Sehdev urned and twisted, reaching out for his wife in his slumber. A frown marred his handsome face, when all his hand greeted was air.

"Drau." He gruffed, blinking his eyes open, looking around for his girl. Where had she disappeared?

"Drau." He called this a bit louder, now more alert that she hadn't responded. "Dev go to sleep." Bheem mumbled in a sleepy voice, turning around, irritation laced his words.

"Bhraata." Sehdev called out to Bheem, shaking him, the other however, just snored. "Yummy laddoos." He mumbled in his dreamy stupor.

The youngest son of Madri groaned in annoyance, their wife was missing and this man was dreaming about laddoos? What the heck?

"Bhraata!" His tone sharper, "Jalebi." The second son of Kunti hummed, reaching out for sweets in his sleep.

"Sehdev?" Yudhisthir yawned, blinking his eyes open. "What happened brother?" He inquired, concern lacing his words.

"Bhraata, Drau's no where to be found." He informed hurriedly, "What?" Confusion reverberated through his words, his gazes fleeted to where she was sleeping.

"Maybe she is went to washroom." He suggested, where else could she be. "Bhraata!" Sehdev shook Bheem, grunted blinking his eyes open.

"What is it?" It was Arjun who asked, hearing the commotion had him snapping out of their slumber.

"You guys are arguing at night?" Bhe half yawned the words, gazing at Arjun and Sehdev accusingly, the two rolled their eyes.

"Drau is missing!" The younger twin nearly shouted, the second and third son of Kunti's heads snapped in his direction, alarm marring their faces.

"What the hell do you mean she's missing?" Bheem nearly growled, after Bhanumati and Pauravi, he didn't want her out of his sight.

"Don't worry, maybe she went to washroom,  and I think Nakul is there with her." Yudhisthir stated, trying to calm his brothers' and his panic, but even as he said the words a heaviness had settled on his heart, like she was in danger.

"Yes-"

"AHHHHHHHH!!!" A feminine scream pierced throughout the place, dread echoing through every syllable.

Terror slightered through their bones, cold and sharp, rendering them frozen in place.

"Panchaali!" Arjun's voice wavered with terror, that slipped through his soul.

They gazed at each other, hearts frozen with dread.

Their faces paled in fear, like a heavy stone had settled in the pit of their stomach, sinking in the deep abysses if dark ocean.

Another scream pierced through the place, jolting them out of their shocked stupor.

They bolted for the doors with their weapons, their movements nearly blurring.

Their heart pummeled hard in terror,  a feeling of foreboding was heavy in the air.

Urgency fueled them, adrenaline pumping through their veins, they pushed their legs harder, twisting and turning down the corridors.

Thundering sound of the feet filled the deserted corridor, the four bolted like their life depended on it.

Maybe in that one moment it did.

There was just one thing going in their mind, Panchaali was in danger, and she needed them.

And they will do anything to save her, no way in heaven will they lose her.

They didn't really know, what danger she was in, but there was one thing clear in their mind, whatever it was, they won't let it separate their wife from them.

Following the scream, they turned to another hallway, zillions of scenarios running through their mind, and none of them ended good.

They halted, their breaths nearly leaving their body.

In front of them stood Panchaali clutched in the arms of a creature, who seemed to have stepped out of worst of human nightmare.

Lethal and powerful, it was ready to kill. He roared loud, it's loud animalistic war cry reverberating through the walls.

It's cries almost rivaled the T-rex's, loud, animalistic and wild.

But what had dread striking in their hearts, were the arrows directed towards their wife, who had eyes shut, her face a mask of terror, awaiting her death.

Nakul was horrified, a bow in his hand, gaping at the sight ahead, fear cutting him from within.

Instincts kicked in, raising his Gandiv, Arjun aimed, his lips moving rapidly, auras shifted around, molding and connecting on his command.

The string of his whispered words, webbed out, awakening the electric pulses, that hummed with a strongly.

It's vibrations had goosebumps raising, air wheezed, Arjun reached out, pulling back the string of his bow.

The energies around roared, with a swift gust, ribbons of them began to pulse with blue electric auras, that weaved, swirled and fluxed.

Creating an entrapping sight of kaidelscope of shimmering colours, pulsing with the suppressed power of the cosmos.

The tail end of the arrow began to be form, another shot of red aura manifested the middle part of the arrow, and finally with a silver golden aura, appeared the final tip, that had particles of golden aura buzzing around it.

Though everything seemed to happen in slow motion, and Arjun felt every twitch of energy, he was sure, it hadn't taken more than a second.

His breathing receded, straightening his posture, he pulled the string back till Gandiv was straining back.

Shutting his eyes, he breathed in deeply, blocking out all the sounds, forcing his body to calm down, letting the air gush out of his system, along with his panic.

Peace prevailed his mind, his mind reaching deep in the universe, one of energies, that resided within him, in his aura Chakras, and merged that energy with the outer world of the cosmos.

His body buzzed with the effort. Like the falling stars, aura from the universe gravitated towards him, shooting at a high lightening speed.

He lost touch with the ground, becoming airborne.

And when he opened his eyes, time seemed to slow down, his irises were blown, the golden flecks in his eyes shimmered with golden glow.

The brown in his eyes shined like a polished stone, enlarging, every fiber twisting and molding, glowing.

Enabling him to observe the actions around at a snail's pace.

The animal roared in slow motion, its magnanimous mouth of canines, shaking all too slowly, his eyes fleeted to the shocked expression of his brothers, who blinked all to slowly gazing at their wife, in complete terror.

He notched the arrow, aimed, and let the string go, the arrow whizzed through air, cutting and whistling through it, like an eagle aiming for its prey.

And just like that, in a blink of an eye, the veil of slow motion dropped.

Everything zoomed back to normal, Arjun's arrow sailed faster than a bullet train, aiming for its target, rotating with the fluxing waves of auras.

In a tornado of moments, it shifted its form to a fiery Phoenix, who squealed, its sharp piercing war cry filing the air, spreading its flaming wings.

Corridor cackled with energy, creating a pressure so sharp, that everyone present could feel it zooming, it hummed, a wave crashing  throughout, stirring a powerful gust of wind, sending the curtains, vases, and decoratives flying back.

They slammed hard in the walls shattering into fine pieces.

Flames flickered in the torches and oil lamps. Wind buzzed with the charged auras, mending and fluxing.

The once beautiful painted walls began to crack, that spread out like spider's web, giving under the heavy pressure of the fluxing power's of the universe.

Ribbons of auras connecting from a particle to the entire cosmos, reaching for the electric pulses that were like a natural links around humans, connecting them to everything around.

Power buzzed, charging every last of the aura fibers, making them shimmer and vibrate, creating a hum rippled like a waves in water.

In a mixture of shock and awe, the four watched Nakul's arrows turn dust, flying away with the wind.

The Phoenix  twisted in the air, leaving behind a fiery trail, its ear piercing scream echoing through the room, it slammed hard in the creature.

Loud agony filled roar of the animal filled the air,  sending him flying across the walls, that crumpled like cardboard boxes.

A thick curtain of dust floated in the air, a stunned filled the place. Dread for Panchaali slamming hard in their chest.

The dust cleared.

A golden ball of dust particles floated around their wife, who had her eyes shut, and hands covering her ears.

Trembling like a leaf, tears marred her rosy cheeks.

They sighed, relieved that she wasn't blown back. Golden particles ribboned around her, buzzing with unseen waves of vibrations.

Angry roar of the animalistic creature, had them snapping out of their relived haze.

Jumping into the action, the five worked like a well oiled machine. Their action matched the others, as though they could read each other's mind.

Their astounding spatial awareness, had them enabling to attack from various direction.

Calm as the sea, the eldest son of Kunti focused his mind, years of training kicking right in.

His eyes focused on the creature ahead of him, who marched through the broken wall.

Its angry roar nearly shaking the foundation of the palace. Yudhisthir's aura merged with that of the cosmos, reaching deep in.

Searching for the one source of energy that bound everything, like a jumping excited child, it greeted him.

Pulling on it, he held his hand out, white binding light shot through it, piercing through the heart of the roaring monster.

Like a dynamite monster bursted into a bright light, that sent four younger pandavas flying back.

The white energy bathed the corridor in it's pristine glory, warmth filling everywhere, turning the monster into dust.

Panchaali sat amidst the corridor shivering, her hands wrapped around her knees, pulling them hard against her chest.

"Drau!" Bheem called, his four brothers' rushing with him, concern pumped through them.

Sehdev wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her hard in his chest. "Shhh it's okay. You are fine." He crooned in her ear, assuring himself to more than her.

His heart had nearly jumped out of his chest, when he hadn't found her beside him. A zillion of negative thoughts had reached his mind, like sharp talons tearing his heart slowly.

Pressing his lips to her warm forehead, he mentally thanked his stars for keeping her safe.

He didn't know what all he felt about, that were a hundred uncertainties regarding their relationship, but there was one thing crystal clear in his mind, she was important,  more than himself.

In a short period of time, he had formed a bond with her, that expressing in words felt impossible, it's magnitude and depth, can only be understood by heart.

"Are you okay? Is something hurt dear?" He asked, concern dripping from each word, he tried to pull back, but suddenly her hands were around him.

Panchaali's heart thrummed, terror seeping through her chest.  This wasn't what she had expected, the moment she had stepped out of her room.

Never in a hundred years, would she had expected this encounter. The monster had nearly killed her.

Her arms tightened around Sehdev's neck, hiding her face in the crook of it. What if something had happened to him? Happened to them?

The thought nearly had her paralysising in dread. "Everything is fine." The youngest pandav cooed in her ear, his fingers running through her long dark curls.

"Drau." Nakul crooned, worry shining in his dark orbs, pressing his lips on the back of her head, he held himself there.

Breathing in her soothing natural fragrance, assuring his heart of her presence. 

His gaze met his younger twin's, who nodded, encouraging his elder brother, Sehdev knew, they needed her just as much as he did.

"Let's take her in?" Yudhisthir interrupted, concern filling his orbs. He signaled for the youngest to pick her up, who wrapped his arms around her back and behind her knees, lifting her up with ease.

A concerned silence cloaked on the six, while they walked to their room.

Holding the door open,  Bheem let his brothers and wife walk in, he bolted it shut, locking it firmly.

Paronia sat heavily on his chest, no way in heaven he wanted a repeat of today's happening.

There was only so much he could take, there were a hundred questions that were running in his mind.

Questions that nearly threatened to snap his mind in two halves. Walking upto his brothers, he sat on the bed.

Sehdev laid her down, like she was the most precious cargo. Arjun pulled her in his arms, his heart easing.

"Are you hurt?" His voice was softest, he didn't remember ever being this soft and delicate with anyone.

His hazel orbs searched her face, awaiting her reply.

Her eyes locked with his, now that she was there with her husbands, her heart was calming down, easing a bit.

There was just something about their presence, that assured her. Soothed her.

They made her feel protected and secured, with a slight shake of her head, she answered his question.

"I am so sorry Drau. I nearly. . ." Nakul's voice faded, his words were heavy I guilt, eyes lowering in shame.

How stupid it had been? He would have killed her if it wasn't for his brother. He mentally kicked himself for being so stupid.

Panchaali shook her head, reaching out she took his hand in hers. "No, you have nothing to be sorry about Arya." She assured, her eyes softening, and she meant every word that she uttered.

"But-"

"No. I mean it. Thank you so much for coming when you did." Her words rang with softness, her dark orbs holding his captive.

He didn't know what to say, her sweetness nearly had him stumped. He had thought, that she'll probably hate him, but instead she was thanking him.

"Panchaali, why don't you rest up dear. You need it." Yudhisthir suggested, smiling at her, she nodded laying back, shutting her eyes.

The five sat quietly till her breathing deepened, and she slipped in a deeper slumber.

Air was thick with tension."It is strange how such a huge monster entered the palace and no one noticed." Yudhisthir began, the questions that had plagued him, poured out of his lips.

"Stranger is the fact that during our battle with the monster, it roared, it growled so loudly but not one soldier came." Bheem added.

"It was the monster, who put Pauravi and Bhanumati trance, but the question is how didn't they see it? It's not like he was a small thing." Arjun pointed out.

"And what doesn't add up is, if someone had planted him to kill us, than why choose one that died so easily?" Nakul wondered, if someone really wanted them dead, shouldn't they choose a more powerful one?

"Whatever or whoever they are, they are planning something great, but what I don't understand is what? And why now suddenly? What would they achieve?" Sehdev questioned, the puzzle was driving him bonkers, what was happening in this palace.

"First, the attack by men on her, than this monster attack. The only thing common about both the attacks is Panchaali." Yudhisthir stated, his eyes settling on his sleeping wife, his heart melting at the sight of her sleeping.

She looked so peaceful and innocent, why would anyone want to harm her? What would they gain? It was true the pandavas had too many enemies, but so was the fact that killing Panchaali would do no political favor to anyone.

To the world she was just another daughter in law of the Kuruvanshi kin, what made her so special to be a target?

What would they gain?

Questions and questions, answers no where to be found. . .

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