Strangely Familiar

“Courage consists, not in blindly overlooking danger, but in seeing and conquering it.” - Jean Paul

“STOP IT!”

Her cry fell on deaf ears.

“I can sense your powers across the room.” Shaurya’s voice trailed over her ear and neck in low whispers, although he was standing at the other end.

Naina whimpered. She was lying on the ground, face defeated. While her hands were drenched in the dirt, her fist clenched, effectively encasing the mud inside her nails.

Tears stained and remained on her cheeks as she tried to focus again. Her body was shaking badly from the previous encounters.

She felt another flare inside her mind, trying to control its movement as she fought back, spending the remaining strength gasping loudly in a way it felt like she was almost screaming. She would bleed soon if this continued. The pain was equivalent to detaching the physical parts of the body.

“Give me a few minutes, please!” She pleaded, her voice hoarse. Feeling completely drained of energy, she felt her voice was barely audible. He wouldn’t have heard her if he wasn’t next to her. He has been shifting locations attacking her from varied directions.

A few hours ago, the moment she reached his home through the secret underground passage that was only visible to her. She, very sneakily, made sure of it after claiming to have found a hidden stairway only to cross-check if anyone could see through the wall.

The Immortal’s home, ‘The Opal’ he called it, is forever light and open. The place rarely ever invited darkness. How ironic! It changes color with the vibrations of magical dust flying around it. Naina liked to think of it as a complex security system where a color shift informs you about the incoming visitor.

Like in her case, the air consumes and wraps its layer before shifting from spiral red to deep azure. The magical dust over her head forms deep blue clouds, secretly announcing her arrival to the only inhabitant.

“What is this cloud?” She asked.

“The cloud represents the essence of your magic, how strong, pure, and powerful it is.” The voice came from somewhere. He wasn’t physically present around her.

She nodded. “And what does deep blue mean?”

“It’s untouched.”

To Naina, it felt like he wanted to speak further but decided not to. Quickly changing the topic, he transported himself next to her without further ado and informed the day’s training. She needed to learn ways to control and conceal her powers to avoid getting noticed, especially by those who could sense them by their mere presence.

“You would be at a disadvantage if your essence is felt.” Said he, hands clasped at the back. He was moving around her in circles. “Magic does not like being trapped. It will do everything in its power to unleash itself.”

Shaurya stopped in front of her. Like a teacher, he spoke in a commanding voice. “I want you to hide it.”

So began their lesson, and for the past forty-five minutes, she has been trying to suppress her powers so that no one takes recognition in any way or form. Suppressing powers turned out to be more difficult and exceedingly painful than she imagined. It was like she could practically taste her magic, persistently refusing to be trapped again. It was free after a long time.

“It doesn’t want to.” She spoke in a daze, unable to make out anything around her anymore. Laying back on the ground, she threw her arms carelessly around.

Shaurya was in his dark robes as he watched her close, leaning above her head. Naina did not care at that moment. She just wanted to stop.

Something gripped her arms and pulled her up against her will. She shrieked and kicked in the air only to see him holding his palms out, motioning the actions out of her.

“You have two choices.” He spoke calmly like he wasn’t squeezing the life out of her. “One - you suppress your powers, or two - I’ll do it for you. Take your pick.”

He gave her a pleasing smile releasing her from the leash. She fell on her foot, using her hands and knees to balance herself.

She whispered the next few words in utter haze and desperation. “Magic likes to be free. You know it. That’s what you meant when you wanted me to clear the block inside my mind.”

Naina took deep breaths, restraining herself from crying, but tears defied her. “Why do you think it wants to be trapped again?”

Shaurya, this time without power, held her by her arms, making her stand on her foot, and spoke with his breath fanning her face. “You have no idea how long I’ve waited.”

She felt deluded by his enhancement. Unable to stop herself from staring back into his eyes. Her breath hitched at the depth he owned. “I know you don’t trust me, but I’m only doing this to protect your magic, Akira.”

Naina stared at him transfixed, his words ringing like soft music. “Request your powers to stay hidden for some time. Make it believe that it won’t be trapped forever. That the wait is over. I can do this for you, but I’m afraid -”

He stopped mid-way, his expressions darkening.

Something made her snap back to her senses. “Afraid of what?”

He let go of her arms, instantly realizing what he had just said. “Just do it.”

“Why do you speak of magic as one speaks of -?” Naina didn’t know how to continue her wording. Family?

He closed his eyes momentarily before speaking in a low voice. “It is a being.” Stepping away from her perplexed state, Shaurya pressed his lips together, responding, “It was once anyway but deceived by its own.”

His teeth gritted against one another like trying to chew up his anger.

“My mother said she comes from the family of Magic itself.” Naina had no idea why she said that out loud.

“She lies,” his voice roared. She slightly flinched at his tone, not accustomed to sudden harshness. “Her family stole magic from Magic. From Magee, so powerful, so pure, but now it has been contaminated.”

His voice trailed a pained expression masking his face as it contorted to something else. Squeezing his eyes shut, he returned to his regular demeanor. “This is why I want you to hide it until it is strong enough to protect itself and, consequently you.”

Being at a loss for words, she nodded.

“Let’s try again, shall we?”

“Are you feeling all right?”

Samraat asked the moment she took her seat to sit beside him. Naina responded nonverbally, taking bits of cereal and pouring them out into the bowl.

“You don’t look like yourself.” He uttered, side-glancing at her.

She wanted to cry. It scared her that her brother could read her like an open book. She did a heavy brainstorming after hearing the truth about her life, and with thorough reflection on both sides, it was still hard for her to decide.

The remnants of her strength lay shattered after her last night’s encounter with the Immortal. She had ousted her undisturbed and mostly feigned tranquil, answering him in a firm voice.

“I feel fine.” She managed a strained smile.

“You are wearing make-up.” He pointed out.

“So?”

“You only do that to hide your true expressions.” His voice grew tense. “What is it?”

“Don’t.” She diverted all her attention to the bowl of cereal, dipping the spoon mindlessly in it.

Samraat was about to insist on her when he saw Tia approaching them wearing a huge smile. “We’ll talk later.”

“Hi!” She chirped, “Sleep well?”

Naina tried not to appear like a zombie. She plastered a fake smile and nodded.

“You seem overjoyed,” Samraat took in her look and commented half-heartedly.

“I am. Mr. Kazmi found a new lead.” Naina’s interest was piqued though she remained neutral, continuing to play with her spoon. Tia continued sensing their attention. “He wants to meet right after breakfast. We will be able to find your parents soon. ”

She heard her brother sigh beside her, trying his hardest to remain calm. Little did he know, Naina was trying the same thing but with an entirely different reason.

She knows what she has to do.

With a new sense of determination, she rose from her seat, leaving her breakfast untouched.

“Where are you going?” Tia asked.

“I’m not feeling well. You know... the monthly. I’ll take this to my room.” She took the bowl and left.

Samraat watched her retreat. He wanted to stop her but decided to give her some time. His sister was acting stranger than her usual self. Something was up. He made sure to talk to her later.

Naina entered her room, and the door closed behind her with a loud thud.

“Did your master tell you to breach into my privacy too?” She spoke without turning back, walking towards the window.

Ayaan smirked, his hands behind his back. “You are not going to stay here, are you?”

She mocked. “Last I checked, you are the guest.”

“This property rightfully belongs to the first owner.” He sneered. “You only stay as long as he wants you to stay.”

She rolled her eyes. “Are you here to brag about Shaurya?”

“You dare-”

“Yes, I dare.” She matched his tone, tired of being tossed like a football. “Don’t babysit me. It doesn’t matter what I do as long as I stay loyal to him.”

“It does. It makes me wonder if you are trying to bend the rules. Not participating or even listening to the conversation would mean you are useless to him.” He covered the distance between them at a slow, calculated pace, never once taking his eyes off her.

“If you so desire to feed your King with information. Why don’t you do it yourself? You are, after all, a passable actor.” She countered.

“Why break the character when there’s a substitute available?” Ayaan grinned. There was a strange mixture of greed and malice on his face.

Naina recoiled at his tone. She flinched as he drew near her, ready to dodge any attack tossed her way. Her breakfast was long forgotten.

“Make yourself useful. I don’t want to end you before time. Not that I won’t enjoy killing you.” He grinned almost maniacally. His fingers caressed her cheeks as she cowered back against the window sill, inwardly disgusted by his actions.

“The feeling is mutual.”

Her words may have been whispers of nothing, but the aura shifted rapidly when her magic spun outside her control and flung him across the room, smashing his head slam against the wall. He suffered a loss of consciousness lying motionless on the floor.

Out of curiosity, she walked over to him and checked his pulse. Much to her disappointment, he was still alive. Naina, a few weeks ago, would have suffered a panic attack by merely witnessing the cruelty of what just happened. The fact that her magic transformed her into someone else entirely should be a matter of concern - for better or worse.

Only it wasn’t, and she walked out of the room without feeling a tinge of remorse.

“There you are. You had us all worried.” Tia’s voice reached as she entered the room.

“I changed my mind. I feel better now.”

“Are you sure?” Mr. Kazmi asked, his forehead forming fine lines.

“Yes, why?”

“It’s just that we are all scared that he might be manipulating you.” Samraat started carefully, accessing her reaction. “Remember the other day when we were trying to get in through the door of the West Wing, and you said something strange.”

Naina tried to recall.

...delve any deeper and you shall suffocate...

She nodded.

Her brother continued. “And then Mr. Kazmi shared the incident of the other day when you two were outside. You saw a red light and started walking towards it. If he hadn’t stopped you, you would have walked right through the entrance.”

“What are you getting at?” Her voice sounded sharper than usual.

He moistened his lips and added carefully. “We saw a silhouette of someone walking in through the door the other night. I thought it was Ayaan, but he denied it straight away. Nania, any chance that it could have been you?”

“What?” She yelled at him.

“No one is accusing you.” Me. Kazmi tried to calm the situation being the only one sensible enough to become a mediator, as he raised his hands in surrender. “Shaurya Lomhani is extremely capable of manipulation. There have been stories about him, not with this name per se, but they are about him if the indications are any clue, stating the tricks he used to get his work done. What if he’s controlling you?”

“He’s not controlling me,” Naina spoke in a firm voice.

“Manipulation can be physical, emotional, mental, and even psychological. How can you be sure he isn’t manipulating you? You were the first one he tried to kill.”

His portrait, if his words are to be believed.

“Why do you guys believe Ayaan?” She asked, attempting to divert it to someone truly dangerous among them.

“Why would he lie? He doesn’t even believe in any of this. He’s just upset and angry.” Tia spoke softly.

Naina wanted to laugh. “What if he is lying? What if he knows much more than he puts on?” Surely Naina couldn’t defy Shaurya himself, but she made no promise to his little minion.

“I’ve known him all my life.” Tia defended him. “He suffered so much, lost his family, and now you want us to pin something on him he does not know about?”

“We all have suffered much,” Naina answered, her eyes stinging with tears, “known loss, endured pain, but that doesn’t stop you from framing me.”

“Nobody is framing you.” Tia disagreed with her, her angelic voice attempting to soothe her. “We are just concerned.”

Samraat squeezed his sister’s shoulder in reassurance. “I believe you, okay? You are not alone.”

“Does that mean you find Ayaan suspicious too?” Tia asked, her voice mixed with sadness and disappointment.

“We can’t be sure about anything.” Mr. Kazmi stepped in. “Fighting one another will turn out to be our biggest weakness.” He looked at everyone, and finally, his gaze landed on Naina, “If you face anything out of the ordinary, anything at all. You will inform us straight away, won’t you?”

Naina wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. She exchanged her loyalty to save her parents, her family, the same family that locked a major segment of her identity for nearly sixteen years. Her only objective was to free them and, consequently, know about their link with Shaurya to further severe it.

Now, not only she has to deal with deception and manipulation, not to mention lying to her brother, who seemed to be the only one willing to support her but also handle the Immortal’s little minion, who was tailing her now and then.

When did her life get so busy?

Naina could feel every pair of eyes on her as she nodded briefly.

“Okay, so here is the important thing.” Thankfully, Mr. Kazmi did not see through her, considering he is an ex-undercover agent. “The First Memoir, the book we found in the storage room, was written by the first witch of your mothers’ family named Aruha. She was believed to possess such power that can defeat anyone within a certain radar without truly coming in contact with them. According to this book, she trapped Shaurya Lomhani inside his portrait and sealed the entrance so he couldn’t escape.”

“There is a loophole,” Tia commented. “I mean, how else is he operating?”

‘Why don’t you ask your friend?’ Naina wanted to tell her.

“It was a brawling war showcasing power and magic clashing in the sky like sharp swords from both sides. He was singlehandedly capable of defeating everyone. Everyone but Aruha. It says here that Aruha’s magic was so pure. It was like light against darkness and forever trapped him within the frame. However, a segment of his power is still out there, making its presence known and waiting...”

Naina bit her lips and continued to listen.

“Waiting for what?” Samraat asked.

“For a key. A key to unlock his fate and eventually unlock the curse laid on him centuries ago.” Mr. Kazmi finished telling the tale.

Tia was the first one to speak after the silence. “Where is the key?”

“Does it say what it looks like?” Samraat asked hopefully. If they can destroy the key, they will never have to fear the Immortal again.

“It doesn’t.” Mr. Kazmi looked carefully at the torn pages of the book before keeping it aside.

“Do you think he’s looking for the key?” Naina couldn’t believe her voice didn’t waver.

“Undoubtedly. Who doesn’t like freedom?”

Suddenly she was thrown into another flash.

The mysterious Man visited her one day. She was locked in one of the rooms of the orphanage for something she did not do but was timid and couldn’t raise her voice. Five-year-old Akira was hiccupping, trying to drink her tears when he appeared beside her. It only took a fraction of a second before she remembered meeting him on the road.

“I-I know you.” She spoke softly.

“Why are you here?”

“They locked me in. I swear I didn’t do anything wrong.” Akira shook her head.

He crouched down next to her. “Punishing somebody for a crime they did not commit is a bigger offense. They locked me too, you know.”

She looked at him in confusion. “But you are free, and you use magic.”

He shook his head. “I am not free, but I can use magic to get you free.”

He could see hope bubbling in her eyes. “Really?”

Akira dug into her jacket pockets and dropped some candies in his hand. “Here! A thank you.”

Shaurya smiled. “Sometimes the price of freedom is higher than that, Akira.”

The flash ended.

If the key could unlock the curse on him, then what is the price of his freedom?

And just like that, Naina understood why he asked for her loyalty.