Page 137 of Twisted Sins

The drums grew in cadence as the demon led her through the crowd into the arched entrance right below the massive eagle.

There was a large group of women waiting near the entrance. She was surprised and happy seeing the familiar faces of Uma, Rumi, and a few other women from the encampment as a part of the group.

A welcome ritual was performed with women holding a silver tray with a small fire lit inside alongside pink lotus flowers.

As soon she stepped in, she was once again shocked. She had never seen anything like it before.

It was a huge mansion carved into a mountain. At the center was a three-story high ceiling with light streaming through carved skylights. Two sets of wide, curved staircases at the corners led to the top floors. The interior had minimalistic yet old-world decor. Everything was furnished using natural elements such as stone, wood, and fabric. Large, plush, hand-woven rugs covered the main areas.

Even though she wanted to explore every inch and know more about the Kabali fortress, she was also anxious to speak with the demon first.

But a few more welcome rituals continued inside.

She and the demon were taken to a large prayer room built under the staircases. The familiar sculptures of God Shiva and Shakti were on an elevated black stone. What caught her attention was that the statues were decorated with pink diamonds.

Nandini sought the blessings of the god and the goddess.

“Come,” an old woman said, looking at Nandini. “Give the first offering to the goddess for the feast.”

Nandini wasn’t sure what an offering meant. She was about to follow the lead, but the demon held her back.

“I will give the first offering,” he said. “My wife is tired from the long journey. She will rest and join us for the feast later.”

The old woman frowned.

Nandini wanted to protest and say that she wasn’t tired. But the demon let go of her hand. “Take her to my room,” he softly commanded.

Rumi and Uma immediately came to her.

“Come, Nandini.”

Having no other choice, Nandini went along with them.

They took her to one of the winding stone stairs leading to the second floor. Right next to the stairs, in the center, was a large painting of a couple.

The woman was beautiful, with a kind and radiant smile. She was dressed in traditional Kabali attire. The man had grey eyes and a deep tan, with features that were shockingly similar to those of the demon.

“Rudra’s father and mother,” said Rumi.

A heaviness filled Nandini’s heart for not being able to meet them. Not only were Rudra’s parents dead, their deaths were blamed on her family.

My family didn’t kill them.

She had to find the truth behind the tragedies and mend the relationship between the Thakvar and Kabali clans.

Sucking in a deep breath, she followed Rumi and Uma as they took her to the second floor towards the back of the mansion. The long corridors were lit by natural lighting, but she could also see light scones with what appeared to be electric bulbs rather than oil lamps.

“There’s electricity in the mansion?” she asked.

Rumi nodded. “Yes. We have electricity outside the mansion too.”

Nandini was surprised. She wondered if there were solar panels on top of the mansion and in the surrounding areas. If there were, then her brothers or anyone flying over the north region could easily detect the shiny panels.

How could they go unnoticed?

Even as she wondered, Rumi and Uma pushed open tall, wooden double doors and led her inside.

A gasp escaped her.

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