ENCHANTED - BY INNOCENCE (ongoing)

92

Hi lovelies, this chapter has 5000 words and ends with a question. Make sure you read till the end.

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*** Vinod ***

"Here," King Parthan said, tossing the papers in front of me. "Absolute authority!"

"Absolute authority..." My eyes lit up at the thought as I leaned forward to look at the papers, the devil in me, chained for years, slowly stirring awake.

"On whom?" I asked, reading through them as a million thoughts raced across my mind about how I could torture... the smell of blood, decaying bodies, burning skin... cries... screams... wow... God, I missed that so much...

"The man who tried to kill your Queen," King Parthan replied, and I clenched my arms.

"Also the man who tried to kill your one true love, Pritham, and the man who tortured your favorite kid, Vivek."

"Him?" I said with a chuckle that escaped out of pure joy... pure joy that I didn't have to limit myself anymore. Had it been anyone else... perhaps at some point, my conscience would have questioned me—not that I would've listened... but still. Being free from even my own conscience... that is a level of unhindered darkness I have never experienced before. I would love to see where that could take me...

"Where is he?" I asked as the thirst for torture grew deeper and deeper.

"Basement prison cell 13," King Parthan said, handing me the keys. I snatched them immediately and made my way outside, unwilling to waste even a second until a small hand grabbed me.

I looked down, irritated, but the anger melted the moment I saw who it was.

"Wh-what happened, Vinod sir?" Vivek asked hesitantly. "Why are you so angry?"

No, Vivek... not now. Don't interrupt me now. I need to see that traitor... plan how to break him...

"Vinod sir... do you want me to leave?" he asked again, even softer this time. And the moment I saw the fear in his eyes, I forced my anger aside, temporarily.

"I'm not angry at you, Vivek," I said gently, placing my hand on his cheek. "Tell me, what do you need?"

"I'm not able to button up Yodha's kurtha properly. Will you please help?" he asked, showing me Yodha and the little red kurtha. And the moment I saw it, Shanthi came to my mind—how she had stitched the red kurthas for me and Yodha.

No... no, this can't happen. I cannot let the devil out. I cannot let Shanthi ever see the devil...

"Let your Vinod sir go, son," King Parthan said from behind, reaching for the small statue in Vivek's hand. "Here, I will help you with the kurtha."

"No, sir," I said quickly, holding his hand to stop him.

"I won't hurt Vivek, officer," King Parthan replied at once.

"Not that, sir," I interrupted quietly. "I..." I looked away, a lump forming in my throat at the pain of rejecting such a golden opportunity. "I... don't want absolute authority. I wish to be supervised."

"Really?" King Parthan asked, surprised. "Vinod, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. And the best part is—even the King wouldn't be offended by your actions after his family has been attacked. Neither would the General. Why would you willingly put chains around yourself?"

"For my wife," I replied softly, and he fell silent.

"Please choose Pritham to be my supervisor, sir," I added. "Rook might be too sensitive for what I'm about to do."