"Fear creeps at the moment when you consider yourself weak. Make your mind so strong that fear will shudder on seeing you."

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"Well, change is scary, but in the world of the immortals, you might have to live through many more aeons and see loads of changes. So be prepared," Mani informed in a matter-of-fact way.

"I'm still not convinced of what I really am," I sighed.

"Only one person can answer that question. One woman who is out of bounds for us now that we are felons," Mrithun laughed.

"Maya?" I asked.

Mrithun just nodded. What else could he do? My stupid adventure and my twisted sense of revenge had landed us both in this soup. If it wasn't for me, he might have been still trying to reclaim his office instead of running away and hiding.

"If me going back to the human world can keep you safe from suspicion, then I am ready to stay quiet and inconspicuous, you know," I said dejectedly.

"Too late for that, Tora," he sighed. "I have nothing here to linger back for. No job, no honour."

"But..."

"Besides," he cut me off, "I guess I need to find a new home too, and what's better than where you are?"

I blinked. Was I hearing it right? I turned to Mani. He had a big grin pasted on his face.

"Mrithun, I..." The rest of the words drowned in my throat. I couldn't speak. I stood dumbfounded.

"I don't know the name of what I feel, Tora, but there is something and I can't put the pieces together yet, but I'd love to be with you, for as much time as I could have with you, I guess," he confessed.

"So then come with me to the mortal world!" I exclaimed. "We can blend in there and stay."

Mrithun burst out laughing, his mood completely flipping from the earlier confusion. His laughter was free, free like the chirping of birds on a summer day and the beautiful peals of church bells. I looked at Mani. He was biting his lips, trying hard not to laugh.

"Baby Tora," Mrithun teased. "The immortals are also omniscient and omnipresent. We're now at the only place in heaven, hell and earth while has natural protection against spying eyes. This cave and the inhabitants in the depths of this cave are the most guarded secrets from all the realms and universes. If I go to the mortal world, I'd be caught and sentenced in seconds."

"What?" I looked around at the innocent-looking cavern. It was scary to think that the darkness hid mysteries that even the immortals don't know.

"How do you know about this place?" I asked Mrithun.

"Because here lives the ones who were not taken by Death."

"They're humans?"

"Not really." Mrithun gave a nervous smile. "Some demons, some Yakshas, Gandharvas, some illegitimate children of the Gods and the other immortal beings who are thought to be dead but aren't. They are very much alive."

"And so you brought me here." I shuddered.

"Yes," he breathed. "As long as I am here, this is a safe space for you to stay."

"And won't they search for me?"

"They can't see you in here. They can search all the realms for you," Mrithun convinced.

"Well, I guess I could stay here then..."

"Mrithun," Mani warned suddenly.

Mrithun's eyes shot up, his arms immediately rising into the air, his fingers dancing slowly as if he could sense vibrations with his fingertips. He closed his eyes, focusing on something far, far away. And suddenly they both were on either side of me, flanking me left and right. Mrithun clicked his fingers and a misty blue haze spread over us, which cleared as fast as it had come.

And I realised I was wearing a fresh new dress in blood red. It was an empire waist flowing dress with gold motif embroidered kaftan sleeves. The two males were also in their best forms miraculously. Mrithun in his typical inky black ceremonial wear and Mani in a bottle green loose shirt with the top buttons open and paired with brown corduroy trousers, formal yet elegant.

"Why did we dress up suddenly? Is there a welcome party?" I murmured to Mani.

"Your lover likes the show. He is one of the most powerful ones in here and he prefers to keep up his attitude." Mani whispered back with a silent chuckle.

"He's not my lover," I quipped.

"Oh really? The little cuddly moments say something else," Mani smirked.

"O please!" I rolled my eyes.

"I'm dressing you both up because shouldn't look like we escaped from prison. You show vulnerability to the wrong people, and they will use it against you at the slightest opportunity," Mrithun hissed. "Now keep both your loud mouths shut. This is serious."

"He looks so cute when angry, right?" Mani teased.

I giggled. "Someone likes some other person a lot..."

"What? I just told that he looks cute, and that's completely normal." Mani appeared all flustered.

"And it's completely reasonable if you feel attracted to both men and women, Mani," I said seriously.

"Shh," Mrithun growled.

"I smell a human." A deep voice boomed through the cave just then, reverberating through the walls. The tone seemed to pour into my heart like the venom of fear.

"Me too, but that is not possible." A second blood curdling voice answered back.

"Who are they?" I whispered.

"They are Pisachas," Mrithun warned, casually taking a step ahead, putting himself between me and whatever that was coming towards us.

"Pisachas are among the cruellest of the flesh eating demons. They feed on young children from your world that stray in places where they shouldn't." Mani bent forward, speaking in my ear.

"Ah, my old friends," Mrithun spoke suddenly, making me jump out of my skin.

Two obnoxiously muscular creatures were walking towards us. They had prominent veins that bulged through their earthy skin. A crisscross of scars was visible on their bare chest, like deep track marks on mud and they wore nothing on their entire body except a pair of small shorts.

The sight was so comical that I almost laughed, but Mani put a hand on my back, as a warning reminder to hold the neutrality on my face. I adjusted my face in the cool poise of someone who was very comfortable with the discovery of her own immortality while my heart cried inside.

Wait, did I really have a heart? I held my breath for a second before I could feel the thumping. No, I had a heart at least.

"Wow, you're here after, like ten decades. Where have you been?" the taller of the two Pisachas came towards us. Mrithun took a step forward. They thumped each other on the shoulder like long-lost friends.

"Manibhadra," the other came towards Mani, who promptly dragged me back and stepped between us, keeping the abrupt move as casual as possible. "You don't come here." His bulging eyes travelled to me, roaming lustily on my body and lingering for a moment longer than I would have preferred.

"Who's the hot babe?" he sneered, his fingers dancing in the air. I shrunk back.

He took a sniff and immediately his nose flared up, his eyes widening.

"It's a human," he screeched. The mention of the word human drew in the attention of the other Pisacha, who looked up too. I froze. Bloodlust gleamed in their thirsty eyes.

"No, you fool!" Mani gave a dry laugh. It didn't reach his eyes, though. I could see nervousness flash in them. "She is a human born Yakshini, so she might smell like a mortal to you."

"Oh." The two of them looked at each other, confused.

"My apologies." The Pisacha in front of me threw a mocking bow, before stepping back, his eyes roaming hungrily on my body once again. I was so thankful for Mani and Mrithun being there. If not for them, I would be shredded to pieces by these demons.

"So, what is this little party doing in our secret hellhole?" the taller Pisacha cackled.

"We came to stay, me and the Yakshini," Mrithun admitted.

"Oof, hiding eh?" the Pisacha grinned, baring his pointy yellow teeth and very large canines.

"Somewhat," Mrithun tossed his head. Somehow, he seemed more relaxed than Mani. Mani was fidgeting on his feet, restless and almost ready to grab me and sprint at the slightest trigger.

"Why are you tensed?" I whispered to him.

"Because these are the lower order creatures. We have self-control, the higher ones. These are just beasts with the outer appearance of politeness. Plus, they don't owe their life to Mrithun, so they wouldn't think twice before going for your throat if they ever get you alone. They don't care if you are a mortal or immortal," Mani breathed.

My heart was racing again. Mrithun had told me there were creatures worse than Death down here and Pisachas were among them.

They don't look that polite from outside too," I joked, to lighten the mood. A small smile cracked through the perfectly neutral mask of Mani. We really got along easily.

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