ABOL: 3
Shadows of Intrigue
Sidharth opened the car door and stepped out into the night, the cool breeze brushing against his face. He lifted Nikita's body effortlessly, carrying her deep into the woods where no human could reach or find her. The darkness enveloped them, and soon, she would become just another forgotten casualty in his endless existence.
In the past, he had been reckless, dumping the bodies not too deep into the forest, where wild animals could consume the remains. But this time, he wouldn't repeat the same mistake.
"Have a good time with her," he said, dropping Nikita's body near the mouth of a tiger's cave. The tiger emerged from the shadows, its predatory eyes gleaming in the moonlight as it approached the lifeless body. Without hesitation, it dragged her into the depths of the cave.
"Bon appétit," Sidharth muttered, his lips curling into a sardonic smirk.
As Sidharth sped through the dense forest after disposing of Nikita's lifeless body, the night breeze carried an unexpected aroma. He halted abruptly, his sharp senses flaring.
An intoxicating scent wrapped around him like a silken thread-lavender, fresh and sweet, mingled with the unmistakable tang of vibrant young blood.
He inhaled deeply, his crimson eyes narrowing as he focused on the faint traces lingering in the air.
It wasn't just any scent-it was a girl's scent.
Young, untouched, and brimming with life.
Sidharth closed his eyes, allowing his supernatural abilities to take over. Images formed in his mind as he tried to trace the source, to see her through his heightened senses. His vision sharpened, and yet-nothing.
A blur. A shadow where her face should have been.
His eyes snapped open, confusion flashing across his pale features. "What the hell?" he muttered, his voice a low growl.
He clenched his jaw and tried again, his mind pushing deeper into the energy that lingered. But no matter how much he focused, her face remained hidden from him, shrouded in an inexplicable haze.
This was new. And deeply unsettling.
He could sense every other detail about her-the way her scent carried innocence and defiance, the rhythmic pulse of her life force. He knew she had been there recently, perhaps no more than a few hours ago. He could even discern her outline: petite, delicate, yet strangely compelling. But her face...
Her face eluded him.
"Why can't I see her?" Sidharth's frustration bled into his tone, his fists curling as he scanned the forest around him.
He was ancient, powerful, and a master of his abilities. There was no reason for this to happen.
For a moment, unease stirred within him. Was she cloaked in some magic? Or perhaps she wasn't entirely human? But the scent of her blood told him otherwise-she was mortal, undeniably so.
Despite his confusion, Sidharth shook his head sharply, forcing himself to focus. "It doesn't matter," he told himself firmly. "She's just a human girl. Nothing more."
Yet the questions lingered. Who was she? What was she doing in the forest, alone, at night?
Concern rippled through him, unbidden and unwelcome. The forest wasn't safe for humans, especially not one so young. Wild animals roamed these woods, and predators far deadlier than beasts lurked in the shadows-predators like him.
And then it hit him.
He was worried about her.
The realization struck like a blade, slicing through his composed demeanor. His crimson eyes flared briefly before he forced the change back, his fists tightening until his knuckles turned white.
"This is ridiculous," he growled, running a hand through his jet-black hair in agitation. "She's human. Prey. Nothing more."
But no matter how much he told himself that, the nagging concern wouldn't leave. His thoughts swirled with images of the girl he couldn't see. Her scent clung to him, sweet and intoxicating, pulling him in ways he didn't understand-and didn't want to.
Sidharth cursed under his breath. He needed to leave.
With a burst of speed, he ran toward the edge of the forest, the faint glow of the highway lights in the distance guiding him back to the city. But even as the party venue came back into view, he found himself pausing, his gaze lingering on the darkness behind him.
Who was she? And why couldn't he see her?
For the first time in centuries, Sidharth felt a flicker of something unfamiliar. Not fear, exactly, but something close. A sense of vulnerability he despised.
He took a deep, deliberate breath, forcing himself to focus. Her scent still lingered in his lungs, and though it was maddeningly addictive, he couldn't allow it to distract him.
"She's gone," he muttered, his tone colder now. "Whoever she is, whatever she is, it doesn't matter."
But deep down, he knew it did. The mystery of the girl-her scent, her presence, her faceless image-was something he couldn't shake. And he hated himself for that.
With a final curse, Sidharth strode back into the party, his expression unreadable. The world around him blurred into insignificance, but his thoughts remained tethered to the enigma in the forest. Even as the pulsating rhythm of music and the murmur of conversations filled the hotel's grand ballroom, he felt her presence lingering in the back of his mind.
The lights were dim, casting a golden glow over the room. Guests danced, glasses clinked, and laughter bubbled through the air, but Sidharth's sharp gaze swept across the crowd, cold and calculating.
His father, Abhay, approached him, a glass of crimson liquid in hand. "You disappeared for a while," Abhay said casually, though his piercing eyes betrayed his suspicion. "I trust you didn't do anything... reckless?"
Sidharth smirked, his usual arrogance slipping into place. "What makes you think that, Father? Can't a man take a moment to clear his head?"
Abhay's eyes narrowed. "You were agitated earlier. I know that look, Sidharth. You're restless. And when you're restless, you get... careless."
Sidharth tilted his head, his smirk deepening. "You worry too much. I told you, I'm in control."
Abhay's voice dropped, his tone hardening. "Control is a fragile thing, son. One slip, one moment of indulgence, and you risk exposing us all."
The reminder grated on Sidharth's nerves, but he kept his expression neutral. "You don't have to lecture me, Father. I know what's at stake."
Abhay studied him for a long moment before nodding curtly. "Good. Because I saw your eyes earlier. They were red."
Sidharth's smirk faltered, but only for a fraction of a second. "Temporary. A moment of irritation, nothing more."
Before Abhay could press further, Piya appeared, her elegant figure draped in a deep burgundy gown that matched her regal demeanor. "Abhay, leave him be," she said softly, her tone both soothing and firm. She turned to Sidharth, a proud smile lighting up her face. "Your father worries too much. You've proven yourself capable time and time again."
Sidharth inclined his head slightly, the faintest trace of warmth flickering in his otherwise cold gaze. "Thank you, Mother."
Piya placed a gentle hand on his arm. "Tonight is about celebration. Don't let anything ruin it."
Abhay's expression remained stern, but he relented, stepping back to mingle with the other guests.
Sidharth exhaled slowly, his composure returning as he scanned the room once more. His gaze landed on Vineet, who was engrossed in a conversation with a group of employees.
Pulling out his phone, Sidharth sent a quick message: Something strange happened today. We need to talk alone.
Vineet glanced at his phone, his brow furrowing. He looked toward Sidharth, who met his gaze and gestured subtly with his eyes toward the exit. Understanding the urgency, Vineet gave a small nod.
Sidharth picked up a glass of wine from a passing waiter and headed outside, the cool night air brushing against his face. Moments later, Vineet joined him, his expression tense with concern.
"What's going on?" Vineet asked, crossing his arms.
Sidharth leaned against a nearby pillar, swirling the wine in his glass as he began to speak. "I killed Nikita Goyel."
Vineet's eyes widened, his face paling. "What?" he hissed, glancing around to ensure no one was nearby. "Are you out of your mind? Nikita Goyel? She's one of our business partners! Do you even understand what kind of mess you've just created?"
Sidharth's expression remained impassive, unbothered by Vineet's reaction. "She was getting on my nerves, pushing for something she had no right to demand. She wanted to marry me. What a bitch!"
Vineet ran a hand through his hair, clearly panicking. "And you thought killing her was the solution? What if people start asking about her whereabouts? Forget anyone else-- your father will definitely question you when he finds out she's missing!"
"Let him." Sidharth said dismissively, taking a sip of his wine.
"Let him?" Vineet's voice rose slightly before he forced himself to calm down. He needs to remember Sidharth is their future king. He can't disrespect him.
Vineet continued in worried. "Do you hear yourself? You've just killed one of the most influential women in our network! God knows how I'll fix this."
Sidharth finally looked at him, his crimson eyes glinting with irritation. "That's your job, isn't it? Fixing my messes?" He waved a dismissive hand.
"Nikita's body is already taken care of. I left it near a tiger's cave in the forest. By the time anyone finds her--if they even do. There'll be nothing left to identify. Best part, she was an orphan. "
Vineet stared at him, aghast. "You think this will just... go away? You're insane. Absolutely insane."
Ignoring his words, Sidharth set his glass down on a nearby ledge and continued. "Something else happened while I was in the forest."
"Something else?" Vineet asked warily, his panic momentarily overshadowed by confusion.
Sidharth's tone shifted, becoming darker. "On my way back, "I caught a scent."
"A scent?" Vineet's confusion deepened.
"A human girl" Sidharth clarified, his crimson eyes glinting briefly. "Young, fresh, and intoxicating even by our standards. But that's not the issue."
"What is?"
"I tried to use my abilities to see her," Sidharth said, his tone laced with frustration. "To trace her, to know who she was. But I couldn't. Her face was... nothing. A shadow. No details, no clarity-- just a blur."
Vineet's jaw tightened, his mind racing. "You couldn't see her? That's impossible."
"Exactly," Sidharth said sharply, his grip tightening on the glass. "It's never happened before. I could sense everything else about her. The rhythm of her heartbeat, the essence of her blood, but her face... it was hidden from me."
"That's... troubling," Vineet admitted, his tone cautious. "If your powers failed, it must mean something. But what?"
Sidharth shook his head, his frustration evident. "I don't know. And it's driving me mad."
Vineet's brows furrowed as he posed a pointed question. "Is it just her? Or have you tried using your powers on someone else since then?"
The question caught Sidharth off guard. Narrowing his eyes, he closed them and focused, reaching out with his mind.
First, he focused on Nikita. The scene unfolded in his mind--a tiger dragging her lifeless body deeper into its cave, tearing into her flesh.
"I can see Nikita," Sidharth said, his voice steady.
Next, he shifted his focus to his parents. His vision sharpened. He saw his mother, Piya, engrossed in conversation with a group of women. His father, Abhay, stood at the bar, his sharp gaze fixed on Sidharth through the window.
Sidharth's eyes snapped open, meeting his father's intense, unreadable stare through the glass. Turning away, he refocused on Vineet.
"Just her," Sidharth concluded. "I can see my parents clearly too."
Vineet frowned, the wheels in his mind turning. "If it's only her, then there has to be a reason. But what? Why her?"
"I don't know," Sidharth admitted, his voice low. For the first time in centuries, uncertainty seeped into his tone.
"Do you think she could be cloaked by magic?" Vineet offered hesitantly.
"Maybe" Sidharth muttered, though doubt flickered in his crimson eyes. "But her blood... it smelled mortal. Human. Nothing about her felt supernatural, except this."
Vineet ran a hand through his hair, still grappling with the revelation. "This is unprecedented. If she's just human, there's no reason for this anomaly."
Sidharth exhaled sharply, his frustration mounting. " I'll figure it out. Whoever she is, whatever she is, I'll find her."
"And when you do?" Vineet asked carefully.
Sidharth's eyes darkened, his expression unreadable. "I don't know yet. But I will."
The weight of the unknown lingered between them, heavy and unsettling.
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