Love can last a lifetime and more

Behind the enemy lines

"Your army is weak Deepanita. It couldn't even get the girl to me", said the man to Deepanita.
"Its that Abhay Raichand.he reached there before my men could bring the girl to you"
"Liesss.. your men waited for him as per your instructions. What were you planning to do Deepanita?"
"Revenge. I want to kill him. He is the one who killed my son. He killed my son. I want revenge"
"Patience. You will get your revenge and your son as well"
Deepanita's eyes glowed with pleasure and she asked, "How?"
"Later that. But first I need them. I need Piya and Abhay's souls. Only then will I have the power to bring back the dead"
"Master i don't understand why their soul?", asked Jeh.
"Their love is undying, they gave their life for love and yet somehow survived. That is a powerful magic found in the very fabric of nature. By consuming their souls I can harness that power."
"But why Piya? She didn't give her life. Only her memories", asked Jeh
"Is that what you think?", the sound of condescending laughter filled the air.
"There are things that you do no understand because you fail to recognise the talent your daughter has."
Deepanita cursed hearing her name.
"No matter. I want you to do something."

*
Haseena examined the stone in her hands. It has been long since she used her powers. She removed the glove from her hand and touched the stone once again trying to establish the connection with the other world. She could not find Abhay and Siddharth's mother this time but she did find Sugandh.
"Sugandh?"
"Haseena. Save my daughter. She in danger."
"What do you see Sugandh?"
"She said that my child would be still born. She said it can help me. She is born for love Haseena and now he tries to consume her soul. They are all in danger. Your son and my daughter. Their love is resonating with the very fabric of nature itself. Every sacrifice they make for the other, their love multiplies. And He desires to capture their souls and consume it to harness that power."
"And who is that?"
"Aghreev"
"Where can he be found? What is he?"
"I can't see him clearly. He is very powerful. Done many unnatural things to gain powers. Thats all I can say."
The connection was closed. Haseena took heavy breaths and looked at Chand.
"She said some woman helped her. Her child was still born"
Haseena looked at him and said, "May be she had a child before Piya?"
"Could be. But then she had no reason to mention it to us."
Haseena considered about what he said for a moment and then spoke, "i don't care about that now. We have to find who this Aghreev is? There is only them now who can help us"
"Haseena. I left the them after I made you. They might not take it very well to meet us now"
"I don't care. I am not gonna let this Aghreev do any harm to my son."
"Very well then. Lets go"
The journey was not easy. They has to cross the bhinlagga ridges and then the treacherous paths of Auden's col. Beyond the rudugaira valley lied the forests of bhaironghati where the ancient  ones had made their lair. Even for vampires crossing the auden's col, infested with crevasses was not a easy. Haseena grew weary as they reached the khatling glaciers. "We need to stop. You are exhausted. We need to regain the strength", suggested Chand looking at Haseena's state. "No. Keep going. We can't stop." "Rest for a night. We will go tomorrow. Rest Haseena." But haseena insisted on not stoping. "Fine then at least let me find you something to feed on", said Chand and left.
Where was he gonna find an animal on such a moonless night in these glaciers, he did not know but he wasn't the one who accepted defeat easily. He roamed around the cliff looking for anything but found nothing. He was about to give up the hope when he heard the sound coming from inside one of the cracks in glacier. He reached there to find one of the human boy. "How did you manage to reach here?", asked Chand wondrously. "Help! Please help!", Chand pulled the man up and said, "you are a druid." The boy looked at Chand's eyes which were glowing blue. He only had the time to realise that the man who had just saved him was a blood thirsty vampire before Chand sunk his teeth in his neck and killed him. He tore off the limbs and peeled the skin off his body before bringing him to Haseena
"What was this?", asked Haseena drinking from his carcass, "i have never tasted blood like this before." "A roaming animal I found.", lied Chand. He knew Haseena would not be able to digest the fact that he had killed a druid boy. But he knew she needed the strength and the blood of the druid will be most nourishing for her. And how right he was as Haseena regained her strengths and her dark eyes, lifeless appearance became pale with energy. They rested for a while and then started again on their journey. It took then an entire week to complete the journey and reach the forests of bhaironghati.
The lair was right in the middle of the forest. Even from the distance Chand could sense the energy pulsating around the villa.
"Long time no see Chandrakant", said the ancient one, "aah you bring the woman who changed your heart." Haseena and Chand bowed to the ancient one. Soumlya and Shashidhar appeared into the view hearing his name. "It is indeed you. You have changed much. Nishikara would be pleased to see you." Haseena looked at Chand. "Ancient one! We need your help.", said Chand.
"I know why you are here! But I do not wish to assist you."
"No you must. You must help us. I need to save my son! Please help us!", begged Haseena as the ancient one.
He looked at Haseena's pleasing eyes. "What will I get in return?"
"A soul", said Chand.
"A soul? Whose?", a smile creeped on the face of ancient one. "My", said Chand and "no", screamed Haseena. "You must really love this son of yours. Very well then. We have a bargain.", said Chand and a mark appeared on the back of his hand. His soul was claimed.
"The one you look for is a warlock. A very powerful and evil warlock. You don't need to find him for he is coming to your way. To claim your son and his love. The little girl."
"What does Piya got to do with any of this?"
"She is much more than you realise." The ancient one shared the secret of Piya that left them bewildered and yet not very surprised. "your biggest worry nevertheless is the warlock. He wields the wooden bowie knife.", said the ancient one.
"The one that was used to kill count Dracul.", exclaimed Haseena.
"Indeed. Know this he has imbued it with a crimson stone that has the power to capture one's soul and use it to harness its powers. He does not intend to kill your son but capture his soul"
Haseena shared a terrified look with Chand.
"If he captures Abhay's soul, you know who he will come after."
"I know well Chandrakant. Worry not as I have gave you word my to help you with this war in exchange for that souls of yours", said the ancient one pointing at his mark on back of Chand's hand.
"What I am surprised is how do you know not what that little girl consumed. Dracul made a potion from his own blood for his beloved wife. A potion that protected her from his venom and all kind disease and ailments giving her a life as good as immortality. It did not protect her from the harm caused by other humans though. Burned at the stake for witch craft. We all know the story don't we? But yes she does have this potion in her veins and for some reason that potion makes her stronger."

Realisation seemed to dawn on Chand soon enough. Piya had been bitten by Abhay the night she consumed the potion as a result amplifying its abilities.
Chand and Haseena looked at each other. They took the leave of the ancient one and left. But as Chand was leaving the ancient one called out to him, "The ministry knows. Remember. Be warn."