SWNOVELS Chapter 29: The Journey Ahead
Abhay's P.O.V
As Kashmira spoke, her eyes illuminating a strange intelligence, despite her young age, I still reeled from the revelations made about Mikalya's age.
"You're telling me," I began slowly, trying to wrap my head around the revelation, "that Mikalya, who looks to be hardly in her mid twenties...yet she could be a century old?" Kashmira nodded solemnly, her gaze fixed on a distant point as if she could see through time itself.
"That's what I sensed," she confirmed, her voice low and grave. "Though appearances can be deceiving, especially when it comes to the shifter world, I could tell that there was something 'old' about Mikalya, like someone who had seen empires rise and fall...someone who had withstood the tests of time."
I felt a chill run down my spine at the thought. Mikalya, with her youthful face and vibrant energy, hiding a secret so profound it defied logic. It was a revelation that shook the very foundation of my understanding of the world around me. "How is that possible?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, as if afraid to disturb the fragile truth we had uncovered. "She looks so young..."
Kashmira sighed, shaking her head as if explaining to a child. "The lifespan of a wolf is not bound by the same constraints as that of a human." She told me. "Different shifters have different life-spans. As for wolves, we can survive for centuries, some even living up to a millennium. It all depends on the power that the wolf possesses."
I struggled to comprehend the enormity of her words. A wolf, living for centuries? Even a millennium? It was a concept that seemed to defy the natural order of things, a notion so fantastical it bordered on the surreal.
"But why have I never heard of such a thing?" I asked, my mind racing to grasp the implications of what Kashmira was telling me. "Surely, if wolves could live for centuries, it would be common knowledge."
Kashmira shook her head, a sad smile playing at the corners of her lips. "You're confusing wild wolves with the supernatural. We aren't the same beings. We are creatures of the night, bound by ancient laws and traditions that are often hidden from the eyes of mortals. Mortals cannot know of our existence or we wouldn't have survived for this long."
As her words echoed in my mind, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe wash over me. The world was far more complex, far more mysterious than I had ever imagined. And the realization only heightened my want to search for Mikalya. There was so much I wanted to know, so much I wanted to experience, but Mikalya was at the centre of it all. There was so much left unspoken between the two of us that with each second that passed, the need to search for her, to hold her in my arms once more, kept on growing bigger and bigger until it threatened to engulf me whole.
"Kashmira," I stood up from my chair abruptly. "I'll make sure that we find Mikalya, and I promise to take you to her. But for now, I need to return home."
"But...what am I supposed to do now?" She asked, looking a bit helpless.
"Stay put, okay?" I urged. "Don't leave the motel unless it's absolutely necessary and call me if you need anything." I scribbled down my number on the notepad on the bedside table. "I'll ask the motel to send you meals and baby food, but for the time being, you need to stay here and not wander around."
"Okay." She promised, and with that, I hurried over to my house, knowing that it was getting late in the afternoon.
A few minutes later, as I stepped through the threshold of my house, my mother's voice pulled me from my reverie as she asked, "Abhay, why did you rush out of here like you'd seen a ghost?"
Her eyes bore into mine, searching for answers that I wasn't ready to provide.
I cleared my throat, conjuring up a plausible excuse on the spot. "Oh, it's nothing, maa. I just ran into an old friend and lost track of time talking to him."
Her skeptical gaze lingered for a moment before she seemed to accept my explanation with a nod. But I knew my mother well enough to realize that she wasn't entirely convinced. "Abhay, is everything alright? You seem... distant lately."
I forced a smile, masking the turmoil churning within me. "I'm fine, maa. Just preoccupied with some things, that's all."
But she wasn't fooled by my feeble attempt at reassurance. "Whatever it is, Abhay, remember that you can always talk to me. I'm here for you."
Her words struck a chord, reminding me of the unwavering support she had always provided. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I nodded gratefully. "Thanks, maa. I appreciate it."
"Oh! And before I forget, something came for you while you were gone." she said, just as I was about to turn towards my room.
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"Something came for me?" I was afraid that it just might be my company's letter telling me that my extended vacation time was over, or them firing me altogether, but I wasn't sure just yet. "While you were gone, a letter arrived for you," she began, her voice laced with tension. "It had no return address, and your father and I couldn't shake off this feeling of unease."
I felt a knot form in my stomach. A letter with no return address? That was peculiar, to say the least. If it was from my company, then there would've definitely been an address. "Why didn't you open it?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.
My mother's gaze softened as she replied, "We respect your privacy, Abhay. We didn't want to intrude on your personal affairs. But we need to know... Is everything alright? Are you in trouble?" I shook my head, trying to reduce her fears. "No, Mom, I'm not in any trouble," I assured her, just as I had this morning but to no avail.
She looked at me with pleading eyes, a mix of fear and determination evident in her expression. "Abhay, promise me. Swear on my life that you're not involved in anything illegal or dangerous." Her request hung heavy in the air. I understood her worry, her need for reassurance. But I couldn't bring myself to make such a promise.
"I swear I'm not doing anything illegal, Mom," I replied earnestly, "but I can't promise that I won't encounter danger. It's just... the nature of the world we live in. Anything can happen at any moment." "Abhay! Why would you say something like that?" Her shocked expression saddened me.
"Well...you know...accidents happen every day." I tried to explain vaguely. "So no one is really safe. But I'll try my best to keep out of danger."
My mother sighed, her shoulders slumping with relief mixed with lingering apprehension. "Just be careful, Abhay," she said softly, her voice tinged with maternal concern. "We love you, your father and I, and we just want you to be safe." I nodded, a surge of gratitude welling up within me for her unwavering love and support. "I'll do my best, Mom," I promised, knowing that no matter what challenges lay ahead, I could always count on her to stand by my side. I escorted her towards the hallway because indeed, I needed some privacy because I wanted to read the contents of that strange letter as soon as possible.
I stepped into my room, the weight of unanswered questions heavy on my mind. As I entered, my eyes fell upon the desk, where the strange envelope lay, seemingly out of place amidst the familiar clutter of papers and books.
Instinctively, I approached the desk, my curiosity piqued by the sudden appearance of the envelope. It was pristine white, devoid of any markings or identifiers, save for my name scrawled across the front in elegant script. My heart quickened as I reached out to touch it, a strange anticipation coursing through me.
As my fingers brushed against the smooth surface of the envelope, a jolt of energy surged through me, sending a shiver down my spine. In that instant, the world around me seemed to blur, fading away until all that remained was a vision of a white wolf, stark against the backdrop of falling snow.
The image was hauntingly familiar, stirring something deep within me that I couldn't quite place. I watched transfixed as the wolf stood against the backdrop of a snowy mountain, its blue eyes burning with an intensity that seemed to pierce through my soul.
With a start, I shook myself from the vision, my heart pounding in my chest. Whatever the contents of this envelope, I had a strange premonition that it was all connected to Mikalya. Otherwise, I wouldn't be having this vision that was a continuation of my morning dreams.
With trembling hands, I tore open the envelope, desperate for any clue that might lead me closer to finding her.
Inside, I found a single piece of paper, folded neatly in half. Unfolding it, I was met with an address, written in that same elegant script as my name on the envelope. The address was followed by a few lines of how to reach that certain place, however, what stood out the most in that address was the word 'Jharna'.
This couldn't be a mere coincidence...could it?
Jharna...that name resonated within me with a knowing that I just couldn't shake. I had seen it, that waterfall, almost every day in my dreams ever since I met Mikalya.
What did it all mean? How intertwined was I with the very fabric of the supernatural world that I kept having these premonitions of my impending death? And what would happen when I finally came face to face with Mikalya once again? But no matter the questions that plagued my mind, I knew I had to find her, I had to be beside her for whatever danger that was approaching. Because my dreams meant something...and only this place had the answers that I was looking for. With a sense of determination burning in my chest, I folded the paper carefully and tucked it into my pocket, ready to embark on the journey that lay ahead.