Frost Love

Kiyansh knew Lavanya was dead, yet he kept feeding, draining every last drop of blood from her body. He had never been this cruel to anyone. When she was completely hollowed out, he wrenched his fangs out—the violent jerk tearing her head from her neck—and let her lifeless body fall to the ground with a heavy thud. He stood over her, casually wiping a trail of blood from his chin 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 her son to draw her out. Now she was dead, but his thirst for revenge was not yet satiated. He wanted her entire lineage wiped out. He was turning to leave when a soft cooing caught his attention. His eyes darkened with malicious delight. A baby.

He smashed the door open and walked in, while his men dragged Lavanya’s body away. He looked down at the crib. A small, cute baby girl was inside. She looked like an angel in a flared white frock. Startled by the crashing door, she began to cry. She was no more than a year old. He inhaled deeply. Her blood smelled impossibly sweet.

Lavanya’s son was of Kiyansh’s age. And now that he had served his purpose as bait, Kiyansh intended to slaughter him and his wife next. They were of no use to him now. Yet, for all his meticulous planning, Kiyansh was entirely unaware of one vital detail—Lavanya had a granddaughter.

He smirked. ‘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 lifted the crying infant from her crib. Her crying stopped instantly. She tilted her head, searching the stranger’s face as if trying to figure him out. A moment later, she cooed, waving her tiny hands toward him.

‘What? Want to know who I am? A monster!’

The baby gave Kiyansh a small, innocent smile, and something inside his frozen chest fractured. For the first time in a year, the roaring blizzard of his rage grew quiet. The overwhelming thirst for blood and vengeance simply evaporated as he carefully adjusted her in 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 sweet and pinchable. ‘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.

Five years ago, Kiyansh had rescued Mehak from her own family. They used to beat her because they believed she was cursed. She made pre-estimates, and they always came true. She warned villagers about impending misfortunes and her words proved to be true, which only heightened their fear of her, leading them to think she had a black tongue. Kiyansh took her with him. He provided her with food, shelter, and safety.

‘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 Lavanya because of her ghastly plans. She was about to sacrifice one thousand one 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 with an unreadable expression.

‘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 slayer of her grandmother.’

‘I don’t know how everything will happen. All I can say is that when she accepts you wholeheartedly and lets you mark her, 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 won’t 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.’