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Chapter 6 Not Allowed To Give Up

  • KIARA’S POV
  • I trudged along the weather-worn path until my feet gave way. A scream escaped my mouth as I knelt to the ground. The sharp stones pierced through the flimsy material of my dress and skinned my knees but I didn’t care.
  • They would heal while the pain in my heart would only magnify with every passing moment.
  • The chirping of the crickets, the hooting of the owls, the clicking of the bats resounded in the stillness of the night. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of a pair of golden eyes.
  • A mournful howl echoed in the darkness as the large grey wolf bounded into the forest. I could tell that it was a werewolf.
  • Tears flowed down my cheeks as I recalled the first time I shifted two years ago. The slapping of the breeze against my skin, the sense of liberation you felt while running in the woods were still fresh in my memory.
  • The pain of unrequited love along with the suffering of not being able to shift was suffocating me. How I wished the darkness of the night consumed me too…
  • My hands trembled as I took off the locket around my neck and pressed the tiny lever at its back. The golden heart split open to reveal a tiny needle. One tiny prick and I could be free from all this suffering.
  • A sudden vibration in my lap startled me and the locket dropped from my hands. Damn! It was my phone. Wondering how I managed to carry my purse along, I fished out my mobile.
  • My heart skipped a beat when I saw the notification. Hadn’t Ariana confiscated Nivaan’s phone? How did he send me a message?
  • My heart pounded against my ribs as I opened the message.
  • ‘Cuckoo… meet me near the fountain in the Common Ground.’
  • My heart fluttered as I read the message. Only Nivaan knew my nickname.
  • I jumped to my feet and started running back to the ground… The locket fell to the ground but I didn’t bother to pick it up.
  • My lungs burned as I tried to run faster and faster.
  • Damn! Why does the way become so long when you are in a hurry? After what seemed like ages, I finally reached the place.
  • Thankfully the guests had left and the lights had been turned off. My eyes swept across the clearing as I tried to figure out where the fountain was.
  • “Cuckoo… here…” a familiar voice sounded to my left. There he was standing in front of the glorious fountain. His face was partially covered by his hooded jacket but his quirky smile gave him away.
  • I stumbled several times as I tried to reach him as fast as possible.
  • A long, suffering groan escaped my lips as I pulled him into a hug. “NIvaan! I thought I would never see you again…”
  • He wrapped his arms around me comfortingly. “How many notes has my darling cuckoo composed?”
  • A sharp stab of pain coursed through my heart as I said in a shaking voice, “Just one tune… the tune of death…”
  • He pulled away and held me at arm's length. His eyes glazed over with tears as he said, “Listen to me very carefully. You are not allowed to give up. Do you understand? YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO GIVE UP!”
  • I licked the salty teardrops near my lips and bobbed my head vigorously. Swallowing the lump that had formed in my throat, I rasped, “I just became selfish for a moment. I.. I promise I will never let you down again…”
  • He cupped my face with his hand and said, “Once we have found mom and dad we will go to a far-off place and never look back…”
  • My mind veered to the time we lived together in a tiny cottage. We were so happy…
  • I stopped myself before my mind drifted to those pleasant memories.
  • “Hey! How did you know I was here? And how did you get back your phone?”
  • “Ariana has sent me as her official messenger. She gave me…” Nivaan’s eyes widened in horror as he glanced at his watch. “F***! She gave me twenty minutes… we have only ten minutes left… I should tell you her message first.”
  • “Hmmm… I am all ears…”
  • Quote ‘It is very uncommon for packs to remain united for this long. There should be at least scuffles once in a while. The packs of Auroville must have some secret. It is your job to find that out before Kevin marks you…’ His voice broke and he bent over holding his stomach.
  • Rubbing his back, I asked in an anxious voice, “What is wrong?”
  • “That b****! didn’t give me my medicine today… but don’t worry… this will pass…”
  • Now I understood why she sent Nivaan with the message. She just wanted to reinstate the power she had over me. She must have panicked that I would defy her after my behavior at the café.
  • He had to make a lot of effort to stand straight yet his face remained calm. He smiled weakly and said, “ I have been sneaking out every day…”
  • I covered his mouth and looked around in panic, ‘What if she is keeping a watch?”
  • “I don’t think she is. Anderson called her for some weird voodoo stuff. She seemed a little flustered. I know it will take her a while…”
  • Heaving a sigh of relief, I took off my hand. “I have been searching through all the places systematically over these two years. I am sure we will find mom and dad soon…”
  • I pursed my lips and said, “Once we find them, we will turn her game on her…”
  • His eyes flitted to the watch and he said hurriedly, “I have to leave now…” He looked around before pulling over the hood of his jacket.
  • “Hang in there my sweet cuckoo… we shall sing merry songs again…” He called out as he jogged away.
  • My lips lifted at the corners as I watched him leave. This was the first time I had smiled genuinely in the past two years.
  • I would have to keep up the pretense to buy more time for Nivaan. If Ariana thinks I am not working according to her commands, she will torture him…
  • My eyebrows furrowed in worry as the realization of what I had done at the party hit. Massaging my head, I muttered,
  • “Damn! I screwed it up bad.”
  • After insulting all of the members of Gilkins Pack, I couldn’t just saunter into their house, could I? Only the intervention of the Moon Goddess could help me now…