Adrika's POV

     Life was complicated was an understatement for what my life was. Everyone came around step by step. Except for Sky. Maybe my presence reminded him of her absence. I didn't blame him. But after a while it became annoying. I was also pissed at the situation as he was. I didn't see his reasoning of taking it out on me.

            Those two days, I stayed in my office researching as the meeting at the Sciencous was rescheduled for 3days ahead. I brought some fruits, chocolates and water with me so that I didn't have to go out and I studied. About everything. Leo called, so did Emma. We talk a little. Maddy also stopped by to check on me. He was great. As always. In the evening I got a call from Leo,

"Hi Ree.. How are you?" He said.

"I'm good Leo. Thank you." I said.

"Oh.. No.. You are still hiding in your office, burring your nose into books. Aren't you?" He asked.

"Do I get any other choice?" I asked. "It's better than looking at Sky being all defensive over anything I say or touch about her. It's a big house we can stay way from each other."

"I thought he said he will try and help and didn't he apologize for this exact behaviour?" Leo asked sounding irritated.

"It has difference saying something and actually doing it. Anyway I don't blame him or anything. It's just how things are." I said. "Anyway why did you called?"

"Yah.. Right.. So I got something about paradox theory. How it affects a person's body and mind. We need to meet." He said. Great. A good news.

"Great. You can come over for breakfast." I said.

"No.. Adrika.. I haven't been the exact friend that I supposed to be in these two days. After you told everything. I too turned away from you. I didn't keep my promise. I want to start over. From the very place we went outside school for the first time." He said. He was such a great friend.

"Leo.. You don't have to do that." I said.

"Of course I do. Listen there is a small little cafe in old town. Maddy would know. It's completely old fashioned. You will like it. Tomorrow at 10." He said.

"See you then." I said.

"Adrika.. Please get some rest." He said.

"Bye Leo."

           I put down the phone. Everything was so messy. I hide my face with my hands and groaned.

"Rough day!" I heard someone. I sat up quickly to see Mads was leaning on the doorframe. I smiled.

"Very." I said. He had two glasses of wine which he raised and said

"Got you some medicine."

"Bless your soul Mads!" I said and he walked to me. I took the glass and take a big sip.

"You haven't came out once today." He said leaning on my work table beside me. I looked up to him.

"Is Sky home?" I asked. He shook his head as No. "Good. I would just go and sleep before he comes back. Can I borrow one of your shirt for bed?" Even I didn't believe what I was asking for. He smiled confused.

"What? Why?" He asked.

"I don't wanna wear anything of her. Maybe it would be a sentimental piece and Sky would be mad." I said.

"How long are you gonna be tip toe around him like this?" He asked.

"I don't know. Until everything is over and I go back to my own time or something. God I am exhausted already." I said as I leaned on to his torso. He softly stroke my hair.

"You can sleep in my room if you want. I can use a guest room." He said.

"Why are you so sweet on me Mads? I'm not the Adrika you know." I said still holding him, still with my eyes closed.

"I was been inside your head. I have seen things. I have seen your thoughts. You love me subconsciously, care for me, just like she does. So what's the difference? I know you both are same. We both are supernatural. I know things aren't just straight as a line with us. Our truth has so many shades, so many faces, layers. And in some layers I saw you as my life." I looked up to him. Why his words were so familiar. His emotions, his love, his care, his protection. Why it always remind me of someone? I sighed and left him to hold my face again and said

"I just wanted it to be over. I accepted my death. I just want to go home.." I said again crying. Sometimes I feel so pathetic for crying so easily. He sat down turning me towards him.

"Hy.. Hy.. Adrika.. Look at me.. " He said trying to remove my hand from my face. I did. His eyes were soft and loving.

"I would never leave you alone. No matter what. You get that? We will figure everything out. You will go home. I'm here. I will always be here for you. You know that. You always know that. Doesn't matter what situation is. I will always be there. Standing with you. Like a forever companion."

       He said so softly that it gives chills down my spine. Like a Deja vu. He was holding the sides of my face, then we heard someone clearing voice. Before looking up I feel that I saw Mads closed his eyes for a little longer than a blink. I didn't had time for considering it because I looked at the door to see Sky. He looked like he just got home. He looked at me then Mads who was standing beside me now. And said.

"I'm sorry I thought you are again slept in here. So I just.. Came to check." He said. His voice wasn't usual tensed one that he used around me. It was something else.

"I.. I didn't think about it.. There is still a lot to read and I wasn't sleepy." I said. He looked up to Mads and then to me again.

"Come on. You must be tiered." He said.

"I am fine sky.. You go ah.. " He cut me.

"Adrika.. Let's go. Now."

        His voice was calm but I could see the thunder behind it. I looked up to Mads he was looking at Sky with an amused expression. Then he looked down at me and nodded. I wished him good night and went with Sky. We didn't talk but when I reached the room there was a nightdress on the bed. I went inside the bathroom to change. When I came back Sky was there. He had a glass of milk and a tablet. I took it without question. Instantly I felt myself light headed. He helped me getting into bed and put blankets over me. I was just looking at him, I wasn't thinking straight.

"You were moody because I was in her clothes in the morning yesterday. Now you layed it for me. It seems like sometime you wanna run away from me and sometimes just want me to be there for you. I am confused." I said. He placed my hair away from my face and said.

"Me too." He stood up and said "don't think about it."

"I'm not good about not thinking about things. But I will try." I said as sleep was slowly overtook me.

       The next morning when I woke up Sky wasn't in the room. I thought he must have left for office. I went to the washroom for a shower as I was entering the room, Sky was there. We face to face with each other then he turned around cursing.

"Next time bothered to check maybe before walking into the room in towels." He said. What the fuck..!

"You were not there and how about you knock before entering." I yelled back.

"It's my room." He argued.

"And I was happy to move out. " I said.

"Just get dressed, will you? And you can spend another day curling up in that cave of yours. Meeting is cancelled." He informed.

"Good. I have plans." I said. He looked over his shoulders.

"You have plans?" He asked.

"Yes Sky. I have plans. Because if you haven't noticed I have to work my way of this crap hole of time." I said. He sighed.

"Fine. I will wait for 15 minutes. Get ready and I will drive you. Don't be late, I have better things to do rather than catering to your needs." He said. The nerve of him.

"Don't bother. Mads will take me." I said and I walked to the dresser to dry my hair. I was dressed BTW.

"I said I will drive you. Why would he do that?" He asked. I looked at him in the mirror before saying.

"Last time I checked your have better things to do than catering to my needs." I said. "Besides, I don't want to make you more awkward than you already is, first thing in the morning."

       He stormed off. Typical. Anyway I got ready and went down. Mads was waiting for me. We wished each other good morning. And I got myself a cup of coffee.

"We are going somewhere?" He asked.

"Yes. Old town. To meet Leo. After that shopping." I said.

"Shopping?" He asked.

"Yup. I need clothes. My kind of clothes. Also, so that Sky won't try to kill me with his eyes." I said. He nodded. I joked that thing but he also knew it wasn't a matter of lightness.

       We finished our coffee and set out. What ever I had read in two days I was seeing them in front of me. The no pollution vehicles working on liquid oxygen. Then people checking their phone on holographic projection in front of them. It was the futuristic world. When we cross the sign 'Welcome to Old Town', scenery changed. I felt like I was in 2010 Europe. Parish if I be more accurate. The streets, book shop, flower store, fruit store, diners, boutique and cafe's. It was all the same. I felt like I was home. A unique thought crossed my mind. Why would Adrika, a hard core girl who is born and raised in this world would like this rustic old fashioned town? Why would this would be her escape hatch? As I could see most of people here were the older generation.

"There we are.. Nora's. Your favourite place to be." Mads said as he stopped the car.

      I climbed down in front of that small and cozy looking cafe. Mads left to park the car. It was beautiful. A cozy little place. I went in there was a familiar sound of bell ringing. The aromatic smell of coffee hit me. The sweet smell of pie being made was delicious. I was so carved this for so long. In my thoughts I didn't notice the petite woman coming towards me. She attacked me with a warm hug.

"Bless my soul.. My dear Adrika. It's been so long. I can't blame you, you have got so much for a young girl like yourself." She cried. I hugged her back. As we parted she held my hands. Her eyes have happy tears. She was a elderly woman.

"I can't possibly thank you enough for what you did for me and my grand baby. He is doing well now.. But I could not possibly." She said. I guessed her grandson must be ill and I treated him.

"It's my job Nora." I said looking at her name tag. Oh so she is the owner. "I save people. And you are one of my favorites."

"Oh my dear child.. Table for two or three dear? I just baked a fresh batch of blueberry pie. I will quickly fetch you a slice." She said. I instantly love this woman.

"She is with me Nora.." I heard.. It was Leo at a corner.

"Oh. Leonard my boy.. Pardon me I didn't see you there." Nora said as we both walk towards him.

"That's fine. Please get us another two cups of coffee and some pie." Leo said as I sat down.

"Maddy is here then. Coming right up." She said and dance her way into the kitchen.

"She is nice." I said.

"She is as good as her pie." He said putting down his pen. He had a journal in front of him.

"We come here often. Don't we?" I asked.

"As often as we possibly can. From school time." He said.

"That means the school is near by?" I asked excitedly.

"Yes.. It's in the village. The school, the bubbling cauldron." He said.

"Really it's here?" I asked excitedly.

"What's here?" Mads said sitting down.

"Hi man..! I was just telling her about the village and how deeply she is related to it. Everyplace she ever loved is here. People love you here. It's like your second home." Leo said.

"Yah. Everything is here. Your school. Office. Home." Mads said.

"Home?" I asked shocked.

"During school you loved this place so much that you want to have a home here. As you were underage, Maddy bought it. It's small, cozy and beautiful. Everything that your place in city isn't." Leo said.

"Wow.. But why?" I asked. They both looked at me. "I mean she was born here. This is her time. She is a hardcore business woman. Why would she like something like this? Something she never have any connection to? Something from my time?"

"That's exactly what we need that loony professor for. Do you know what Adrika's inner circle only know? She was bipolar. Not in bitch way but she was. One moment she was this other moment that. She was living two lives way before your existence in this world. This is why I called you here. Because what you said back at your place.. About you not being our Adrika that isn't 100% true. You both are same. It's just she was in domination of mind for this long. Now you got the light." Leo explained. He was honestly one of the most wisest people I know.

"So we both know that you are the same chick we know. That's why we are here. Ready to fight." Maddy said.

"Can't fight with out my Pie of course. Here you go dears. Fresh and warm. Enjoy." Nora said putting down the plates.

"Thanks Nora." I said.

"Call me if you need anything hon." She said while walking away. I took a bite.

"Wow... That's fricking gorgeous." I said.

"That's Nora for you." Maddy said.

"So what's next? What did you find?" I asked Leo.

"Well I kept digging through all the magic books. I have been here in the village all this time." He said.

"Even after we found Dr. Who?" I asked.

"What?" Maddy asked.

"Sorry.. Series reference. There was a series in my time where a Doctor go to different era and solve cases. Never mind." I said as they both looked at me with confused faces.

"Right.. Yah.. After we find professor. Because one thing didn't sit well with me. That is how your body changed." He said.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Do you remember you asked me for pregnancy tests?" He asked. I nodded.

"What? You did?" Maddy yelled. Everyone looked at us.

"You need anything hon?" Nora asked from behind the counter.

"No.. We are good Nora. Thanks." I said to her.

"Anyway.. I saw that.. Well you aren't showing the signs of being pregnant. Yet." Leo said smiling.

"Leo I swear to God if you are messing.." Maddy said.

"Her hormone levels are high. Too high to be normal. Maybe its too early to appear on a test but you are Adrika." He said.

"We are going to hav... Wait.. But how? Adrika couldn't conceive." Maddy said.

"I know. That's the point. I mean mind I get that but body changing. That was new. So I dig. And I found this. It's a prophecy-ish." Leo said.

"Ish?" I asked.

"It's old. But it's kind of a rule for time or dimension travel. It says

Killed for Love,
In hands of Love,
That Love can save and
Wake you up.

I think that's what saved you. All of you. Body and mind. " Leo said.

"That doesn't make any sense. I was killed for love. Sure. Love of my kids. But not hands of love." I said.

"Are you sure? Maybe he liked you or something." Leo said.

"No.. Absolutely not. I mean I barely known the guy. I met him 4times in my life and one of which where he killed me. How that's love?" I said.

"How was he? With you?" Leo asked.

"Aswasthhama was noble. Quite a righteous man himself. Untill he did the unthinkable. We both respected each other. He was wise. He saw the future before and begged me not to stand in between. He said something about there will be consequences of my action. But then I thought he was talking about my death. Could it be this?" I asked suddenly. But who I was asking them or me.

"Would you change it if I say yes?" Maddy said.

"Of course not. He went for my kids. It was them or me. You can give me thousand chances and I would still do the same because they are MY BOYS." I said the last part a little forcefully as there was a thunder after that. Maddy smirked and Leo was just shocked.

"Then it's doesn't matter why it happened. Let's solve this. Right?" Maddy asked. I nodded.

"Right.. So you said you and him were on good terms.. Can you picture the last fight between you?" Leo asked.

"It was started after bhrata Duryodhan was hurt. He was on his death bed and I couldn't help but went to him. I had to say goodbye. I met him there. He stopped me to ask me not to stand in his way. He was broken. The war was happening inside of him. The rage was different. He tried to hate me. For what I was going to do to him. He wanted me to hate him. He wanted a justified cause to hate me. But I didn't had any more anger or hate left in me. I was at peace. I was ready to die for my sons. Five deaths were inevitable at that place I decided that will be my five elements for my five sons. He advised me, threatened me, begged me to not do it. He said he can't hurt me. If he does then there will be no good inside of him. But I told him that he can't kill my sons untill am dead. He had to.. When his dagger pierced my heart I saw tears. Pain. Love?" I said. I knew I was crying. But for the first time I was thinking about my death and there was so much I never noticed.

"So it was Love. Not the most conventional definition of love but love nonetheless. Respect is also love. Even hate is also love. Someone cast this spell." Leo said.

"Who?" Maddy asked.

"It's ancient. Someone who have juice to pull some like this world be ancient, crafty, powerful, crazy and extremely talented." Leo said. I just realized something.

"Oh crap...!" I said.

"What?" Leo asked.

"I think I know who cast the spell." I said.

"What are we talking? Witch? Wizard? Warlock?" Leo asked.

"Worse. We are talking my brother."

An

Hi everyone..
I'm just glad that I could update in time.

Please tell me how it was.

Another thing.

Many of my lovely readers want to see me. Although there are picture on my profile they requested another one. So here it is.