Strangely Familiar - The Stolen Fate | On Hold

Chapter 6 (II)

"We dance round in a ring and suppose, but the secret sits in the middle and knows." – Robert Frost, The Secret Sits

***

As soon as he waved his hand, the door of the Median swung open and a familiar sight greeted her.

Naina knew he was tricking her. There was no way a human could survive even a moment in the Median. The Immortal King obviously suspected something different about her.

"I - I," she hesitated. She cannot deny his request. How could she? She was supposed to be ignorant of the Median and its capacity for draining life in her mortal guise.

"I accidentally stepped into the room, er-Your Highness. I was looking for the..." she ducked her head down and stressed her mind under his unnerving stare, "a-atrium."

"Forgive me if I don't buy your lies." He threw her a fake smile and gestured for her to walk with him to the open ground in front of her. The magical beings standing near the door had their head ducked down and hooded. She couldn't know what they were thinking. "After you."

"I refuse." She said solemnly. Her appearance may have changed but she was still the same from the inside.

When the others gasped, she knew they had noticed, but she was determined not to break eye contact with him. She was openly challenging him again, even though she should know better by now.

Shaurya cocked his brows at her blatant disregard for his authority, mildly surprised at her boldness. "Do you realize your indiscretion calls for serious punishments?"

"It was an honest mistake." Naina did not budge while lying through her teeth, her voice was surprisingly calm. She cannot blow her cover.

"Mistake, nonetheless!" He was towering over her obstinate form. "Join me, I insist."

When she didn't move, he added inclining his head in an all too familiar pose. "I have several ways and infinite time."

Déjà vu.

Naina did her best to conceal her expressions. What are the odds that he already knew who she was? It was the same gesture he used when he wanted to expose Tia and boy, did it end badly! She shuddered.

Quick thinking has never been one of her core strengths. She was at her wit's end now. Oh, how she needed help at the moment. As she looked down at the hopeless situation in front of her, panic clutched at her throat. She considered what to do for a moment, then stumbled backward.

Think, she stressed her mind.

"I humbly beg your pardon, Your Highness, but I cannot accompany you on this walk today of all days. It wouldn't look good for either of us!" She ducked her head and held her breath as she watched him contemplating her words.

Shaurya narrowed his eyes, displeased at how narrowly she tried to evade his direct command and annoyed for letting it happen. It was the demand of the hour that he could not indulge himself in unveiling the truth about the mortal in disguise. He had more important things to attend to. He had more pressing matters. He glanced at her identification number and scowled.

"Fair point," he said, and a pale light glowed around the bright green as it seeped into her skin. She felt a tightness in her body as invisible ropes appeared around her. "However, your transgressions shall not go unnoticed." Her shoulders strained at the sudden pressure; her magic thrummed beneath the surface of her skin ready to burst free from confinement. Her face was red with anger; she struggled against the bindings in panic; but there was no escape from the spell. He was known for his sorcery for a reason.