Sun Moon & Stars Volume II Call Of The Skull Men

CHAPTER 49

Prathamath, Akshaya, Mukta. They were at the last stage. Shomak was sweating badly, his head spinning, as he listened to John read out from a translated version of the old manuscript Madhumita was holding. She had clearly explained that the bond can be broken only by killing Raktim; but if they enter Bose Villa, automatically they will be under his control.

Shomak was afraid that he was not capable enough to break through Raktim's control and kill him while Ela, Mini and Oishi remained under his call. Previously Vaidehi had successfully prevented them from answering the call but now considering they had to go to Bose Villa to prevent him from finishing the ritual, Raktim had an upper hand there.  

They will have only one chance once the ritual starts. And if Raktim or Hiralal gets killed who shall control the energy inside the triangle? Shomak wasn't skilled enough to do that. He didn't even know about the process. Then there was the biggest question, how many of them shall be able to enter the house now that Hiralal's demon was called out from hibernation? He was a fool to think that the chapter of Bose Villa was over.

"I am curious to know Purnima, what had happened that even though you had killed the kapalik, he managed to transform an turn into a demon?" Madhumita asked. 

"That was one time I failed." There was no doubt that Purnima was regretting her actions. "I wanted to finish him off but somehow he had survived with just wounds. I knew I would be going against the law of my kin if I killed him, it would be considered a wrong assassination provided I didn't have the pendant with me." 

"You gave it to Shailaja?"

"Yes, I did, to keep it safe as Hiralal was after it."

"Then how did you kill him? I mean you weren't permitted without the pendant," Vaidehi questioned, clearly looking impressed by Purnima's appearance and the kind of light she radiated; indeed she was a priest. 

"I had my ways. But since I wasn't permitted I knew Hiralal would turn into a demon. I then had one more option of completing his antyesti as I was his wife by rituals. And I needed to do it before the sunrise."

"Then why didn't you do it?" Shomak asked in desperation. She couldn't help but again start thinking that Purnima has an option to prevent these all but she didn't.

"It wasn't that I didn't. It was more of I couldn't." Purnima spoke in a low voice. "Jhumpi didn't let me burn his body. Hiralal had successfully planted the idea in her head that he was in love with her. She believed him so much that she started thinking I was her enemy - "

"Not that you treated her as a friend!" Shomak argued. 

"- and held me back when I was about to burn him. Then before I could complete the antyesti ritual, it was dawn."

"I think, it's best not to dwell in the past and with - " Girish was about to suggest that they should quickly move forward as planned when they heard a noise of something breaking around the staircase. 

"Ela?" Shomak saw Ela, who had disappeared into the guestroom after hearing about Mini and Oishi, walking towards the main entrance. She was drenched; her clothes wet and hair dripping water. She looked awful yet she was smiling. 

Shomak rushed towards her trying to prevent her from leaving Bougunvillaea. "Where are you going, Ela?"

Ela didn't look at him. She was staring away, outside the main entrance. Her pupils were dilated. "Ela?" Shomak called but there was no response.

Her lips parted slowly and she whispered, "Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, Guru Devo Maheshwara. Guru sakshat, para Brahma, tasmayee shri, Gurave namha!"