Searching For The Cursed (Shattered Souls #1)

Chapter 8

Riktam cursed looking around the chamber where he had entered to find Arudra. The four of them had decided to split up and search for him. And so, he had checked room after room before stumbling into this one.

This appeared to be a large circular chamber of 50 by 50 feet in diameter and 30 feet high. Torches light up the area dimly. A stifled decaying smell hit his lungs hard, making it almost impossible to breathe. Riktam tried to breathe through his mouth and felt a slight burning sensation in his mouth and throat. He saw a bridge extending from the upper floor from his left side to the right side held by multiple pillars. Ahead of him at the end of the chamber there was an open large double door with stairs leading upward. Shallow dirty water covered the entire floor of the area he was standing on and he could hear water dripping from the ceiling, The floor was uneven and was hard to move but the water wasn't deep and barely covered the soles of his foot. There were different types of small algae and plants sprouting out from the floor and walls. The area was freezing cold as his body started to shiver and his breaths vaporized as it came out of his mouth.

But none of it made him curse. The thing that astounded him was the sight of someone hanging from the bridge. There were barbed wires attached to his body that held him in place. The sharp edges of the wire were piercing his skin and blood dripped from them continuously. The man was barely covered in rags that had long ago lost its original color due to the blood dripping and soaking it constantly. The smell of blood told him that the man was one of his kind. A werewolf. A Vrikajina.

He immediately sent a psychic call to others. He tried to move towards the bridge. But the water was sticking to his feet like slime and made it hard to move. He took a few steps before the water formed hands and started holding his feet in place and climbing his body. Even with his immense strength, Riktam was finding it difficult to move. Adding to that he saw the small plants growing and taking the form of a one-eyed creatures with shark like sharp teeth. The green creatures screeched loudly as green slime seeped out of its large pores.

There's magic in the water, don't get wet.

†***†***†

"Someone has invaded Talatala."

Mayasur, the devotee of Shiva informed his commander, Asur Banai. He was enjoying his time in his palace when the disturbance in his lok was sensed by him.

"It must be someone from the other loks of Patal. What's the need to worry?" Banai replied seeing no need to get alarmed like Mayasur. It was normal for the residents of Patal to visit from one lok to another.

"Murkh (Idiot), do you think I would get worried if it was a normal occurrence?" Mayasur retorted angrily. "Someone has entered the Bhaveru Bhavan (the building of bhaveru)."

"Kintu Asurraj, yeh kaise sambhab hai? Barso se bina aapke anumati ke, kisine uss Bhavan mei prabesh nehi kiya hain. Hamare sainik sadeb sacet rehte hai Bhavan ke bahar.

(But Asurraj, how is this possible? For years, no one has entered the building without your permission. Our guards remain in the watch outside all the time.)"
Banai said in bewilderment.

"Koyi to hai, jinse aaj yeh dussahas kar diya! Jao! Dekho jake kisne kiya hai yeh dussahas!

(There must be someone who has dared to go inside today. Go! Find out who has dared to go inside!)"

Mayasur ordered him.

"Jo aagya. (As you wish.)"

†***†***†

Dark clouds were dancing in the far sky. Looking at them one could say it was going to rain soon. But Sreeshanvika was not worried about getting drenched as she layed on the forest floor and stared at them. She had dark clouds of her own too. But alas! She had no way to pour it down and unburden herself.