Divya's eyes narrowed, watching carefully. "She's weak… right now. A daayan's power lies in her braid," she said, her voice calm but firm. "When it's cut, even for a moment, she's vulnerable… until it regrows."
Mohana's hiss became a screech. "My braid… you fools! You dare—"
Avinash stepped forward, tightening the lasso. "We won't give her time. Not a single second for that braid to regrow," he said, his voice sharp with determination.
Mohana's eyes flickered, panic flashing through the centuries of cold fury. "No… no… this cannot… you will pay—"
From his satchel, Avinash pulled out a small pouch of Rudramani dust, its faint blue shimmer catching the moonlight. He gestured sharply, and the dust swirled through the air, landing upon Mohana.
"No… no…" Mohana's scream cut through the hall as the dust touched her. The marble beneath her feet seemed to grow cold, the shadows twisting in unnatural patterns. Her flesh began to harden, black veins spreading across her skin as the centuries-old witch felt her body succumbing.
"Look at her," Divya said quietly, her voice steady. "Even the greatest daayan falls when her braid is cut and she is stripped of her strength. Now she has no chance to regain it."
Mohana thrashed violently, but the Rudramani dust continued to petrify her, her red eyes flickering with helpless rage. Her lips twisted into a vow, rasping through the stone forming around her.
"I… will… kill you… Divya… Avinash… and one day… my son…"
The last words hissed through the hall as her body turned fully to stone, black veins frozen mid-motion. The floor beneath her shuddered as the centuries-old witch, now immobilized, slowly sank into the ground, disappearing beneath the mansion as if swallowed by darkness itself.
Vedshree pressed Arnav to her chest, her breathing still shaky. "It's… over… for now," she whispered, glancing at Divya and Avinash.
Divya gave a solemn nod, keeping her dagger ready, her eyes scanning the room. "This isn't the end. Mohana will return… she always does. But for now… the child is safe."
Avinash tightened the lasso around the empty space where Mohana had been. "And we'll be ready when she comes back," he said, voice unwavering, his gaze cold and determined.
The hall fell silent except for the wind whispering through the windows, carrying an unseen echo of the daayan's presence, a reminder that centuries of darkness could never be fully destroyed.
The hall was quiet now, save for the faint echoes of Mohana's disappearance beneath the marble floor. Vedshree held Arnav close, her arms trembling as she pressed him against her chest. Yet, something was different. Her eyes widened in shock.
"Divya… Avinash… look!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling. She tilted Arnav toward the moonlight, and both Divya and Avinash leaned closer.
Arnav's small eyes… were glowing red.
Divya froze, her breath catching in her throat. "That… that's not just fear, or anger… that's power," she whispered.
Avinash's face darkened, serious, almost grave. "He is a Daavansh," he said, his voice low but firm, carrying the weight of centuries of lore. "The child… your son, Vedshree… he is the key to the immortality of every daayan. If he grows up in darkness, in the shadows of his mother's teachings, he will become the greatest enemy the Riva Warriors have ever faced."
Vedshree's tears fell freely as she clutched Arnav closer, rocking him gently. "No… no! That won't happen. He won't have to be. He is my son now, and I will not allow him to become a devil. I swear… I swear on my life!" Her voice broke, raw and trembling, yet filled with unshakable determination.
Divya knelt beside them, pulling a small, intricate bracelet from her robe. "Across centuries, the Riva Warriors have used this," she said, her tone both reverent and grave. "This bracelet has the power to restrain the abilities of a supernatural being. It can hold even the most ancient of powers in check… for a time."
Vedshree looked at her curiously. "How long… can it hold him?"
Divya's gaze softened, yet her expression remained serious. "Until he turns twenty-six. After that… the bracelet will be useless. By then, if he has grown in love and light, in your care… he may choose a path free from darkness. But if not… the choice will be his, and ours only to hope."
Vedshree's fingers trembled as Divya fastened the bracelet around Arnav's tiny wrist. The moment the bracelet clicked into place, Arnav's eyes dimmed slightly, the red glow retreating, but the aura of latent power lingered.
"I will protect him," Vedshree whispered fiercely, as if promising both the child and herself. "I will raise him in love… and I will not let Mohana's darkness claim him. Not ever."
Avinash placed a steadying hand on her shoulder. "The path will not be easy. Daavansh are not ordinary children. Every step he takes, every choice… could tilt the balance. You must be vigilant, Vedshree. For him… and for all of us."
Vedshree nodded, eyes glistening with tears yet blazing with resolve. "I will do whatever it takes," she said firmly, rocking Arnav as she whispered softly to him, "You are my son, Arnav. And I will not let darkness define you."
Divya stood, her eyes scanning the quiet hall as though sensing unseen threats lingering in the corners. "We have done what we can for now," she said. "But remember… Mohana is gone only for the moment. She will return. And when she does, this child… this Daavansh… may face trials we cannot yet imagine."
The hall fell silent again, broken only by the soft, rhythmic breathing of the child nestled in Vedshree's arms. A single shaft of moonlight caught the bracelet on his wrist, glimmering like a promise—and a warning.
To be continued…