The squeaky noise woke me up.

I was slouched down in my chair and jerked my eyes open. It was the indistinct sound of galloping horses, and the knights yelling and cursing to confine a trespasser that had come barging into the premise of the Sharad's palace. I stood up, bewildered, not knowing when I'd dozed off in the living room after yesterday's talk with Pruthvi. I lit the lantern to search for my jacket and then hurried outside to help them if required.

It was well before dawn and freezing outside. The porch was filled with snow. In the haste that I was in, I grunted and saved myself from tripping. The knights were the ones guarding our apartment, Nazira to be precise, during our absence. Leaning down from the rail, I watched them flinging sticks and hurling stones at one black giant familiar hound.

My heart skipped a beat. I watched it keenly until I made sure if it was the one. Dang! Knights didn't need my help, they needed to back off.

"Hey, stop!" I shouted, but the knights didn't listen. Their concentration was full on the strayed one, beating and poking it with a stick. One of them even had a musket pointed at it. The dog yelped and growled back at them.

A few lanterns from other neighboring apartments turned on. With the beasts causing a rampage everywhere, it was obvious for this sudden break of noise to cause panic among the people. Before everyone from the community woke up, especially Dhanunjay, and blabbed the whole thing to the King, I had to put a stop to this brawl.

"Stop! Stop!" I shouted running down the stairs and pacing hurriedly towards them. "The dog is mine!"

"Yours?" said one of the knights, finally stepping back surprised finding me stand in between them and the dog. "But Hayden Mackay, we never saw it before and it was sneaking inside through the barrier..."

"Yeah, we thought we lost it... a month ago. It must have gone searching for a bone...or a female version of it. Sorry for the trouble." I turned around at the hound. "You, get inside the house before I kick you hard! Go! Go!"

I pointed my finger straight at the apartment and glared wishing for it to understand. It wagged its tail, mouth shining with saliva and canine teeth overlapping a scar on its jaw. It gaped back up at me with its beguiling eyes. The knights stood glancing back and forth at one another. At last, the hound curled it's tail and whimpered before stepping towards the apartment. I apologized to the knights once again, and then quickly walked back making the dog follow me.

"Female version of me, huh! I wonder if there's such a thing," he said, as I closed the door and locked it.

I smiled warmly in greeting at the tall, beefed up man standing in the living room. After all this time, I could still detect the snide quality of his voice, and those shrewdish eyes ever so cold with mischief. Only the scar beneath his jaw made him look different from the last I had seen. He smirked, jiggling his fur coat to brush a few snowflakes away.

Then I had a good look at him as he removed his hood off his head. There were bruises and gashed all over his face, neck and down his palm.

"Are you alright?" I asked.

He shrugged. "Knight must have already made their morning."

I nodded, feeling sorry for him.

"Haven't seen you in a while," he continued, his eyes landing on the table where there were leftover cookies and soda from the last night. "Was worth it anyway. Congrats on your win against Shaytan Rup."

"Thanks," I replied.

"And congrats for making Shashi more aggravated."

I raised my eyebrows. It would have been a real deal if Shashi wasn't aggravated. I didn't know how to react at this unimportant statement and played it safe giving him a tight-lipped smile. "He should know by now that my intentions are never meant to brighten up his incredible life."

Shourya smirked. He bent over and helped himself with a cookie. "Sarcasm at its best. Five of you, so different yet so alike."

"Don't forget you are one of us."

"I appreciate the gesture," he said turning around munching. "But I'm afraid that's gonna change. I am not trustworthy anymore."

That sounded bizarre. "What do you mean?"

He finished the cookie and immediately held a couple more. "Shall I?"

"Of course. Knock yourself out."

He fell on knees beside the table and bolted down the cookies one after the other, sometimes two in a go, gulping every bit of it without even pausing to breathe. Nazira had mentioned a couple of times in the Parallel universe, that just like a Samagraha, Shourya and his clan couldn't keep up with hunger. But with the way he was eating, with such intense eagerness, it somehow indicated if he was going through some difficult phase.

Taking a step forward, I gazed at his bruises. They were dark purple welts. It was more like the ones received from a whip-beating than of a normal stick. Around his neck, there were spots stamped with dried blood.

Crunching the final bit of the last cookie, he leaned back and inhaled deeply. "I was hungry," he said as if there was an obligation to explain.

"That's quite visible," I said, "Shourya, did you get beaten up that much?"

He sighed. His silence was half affirmation. He held the glass of soda and drank it in a go. "Shashi knows," he said, and smacked his lips, "Jyran ratted me out. He set a bigger trap, used Tyrell against me and there was no way out for either one of us. He had to reveal all the secrets, mentioned every lead that you've gotten from me and I had to surrender. For the first time, there was someone capable to manipulate me. Now Shashi knows. Everyone knows."

"Wha...?" I choked on own breath as if I was talking underwater. "Did Tyrell too...?"

"His stone is taken away. This happened just a few days ago. And now Jyran is making him learn dark magic without having his stone accessible. And you know how it is to a Samagraha without having a stone around. And learning dark magic needs a lot of energy and stability. He is not in good shape, Hayden. He is suffering."

It was as if someone had struck me hard with a knife across my throat. My voice got caught up imagining my friend going through a terrible fate. What the heck was taking the High King to make a decision on that letter I'd posted?

"And now Shashi wants to use me against you," he said, "Against the five of you."

I watched him sympathetically, and anger boiling from inside. Jyran was again successful in taking one of our friends away from us.

"So what now?" I asked, finding my voice. "Are you working full-time for Shashi now? No more playing a phony little double-agent?"

"I have to," he said, "Hayden, just for a heads-up I am your enemy now. You should start treating me like one and not treat me to refreshments like this. If you really want to be safe from a cunning person like me."

"Depends on how you behave," I said, sparks instantly flying out of my fingers.

Shourya had always helped us work through our problems, directed us to a way whenever we ran into a roadblock. Pruthvi shall forever be grateful to him for giving him a second life, and for keeping his sister safe for all those years. But somehow, somewhere he gave an impression of standing on a fence. Nobody could decipher what could be running in his mind. His intentions seemed to be crystal clear when he shared his past with me involving my aunt. But it was always necessary to be cautious whenever he was around, to listen to things through and then make a decision. And today, even after his sincere revelation, it seemed I needed to be extra cautious.

"Easy," he said, standing up and lifting a hand, watching the sparks fly. "I just want to talk. To negotiate. You know how it works here, don't you?"

"In old Paramarashtra perhaps. In the country where there was no third-generation Samagraha living. Things shall change. Sooner than later."

His features softened. He gently dropped his hand down. "You seem confident, Hayden. I might have met you just a couple of times but I am already seeing the difference. Is it because the Codicil is in your favor?"

"Everything is not about the Codicil. It's for Doctor. It's for his dedication and ambition to make us stronger," I paused and tilted my head. Something just rang a bell in my head. "Are you here to ask something off me in exchange for the Codicil?"

His neck tightened as he swallowed hard. "I am here to ask something off Pruthvi, in exchange for your life."

I shrunk my eyes, my mind reeling. "Don't make things difficult for him. He lost a lot already. Life has been too unfair. Whatever it is, the answer is no. Go tell Shashi to dare face me instead of haggling as if I'm some kind of a street vendor. You can now go."

"I am not going anywhere," he said, his voice turning grave, "I am not stopping because I can't stop. Call Pruthvi Krishna, I need to talk to him."

I folded my hands. "Shourya, I am not calling him. Talk to me. Is it really not about the Will?"

"No."

"Is it about the Clan of Pradhans?"

"No. Making him the leader of my clan is my personal choice. It has got nothing to do with either you or Shashi."

"What has Pruthvi got that Shashi..." I stopped abruptly when it struck me, "it's about the tomb?"

"No," Shourya said slightly irked at my yammering, "He has the tomb secured in a place you can never reach. Not even I have been able to figure the place out. He is not worried about it either."

"Then what in the world does he want?"

"Nazira Khan," he finally answered, his tone matching with the same level as mine, "Shashi wants Nazira, Pruthvi's sister."

For a moment I stood stunned. I gaped at him feeling my extremities tingle. And when I finally took control over my emotions, I exhaled in the most dramatic way, sagging my shoulder down. Shashi might have never sunk so low. Every other way must have shut down, that now he wanted to go after the most innocent, lively yet forever fearful person.

"Why?" I asked, in a most casual and uninterested way. There was no point in stretching and discussing the matter. I rubbed my nape, wanting Shourya to leave if he was done making the barbaric pact.

"You know very well what Zarina predicted about her great-granddaughter."

"And it was publicly announced that her prediction is false. Utter bogus. Just like how she predicted about our parents. Why is he bringing this up again?"

"He doesn't want to believe what Doctor wants everyone to," Shourya said, shaking his head, "He wants Nazira Khan. By any means necessary. And he wants her to replace Zarina's position. Then he will decide whether to spare you or to perform the ritual to gain Samagraha power."

I shut my eyes tight in irritation. The composure I'd been trying to build was so on the verge to break, now that I had damned information about Tyrell, and Nazira was being unnecessarily brought in. "Shourya, it's her. Don't you think dragging her in this mess is way too..."

"Silly it is, I know. How naive of Shashi, true. But listen to me-Shashi and Zarina had a huge talk in private before he decided to hide her in the Temple of Chandrika. I tried my best to find what it was about. But ..." He shook his head guiltily.

I mulled over the possible facts. It was abundantly clear that Nazira wasn't a clairvoyant or whatever Zarina had predicted her to be. She possessed no magical powers whatsoever. Then why was Shashi after her? What must have Zarina told him? Has it got anything to do with the magic laid upon me?

I made one last attempt before I lost it. "You, out of all people, should know that Nazira isn't anything like her great-grandmother."

Shourya batted his lashes, restraining his anger. "You think he'll listen to me? He knows I'd been betraying his trust."

"Fine!" I shouted, completely lost it, "This pact is hideous as he is. Go tell him the deal is beyond the pale. He is so invited to come and have me instead."

Shourya smirked, his eyes glistening. "Looks like a month full of a trip to the Parallel universe has ignited a spark."

I remained calm and looked away. But to say it out loud was so at the tip of my tongue that it took all my energy to gulp it down. Shourya claimed not to be trustworthy anymore. He might use it well against me and my friends. I just wasn't able to settle my mind on what to or what not to believe.

"Shourya?!"

He noticed me glance ahead over his shoulder, and that made him spun around. Standing in front of the walkway was Nazira, her face glowing on having a sight of her guardian she hadn't met for nearly a year. She quickly walked upfront, smiling brightly. In the few seconds that she walked, an appalling image aroused in my mind where Shashi was hurting her and sucking her blood. I shuddered as my mind played a trick.

"Quick," he whispered to me, "Stop her. I am impelled and I will take her with me."

He didn't even give me time to show how shocked and mentally convulsed I was. She was pacing speedily in excitement. I pushed myself to take a few steps and stood in front of her like a protective wall between her and Shouyra. "Go to your room," I said firmly.

"I want to talk to him," She signaled with one hand, although she just moved her fingers for the sake of Shourya.

She moved aside. I instantly blocked her way.

"You can talk to him later. Go to your room and lock it. Check again if you have really locked it. Close all the windows if you have it open..."

"Okay," she said, without signaling, "I'll just spend a few minutes with him, and..."

"This is not the time to argue," I said, gritting my teeth. The image was mocking at me. "Just do as I tell. Go inside."

"No!" she said, with a determination that I had never seen in her before, "What's the matter with you? It's just Shourya."

"Nazira, you said you trusted me, so trust me. Go inside."

"You don't let me walk outside the house and don't even allow to...."

"Yes!" I shouted, that even a disabled person like her had to flinch. It wasn't the anger stressing me out, but the image that was too adamant to get dislodged, "Like it or lump it, this is how it is going to be. Now GO!"

She creased her brow too tightly, enlarging her moistening eyes. "This just keeps getting worse."

She broke out crying and ran away, disappearing into the darkness of the walkway. A loud slam of the door stirred my heart.

I turned back to face Shourya. Behind him, outside the window, fireflies were flying in a frantic way, gliding here and there as though the restless bees. "There should be a way to break this impelling thing. Do it or just tell me how to, I'll do it for ya'."

"All I can do is to fulfill the wishes of the one who impelled me or you can just simply kill me," he answered, his voice dripped in sadness. "Either of those will break the magic."

I bit my lip, feeling the moisture in my eyes. I was losing another friend, it was just downright unbearable to handle. "Stay with me here. Be my ally. Let me make up for what my grandfather did to you."

"I wish. But you can't trust me. I might just hurt Nazira. That's what Shashi wants me to do for being her secret guardian on Doctor's behest."

My stone in my pocket burned. I didn't care if Singh was listening or was hedging me to control my anger. I knew how one would act once impelled. The episodes with Celina's uncle and with Tyrell weren't easy to forget. Shourya would be equally adamant to do whatever Jyran wanted. If he stayed a bit longer and did anything to hurt her, then I might have to fight him just like I had with Tyrell. Whatever the result could be, it would only add up to the mental disturbances I'd already been facing.

"You leave me no choice," I said, flaming my hands and stepping upfront threateningly, "I am sorry but...get out!"

He stepped back towards the door. "Hayden, you must know that I won't be able to stop myself. I'll keep coming back."

"And Shashi must know that he has to deal with me before he lays his hands on her. Out! Out of my house."

"What's all the noise?" Pruthvi entered the living room, irritated and half asleep, and then stopped abruptly midway, "Shourya? What are you doing here? Hayden..."

I didn't listen to a word he muttered. Liting my fire off, I walked aside, took a couple of packets of cookies and Ras Golak, and tossed them at Shourya. That would atleast keep his appetite in check for a few days.

"Leave!" I shouted at him, rage on the verge of splitting my head apart. My stone blazing hot and almost burning my skin beneath it.

Shourya's eyes flicked between me and Pruthvi. "I always knew she is in good hands," he whispered, "Keep her safe."

As soon as he was out of sight, I swiftly closed the door and stood there breathing heavily, pressing my eyes shut.

The image slowly melted away, overlapping with a thought that rankled me. Tears filled my eyes as I realized what I had done- I just repeated my grandfather's deed, one of the reasons that began this hatred towards him. I mercilessly threw Shourya out.

"What happened?" Pruthvi asked, in a low voice.

"Trouble," I replied, taking my stone out of my pocket, trying to cool it down. "More trouble."

-x-