Satya stood in the middle of her store, still trying hard to pull Yojana away from the burning stove. The infamous masked assassin, Charaka, sat not fifty steps away, calling her true name and title.

“Princess, you remember me, don’t you? You must’ve heard my name, at least.”

Charaka of Amritambu. Why do I know that name? And how does he know my true identity? 

She was certain he had never seen her before that day in Anjalika’s room.

Could it be a bluff?

Three months ago, Satya would have turned and run to save her life. Now, sporting a new confidence gained from her uncle’s training routine, she never moved from her spot. Although she didn’t know Veerata and his men were at that very moment about to reach the market square, she stood glaring fiercely at Charaka.

“You’re the assassin who tried to kill Anjalika using dark magic.”

“Well done, Princess! Makes things easier for me. No need to explain anything.”

“Why do you call me ‘princess’?”

“You do not deny it.” He tilted his head. “You have the same eyes as your sister, Maharani Nandini. I could never mistake that ravishing look.”

“What do you want?”

“Calm down! I’m not here to kidnap you. Not this time. I’m here to offer you a deal.”

Satya pursed her lips. “I refuse to make any deal with an assassin like you.”

“You haven’t heard what it is yet.”

The smell of smoke grew stronger. Once again, Satya tried to pull Yojana’s arm, to no avail. Her sari had already caught fire.

“Forget it,” she snapped. “Please release my friend and leave right now.”

“Princess Amodini. The missing princess of Amritambu.” He smirked. “Aren’t you curious about how I found out your true identity?”

“Your delusions don’t concern me.”

“Delusions, indeed! Don’t worry. Your secret’s safe with me. Let’s play a little game, shall we?” He snapped his fingers.

Yojana whirled on the spot like a puppet under his control. Satya jumped backwards in fright. The florist clasped the burning fabric with her bare hands and held it in front. Red hot blisters erupted on her skin. But she seemed to feel no pain.

“What are you doing?” Satya cried. “Leave her alone!”

“Worry about yourself, Princess,” he chuckled.

Yojana swung the burning fabric in a random arc. Satya ducked but recovered her footing. To her dismay, she saw blood dripping down Yojana’s arms and staining the front of her sari. The stench of burning flesh mingled with the smoke.

“Stop it! You’ll kill her.”

“Do you promise to hear me out? Then I won’t kill her.”

“That’s your game? You scoundrel!”

“I speak on behalf of Maharaj Yusha and Maharani Uttara of Videha.”

“What?”

“They want to help you regain your rightful place on the throne of Amritambu.”

“Why?”

“I thought that was obvious. You are Maharani Nandini’s legal heir and the only survivor of the royal bloodline. Isn’t that why Samrat Padmapani is looking for you?”

“Legal heir? I have nothing left. No kingdom. No family. What do they want from me?”

“You must come to Videha with me. Maharaj Yusha is a benevolent master. He will agree to your demands if you agree to his.”

“Benevolent master? Is that why he sent Anjalika, his best dancer, to her death?”

His aura changed, engulfed in effervescent black smoke. It forced Yojana to swing the fabric again. Satya’s upper garment caught the flames, scorching the skin of her arms and torso.

“Aargh!” she shrieked in pain, fell down and rolled on the floor to extinguish herself.

“Satayu is an enemy kingdom for you, as well as Maharaj Yusha. One or two sacrifices are inevitable in a war. Princess, please think about my offer carefully. Do you think Samrat will be more benevolent to you than Maharaj Yusha?”

Satya saw Yojana’s hands turning black as soot. Her body trembled wildly, but the spell still controlled her. A seizure at this point would be fatal. Ignoring her own painful stinging bruises, Satya pushed to her feet again.

I must heal her, she thought.

The sight of the flames brought bitter memories of her sister’s death and fuelled her anxiety. Her head throbbed like crazy. She shook it to steady herself. In a frenzy, she lunged for Yojana and grabbed her burning hands. Focusing with all her might, she prayed for her powers to work again. The fire singed her skin, making her scream out louder than ever. At length, she saw a faint blue light appearing through her fingers.

Success! At last!

Growing stronger, the light turned into a radiating glow covering Yojana’s arms, healing her scalded skin and flesh back to its original form. The flames vanished. The burnt fabric fell to the floor in a heap of ash and embers. Having lost all her strength, Satya fell flat on the floor, gasping for breath and writhing in pain. She could feel the cold wetness of menstrual blood spreading down her inner thighs.

“Satya! What happened to you?”

She heard Yojana’s voice calling to her. Unable to respond, she closed her eyes.

“Help! Help! Someone help!”

As she slipped into a delirious coma, she heard Yojana’s footsteps retreating towards the front door.

Thank God! She’s safe!

“I knew it!” Charaka’s evil voice reached her. “You’re born with these powers. You can’t heal yourself, can you?”

Suddenly, she was back in Amritambu again, three years in the past. Nandini’s beautiful face flashed through her mind before everything went dark.