Todays's morning is different. There is no sign of the happy sun. It's gloomy all over the bubbly blue sky and heavy gray clouds are puffing with bold thunder. Strong wind is hunting everywhere, forcing the trees to bend from the roots or even breaking the braches. The atmosphere is scary and dark, hinting something bad might happen.

These kinds of days puncture Warina's heart with panic and awful frustration. The restlessness has found a new home in her mind.

Something isn't right.

Searching her bag, she gets one candy. Whenever she is stressed or anxiety kicks in, candies and chocolates is her best therapy. This is the tenth candy she has ate since her arrival to Harmony.

Again, what's she killing her to worry so much?

She doesn't have any reply to justify the question at all.

As the candy gradually melts in her mouth, relaxation flows through her panicked nerves.

"Excuse me," A deep male voice says, "I'm here to discharge Morgan Miller."

She looks up, a mid aged man standing with a foul face. His black leather jacket has caught some rain.

"Sorry what?" Her eye-brows draw in uncertainty.

"Morgan Miller, I want to take her home. Now!" His voice drips sour.

"I'm sorry but she is still under treatment and without her doctor's permission I'm afraid I can't let her go and moreover, Mr. Oliver Henderson is out of town so please wait for a few days."

He bangs his knuckles on the table, astonishing her, "I don't need any fucking permission to take my daughter. Fucking get her now, you bloody Mozlim."

Her body is burning with rage by his stupid comment but deep inside she is crying aloud.

She's humiliated and hurt.

Why the world has stereotype thoughts regarding her religion? Why people curse Islam and its followers as if they are a disease?

"Show me your id, please." She speaks in a hard tone, suppressing her sorrows in her heart. There is no point to speak to this man who doesn't know what respect is. She wonders how Morgan survives with this man.

Checking his details, she calls for her.

The man in front is getting impatient but his face is concealed with stone hard expression. He's bushy beard face and his long curly brown hair makes him look scary. "Bring her to my car." Saying this he walks out if the lobby.

Strange man.

He never visited her in all these months and suddenly today he came and demanded to take her home out of the blue. She just hopes he keeps Morgan happy and well.

"Ari," Morgan mumbles, tears have soaked her cherry face, "Why am I going?"

She knees down to her level, kissing her red nose she replies, "Your father has come to receive you. You're going home, munchkin. Why are you crying? Be happy dear."

"I don't wanna go home. I want my Ari, Li and Oli." She cries hard, hugging her.

This breaks her heart.

Only if she'd stop her from going.

But she has no choice. Her father is waiting outside; she has to let her go even if it's butchering her soul.

"My baby, don't cry. You're my brave munchkin. Now, stop crying," She wipes her cheeks lovingly, "I'll soon come and to visit you and I'll bring Li and Oli with me."

She gives her some chocolates to cheer her up.

"Pinky swear?" She holds out her tiny pinky finger.

"Pinky swear." Warina catches her finger with hers.

Kissing her cheeks and forehead one last time, she lets her go with a weeping and broken heart.

...

It's been two days since Eliza has gone. Her absence has broken Warina's heart. She's has been turning sides since two hours yet sleep is nowhere to catch her eyes. Every time she sees the empty bed beside hers, tears foam in her eyes.

In these two days Eliza hasn't called nor sent any text. She is worried sick about her. Though, she tried to contact Oliver too but no news from him either.

All she prays for their well-being.

Moreover, Morgan's absence is another sorrowful topic that's been playing in her head. May be she shouldn't have permitted her to go with her father. She should've waited for Oliver's return.

It's enough she can't sleep. Giving up, she walks to her book shelf and takes out Da Vinci Code to read. Sitting near her window, the soft night sparkling in the presence of the full moon, light breeze floating in surrounding, traverses hair. The chirping of crickets and katydids are dancing in the ears and the sound of waterfall from a mile can be heard in the silence of the night.

Warina always wished to visit the waterfall again but her parents never allowed not after the nightmare that took place there in the past. It's too perilous and the area isn't too safe for visiting – they say and also the government has put a restriction there.

It used to be a great tourists attractor. The waterfall has some unusual curved mosses hovering against the walls of the water body – some looks like half-moon and others are just unique. The water is so crystal clear that in sunny days, when the rays kiss the falling water, a faded rainbow is created just at the end and in a lucky spring time a rare phenomenon occurs, turning the water into reddish pink.

Beneath the water surface lays beds of crystal and stone. Sometimes they glistened emitting diamonds at full-moon nights.

The hill was to be the only income source of poor, who had nothing but to make a living out of the events used to set there. On the opposite side of waterfall, there is a lake where the local fishermen used to catch various kinds of fishes.

It's used so spectacular. The forest on the hill held so many festivals and picnics and functions, it saw so much merriment and now it's all history, a fairytale.

Perhaps, all beauty has something darker hidden beyond imaginations.

The incident happened some years ago, approximately six years ago, some tourists saw blood flowing along the water body.

At first everyone thought it as hoax and rumors. Some days later, locals found numerous human remains buried under the earth of the forest yet nobody took the matter seriously nor they cared, until the death of the daughter of an industrialist discovered death in the most brutal and horrific way that had shaken the hearts of the people who had witnessed the corpse.

She was reported missing and no one had ever thought her end to be in such manner. She was beheaded and her rest of the body was buried down in the ground, on the top her head stood starring with wide eyes. Those dead eyes were screaming with fright and nightmares. When her body was dug out two men fainted seeing the condition. Her naked body was covered with scratches and cuts and both kidneys were missing too.

The autopsy report showed she had been physically assaulted, not once or twice but several times before she was murdered.

The police tried to contact her father but he never responded, increasing the doubts and allegations. He said to be in another country. After a few weeks he arrived with her missing kidneys to the police station in very miserable attire. His clothes were ripped and bleeding everywhere. He claimed her daughter dead was caused by a mafia leader named The King. He begged and yelped for justice but none believed him. He narrated the entire story; he had a feud with the mafia as he betrayed him by trying to expose them. So, in return as revenge her fifteen years daughter was rapped and slaughtered in front of his eyes and he couldn't do anything experienced it so helplessly. Then he was given the wooden box containing her kidneys and told to run to the police.

Hearing his narration people laughed. He must be bluffing; his story had been considered just a story. No such thing as Mafia existed in real life and this town never heard of it even. The suspicion pointed at him like arrows and he ran house to house pleading trust him. When no one believed him, he started to attack citizens and police like a mad man, threatening to kill everyone. Later he was proven guilty and was arrested. The court gave him lifetime imprisonment and sent to mental asylum as he found to be a psychopath.

Warina's heart dies thinking about the incident. It was a true horror.

People still talk about it now and then and some tend to believe mafia and his gang walk under their noses and people are so unaware of it. They even say the leader has many names, the king, the silent ruler, the king of Shadow and so on but no one knows how does he look. His existence is a pure mystery.

Is he a hoax or real?

Warina ponders.

Uff! Damn you girl! She scolds herself. She'd stop reading these detective and mystery novels at night. It always messes up her mind.

Closing her book, she lies on bed waiting for the sun to rise.

...

The next morning starts with laziness. It's Sunday and that means no work. She's still sleeping profoundly. The clock is ticking at eleven in the morning yet that girl has no worries. All she needs a good sleep. Eliza and Morgan's absence have been eating her up from inside, only she knows how much her soul wipes for them. She finds sleep is a great distractor from all worries in the world. 

Mrs.Khan is sitting leisurely with her husband in the living hall. They've been quite upset regarding their daughter's situation and more worried about Eliza. 

"I thought at least Liza to be more responsible." Mr. Khan says disappointedly.

"Maybe she's all engaged with works. She'll call in a few days I'm confident." She smiles, assuringly.

Though she'll also worried about Eliza. It's very unlikely of her and Oliver especially. But she refuses to portray her worries to her husband.

"Where is Warina?" He asks, "Still sleeping, isn't she?" 

She sighs, "I wonder how she'll manage in her in-laws in the future." 

"She'll le..."

Before he'd reply, Mrs. Hasan interrupts their conversation, "Oh Asif our lovely Warina would be treated as a queen  in her in-laws. She's a such a sweet child." She mushy laughter confuses them.

"What are you implying on Hasna?" 

"Look Asif, Warina is my only niece and I always pray for her betterment." Sitting beside him she continues, "My Karim is the best suitor for my lovely niece, don't you think?"

"You want Warina's hand for Karim?" Mrs. Khan couldn't believe what her ears just heard, "It's entirely impossible."

"WHAT! WHY?" She screams, "What is the flaw in my Karim? He's a graduate, well-mannered and he likes her too. And moreover he's already managing his business both here and in hometown. I really don't see any room for rejections."

"I think Momina is right, sister. I also reject Karim for my daughter. It's her life, she'd decide." 

"Fine I'll talk to Warina then!" Snapping at them she leaves the hall, burning with rage.

To tell the truth none of Warina's parent prefer Karim for her. Although they grateful to him for being a great helping hand for their business but as a life partner he isn't the idle match and he has a bit of ill persona to others. There are rumors of him being not so good of a person. They just want the best for their daughter. 

...

Getting ready, Warina set out for returning Dante's bracelet, but she isn't alone, upon her aunt's forcing she has to take Karim with her for so called site-seeing.

She can't just express how much irked she's now. As much she tries her best to stay triple arm's length from this man, the more he seems to get tagged along with her. She has an idea of her evil aunt's motive and she's thankful her parents for being so supportive. But she knows Aunt Hasna won't let go of this matter without a fuss. 

Today when she came to talk to her about marrying her son, she politely refuses as she doesn't wanted to insult her elder. Her manipulation doesn't have any effect on her as she's is stubborn and determined not to accept Karim as she husband even if he's the last man alive on this planet. 

She knows about all his misdeeds. He loves to tease and check-out women, his nasty mind talks filthy about females. His habits of smoking and taking drugs and drinking alcohol aren't a hidden topic. He has gone to rehab several times and every time his mother has covered it with stupid stories. 

Keeping everything aside, there is nothing good about him at all. He has been the prime reason behind his father's death. Some goons attacked their house one night, about five years ago and shoot his father. He and his mother cooked the story as they're attacked by local robbers but the truth was he owed some drug dealer tons of money, when he was unable to repay him, he bombard on his family and in the process his father got a stroke of bullet at his chest. 

And how much a person could be so shameless? He hasn't changed a bit. The classic old Karim still lives on and on without a hint of guilt or sorrow.

"So where are we going, sweetheart?" He slids down his index on her arm, provoking her more.

Pushing his hand away, she warns, "Don't touch me Karim or else I swear I won't hesisate to kick you out." 

"Oh darling now don't break my heart like that." He wipes his eyes, faking tears.

Only if I'd ride this car over him!

Her inside is boiling in hot oil. Gripping hard the steering wheel, she's trying control her anger. She should've tried harder to deny the offer to take him along. She regret this.

Eliza, where are you?

She cries mentally. 

Karim never stops his blabbering so it's no use of wasting energy for making to shut up. Taking her phone out, she checks the message that Oliver had sent her on the day they left for airport.

Hillcross area, 24 Shadow Street. 

That's all. No house number or anything. Moreover wasn't Hillcross area an isolated place, there is no house let alone any soul lives at that area, then why did Oliver texted her such bizzare address?

She searched on Google about the place and she found nothing but empty lands exist like homeless. However, she's determined to return Dante's belongings as she'd enough taking care of it. 

She's driving for an hour, her hands are tired of driving yet 24 Shadow Street is still thirty minutes away. 

"Warina, where the hell are you driving us to?" He yells. He is bored and annoyed by this journey.

"Who the hell asked you to come with me?" She snaps back, rolling her eyes. 

He replied something angrily but she didn't bother to hear it. She continues to concentrate on her driving.

...

They reach their destination after a long long drive. She's amazed to notice her so patient and calm. The girl who jumps every five second has drove an entire hour and a half with such patience.

Impressive!

Even if she has arrive but no house or people visible anywhere. 

Maybe it's a wrong address. But she won't give up, at least not after tolerating such trouble to reach here, she's firm about finding Dante Armone at any cost. Taking a round around the place she's slowly losing all hope. She drive forward and comes to open mouth from where it leads to four different routes. In the centre there stands a tall lamp post. The black leg curved in antique design really intriguing for her. It's glowing bright yellow light as if welcoming her with warmth.

"Make a guess." Being helpless she asks for Karim's help.

"Oh my sweetheart cousin is asking for my help!" He smirks.

She throws fireballs at him through her eyes.

"Okay, okay chill down. Take left."  

He awful chuckles are pouring hot wax in her ear. She can't keep up with him any further. She has to think of something in order to get rid of this waste of a living being.

She drives for more fifteen minutes but to her luck it's an empty land as well. Braking the car she lets out an scream which scared him a bit. 

Is she possessed? He thought. 

Her repeated punches on the steering wheel makes her knuckles to bruise slightly, "Damn it!" She mumbles being frustrated. 

"Look Warina this place doesn't look good. Where have you bought us?" He says gulping down his saliva.

"Karim I swear if you don't shut up now, I'll bury you alive right here!" She grits her teeth.

"Keeping our difference apart, all I'm suggesting to drive back home. What's wrong with you?" He's really puzzled seeing her state. This would be the first he's seeing her bursting out like this. She's been always quiet and soft kinda girl. 

Maybe her frustration is getting the worst out of her. She just don't to keep a liability pressing her down. Every time she sees that bracelet it haunts her, reminiscences of the day when she first met it's owner. That one day is difficult for her to delete from memory. 

Today she thought of delivering it back but the fail attempt isn't helping her to keep her calm. Perhaps she should've waited for Oliver's return. 

Oh Allah give me patience. She murmurs to herself. Losing temper isn't her trait and definitely not a wise step to take. 

"I think we'd go back and I'm sorry for shouting at you." She softly apologize to him.

"It's okay my love." He smiles creepily, giving her a flying kiss.

Rolling her eyes, she glares at him, "I take my sorry back." 

Reversing the car, she turns left when something views in the wing mirror. It's peeking through the shredded blanket of bushy leaves, something like a watch tower in the early days of Kings and Queens but the vision is unclear. So she head towards it.

"Maybe I've found what I came from." 

"What?" He is utterly dumbfounded, "Warina seriously it's enough, now head back to home. I'M TIRED OF YOUR STUPIDITY! Lord knows where you're taking us. I'm calling home right away."

"Okay." She shrugs, not caring his useless talks. 

As she comes close to the enormous tower, the vibe of old Roman town hits her. Once she was thoroughly into world history and Roman civilization was her all time favorite. But this tower seems recently built - everything is perfectly square and precise, not even a single brick is out of place. Almost ten feet tall fort, well plastered and painted standing in the middle of nowhere. 

It makes no sense. What's its purpose might be? She ponders. 

She passes by it and proceed forward. Ten minutes later, she arrives in front of a lavish mansion, lavish would be an understatement. It's magnificent. It's humongous. 

A broad thick black border is surrounding it, forbidding any enterce. Nevertheless she stops in front of what it seems like a check post.

"Excuse me." She rings the car horn.

A man dressed in security guard uniform slides opens the small window, "Hello Miss, how may I help you?" 

"Hi, does Mr. Armone lives here? Amm, actually I'm here to return something that belongs to Mr. Armone, I-I mean Mr. Dante Armone." She shows the bracelet to him.

"Do you have any permission?"

"Oh n-no."

"Then I can't let you in." 

"But it's really important." She thinks for a second, "Maybe you can hand it to him."

"I can't do that either." He passes her a sad smile. 

Even coming this far she has to go home with unfinished mission, "Are you sure you can't do anything?"

"Well do you've any id?" He questions.

"Yes I do, just a sec." She search in her bag hurriedly. Taking her id she hands it to him. 

He checks the VIP list but no entry is found. He gives another try to the family list and the entry of Warina Khan has been matched. 

"I apologise Miss, but you should've mentioned you're a family." He says giving back her id. 

She furrows, "I'm not a family." 

"But your name is enlisted here. Anyways drive through the gate and hold your id in front of the camera at your left. And who would be this gentleman?"

"He's with me, my cousin." She replies.

"Can I see your id sir?" He asks.

"I don't have it!" He spats arrogantly. 

"Then you've to wait outside, sir." 

Karim starts an argument with the guard, with all his ill vocabulary. She gets out of the car and come between to put a stop but Karim being the typical Karim pushes her aside. Hearing the chaos outside, two other guards dressed up in black suits run out. 

Warina quickly narrates the entire situation before they misinterpret anything. After hearing everything they stop Karim from entering and guide her inside. 

Parking the car aside, she's greeted by another man in the same black suit. She's asked to wait at the hall. Stepping inside the interior takes her breath away. It's stunning. The regal sophistication and elemental simplicity are golds in the vision. It looks more like vintage Italian house with a luxurious and modern twist. The walls are in ivory shade with elegant designs curved in the shade of gold. The ground underneath her feet area made of marble tiles. Everything in her surroundings is shining like bright star in the sky. 

The furnitures look so clean that she's afraid if she sits on the sofa, it might get dirty. The walls are shaming her presence. It's suffocating. She doesn't belong here. Not at all. She escapes outside to the garden.

Inhaling fresh air she appreciates the nature. Some noises knock at her ear drums. In search of the origin, she follows the route of the sounds. Pacing forward quietly she discovers two men are occupied with sabre fencing. She stills at her ground, watching the men fight so swiftly, it's hard to tell who would win. Their faces are masked with fencing headcover. 

Suddenly something pinch on her foot and a cry catches Dante's attention. She's about to bend down to check her leg when he instantly holds the sword at her, right at between her collar bone. 

She yelps in fright as the cold tip of the thin sword is in contact with her skin, pausing her in half bend position. He unmasks, revealing his face to her. Saliva is forming in her mouth but she dare not to gulp it down to her dried throat, one wrong or even the slightest move can cut through her neck. 

What is it with him attacking her every time they meet?

His gray eyes are blazing at her soft brown ones with intensity. It takes a moment for her to recognise him. Something isn't matching - oh yea, his glasses are missing. He looks quite different without them. They continue their staring game until Mikel clears his throat, causing the end to their little game. 

"I-um, M-Mr. A-Armone..." She hardly can breathe.

"What the hell you're doing here?" He speaks in an odd interested tone. When the guard informed him he has someone came to see him, he didn't give much attention to it. He forget that this idiot dwarf is named Warina Khan. 

"Can you first please drop this weapon?" She pressing down her voice in fear, "I just came here to return your belonging."

He signs Mikel to leave and takes down his sword, relieving her to release carbon dioxide out of her system. She quickly passes him the bracelet, "You dropped it at Harmony."

Taking it from her hand, his cold fingers touch warm her palm, conveying a series of electricity in her spine. He feels something too but doesn't put light on it.

"You got really excellent courage in order to stand on my territory even after my clear statement of shooting you the next I see you." He says in a calm manner, keeping his gaze steady. Her arrival here is the least thing he expected, "And did you find this place?" His interrogation is building blocks of anxiety in her heart. 

This man is gorgeous; razor sharp jawline, a perfect sculpted cheekbone and the level of defined features of his face give a new definition of beauty. Sweats that are dripping down her face provide some kind of light under the glowing sun. 

Handsome is understatement for this man. He's just something she can't describe with words. To be honest she has saw many good looking man, the models in magazines but he's something alluring him that makes him look different than just handsome. 

Okay gurl, now stop fanning over him! He threatened to kill you remember? She murmurs mentally. She doesn't realize that she's staring at him without blinking, not even once. 

"Ahem." She slightly clears her throat, "Look what happened that day was a grave mistake from my side and I heartily apologize for that, but I mean no harm. I just came to return that as Mr. Henderson is out of town. It's better not to guard other belongings and I had it with me like for months. I think I'd go now. Thank you." 

Turning on her heels, she walks towards the exist, not looking back. Furrowing his brows, he watches her leave. 

"Ouch!" A man collide with her, "Hey, watch when you're walking!" 

He turns at her with a grumpy expression. He checks her out top to bottom for a minute then give a nasty smirk, "Bloody Mozlim! Where you came from?" He rolls his eyes, "Don't tell me Dante has a change in taste of whores." 

"YOU!" She cries aloud. She's about to reply him but stops, looking at his face. He looks vaguely familiar, but she can't remember where she's saw him. She decides to let the matter go because there is no use to argue with such people anyway, just waste of energy it would be.

She reaches at the back gate, looking for Karim. He's standing near the woods a bit away from the mansion. 

A mischievous idea strikes her mind. She quietly gets into her car and drives at full speed, leaving him along there. Noticing the car he shouts for her to stop but she never stops and drives back home alone in peace. 

Finally, she can experience relief as the responsibility of guarding the bracelet is all over and she never have to face Dante again, or so that she thought.

_____________________________________________________________________

Please vote and share. Don't forget to share your thoughts in the comment below...
Stay well everyone...until next time...