Sun dawned, brightening the hazy sky, with its crimson caress.

After the unexpected  gloom, it was supposed to be refreshing, but I couldn't feel it nor could both of my friends, as we stood surrounded by the workers in the bar. They were shocked, scared and cutoff, looking at us with hostility. We came across a strong man, part of an active resistance, nonchalantly snubbing Shashi's nose by running a bar, was no more.

There were raised voices and murderous intent all over us, lots of perpetual commotion. Celina had a glazed look as if she wasn't there. It was left to me and Tyrell to make these people believe that this had nothing to do with us. Well, actually it did, directly or indirectly, but we couldn't blurt everything out, could we?

I was as stupefied as Celina but hers was coupled with a deep gut wrenching grief. I could understand what she was going through. Her only family where she could have found love, was snatched right away. It was Tyrell who talked to the people more than me, answered all of their questions ingeniously, patted their ruffled feathers and hostility with a calm maturity I didn't know he had.

Finally it was the waiter, the one who ran away during the incident, made an unexpected appearance and saved us from all the hazzle. When he explained what had happened they had to let us go, even though some of them didn't want to.

I was standing outside with Tyrell, while Celina made final arrangements with the manager to take care of the bar and to provide a proper cremation ceremony for her uncle's body. They promised her that they would have one for him during the nights when they were sure Shashi and his men surely wouldn't bother them.

I wished she would stay for the ceremony. At the least, she deserved those final moments with her uncle. But she was totally against it.

"Do you think we are doing the right thing?" I asked Tyrell who was rubbing his hands trying to keep himself warm in the chilly morning.

"What do you mean?" he asked, knitting his brow.

"I mean we care for Celina as much as we do for Leena. We are not giving more importance to Leena and ignoring Celina, right?"

Tyrell smiled forlornly and said, "No Hayden, trust me. Celina will not be any better if anything happens to Leena. I know I shouldn't say this...her uncle is dead and isn't going to come back. But we can still save Leena and others."

I didn't say it loud but he seemed to be right. Leena was the only priority right now and I shouldn't forget the promise I gave to Celina's uncle about saving his people.

The door of the bar opened and Celina walked outside, looking like a lost soul.

"Is everything done?" I asked, in a clam voice.

She nodded. "Everything is done. We should go."

"Are you sure you want to..."

Tyrell gave a not so soft nudge on my shoulder before I could even complete my sentence.

"I am fine," she said faking a smile, "Let's go and save people from the virus."

I beamed at her.  She was one of the strongest girls, I ever knew. Tyrell was right. It was better if she came with us.

"So, where are we going next?" Tyrell asked, walking along Celina having his hand around her shoulder.

"We still need to find Shourya," I said, letting out a huge sigh, "Right now we know a lot of things, but we still don't know where the Maiden's cup is."

"So the journey continues?" he asked, sadly.

"The journey continues."

"I talked to the manager about Shourya," Celina said suddenly.

We stopped on our tracks, completely flabbergasted.

"Why would you do that?" Tyrell asked before I could, trying to maintain his sense of calm.

I really didn't understand what she was so smug about. Really, wouldn't talking about Shourya make these people hostile towards us, especially when they had just recently suspected us in Theodore Hanslay's death?

"Don't worry," she continued, placing her hands inside the pockets of her jacket, "I took care of everything. Let's just say we are almost about to meet him."

I asked, curiously  "What did you find out?"

"Uilani Hill," she replied, "That is where Shourya and his men are mostly spotted especially in the mornings."

"And where is the hill supposed to be?"

She smiled and pointed behind the bar. "We are right next to it."

I followed her finger. The bar was right next to a mountain. I remembered not seeing the bar as it blended with the mountain background.  Without staying stunned for too long, we started making our way towards it as fast as we could. As we were almost approaching the rock face, a huge pile of snow detached itself and fell swiftly below within a blink of an eye. We stepped back quickly, watching it fall. We weren't so eager anymore, especially in the face of a probable avalanche.

"Guys, I have a question," said Tyrell, hitting a small rock that was on his way upfront "Let's say we find Shourya and he provides us with the information about the location of Maiden's Cup, but without Leena, what's the use?"

"Cup in our hands is half work done, Tyrell," I said, "We can ask Leena and Pruthvi to come back here, cure the disease and together search for his sister."

"I will contact her," said Celina, "I think it's time we group up."   

She tried to contact both of them. She tried it twice but neither Leena nor Pruthvi responded. She was getting worried now and that fear and uncertainty filled us too.

While she kept on trying to reach them, Tyrell picked a large sturdy stick from the snow pile. He tested on his knee comically.

"What is that for?" I asked him.

"For balance and defense!" He replied.

"Aren't you supposed to be a Samagraha?" I asked, biting inside of my cheek.

"I will need it for my stealthy ninja skills when I am not using my powers," he replied solemnly.

I must have had a profound expression on my face at his nonsense that it was Celina's sputtering chortle brought me back.   

"I hope they are okay," she said, apprehensively, "Neither Leena nor Pruthvi are responding."

"It's a hilly area," I said, watching her getting tensed, "It should be tough to get connected. Don't worry they should be fine."

"It's not a telephone, Hayden," said Tyrell, with a mocking voice, "It doesn't work like that."

I made a face. I was just trying to calm Celina down, but Tyrell was being a pinhead.

Before we climbed the hill to its apex, I strictly asked both of them to stay closer to one another and never to go out of sight. Shourya was a dangerous person. I didn't want to give him a free opportunity to trick me and my friends again.

On finding three huge rocks which hid us but allowed us to sit comfortably and view the surroundings, we sat there waiting for the Shourya to make an appearance. I softly sighed as an invisible terror acquainted with me. I was going to meet Shourya again. I knew I had less than half a percent chance of meeting him today, but I was sure, if we met this time, our conversation was going to be wild. He worked for Shashi and yet he acted as if he was helping us. I wanted to know what his real intentions were. I wanted to know whose side he actually was-mine or Shashi Thribhuvan?

"What in the world is Tyrell doing?" She whispered harshly, mindful of our voices not creating an avalanche by the shouting. I looked over her head only to find Tyrell peering through a cluster of rocks, quite far from us almost at the end of the hill. He seemed ready to fall if not careful.

I stood up instantly watching him stare somewhere at the distance. "What are you doing?"

"Hayden, Celina, you got to see this," he said, his voice dripped with excitement.

He waved at us asking to come closer. I gave Celina a hand to pull her up. We walked quickly and then peered down the hole, kneeling on either side of him.

I watched closely. Tyrell was pointing at five men in black robes. I immediately recognized the clothing and my eyes began searching for Shourya.

"Shourya should be somewhere here," said Celina as if she read my mind.

"They are definitely Shourya's men, aren't they?" said Tyrell, "But where is the ring leader himself?"

I was slightly disappointed on not finding him. But still I didn't want to give up the only chance I thought we may have. I made up my mind to what to do next.

I turned around to tell them that but I found Tyrell already watching me.

"You are going to follow them, aren't you?" he asked, his eyes narrowing suspiciously.

"Yes," I replied, without hesitation, "Come on."

"I did not say I am okay with it."

I ignored his denial as Celina and I were already running towards them. I glanced from the corner of my eye, finding Tyrell sprinting down the hill trying to catch up. 

We quickly followed them to the other side of the hill, not minding the snow that was getting denser and denser. Even though it was turning hard to run, I was careful enough to not to leave the men out of sight.

Finally, the men settled at a specific area of the hill. As I was watching them, one of them, one with a hefty personality, came over to stand before a huge rock and pushed it easily with his bare hands. My mouth dropped when I realized the rock turned out to be a hidden entrance for a cave.

Tyrell cleared his throat, warning me about the danger we were letting ourselves into. But I couldn't care less about it. I was just doing what he asked me to do. I had to save Leena.

We waited till all the five men walked inside and disappeared into the cave. As soon as they were out of sight, we quietly crept along the snow trial that provided the better way towards the cave. The cave hadn't yet closed and I was glad they left it open. Even though my heart was sensing something was fishy, I decided to fight it out if needs be.

Tyrell and Celina hesitated before the entrance. Reason, the change in temperature. It was warm comparing with the cool weather outside the cave.

"Hayden, are you really, really sure?" said Tyrell, his voice filled with trepidation.

I couldn't answer him. I didn't know if I wanted to go inside. I was afraid what I might find inside. Celina whispered something in Tyrell's ears that surely made Tyrell to stop being so wary.

As I tried to look deeper into the cave, I found nothing but the eerie darkness leading to nowhere. I was unable to comprehend why the temperature was so high inside. First may be I believed it could be only my stone, but when I found Celina removing her jacket and dropping it at the corner of the entrance I ruled that thought out.

"Whoa! It's too sweaty," whispered Tyrell as he removed his jacket. I did too and shoved it over his.

Slowly and carefully we followed Celina who was first to walk inside. It was so quiet in there that I was clearly able to hear our own breath.

"What is this place?" Celina said looking around.

 My eyes started getting adjusted to the darkness. Deeper we walked, lighter the darkness turned out to be. I observed the floor, made of soft stones easily enduring the heat. Looking up, I realized the cave was an enormous one, circular and stoned walls surrounding it, were carved smoothly. All of a sudden flaming torches far away from us, sparkled to life, lightning up the whole cave.

"Is that a fence?" Tyrell asked pointing upfront. We jogged towards it only to find out we were at the second floor of the cave. My mouth dropped as I watched below over the ground floor. There was a large pit at the center holding a strange liquid. It was yellowish red and huge bubbles were bubbling out in a rhythm.

"That's lava." I said watching the scorching heat penetrating out of it. "How in the world can lava emerge in place filled with snow?"

"There is someone sleeping there, look," said Celina pointing to the other side of the pit.

I followed her direction. There was definitely someone lying on the floor, having long black hair flowing and every part of the body bulging.

"That's a woman, right?" I said shrinking my eyes, "Eww...look at those hands and legs, they are protruding out."

Tyrell bit his lip. "I wonder what else of hers is protruding out."

I and Tyrell sniggered, even though the situation wasn't apt. Celina was rather irritated at our suppressed outburst.

"You are a jerk," she scolded Tyrell and then she turned to me, "And you are a bigger jerk for laughing with him."

 "Hey!"

"Did you guys forget what Dhananjay and Doctor had told us?" she said angrily, "To spread a virus, the blood of a dead body is required. And I guess we just found a dead body."

"She is dead?" I gasped and stared at the body for a while.

"Gosh, I am sorry I laughed," said Tyrell, slightly ashamed.

"Yes, you must be."

"Look, there they are," pointed Tyrell ignoring Celina.

Watching around the pit carefully, there were four hollow stones that lead deeper inside to this cave. As Tyrell pointed, the five men were walking against the woman lying on the floor and halted near one of the openings. They stood there soundlessly, seemed to be waiting for someone to join them.

"Did you find it?"

Three of us startled hearing the grating voice that came out of the opening.

"Yes, we did," said the hefty men, "Your instincts were right. It was indeed inside Quinn's hut. We had to dig deep to find it out."

An eerie shadow came into visible from the hollow opening and a tall muscular probably a fifty year old man wearing the jet black robes from the waist down walked around the pit. The five men took a step back each and as I was watching intently, the men were also shivering a little.

"Who the hell is he?" Tyrell asked.

"Shh," whispered Celina, "Don't let him find us eavesdropping."

The tall man walked near to the man who had replied him. "Give it to me," he said dangerously, "Now."

The one standing beside the hefty man dug his hand inside his robes and took it out. I used all my will to stare at the thing. It was a blend of green and golden color, perfectly carved at the surroundings, a size of a delicate red wine glass and double handled. I did not even had to brainstorm about what it could be.   

"Maiden's cup!" I whispered, "There it is."

"Are you sure?" said Tyrell, "Do you think it is it?"

"Positive," I said, finding my eyes wide opened, "What else it could be."

I shuddered then, when my instincts were warning me about that man. "And I think I know who he is."

Tyrell and Celina gaped at me. I wasn't bothered by their stares. I was too busy watching the tall man, snatching the cup and holding it up.

"I found it," he said laughing villainously, "I proved my brother wrong again. I am truly an invincible. Now I can hereby avenge my mother."

"Brother? Mother?" said Tyrell, shrinking his eyes, "What is he saying?"

"Hayden," said Celina, apprehensively, "Do you think what I think?"

I didn't reply them. He was laughing and taking pleasure of holding the cup in his hands as I could only think of my parents' lifeless bodies I had seen in the mortuary.

He killed them! He is the one!

"Hayden!" Tyrell said, feeling tensed, "Do you think he is..."

"Shashi," said one of the men, "Shourya is already on his way to capture Aghasthya's other granddaughter. She shall be here any moment now."

Shourya was gone to capture Princess Lithika? So that was where he was now? Wait a second, did he say other granddaughter?

"Excellent," Shashi Thribhuvan said with a crocked smile, "Shourya is definitely my most loyal friend. Now go and drag Aghasthya as well. Tell him he is invited to enjoy his twin granddaughter's death."

"Twin granddaughters?" Celina said and I looked up at her. I realized our minds working on a parallel note. Shashi was, without any doubt, talking about Leena and Princess Lithika-the twin granddaughters of King Aghasthya.

Before we find a chance to discuss anything on this matter, I heard Shashi continue to speak, "In the meanwhile, till my dear friend wakes up, I am going to have a little chat with the Fire of Vengeance."

My heart dropped to my knee. I just wanted to believe he hadn't said what I had heard him say. I gasped and so did my friends. We spun around, positioning our backs against the fence as Shashi looked up directly at us.

"He knows," said Tyrell, his voice quivered.

"Don't-move-a-muscle," I whispered, breathing heavily, "He might just be bluffing."

Celina shivered tremendously when Tyrell caught her hand to calm her down.

"Come out, come out! Hayden Mackay," Shashi shouted, "I know you are here."

Celina and Tyrell tried hard not to give into the fear. My breathing became labored as I tried to control my own panic.

"Don't be a scaredy cat!" he continued, "I have been informed that you are the strongest one, probably stronger than the first two. Why are being a coward like your parents?"

"Don't listen to him," Celina urged, her voice a high pitched whisper, "He is just provoking you."   

For a while Shashi didn't utter a word. I fell in a wrong presumption that may be he was gone. But then there was a sudden change in the air. A foul smell hit us like a jolt. It was too thick and cloying. I doubted if my nose might bleed with the sudden development of change in the air. We instantly pinched our noses, glancing at each other in shock.

There was a sudden disturbance on the roof of the cave, a lumbering sound reverberated throughout.

There was minute blast and before I could I see what had happened, I had to spring aside away from two of my friends when the blast lifted up a huge amount of dust. I coughed a raspy one as if I was hit by bronchitis. The smell along with the dust was too much for me to endure. It took a few seconds for the dust to settle down, and when it did, I looked around to find my friends.

My head seemed to fall when I found them trapped in a cage. Both of them began to struggle finding ways to get out of it.

"Tyrell! Celina!"

"Don't even think about it!"

Shashi's voice surfaced again before I could run to help them. A shiver ran down my spine when the taller figure emerged from the darkness. In his hands he held a lantern of fire. He wore a black loin cloth over his swarthy skin, his face murderous with his voracious  bloodshot deep blue glacial eyes. The absolute creepiest part of his face was a deep gash that ran from his forehead passing down through his left eye till it reached mid of his cheek. He walked swiftly till he stood face to face with me. The stink was so much that my eyes streamed unable to take in anymore.

"Fire of Vengeance!" he said, a lot of grudge vibrating within his voice, "You look so much like your mother. You have no idea how much I despise you."

He totally surrounded me, providing me with no space to escape. I stepped backwards holding the railing of the fence as tight as I can. My heart skipped a beat when he raised his hand up to grip me around my collar, easily lifting me up as if I was candy.

"Hayden!" Tyrell shouted but Shashi threw the lantern at him making him leap backwards. The fire from the lantern did its job. It lit the whole cage trapping both Celina and Tyrell inside.

"Stay back!" Shashi shouted to Tyrell, "If you make a mistake of using you stone, I swear I'll kill your friend."

"Only if you know how to kill me!" I said beneath my labored breath and I wished I wasn't  a porky mouth.

He gritted his teeth and turned his face back at me.

"What makes you say that?" he demanded, "I can rip your head off as easy as a snap and mind you, I don't need a stone for it."

"What are you waiting for?" I said struggling from the grip that was tightening, "Kill me then. Killing is not new to you I am sure."

"No, no, no," he said shaking his head, "Killing you is not a matter to me. But the problem is I cannot kill you today. Do you know why?  Simply put, I need all twelve Samagraha together to complete my ritual."

I wasn't able to inhale properly as the grip around my neck was tightening. I didn't dare to respond him but concentrated on trying to free myself.

"And for that," he continued, "I need to begin with you, Hayden. You possess the stone that is undefeatable. I so enjoy challenging the impossible. Sure, I cannot kill you now, but I have different plans for you- to make you so weak, that you shall be unable even to use filthy stone of yours."

Without my knowledge a tear dropped down my eye making me blink. Me being a Samagraha was coming of no use. I wasn't able to concentrate on my stone to command it. Fire around the cage that jailed Celina and Tyrell was amplifying. I was sure they weren't able to see what was happening with me.

Suddenly there was a squeaking sound that made my ears go numb. This was torture, Shashi has planned to torture me.

"My friend is awake," said Shashi, his eyes turning desirous.

His grip around my collar dropped at once. I fell on my heels as he walked aside towards the fence. I gagged and coughed breathing heavily. In the process I watched him standing near the fence, flinging his hands up.

"Oh my friend!" he shouted, "Agnidaanav! I welcome you! Rise and follow my command!"

Serenity fell at once as I looked up to know whom he was talking to. I slowly walked towards the fence when the lava inside the pit began to swirl. From the corner of my eye, I watched Shashi swiftly walking away, disappearing into the darkness.

Lava was still swirling but I let my mind off it. I didn't care who Agnidaanav was, I just wanted to release my friends. I started trotting towards them but I was forced to halt on my tracks. I was distracted so much that I had to lose focus off my friends. A scary sound reverberated throughout the cave. I closed my ears but I also glanced at what was all this about.

A creature emerged, uprooting itself up into the air at speed of a light, lifting a few traces of lava. My eyes popped opened that I presumed my eyeball might fall out. The utter shock was making me forget even to breathe when I realized the three headed snake that I had wrestled two months ago was nothing before this giant monster.