Chapter 4

Laurin stops and turns Indra towards him. "We're here." He strokes her gently on the cheek. "Now we just have to wait until the sun reaches the water’s edge. Then I will put a counter spell upon you."

Indra fidgets impatiently. "Why do we have to wait? Come on! If you now have the power to remove the mask, just do it!"

"Patience, my friend. Patience."

"You already know that's not my strong suit. I don't understand why I should have to wait any longer?"

Laurin laughs. He turns her towards the setting sun so she stands with her back to him and whispers in her ear: "It’s time. Are you ready?"

Indrafeels the warm breeze caressing her skin and the sunrays on her cheeks. She hears Laurin mumble a chant in her ear. His breath is warm and smells of fresh mint. The chant sounds like a hymn or pray to God, and she can feel the panic spreading like glowing lava through her veins.

What was she thinking? What if he's in collusion with God himself? The God who wants to destroy her...

She curses herself for her stupidity. How come she almost started trusting him? Indra is about to tear herself free when he changes his grip and turns her towards him. She suddenly feels his lips brush against hers. He holds her in a tight grip with his hands around her waist, and even if she wants to, she can't move.

His voice increases as he repeats the chant over and over again.

Believe in the spirit of the rose.

Believe in the power that grows.

Sown at dawn, harvested at dusk.

Neither day nor night is there a chance.

Only the Twilight provides a glance.

In the single golden hour, bow down to the wildflower.

This curse that has its hold, leaves the future untold.

He leans forward, presses his lips against hers and blows gently into her mouth. She coughs and spits and is just about to take him out with one of her famous kicks when the ground under her feet begins pulsating violently, much like the heartbeat of the underworld. The vibrations move through her body and pulsate in tune with her heart.

Inside the iron mask, a blue, bright glow is starting to shine. The light burns her skin and she tries to rip off the mask to relieve herself from the growing heat. Indra screams out in agony as she tries to remove the source of evil that’s causing her the pain. She both sees and feels the presence of the blue fire, and its whispers that something horrendous is about to happen. Slowly the blue flames reach into her consciousness as it penetrates her burnt skin. Even before the fire starts to ebb out, she knows the answer.

A gaping sadness washes over her as the facts becomes clear. She still remains in a world where Gods and Demons rule and she has neither the knowledge nor the guidance to change it. The fire shows the hidden secrets in her memory which she has been trying to avoid for so long. She knows that she must confront it, that she no longer has any chance of escaping her fate.

The iron mask opens up and falls heavily to the ground next to her feet.

She sinks to her knees into the grass that’s wet from late evening dew and covers her eyes. They feel sensitive to the light and she rubs them gently to remove the lingering discomfort.

The solid gold ring necklace, which she always wears around her neck, has chafed slightly against the straps of the iron mask. She can feel the wet blood on her fingertips when she touches her neck. The ground stops trembling and the chirping of the birds are silenced. A white luminous band stretches across the horizon as the warm sun descends into the dark sea. Leaving room for the moon's silvery glow to bask the motionless landscape below. Silhouettes of the landscape rolls out in endless midnight blue, smokey gray and inky black hills. She can glimpse small warm yellow dots scattered across the area, perhaps from candles in the windows of remote houses and courtyards.

Indra sat quietly for a while. Laurin walks up and kneels down in front of her. She has to focus her eyes to make out his face when her vision clears. She sees that his face is full of compassion as he reaches out his hand and helps her up. He begins to move away when he sees that she is calm.

"The spell is broken. I'm sorry I didn't warn you about the truths revealed by the power of the blue fire. It can be quite scary."

Indra leans forward and looks into his dark eyes. He touches the birthmark on her bare shoulder. The touch is light and yet it feels as if he touches more than just her soft skin. She feels her breathing increase. Laurin lets his hand fall back down, gets up and takes a step back to observe her. She can see he's thinking, but it's impossible to read his face.

When he turns away from her, she can see that he changes back to his casual and relaxed manner. She follows him in silence as they walk towards the stone path, layered with soft matured green moss which leads them back into the courtyard. Their hearts seem to beat in the unison rhythm with their steps.

She can't stay quiet anymore.

"Why are you helping me?" she asks and tries to make her voice sound more assertive. It's time for him to answer her questions.

He stops with his back still towards her. "I have my reasons," he answers simply.

"What a typical response from a man. But why? Please give me an answer I can understand!"

He slowly turns around and looks at her with dark unreadable eyes, large bottomless holes that could swallow her whole. "I have walked the earth for over ten thousand years, and have collected a great many enemies on the way."

Indra stares at him confused. "And what does that have to do with me?"

He shrugs his shoulders. "You'll find out in time."

"I want to know now," she sneers angrily. "You're going to have to stop this! I have a right to know."

In one single movement, he closes the distance between them and towers over her. "I saved you to pay a debt! That's all I can say. But don't worry, part of the deal includes keeping you safe from the gods."

"Who hired you?" she asks.

"You don't need to know all the details. What you need is protection, and to be kept hidden away. And you'll be my guest for as long as it takes."

"Guest – or prisoner?" She holds her breath while she waits for his answer.

"That's up to you. If you're going to try to walk out of my castle against my will, well then, you're my prisoner. As long as you stay here voluntarily, you are my guest."

"And what makes you think I'm safe here at your castle? How can I feel safe when I don't even know you?"

He sighs deeply. "The castle is enchanted. No one, not even Vishnu who follows you wherever you go, can find you here. Indra, you can feel safe here with me." He turns around and starts to walk off.

"But I still don't know who you are. If you can't be honest with your answers, then I don’t dare to trust you."

He gestures with one hand in an attempt to silence her. "It's up to you. At the moment, I have answered all the questions I can. Let’s go back to the castle, there I can show you where you can get some sleep."

Indra swallows. This is a man who radiates sexual appeal and masculinity. But, there's something sinister about him.

Indra looks up at the sky and curse silently to herself. She's not going to be a victim of the gods of the universe. She's going to get revenge on anyone who tries to hurt her or her family, and that revenge also includes Laurin.