Strangely Familiar

“You can’t choose up sides on a round world.” — Wayne W. Dyer

Seven-year-old Naina was trembling underneath the quilt. She had the same nightmare again - the one that started with her playing under warm sunlight, but the dark cloud covered the sky, and she suddenly found herself thrown in a forest all alone and defenseless with howling and growling wild beasts around her.

It was only when the beast launched itself at her that she woke up in a trembling mess screaming her lungs out.

Naina opened her eyes as she revisited another flash of memory locked away with her magic.

It has only been a day since she returned to the Mansion. This time, however, the Immortal guided her the way - the only underground passage connecting the two wings. He expected her to return every night to continue her training and master her skills.

The flashes came soon after her magic roamed in her. So far there have been five. Three were nightmares about the same beasts, and the other two were her accidental slip of magic in the orphanage that went unnoticed.

She turned the page of the book ′Ancient Tempus - Volume I′ re reading the same lines on the very first page of Chapter 29th.

In a catastrophic moment, when time skips a thread, the two dimensions strike.

The one that lay parallel, oblivious. Their existence collides.

One shall be dominant, the other shakes and thrives.

That is the beginning when all havoc arise.

Was it a warning?

An event that already happened centuries ago or a prediction?

Naina knitted her eyebrows at the words, trying to decipher, concentrating on the message it was trying to convey. Ever since she returned from his home, all she had been doing was saying in her room and reading the book he gave her. It was about the history of time, stating how it became the most powerful of all Eternals. It came down as no surprise considering time is powerful, and no one has the power to stop or reverse it. No matter how strongly she believed in her convictions, it was these lines that prevented her from proceeding.

Surely someone is bound to have noticed if the two dimensions collided, especially if it led to a catastrophe. Naina couldn’t recall reading about a historical incident that led to such destruction. It could only mean two things. Either the event hasn’t happened yet, or the evidence supporting the occurrence of such tragedy hasn’t been found.

She could ask the Immortal himself about it, but Naina wasn’t sure if his words could be entirely trusted. So far, he has been right in treating her and her magic, but her suspicion did not leave her. Intending to ask her brother about it, she closed the book and kept it in the drawer before getting up.

He would know something. Naina was sure of it. History has always been his area of interest.

Last night, after her return, she found Mr. Kazmi, Samraat, and Tia working tirelessly to get some information regarding the history and whereabouts of Shaurya. They were all seated downstairs in the lobby. The hall was usually their place of meeting.

As it turned out, a lot happened during her absence. Her brother suspected Ayaan was lured into the West Wing for some reason. He stated to have witnessed someone like him entering through the gates. However, due to a lack of proper evidence and no clear vision in the dark, the claim was resolved as a mere illusion.

Ayaan protested, naturally, denying having gone near the West Wing, claiming he never left the guest room. He was furious at them for even entertaining the thought that he would go anywhere near that place, especially after refusing to believe such nonsense. According to him, he has been resting the entire day, relaxing his jaws, and tending to his injuries all alone, and no one bothered to check up on him.

Tia felt guilty and took his words, while Smaraat was unwilling to buy his lies as he continued throwing daggers at him. Naina assumed her brother was acting more jealous than logical.

Nonetheless, she listened to the group chatting and discussing what to do next. She wanted to tell them everything she knew, but her vow prevented her from doing so. Not that she was hoping to double-cross the Immortal. She only wanted to warn her brother about their mother’s deception and lies. It was hard to digest, and Naina was still coping with it, briefly wondering how he would react once he came face to face with the truth.

Internally, she was feeling guilty for indirectly deceiving them all.

It was that moment when magic swung throughout her body, resulting in a tingling sensation. It happened so often that she almost believed that her magic prevented her from feeling worse.

She was halfway down the stairs reaching the lobby where everyone was seated when a hand appeared beside her, a palm wrapping around her mouth to prevent her from screaming and shoving her to the side room.

Naina pulled herself from the grip with a force that she managed to dodge and slam the person at the far end of the room.

There was a loud thud, followed by a low groan. “You are powerful.”

She turned the lights on to look at the culprit. “You?” She exclaimed, her voice far-fetched.

Ayaan lifted himself off the floor, his arms around his waist to soothe the backache. He smiled deviously in return, walking over to her.

“Me.”

“Have you lost it?” Naina asked, instantly shaking her head. “No, don’t answer that.”

“Sorry for taking you off guard, but that was the only way.” He explained, ignoring her gestures.

“What do you mean?” She stood there glaringly, ready to leave. She does not want to deal with him right him.

“Not here,” Ayaan responded.

Taking her hands in his, he guided her back to the stairway she initially found while she was searching for her parents. Trying to get herself off his grip only made him tighten his grip on her. Tip-toeing on his feet, he continued to walk, led her down the stairs, across the connecting passage, and finally through the door.

After an initial failed attempt, Naina allowed him to lead her. All of sudden, she had this weird feeling that he knew much, much more than he was letting on.

The place they reached immediately shifted, and suddenly they were standing closer to the edge of a sharp arched cliff enveloped by dark clouds over its head and dangerous waves of a vast sea clashing its rocks underneath it.

She heard the door close behind her as he turned and gestured for her to speak. “Here, no one shall eavesdrop on our conversation.”

The wind was causing her hair to float. “Why?”

“They cannot physically access it.” He explained.

“And we can?”

“We just did, didn’t we?” Ayaan smiled at her and walked into the open space, his arms wide like he was hugging the colorful dust with sparkling water droplets in the air together. He was smiling. Naina couldn’t recall one time when he smiled in the Mansion.

“You were pretending to act ignorant this whole time.” She guessed it right.

Ayaan turned to look at her, his eyes gleaming with joy. “Of course! Who do you think drove Tia and Mr. Kazmi to the Mansion? Who do you think is responsible for Mr. Kazmi’s injuries? Although I aimed for a scratch, I suppose I miscalculated my powers. I made them believe we passed the Jumbo Falls and were heading north. I messed with the GPS and had them follow east instead.”

“Why?”

“Because that was his wish. I’m a loyal servant. I will follow his command till my last breath.” Ayaan stated proudly and boastfully.

“Shaurya?” She whispered.

“Never call him by his name. He is the Master, the King, the Royalty,” Ayaan answered, his voice roaring, silently displeased at her informal reference and blatant lack of courtesy to the title and power he holds. “I only live to serve him.”

Naina couldn’t believe her ears. “You’ve brought Tia and Mr. Kazmi at his command? Why? What does he want them for?”

Ayaan gaze grew calculative. He gave her a measured response. “If he wants you to know, you’ll know.”

“How long have you been serving him?” Her voice was mingled with heavy breath. The hair on her face was trying to block her view as she tucked them behind her ears.

“For centuries.”

“You are an Immortal, too,” Naina concluded in horror.

“No,” he shook his head, tilting his neck slightly. “I only live as long as he wants me to live.”

“But what about your life? Your dreams? Didn’t you lose your family in the disaster?” Naina reasoned in a blind rush.

“This is my life. Besides, they were never my family. Good riddance, I’ll say. They were just so demanding, get educated, get a job, get married. Typical.” He mimicked and sneered. “I only lived with them because it was important for my task.”

Naina knew he wouldn’t reveal his task to her. Does it involve her family too? She wondered.

Ayaan adjusted the collar of his shirt before rolling his sleeves up. He looked up at the sky, still growling loudly back at them.

“What is this place?”

“The Median”

“Shouldn’t you elaborate on that?” Naina muttered begrudgingly.

“His Majesty ordered me to bring you here. If you face any doubt in the references he provided you to read, you confer to me instead of blindingly following those mortals around like a lost puppy.”

“I AM a mortal,” Her voice flared, battling against the thunder above their head. She stopped abruptly and looked above, her lips parting wide at the effect of her voice.

Ayaan grinned at her. “Are you sure?”

She moved forward and reached within his personal space, pointing her fingers against his chest. “Don’t play games with me, do you understand? Your King is enough already.”

“You swore your loyalty to him.” He reminded.

“Reluctantly.”

Naina couldn’t help but reconsider her decision. She has no idea what she signed up for, but as long as she can save her family. It should be worth it.

Ayaan shook his head, his smile turning into a smirk as he spoke casually. “There are things you cannot take by force. Loyalty is one of them.”

She stood there absorbing all in. Her arguments were weak against his. Unwilling to agree, she diverted her gaze to the surroundings instead. It was still dark, and there was nothing much to see except the feel of the wind striking her face in a cold splash.

“Don’t get deceived by good looks.” His voice was closer to her ear, and he spoke in a bare whisper.

“Are you speaking about yourself?”

“Are you trying to tell me that you find me good-looking?” He gave her a lazy smile.

Her cheeks flushed. “That’s not what I mean.”

Naina couldn’t deny he was gifted in looks just as much as his so-called King, if not less. No matter how repulsive she found him, she couldn’t deny the physical attraction one might undoubtedly feel around him.

Ayaan stepped away from her, still wearing his goofy smile.

“Am I being taken as a captive?”

“Quite the opposite. You are free here.” He spread his arms and stretched them wide to show what he meant. “That is, of course, as long as you stand by him, no harm shall come to you in any way or form.”

“Why did Shaurya order you to bring me here?”

“You dare speak his name again.” He hissed. His goofy look was replaced with something dark and sinister. She stepped back impulsively, her feet tripping on her step, making her fall flat on the edge.

He lowered himself to his knees before her. “I should kill you for such transgression.”

Absorbing the shift in the atmosphere, she braced herself as he leaned forward, matching her face level. “But you are important to him. Consider this your first and final warning. You will address him with respect and the authority he holds, do you understand?”

His voice was laced with such anger that Naina could only nod her head vigorously, desperately trying to make the distance between them. She decided the fact that she slapped his King hard across his face had to be on top of the list of secrets she needed to take to her grave.

He got up swiftly and turned his back to her. She heaved a sigh as she collected her together, calming her breath.

“This is only an introduction to what comes next.” He answered her previous question. “You’ll soon understand why.”

Turning his back sharply, he spoke in a straight voice. “The moment we step out of here, I’ll continue my character as a reckless boy who doesn’t believe in tales of the Mansion and you,” his voice was a bare whisper, “You will act exactly like Master commands.”

“I’m not his slave.” Naina fought back, her voice quivering slightly as she shook her head to recompose herself. She could feel the building of magic within her.

Ayaan shook his head and yet spoke in disdain. “But you are beneath him. Remember that.”

“Is that why I can’t call him by his name?”

“He is Royalty.” His tone was superior. It wasn’t the voice of an incessant boy in the Mansion who didn’t believe in magic. It was the voice of someone who had seen years beyond her age.

When she did not respond, he continued in a frosty voice. “I may not be able to hurt you, but I can certainly hurt your brother. He and I have some unfinished business after all.”

Naina suddenly launched herself at him, or that’s what she thought. Her powers acted before her hands could even fidget as they left him suspended in the air with invisible binds holding his arms and legs together, preventing any movement. He tried to fight it off, but the more he fought, the tighter they got.

“If you ever think of hurting him again, I will kill you.” Her voice was soft and uncompromising.

Half expecting him to agree, his laughter was the last reaction she wished to see.

It all happened in the next few seconds. One moment, he was laughing, and the next, he ground his teeth together, his expression growing tense as he collected his powers to break free, carefully landing on the ground.

Naina could only blink once before she was shoved on the ground rather roughly with him on top of her, his fingers gripping her delicate neck, dangerously close to the main pulse, trying to strangle her.

He leaned down and whispered closer to her suffocating form. “Silly girl, you better watch your back. The moment you are useless to my King, I shall return this favor in the most excruciating way possible.”

His handsome face twisted into an ugly look. His hands left her throat, and she coughed loudly, intaking large breaths to fill her depraved lungs. He soon left her, retreating to the Mansion.

Lying helplessly at the edge, stranded on a desolated cliff, coughing slightly, intaking heavy breaths, Naina tried to put her thoughts together, wondering whose side is she on.