Page 22 of Twisted Sins

She wondered if the difference was to indicate she was the Kabali clan head’s wife. The fact made her angry. She was also angry when the two women came to her and made her sit on top of a rock, applying black and red dots over her face. They also put some of the jewelry back on her. She wanted to refuse, but she kept quiet, knowing she needed to be in their good graces because she would need their help to escape.

She took her damp old clothes along when she was escorted back to the tent.

The tent smelled amazing as someone brought in food and placed the tray on a low table.

Nandini’s stomach growled in hunger and she prayed it wasn’t more meat. She needed energy to face the demon and plan her next course of action.

Thankfully, the breakfast contained no meat. There were thick rotis stuffed with vegetables and also a dish with dates, nuts, and some kind of cheese. She finished eating the entire breakfast within no time.

The women cleared the breakfast dishes and were leaving when she followed them.

But they stopped at the entrance of the tent and shook their heads, indicating she should remain inside.

“No, I can’t stay here,” she said. “Take me with you.”

The women watched her with frowns.

For a brief moment, she looked at the two women. Although they seemed taller than her, she knew she could take chances to overpower them in a physical fight and run out of the tent.

But after that, she would have to face more people outside, who would drag her to a fate similar to that of the security head.

She shuddered inside.

She couldn’t attack. So, she did the next best thing. She tried to befriend them.

“I… I am Nandini Thakvar…” she said with a small smile, hoping a familiar Singoor clan name would make them friendly.

But listening to her words, their faces appeared hostile.

Shit.

She then remembered the previous night’s ceremony.

“I am Nandini Kabali,” she said, even though everything inside her rebelled at the very thought.

The women’s faces lost some of the hostility.

She pointed outside. “Take me out to meet Kabali clan people.”

The women exchanged glances and spoke something to one another. One of the women, who had shown pity earlier, seemed to try to convince the other, but the other woman shook her head and said something in return.

The argument continued for a couple of minutes, and finally, they looked at her and nodded. The woman who had shaken her head also grudgingly nodded.

“Venam,” the woman said.

She followed them as they took her outside the large tent.

Once again, she was amazed by the transformation of the encampment. There were no traces of the previous night’s ceremony, even though it had lasted until the late hours of the night.

Everything appeared back to normal, with people from the clan going about their day while doing chores. Her eyes flew to the pole area, which was left bare. But there were some eagles that were flying by, and they landed on a small basket kept next to the pole where they picked up small pieces of meat.

She shuddered at the sight as it reminded her of the previous day.

A small part of her was terrified that she would find Rahul’s body hanging on the pole like she had found the security head’s dead body.

Rahul wouldn’t be anywhere nearby. She hadn’t noticed him during the ceremony, nor did she get a hint about his presence in the encampment. She doubted if the demon would merely keep Rahul hidden inside a tent.

Sucking in a deep breath and praying for Rahul’s well-being, she looked around.

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