Asmi: The Warrior of Fate

Moment Of Truth

The garden's silence wrapped around Asmi and Duryodhan, shielding them from the world. For a few precious moments, everything faded - the curse, the priest's ominous words, even the world that stood against them. It was just the two of them, vulnerable yet unbreakable. But it was short-lived.

Asmi looked up at Duryodhan, her tears drying but her eyes still heavy with uncertainty. "How do we fight something we can't see? What if... what if there's no way to fix this?"

Duryodhan's gaze hardened, his determination a stark contrast to the storm of doubt emerging within her. "Asmi, we've faced enemies made of flesh and blood and now, if this curse is something else, then we'll find another way to defeat it. You're not alone in this. I swear it." He squeezed her hand.

The air around them felt heavy, as if the universe itself was aware of the vow that had been made. Asmi's heart filled with a mixture of gratitude and fear. She leaned into him again, her head resting against his chest again, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. For now, that was enough.

But somewhere far from the garden, in a darkened chamber hidden deep within the palace walls, a different kind of tension brewed. Rutikasur, the dark force who had sent the cursed message, sat cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by shadows that twisted and danced in the flickering candlelight.

His lips moved in silent incantations as he channelled his energy into the messenger bird, preparing it for its final destination. As the bird flew closer to Dwarka, Rutikasur's magic grew stronger, the very air around him covered with malice.

"I've found you!"

Suddenly, the shadows in his chamber flickered violently, as if disturbed by an unseen force. A sharp chill crept into the room, and for the first time, Rutikasur hesitated. Something was wrong.

His eyes darted to the dark mirror that stood against the wall. It shook unnaturally and through the unclear reflection, he saw something unexpected - another figure watching him. The figure was cloaked in shadow, its face hidden, but there was an undeniable aura of power emanating from it.

"You play with forces you don't understand," the figure spoke, its voice deep and resonant, sending a shiver down Rutikasur's spine.

The demon sneered, but his bravado wavered. "Who are you to question me? I command the darkness and with it, I will tear them apart. For sure!"

The figure laughed, a cold and chilling sound. "You are nothing but a child playing with fire. The darkness you wield is not yours to control. There are greater forces at work here, forces that even you cannot fathom."

Before Rutikasur could respond, the mirror cracked and the figure vanished, leaving behind just the silence. Rutikasur's heart raced. For the first time, doubt gnawed at him. Was there something darker than even he could control?

Meanwhile, back in Dwarka, the night grew colder as Asmi and Duryodhan parted from their quiet moment, unaware of the upcoming danger. As they stood to return to the palace, Asmi stopped in her tracks, a strange sensation washing over her. It was as if the very air had thickened, filled with something unseen but undeniable.

"Duryodhan," she whispered, her hand gripping his sleeve. "Something's not right."

He frowned, instinctively reaching for the sword at his side. "What is it?"

Asmi couldn't explain it. It wasn't fear, exactly, but a deep, unsettling feeling. "I don't know... but I can feel it. Like something's watching us."

Before Duryodhan could respond, the sky above them darkened, the moon disappearing behind the dark clouds. In the distance, the messenger bird, now controlled by Rutikasur, circled the palace once before diving toward the royal chambers.

Asmi's breath caught in her throat. "What was that?" She pointed toward the bird, uneasily.

Duryodhan's eyes narrowed, sensing the same malevolent energy. "We need to go," he said. He took her hand and together they hurried toward the palace, unaware that the cursed bird had already delivered its dark message.

Inside the palace, chaos erupted.

Krishna, the calmest of them all, had felt the shift in the air the moment the bird had flown over the walls. His eyes went towards the sky, his expression darkening. "Something wicked has entered these walls," he murmured to Balram, who stood beside him.

Balram's grip on his mace tightened. "What do we do?"

"We wait," Krishna said, his voice a mixture of calm and caution. "This is only the beginning. The darkness has made its move, and now we must see where it leads."

But even as Krishna spoke those words, a distant scream was heard through the palace halls.

Asmi and Duryodhan rushed into the royal court, where they found Vasudev and Devaki kneeling beside a lifeless figure on the ground. The crowd that had gathered parted to reveal the body - the priest who had read their kundlis, now pale and still.

Asmi gasped, her heart pounding in her chest. "No... how...?"

Balram's eyes blazed with fury. "This is no ordinary death," he growled. "The curse has begun."

Krishna stepped forward, his expression grave. "The darkness has claimed its first victim."

Asmi felt her knees weaken but Duryodhan's strong hand kept her steady. She looked up at him, her voice trembling. "What does this mean for us?"

Krishna's eyes shone with a strange intensity as he spoke, his voice low and steady. "It means that the battle has already begun. And now, Asmi, the past you tried so hard to leave behind... will return with a vengeance."

At that moment, the dark curse began to tighten its grip, and neither Asmi nor Duryodhan knew just how much they were about to lose.

__________________________________________________________

Okay! Dar gaye kya? This was a chapter tainted with Blood and darkness... Rutikasur has found them, thanks to the poor bird.

Let's see kya hota hai na aage!

Vote, Comment and Share!