Strangely Familiar - The Flaw in Time

Chapter 14 - Part II

"Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth." - Henry David Thoreau

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A few days ago -

Inside The Circle of Truth

"What do you mean she is one of them?" Mr. Rajan Patil tried to fight off the creeping sensation of water prickling underneath his knees.

He and his wife were tied to their respective seats the moment they tried to move. It was an invisible string holding them erect, ceasing even the slightest muscle movement. The enhanced water underneath them paid no heed. It continued to raise its level despite their honest efforts.

Shreeparna Patil whimpered as the marks on her skin took the shade of dark purple. The water was draining their energy. She could feel her legs weak as she tried to pull herself together.

"She is magical, a mage as they call themselves. My ancestor, the first witch tried to stop them from ruling our world. They fought in this gruesome battle and the Mage were defeated. The army was led by Shaurya

 himself. His curse froze her magic so it couldn't be transferred down the line right before she locked him up in the portrait. When his army came to know about their chief, they fled. They have this mark on their wrist, a half-crescent symbol that distinguishes them from the rest."

"Why didn't you tell me before?"

Mr. Patil was a wise man. Surely, he would have understood her had he mentioned it once. The fact that his wife had to carry and bear such a load all by herself was disappointing.

"I was scared," Mrs. Patil cried in a vain attempt to free herself, "that you might not understand and feel deceived. I didn't think any of this could happen."

Rajan Patil listened carefully picking up details. "If you never intended to adopt her, why did you?"

"To keep her away from them, of course." Mrs. Patil said in a heartbeat. She turned sharply at her husband who appeared in deep thought. "She was just a child. They would have used her for their ghastly and nefarious tasks. I wanted to keep her away from them as long as I can."

"The water is still rising." Mr. Patil commented suddenly as the level of water reached his waist. He side glanced at his wife who was staring at the dark water in fright. "You are missing something."

He wanted to reach out and comfort her, assure her that he wouldn't accuse her of anything no matter how hard it is.

"I...," Mrs. Patil started, her voice graved matching her expressions. "I may have had her magic locked inside her mind using one of the old methods."

Her husband only stared at her unable to articulate his thoughts.

"Only so they won't reach her. Magic calls magic. It's their absolute and unspoken law." She defended herself, crying softly.

Mr. Rajan Patil was not a magical being but he shared a close bond with his daughter, magic or not.

"You punished her for someone else's mistake?" He whispered in an incredible tone. The dark water reaching his chest was long forgotten.

"That's not punishment."

"What else do you call when you lock someone's dominating personality trait? No wonder she felt so odd." He stopped abruptly, looking at her with pained eyes. "Do you know I once took her to a psychiatrist because she couldn't jerk off those odd feelings that didn't make any sense? She refused to tell you anything about it because it would only add to your stress."