The goons all poured drinks as the woman dragged Lilith(Mhaira).
"Aree Avaḷu illi iddāḷe. Avaḷu nanna atyuttama nrutyagārtiyaralli obbaḷu. Paṭṭaṇada ella janaru mattu horagininda baruvavarū avaḷa nrutyavannu nōḍalu mātra baruttāre. Avaḷannu nōḍalu avaru tumbā heccina haṇa koḍuttāre." (Hey! She is here. She is one of my best dancers. People from the town and outside come only to watch her dance. They pay a high price.)
The woman said as they cheered.
"Nahin!" (No!) Lily(Mihu) said, acting.
Sohan and Nikolai both moved.
Chandrak was burning with jealousy. He wanted to separate him from the guards and try to change Sohan's mind to get Lily to marry him. He also tried to get closer, but they were fast.
Lilith(Mhaira) acted in front of the goons.
"Oye, come on now darling, dance. We pay 10x, so now dance," the leader said.
"If you don't dance they will kill you, and I will not take your body back. You will rot here. Now dance!" the woman said.
She nodded.
One of the men blew a whistle as they shot their guns into the air.
The leader sat as they poured him a drink.
Nikolai wore his mask, his anger burning more and more as the men took clay pots and began making sounds like drums.
She began singing.
(Muchhon mein akad ke taao bhare) (With pride twirling through his moustache) (Lilith walks slowly with confident hip sways, keeping steady eye contact, lightly running her fingertips along her jaw before giving a playful smile.)
Nikolai shot one of the men while he watched his wife dancing in front of the thugs. He eyed her waist and smirked with dangerous pleasure.
Oh Bambi… you're going to pay for this… моя маленькая киса…. (my little kitty).
Nikolai whispered in his mind while slitting a man's throat. The man dropped dead, bleeding.
(Jab mojadiya mein paanv dhare) (When he steps wearing his traditional shoes) (Slow elegant heel steps with graceful hip rolls, flowing wrist circles and a soft hair flip.)
(Jab paanv dhare) (The moment his feet touch the ground) (A slow spin ending with a deep gaze over her shoulder and a subtle smile.)
(Aaye haay naazuk si mom ki moorat se) (Oh my, I looked like a delicate statue made of wax.) (Soft body wave, graceful neck tilt, fingertips tracing from shoulder to wrist with elegant expressions.)
Rima used her Barrett M82 sniper rifle, taking out nine guards.
Vishal stood in the darkness as some men moved into the woods. He used his FS Commando Dagger to stab and slit their necks, his hands stained with blood.
(Bada patthar dil bartaav kare) (Yet he behaved with a heart of stone.) (Lilith slowly circles an imaginary admirer, teasingly pointing at him before turning away with a playful smile.)
(Patthar dil bartaav kare bartaav kare) (Such a cold-hearted way of treating me.) (Smooth hip sways, delicate shoulder rolls, expressive eyes and flowing arm movements.)
Darya blew cigarette smoke into the air with a crazed smirk and fired bullets from her Colt Automatic Rifle.
Astrea threw her blades at the men. She moved faster than they could react, cutting their throats one after another. She slit the last throat and stopped.
Every man still standing collapsed to the ground, dead.
(Ui Amma haay haay main to mar gayi) (Oh Mother, Oh my, I'm done for.) (Hand to chest, graceful back arch followed by a dramatic turn with fluttering hands.)
(Ui Amma main to toot ke bikhar gayi) (Oh Mother, I've completely fallen apart.) (Slow body wave, elegant spin with flowing skirt movement and a soft smile.)
Kalma loaded bullets into her CZ Scorpion EVO 3.
She gave Nerezza a sign.
Nerezza nodded and threw smoke bombs toward them.
"Shoot them!" a man shouted.
Kalma grinned like the psychopath she was and opened fire.
Nikolai looked at his wife dancing while the goons threw money into the air.
He loaded his gun.
(Ui Amma Ui Amma Ui Amma) (Oh Mother, Oh Mother.) (Three graceful hip accents synchronized with shoulder shimmies and playful eye expressions.)
Tsilliah kicked a man.
"Fucker!"
She shoved a bomb into his mouth and pulled the pin.
"Oops."
She laughed wickedly.
His eyes widened.
A second later his head exploded.
She clapped proudly.
"Woah!!" Nihal said.
"Damn," Rafsan muttered as they moved.
(Ui Amma chhui-mui si hiraniya) (Like a shy little deer.) (Light delicate steps, soft glances over her shoulder and graceful hand flourishes.)
(Ui Amma kaale bhediyon se dar gayi) (I became frightened by the black wolves.) (Brief playful retreat followed by a confident spin and seductive gaze toward the audience.)
(Paanv jiya pe dhar gayi re) (Those footsteps landed right on my heart.) (Elegant Kathak spins ending with one hand over her heart and the other extended outward.)
(Saans mein chandan bhar gayi re) (My breath became filled with sandalwood fragrance.) (Slow flowing arm circles with graceful torso movement and expressive eyes.)
(Qatl kare upar se bole mar gayi re) (He steals my heart and then says I'm the one who's finished.) (Lilith circles gracefully with smooth hip sways, playful finger gestures and a confident smile.)
Sohan shot eighty men.
They all dropped dead.
Reyan shot the remaining men from the side as they moved through the woods.
(Uske ghar mein dakaiton ke shak se dakaaiti kar gayi re) (As if I'd robbed his house just because of suspicion.) (Stylish Bollywood footwork, playful turns, flowing hair movement and rhythmic arm patterns.)
(Oye chhammiya o re zulmiya) (Hey beautiful one, you heartless charmer.) (Confident shoulder shimmies, graceful hip circles and teasing finger gestures.)
(Chham chhammiya o re zulmiya) (Hey beautiful one, you playful charmer.) (Quick spins, rhythmic footwork, graceful wrist flicks and joyful expressions.)
(Chhori ko ghar se uthaaye ke haay) (Taking a girl away from her home.) (Lilith steps backward with flowing movements, extending one hand before twirling elegantly away.)
(Zabardasti nachaaye ke) (Making her dance by force.) (Powerful Bollywood choreography with dramatic turns, expressive posture and confident stage presence.)
(Bada hi aasaan hai piya) (It's so easy for you, my beloved.) (Playful smile, slow hip sway and graceful hand reaching outward.)
(Aankhen sekna haay) (Just admiring with your eyes.) (Intense eye expressions, gentle chin lift and slow graceful turn.)
(Kasam tujhe jaan ki meri) (I swear on my life.) (Hand over heart, elegant body wave and flowing spin.)
(Kahe kya mardangi teri) (What kind of bravery is that?) (Confident stance, playful challenge gesture and teasing smile.)
(Aaya na aurat ka dil agar chhoo ke dekhna) (Try touching a woman's heart instead.) (Gentle heart gesture, graceful walk forward, expressive eyes and elegant turn.)
(Udti chidiya ke par gin ke berahmi se pakda kare) (You count the feathers of a flying bird and catch it so ruthlessly.) (Bird-inspired hand movements flowing into a dramatic spin with a poised finishing stance.)
(Ui Amma haay haay main to mar gayi. Ui Amma main to toot ke bikhar gayi. Ui Amma Ui Amma Ui Amma. Ui Amma chhui-mui si hiraniya. Ui Amma kaale bhediyon se dar gayi. Ui Amma Ui Amma Ui Amma.)
(Lilith finishes with graceful Bollywood spins, flowing hip sways, expressive eye contact, elegant arm movements, sparkling smiles, rhythmic footwork and a confident final pose center stage with one arm raised and her dupatta flowing behind her.)
The goons cheered.
The leader bit his lips and stood up.
She danced.
She reached for her hidden dagger.
He grabbed her by the waist.
Nikolai finally lost control.
At the exact same moment, Lilith(Mhairra) stabbed him before Nikolai shot the leader.
"Hey!!!" one of the men shouted.
Nikolai, consumed by boiling rage, began shooting all of them.
"Boss, chill!" Kenan said.
"Oh, he can't. They touched what's his," Alexio said.
Urlima fired at the men.
"AHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!"
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
Moments later every man was dead.
The time was 2:30 a.m.
Lilith(Mhaira) cleaned the blood from her dagger on the dead man's clothes.
Nikolai gave her a death stare.
She giggled and patted his face.
They all exchanged silent nods.
Lilith(Mhaira) took a deep breath and walked into the darkness awaiting her.
On the plane, Mila did not sleep all night.
She held Nikolai and Lilith's picture tightly against her chest.
Her tiny baby hairs had begun growing out.
"Come on, Baby. Eat something," Nolan said.
She isolated herself from everyone.
"This is breaking my fucking heart," Enzo said.
"Me too," David replied.
"Baby, Dada said the bad people are coming for them, so they went to hide," Jaxon said.
Fear lit up Mila's eyes.
"Really, bro?" Adrian asked.
"Do you have any better ideas?" Jaxon replied.
Mila tugged his shirt.
"Yes, baby?"
"Dada… Mama goin be okies?"
"Of course, love. Your Mama is the strongest, and Dada is strong like you."
She nodded and kissed the picture.
"The milk is warm now. Here," Oyiva said.
Rohan took it.
"How's your fever?"
"Almost okay. Madam says ginger tea always helps, but now I'm stuck like this."
She coughed.
David handed her a tissue.
"Thank you, sir."
"Mila also has a fever," Rohan said.
Her forehead was hot.
"We need to bathe her with warm water and feed her," Oyiva said.
Rohan fed Mila warm milk.
The plane landed.
After her bath, Mila was dressed in a soft ash jumpsuit that covered her feet along with tiny gloves to protect her from the cold.
Rohan strapped the front baby carrier onto himself.
Oyiva gently placed Mila inside.
He fed her six bottles.
After the last bottle she finally fell asleep.
They walked outside.
Several cars waited.
The men bowed.
"Punhā svāgat āhe Mahārāj." (Welcome back, Your Majesty.)
"Shhhhh," Rohan whispered, pointing toward the sleeping Mila.
They nodded.
Rohan and Oyiva rode in the same car.
He stopped at a pharmacy.
"Here."
"Thank you, sir."
"What tribe are you?"
"I am… Telugu."
He smiled.
"How old are you?"
"Twenty-two."
"Alright."
Oyiva looked out the window.
He stared at her.
Thirty minutes later they arrived at the train station.
The train began moving.
Rohan sighed.
"What's wrong?" Oyiva asked.
"Everyone keeps bothering me about marriage. I loved my childhood friend until she rejected my proposal and ran away with another man. Because of the pain I left and built myself. Now Mumma wants me to get married."
She listened quietly.
"Marriage is hard. Some are forced into it, while for others it slowly becomes something meaningful. It's about choosing who will stand beside you during difficult times, hardship and at your lowest. No matter how much you are in love, never let your self-respect fall in the name of fake love."
Rohan smiled.
"Looks like someone broke your heart too."
"He married my sister. They threw me onto the streets. My parents never came for me. I was very young. It hurts a lot. I'm always hungry. That's why I eat a lot—to get rid of bad memories."
He placed his hand over hers.
They stared into each other's eyes.
They leaned closer.
Their noses touched.
The train horn suddenly blew.
She jumped.
"S…S…Sorry, sir."
He licked his lips and rubbed the back of his head.
An hour later the train stopped.
Mila remained fast asleep.
Rohan tightened the baby carrier and stepped off the train.
He scanned the area.
"Oi Bhai!" (Hey Brother!!!)
A young woman waved.
It was his sister, Princess Bhakti.
He grinned and walked toward her.
She gasped.
"Brother… is she yours?"
He shook his head.
"Boss's daughter. Our group's daughter. Mila."
"Awww… she looks so adorable."
He kissed his sister's forehead.
"Hey, guys!"
"Hii, Angry Bear!" the Bratva laughed.
She pouted.
"Come. Amma (Mother) is waiting for you."
They all got into the cars and drove away.
On the island, Lilith(Mhaira) was lost.
"Nikki!? Nikki!? Nikki!!"
She screamed.
In the darkness, members of the Nocturne Matriarchate stood hidden in the shadows.
One of them nodded.
They moved.
Lily(Mihu) turned and saw them.
"Get her!" one of them shouted.
She ran faster than ever.
In the shadows—
"Should we go with her, Boss?" Valerio asked.
"Come with me," Nikolai whispered.
They moved through the trees instead of following directly behind her.
"Nikki! Baba! Anyone!?"
"Why, hello, Lilith," a woman said.
Lily(Mihu) stumbled backward and tried to run.
The men blocked her path.
"You're coming with us. Boss is waiting for your arrival."
"No! Let me go!"
They dragged her into the woods.
"Let's move," Nikolai whispered.
They followed another route.
Four minutes later—
"Please let me go!"
She was thrown onto the floor.
The doors slowly opened.
Lilith(Mhaira) looked up.
She saw her.
The Leader.
"Hello, Mihu… and welcome."
She smiled darkly.
Lilith(Mhaira) remained on the floor.
Their eyes met.
The Leader smirked.