CHAPTER 48 The Black Night and the Lost Children
The night over Nabhgadh was bathed in moonlight, but tonight that moonlight had a strange dullness. The moons face looked hazy, as if someone had sprinkled a layer of ash on it. In the streets of the city, six figures moved silently. Each had a black cloth tied on their face and a black shawl over their head, blending them into the night shadows.
Agni, Akshansh, Vedika, Anvay, Aksh, Kalpit, and with them Varunya. She had no mask, just her face covered with black cloth, only her blue eyes visible, glowing faintly in the dark like two distant blue stars.
Everyones eyes were everywhere. On the rooftops. On the windows. On the corners of the streets. Lamps were burning in the houses of the kingdom, but their flames were unusually low, as if someone was pressing them down. Soldiers were patrolling the nearby streets, walking in circles, the sound of their footsteps echoing. Thud thud thud. Like a rhythmic drumbeat.
A lamp was burning in the middle of the streets, casting light in the moonlight night. But even in that lamps light, the shadows were very deep. Very long. As if those shadows were alive and moving.
Akshansh came near Agni. His voice was a whisper, but there was tension in it. Acharya, think once more. Should we trust this Varunya? Because I do not trust her at all.
Agni looked at Varunya. She was standing at a distance, her eyes fixed on a house door. Agni said softly, I know, Akshansh. But right now we have no other option. We have to trust her at least once.
Just then there was movement at a house door.
Everyones eyes turned to that door. The door slowly began to open. Creeeak. Creeeak. The sound of wood creaking, like a scream in the night silence.
Everyone looked at each other. Aksh fist tightened. Kalpit eyes narrowed. Vedika kept her power ready, a faint green glow swirling around her fingers.
A soldier dressed in black came out of the door.
He looked around. Everywhere. He saw no one. He came out of the door, and on his back was a child. He had the child strapped to his back and was leaving the house on tiptoe.
The child was not moving at all. As if asleep. Or unconscious.
Kalpit looked at Aksh. That child looks about fifteen years old, he whispered. And there is something in its hair.
Aksh nodded. Yes. But it is in black clothes. Who is it?
Just then Agni looked at Varunya and was shocked.
Varunya was not there.
Where did Varunya go, Agni voice had an emergency sharpness.
Akshansh made a face. See, Acharya? I suspected her all along. Now she is not even here.
Just then, in front of that man in black, Varunya appeared with lightning speed.
She made no sound. She was just there, as if she had emerged from the darkness in the blink of an eye. She raised her hand, and from her palm came a dark energy. But this dark energy was not like Nirag. It was deep blue, like the midnight sky, with small star like sparkles in it.
The man in black stopped. Who are you, he said, his voice heavy and growling. Get out of my way.
Varunya did not answer.
Or else, the man tried to threaten, but before he could finish, Varunya was behind him.
She lifted the child off his back. In one fluid, precise motion. Then she kicked his back.
The man fell forward. Varunya laid the child down and ran after him. She began to fight him. She tried to hit him with her sword.
The man ducked. Varunya struck him with her hands. Not punches. Pushes with her palms that carried gusts of wind.
The soldier fought back too. He drew his sword. Black, dull, with a strange glow on its edge.
Just then Agni called from behind. Varunya.
Varunya turned to look.
Taking advantage of that moment, the man pushed Varunya.
Varunya began to fall backward, but Agni caught her in his hands.
Varunya and Agni eyes met. For a moment, time seemed to stop. There was concern in Agni eyes, and in Varunya eyes something else. A strange kind of softness, which disappeared instantly.
Are you okay, Agni asked.
Varunya nodded. And ran after the man.
But the man had disappeared into the darkness. As if he had melted into the shadows.
A faint smile appeared on Varunya face.
Just then Agni went to the child. He lifted the child. The child was still unconscious, his breaths faint, barely audible.
By then Akshansh, Vedika, Kalpit, Aksh, Anvay had also arrived.
Anvay said, Stop, Varunya. That man has run away. I can feel him. He has fled from here.
Varunya turned and came to the child.
Agni sat down near the child. Vedika stepped forward. Acharya, there is something stuck in his head.
Agni pushed aside the childs hair and saw. A nail was driven into the childs head.
Everyone was shocked.
A nail, Agni voice had a stunned disbelief. And that too in this small childs head.
Agni tried to pull the nail out, but Vedika stopped him. Wait, Acharya. Let me do it.
Vedika touched the childs head. A green light began to glow from her hands. Soft, cool light, like the first greenery of spring. The light spread over the childs wound, and the wound began to heal. The nail slowly came out, not a single drop of blood spilling.
Agni lifted the child in his arms and took him to the same house from which the man in black had taken him.
Inside the house, a woman was sleeping on a mat on the floor. In deep sleep. And a man was sleeping on a cot. Neither was waking up.
Agni laid the child on the mat, next to his mother. Then came outside.
Akshansh said, How deeply these people are sleeping. They are not even waking up.
Agni nodded. Maybe that man in black fed them something that made them unconscious. Now we must leave from here.
Agni moved forward. Just then a message appeared in front of him. Appeared in the air. Blue. Glowing.
Agni caught the message and read.
This is no ordinary sacrifice. Saving one child does not mean all children are safe. He left one child, so now he will come for another. And this time he will take two children.
Agni looked at Varunya. How do you know all this, he asked.
Varunya pointed at the letter. Words began to appear on it. Agni read further.
I know who is behind all this. And why he is doing it.
Agni and everyone were shocked. You know, he asked.
Varunya nodded.
Just then a scream was heard from a distance.
A womans scream. Loud. Broken. Filled with pain. Then another scream. Then another.
Everyones eyes turned toward the direction from which the sound was coming. There were three houses there, and all three doors were open. No light was coming from inside. Just darkness. Deep, thick darkness.
Varunya looked at Agni and raised her finger toward that direction. There was a warning in her eyes. And a fear too, showing for the first time.
Agni gripped his sword tightly. Lets go.
And the seven figures began to move toward that deep darkness, from where the screams were coming. Screams that had now turned into crying, and then into silence. A silence more frightening than any scream.
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