A Mysterious She-wolf

Kavi's POV [Layla's POV]

"How can I trust you?"

A part of me was still trying to convince me that Chandran was lying. But I couldn't conceive in these years and suspicion had sprouted into my heart already.

Chandran extended his hand to me which means he was willing to share his memory with me. I extended my hand shakily towards his hand. My palm touched his. My vision spun as I was connected to his brain. Visions of him blaming me and the fights we had were flashed before me. He blocked me from seeing all of his memories with a little struggle as his energy were low. His mind started showing me the memories of Maayan and a young woman laughing and speaking, Maayan hugging her at different situations, The view of his head from the back which was tilted to the side while he was hugging her close — He was kissing her... I pulled my hand away as I had seen enough to cry for eternity.

I couldn't see Maayan's eyes or full face on any of Chandran's memory but his back had a tattoo of my symbol which no one had in this solar system. That tattoo would appear in purple colour to me while others could see it in crimson colour. And no one knows about this. His tattoo appeared in purple colour in Chandran’s memories. So Chandran wasn't lying. My man had left me.

The silent tears were falling on the ground making dark purple roses sprout out grazing my skin. My heart was completely gone numb on knowing I failed him - the man who had showered me with love and made me felt so alive. The days we spent together would never come back. The realm of darkness would never echo his booming laughter. I could never listen to his sweet enticing voice that always says loving words to me. His rubies — the pair of his mesmerizing eyes would never see me or show affection and admiration. I won't feel the warmth of his skin or his presence near me. I lost him. The "Forever and ever had quickly turned into “Never again’.

What I felt as the purpose of my life had now left me! Then why my soul should have to live and go through the pain of his absence. He was a powerful man. He deserves happiness. I know I am different but I never gave thought to the compatibility of our bodies. He was immortal but not a God. Even he spoke about the children when he first opened up his heart to me before knowing who I am. I thought we would eventually be blessed with children but never thought that was impossible and I never thought he would go to another woman to get his wish fulfilled. Maybe that's why he didn't touch me for the last few days. And I feel so shameful to throw myself on him the last day. He left me because he couldn't tolerate my intimacy as he wants to be true to his rightful woman who is bearing his child.

"Aadhavan and I know that you might do something because he had left. Even if you try to cope up his loss, your darkness might affect the solar system. That's why we prepared ourselves to fight against you."

Chandran muttered in a fake sad tone. But I can't deny the truth in his statement. Without Maayan, I almost lost my mind. I am not myself. I could never do my duties with the same dedication because of the void in my heart and the darkness trying to engulf me into its hold.

My heart had decided what to do next. I stood up and teleported my people to my realm. I sent telepathy to Aadhira to take care of the people. They would heal eventually in their home. I summoned the dark hounds I kept as a guard for Moons and sent them to guard my realm in an invisible form. An unbreakable shield of darkness was formed above my realm which would only let the souls from earth to enter inside to go through the purification and send them back to the respective places.

I looked around the unconscious hunters and took back my effect but they didn't wake up. I tried again but there is no movement in them

"Why aren't they waking up? Do you have anything to do with this?"

Chandran looked troubled and his eyes widened at some realization.

"I asked them to drink some bright ash liquid to keep them safer from you.”

I sucked in a deep breath on seeing the hundreds of hunters lying on the ground; the darkness and bright ash liquid together had combined in their body making their death painfully slow. Humans are not some research materials. Chandran had turned them into a weapon against me which had gone terribly wrong now. They are unconscious and dying.

"When are you going to learn to think about the consequences of your actions? What are you going to do with their souls? This wasn't their rightful time to reach my realm. They can't go there and they should not wander on the surface of the earth either.”

I asked him calmly. I can't think of any solution. My mind was so numb.

"I will take care of this.”

He whispered and whistled in the air. A huge pack of wolves came running which halted in its steps on seeing their friends dying. Their howls filled the silent evening with agony.

"I expected something like this would happen. That's why I thought about the solution.”

Chandran stood up weakly and raised his hands plucking the souls from the human's body and forced it into the wolves.

The wolves started writhing in pain as their body struggled to accommodate another soul. He used his divine powers to heal them and sealed them together. The wolves looked rather happy with the soul of their friends inside their body but their size had tripled and the divine healing had granted them advanced traits.

"When my people was a reason for the creation of vampires, it was a big mistake. But the God of balance had now created powerful creatures which would have no impact in the world, uh?"

I let out a dry laugh. He turned his head away as he got no answer. They all submitted to Moon and howled their gratitude.

"You wolves can shift your form whenever you want. So the human souls could have their time in human form."

He blessed them making me raise an eyebrow at him.

A wolf walked towards me and nudged my hand to come above his head. He wants my blessing. My heart warmed a little.

"Your off-springs will bear the same quality as you. Love is a very important feeling in the life of all living being in the world. Your next generation will get their soul bonded with the most compatible person for their life. The soul mates and the bond will guide you and stop you from the path of destruction. Nature will grant you the mate which would be recognized on attaining maturity. Treat everyone right because you might not want to see your mate broken because of your past behaviour. The mate would be a beautiful relationship — your other half who had been attached to you physically and emotionally - for you to cherish and live happily for your lifetime.”

My broken heart didn't want to see any broken soul in future among these beautiful creatures. They bowed their head accepting my blessing happily.

"What if they didn't like the one got bonded with them? They should have the liberty to choose whom they want to be with!"

Chandran interjected.

"Nature knows everything. But still, if they didn't want the soulmate, they can break the bond and endure the pain of severing of the bond.”

The words came out of my mouth laced in the deep pain of my own.

"Bring Sun to Qywesir and a dagger soaked in bright ash liquid."

I said to Chandran. He looked genuinely shocked and nodded his head no.

"Just because he left doesn't mean everything is over, Layla. We are here for you. If I had been in Maayan's place, I would have never left you vulnerable like this even if we couldn't get a baby."

The mere thought disgusted me and the darkness flared at him in a warning.

"I know what I am doing, Chandran. Don't question me. This is my life and I make my decision.”

He pursed his lips in a thin line and shrugged.

"One more thing... Bring “him’ there.”

I teleported to Qywesir without waiting for him to reply.

This planet is farthest one from the Sun and earth. It revolves in and out of the solar system. If anything happens, let it be far away from the earth.

Our creator had left us without any notice and I don't know what to do. Maybe she didn't like my relationship with Maayan and that's why she didn't visit us anymore. I prayed from my heart to her and sent a hearty apology to her. She created me and I have no rights to end my life without her permission. But the ache within me was too much to bear and I don't want the darkness to consume me either the living being on the earth.

I used all my power to bind the darkness within me as it should be bound and protected like it used to be when I transfer my powers to him. The pain that had been covered by the darkness within my soul had come back and I dropped to my knees. But I felt the darkness had been again within my control and was bound securely. My man knew everything in and out of my realm and He is everything to me. I don't want to interfere with his life anymore. The love I had for him will guide him.

He may not be a God. But he is the only person I could trust to surrender my powers. The people in my realm would respect my decision. I am sure they would miss me and what I am doing is the biggest act of irresponsibility. But I think this was what destiny had for me. I will die contented with the memories of my love.

The dark planet had lit up with a spark of teleportation portal making me smile knowing I don't have to bear this pain anymore. I stood up with a little struggle. A Goddess should die like a Goddess. I masked my face with a smile and my heart raced in anticipation to see his face for one last time. Only Sun and Moon came out of the portal making me frown.

"Layla, You don't have to do this. Let's talk and resolve this. You can't die at your will. You have a duty and you are responsible for everything happening within this solar system. Your demise might affect the whole solar system.”

I raised my hand stopping Aadhavan from speaking anymore

"My duties will be taken care of. I wasn't going to die with my powers. So it won't explode or affect anything. And there is nothing to talk or rethink. And that's why I chose the place. It was far away from the centre of the solar system. If anything happens it wouldn't reach earth.”

I spoke with the authoritative and determined voice which shut him off effectively.

"Where is 'he'?"

I turned towards Chandran and asked him.

"Why he had to come here? Do you really want to make him feel guilty for all his life? How would he live his rest of life happily if he sees you dying in front of his eyes?"

I processed his words and he was right for the first time. My stupid heart blinded this from me as it wants to see him. I nodded my head and closed my eyes connecting with cosmic energy and used my every bit of energy to transfer all my knowledge and power to Maayan. I may not feel or sense him but the cosmic energy would find him and give him the last gift I had sent him.

The darkness bound within me was redundant to leave me but my other divine powers had left me. I opened my eyes and saw Moon and Sun looking at me angrily. What was their problem?

"You can't do this Layla! How could you transfer your powers to a mere human when Two Gods of this solar system are still alive? I deserve those powers; not him!"

I smirked at Chandran words. Aadhavan placed his palm over Chandran's shoulder cutting his speech off and they signalled something with eyes. I asked him to get the dagger. He summoned the weapon with a look of vengeance.

A shiny teleportation portal appeared next to Chandran making me frown. My man came out of the portal with a look of panic and searched the place which ended when his eyes locked with mine. I have got the satisfaction which made my soul breathe in peace. I smiled at him and the dagger came to me in air.

A frown appeared on Maayan's face and something crossed his features. I don't want him to see me dying. I wanted to tell him to go back. But words failed and the guilt of not giving what my man wanted made me turn sideways. I grabbed the dagger and it burnt my skin. It was made of the rock from Aadhavan’s realm which was coated with Moon's dust and concentrated bright ash liquid. I smiled at Aadhavan and Chandran; they spoke as if they didn't want me to die but they came prepared. I pushed the venomous sharp object into my body. I won't heal without my power and the sense left in me guided the darkness towards the man I love. My eyes closed as the venom slowed consumed my body while my brain beautifully displayed my best memories with Maayan. I felt my soul dying when an image of Maayan's beautiful smile stilled in my vision.

AEnd of Layla's view”

As the darkness entered Maayan's body and blended with him, it could see what had happened during the past month. Maayan was so scared when he learnt Layla had fainted. A Goddess can't get sick. He visited Moon and Sun often to know the reason and asked them to help him.

One day, Chandran told him that Layla was pregnant with his child but it shouldn't be revealed to anyone because the baby had so much evilness in it. Chandran convinced him to cast a revealing spell on Layla when she was asleep to see the truth. He did the same and saw the dark ball in her stomach. He misunderstood that the dark ball was their baby when it was originally the darkness bound within her.

Maayan sought the aid of Chandran. Chandran told that he knew only one way to save Layla's life from the baby. The baby was born from the blood of the Goddess of darkness and a powerful wizard. So it needs a life as a sacrifice for its birth which would be Layla. But Maayan can save Layla's life but he has to sacrifice his life for the same. He convinced Maayan that everything happens for a reason. Because Maayan hadn't gone through the purification before becoming immortal. So his soul wouldn't go out of the solar system but it will go to the purification pit. Then he can come alive with Layla's help

As their souls were connected, Maayan needed to first perform the severing of their connected souls to keep Layla and the baby alive. Also, Maayan had to pretend to be with another woman which would make their relationship weak and the pain will be less when the connection was broken. Chandran made Maayan promise that he shouldn't tell anyone about this as Maayan's immortal soul getting another chance to live in the solar system is not a natural and right thing to which Sun would oppose.

Maayan believed every lie and started distancing himself from Layla. He would go to meet Chandran’s realm daily to meet with a woman and he will pretend closely with her in front of Moon. Because Maayan had to die after the souls detached and Layla had to believe Chandran that Maayan had cheated on her to not make her follow him and stop the ritual. Chandran took the help of Maayan's sister who is also a witch and corrupted her mind to detach Maayan's soul from Layla. And to keep the connection weak, Maayan shouldn't sleep with Layla. But the night when she told that Chandran would do anything to see her fall and also she expressed her trust for him after making love with him. It broke all his determination and beliefs and he went to Chandran's realm to ask him to stop everything as he was going to reveal everything to Layla and he was going to do whatever she tells him. Chandran got angry and used his divine power to make him go unconscious. When he got up, he felt empty within his heart with great pain in his heart and he realised he had been fallen for Chandran’s game and his cupcake was in pain. His aambal wand couldn't perform any magic as there was a strong anti-magic spell had been cast there. The rocky place had a shining liquid and crimson liquid rubbed all over the room. He was horrified to know the anti-magic was cast with his sister's blood; Chandran had twisted her mind to commit suicide to turn her blood into a powerful anti-magic serum. And the shiny liquid is Bright ash liquid as there was a thread of darkness within him as he was the beloved of Goddess of darkness.

He used various techniques and his physical power to escape the room but failed miserably. He prayed to the creator of divines to save Layla. His wait turned into weeks and he became so weak without food and water and low oxygen despite being immortal. The effects of the spells were weakening with days and he just needs a few more days before he breaks out of the place.

But all of sudden he felt great energy entering his body. His soul could sense something was terribly wrong. And his soul gained a string of connection with his cupcake as he did sleep with her, not obeying Moon's words. All he could feel was agony and he used the string to teleport to the place where his cupcake was. The look on her face made him so weak as he knew he was the reason for all her sadness. When a dagger floats towards her, he didn't realize what was happening. But he was too late to understand the events happening there. The darkness entered him carrying all her memories and his soul wept for the permanent loss of its half because of his blind trust over Chandran.

To see his love, dying and disappearing into the air made him completely broken. His heart beats to bring her back but his mind knew better. His anger burst into a scream and he draws his wand to destroy the Moon God as the darkness gave him the power from the universe. As if expecting this would happen, Aadhavan places a curse on Maayan —

"The Goddess of darkness's weak heart failed to trust you. Hence I curse you that her powers would lay idle within you as you aren't the owner of the powers. The divine powers would only obey the divine. And you should be trapped inside the rock here until the blood of your beloved and the voice of her trust calls you. No magic of yours would help you come out! And I won't let the death of a weak-hearted woman to bring blame on us. So her presence would be erased from the memory of every living being on earth.”

The rock behind Maayan flashed a light and a vacuum was created inside with eighteen steps leading to a rock door behind which Maayan was trapped forever as Layla can't call for him anymore. The confused looked look on Chandran's face for the curse pronounced by Aadhavan was patted away with a smile from Sun and look that tells “She won't come back’.

The angry wind blew on the surface of the Qywesir was unnoticed by anyone while a voice whispered hopeful words of Layla's return into Maayan's ears stopping him from joining Layla in death. He got the duty of protecting her darkness within him until she returns.

The darkness narrated the missing part to Kavithanjali and merged with her body. She gasped out coming back to present with all the memories of her past life along with the memories of Maayan; which all had happened in a few seconds.

And now she knows Maayan was consuming bright ashes into his body to separate the darkness from him. A weep of yearning escaped her mouth. She shook him to tell she know everything and that she loves him still as much as she did in past and there was no anger on him. He got one more dose for tomorrow which she was redundant to let him consume but he was already unconscious with his hand tightly hugging her to his body.

The authority of darkness brought the place light as her voice boomed the name of Aadhira to find a way to stop the man in front of her slipping away from her hands... again!

[To be continued...]