True Rising: Mark of the Defenders

by Tanishq Sheikh

  Control, manipulate and use the secret of the Triads for her own benefit. Just like her ancestors did all those centuries ago! A cold dread passes through my veins. What if the Sangrams were no longer Defenders? What if they were traitors?

  The revelation begins to make sense.

  Partho Sangram had told me about his fear of being influenced by Kleshas. I already know of his mastery of the secrets. What if, it’s the other way round? What if Partho Sangram has gained mastery over the Kleshas? What if Raati and Firion were doing his bidding? What if Partho really did kill Uma?

  I feel like throwing up. My own father tricked me! I press my fingers at my temple as my thoughts race, tumbling over each other.

  Partho is conniving and powerful. He is going to trick us when the baby is born. He is going to kill us all and take the baby away. His very own powerhouse to groom as he wishes. And he wishes to rule the world.

  My eyes are drawn back to my earlier question as I make the ultimate connection.

  Q. Where have I seen the beast before? A. Once in my out of body experience at Devigrah. And somewhere else but I can’t put a finger on it.

  I cancel the answer and rewrite it.

  A. I’ve seen it in Partho’s family portrait, sitting at his feet.

  ~ ~ ~

  Ammi is resting in her room. It’s late afternoon and I wish I didn’t have to disturb her but I need her wisdom and strength.

  She’s lying on her bed with one arm across her eyes but she senses my presence as I hover near the doorway. She moves her arm to beckon me. “What is it, my child? Come, sit with me.”

  I make my way into her room to perch next to her. She sits up, running a kind hand over my head. It’s enough to make my tears flow. It’s been so long since I shared a close motherly bond. My grandmother was the only one who had cared for me but she passed on years ago. Is this what it felt like? I had no idea how much the warmth of a hug from another woman could matter. This is unconditional love.

  “What is it, child? What troubles you?” she coaxes me for an answer again.

  “I’m afraid.” My answer is heartfelt, honest. There’s too much evil around me and there will be prices to pay.

  She wraps me in her arms as I collapse in a bundle of tears in her lap. “Don’t be, my child. We’re here for you.”

  I look up to face her through my blurry vision. “He’s going to kill us all.”

  “Who is?”

  I tell her all that I have discovered about Partho. For the first time, I’m confiding in someone other than Ajaz and it’s because I know she will come up with a solution.

  She listens patiently before reaching for her prayer beads that are around her wrist and fingers. Her lips move in silence. She completes a round of her recitation before touching the bead to her eyes. “This only means we have to protect ourselves, my child. Do not be afraid. The Almighty is kind and He offers us His protection. I need you to focus on the baby and let us take care of ourselves.”

  “What about Ajaz?” I need her to protect him from me but I can’t tell her outright. It makes me feel like some kind of a monster. But if anyone decides to keep him away from me for his own protection. I’m not sure I’ll take it well. Ajaz has to be by my side during the baby’s delivery. No two ways about it.

  Ammi gives a reassuring pat on my head. “I’m sure he can look after himself. I’m more worried about the others. But don’t worry, we’ll do something about it. It’s time for a meeting with my sons.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Ajaz is all smiles when he sees me sitting next to his mother with her holding my hand. He’s back with his brothers who are eyeing me with awe. The mess I’ve made of their vineyard must be more impressive than I gave myself credit for.

  Ammi explains the situation to his brothers while we all sip freshly brewed tea. Ajaz looks at me impressed. If I’ve managed to confide in Ammi, it means I have found trust in his family. It’s decided for Azmath and Asad to both have the same process done for them as Ammi had done for Ajaz. The protection of the Holy versus is powerful and will help them safeguard their families.

  Ammi heads for the prayer room with Azmath and Asad while Ajaz waits back with me. We sit on the couch our heads close together as we prepare for the days to come.

  I share all that I know with Ajaz. We are under imminent threat from Partho. It hurts me that my own father would use me in this manner but he was never really there in my life for it to matter much.

  I’m more shocked that I thought we were safe enough to be under the same roof with him and eat the food he had offered us.

  “Ajaz, you haven’t promised,” I remind him gently, tracing the rough stubble at his chin. He gazes in the distance, not willing to hear me out. “Ajaz,” I call him again, pulling on his chin to draw his attention to me. “That’s the only way and you know it.”

  I could drown in those whiskey eyes forever. He gives the slightest nod even as his lips quiver. It’s not a promise he’s able to express. He holds me tighter while we hold our joint hands over my belly. This baby better know how much we love her!

  Thirty

  An awakening.

  We experience a peaceful week. There’s been no untoward incident. It has stopped raining but the cold is relentless. The grounds are covered with a thick fog right from dusk to early dawn. Under the weak rays of the sun, it lifts momentarily to dissipate into a light mist.

  The family gathers together to sit by the fire in the living or dining rooms. The bedrooms all have heaters that struggle to keep up their battle with the cold. It’s too cold to go out of the mansion. I’m restless. Being confined to the mansion is not something I like. I wish I could take a stroll of the grounds. But of course, I can’t. It’s too cold, too dangerous.

  It’s late evening, almost sunset. New Year’s Eve.

  Ajaz and I sit on the garden swing on the back porch. The sky is a dull, winter grey promising no respite from the cold this evening. Tomorrow I’m due to be at the hospital. I can’t get there soon enough. The baby’s weight is bogging me down.

  A sudden sharp pain at my side makes me gasp. I hold my hand against it while Ajaz leans over me in an instant. “You okay, babes?”

  Am I? I don’t know for sure but I nod. “Let’s go inside. I have a few things left to pack for tomorrow.”

  He helps me rise from the swing. I’m immediately overwhelmed with another bolt of pain that makes me bend over. “Uggghh!”

  Ajaz stares at me in alarm, grabbing my hand. “We’re going to the hospital now!” he announces and I’m in total agreement. We take a step to go in when a low growl is emitted from behind us.

  My hackles rise and under my hand, I can feel Ajaz’s hair stand up too. We both take a slow turn to come face to face with the beast from hell. It’s a mere ten feet from us, it can reach us with one pounce.

  Ajaz pushes me behind me, his muscles flexing under his clothes. I find panic rising in me. It’s my worst nightmare coming true. Just as Ajaz takes position with his palms braced outward towards the beast, we hear another growl. To my shock, one more beast appears a few feet away from the first one.

  I can almost feel my heart falling into my chest. This cannot be happening!

  “Get in the house, baby!” Ajaz orders me out of my frozen state.

  Before I can do as he bid, another sharp pain knives through my body making me bend over. In the next instant my water bag breaks. “Ajaz!” He jerks his head towards me recognising the urgency.

  Turning his attention back to the two beasts, he lets out a roar and hits them with a bolt that has them falling back. Before they can recover, he swings me in his arms and carries me inside the house. Setting me down, he slams the locks in place.

  “Ammi! Bhaijaan! Asad!” His roars are insane as he picks me up again heading for the main door. Walibaba comes running to witness his crazed scamper. Understanding at once, he heads with us to the front door calling out for the chauffer. Behind us, alerted by his shouts, the family gathers. />
  Ajaz takes one step out of the mansion and as if on cue, an unearthly howl tears through the darkened night. He skids to a cautious halt. My arms are around his neck but I manage to turn my head towards the sound. Standing not more than a few feet are not one or two beasts but at least twenty. I cringe in fear, causing Ajaz to take a step back. The car that was supposed to take us to the hospital, stands out of reach, the driver nowhere to be seen.

  The beasts stand their ground watching us, drooling and panting. They’re waiting for a signal of sorts. The alpha of the pack, taps on the soil with its front paw before letting out one more blood-curling howl. It makes the others freak out as they join in to perform the most terrifyingly creepy symphony I have ever heard.

  Ajaz backs into the house completely, giving orders for the doors to be sealed shut. He stares at his family ashen faced as I go into another bout of torturous contraction.

  Ammi takes over. “Asad, take everyone to the prayer room. Wait there, do not come out till I call for you. You need to take care of them and yourself. Azmath help Ajaz get her upstairs to their bedroom, then come back and protect the others.”

  “Ammi, let me help,” Rinaz chips in, worry written all over her face. She glances at Asad who nods.

  “I’ll be with the children,” Asad assures her.

  Ammi nods at them. She straightens her shoulders with steely determination. “We will deliver the baby here.”

  “Ammi,” Ajaz’s voice is uncertain but she puts up her hand to silence him.

  “We don’t have a choice, Ajaz. Let’s be prepared or she can die.” That scenario seems to sober him up as he begins to carry me to our bedroom.

  Below, I hear Ammi busy giving instructions for clean towels, bowls of hot water and sterilised knife. Fear rises up inside me. It’s happening! It’s really happening!

  Ajaz lays me gently on the bed. In the next instant Ammi and Rinaz are in the room. Rinaz makes me as comfortable as possible laying me half leaning against the bed rest.

  The howling of the beasts is frantic now, causing a frightening effect within me. I’m anxious, panicked, agitated, all at once. And I can feel something trying to break free. I know it’s not just the baby.

  Sudden screams from the floor below, shocks us. I can hear the children screaming. Rinaz puts a hand to her mouth. The others are being attacked!

  “Go!” Ammi orders and Azmath rushes downstairs.

  We can hear yelps in the distance as he probably obliterates them. Then it’s all quite. We have no idea what’s happening downstairs.

  As panicked as I am, I can’t stop the next jolt of contraction racking my body. Tears spring into my eyes as a cry in torn from my lungs.

  “Prish!” Ajaz is by my side, taking my hand in his, “Breathe, sweetheart, breathe.”

  I follow his advice, exhaling through my mouth while taking breaths through my nose. For a few moments, my regular “whoo, whoo, whoo” is all that’s heard.

  Then we all hear it. The staircase creaking under the burden of feet that climb upwards. We all turn to stare at the closed door as the footsteps come to a stop outside. Rinaz presses against Ammi in fright who shelters her in her embrace.

  Ajaz knows better. He leaves my side to stand in front of door, poised to strike. Behind him, I’m racked with another intense contraction that has me crying out. “Breathe, baby,” he instructs in a low voice, his eyes never once leaving the door.

  In slow motion, the door that is locked from inside, has the bolts magically set aside and the knob turned. It opens on the inside to reveal the silhouette of a man standing there.

  I don’t need to see it twice to know it’s Partho.

  He’s dressed top to bottom in immaculate black clothes. Button down silk shirt, crisp trousers, fine cut black blazer, black tie and shiny black shoes. His hair is tied in a neat ponytail while he’s braided his beard at the chin. This looks like a mafia hit job and not a job to steal souls.

  He hovers at the entrance, surveying the scene in silence. I cry out again behind Ajaz.

  “Breathe, baby.” Ajaz mutters through grit teeth, glaring dangerously at Partho.

  Partho smirks, tilting his head to look beyond Ajaz at me. “That’s my daughter there, son. A father is allowed to see her, isn’t he?”

  “Not in this state,” Ajaz throws back. I can see his fists clenching.

  Partho leans against the doorway, crossing his feet. He looks suave, nonchalant and ominous. He snaps his fingers and I gasp as Raati floats out of my body to land helplessly in his grasp. He has her dangling by her neck even as he brings her closer. She immediately wraps her arms around him and they engage in a lascivious kiss. I’m horrified. So, I was right. Raati is with him!

  Partho releases Raati who floats behind him to lean over his shoulder, peering at me with an impish smirk. Partho runs a hand over his slick hair before pulling at the lapels of his blazer to find his composure. He sends me a malicious grin. “Don’t look so shocked, my dear. Raati hasn’t betrayed you. She’s mine because she has no choice. You see once I realised what she had done to me with your mother and the true powers she holds, it was just another challenge for me to get control over her.”

  A low growl sounds from behind him before a beast appears to stand next to him. Partho laughs. “Challenge after challenge after challenge. I’ve mastered so many that I’ve lost count. These are but a few of my minions from a place called Hell.” He pets its head while it stares at Ajaz with an evil look.

  “Partho, no!” my voice is shaking as I get some respite from the contractions. “Don’t…aaagghhhh!”

  The scream that is torn out of me is almost inhuman. Ammi leans over me to wipe my damp brow blowing duas over me.

  Partho lets out a mirthless laugh. He snaps his fingers again and I see another familiar entity float out of him and join Raati. It’s Firion. He locks his colourless eyes with me even as he licks Raati with his long, evil tongue. She giggles writhing in his passionate embrace. Partho snaps his fingers and they behave themselves, hovering over his shoulders. “Don’t what, daughter? Don’t kill your husband and his family?”

  The pain from the contraction drowns out my anguish over his words. I sit up halfway and begin pushing. The baby is trying to be born.

  “Tsk, tsk, tsk. Such a pitiful sight.” Partho drawls, letting out a mirthless chuckle. “I can make it easy for you. Give me your allegiance and let this child come into my care. I promise I will spare your husband and his family. Just imagine the power, Poppy! Your child will be the most powerful being in the world!”

  “No!” The word is snatched out from my lips with the next painful cry.

  Partho throws a casual look at his immaculate nails, polishing them against his suit. “Never say never, Poppy. You can’t stop me.”

  I manage a brave look at Ajaz. I know he will climb the highest mountains to protect us. I know it won’t be easy.

  The clock in the hallway takes this moment to bring in the New Year.

  10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…

  Ajaz’s lips curl as we share a private smile.

  The beast next to Partho leaps at that very moment with a growl. Ajaz is prepared. He uses his palms to send a jarring bolt that hits the beast and sends it flying from the room. In the next second, I see Firion attacking him with a similar invisible force that sends Ajaz crashing into the wall.

  Ajaz jumps to his feet with a roar. He’s glowing now as his powers come to the forefront. But Partho sends out a quick whistle and within minutes multiple beasts gather at the doorway for an attack. I witness the horrifying scene in shock. There is no way Ajaz can defeat so many of them.

  The beasts leap in and he fights them off with all his might, the glowing inscriptions burning them to cinders. But they are too many and the attack too swift. Firion lets out a hideous laugh as he levitates and floats into the room. Rinaz is cowering by my head, while Ammi mumbling continuous tazbih.

  I see Ajaz begin to fall back under the vile attack as mor
e and more beasts keep filing in. I roar not just in pain but with fury.

  My head falls back as I will myself to find my strength. My power rises to the surface, it’s dark, it’s fearsome, it’s unrepentant. My eyes turn almost a complete black as rage engulfs me. I unleash my power at the beasts who have cornered my husband. It sends the entire wall of the room crashing leaving a gaping hole.

  Ajaz’s head snaps up in alarm. As I focus on my powers, I all but forget to push inevitably transferring my powers into my child. “Prish, stop!”

  Partho uses the moment to his advantage. As soon as Ajaz loses focus he hits him with a force that has him crashing to the edge of the gaping wall.