Aryamann was in his room playing video game when he heard a loud banging sound coming from outside. 

"What's this sound? Manik had told me he will be late then what is this sound?" 
He moved out of his room only to see the entire hall was turned up side down as if a tornado has hit there. The couch was scrapped, lampshade which was on the left corner was now on the floor with it's wire unplugged, chairs were scattered here and there, the book self on the right side was half empty as some books were lying on the floor here and there. He looked around to see around 10 men were the reason for this tornado in his house who were right now checking every corner of the house. 

"Hey... hey what are you people doing here?" He moved ahead to stop them when his leg hit stool which which was lying right there. He balanced himself while he saw that everyone's attention was now on him and 2 bulky people caught hold of him. 

" Hold this boy, we need to check every corner of the house." Another man covered in full black hoodie told his men. 

"How can you raid my flat without any notice? And who the hell are you people? Wait till I call the police officer." Aryamann shouted while he kicked a guy trying to set himself free. 

"Ohh really? Then do so, but none will listen to you as we are sent by the Lodge and they have the powers. Now you better stay quite and let us do our work." The head pushed Aryamann a little as he stumbled. 

They were checking each and every corner of the house looking into Manik's files and books. They had strict orders from their masters that they need to bring all the stuff related to the lodge and time travelling to them. Aryamann tried calling up Manik but his phone was switched off, he slowly dialed Damon and kept the phone aside when it got picked.

Damon-" Hey.._"

"You people.. what do you want from us that you have barged in like this into our house? You people are doing wrong and that too with so many men in our house. We are Raj Malhotra's family." He shouted out loud so that indirectly Damon can know that they were in danger. The bulky man kept a gun on his forehead asking him to shut up and not intervene. 

"Do not test my patience, let us do our work or even you will be kept into a cellar like your liar brother." He spoke with venom and the little doubt which he had was cleared that they were caught.

Aryamann didn't say a word as he looked from the corner of his eyes the phone getting cut. As he took a sigh of relief that Damon will do something soon it got washed away as he saw a man was about to open the secret drawer in the bookshelf in which there were the prophesies. 

*Ohhh freak! no no please don't open that.... do something Aryamann do something to stop him.*

He kicked the bodyguard who was standing right beside him which caught everyone's attention. Some more men attacked him as he dodged them all running from one place to another and dropping each and every thing he found in between. The book shelf also came down with a thud with some of its shelves breaking. He switched the light off beside the bookshelf showing it completely unintentional which darkened the room as it was around 4 am.

"You bastard!! catch that boy you idiots. Switch the lights on someone." The bulky man was shouting his lungs out ordering his men to find Aryamann. 

The men got startled as they fidgeted with their phones to open the torch and this was just the time Aryamann needed to take the manuscripts out of the box. He hid it inside his t-shirt and tried crawling out of the house. 

That is when a huge gush of wind came inside alerting the men, they saw a silhouette of a man but in the next second he was gone. Aryamann knew better and kept crawling out from the corner. 

" Heya people! time for some fun." 

A loud shrill was heard as man got his head snapped and he lied on the floor followed by 4 more. in the matter of some seconds. Damon clawed the bulky man's neck and looked straight into his eyes, 

"You came into Manik's house but didn't find anything here. No clue nor any prophesies and nothing inhuman. Now you will go right back to the lodge and update them that all is clear." He spoke every word slowly but with authority as the bulky man kept looking into his eyes nodding his head as his pupils were completely dilated. With this Damon blinked his eyes once and with this the bulky man left the house. 

~~~\\\●\\\●\\\●\\\●\\\●\\\●\\\●\\\~~~

LODGE

Manik opened his eyes as he could still feel the sharp pain at the back of his head which was resonating till his spine. As his eyes blinked multiple times all he found was darkness around him. He was in one of the dark cellar in the basement which was made up of strong brick walls on all sides and a small gate made up of iron rods. On his left side there was a small window from which some moon light was peeping in. He tried getting up slowly with the help of his hands but fell down as his hands and legs were cuffed with metal cuffs. 

"God!!!! Just take me out of here, will you! I didn't do anything wrong atleast listen to us first. Mr. Malhotra... Raghav sir... is someone there?" He kept shouting calling for someone but none came. 

*Nandini... shit where is Nandini? Gosh what did they do with her? I hope she is fine. And Moloy uncle! Because of us he is been caught. Now what to do?* 

As he was in his thoughts he heard the cellar door getting opened and in came Raghav and Raj along with a bodyguard. 

Raghav-" Good that you are awake my Ruby, you see what you got for disobeying us and going against the guardians. Why you travelled back in time in this suspicious way and that too with Nandini?" He asked standing right in front of Manik while Manik was looking straight at him. From the time Raghav had joined he didn't like him a bit, the aura and the way he was trying to control everything and everyone around was disturbing Manik. 

"Raj uncle, I'm.. please believe me we didn't do anything wrong, we had a reason for going like this. I want to tell something to you and we wanted proofs for that but then only if you trust us and we trust you. I don't know why are you behaving like this but the happenings of the lodge has changed and I'm just worried for that. Just... trust me__" He couldn't complete as he got a blow on his jaws by the bodyguard as his head hit the floor because of the sudden attack. 

Raj-" I don't want to listen to anything Manik, you broke the laws and this is the punishment you get, you were given all the rights till you obeyed us and the Lord. You still have time come back or you will be treated the same way as Siddhant and Sanvi were treated. Those Basu girls only know how to subjugate the Malhotra boys, Sanvi lured Siddharth and so is Nandini doing with you. You are a man for god sake try to think practically and not be lured by these beauties." The words that came from Raj Malhotra's mouth was so not like him, I couldn't believe that this man is the same person whom I idolized all these years. He was talking like the Lord, the soft spoken and understanding Raj uncle of mine was not like this. As I looked at his back I found Raghav smirking. 

"What you people di with Nandini? Listen I don't know what shit you all are saying but this all has nothing to do with Nandini, she didn't do anything it was me who wanted to search. Leave her and Moloy Uncle please." I begged them it was true that it was my idea of sneaking like this in the past and meet Siddhant and Sanvi, Nandini and specially Moloy uncle had no fault. 

Raghav-" You don't have to worry about those 2. They are having their share of punishment and till then you stay here but if you talk more then surely it won't be good for you Manik. Now you better listen to us and not anyone else. It's time to fulfill your duty as a Ruby and as Malhotra descendent." His voice was as cold as ice and his facial expression screamed terror.

"I won't do anything without knowing the truth, I know there is nothing good behind the closing of the circle and you all can't control me like a fucking robot. I WILL NOT OBEY YOUR RULES UNTIL YOU FREE ME!" He shouted with rage, and fear. If now he will fall weak then he won't be able to save Nandini, and these people will make him do things that are not to be done.

Raj-" You called this upon yourself Manik, I had higher expectations from you." With this he left the cellar as the bodyguard started belting Manik while Manik couldn't even do anything as his hands and legs were tied. He tried using his special powers of the lion but his body was not cooperating as already his energy was drained out. 

After some more whipping the bodyguard left him as he laid on the ground groaning in pain. 

~~~\\\●\\\●\\\●\\\●\\\●\\\●\\\●\\\~~~

A car stopped at some distance from the lodge and out came a girl who walked straight to another car where 2 guys were standing who were none other than Aryaman and Damon

Aryaman-" What took you so long to come here? And how will we find Manik?"

"If you have forgotten then even our house was raided, and I had my Grand mom and mom to console and assure that things are alright." The girl was none other that Aliya who was dressed in a floral print short dress. 

Damon-" If you both are done then please let me know that how are we gonna find that Manik and Nandini are in here and in which room?" He asked tapping his foot looking at the huge vintage building.

Aliya-" I have a plan to sneak in, you both go and stand at the back side of the building I will go inside and as soon as I give you a hint get inside from the backdoor. Here take the key." She threw the key towards Aryaman who caught it abruptly. 

Aryaman-" What will you do? And why are you going inside the office?" He arched his eyebrow while she smirked looking at him. 

Aliya-" To find out where Manik and Nandini are kept I know the perfect person and also I showed at house that how dedicated am I to the lodge till now, we need to trap the guardians in their own bait by convincing them that I'm on their side after all we have a plan to execute." She winked at the two guys who nodded their heads. 

Damon-" Aliya you are really turning into a wittiest witch just like Elena, she is gonna be proud of you." He complimented while she smiled at him bowing down. 

RAJ'S CABIN

Aliya-" Greetings to the guardian, you called me Mr. Malhotra." Aliya greeted Raj Malhotra who was seated on his chair. 

Raj-" Hello Aliya, good to see you. How did you come here ?" 

Aliya-" Sir, I got to know what my sister and Manik did today and I want to apologize on their behalf. I even tried helping the guards you sent to our house but didn't find anything. I guess it is all done by Sanvi and Siddhant and you know right how naïve my sister Nandini is, trust me sir I will talk with her and things will be taken care of." She tried showing that she was on their side, but the reality was Aliya knew that those guards won't find anything at Nandini's place as everything was with Manik safe but still she kept double check that nothing else is found by them. 

Raj-" I'm glad that we could train someone perfectly and that you are respecting our legacy and not doubting it like Manik. Even when you are not a part of us, it is a bad luck for us that we lost a gem like you and Nandini is in place of you. I don't know how can Manik be fooled by those people. Nandini is just like her parents and Manik is just being fooled by her." He was grinding his teeth in anger while Aliya took this opportunity to ask him what she wanted to.

Aliya-" Mr. Malhotra if you trust me then let me talk with Manik, I will surely convince him, he also believes us its just a cloth is wrapped around his eyes which needs to be removed. I will make him understand the importance of this legacy and the powers and good things that this will bring to the world. I promise I will do my best just one chance." She put up her most dedicated face and tried to convince him while he took her bait and believed her as he called up on of the guard to escort Aliya. 

Aliya was walking towards the basement as the guard was just at her back guiding her, now was the time to use her powers, she turned around which stopped the guard at once. She kept her hand in front of his face and chanted some spell as he continued to look at her. 

"Now tell me where is the Ruby and the diamond?" She compelled him to speak what she asked, also she didn't take their original names but their stone names so that she can erase it faster. 

Guard-" They are in the lowest basement cellar. Ruby is in cellar 1 and Diamond is in cellar 5." He blurted out as a parrot. 

"You will guard this place and if you find anyone coming you will ring this bell loud." She handed him a bell and then slowly went from there. 

At the other side Damon and Aryamann got inside through the small backdoor and were waiting for Aliya when she arrived there. 

"Damon-" Where are they?" 

" I got to know where they are, we need to leave from here, they are at the basement. I have kept a guard too he will inform if he sees anyone coming." She chanted a spell and then they started leaving towards the basement when they came across the guard. 

Aryaman-" Why didn't he warned you, he saw us and still no reaction?" 

Aliya-" He cant's see you two, I have casted the invisible spell on you both, you people can only be seen to those whom I will want. Let's go now." She guided them as both the guys gave her an impressed look. 

~~~\\\●\\\●\\\●\\\●\\\●\\\●\\\●\\\~~~

Manik was groaning in pain when he again found the cellar door being opened and this time when he lifted his head up he found Aliya, Damon and Aryamann. 

"What are you guys doing here? How did you get inside?" He asked them while they stopped at their place looking at Manik's devastated state. 

Damon-" We came here to give you some company Manik. After all you would be bored right?" He have a sarcastic comment while Manik didn't even know how to react cos of all the beatings. 

Aliya-"We don't have much time now for your questioning Manik, lets get out of here before anyone comes. I fooled Mr. Malhotra saying that I will try convincing you for obeying them. Just let's leave and next we need to take Nandini as well." She told him as Damon broke the metal cuffs from his hands and legs. 

Damon-" Aryamann, just hold your brother, those blood smell is driving me crazy. Better clean it before I feast on you travelie." he threw a handkerchief towards him as he cleaned his face which had some blood stains and Aryaman helped him stand up. 

"Nan.. Nandini, where is she? We need to see her first I don't know why I'm very scared for her. The way Raghav gave me a look when I asked about Nandini was not good." 

Aliya-" Manik we are going towards Nandini's cellar but you leave with Aryaman. I will bring Nandini along with Damon." She told him but he didn't listen and asked her to move ahead as he limped and joined them. 

They came towards the 5th cellar which was at the farthest corner of the passage. But as soon as they stood in front of cellar they found it empty. 

"Nandini! Where is Nandini?" They opened the cellar but found it empty, but Damon smelt some blood or more specifically Nandini's blood and looking around they found some drops of blood on the floor. 

~~~¤\\●\\\●\\\●\\\●\\\●\\\●\\\●\\¤~~~

Hello my lovely readers!!!!!

So here is an update for you. Do let me know if you liked it or not.

Manik and Nandini being caught! 

Aryamann saved himself and the prophesies right.

Why is Raj Malhotra behaving likr This?

What do you have to say about Aliya, Damon and Aryamann.

Where did Nandini go? Or did these people do something with her? 

Well I will meet you next week with the new chapter till then take care and stay safe. ❤

With your mystery writer
Satakshi (Neha) ❤