~Need.~

"To be able to

look at you and feel

absolutely nothing,

that's the kind of

closure I want."

- faraway.

************

A memory flickers across Zaid's vision, unbidden, but he tamped it down, blankly staring at Annie. "I can't understand why has he put you in my path, Ms Paul?" You're just an old woman.

Because of his tone, Annie was taken aback a little, just a little. It was the moment she was waiting for --- his one of the other personalities have finally appeared before her, for the first time.

Zaid held her gaze, unblinking. "I hope I'm not making you uncomfortable." He tilted his head to the side, as if curious. "Am I?"

Annie felt the fear in her stomach. It was bubbling up through her throat, but she kept it in check. "Not at all."

"Infact, I've been waiting to meet you." She politely smiled, attempting to keep her composure and not let him see the tremors trotting through her body.

The other Zaid, who mostly has the control, had left already, presumably back to his own dimension. And now, it was only Annie in the room, alone with his other personality, probably with the dangerous one.

It was unbelievable --- suddenly, how unusual the atmosphere felt just because of him, because of his personality swap.

"Are you certain?" In a vague second, his eyes slowly blinked together, still unreadable. "The thought that you may feel threatened is acceptable, you know?"

He raised a finger, gesturing towards her, an amused glint shining in his eyes. "However, the thought that you might be afraid of me doesn't sound so reasonable." He shrugged, keeping his eyes on her, the weight of his gaze heavy and unmoved. "After all, I'm not doing anything to hurt you or something."

"No! No, it's nothing like that." Annie took a deep breath, trying to find her words. "I'm completely fine."

She couldn't help herself from feeling anxious, his aura was seeming too endangering.

She didn't know it would be that hard to confront the other personalities. There was something odd about this one personality, something unsettling. Because of him, the atmosphere felt suffocating.

"It's a lovely day. Isn't it?" Sparing a glance at the window showing the scenery outside, he again eased his eyes on Annie. A slight smirk heaved his mouth, as though he could grasp on her agita.

Annie swallowed, beginning to avoid the discomfort consuming her. Even if she did feel something bizarre about him, as his Psychologist she had no choice but to take the opportunity and try to get along with him.

It was the only chance she had to know more about her patient.

"Yes, it is." She nodded scantily, showing him another tentative smile, appearing organized with the stability of her emotions.

This seemed to appease him and he nodded, again carrying his attention towards the window.

"Oh, pardon my rudeness, I forget to ask."

The silence that seemed to fall over them was almost comfortable when it was broken by his voice.

"What would you like to have Ms Paul?" He paused, turning his head to face her once more, his hand gesturing at the delicacies and beverages arranged before them on the table. "Tea or coffee?"

She glanced at the various food items, noticing that there were several varieties of cakes laid out alongside a couple of fruits, only the expensive ones were available.

"No, I'll pass. Thank you for your consideration," she answered cautiously, letting a faint smile slip free as she observed him coming off at ease and strange content, sitting on the couch across her with one leg crossed over the other.

"Very well then." His unamused smile grew wider, but his posture never changed, depicting the elegant but alarming vibes of supremacy.

"So. . . ." His fingers lightly tapped against the armrest of the couch, evoking no relief in the air. "Why are you here?"

Suddenly, it seemed as if the roles have changed, now it wasn't her who was in charge of the interrogation, it was him.

The thought made her edgy, yet, she knew that she mustn't show any sign that she was perturbed. "To help you."

The laugh that followed her answer was lifeless, devoid of enthusiasm. "Help?"

"Why? Is something wrong with me?" Something grimy dampened in his coal-black orbs, his smile visibly turning dark and daunting. Tell me I'm mad, and you will be done with life.

Annie opened her mouth to answer immediately. The urge to explain the situation to him arose instantly and without hesitation, yet when he shifted to lean on his knees, her words perished on her tongue, as if her instincts were warning her to speculate her thoughts carefully before saying anything.

She forced the smile on her mouth to stay intact. "No. I'm here just to help you with the things troubling you."

He raised his eyebrow intriguingly, like distrusting the sincerity of her words. "You're an interesting person, Ms Paul."

His dull smile never quite reached his eyes and he knew it as he watched her with those soulless orbs that held sadism hidden behind their darkness.

"Thank you for the compliment." She cleared her throat. "Now, would you like to talk about yourself, Mr Grover?" She asked, her expression calm, yet careful as she looked at the man seated opposite her. "Is it convenient for me to call you Zaid or do you prefer some other name?"

"Other name? There's no kind of such absurdity." Softly chuckling, he paused. His eyes glittered wickedly as he continued his line of thought. "Zaid is only my name."

"If you're Zaid, then what am I supposed to call a certain someone who I mostly encounter?"

Heeding her words, his smile instantly fell, and she regretted her words. She shouldn't have said this.

"Losers deserve nothing, including the name," he said after a few seconds, merely shaking his head before leaving his seat.

Annie felt a tug inside her chest. What exactly does he mean?

Flummoxed, she eyed him as he paced over to his working desk, hands tugged inside the pockets of his pants, his authoritative presence still threatening to crush her under its powerful influence --- with the other Zaid, she never felt like this.

"The strong one deserves everything, be it power or superiority, they deserve it," he began in a mocking tone. "While the weaker one deserves to live and die under their control, they deserve no primacy."

"Then, what should we call them? Weak?" She insisted on a question in middle.

Her eyes obeyed his motions as he peeked a side glance at her, scantily halting before prancing towards the window, his all actions portraying dominant grace. "They are not called anything, they are not defined by any name --- they just exist, simply for themselves."

"Why do you hate the other Zaid so much?" She inquired, curious and desperate to know the truth - his secret.

"The other Zaid, he is pathetic. He is nothing but a smaller and weaker part of mine." Blocking most of the sunlight, he stopped before the window, looking outside with his back facing her. "I hate weakness, if he hadn't been inside my body, I would've finished him long ago."

"Ah, don't touch it. It belongs to my wife." Suddenly, he turned around and stared back at her from across the room, catching her off-guard. "She loves reading."

Bewildered, Annie stared at the book that was safely resting upon the side table beside the sofa. Its cover seemed eye-catching which compelled her to check out its name, but he stopped her when she just barely moved her position, not even succeeding in getting a hold of the book let alone touch it --- how did he notice that when he wasn't even looking?

His sharp senses occurred terrifying to her.

It made her stomach churn in uncomfortable ways.

"Have you heard about Zaid Grover, the current owner of Grover Industries?" Dismissing her apologetic smile with a tiny wave of his hand, he again turned to face the window. "Have you heard how quickly he established a multinational empire?"

A ghost of a smile curled his lips when he caught her sight --- Shravya, she was outside, in the greenhouse, and from where he was standing he could perfectly see her. "That's me. I'm the one behind that commendable success of Grovers."

He could at least tell Annie that, to let her know with whom she was dealing. It wasn't like she could do him any harm; he is the one who harms others, not the other way around.

And, even if she thought of doing something funny against him, he will make sure to turn Annie Paul into a bygone aspect, a memory for her family to lament over.

"Other Zaid, what can that pathetic person even do?" He chuckled dryly, bitterly. "It's all my mercy that he could see her. I'm the one who found and bought her here."

Annie saw his fingers caressing the glassy surface of the window, and an intractable shiver trotted through her body. Who was outside? Even after being an evil person, he seemed abnormally fond of a certain someone.

"I'm the one who fulfilled his every little wish."

A hint of bitterness crept its way onto his face.

"I'm his desire for power, the hunger he refuses to acknowledge."

A chilling gleam reflected in his eyes when he turned, peering straight at her, almost as if staring into the vulnerability of her soul, perceiving every little emotion that eluded out of her grasp.

"I'm Zaid Grover."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shravya slowly blinked before glaring at his back while standing feets away, at the entrance of the greenhouse. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Her demanding tone had Zaid turn a little, but not completely to meet her accusing glare. "Please." His voice sounded more of a command despite the use of that visibly requesting word. "I don't want to talk about it."

"Why did you hide it? Why didn't you tell me about your meeting with a Physiologist?"

But Shravya was compiling no temperament to heed any command. She has been trying so hard to help him, and here, he's hiding things from her.

Zaid could feel her gaze boring into his back, yet said nothing in response to her questions. He just simply stood there, eyes fixed on the flowers and greenery surrounding the vast space.

"You can't get away by remaining silent." Her words made his shoulders tense apparently as he heard the steady sound of her inclining steps.

With undeniable quickness, she approached him, stopping behind only a few inches away, making it impossibly hard for him to ignore her presence.
 
In those few countable seconds, he felt everything; he felt how his heart suddenly possessed quickened heartbeats, he felt how suddenly his chest tightened up and it became hard to breathe.

A trembling breath fled out of his mouth when she grabbed his shoulder, tugging a little force, wanting him to turn and face her.

However, he couldn't do that, not now. He remained still in his spot. He wasn't ready to answer her.

"What happened Zaid?" Her tone softened a fraction but her grip was still firm on his shoulder. "Why are you suddenly behaving this way?"

"What's wrong?" She tried again, lightly squeezing his shoulder as if hoping that would make it conceivable for him to look at her. But, when that attempt failed, she released her hold on him and took some considerable steps away, somehow making it known to his restless body that she was leaving.

Her anger had evaporated the minute, she noticed the anxiety surrounding him. She was sure something was troubling him, but what could she even do when he himself wasn't consenting to let that unease out?

That's why currently she decided to not push his limits more than he could bear. At least, he was putting effort to sort out his mental problems, and for now, that was enough.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

There was an orange and red hue in the sky, comprising a drowning sun at the horizon and the sight of birds returning home, all together weaving the tale of an end...an end of another day.

Inundated in an odd cessation, Shravya put back her books on the bookshelf, arranging them accordingly.

The soft golden and mildly orange glow of the evening light sprinkled inside the vacant library, accompanying her vision while making its way in through the windows which were almost as big as a wall.

Holding some yet-to-be arranged books in her hand, she moved to another row of shelves. Her eyes followed the shelf for about three or four steps until she stopped in her track. For some reason, suddenly a strange feeling came over her, her senses perking up when the sound of someone's steady footsteps entered the hushed atmosphere.

She knew it was Zaid. She could tell it by the way his steps sounded. He had a distinct rhythm; slow, but not hesitant, deliberate and strong.

"Zaid?" Softly, she called out from the distance, and after a few seconds of no response, she took her first steps back, towards the direction of the entrance door.

But, an unexpected view greeted her. The door was closed and the sight was empty. She frowned; how could it be? She surely couldn't be mistaken.

"You never fail to recognise my presence."

Hearing this, Shravya turned around, coming to encounter him. He was standing beside a bookshelf nearby.

"I can say the same to you." Shrugging, she again made her way back to the bookshelves, resuming with arranging the books.

For quite some time, he remained silent. His feet resided firmly rooted on the floor where he stood. As if to accentuate his observance, one of his arms fell to his side, resting along the bookshelf before slowly moving to her.

As much as Shravya tried to avoid him, she couldn't when he carefully moved in front of her, compelling her to back away against the other shelf, with a tight hold on the book in her hand, which was the only one left.

Suddenly, the distance seemed a luxury to afford with bookshelves surrounding them, just providing minimum space.

"What are you doing?" She asked, irritated, as he shifted some steps nearer, killing whatever area was existing in between.

"I don't know how to explain myself." Abruptly, the palm of his hand covered her eyes, making her gasp slightly, observing nothing but darkness.

"Are you angry with me?" He questioned and she chose silence as an answer.

"I... I'm sorry," he whispered, inching closer.

"Why did you hide about your treatment from me?" She inquired.

Silence.

He wasn't going to answer.

He didn't know how to answer. For some, it seemed simple, but for him, it was hard...very hard.

After this weekly session with Annie in the morning, he was feeling unsettled, because this time it wasn't him who talked to her, it was him.

He remembered nothing of what he talked to Annie, and Annie wasn't confessing anything about the appointment either.

"Why are you being like this?" Her voice pulled him away from his thoughts, and he looked at her, still persisting on being tight-lipped.

"Okay, fine. Let me go," after the trail of more silent responses, she uttered in defeat, moving her hand upon his to pull it away from her eyes.

However, before she could pull away, his mouth slammed against hers, capturing her defenceless.

Madly, his tongue invaded her mouth, his hand gliding up to her waist, travelling all the way from her thighs while his other hand stayed over her eyes, still guarding her vision.

The book she was holding, slipped out of her grasp and her body sinked down to the floor as if melting under his touch while he, the keeper of those touches also followed her movements along.

When he finally retreated back, her hands clutched his shirt while her hefty and breathy sigh glided over his skin, again making the distance between them unendurable.

"Don't." He whispered when her hand again hurried to pluck his hand off her eyes. "Don't look at me." I look miserable.

Strangely, his words stopped her motions, while kneeling before her sitting frame, he stared at her in despair, helplessly again falling silent.

The moment he put his palm away from her eyes, he quickly hid his face in her dark-brown locks, her fragrance enclosing his senses and soothing his soul as he dragged her body closer to himself, as much as possible.

He still couldn't make himself speak anything.

His heart soared with a need, wanting to speak its agony out, but unfortunately, that pitiful creature was mute.

Oh, at that moment how desperately he wished that silence could speak its language through words.

~It would have told you about its condition,

( हाल-ए-दिल तुझको सुनाता, )

If only my heart could speak, and confess how much it loves you.

( दिल अगर ये बोल पाता, बाखुदा तुझको है चाहता जां। )

If only possible, I would have stolen our moments from time,

( तेरे संग जो पल बिताता, वक़्त से मैं वो मांग लाता, )

For later to recall them and smile.

( याद करके मुस्कुराता हाँ। )~

---✳❇✳---

"To become worthy of devil's love, you will have to sacrifice the life of whom you love the most."

"I want devil's love. I'm ready to sacrifice whomever I love the most. I desire no love but his."

Aqsa's words were escorted with no hesitancy as she carried the oath, standing before the leader of her group.

"Aqsa, my child, offer your blood and begin this ceremony," the leader spoke, gesturing to another member who came forward with a tray in hand. Resting on that tray, was a sharp knife and a glass, both decorated with expensive red-coloured gems.

Aqsa nodded, stepping ahead until she stood within arm's reach of the leader.

The leader, who was an elderly woman, smiled at the young girl, in a sadistic way. "This time, we, the devil's worshippers chose you!" She declared. "As we draw blood from you, we will give it all to him for the sake of love! He will be the first to taste your body, and the one to know you by heart, and then only he may hold your soul."

"You're the chosen one!" The woman laughed and held Aqsa's hand in a rigid grip.

Taking the knife, she brought it down onto Aqsa's wrist and drew a drop of crimson blood in the glass, in the process causing some of the blood to drip onto the altar below, and onto the stone floor.

"You have 20 weeks to perform the sacrificial ceremony," the woman spoke before pulling the knife back and stepping away, all the while holding the glass that had some of Aqsa's blood.

"I'm not going to disappoint you," Aqsa said, watching the woman leave with a pleased expression while the others began chanting something under their breath.

"I'm not going to fail you. My love for you is true."

Behind her, they all chanted along, their voices echoing throughout the empty hall, sounding like the song of the demons.

Their group, it wasn't just some small group, it was a cult.

It was a cult where mostly the members were psychopaths, criminals, and murderers. Many of them belonged to a powerful background.

Aqsa was just using that cult as a shield to hide from the eyes of the police. She needed protection because she's also a criminal, always having the threat of being caught by the police.

She didn't want to be caught before fulfilling her revenge.

It was all planned, she will use their power as a tool for her revenge, and it will be too late when they will come to know about this.

If you like the chapter then please follow me PanchiVerma (for Instagram, check out the link in my bio)

Q - So, how was the chapter people?

So, Aqsa is a member of a cult where many members are psychopaths - lol! And here, we thought that Zaid is the biggest Psycho 😂

P.S - Something funny for you all ⬇️