CHAPTER 57

Kavi’s POV

I yelled for Aadhira and Jasmine. The sudden emptiness in the room was scaring me. I need someone to assure what I was thinking isn’t true. I shouted their name once again. Jasmine came first as she was staying right next to my room. She dropped the pot in her hand and covered her mouth.

"Jas, did you see him waking up? Did he go somewhere while I was meditating?” I asked her, full of hope, wanting her to say yes or at least nod. But she stood there without moving a muscle. I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned around to see Aadhira.

“Tell me he woke up, Aadhira… Tell me this wasn’t what I think…”

I grabbed the sides of her shoulder and asked her with my threads of hope flying like they were being blown in the wind. She looked at me with teary eyes.

“I am sorry, Goddess. He hadn’t woken up. His soul might have left.”

“NO! It can’t be. I know our soul was still connected even though it was just a string. I would have known if he had left me. I don’t feel any void in my heart. It can’t be true... IT CAN’T BE…”

My heart wasn’t ready to believe reality. My eyes were stuck at the place he had been.

Then I noticed it...

I walked towards the bed. His Aambal wand was lying there. His wand had magical bonding to be with him. Even if he forgot it somewhere, the wand would appear on his waistband always. If this wand was lying on the bed, he must have really left me.

How could he?

My knees gave out, and I fell on the floor. My hands caressed the warm mattress with a quivering lip and took the wand in my hand—the thing remained as the last trace of his existence.

I just had found a ray of light to recover him from the clutches of death. But already he had gone. He staked his life twice for me. But how could he think I would bear his loss and happily continue my life without guilt. As the connection wasn’t rebound, I didn’t feel any pain like last time. The energy and power I felt like I gained from the happiness a few minutes ago were actually my remaining divine powers rested within him.

A tear rolled down my cheek and fell on the wand, which absorbed my tear, glowed, and returned to normal. I closed my eyes and leaned my head on the bed, inhaling his scent to calm myself. His warmth was slowly leaving the bed. I can’t do anything now. His soul went so far—I have no control over an immortal soul. My creator does. But she turned her back on us a long time ago.

“He can’t do this to me? Didn’t he love me? Why he always want to go away from me? I have just returned. How can he leave me like this? I don’t want him to leave…” My whispers turned to a shout of agony.

I felt like I got pushed back in time. But there was no physical pain now—the emotional pain was compensating to fill the pain into my heart. From the day I released his curse, he never failed to show his love for me. He even tolerated Akhilan being close to me. And I know how possessive he is. He didn’t even want my people to see me in a swimsuit, but I let Akhilan beyond the limits. Maayan tolerated it because he didn’t want to hurt my feelings and respected my likes and dislikes. I could feel how hard it was for him to stay away from me.

He never spoke a harsh word in front of my face. He had fought with Akhilan sometimes but never scolded me. He just loved me… and that made him go through so many things. His soul had been trapped in Qywesir for so long. I can’t even imagine being locked in a room for a day continuously, but he waited there for me with his love and hope to see my face and live with me.

‘I love you, Cupcake. Don’t worry. Everything happens for a reason.’

These were the words he said to me before closing his beautiful eyes to get embraced by sleep. But he never woke up.

“I love you too, Maayan. Please come back to me.”

Tears flowed down my cheeks as I had the inability to save the man who loved me to the extent that he sacrificed his own life to save me.

I wasn’t given an option other than to accept his loss. This isn’t fair!

Aadhira was looking at me with a tortured and fearful look, not knowing how to pacify me, and at the same time, she didn’t want me to do anything like last time. Jasmine was sobbing like she failed a very important exam.

Was this my punishment to abandon the people who trusted in me in the name of ‘Love’?

Was destiny purifying my soul with this big punishment?

I didn’t choose to become a Goddess. I never desired any special powers. I always desired only one thing! A simple life with the man in my heart – a life that has been filled with moments of love, memories of sweet fights and the humourous rebounding, the home filled with the voice of our children running around and playing with each other, growing old and struggling to do chores yet trying to help each other with the love we carried all the days... It was how humans do live… Was it too much for me to ask for a life like that? Why destiny has to be so cruel to me?

I felt a strange vibe from the breeze coming towards me. The cold air hit my face, and the wand in my hand started to break into pieces of dust and vanished away. I clenched my hand hard at the remaining half in greed not to let it go. But emptiness is what was left… in my hand and heart. I closed my eyes, recalling every wonderful moment we shared.

I should be stronger to let his soul go. It was his decision. I should send him there with a smile. I don’t want him to be worried because I am sad. His soul should be happy while it leaves the solar system. A sob broke through my throat… It was so harder than I can handle… Maayan! Why did you decide to go?

He had sacrificed himself because he wanted me to avenge the cruelty of Chandran. That’s what I am going to do. I am not going to let his sacrifice go to waste. My blood pumped adrenaline with my determination, making me glow black. That dustball was the reason I had lost everything. And he still hadn’t changed.

First, I should increase my powers. My warriors should be immune to the Bright ashes. I am not going to let my people come into this war. But I should be careful because the future is unpredictable. And time and destiny can play even in the life of a divine, like once this solar system experienced my blood. Still, I was given a second chance to redeem. I wasn’t going to lose this chance.

The loss of the man with whom I shared my soul only increased the fire in my heart. And the pain… I will carry it in my heart till my soul reaches its time to join my man. I am looking forward to that day! I miss him very much. But he would be in my heart forever. Maayan’s loss made one thing clear to me. Time won’t wait for anyone. I can’t wait until I made grow stronger. I should build myself stronger with what I have. I stood up with determination and wiped my tears.

“We can’t change our destiny. Let’s face whatever comes!”

I said firmly and walked out of the room. I walked to the pond, which was created and filled with the love of Maayan. A small smile crept on my face as I dipped in the pond and let the lotuses caress my skin. I closed my eyes, and the soft touches of the petals reminded me of his kisses. His soul might have gone far away from me. His memory and love will never go away from me. I took in a deep breath and imagined releasing the strand of connection we had between our souls. I felt a tug at my heart. It was really happening.

‘Goodbye, Maayan. I love you!’

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I opened my eyes after the meditation and realized it was already night. I needed to be away from everything, and the only way to escape is meditation. My wolf is also sad for Maayan. I have been thinking of the most efficient way to improve my powers. Chandran might strike me anytime. The dark hounds guarding around the realm had taken the damage of bright ashes and kept my dark shield strong as it is. Creating dark hounds from my blood to accompanying a warrior is not a wise idea. I want complete protection for the life of my people. They weren’t afraid to fight, and I know their devotion. But I am responsible for their life. They dedicated their afterlife to serving me. Every single soul in this realm is my responsibility. I won’t let anything hurt my people.

I called Aadhira to assemble the second-level warriors to a meeting. I want to know what they suggest upon the matter. I teleported to the Meeting hall and waited for the people to assemble there. The empty seat to my right made me sigh—Kathir’s seat. Maayan never bothered for an extra chair as he would turn into a chair for me. It was embarrassing at first as he would be very naughty at times. But I loved those times and got used to it.

Aadhira entered the place, ensuring everyone was here, and sat to my left with a big smile. The meeting was happening in my presence after a long time. But they had kept a chair for Kathir and me all these years. I managed to smile at everyone, and a few new faces were here too. I have to catch up with the new people joined to serve here. I felt a small tingling feel while looking at Kathir’s chair instead of the usual pain. Strange! I pushed that away and cleared my throat.

“We all know why we are here. Maayan sacrificed his life to bring my memories and powers.

"His body couldn’t fight the bright ashes. And his soul has gone so far away from us. I want to make things straight. Chandran took so many things away from us. But he hadn’t realized any of his mistakes. Actually, he doesn’t even consider them as wrong deeds. His pride, envy and evilness should be eliminated. And he would be already preparing to kill me again. He knows we would come for him. And he would be finding a way to stop us. He had already found a way to weaken us. Bright ashes! Over the period of time, it might have diminished in volume, but there is a chance that he could have created a more powerful formula out of the bright ashes.

"I don’t want to repeat any of the mistakes that happened last time. No soul should leave the realm because of Chandran. We should be fully prepared for whatever comes. I went to earth… umm… to fix something. I was hit by bright ash liquid, but my wolf healed me.

"If the brightness has the power to eliminate the darkness, let’s show them the brightness only has limited powers. It can’t swallow the darkness beyond a certain stage. We should use the same strategy. Light would appear to be diminished in size when the level of darkness around it grows. If I could increase my powers, then there are chances that brightness will not affect so much darkness. I want your suggestion in the matter because it is the only way that can make us all immune to bright ashes.”

I explained my idea to them and laid my plan out before finding a way to give life to it. The door banged open when Aadhira was about to speak. The wind carried me the scent of cinnamon in the air. I snapped my head towards the door and looked at him in shock.

How did I not realize it before?

Aadhira bolted towards the door, jumped on her brother, and hugged him tightly, crying loudly and swearing at him for leaving her alone. He hugged her and patted her back, whispering calming words to her. Aadhira pulled away and held his hand tightly. I could understand how much it would bring happiness to see a person that you thought you'd never see again but loved the most. My heart expressed its grief for the man it always beats. I walked to the happy twins and smiled widely. It was so refreshing to see my friend after a long time. His brown eyes met mine. It’s really Kathir. I could feel his soul.

I hugged him and buried my face on his neck, inhaling his scent. Happy tears flowed freely from my eyes. His hands came to my head and stroked my hair softly.

“Goddess…” He whispered, baffled at my expression of happiness. I pulled away and glared at him with a small smile.

“We are past that, Surya. I am always the same tomato to you. But don’t you dare call me that. You know my name.” I warned him with a smile. He shook his head, smiled widely and bowed his head. It was strange to Kavi, but the part of Layla in me was comfortable.

I turned around and saw Aadhira looking at us with her jaw dropped. She came back to her senses with a pinch from Surya, and she smiled sheepishly, looking between us—a smile without any guilt and pain. It adorned her face so beautifully.

I could now connect the dots between my relationship with Surya to Kathir. His wolf listened to me when he first transformed, and he is always protective of me. He was always by my side and held me stronger. He had confused all this feel with love…

I stilled when realization dawned on me.

Love!

No… It wasn’t confusion. It was me to whom he had feelings in his past. When Maayan came, he became happy because I was happy. He must have buried all his pain inside him to smile at us whenever he comes across us. He hit Maayan, thinking he brought pain to me and ultimately sacrificed his life for me.

“Kathir… I am sorry… You have been so close to me, but I didn’t realize what you had in your heart. Thank you for coming back. And don’t you dare to come in between a sword and me.” I said with a fresh set of tears flowing down my cheeks. Was this day destined to make the realm a rose garden? Why am I crying so much?

His eyes widened, and I could feel his heart racing. He opened his mouth and closed it a few times.

“I don’t know what to say… But you can’t stop me from protecting what I value the most, Kavi.” He said with a smile and held my palm with a reassuring, gentle squeeze. I closed my eyes with a smile and shook my head. I saw the second-level warriors marching towards their top-level commander, and they pulled their swords, extending them with both hands, and bowed at Surya. He smiled and bowed, accepting their honour.

“Your mate…?’ I asked slowly as he had come alone.

“I have shown her everything in my mind. It seems she needs some time to think. After all, she has grown up all her life with everyone praising Moon God. She couldn’t accept everything so soon. I left her at the cult of vampires whom I befriended after you become Alpha of Blood warriors. The magical creatures were in confusion. Vampires could feel their pull towards you. Your shield was still there above their cult.

"I can’t leave her in the pack because she will become bait for the Moon God. The vampires injected a small amount of silver into her body, which will keep her wolf weak and will be a shield from the eyes of Moon. I gained my powers the Goddess blessed me with when my foot landed on the realm of darkness.” He explained. He is always so smart to make such a move. I think I should pay a visit to the Council.

“You have a mate? I finally got a sister-in-law?” Aadhira exclaimed, making us laugh.

“Yes. You can meet her soon.” He told her with a smile.

“Why did it take you so long to come here? The Goddess came before you… Wait! How did you come here? You said that you got your powers back only after coming here.” Aadhira questioned him. I focused on Surya as I didn’t give thought to that. His eyes met mine, and he sucked in a deep breath.

“A friend helped me whom I've known for a very long time.” He said, looking at me. I frowned as I knew no one had the talent to break my shield.

“That’s not possible,” I muttered slowly and looked at him in confusion.

“Would you believe if I showed you the person who took me here?” He spoke every word very carefully. I nodded my head. How did I not sense a stranger’s presence in my realm!

He went out, and I heard some unclear whispers. He walked in, covering the person walking behind him. My wolf perked up in curiosity and sniffed the air. The person had his scent masked. Surya looked at me concerned and frowned before revealing the person I least expect. I took in a deep breath and sighed out loudly.

Akhilan!

His eyes were closed, and his face was bent down with a torturous look. My wolf was melting in love at the sight of our love. But my mind and heart were feeling conflicted. I don’t want any more pain. I just lost the man I love. I don’t want to put his life too in danger. The people I love will always bear an invisible curse of danger. I know the answer to how they came here. While going to Qywesir, Maayan gave each of us a vial of potion that opens the portal to the realm of darkness. Akhilan must have used it. But why was he here, and why did he help Surya?

“Thank you for helping my warrior to come back here, Akhilan. Surya got his powers back. He will escort you back to your place.” I said to him in a calm formal voice. I could see the twins sharing a look in my peripheral vision.

“I am not going anywhere. This became my home long ago.” Akhilan spoke in a deep voice that didn’t fail to send shivers to my spine.

He still had his face bowed. Was he too ashamed to look at me? I internally smirked sadly. I didn’t ask for this situation. He created that.

“I might have created the situation... But I am not ashamed to look at you, Cupcake!” I was stunned at his response and endearment. A sly smirk curled at the corner of his lips as he tilted his face up and opened his eyelids, revealing the pair of cherry red eyes!

The same eyes I fell deeply in love with!

As I looked deeper into his eyes, I realized indeed that Akhilan and Maayan were the same.

Am I dreaming? 

Maybe hallucinating!

A part of me supplied that this wasn't hallucination and that Akhilan had been a 'mirror soul' of Maayan.