Preface
Kiyansh knew Lavanya was dead, but he kept sucking her, every drop of blood in her body. He was never this cruel to anyone. When he drained her completely, he pulled his fangs out, tearing her head from her neck in the process, letting her lifeless body fall to the ground with a thud. The blood was dripping down his chin, and he whipped it with the back of his hand.
His men rushed in to clean up the mess.
He was burning in revenge for a year. Lavanya was not easy to get through. He had to kidnap his son to get Lavanya. Yet his thirst for revenge was not over. He had to wipe out her entire family. He was about to walk out of the door when he heard a soft cooing. His eyes lit up. There was a baby inside the room. He smashed the door open and walked in, while his men took away Lavanya’s body. He looked down at the crib. A small, cute baby girl was inside. She looked like an angel in a flared white frock. The loud sound of the door crashing made her scared, and she started crying. She was not more than a year old. He inhaled deeply. Her blood was very sweet.
Lavanya’s son was his age. And now he was going to kill him and his wife, as they were of no use to him. But he didn’t know Lavanya had a granddaughter.
He looked at her evilly. ‘I’ll kill you, baby girl, and let your father live with this pain. He will feel the same pain I’m feeling because of your grandmother.’
He picked up a crying baby into his arms. The baby immediately stopped crying and tilted her head to the side as if to figure out the stranger. She waved her tiny arms towards him.
‘What? Want to know who I am? A monster!’
The baby gave Kiyansh a small, innocent smile, melting his heart and making his anger calm. He forgot about his thirst and revenge as he gently leaned the baby into his arms. The baby curled her head into his huge palm, feeling safe.
Kiyansh shook his head at how adorable and innocent she looked. She had fluffy, round cheeks that looked so beautiful. ‘I want to kill you, baby girl. Don’t make me weak.’
She was gazing at Kiyansh with her small almond-shaped eyes, and whenever he spoke something, she just smiled up at him, making gurgling baby noises.
Kiyansh chuckled. ‘We are not playing. You should be scared of me,’ he said, tapping on her button nose with his fingertip. The baby gurgled again and waved her tiny arms happily. Small dimples appeared under her plump cheeks.
‘I haven’t seen a soul as pure as you. I’ll let you grow up. I hope you will not make me regret my decision. And I don’t want you to grow up without your father’s care and love. So I’ll spare his life as well. I’m not as cruel as your grandmother.’
Kiyansh was sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of a weird girl. She had big eyes, highlighted with heavy black eyeliner. Her long black hair came to her hips. She was beautiful, like her name. Mehak. But all her beauty was hidden behind her weird clothes and gothic jewelry. She wore a purple robe and had so many chains on her neck and rings on all her fingers. She had a crystal ball in front of her, and her long fingers were waving over it. She was just sixteen, but she had maturity in her eyes. About five years ago, Kiyansh saved her from her family. They used to beat her because they thought she was wretched. She did pre-estimates, and it always came true. She used to tell people about bad incidents happening to them, and her words proved to be true. People in her village were scared of her and thought that she had a black tongue. Kiyansh took her with him. He provided her with food and shelter.
‘How are you feeling?’ the girl said, her voice light and calm.
‘Same. I killed her, but it still didn’t lift my curse. My throat is still burning with the same wild thirst. Can’t you do something, Mehak?’
‘You think I would let you suffer if I could lift your curse!’
‘Then just tell me how long I’m going to live? I’m tired of this endless life.’
‘Human or vampire, everyone has to finish their journey. Nobody could leave the world before that.’
‘I’m doing my karma from thousands of years. And still, it’s not enough? I tried to establish peace and what I got in return. Only pain. If nobody wants peace, then why should I sacrifice myself!’
‘Don’t lose hope, Kiyansh. One day, the light will come into your life.’
Kiyansh gave a bitter laugh. ‘My world is so dark that even light will die if it tries to enter.’
‘I hope at least your thirst for revenge is calm now,’ Mehak said, trying to change the subject.
’You know, Mehak, it is not all about blind revenge. I killed her because of her ghastly plans. She was about to sacrifice 1001 humans and vampires for her tantra. If she had done it, then she would have been unstoppable. And she would blame those deaths on vampires.’
Mehak gave an understanding nod.
Kiyansh sat quietly for a while.
‘What are you wondering?’ Mehak asked, breaking the silence.
‘I wanted to wipe out her entire bloodline to avoid any further conflict. Her granddaughter was there. But I couldn’t… I couldn’t… kill her granddaughter,’ Kiyansh said in frustration.
‘Why?’
‘She is just a baby. And… and… I couldn’t kill her. And you know, when I took her into my arms, I forgot about my thirst.’
Mehak didn’t say anything. She just closed her eyes, her fingers frozen on the ball.
‘What do you think, sparing her life, is a mistake?’ Kiyansh said. ‘Pravash is not a threat, as he doesn’t have any wizard powers, but his daughter does. I could feel her powers. What if she grows up just like her grandmother? Should I kill her and her father? But I don’t know why, it doesn’t feel right!’
‘That is because she is your mate,’ Mehak said as she opened her eyes.
’She is my what?’
‘Soulmate,’ Mehak spelled out slowly.
‘Have you lost your head, Mehak?’ Kiyansh flared up. ‘I couldn’t kill her because she is just a baby. I’m not that heartless.’
‘That’s right. But still, she is your soulmate. And she is the one who will break the curse on you.’
‘How? And when? She is just a baby. I don’t think she knows a single spell right now.’
‘You have to let her grow, of course.’
‘And then why would she help me? She is from your community. And I’m the killer of her grandmother.’
‘I don’t know how everything will happen. I could just tell you that when she will accept you from her heart and let you mark her willingly, the curse will break.’
‘This is not going to happen,’ Kiyansh said irritably. ‘First, I don’t believe in this mate thing. And second, she could accept me. But I’m not going to accept her. I’ll not mark her. I just love Clara. And I could never forget that her grandmother killed my love and left a curse on me. If I ever see her again, I will kill her.’
‘We will see. You know my predictions have never been wrong.’
‘Why do you always predict bad things for me? Can’t you see something good in my future?’
Mehak laughed. ‘Sometimes a curse turns into a blessing.’
