Chapter 12: The Ghost's Wrath

The grand courtyard of the palace was filled with the scent of burning incense. The smoke curled into the air, swirling around the figures gathered there as Rajguru, dressed in ceremonial robes, began chanting the ancient mantras. His voice echoed through the open space, carrying a rhythm that resonated with the very stones of the palace. Raja Vikram stood beside him, arms crossed, his face set in a grim expression. Maya stood a few steps behind, her hands clasped tightly together, her knuckles white from the pressure. The palace staff, including General Bhanu, looked on from a distance, their eyes wide with a mixture of fear and curiosity.

The purification ritual had been planned meticulously, every detail designed to cleanse the palace of the strange occurrences that had plagued it since Rani Aranya's death. But even as the ceremony unfolded, there was a tension in the air, a sense that something wasn't right.

Rajguru's voice rose in intensity as he threw sacred water around the courtyard, his eyes closed in concentration. "By the power of the divine forces, I command any restless spirits to leave this place! Let the light of purity cleanse these halls!"

Vikram's jaw clenched. He didn't believe in the supernatural, but for Maya's sake-and for the sake of his people-he was willing to go through with this ritual. The events that had unfolded after their marriage were impossible to ignore. He had hoped that the purification would put an end to the whispers, the flickering lights, the strange sensations that made even the bravest of his guards uneasy.

But Maya's fear troubled him more than anything else. She had grown pale and distant, her once radiant smile now a rare occurrence. She had confided in him about hearing voices at night, feeling watched even when alone. Vikram had tried to reassure her, telling her it was nothing more than nerves. But now, as the ritual progressed, he could sense her growing anxiety, and it worried him deeply.

Rajguru finished the final chant, raising his hands to the sky as the incense burned down to embers. A heavy silence fell over the courtyard. For a moment, it seemed as though the air had lightened, as though the oppressive weight that had settled over the palace had lifted.

"There," Rajguru said, turning to face Vikram and Maya. "The ritual is complete. The spirit should now be at peace."

Vikram exhaled, nodding. "Thank you, Rajguru. I trust this will put an end to these... disturbances."

Rajguru gave a solemn bow. "It should, Your Majesty. But we must remain vigilant for a few days, just in case."

As the group began to disperse, Vikram placed a hand on Maya's shoulder. "Are you feeling better?" he asked softly, his voice filled with concern.

Maya gave a small nod, but her eyes remained troubled. "I want to believe it's over, Vikram. I really do."

"It is over," Vikram assured her. "Rajguru has done his part. You don't need to be afraid anymore."

But Maya wasn't so sure. The unease she had felt for weeks still gnawed at the edges of her mind. She had seen things, felt things, that couldn't be explained away by stress or imagination. And as night began to fall, the sense of foreboding that had clung to her didn't fade-it only grew stronger.

---

That night, Maya lay in bed, her body stiff with fear. Vikram was beside her, already asleep, his breathing deep and steady. She stared up at the ceiling, every creak of the palace sending a shiver down her spine. The room was dark, the only light coming from the moon filtering through the curtains. But even the soft glow did little to ease the tightness in her chest.

Suddenly, the temperature in the room dropped, and a cold breeze seemed to sweep across her skin. Maya's heart raced as she sat up, her eyes darting around the room. The shadows in the corners seemed to deepen, as though something was lurking just beyond her vision.

Then she heard it-a whisper. Faint at first, but growing louder with each passing second. It was a voice she had heard before, a voice that had haunted her dreams. It was the voice of Rani Aranya.

"Maya..." the whisper called, its tone soft but filled with malice. "Maya..."

Maya's breath caught in her throat as she gripped the edge of the blanket. "No," she whispered, shaking her head. "It's not real. It's not real."

But the whisper persisted. "You took what was mine... You will never be queen."

Maya's eyes widened as a figure began to materialize at the foot of the bed. The translucent form of Rani Aranya, her face pale and her eyes hollow, glared at her. The ghost's mouth curled into a cruel smile.

"Leave," Aranya's voice hissed. "Leave this palace, or I will make you suffer."

Maya screamed, scrambling out of bed and waking Vikram in the process. He shot up, alarmed. "Maya? What is it?"

She pointed toward the figure at the end of the bed, her voice trembling. "She's here! Aranya is here!"

Vikram looked in the direction she was pointing, but there was nothing there. He frowned, standing up and moving to her side. "There's no one here, Maya. It's just your imagination."

Maya shook her head frantically. "No, I saw her! She was right there, Vikram! She... she said she would make me suffer."

Vikram wrapped his arms around her, trying to calm her down. "Maya, it's the stress. The ritual worked, Rajguru said it did. There's nothing to fear."

But even as he spoke, the air around them grew colder, and Vikram felt an icy chill crawl up his spine. He pulled Maya closer, his mind racing. He didn't believe in ghosts, but the look of terror in Maya's eyes was undeniable.

"I'll talk to Rajguru again," Vikram said softly, stroking her hair. "We'll figure this out."

Maya clung to him, tears streaming down her face. "She won't stop, Vikram. She won't stop until I'm gone."

---

The next morning, the entire palace was buzzing with rumors. Maya's scream had echoed through the halls, waking many of the servants. Some whispered that the purification ritual had angered Rani Aranya's spirit, while others speculated that Maya's presence in the palace had disturbed something ancient and powerful.

Rajguru was summoned once more. He listened carefully as Vikram recounted the events of the night, his brow furrowing with concern.

"This is worse than I feared," Rajguru said gravely. "It seems the spirit is growing more aggressive."

Vikram, despite his frustration, remained calm. "What do we do now? How do we stop this?"

Rajguru looked at him, his voice low and filled with dread. "There may be only one way to truly put Rani Aranya's spirit to rest. But it will not be easy, Your Majesty. You must confront the past... and make peace with the queen."

Vikram's heart sank. He knew what Rajguru meant. The grief he had buried deep inside, the guilt that had festered since Aranya's death-it was time to face it.

But as he glanced at Maya, her face still pale from the night before, he realized that he had no other choice. If he didn't act soon, the palace-and the woman he now loved-might never know peace again.