Page 20 of Twisted Sins

“Yes, Dad. We will hunt down the Kabali heir and get Nandini out of there,” Nakul reassured.

Shivay’s father shook his head. “We can’t take the Kabali heir’s life, son. Not when they already blame my brother and sister for killing the Kabali heirs twenty years ago.”

Silence followed as Shivay and his brothers processed the new piece of information.

“Why would the Kabalis blame the Thakvars for their heirs’ death, Dad?” Shivay asked.

Shivay’s father had shared all the details about every clan but never once mentioned anything about the Kabalis and Thakvars having past enmity.

“What happened, Dad?” Nakul asked. “How did the previous Kabali heirs die?”

Shivay’s father inhaled a deep breath. “I don’t know what exactly happened. By the time I returned to Singoor, the Kabalis had cut off all ties with all other clans outside of the north. All I heard was there was a fire accident, and the Kabali clan blamed the Thakvars for the death of their heirs and family. Soon, rumors began to spread that the Thakvar clan was behind not just the Kabali heirs’ murders but also behind the Goddess Shakti statue getting stolen. The rumors claimed that the Thakvars did it to gain complete control over the Singoor oilwells that used to be the main source of income for all the clans.”

Shivay knew the Singoor clans no longer believed Thakvar clan wanted to gain control. Over the last one-and-a-half years, Shivay and his brothers ensured that all east, west and south clans knew that the Thakvars were giving up complete control and share of the Singoor oilwells whenever the drilling would begin again.

Shivay’s father drew in a deep breath. “My brother and sister were on their way to console the Kabali clan and meet the new clan head for peace negotiations. But they died in a car accident. The Kabalis and north clans felt avenged when they died.”

Shivay saw pain on his father’s face as he spoke about his older brother and sister’s deaths.

“All the heirs of the region were strategically killed and made to look like accidents,” Rishab observed. “The Kabali heir’s murder must be done to blame the Thakvars who were leading the peace negotiations and cause further unrest in the region.”

Shivay’s father nodded. “Yes, that’s what must have happened. My brother and sister would never take a life, especially an innocent life. But unfortunately, there is no way to convey that to the Kabalis. I… hope…” Mihir Thakvar’s voice broke. “I hope the current Kabali heir and his people are not being cruel to Nandini because of the past.”

Shivay’s heart clenched at the thought of his sister being tortured or hurt. Knowing Nandini quite well, his spirited sister would fight back and violently oppose anything being forced on her, which would make the Kabali heir all the more brutal and possibly hurt her.

Dark rage from feeling helpless right then gripped him, but Shivay didn’t let his feelings show. Instead, he walked over to his father. “Dad, Nandini will be back home safely. We promise you that.”

“Nandini is quite resourceful too, Dad,” said Nakul. “While we are trying to get her out, she will figure out a way to escape as well.”

“Yes, especially since she has tricked her bodyguards many times and managed to slip away from their watch,” said Rishab.

Mihir Thakvar slowly nodded.

“I pray Nandini will return soon, sons. Your mother and I can’t wait to hug our daughter again.”

CHAPTER 8

The distant call of a bird woke Nandini out of deep sleep.

She felt cozy but her back was cold. She was lying on her stomach on a thick, soft bedding. Cool breeze fell on her bare back, making her frown.

She blinked her eyes open and once again saw the dark, patterned rugs on the wall.

Memories of the previous night rushed in.

Gasping, she sat up, only to realize she was completely naked on the top.

Quickly grabbing the thick blanket close, she looked around the large tent and saw that she was alone. The demon was gone.

Did he…

She sucked in a breath, trying to determine if he had violated her the previous night. But she didn’t feel any pain near her legs. The soreness from the horse ride was also gone.

Although the details of the ceremony were hazy, she recalled every moment of the night with the Kabali demon. The failed knife attack, the tussle, his savagery, and finally, when he choked her.

She thought he was trying to kill her. But the savage rendered her unconscious by pressing on some nerve at the side of her neck. It was the second time he had done that to her. The first was when she fought to escape him while he was carrying her away on a horse.

Angry tears filled her eyes as she vowed to do the same to the demon someday. She hoped he would beg her for mercy while she choked him, and she would offer him none.

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