got your spare keys from the neighbourhood. Nice people," smiled Daniel & gave a peck on Kiara's cheek.

It was like a current that passed all over her body from a single peck. She was stunned for a moment & then recollected herself to complete the interrogations, "But how did she give you? She doesn't even know you."

"I compelled her," mocked Daniel.

"What!?"

"Kiara, I have prepared this dinner just for us. I know our lunch date was awkward but please don't ruin this dinner. It means a lot to me. Moreover I'm damn hungry. Please?"

"Cool. I'll just freshen up a bit."

In the meantime, Daniel set up the dinner table.

Daniel & Kiara were quietly having dinner while Daniel kept staring at Kiara & Kiara couldn't look up out of shyness. Finally she broke, "Stop staring me Daniel. It feels weird." "Weird? Or are you feeling shy?" flirted Daniel with those green eyes staring right into her brown eyes. Kiara couldn't speak a word. "You want to tell me something?" asked Daniel.

Kiara was confused whether she should discuss her past to him or not. But with the things that were starting to grow between them, she decided to reveal her past. She told him about her incomplete relationship & how she never looked back to it & just focussed on her future. Finally, Kiara had to reveal her feelings to him, "I didn't think I would ever fall in love again. I know that everyone says that after a heartbreak, but the difference is that I'm not heartbroken. I'm not cynical, or pessimistic, or sad. I'm just someone who once felt something bigger than anything else I had ever felt and when I lost it, I honestly believed I would never have that again. But... I was 22 then and life is long. And I'm feeling things right now that I haven't in a long, long time."

Daniel kept glaring at her while she was narrating her story. After she finished, she expected some words out of Daniel too. Probably she too wanted to hear the same thing from Daniel what she felt for him. Daniel stood up from his chair, came to Kiara & held her to stand up. Daniel leaned forward & a bit downwards & gave a lingering kiss on her pink lips. This time it was not just a small current but it was as if a wave of current had passed through Kiara's entire body.

"It felt awesome!" confessed Kiara. "So did I!" reverted Daniel. That day they celebrated their day of love.

"Hey Kia, have a look at this," said Daniel while handing out an old piece of parchment to Kiara. "What's this?" asked Kiara.

"I thought you could yield me some answers. I want you to decipher it."

"It's some kind of a map. Where did you find those? Generally such maps were used by pirates who in the history of this city came here to loot the treasures of the noblemen."

"What is this symbol right here in the middle of the map?"

 "Woah..!! That's just not a normal symbol. It's The Squared Circle, which means its a symbol of a philosopher's stone. The alchemists used it to make the elixir of life. According to this map there is a philosopher's stone hidden here."

She was keenly observing the map when she noticed the making of the map & it struck her, "Oh my gosh! This map is of ancient St. Augustine. But definitely not in the town. It's somewhere in the outskirts."

"Are you sure?" enquired the excited writer.

"I'm more than sure. I have been living here for two years & I know each & every corner of this place. Do you think this might still be there?"

"Why don't we go & explore it? It would become our outdoor trip for a change. Even if we don't find it, we'll at least have each other. What say?"

"I say… Yess!!! I'd love to explore. Not that I'm expecting anything more than lying corpses."

"What makes you say that?"

"Look." She showed her the current map with the reference of the parchment. "If you see here, this is the exact location where we have to go. It's just a mile outside the town, and it's an old hidden cemetery in the woods."

"You do know your city very well!" appreciated the young man. As he was about to stand up, a big rusted bolt hurt him deep enough to tear his skin & bleed.

"Hey I'll get the first aid. You are bleeding." Kiara stood up to fetch the first-aid box but Daniel caught hold of her hand & stopped.

"No I'm not. See!" And he showed her his clean palm.

"I swear I saw you bleed," said Kiara in a confused tone.

"You must be hallucinating. Don't think so much. I'll pick you up tomorrow sharp at 8:00 A.M.," demanded Daniel.

The couple geared up for their small adventurous trip not with the excitement that they would find some alchemist's special stone but with the excitement of being with each other. Daniel stopped the car right at the beginning of the woods. The location was right in the middle of the woods. They started walking with the game of flirting each other.

"I really wonder when was the last time I was feeling like this. Thanks for making me feel so wonderful," raved Kiara.

"Trust me.. The pleasure is all mine!" winked Daniel. "And here we are at our destination."

They came face to face with an old ruined monument with an underground cellar. They proceeded inside to find a hidden room. They further explored the place & to their astonishment they saw a rusty & dusty small trunk surrounded by nothing but poisonous flora. Daniel went towards it to fetch it when Kiara stopped him, "Wait! Don't touch! This must be poisonous. Trust me the next thing you would be doing is lying in an I.C.U. St. Augustine woods are full of such poisonous flora."

"Don't worry. Nothing will happen."

Daniel proceeded & removed the poisonous creepers from the trunk. But as soon as he touched the trunk he was taken aback by the current that he felt. He demanded Kiara to try & take it as he had already removed the creepers. Kiara was reluctant to touch after what she saw, but she was courageous enough to face the consequences. She could easily touch the trunk to her astonishment. She took the trunk in her hands & opened it. There was a parchment rolled which read, 'Use it wisely!' There was a muslin bag, which Kiara opened. She was holding an orangish-red crystal with abrasive surface. She was stunned, "This actually looks like a Philosopher's stone."

"This is a Philosopher's stone girl. Now hand it to us," demanded a hoarse voice from behind. And with sudden swish Kiara & Daniel were surrounded by four fierce looking men.

"No. I won't. This is a historical property & it needs to be preserved. I'll hand it to the historical council. Who do you think you are to demand me?" Kiara showed the courage to fight.

"Give it to them Kiara," demanded Daniel while looking straight into her eyes to compel her.

"No. I won't. This doesn't belong to them. Moreover they could misuse this, which I cannot let happen," rebelled Kiara.

Daniel couldn't believe that Kiara was beyond his compulsion.

One of the man struck a dart which got straight onto her neck beneath the right ear. She fell down. Daniel saw this & he got angry. He finally got out his fierce fangs & with a blink of an eye he ripped all of them dead. That was the last thing that Kiara saw before shutting down her eyes.

Daniel bit his wrist & let out the blood. He opened Kiara's mouth & fed her. Kiara was struck by a poisonous dart which could paralyse her body. But with intake of Daniel's blood she survived the poison. She opened her eyes after a few minutes & realised what had just happened. She bolted up to say, "You're a vampire?" Shock as well as fear reflected in her voice. Daniel simply laughed over her folly & said, "You watch a lot of vampire flicks don't you? I won't hurt you. I am a Reverse Dhampir."

Kiara gave a confused look. Daniel continued, "I don't survive on blood, instead I feed over plant's chlorophyll & gain strength from sunlight. And I was biologically born by mating of a reverse vampire with a human. So I'm called a Reverse Dhampir. I was on a mission to target you to find this stone & hand them. Those were Demi-demons. Only a pure soul can find the stone & gain it."

"Then, why did you save me?"

"Because I LOVE YOU. And I want to be with you forever."