The Demon's Kiss (Rishbala Version)

Chapter 6

(Still in flashback...)
(Madhubala's POV)

"What is it father?" I asked confused. They all looked concerned.

"Please come with my, my lady." The occultist said. "Your questions will be answered soon."

"But...." I began to say, when suddenly mother grabbed my hand.

"Please go with him dear. We will be outside this room ahead. He wants to see something."

She stroked my hair and pushed me forward. The occultist gave me a toothy smile. I forced one back. I didn't know what he wanted with me.

We walked into one of the empty rooms in the rear of the palace. He lit up the place and then stood in front of me. He examined me carefully. Then his eyes fell on my necklace.

"May I see that for a moment?" He asked politely.

I hesitated at first, but then I compiled and began to take it off. But the strong burn I felt in doing so stopped me. His expression changed from cautious to astonished. My heart raced at his reaction.

"What happened my lady?" He asked me.

"I can't get it off! It burns my skin if I try to move it." I said.

"Hold still my lady." He said. He advanced towards me and touched the ruby with his hand, closing his eyes and concentrating. He wrinkled his forehead and cocked his head to the side. A few moments after, his hand was thrown off the ruby.

"This is not good. I need to destroy this pendant."

"But...but why?!" I asked, my lips quivering.

"First answer me.....who is Rishabh?" He asked in a serious tone.

I bit my lower lip. I never told anyone about Rishabh ever since I met him.

"He....I...I met him at the ball held for the celebration of my betrothal. I've been meeting him ever since."

"My lady, do you realize who....or should I say what you been near this entire time?!?!" He sounded angered.

"No....I....never cared about that. He loves me...and I....I love him back. That's all that mattered to me."

"You are very naive, my lady. He is not something to be loved."

"What are you saying?" I said.

"He is a demon....an evil spirit. He doesn't love you..he only wants to make you his possession" He paused, letting me soak that all in.

"No....no...he loves me." I stammered. My heart felt his love every moment of his presence. "I don't care what he is!!!" I screamed, my voice echoing in the room. "We love each other! That's all that matters!"

Suddenly a strong force overcame me. My head began to spin, and an eerie darkness covered my eyes. I collapsed and let the darkness overcome me.

(Writer's POV)

The king and queen rushed inside the room, at the occultist's request. They gasped at the plight of their daughter, who was lying unconscious on the floor.

"What happened to her?!?" The queen shouted, kneeling to the floor and placing Madhubala's head on her lap.

"A demonic being has been near your daughter. You see the pendant of hers, part of his spirit resides in it. What it is doing to her will take her away from you forever."

"What is it doing to my daughter?!" The king shouted in anger.

"Over a short time, his dark spirit will possess her soul, effectively binding them together. No one will be able to break such a bond. Her soul will then belong to him forever. He is doing this to take possession of your daughter, and he will stop at nothing to achieve that." He paused. "I can destroy the pendant she is wearing, where his spirit resides, but I must do so before midnight, before it is too late.."

"Please do anything! I want my daughter out of his clutches." The queen pleaded.

"Padmini, you actually believe in this nonsense!?" The king yelled. She sobbed.

"You can choose to believe it or not. But your daughter's future will be in your hands." The occultist said.

King Shamsher looked at the pleading stares of his wife and his unconscious daughter. He closed his eyes in tension and then nodded in approval.

"Alright. But if anything happens to my daughter then I won't spare you!" He said.

"Nothing will happen to your daughter, your highness." He bowed.

He viewed the ruby, casting its dark aura. He kneeled down next to Madhubala and touched the ruby with his palm, and began to chant something inaudible to the king and queen. Her body convulsed as he did his work. This went on for a few minutes, then he was able to remove the necklace from her and destroy it. He lit a small fire and threw the necklace into it. The ashes of the ruby spread across the floor, the dark spirit escaping it.

"The deed has been done. Get her married as soon as possible. The holy bond of marriage will protect her from him." He also took out an amulet from his pocket. "Make sure she never takes this off." He warned them.

"Thank you." The queen said. He bowed and walked out from there. The king called some maids and they helped Madhubala up to her room, away from the eyes of the guests.

(Madhubala's POV)

I felt really weak as I woke up. It was dark outside, the full moon shining bright in the sky. I remained glued to the bed. I felt around my neck for the necklace. It was gone, but in place of it was a smaller piece of jewelry. The burning sensation was no longer existent.

Then I had a flashback of the scene downstairs.

"He is a demon....an evil spirit...." I heard over and over again. Tears filled my eyes.

I stared out the window, waiting for him to arrive. Soon enough he did, but I felt my heartbeat race as he came closer. He tried to approach me, but an invisible force pushed him back.

"Rishabh...." I reached out for him.

"They dared separate me from you!? I won't spare them!!" He snared and then vanished.