𝐈𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐚~𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐞 | 𝟐𝟏+

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫|𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥

The silence of Sunhara Mahal was an oppressive blanket that seemed to weigh heavier with each passing moment. Aadhisha stood frozen on the staircase, watching as Shivaay's tall, commanding figure loomed in the doorway, framed by the cold, moonlit night outside. The flickering torches along the walls cast his face in shifting shadows, accentuating the sharpness of his jaw and the hard set of his mouth. There was a tension in his posture, an undercurrent of something she couldn't quite name-anger, certainly, but something deeper, more volatile, that sent a shiver down her spine.

"You're awake," Shivaay said, his voice a low rumble that carried through the empty hall.

Aadhisha straightened her shoulders, forcing herself to maintain an air of calm even as her nerves twisted into a knot. "I couldn't sleep," she replied evenly. Her voice sounded steady, even to her own ears, though her heart hammered violently in her chest. She hesitated, then added, "Did you find anything?"

For a long moment, Shivaay didn't respond. He stepped further into the hall, the heavy door closing behind him with a resounding thud. His boots echoed on the polished marble floor as he approached her, his dark eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that made it difficult to breathe. When he stopped at the base of the staircase, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet pouch. Without a word, he opened it and tilted it toward her, revealing a delicate shard of glass inside.

Aadhisha frowned, leaning forward slightly to get a better look. The shard glinted in the dim light, its intricate etchings catching the flickering torchlight. "What is that?" she asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.

Shivaay's lips pressed into a thin line. "It was found in Elieen's quarters," he said, his voice clipped. "It matches the pattern of the pendant Tannishta wore the night she was murdered."

The air seemed to leave the room all at once, and Aadhisha's blood turned to ice. Her mind raced, trying to make sense of the revelation. "Elieen?" she repeated, disbelief coloring her tone. "You think she-"

"I don't think," Shivaay interrupted sharply. "I know." His eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing. "But what I don't know is how you fit into all of this."

The accusation in his tone stung, and Aadhisha felt a flare of indignation rise in her chest. "I've told you everything I know," she said firmly. "I saw a woman giving an address to a man days before Tannishta's death. That's it. I have no idea who she was or what she was planning."

"And yet, you have a way of being in the middle of things you claim to know nothing about," Shivaay shot back, his voice dangerously low. He took a step closer, his towering frame casting a shadow over her. "Forgive me if I'm not entirely convinced by your sudden honesty."

Her jaw tightened, and she clenched her fists at her sides. "You're impossible," she snapped, unable to keep the frustration out of her voice. "I was with you when Tannishta was killed. You know I couldn't have had anything to do with it."

"That doesn't mean you're innocent," Shivaay said, his tone cold and unyielding. "It just means you're clever enough to cover your tracks."

The insinuation made Aadhisha's blood boil. "You're unbelievable," she muttered, shaking her head. "You act like I've been plotting against you this entire time when all I've done is try to survive."

Shivaay's expression didn't soften, but something flickered in his eyes-something she couldn't quite place. He was silent for a long moment, his gaze fixed on her as though he were trying to see through her, to unravel her secrets one by one. Finally, he said, "Surviving doesn't explain why you were outside that night. Or why you seem to know more than you're willing to admit."

Aadhisha took a step back, the weight of his scrutiny too much to bear. "I've told you everything," she insisted, her voice quieter now, tinged with desperation. "I don't know what else you want from me."

"I want the truth," Shivaay said simply, his tone devoid of any warmth.

She opened her mouth to respond, but the words caught in her throat. What could she say? The truth was tangled in a web of lies and half-truths, secrets she couldn't afford to reveal. And yet, the weight of his gaze made her feel as though he could see right through her, as though he already knew and was simply waiting for her to admit it.

Before she could find her voice, Shivaay took another step closer, his proximity overwhelming. The heat of his body was a stark contrast to the coldness in his eyes, and she felt her pulse quicken against her will. His hand lifted slowly, almost hesitantly, before brushing a strand of hair away from her face. The touch was brief, but it sent a jolt of awareness through her, and she hated the way her body betrayed her in his presence.

"You're trembling," he murmured, his voice softer now, though no less intense.

"I'm not," she lied, even as her hands clenched into fists to hide the slight tremor.

Shivaay's lips curved into a faint, almost cruel smile. "You are," he said quietly. "And do you know why?"

She didn't respond, refusing to give him the satisfaction. But the silence only seemed to amuse him, and his smile widened slightly.

"It's because you know," he continued, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "You know I'll get what I want. And you know there's no point in fighting it."

Her breath hitched at the implication, and her gaze darted away from his, unable to hold the weight of his stare any longer. "You're delusional," she muttered, more to herself than to him.

"Am I?" Shivaay said, his tone laced with mockery. "Or are you just afraid to admit the truth?"

The tension between them was suffocating, the unspoken words hanging heavy in the air. Aadhisha felt her resolve wavering, her carefully constructed walls beginning to crack under the weight of his presence. But she refused to let him see how much he affected her, refused to give him that power.

"I'm not afraid of you," she said, lifting her chin defiantly.

Shivaay's smile faded, replaced by an expression she couldn't quite read. "You should be," he said quietly, his voice laced with something dangerous.

Before she could respond, he turned abruptly and walked away, his footsteps echoing through the empty hall. Aadhisha watched him go, her heart pounding in her chest. She exhaled shakily, her composure finally breaking as the tension drained from her body.

Whatever game they were playing, she was losing. And the worst part was, she wasn't sure she wanted to win.

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