I raise my right palm and my left index finger twitches.
Purple currents shoot out of my hands, and I watch as they watch the currents settle around their throats and chest.
Within a second, they are hyperventilating, trying to gasp and breathe, while trying to calm their heartbeat. I feel the exact moment their mental shield shatters under the onslaught of the pain they are suffering now.
I look at Ry and give him a nod.
He closes his eyes and I bring my focus back to the captives. I see yellow dust settle over their faces. Ry grunts and then he utters one word.
“Betin.” The God of Fear
Ry and I withdraw our magic and step back.
The slumbags look like they are half dead. But now the fear on their face is real. Shit just got real, for them and for us.
“Why does Betin want to eliminate my family?” Pa asks from behind me. His power coats me, as it passes me and slams into them. They have no option but to scream.
Yeah. Pa’s protective powers are awakened now. And that alone makes him a hundred times the warrior he was five days ago.
“You found her,” the leader says softly, in shock, as the same realisation hits him.
I don’t like hearing this. I don’t fucking want them to even think about her.
Lava orange joins his golden magic and this is the Great Cael losing his mind.
“Why. Did. Betin. Send. You?!” Pa roars and the captives scream in agony. Their clothes and hair burn away. Leaving behind nothing but smoke.
“Cael,” Sensei speaks softly, pulling Pa back before he burns the captives to a crisp.
Pa withdraws his magic, and as the last bits of magic comes back to him, he tells them calmly, “I will not hesitate to kill you. So do not give me a reason to.”
Sensei speaks over their screams and howls, “we will leave you for some time. Think about your decisions. When we come back, we better have a healthy conversation.”
Sensei waves a hand and I see a shimmering white shield enter their bodies. After a few seconds, Sensei withdraws his hand, nods, and then leaves.
Satisfied with the knowledge that they won’t be able to communicate with anyone outside of here, and vice versa, I follow the others out, locking the doors behind me.
As I reach the living room, I find Pa pacing and Sensei standing at the window, facing outside, deep in thought. The guys are all seated around, pensive as well.
“So…. any thoughts?” I break the silence.
It is damn near impossible to keep one's thoughts hidden and mouth clamped shut with Sensei and Pa there. I can see that I am not the only one who has come to that realisation. For the captives to be able to pull that off, or, for someone else to control them like that, means it is more than just Betin.
Pa doesn’t stop pacing, Sensei doesn't turn back, and the four of us are left looking at each other.
Suddenly Pa stops pacing and looks towards the kitchen. I am on instant alert as I turn around to face the kitchen as well, waiting for Pa’s signal.
“It is Ada and Lexie,” he says softly. He goes and settles on the lounger while we all wait for Ada and Lexie to come in. Pa smiles softly and rolling his eyes says, “they are still ‘high’ on food.”
“Oh damn it! You stupid swine and a half of a hole in a bagel!” Ada curses at something, followed by Lexie’s chuckle.
“Okay calm down, I will fix it up for you,” we hear Lexie say.
About a minute of silence, then a thump sounds and Ada curses more. Rather creatively.
“You Hogwarts roaming bloody inconsequential tick stuck in Umbridge’s wand…..”
Lexie’s laughter reaches our ears, and I find all of us smiling, including Pa. I cannot say about Sensei, though, as he has not moved from his post.
“Why don’t you go and wait in the living room. I think everyone is interrogating the captives we have…. Chill for a bit and then we'll talk about your magic,” Lexie tells Ada.
“Oooohhhh interrogation! Can I go and join them?” Ada asks.
Everyone stiffens, including Sensei. We don't want her anywhere near them, right? I mean-
“No… No, no, no… Just stay right here, in front of my eyes. Do not go down there without talking to Pa and Sensei first!” Lexie tells her urgently.
I relax a little.
“Why? I have my magic now. I can just wave my hand and think of annihilating them like this -”
A loud explosion and a rattle sounds from the kitchen, and Lexie and Ada scream. Then it sounds like the house is coming down.
Heart pounding in my chest, I run to the kitchen..
Have more people come to hurt us? To hurt her?
We are there in three seconds and the sight leaves me cold.
The girls are huddled under the dining table, Lexie clutching onto Ada’s hands, and Ada staring at the wall, wide eyed, trembling with terror.
The wall, which used to house our storage and cabinets, is blown, smashed, providing a clear view of our front yard. The entire wall is gone, along with all crockery and bottles we used to store in the cabinets.
Ryan and Ash run to the wall debris, magic flaring in their hands, looking for attackers. Vince and Pa go to the table to get the girls and Sensei and I walk around the room looking for threats.
“Nothing… no one is here,” Lexie stammers.
“What do you mean no one is here?” Pa asks her. “Fucking hell…,” he curses.
Sensei and I reach them, just in time to see Ry and Ash coming back too, calmer but still looking alert.
Ada is staring at the wall, or the remnants of it, in shock. She is shaking. For something to shake her so much, I cannot even fathom what it could be.
Pa runs his hands up and down her arms to give her some warmth. Vince is doing the same to Lex. Both of them look pale as fuck and my heart is being crushed right now.
There was a threat right here!
Ash brings glasses of water for them to Pa and Vee, and they help them drink it.
When their shaking subsides a little, Sensei walks up to them and asks, “tell us what happened?”
Ada snaps out of her trance, and then her hand flies to her mouth. She looks around at us, her eyes finding mine, and I feel like she is apologising to me with her eyes.
What? Why?
“I am sorry… I am so sorry….,” she mumbles from behind the hand clamped to her mouth as tears fill her eyes. Pa’s hold on her tightens. His eyes move around the room, scanning for anything or anyone out of place.
“I am so sorry. I didn’t know. I didn’t…. I didn’t realize….. I am so so sorry!” Ada says, panic setting in her voice. “I swear I will pay for all the things. I swear!”
“Baby girl what is happening? Why are you sorry?” Pa asks her, panic lacing his voice as well. He doesn't know what has happened, none of us do. And Ada is freaking out, while Lexie is still in shock, I think.
“Gudiya, Cael and I will handle all the damages and repairs. You tell me what happened. Why are you panicking?” Sensei speaks at last, the concern in his gaze clear.
“It was me,” she whispers. What? What does that mean? “I waved my hand and I thought...I think… my magic took over.”
The Fuck?!
“What do you mean?” Sensei asks.
“I…. I was… I was just…,” she stammers some more.
“Calm down Gudiya. First tell me, is there a threat here?”
Lexie and Ada shake their heads.
“Enzo, settle that please,” he tells me pointing at the wall debris. “Girls, go inside and sit in the living room. Vee, Ry, go with them. The rest of us will seal this then come,” Sensei commands.
“What d-d-do you m-m-m-mean?” Ada asks, perplexed.
“You will see. Now go inside and settle down. Deep breaths. Calm breaths. When I come back, I don’t want the scared girls in front of me. I want to see my warriors. Got it?” Sensei looks at both Ada and Lexie.
Ada gives a nod and walks slowly t
o the living room.
Lexie looks at Sensei with amazement and upon his questioning look, she softly says, “you called me your warrior…..”
Sensei looks at her and sees her for the little girl that she still is. He smiles at her, the first time he has smiled at someone who is not Ada.
“Of course you are my warrior Lexie. And I am proud of you. Cael trained you and discussed your developments with me. And I trained Cael. Of course you are mine,” Sensei tells her with love, and then wraps her in his arms.
All of us, involuntarily, take a step back.
For Sensei to show love or gentleness to anybody has been unheard of. The first time I ever saw him smile was when he spoke to Ada. The first time I saw him make a joke was then too. I know what Lexie is feeling right now.
I look to Pa and I find him smiling softly at Lexie.
“You were always my daughter Lex, and you are our warrior. You are Sensei’s warrior. Okay?” Pa steps forward and strokes her hair, calming her down.
When Sensei lets go of her, she looks at them and that smile transforms her whole face. She looks innocent, and proud. My eyes sting with happiness.
She nods and whispers to them, “okay.” Then goes to the living room with a skip in her step. Vee and Ry go with her and throw their arms around her shoulders, hugging her in a side-arm hug.
“Let’s get this done,” Pa says, turning back to the wall.
I close my eyes, open my senses, and get to work.
Chapter 30
Ada
I cannot believe I just did that.
I cannot believe it came out of my hands and everything went kaboom.
Ryan hands me a glass of water, while Vince does the same for Lexie. Both of us are in shock. I have literally never been in shock. But this is new territory.
I could have hurt Lexie!!
Oh My God…. Oh my God…
A hand touches my cheek and I realize I am crying.
Shit.
“What is wrong Ada? It’s okay. It will be fixed. Don't worry about the mess…,’ Ryan says draping a blanket over my shoulders.
Great! I am shivering as well.
I look up and find Lexie and Vince looking at me with concern too. I look at Lexie and my heart stops.
I could have hurt her……
“I am so sorry,” I whisper, closing my eyes. “Lexie...babe..I am so sorry. I would … never have… jeo… jeopardised you like that. I shouldn’t have done that… I am so sorry. Please forgive me….” I tell her sobbing and clutching the blanket to my chest.
I am sorry I am sorry I am sorry.. Oh God I am sorry…
I am being lifted and held close to a muscled chest. And I don't know if it is that or the fact that I feel at home right here, I bawl my eyes out..
I am sorry, please forgive me. God please forgive me…
It is a continuous chant in my head. I hope to everything I have ever believed in that I am forgiven for this.
“Gudiya,” Baba’s voice comes from above me and I realize it is he who is holding me.
“I am sorry Baba...I am so sorry….,” I am a sobbing mess.
“Look at me,” he says gently.
I lift my eyes and find myself looking at the deepest pools of love, for me. And that makes the tears come on more heavily.
“Why are you crying? What are you sorry for?” he asks.
I take a moment to calm my breaths and heartbeat. I wipe my face and look at him, again.
“For hurting Lexie,” I tell him, voice quivering.
“But you didn't hurt her gudiya.”
“I could have … Baba.. I would never have forgiven myself if I had hurt her. God I am so sorry.”
“Ada?” Lexie speaks and I am dreading looking at her, so I close my eyes. What if I see hatred? What if I see anger? I would deserve it, I would so deserve it.
But you know what? I would live with whatever she deems I deserve.
With great will, I make myself look at her. And when I do, I am taken aback.
I do not see hatred or anger, or even irritation. I put her in danger, I demolished her home. And here she is looking at me with concern.
“I am not angry at you, love. I could never be angry at you. Stop crying, please…,” she pleads.
She is pleading with me?
Why?
Baba sets me down and Lexie comes over and hugs me. I hold her tightly, thanking God that she’s fine and safe. Continuously, whispering to her that I am sorry.
“Shh….it's okay, you didn't hurt me. And you wouldn't have,” she says with conviction, but I find it laughable.
“You don't know that….”
“I know that. I do know that,” she lets go and looks at me. “Just like Enzo’s magic didn't hurt you, your magic wouldn't have hurt me. Magic works at the will of the wielder.”
“But he lost control of his magic, didn't he? And he has been using it way longer than I have been. I could have hur-”
“Shut up. Enough of this. You didn't hurt me! Now snap out of it.”
I feel her power touch me. A single heat blossom that unfurls within me, and then it dissipates.
“Yes ma'am!” I hiccup, saluting her.
Her face breaks into a beautiful smile. “It didn't affect you, right?”
“What?” I am confused.
“I tried to throw my power with my words, and it didn't affect you,” she smiles. “I told you. I have a theory that our magics wont hurt one another, ever. So cheer up!”
She gives me one last hug then sits on the couch.
I turn around and find Baba looking at me.
At my gaze he smiles, nods and then says, “there is a lot we need to discuss. But first I need to tell you all a few things. Take your seats.”
Dad comes and sits next to me and wraps me in his arms, kissing the side of my head.
“Gudiya, what do you know about Kazi?” Baba asks me.
“Kazi is who you’ve all been looking for. The one who has the soul of Ida-Samara, Shivati and Aarya’s long lost daughter.”
He nods. Then he clasps his hands behind his back and starts pacing slowly.
“It has been told to everyone that Vyhdir couldn't feel the identity of Kazi. That is true. But just after he sensed Kazi's presence on Earth, he had gone to Paramaiah, and told Him something that he didn't tell anyone else.”
“How do you know that?” I ask him.
He smiles, looking proud of my question, though the look on others’ faces says that I fucked up.
“The book you were reading, there were few loose pages in it. I have those. Those pages were not added, because Vyhdir didn't want the others getting hands on that knowledge.”
I frown at that, but nod anyways.
“Vyhdir had told Paramaiah that Ida-Samara’s soul is not just her soul. When she had sacrificed herself for the animals, and her animals that had been back home had died too feeling her death, all of their souls had merged together.”
Everyone gasps, except Dad and I. Dad, probably because he knew it. And I, because I don't understand what it means yet.
Baba stops and looks at everyone.
“Their merged souls is the reason why no other God could even get a sense of Ida-Samara. And they tried a lot. This soul, this is what is called Kazi, short for khazana. Treasure.” He takes in a deep breath as if contemplating whether to tell us more or not. He looks at Dad, and whatever Dad says, seems to make up his mind.
“This merged soul, in addition to being the soul of Ida-Samara, the Destruction Gods’ daughter, and the animals’ souls, also had an extreme level of compassion and love. Imagine a God’s daughter who is selfless, and animals who are known to love unconditionally. So you can imagine how deeply such a soul felt?”
I nod.
“This merged-soul kept on roaming the space waiting for a stronger soul to fuse with. Now there is a difference between someone having someone’s soul, and someone’s soul being fused with something. You know the difference?”
>
He looks at Lexi, who says, “ummm…. Is it the same? Roughly? Like reincarnation?”
“Hmm...sort of, Enzo?” Baba asks.
“I am thinking that with the soul being fused, it would give whoever it is fused with more power?”
“Yes and No. Anyone else?” he looks around the room, stopping at me. “You want to try?”
I think about it for some time. What the heck, I will say what I am thinking.
“Um… I think someone having someone’s soul would mean that the body or the person is just a vessel. Their identity and essence is that of the soul? Or simply put, like a reincarnation? Whereas fusing the souls would mean that the person has their own characteristics as well, along with the features of the merged soul?”
Baba’s eyes shine with pride.
“Yes. The merged soul fusing with someone means that that person has their own identity, their own thoughts, and their own powers. In addition to the merged soul’s. So imagine someone was an emotional person, but add to it the compassion of the merged soul as well. Can you imagine?”
I nod. And I feel eyes on me.
I look up and find everyone looking at me.
Before I can ask anything, Baba continues.
“So this merged soul looked for the right soul to fuse with, someone who is pure, strong, healthy, unbiased, loving, respectful - but most of all, someone who could deal with the power of the merged soul and absorb it as well. After centuries of roaming space and time, the merged soul found one soul. Born to parents who were blessed by the Krimavi and Kshitara themselves, this soul had the humility and gentleness of her mother, and the fierceness and strength of her father. This soul was also, from before, blessed by Paramaiah too.”
My face must have looked confused as hell, because he says, “remember that Gods can grant wishes or boons to their followers, right? Well, this couple was an ardent follower and worshipper of Paramaiah as well. So Paramaiah had blessed this couple and a few other couples, that their children would be born with Paramaiah’s blessings. Which means a lot. Paramaiah’s blessings made this soul an extremely intelligent and spiritual person. Makes sense now?”
I know it is addressed to me so I nod.
“This soul, already Paramaiah, Krimavi and Kshitara blessed, was the apt soul for Ida-Samara to fuse with. And since the souls were fused, no other God could sense who the blessed soul would be. That is why she is called a treasure. She is a guardian, a warrior, a protector, a preserver. She is pure, passionate, wild, innocent….,” Baba starts moving towards me. “She is the balance between the extremes, she is wise and intuitive, raw and tranquil.”
Circle of Time: An urban fantasy (The Kazi Chronicles Book 1) Page 18