Moonlit nights

Sixty seven

The bite mark on the neck,as if someone had dug fangs inside the blood vessel made her nerve tight. The body looked white,almost as if it had no blood. She felt like punching the wall with her bare hands watching the site. Even the dress of the female was perfect. Just the two holes on her neck. Except that. Everything great.

Khushi sighed. It was the fourth murder in her area. The dark humid weather of Shimla,it was no wonder if there were few creatures like that living here. Khushi felt her back soaked in sweat. Was it her who thought too much? Was she being paranoid?  She did not know. But her sixth sense was warning her. Sometimes she felt this strong urge to do something and she regretted not doing it.

On the roof top he stood. Looking at her. Strange. He felt a pull towards her. As he looked at her.

"ASR. Let's go. I have already collected the scent. It's someone from dark clan. Only they would be so disgusting to play with lives. This girl was dating someone from that side it seemed. He had drained all her blood in one go,just to have fun"Aman said..

Arnav closed his eyes. This dark clan was again getting on his nerves. Once few centuries back,he had almost wiped them all out and fallen asleep. And when he woke up,he found them again. And it was funny to be an understatement,that the people who once fought against them were the ones who became like that..

"By the way Aman. Who is that girl? In black?"asked Arnav as they walked away.

Aman looked at him strangely. Like,sir,just how old are you. Are you not too old to look at a young lady. Arnav glared at Aman. It was a warning. One word and you are gone..

"Her name is Khushi. She is the newly appointed police incharge here"Aman informed.

"Khushi.."Arnav called out her name. As if tasting it..

Khushi felt someone calling her name,as if wind left a mark behind,as if someone sneaked in and left her with few kisses. She looked up,but they were gone,long gone.

"Sir..I doubt it is something else"Khushi explained to her leader. The old guy sitting on the chair was busy checking out her it seemed.

"Miss Khushi..Leave that case to others. Why donot you solve something else. Like the case of the Missing bag or something. It suits you perfectly. See. How beautiful. A beautiful lady searching for the Gucci handbag of an average looking lady. After you find it,we are going to have the press people come and introduce you as a celebrity police. Our team has a beauty who also has brain"the team leader continued with dreamy eyes. Khushi rolled her eyes. She could almost see him,dreaming about standing infornt of the crowd,with his hands around her waist. And proudly introducing her. It made her shiver more than the murder sight she had seen..

"Sir..I am not going to solve that case. It's already solved. That lady filed the complaint,just to show. She had herself sold that handbag to someone"Khushi said,her voice little louder.

The pudgy man looked at her with anger. How beautiful was the dream. Yet she broke it apart.

"Okk then. Go ahead. Work on this case. But let me warn you. Shimla is not as simple as it seems. There are hidden tigers and crounching lions here. Be careful. Your life is yours. No one is going to babysit you here"he was back to the leader mode,from leacher mode.

Khushi sighed. Atleast this man knew work. He was not like those seniors,who would jump at any woman.

"What? Thought I am mesmerized by your beauty? Miss Khushi. I have eaten more rice than you. I can read your face like an open book. It's just a process. Now leave this room and get back to work"he said as he put his glasses on.

Only then she realised,he needed glasses to see clearly. She sighed.

Walking alone in the streets, without much light,she would feel shiver,by the sound of her own heels. Of course they were not pointed. Still. To maintain the facade. She had dressed herself to dozen. And walked towards the downtown bar. She had found it from the lady who died. She had been a member of this bar.

As she walked out,towards the lone street ahead,she felt the chilling air around her. It gripped her nerve and made her wish to run away. But clutching her bag,she continued to walk ahead,as if drunk.

Suddenly she heard footsteps. Multiple,yet quite. She dared not turn. But she could feel it. The footsteps barely touching the ground. It was as if they were running towards her. But not touching the ground? Possible? Of course possible.

As she continued to walk ahead,she felt the cold wind. It was a strange fragrance. If ice had a fragrance,it would have been like that.

"Hey .Miss..Mind telling us. Where are you going,dead in night like this?"a voice asked..

And she stopped. All the bravery was gone. She tried her best to maintain her breath. And slowly opened the zip of her small bag that came across her shoulder. The voice chuckled and she felt dread. The gun. It was not there. But she had put it inside and never opened her bag.

"Is this what you are looking for? Gun? A police officer perhaps "she heard the voice tease. And finally gathered her courage to turn..

Her eyes clashed to a pair of golden eyes. As if someone had melted gold and made those eyes. His skin was glistening. As if someone had sprayed some gold dust on him. But his face was cold. As if frozen under thousand years of ice. He was looking at her. More specific inside her eyes. Deep,green with some yellow dancing inside. As if a forest fairy. Her big eyes held fear,as he looked. The thin hairs on her body were standing up. In response to danger.

Her whole body was alert. Ready to run. Her fist were clenched. As if ready to punch. Or it was a mechanism to manage the intense feeling she had.

"Aman ."his voice,barely a wishper came.

And Aman sulked as if he was a child and took out the gun he was playing with. And gave it to her.

But before that he pulled his identity card to show her. He was part of the special forces.

Khushi took the gun and glared at them. But did not object as they walked with her,no behind her. Soon,they were standing infront of the bus stop. But the question was,it was already dead in night. And for a small place,was there a bus at that time?

As they waited,soon a cab came. Someone had a presence of mind. Soon they sat,as the cab left,to drop her at her place. Without much words exchanged.

"Aman. The people who were behind her. Find them and send their photos to the head of their clan. If they donot solve the issue themselves. Then may be it's time we step in"Arnav said as they reached their home.

A simple two storey house,with little furniture and a bed.

Aman nodded and send the details to the clan leaders. But sometimes arrogance dances on the top of the head,unless and until it's beaten down.

As he had guessed,it was futile. They did not even answer back the mail. Arnav looked at the night. Of course those people were active,too much in darkness.

May be it was time to see,what real darkness was like..