Taamsi's gaze drifted across the hall…
until it landed on Angad.
Her lips curled into a delighted, poisonous smile.
"My son," she cooed, taking a graceful step toward him, "there is still time. Come to your mother. Together we will destroy this family… destroy their happiness… burn their unity."
Angad's jaw clenched. He didn't move an inch.
"I told you," he said, voice firm though his eyes burned with hurt, "I am not your son. You may have birthed me—but I am only the son of this family."
Vinod stepped forward protectively, his voice steady.
"Enough, Taamsi. Stop trying to poison his mind."
Bhoomi placed a hand on Angad's shoulder, her expression calm but fierce.
"Angad knows the difference between right and wrong. You cannot break him."
Taamsi's expression dropped—no more teasing, no more drama.
Only cold fury.
"Fine," she hissed. "If he will not stand with me… then he will meet the exact same fate as the rest of you."
Before anyone could react, Taamsi snapped her fingers.
A bolt of dark torpedo-like energy shot forward—
spiraling fast, slicing through the hall.
The guests screamed—
but the torpedo did not blast them apart.
Instead… it passed through them.
One by one.
Their eyes turned glassy.
Expressions blank.
Bodies stiffened.
Within seconds, the entire crowd stood motionless.
Then—
slowly, horrifyingly—
they turned…
faces twisted…
and became zombies, dark puppets under Taamsi's command.
Gasps filled the room.
Bhoomi covered her mouth in horror.
Chandrika staggered back, terrified.
Kajal clutched Susheela's arm.
Taamsi's laugh echoed like poison.
"I've turned your guests into my puppets. Now they will attack you."
She tilted her head mockingly.
"So what will you do, hmm? If you kill them… you will be killing innocent people.
But if they reach you… you will become just like them."
The first wave of zombie-guests lurched forward, arms outstretched.
Vikram instantly grabbed his divine bow.
Varun took position beside him with another.
Both drew their arrows—
and the moment the arrows flew, they transformed into glowing ropes, wrapping around the guests, binding them safely instead of harming them.
The tied zombies struggled, growling, but unable to reach them.
Yuvaan stepped forward swiftly, eyes sharp.
"Dad—Varun—take everyone upstairs," he ordered firmly.
"Protect the family. And try to figure out how to turn them back."
Vikram hesitated for a moment.
"You're sure?"
"Yes," Yuvaan nodded, eyes flicking toward Kiara.
"Kiara and I will handle Taamsi… and the zombies."
Kiara stepped beside him, her stance strong, divine energy shimmering beneath her skin.
Vikram gave one curt nod.
He and Varun quickly guided the terrified family members up the grand staircase.
Taamsi watched them leave, her smile widening.
Now it was just her.
And the two warriors born of light and darkness—
Kiara and Yuvaan.
The zombie-guests growled, inching closer.
Kiara's eyes glowed faintly.
Yuvaan's aura darkened, crimson and sharp.
The battle was about to begin.
Taamsi lounges on the sofa as though enjoying a royal performance, one leg elegantly crossed over the other, her long braid coiling like a living serpent around her.
"Ah, what a sight," she purrs. "The Warlock King Kaal's reincarnation and the Gods-Gift Jishwa, fighting side by side against my army. So entertaining."
Her smirk widens as the zombified guests stagger toward Yuvaan and Kiara, their eyes clouded, their movements jerky and unnatural.
Yuvaan's expression hardens.
"Enough."
He lifts his right hand sharply.
A massive dark spectral hand—smoky, giant, crackling with shadow energy—erupts behind him like a colossal phantom. With a single sweep, it slams the approaching zombies to the ground, pinning them without causing real harm.
The hall trembles.
Kiara steps beside him, her eyes glowing a soft divine gold, Trident mark shimmering through her blouse.
Taamsi claps slowly.
"Oh wow, kya entry thi. But how long will you protect them, Yuvaan? Shadows can delay, not save."
Yuvaan glares back.
"Watch me."
Kiara adds firmly, "And watch how your darkness fails today."
The spectral hand spreads into multiple shadow-tendrils, forming a protective barrier around the fallen guests—holding them but not hurting them.
Taamsi's smile falters for the first time.
"Tch. So you plan to defeat me without harming the puppets? Very noble. Very stupid."
Kiara steps forward, her divine aura brightening.
"Nobility always looks stupid to darkness… until it wins."
Yuvaan's eyes flash dark silver.
"Taamsi, your game ends tonight."
The chandelier rubble melts beside them with venom burning holes into the marble—proving the danger still lurking.
Taamsi rises slowly from the sofa, her braid hissing, shadow swirling around her.
"Then let this battle… truly begin."
To be continued…