The moon was high up in the sky, bathing the world in its soothing silver glow.

Peace reigned the place.

One that Bhism had wanted all his life.

The sacrifices that he had made seemed to have borne their fruit.

Hastinapur was being ruled by a rightous king what more could he ask for?

"You look very happy Tatshree." Dhritrashtr's words had the older man turning around, a warm smile curving on his lips.

"Since, when have you begun to understand me so well, my child?"

Humor reflected through Devrath's words, gazing at his nephew who walked down the corridor and towards the balcony where he stood.

An answering chuckle was all the answer he got.

"I may not be able to see with my eyes, but I can hear the relaxed breathing and the lightness with which you move."

"You are right. I am happy. Have been for a very long time." Bhism confessed, his eyes glinting with relief.

"I always thought your sons and Pandu's would end up in a war killing each other. But seeing the peace and love between all them has given me a soul deep happiness."

"You have sacrificed a lot in your life to not see this day." His eldest nephew spoke, tenderness weaving in his words.

"My sacrifices..." Devrath's voice faded, emotions assaulted his heart.

Yes, he had become the slave to the throne, to always serve the one ruling.

And over the time seeing the Kauravas grow with Shakuni had scared him.

The hatred of that man towards him, was not unreasonable. There were rationals to it.

He had done a lot of things in his life he wasn't sure about. Like marrying Gandhari to Dhritrashtr.

By destroying her happiness, and her family in the process. Making her brother this empty shell that he had become.

"Draupadi may not walk on this plane with us anymore. But this gift of the family's union that she has given me, is something I'll forever be grateful to."

He began, his throat burning with acid and guilt for the crimes he committed but there was also gratitude towards the bride of the Pandavas.

"Tatshree. . ."

"No."

Bhism cut the concerned words of his nephew, shaking his head, his eyes glassy with tears.

"I have done a lot of sins in my life too my son. My unjustice to not just Amba but to Gandhari too and her family. In the name of following orders as the slave to the throne, I did everything."

He whispered, his chest burning with a deep ache.

In his need to serve the throne, he ended up flaying life's of alive people.

After all what was a throne? A mere inanimate object. It were the people that counted.

And he? He had harmed living beings for non living ones.

"Never realized that I had choices too. Not until Draupadi, that child made me realise that everyone has a choice."

"No matter what we think. We all have one. If we choose to commit a sin thinking it is rightousness. It still remains a sin. No exceptions there. And we all pay for our sins. We are all held responsible."

He gazed at the dark sky, breathing deeply in the crispy cool air. That did nothing to shimmer down the scalding burns of regret over his soul.

"No matter what we may believe. . ." His voice faded in darkness.

"And I?" A watery chuckle passed through his lips, he shook his head with remorse.

"I have too many sins-"

His words were interrupted by the loud sound of the gong reverabarating throughout the place.

A warning.

The palace was ambushed.

Terror zapped through their systems.

Dhritrashtr and Bhism reached for their swords, the duo ran down the corridors.

Their heart to heart long forgotten.

Their swords clashed with men draped in complete black attire, concealing their faces.

A furious roar left past Bhism's lips, kicking the man just as he felt the air around him move and a soldier attacked him.

The man went sailing across the hallway, slamming seven others, and taking them all to the ground.

Their years of practice had them moving in a synch, their weapons slaughtering everyone alive.

Blood stained every marble, heads rolled from bodies, as each corner of the palace was flooded with bodies of males and females alike.

What the hell was happening?!

***

This was not how she had thought her day would end. . .

Pauravi grabbed the dagger sinking it clean in the man's chest, who was reaching for her daughter.

She felt the sickening crack of his ribcage under the blade, mixed with his painful roar.

His beady dark eyes glared at hers, he growled wrapping a hand around her throat.

Anger and pain maring his features.

"I will end you and your fucking daughter!" He promised gritting his teeth, he wrapped his hand around her wrist.

The first wife of Duryodhan glared right back in his eyes.

If there was one thing she hated more then anything it was men like him.

The one who taught they could just do whatever with a girl.

And she was done with them. If this moron thought he had a chance harming her kid, he was about to face a new reality.

Fury pulsed through her body, dulling her agony. And fear that brought back throngs of memories, that she had suppressed eons ago.

"There isn't anything that you can that could break me. You wouldn't be the first to try, but I promise you, I'll be the last you lay your hands on."

Unlike her heart that was furiously beating in her chest, her words were calm, eyes burning with an intense fury.

Never show your terror to a predator. That was one of the many things that she had learned in her time locked up.

And men like this were animals, they could smell your weakness. It wouldn't take a second for him to exploit it.

The man roared twisting her wrist, making her cry out as pain seared up her arm.

She clamped her mouth shut, kicking him hard in the chest, right over the dagger.

The sharp blade pierced his heart making him gasp, he stumbled back, gazing at her with hatred and agony before collapsed on the floor.

A silence descended over the room.

No one spoke for the longest.

Nothing could be heard except their heavy breathing.

She would kill every last one of this bastards if she had to. But there was no way, she would let one of them harm her child.

A loud terrified scream slipped through Bhanumati's lips, she rushed in the room, scared for the life of her daughter.

Her feet froze as she gazed at the dead man on the floor, blood staining the white marble floor and her sister who stood guarding their child.

And her poor baby...

Roshini trembled like a leave, hugging Pauravi's skirt, hiding her face in her mother's legs.

While the first wife of Duryodhan stood, gazing down at the dead man, with a far off look as though lost in some distant memory.

Shock and terror poisoned every last of her atoms, she was once again back in the dungeons and was protecting her little cousin.

Ugly memories arose from their graves, trying to take her in the darkest corner of her mind.

But she just stood, staring at the dead, with a dagger sticking out of his chest.

She had been on her way to her daughter once the loud sounds of the gong had shattered her sleep.

When she had heard the scream of her child.

Dread like never before had flayed her down to her bones.

The mother in her had roared with fury. As the memories from her past had assaulted her.

What had been her fate she wouldn't let anyone else face it.

Specially not her daughter.

Over her dead fucking body. . .

"Jiji!"

Bhanu wrapped her arms around her sister and her daughter, crushing her chain of thoughts making the first wife of Duryodhan blink.

"Everything is going to be fine."

Pauravi assured, though her voice had a waver.

Horror and dread pooling in her chest, but what held her together was her determination to see her family safe through this mess.

Sliding back in the role of Bhanu's protector seemed as easy as breathing.

Years upon years of practice kicking right in.

It felt like all this years with Duryodhan were a distant memory and she was back in that dungeon where she had to do everything to protect her sister from the lustful eyes of her father.

She had done this before.

She will do it again.

Suppressing her emotions, she locked them tight in the compartments of her brain.

Now wasn't the time.

When once again everything is fine, she will sit and observe everything closely.

"Let's move."

Emotions evaporated from her words, she turned to gaze at the two girls who meant the world to her.

Giving a reassuring nod to Bhanu, who picked up their daughter, the duo walked to the left wall.

Turning the lantern to left, a groaning sound filled the room.

"Let's go in. This will lead you to the safe room." Pauravi turned to gaze at her sister and daughter.

"You two keep walking straight. Don't open the door for anyone who isn't family." She instructed.

Confusion unfurled in the chest of Bhanumati, "What do you mean you ? You're not coming with us?"

"No."

"No, I can't leave-"

"Listen here Bhanu, I have to get Meera jiji and what about Mata and Kakishree? Arya is also out today for some work. You'll go there, your responsibility is to assure our child's safety. I'll come soon."

Pauravi squeezed her sister's hand, reaching out to the next wall beside them, that held swords as decoration, she pulled one down.

"Keep this with you. Don't hesitate to cut them to ribbons." Pauravi's steely command rang through each bone of her younger sister.

Lighting up valour in her chest. She gulped, giving her sister a nod.

"We need to do this for our family. I need to do this. Be brave for our baby Bhanu."

Bhanumati nodded, burning her fear.

Pauravi's gaze landed on their daughter, who clung to Bhanumati's neck, hiding her face there.

She ran her hand over her head in an affectionate manner.

"Take care my sunshine." She leaned in kissing the back of her daughter's head.

"Maa." Roshini gazed at her mother, who gave her a bright smile.

"Be strong for your mother, will you?" The first wife of Duryodhan cooed.

The young girl nodded.

The sound of footsteps had the women straightening.

"Go."

Pauravi ordered, turning around, Bhanumati rushed in the corridor, the wall shutting behind them.

Pauravi reached out for the second sword, pulling it out from the sheath, that hung over the wall.

"Let's cut some baddies." Her hand tightened over the hilt as she hid behind a pillar.

Watching as two men rushed in, dressed in complete black.

"Where are they?!" The first one roared.

Pauravi watched them move to the center of the room.

"I want them dead!" Another roared.

Just as the two reached under the huge glass chandelier, Pauravi used her sword to cut the long rope holding it up.

Screams filled the room, the chandelier slammed hard on the duo, glasses splintering everywhere.

"And that's what you get for thinking of harming my family."

The first wife of Duryodhan spat the words.

Turning around she marched out of the room.

The heavy coppery odour of blood slapped her hard in the face, her gaze fell over the mutilated bodies of her soldiers.

Grief clung to her soul, tears burned in her eyes.

But fury burned brighter.

She moved forward.

Her feet sinking in the scarlet liquid and the organs that were spewed on the floor.

Disgust roiled through her.

Her hand wrapped around a lantern, picking it up, marching further down the corridor.

She could hear the distant sound of blades clashing against the other and cries of men and women alike.

Pauravi rushed ahead, her gaze fixating over the enemy who faught with their soldiers.

She rushed right in, flaying and slaughtering men.

Adrenaline pumped through her veins.

"Your highness!" A soldier cried in surprise watching her fight.

"Not now." She glared, she ducked, the man ahead of her attacked her, with another kick she sunk the blade in his chest.

"Where is everyone?" She asked, fighting along the soldiers.

"Everyone has been sent to the safe room." Another soldier answered.

A loud feminine scream had Pauravi freezing.

Dhara.

Pauravi rushed, following the scream, her heart hammered wildly in her chest, she walked in Duryodhan's room.

There on the floor lay three men; dead.

And two had Dhara pinned on the wall, Pauravi sneaked in the room, her eyes sharpening with fury, just as she moved behind the two attackers.

"Let me go!" Dhara roared, anger maring her features, but there was a silver of terror in her eyes, that bounced between the two monsters.

Who gazed at her with lust and anger.

"You Kuruvanshis have a lot to answer." The one on the left gruffed.

"You have done alot. And we will take our revenge, in the form of one woman after another."

The one on the right leered, his snakey eyes scanning the third wife of Duryodhan with lust.

Pauravi pulled back her sword, and swung it with full force.

Everything seemed to happen in a slow motion, the blade shaved off the man's head clean off it's neck, sending flying across the room.

Blood sprayed on their faces, the lower half twitched before falling down.

Dhara clocked the second man in the face, using his shock to her advantage, he went down like a sack of potatoes.

Adrenaline pumped through their system, making them swiftly move through the room as a team, ending the life of the second man with the the first wife of Duryodhan flaying the man's chest.

The two breathed heavily, their eyes locked.

"You okay?" Terror masked Pauravi's features, just as her voice wavered.

Tears stung Dhara's eyes but she just nodded.

"I'm fine. You?"

"I'll survive."

The two were silent for a minute, yea they'll survive.

They always did.

"Where are other women?" The third wife of Duryodhan asked.

"The soldiers guided them to the safe room. We should go too-"

Pauravi's words were cut short, a sharp ache shot through the back of her head, her eyes rolled, as a rod hammered hard on the back of her head.

Dhara's mouth was covered by another set of hands.

"Nighty night girls." A inhuman voice sang, before everything turned dark. . .

***

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