The most charming, the epitome of grace,

Knowing it all, the fallen angel
Beware of falling for him, he is not to be loved
Behold Lucifer, the handsomest man on earth!

****

The morning failed to light up Hrishav's blackened heart. Thus, he was to feed on the usual again– the trio of love, naivety, hope.

He was desperate. He had no choice left. So much was done, so many times he tried to defeat the monster inside of him, to extinguish the shabby green lamp that hypnotised his virtuous senses, but in vain. A lesson he learnt– you must coexist with your monsters.

Especially the ones that grow in you from the seed of memories.

"I am sorry, forgive me." He smiled– the same beautiful piece of serenity, the facade of charm, but Hrishav would be irked to hear it. He believed he was born charming. It just took time to bloom. Now he was a full grown man ready to be wanted by all. But alas, he didn't want any love.

Ishti kutum, perching on a branch, called incessantly. Hrishav looked at the bird announcing the arrival of a guest.

"Is she still a guest, a stranger? I believe not. She had wished to untie the knots of my soul, and what happened? She herself got tangled." He snickered, recalling her otherworldly features– the colours of her body, the stroke of her lips, her smooth waist that he wished to grab. "Yet a butterfly cannot bewitch a spider."

Hrishav inhaled the fresh air, taking in the fragrance of the wet grass, the moss, the wildflowers beneath his feet.

"What would I not do to reach you and feel you?"

Should he have freed Maya? Should he have kept a distance? Well, his master had not warned him about the namesake of Mahamaya but someone else...

Only he knew, and this moment was a witness of it, of how far he could go to get her, what all he was capable of doing. Maya was the thorn on his path while she was the elixir he would get drunk on.

Despite not being his ultimate goal, Maya did have power. She was the foe he had fallen for, even if little, even if a quarter of what he felt for her.

"You make me feel things no woman has ever had before. Not even Radha or Catherine. Hah, that Catherine! She was a fool, a good old fool. And Radha was the same. But you, you Maya..."

He closed his eyes, remembering the day the two of them had been cooking in the holy kitchen.

"You are different, so very different."

Maya was a challenge that a man like him had to ace.

His heart burnt with passion. He carved scars, smoke emanating from the unseen crevices. The very little that was left of him, Maya turned to ashes. He arched his body slightly, feeling the thrill slither down his spine like a trickle of icy cold water seducing him. He parted his lips, relaxing his whole body and slackening his shoulders. Pleasure bubbled in each part.

"I will kill you without pain, Maya. Because you are mine, only mine, captured in my world as a prize I won."

I will snatch you. I will treasure you. I will bewitch you.

Oh, what I wouldn't do for you!

He needed Maya in her body. And he needed her in whole– her body and soul. After he would ascend to the status of a demigod, power would be ample in his hands. He would weave an illusion of amour and passion for this young girl, and maybe request his master to ease the pain inflicted on Maya. Then she would just be a spirit, but still. Maya may not have been everything but was a lot.

"I shall take your name a hundred times, Maya. Do you even know how important you are to–"

Me?

Maya? There she comes.

Hrishav saw her closing the temple gates and coming towards him. He swore it was getting unmanageable for him to control the excitement. Finally, the moment of truth was to come. He had sensed it for several days, beginning from when she had lunch in his house. He waited for this time to come. He would bare it all in front of her, tell her how much he wanted her, all the things he craved, he wanted to do...

Take her to the zenith...

"What are you looking at?"

Maya's words pulled him out of his cooing castle of wishes. He smiled at her like he always did. "Come, stand beside me. What a wonderful day, isn't it Maya?"

She did as asked. Oh, how much pleasure he felt to see her yield to him!

He brushed the back of her palm with his fingers. His eyes focused on her with single-minded devotion, flames swirling in his touch. He gave the scorching warmth to her– the personification of his desires, untamed and uncivilised.

He expected her to shiver. To look at him. To close her eyes, defeated by the overwhelming sensations.

But she smirked. And yanked away her hand.

At that moment, he felt as helpless as a corpse. Had his divine powers failed to make an impression on her?

Has the puppet broken the strings?

He blushed, brushing back his hair. So be it.

"Today is very refreshing. A bit too humid though," Maya said.

Hrishav could see the fire in her eyes. She was here with a purpose. And he would allow her to take time.

"I am so used to this."

"To what, Hrishav?"

"This weather. This is normal in Devipuram."

Hrishav wanted to laugh his heart out. He knew she was searching for the signs of guilt in him. But he would give this apsara just a confession.

She was indeed heavenly, someone who had jumped down from swarglok, an exiled dancer of Indra's court.

She had the most unusual eyes- one blue and one brown, with a little scar on her chin. She had a bronze complexion that shone under the sun and glistened under the sheen of sweat. Her neck was darker in respect to the other parts of her body. She had black hair which engulfed all his dreams like a new moon night. And only he knew how much he loved new moon nights. All the murders took place on such a night.

"What did you think I am used to, Maya?"

His eyes traced her petite form, stopping at her firm but little breasts. And how much he imagined seeing her in all glory...

"Well, so many things are usual in Devipuram. You can get used to it."

"Yes, very much."

"You have the blessings of Maa Saraswati."

"Why do you say so?" Hrishav chuckled.

Maya touched his forearm and made him face her. Hrishav stared at where she had kept her palm, eyes hopping between her smouldering gaze and equally enticing touch. "When I look back and think, your words were very careful and wise. You never lie, but also never tell the complete truth."

Hrishav beamed.

"You, like every other human, keep secrets."

"You cannot blame me, Maya."

"Indeed. You must be sorry, are you not?"

He tasted the sarcasm in her voice. Maybe he did feel guilty sometimes. He was still partly human. He had emotions...

"I think I will be sorry one day, but until I am not, I wish to continue what I am doing."

Maya retreated her hand, clenching it into a fist. "Why?"

"Why?"

"I am asking, why? Why did you–"

Hrishav twirled a lock of hair behind her ear. She flinched at his touch, taking steps back in reflex. Hrishav pursed his lips. "You hate me, don't you?"

"It's the only thing I can feel now."

Hrishav nodded, joining his hands at the back and circling around her. "I don't feel hatred for you, Maya, though I cannot guarantee that I will never feel so. But I promise that"–he traced the distinct line of her spine–"I will keep you safe from all my madness, only if you obey me. Be mine, and you will get whatever you want." He hunched forward, whispering in her ears. "But don't ask me to stop. I will not be able to."

Maya raised her hand in the air. She was stopped by him midway, just inches before his cheek. Hrishav narrowed his eyes, his lips pressed in contempt.

"All your sweetness has vanished, it seems," Maya scoffed.

"I am quite curious how you came to the conclusion that..."

"That?"

He entwined his fingers with her. "That I am Lucifer."

Maya tried to free her hand from his grip. Hrishav wouldn't let her go easily though. He grinned at her miserable attempts. Finally, having some mercy, he freed her.

"You will die for what you did to Catherine."

"Are you interested in knowing how I carry on my sacrifices?"

"I will give you that chance."

"Then come to me tomorrow night. I shall tell you all I can. Rather, I will show you."

"Of course I will come. I have to, do I not? I am your next–"

Hrishav put his finger on her lips. "Shh," he hushed. "Don't be loud. There's life after death, you know. I will ask my master if he can give you to me after death." He glided his thumb over her lower lip. "I wish to enjoy you a little more, and if you allow, forever."

"And what if I don't?"

Hrishav's eyes glowed with malice. Maya got goosebumps when the lifeless gaze penetrated her. "I will get what I want, Maya. I will give you the chance to accept me. And if you don't, be prepared for pain."

Maya gritted her teeth. "Like Catherine? You threaten me?"

"It's going to happen, Maya. You can see it as a union of passion if you want. You once liked me, did you not? Just give that faint feeling a chance. Rest, I will take care of myself."

"You will die badly!"

"Cursing your love, are you?"

"I don't love you."

"How cruel and heartless." Hrishav clutched his heart. "Don't hurt this feeble being."

Maya had got her answers. She didn't want to stand there longer. "We will meet tomorrow night. Let's see who wins."

Hrishav smirked, tilting his head to the side and letting his open locks hide one side of his face; quite literally he embodied the light and dark of a soul. "Whatever comes, I please you immeasurably. You will die satiated."

Maya spat at his face and ran away, swallowing her screams down her throat.

Hrishav smiled– a reflection of Ravana.

He was going to surprise Maya.

****

Done. It is all done. Tomorrow will be the day of the final showdown.

Maya chugged down a glass of water and plucked a handful of grapes from the bunch kept on the table, popping them in her mouth. "When is the next new moon night?"

"Tomorrow. The tithi of amavasya begins after ten at night," Anandi said while washing dishes.

Should have expected. It was already too late– dusk had fallen and to venture into the slums would have been a bad idea. So Maya decided to meet Sahiba tomorrow early in the morning, and then...

"Anandi, I met the killer. I know who he is."

The set of porcelain bowls fell from Anandi's hands, shattering on the ground with a loud, deafening clank. Maya sighed and knelt, taking the pieces one by one and keeping them aside.

"The killer confessed to me, Anandi."

"Is-is it Sundar Babu?"

"No."

"Then who is it?"

"You doubted Sundar Babu?"

Anandi fidgeted with her pallu. "I did. He wanted to give money to Sahiba through me and Lalita. I thought he was doing it to fool her. He is also an atheist..."

A mirthless chuckle whizzed out of Maya's lips. "Oh really? Just be patient for the next day. Tomorrow night you will know him."

"Maya, don't tell me you are thinking of going to defeat him alone like Catherine?"

"No. I will bring you all with me."

"Should I tell Aadi Babu that you know who the killer is?"

"Yes, inform him and Nathu. Ask them to not share this with anyone unless I ask. Tomorrow we need to do certain tasks before meeting Lucifer."

"Lucifer?"

"It's his name. The name he received as a gift for all his deeds."

"Won't you tell me what his real name is?"

Maya stood up and took Anandi by the hands, leading her to the table and making her sit on a chair.

"Who is it, Maya?"

Maya gulped.

"It is Hrishav."