"If you ever feel weak or inadequate, always remember that you're here, still, fighting and surviving and winning. You're running still. That's what matters."

🖤🖤🖤

It was pitch dark and I couldn't see anything. The cell was gloomy and damp, and my dress was wet with fresh blood. A slight ray of light was trickling from a window set high up in the wall. I struggled to stand up, but there were heavy iron chains attached to both my legs. I tugged at the shackles in vain.

There was a scurrying noise. "Who's there?" my voice shook. The scurrying turned to squeaks. I looked around my dark cage. Little yellow eyes lit up at the corners. Those eyes gleamed with a predatory instinct. I tried to scream, but no sound came from my throat. I closed my eyes shut in fear.

The squeaking grew louder. I felt something warm and squiggly climb on my back. I opened my eyes slightly and there they were, jumping around me, chewing at my dress...RATS!

Hundreds of them all over the floor, their eyes glowing and their teeth rattling. How much time before they would shred my gown and start feasting on my skin?

I tried to shout for help, but my voice wasn't there still. I was choking on my own tears. A sea of guards in cloaks were suddenly on me and then I was being thrown into an open fire and I was burning, burning alive.

And I screamed...screamed my lungs out. It was an all-consuming sound of utter pain. I didn't recognize my own voice.

"Tora," a gruff male voice whispered in my ear. My ears were ringing, the fire was eating away at me. The pain was excruciating.

"Tora," the voice whispered again. I scrunched my eyes shut.

"It's okay. You're okay. I'm here..."

The voice was calm and warm, almost familiar. I forced my eyes open. A pair of glimmering black eyes were looking at me. There was fear and concern playing in those serene orbs.

"Am I dreaming?" My tongue felt like rough sandpaper.

"You were having a bad dream. You're drenched in sweat," Mrithun said, his hands wiping the perspiration off my forehead, before lingering for a moment on the side of my cheeks.

"You're real right?" I touched his cheek lightly, feeling the stubble rub against my palm. He seemed solid. This was happening. I was in the arms of Death and he had kissed me last night.

I felt something cold on my back. I uttered a small cry, shivering involuntarily.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot to regulate my skin temperature." He grinned nervously.

"Wait what?"

The encircling arms were warm and cosy again. He drew me closer.

"When did you learn that?" I asked.

"Since I fell in love with a human." He winked.

"But that's not who you are. You have to put lots of effort to not let your guard down. This is not right. It'll be something always on the back of your mind," I whined, my fingers tracing the outline of his now icy lips.

It felt good to have a single morning of bliss amidst all the chaos, a morning of waking up to love, real love, not compromise.

"You hugged this frozen cold form in its wildest state and kissed me, knowing very well, I could have carved out your soul then and there." He pulled me up with one arm, giving a quick peck on my lips.

"That was an emergency," I whispered, the flashback running like an old horror film reel at the back of my mind.

"This is an emergency too," he laughed. "I shouldn't freeze you to death in your sleep."

"Did you sleep?"

"Silly question."

"Didn't you get bored?"

"Hearing you mumbling in your sleep was pastime enough," he guffawed.

"What did I say?" I blinked in embarrassment.

His eyes turned sad. "You were restless."

"I was dreaming of being in a cell again," I admitted, nuzzling against his chest. I breathed in his scent, filling my lungs with the enticing smell of earth and ancient winds.

"I wish I could reach inside your head and steal all those nightmares," he said softly, running his fingers through my hair. "I'll try to keep them away." There was a promise in his voice, a promise as eternal as the times. And for the first time since I had arrived in hell, I smiled.

"Now, let's get up before Holika breaks down the door," I laughed, trying to lighten the situation.

"I can stay like this with you all day," he mumbled, "but we've got work to do. We shouldn't exploit the hospitality of our host."

🖤🖤🖤

Holika, I realised, had a stash of foodstuff in her house. I never expected to find food there, so I was really concerned about what I would eat. But the ensemble of unknown fruits and wild roots dumped in one corner of her cosy cooking hearth made my stomach growl, reminding me of how I had not eaten for days. Once Mani had healed me, the hunger from the time in my cell had vanished, but the peace and tranquillity of a safe shelter were fueling my human instincts again.

She insisted she could prepare a meal. I offered to make one, out of courtesy and finally, we settled on dividing the work. She diced up the veggies while I prepared the assortment of spices, and then between us, we made a curry and boiled some rice and pulses.

"Were you a vegetarian always?" I asked, rotating the ladle on the iron pan.

"No, situations are tough. I can't step out to hunt," she shrugged, not like the Pisachas.

"Okay," I mumbled, heaving a sigh of relief.

"But if they get a good morsel, they sometimes save some for me," she informed further. My throat dried up.

"Oh, so you all have feast nights?" I asked casually.

"You smell delicious, you know." She inhaled audibly.

I stilled, turning around very slowly. There was a predatory gleam in her eyes, though she didn't seem particularly hungry for my flesh. My body however went into defensive mode real quick. My eyes scanned the small space for any weapon I could use. Except for the burning coal in the fireplace, and the wooden ladle or the blade with which she cut the vegetables.

"Tora I..." Mrithun stopped at the entrance of the hearth, obviously sensing the tension in the room.

Holika blinked as if breaking out of a trance.

My heart was still thumping wildly. How much time would it be before she actually acted upon her predatory instincts? And for the briefest of a second, I felt human, vulnerable and weak. I may be immortal, but I had no powers. I was a simple human, thrown amid a bunch of deadly predators, some friendly, others bloodthirsty, but they all were hunters in their basest impulses.

"Tora, come here. We need to talk," Mrithun commanded gruffly.

I looked from him to Holika and back to him. His eyes were trying to communicate something.

"I'm sorry, could you please handle the cooking for a while?" I blurted, quickly scurrying off to where Mrithun stood. He put an arm on my waist suddenly, drawing me closer, an alpha showing his possession. There was urgency and certain threat in his moves.

"Sorry, you just smell so..." Holika apologized.

I gave a quick smile before Mrithun ushered me out.

🖤🖤🖤

"What was that about?" I demanded once we were out of earshot.

"What are you talking about?" he asked, his forehead still folded in worry.

"The way you squashed my waist." I tried to bring some lightness in my voice.

"It was a way to show her that you are under my protection. She pledged loyalty to me, so she can't harm someone who's in my protection," he explained.

"You know, I hate being babied," I muttered.

"You're a human in a sea of monsters in here. Please show your bravery after assessing the situation. You're immortal, not invincible." He squeezed his eyes shut and massaged the lines of worry off his forehead. "Try to stay with or at least around me."

"But..."

"Tora..." His voice was pained.

"Okay. We'll talk about this later," I sighed. "But did you really have something to say to me?"

"Yes."

"Well?"

"When I was lying awake last night looking at you sleeping, I was reflecting on what Mani said earlier..."

I raised an eyebrow.

"You know...about you not being human," he added uncertainly.

"What do you think?" I asked.

"What do you feel?" he enquired back.

I thought for a while. At this point, I didn't even know.

"I feel like me," I said. "I don't know if that's what it feels like to be human. After coming here, nothing changed, neither my thoughts nor my emotions. I don't seem to have any superpowers so..."

"Being human is your superpower, Tora," he cut me off.

I stilled. His hands snaked around my waist and drew me closer. I could feel his cold breath on my face.

"Human or not, immortal or mortal, you are the one for me, there is no one else that has ever attracted me like you." His lips touched my forehead.

The kiss was pure and full of promises. At that moment I knew he would stay with me till the end, and even beyond if that was possible.

🖤🖤🖤