Nandini's POV 

The last I remembered before I lost my conscious was that Manik was slammed badly on his head and he fell down right in front of me as I shouted my lungs out in protest which got muffled with a cloth on my mouth. I opened my eyes to find myself in a dark room with no light but brick walls surrounding me and haystacks also around me. My hands were locked with a handcuff and so were my legs. 

*Gosh, what the heck is all this, how can they lock us up here. Manik... where is Manik?*

"Manik! Manik where are you?" I called him out but got no reply but then I heard the door of the cellar getting opened. 

"Look who is awake, our very own Nandini Rajvansh ... oops sorry Nandini Basu Malhotra." There stood Raj sir who's entire demeanor screamed danger along with his voice which was didn't had the old calm friendly tone. 

" Mr. Malhotra why have you locked me here? Where is Manik? Look we didn't mean any harm to anyone but just wanted some answers to our questions. We will listen to you and do as you say but you guys should also not hide things from us. You said that we are a team__" 

Raj-" Ohh just shut up Nandini, what do you think that you are very smart and will do the same thing like your parents and none of us will get to know that truth! You are wrong my darling, this time I will make things right and fulfill my dream of so many years. You both will not be able to stop me as now you two will be far away from each other till the the rituals start." He kicked her a bit as she fell straight on the ground and then one of the guard brought the chronograph and kept it in front of her.

" You...who are you? You can't be Raj uncle, he was never this harsh." I looked at him and then at the chronograph kept in front of me when I felt my arms being pressed harshly that I screamed with pain. 

Raj-" You are really very cleaver my little BIRDIE. It's time for you to let you know who really I'm. You wanted to know the whole truth right, let's get in the past and tell you." I was left stunned when I saw that nothing was holding my arms but Mr. Malhotra was standing at some distance and the same sensation was felt as I felt after meeting the LORD. 

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Manik's POV

"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 me but I didn't listen and asked her to move ahead as I limped slowly  and joined them. 

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

"Nandini! Where is Nandini?" We 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. 

"What the hell is this... where is Nandini?... Nandini!!! Where are You?" I looked at every corner of that dark room but found no one around.

"You.. you people said Nandini is here.. so where is she now? Where did those fuckers kept her Aliya?" I barked at Aliya while she was herself in a fix while roaming her eyes around the room. That is when we heard Damon's voice.

Damon-" She has been taken away from here Manik...I'm  sure she is also being injured." He said so looking at us as his fingers had some blood stains.

Already my head was being heavy with all the beating and now hearing Damon it felt like a last nail on my head.

"So... so what are we waiting  for? Let's search for her, Aliya, let's go... come on I will help you guys." I tried freeing myself  from Aryamann's hold and stumbled back a little as Damon came in a reflex holding on to me.

Damon-" Are you fucking crazy Travellie? You are not going anywhere but home. You can't even stand on your feet and saying that you will search for her ?" He shouted in low voice.

Aliya-" Yes Manik, we need to get out of here ASAP. Before anyone comes you need to be out of here. *I resisted but got stopped* No Manik, I'm not hearing anything. I promise I will bring Nandini back but you first need to be safe and healthy. Aryamann I guess you should take Manik to Elena's place. He would be safe there and no one other than few knows about her place."

Arya-" Yes buddy, let's go and Damon and Aliya are here to bring Nandini. You got hit on your head very badly."

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Nandini's POV 

The hall was as dark as a moonless night with a chilly weather as I landed on the cold floor. I somehow got up and tried to look around for someone or a light atleast, that is when I felt a gush of wind pass through me making me shiver. 

"What.. what's that? Is someone there?" I turned around fully but found nothing. This.. this is getting creepy why am I being sent here. In my heart all I wanted right now was Manik to be present here beside me as tears started wetting my cheeks. 

"Welcome to my world my dear Raven. It is so glad to finally have you here with me." I heard a strong manly voice which was nothing than a nightmare for me as it belonged to THE LORD. I could hear his voice but did not see him anywhere which was increasing my heartrate at double speed. 

"Lord... I... I can't see you. Please let me go back, I... I didn't do anything nor did Manik. We just wanted to know the reason behind what we are doing and that too so that we can work freely without any self doubt. Just let me go." I tried as much I can to calm my self from shuttering, this is the first time I'm being all alone with him and I can't let the Lord listen to my thoughts and for that I need to be confident. 

I heard him laugh which was echoing in that big hall scaring me to no extend and then an invisible force pushed me back on the floor. And with that I saw a green light penetrating in that dark room making me shut my eyes for a second and slowly when I opened my eyes I saw that green light was taking a form of a silhouette of a man just at some distance away from me. 

As he started coming closer I started crawling back trying to stand up which I finally managed. He stood right infront of me wearing a cloak which he removed slowly and the light fell on his face which shook me beyond words. 

.

.

.

.

"Raj Uncle? How... how come you are here?" I stood stupefied staring at him when he spoke but his voice sounded like Lord. 

" My little birdie, surprised to hear me or shocked to see Raj here? Well let me clear your confusion then." with this he closed his eyes and I saw his face changing his original one a bit more older with grey hairs but still the same tall man whom I was frightened of and on the other side I saw Raj Uncle lying on the floor unconscious. 

"WHAT THE...!"  I moved towards Raj Uncle and tried waking him up but I couldn't reach him as the Lord stood right in front of me and Lord pushed me back with great force without even touching me. 

"No.. you can't touch him my birdie you can't. He won't even wake up sweety as his soul is not with him, I had swapped his soul with mine. That is just his body which I used to keep an eye on you all and I must say it was really amazing." the Lord smirked evilly while the fear in me increased with each passing second and so did the number of questions as to how did this happen? 

"What... what did you do to Raj uncle? From when have you taken control over him and why?WHY THE HELL ARE YOU DOING THIS?"I screamed at him. This.. this is wrong so wrong, why is he doing all this? What has Raj uncle done to him that he is doing all this? What is his agenda behind all this.

"Ohhhh.. so now Miss Raven is not scared of me? From where have you got so much of energy and courage huh? But you know what I will have more fun in breaking your courage into pieces. Let's tell you the real reason behind me doing all this. My real intensions behind this whole time traveling." He pulled me by my arms and dragged me with him. 

He brought me in his cabin where I had met him for the first time. The room was changed a bit and there was a den within which I knew very well as now I realized it was none other than Raj uncle's cabin itself in our times and the Lord was taking me to the underground record room. 

It is becoming suffocating to me, with Manik it was different as I was not scared but now with Lord along with me was a complete disaster right now. I just hope he doesn't do anything with me. The lord opened a drawer and took out a medical box from inside. 

"See.. this is my treasure, for which I worked for years. My dream which was gonna get fulfilled which your parents spoiled it, but not anymore as now is the time when my dream will come true." He laughed evilly sending shrills down my spine. 

"Wha..what dream?"

He opened the box and I saw some test tubes having red color liquid and there won't be any brownie points to guess that it was BLOOD!

"My desire of living life... I have waited for 200 years now to make this come true and for me to use the once in a lifetime opportunity. I did all this for my own selfish needs as I want to rule the world and for that I will be alive forever but not by swapping souls with others but in my own body. And you my little birdie is gonna be the last and most crucial one as the ritual cannot be completed without you." He ran his fingers down my forearms as I looked at him with tears in my eyes and fear in my heart. 

"IT'S TIME FOR THE SHOW."  

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Hola!!!!! 

First of all tons of sorry from my side for being sooooooo late in updating. But the past few months were a complete up and down for me both personally and professionally. First I got viral and then my grandmother expired cos of which I got caught up and with all this going I couldn't concentrate on writing story and it took a lot of time for me to come back to my memento of writing back to back updates, I hope you people understand. 

And yes, after all this bad news 2 days back I got the best news of my writing career as now I'm a published author now! Yes guys!!!! I have been a part of anthology " Glorious Saga" which has one of my short story which is now available on Amazon. 

How did you find the chapter? 

The story is about to reach its ending but the journey is about to get more interesting with a complete roller coaster ride. 

P.s: Hey yaaaaa!!! You know I'm being a bit gajani these days🙈 so did you guys saw this beautiful banner and the amazing footer yoursonly_clichegirl made for me😍 She is one talented girl guys!!!!! 💖 check her Graphic book once and you will go back to her every time you would need any banner, cover, or footer. As she gives her own magical touch

to them. 💜💖

Will see you guys soon, 

Your crazy writer 

Satakshi(Neha)