Chapter 31 A Mother's Hands Her Son's Blood
The black night of Amavasya (the darkest night of the moon cycle) had covered the mouth of the cave with its dark veil. Inside only the white violet flames of the Aahuti Vidhan (sacred fire ritual) lit up the horror that surrounded them. The air was thick with the intoxicating heady smell of burning herbs.
The Chhayagrasini (a witch like entity who drains age and life force) returned to her son. Her footsteps crunched over the ribs of skeletons scattered across the floor. She bent down near Kiyan's head. Her hands now stained with blood ran through his hair.
You are so innocent my son. Her voice was coated in a dangerous sweetness like honey drowned in poison. You could never understand your own mother's game.
She glanced toward the Agni Kund (sacred fire pit) where the flames were now rising high enough to lick the ceiling of the cave. In their light her face looked like a monstrous mask.
Today is Amavasya. And today I will sacrifice you.
Kiyan groaned in his unconscious state. His eyelids fluttered. The pain radiating from the Golden Dagger buried in his back was slithering through his spine like a living snake. He opened his eyes. Through his blurred vision he saw his mother standing before the fire. Her shadow stretched across the wall taking the shape of a massive twisted creature.
You are awake my life. The Chhayagrasini turned around. That same cold hollow smile clung to her lips. All your powers are gone now. For just a few moments. Until then you are nothing but an ordinary human. Today I will sacrifice you.
Kiyan tried to raise a hand. To push his mother away. But his arm felt impossibly heavy as if it was filled with lead. It lurched in the air and collapsed back down.
The Chhayagrasini lunged forward and grabbed his wrist. Her grip held a supernatural strength. Cold. Merciless. Like iron.
I am your mother she said. A dangerous tenderness seeped into her voice. Do not push me like that.
Kiyan gathered the last shreds of his strength. He struggled upright into a sitting position. The hilt of the Golden Dagger jutted out from his back. More blood poured from the wound now. The pain stole his breath away but the expression on his face was not one of pain. It was shattered trust. Crushed love.
You have no right to call yourself a mother. His voice was ragged soaked in blood and tears. You betrayed me. You took advantage of my love.
The Chhayagrasini rushed toward him like lightning. She took his face in her hands gripping his chin with her long nails forcing him to look at her. Up close now Kiyan could see that the golden glow in his mother's eyes had been completely extinguished. In its place was a deep gleaming darkness. Like a sky without stars.
My child she whispered. Her breath smelled of rotting roses and old blood. To be of use to your mother. To use your own son for your own sake. That is a mother's right. Not betrayal.
Kiyan jerked his head away. He shoved her hand off his cheek. Nothing but pure untouched hatred now filled his eyes.
The Chhayagrasini laughed. The sound echoed through the cave bouncing off the empty eye sockets of the skeletons turning into a terrifying disjointed melody.
I know she said stroking her braid now. You are in shock. How could your own innocent mother the one who was always so afraid of humans ever betray you.
She stepped back as if standing on a theatrical stage.
But what could I do. She spread her arms wide. I had to keep playing innocent my child. Otherwise how could I ever have killed you.
Kiyan's head was splitting with pain but his mind was racing now. The pieces were clicking together. You could have killed me long before this. Why today. Why this Amavasya. This sacrifice.
The Chhayagrasini's eyes blazed. Like black diamonds reflecting the flames of the fire. Because today is that Amavasya. The one that comes only once every hundred years. Her voice filled with a poisonous hysteria. The one where I can sacrifice you and become immortal. Because you possess the power of darkness. You are so powerful my child. I only bound your powers so you could never defeat me.
Kiyan clenched his fist. His nails dug into his palm but he felt nothing. A truth far more painful than any physical wound was unfolding before him.
Then why did you kill those innocent people. His voice was shaking. Inspector Abhi. He was becoming an obstacle in your path.
The Chhayagrasini began pacing violently around the cave. Her braid traced a spiraling line behind her. That man was becoming a thorn in my path. He was watching you while staying close to me. So that when the time came I could use you.
She stopped suddenly. A false expression of sorrow spread across her face. But my powers had started weakening. Even draining human age was making me weaker. Because the task for which the Tamomayi (dark practitioner) Virbhadra had kept me alive was already done. The revenge. The descendants of Raja Manikya had survived yes but my thirst for vengeance was already satisfied. So I was slowly dying.
Then that mad gleam returned to her eyes. But I had one path left. To become immortal. Your sacrifice. By sacrificing the son of a Chhayagrasini. A Chhayodhbhav (a nightborn entity who drains age). That is why I used you. Raised you. Put on an act of love for you.
Kiyan closed his eyes. The silver tears on his cheeks had dried into gleaming tracks.
The Chhayagrasini stepped forward dramatically like she was telling a story. And that Inspector Abhi. That night when he left the police station and headed home. I appeared in front of his car as a poor terrified girl.
She made her voice thin and trembling putting on an act. Sir. My husband is trapped near the forest. Please help me.
Then she snapped back to her real rasping voice letting out a sharp laugh. And that fool believed me. He came with me. Near the forest. Got out of his car. On that deserted road outside the woods. No one else was around.
The Chhayagrasini's face transformed. Her eyes blazed golden. A false glow a display of power. Her nails lengthened. Her braid began whipping through the air without any wind. She was showing her true Chhayagrasini form.
Then I stepped out of the car and started laughing. Her laughter echoed through the cave. He saw my golden eyes. My long nails. My braid thrashing through the black air. He tried to run from me. I laughed even harder and said Where will you run. And I caught him with my braid.
She mimed a violent yanking motion through the air. And I drained his age doing umr choosna (age draining). And threw him right there on the road. In one second a young man became an old shriveled corpse.
Kiyan's entire body shook at once. His lips were trembling. Why. Ma. For immortality. You sank this low.
The Chhayagrasini stormed toward him in fury. Her eyes had turned a deep red now like lava burning in the depths of the cave. Now I will take your life the same way my child.
She lashed out with her braid. It whipped through the air like a serpent and coiled around Kiyan's remaining healthy shoulder. She yanked him up and hurled him hard against the wall.
Kiyan's back slammed into the stone. The Golden Dagger sank in completely. A pain beyond anything imaginable exploded through his spine and spread across his entire body. His scream tore through the cave but even that was broken and hollow with agony.
He collapsed to the floor rolling coughing. Blood was pouring from his mouth now. Hot. Tasting of metal.
He steadied himself. Dragging himself up against the wall he forced himself back to his feet. Every breath was a blade twisting inside him. But a new burning question was blazing in his eyes now.
And what about Aarav. He whispered. Clots of blood dripped from his lips. Why did you try to kill Aarav. What was his fault.
The Chhayagrasini's breathing quickened. Lines of rage carved themselves across her face. That Devanshik (a divinely blessed one who wields divine power). She snarled. He saved you so many times. Every single time he ruined my plans. He became the thorn in my path. That is why I took Girgit Raj (the Chameleon King) help to remove him.
Kiyan's breath nearly stopped. Girgit Raj. He was your ally.
Yes. The Chhayagrasini pointed toward the fire as if her memories were burning inside it. I asked him for help. And he helped me. And that day at the college he took on the form of that Devanshik's own father. To kill him.
She came toward Kiyan her fists clenched in fury. But you got in the way. The whole plan was ruined. Girgit Raj was about to kill you in his rage. That is why against my own will I had to step in and save you.
She spun around and began pacing the cave again stroking her braid absently. And in all that chaos Girgit Raj got the chance to escape. He found me later in the forest. I explained to him that he was supposed to kill the Devanshik not you.
She stopped and looked at Kiyan. A devilish smile spread across her lips. And he did exactly that. Every time he tried to kill the Devanshik you would jump in front of him like a shield. Knowing full well that a Devanshik is the greatest enemy of a Chhayodhbhav.
She fell silent. Only the crackling of the fire and Kiyan's pained breathing filled the cave now.
And then the Chhayagrasini said quietly I devised a new game. A game that would drive a wedge between you and that Devanshik.
Kiyan shook his head slowly. His eyes were closed. Even the tears had stopped now. Only a deep hollow exhaustion remained.
You took my form he whispered. In the forest. Attacking my mother. So that I would think Aarav did it.
The Chhayagrasini gave no answer. She just stared into the fire. The flames were dancing in her eyes now. The flames of immortality.
Kiyan sank onto his knees. His head dropped forward. His shoulders began trembling faintly. No sound came out. No weeping. Only a deep endless sob that was escaping from the ruins of his entire being. The final venomous shard of the most sacred bond of motherhood was buried in his chest now. And it hurt far more than the dagger ever could.
Inside the cave trapped between a mother's ambition and a son's loss of everything only the dense darkness of Amavasya and the hungry flames of the Agni Kund remained as witnesses.
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