Ashoka: Journey Thought Myths

I don't want to go!

We were in Kanpur, the station wasn't much crowded as it was quite late, but still, there were a lot of people. We found out that we'll get the next train to Varanasi in the morning. We got ourselves some chai and set there waiting for morning. I was quite sure that after all that had happened and a cup of tea, I wouldn't be able to sleep.
Of course, I was wrong. I knew I was in a dream or rather a vision if you want to say. I was at a deserted place, there was no sound coming except for the thunder in the sky, which rumbled, again and again, every time more furious. As if it was angry at something.
I observed my surroundings, I was in a ruin of some kind, everything here seemed broken, the building had no roof, the walls were shabby, furniture torn.
In front of me stood a couple of pillars, in between them was a child chained heavily.
A very pale girl, about the age of 6-7, she looked like someone had sucked the life out of her, yet she was smiling. A genuine smile, on her head, was some kind of thing, I couldn't make the details but it was made of something so black that even moonlight couldn't pass close to it, I had seen in the black mirror but it was nothing compared to this. This was as if darkness itself has taken shape.
"Ashoka!" the girl was saying "Wake up! Ashoka!"
It was Trijya apparently who was waking me. I had slept through the whole night, sunlight blinded my eyes. It was about 7 am and they had woken me for tea, at least something was good. I told them about the vision.
"She must be a goddess," Rashi said convinced "I mean why else they would chain some random child and who the hell can smile in that condition?"
"But if she's a goddess, can't she just vanish out of there?" I asked
"Maybe she's a minor goddess and not powerful enough?" Radhi suggested.
"But why would they chain a minor goddess anyway?" Trijya asked.
"Maybe as bait or they can get something in exchange of goddess if gods want her back, you know like usual kidnapping," I suggested.
"I think this is connected to our quest," Trijya said "and I think there's something we need to know"
"Are you suggesting what I think you're suggesting?" asked Rashi with quite a scared face.
"Yes."
"And what is it that you're suggesting?" I asked them.
"You'll see" Trijya replied.
Witches, she had told me. A tribe of witches lived somewhere around here, we were going to the Nana Rao Bhag. It was about 15 minutes of ride from the station. When I had asked why would they tell us anything and how would they even know anything. "Witches can see, they see a lot. Know a lot. They have ways and they're like hundreds of years old too so, for why would they tell us, well they worship Bherav, which is a part of your Father's essence. In simple words a Shivansh. Thus you're entitled to get answered. At least that's what I've heard about other children of Shiva." I asked her then " what's the catch then?"
"Well for starters they like to curve our bones to make potions and stuff and our blood for refreshments. Also, our soul to sacrifice"
"I know, I don't want to go either Rashi. But just think if someone had captured a goddess, what will we be against it? We won't stand a chance without a plan. And to plan we need information. If you have a better option then tell me?"
Rashi didn't reply. I, on the other hand, was trying to find an excuse. Just not to go near witches. We were already outside the park. Trijya had said they lived somewhere around here, hidden and won't be easy to find. Our best shot was to lure them with something, but what? I was still in thoughts when a boy came out of the park gate running and bumped into me so hard we both fell on the ground. He stood up in a hurry, looked behind him to see something then looked at us and said: "Run!"