Chapter 16: Chapter 16

Nivaan’s POV

I ran through the forest, driven by a familiar scent, something similar to burnt charcoal. I had come across this scent on three occasions including once at the site of the kidnapping. I had a feeling that this person either was responsible for the kidnappings or knew something about it.

I didn’t want to lose the trail of the scent and so didn’t wait for reinforcements. My ears perked up as everything suddenly went quiet. The scent grew faint but lingered for a while.

Zip! An arrow shot towards me but I caught it with my bare hand. I snapped it into two as I focused further on the scents and sounds. The next arrow came at him from my left. I managed to grab it as well.

A deep, rumbling growl escaped my lips, “Don’t attack from beyond the bushes like a coward. If you have strength come in front of me.”

I didn’t get a reply as I had expected but I did hear the sudden accelerating of the heartbeat. I lunged immediately but the sound disappeared the moment I drew closer. I tried to concentrate on the sound again but it seemed to be coming from all directions.

My senses got all muddled and confused. I was so focused on finding the direction of the heartbeat that I didn’t notice the sound of the arrow zipping towards him. When I did, it was already too late, the arrow had lodged itself into my stomach.

A scream escaped my lips and I dropped to the ground. The poison in the arrow spread quickly making my head heavy and soon I found myself drifting into darkness. I was about to lose consciousness when the scent of pine and lemon assaulted me.

I groaned inwardly but couldn’t move. Her voice seemed genuinely worried but I forced my mind to focus on the hatred I had for her. Gathering every ounce of strength I had left, I gritted out, “Don’t sit there like a fool, pull out the arrow.”

There was a long pause, then her anxious voice sounded, “I… I don’t know if I can do that… What if I make your condition worse?”

This girl was going to be the death of me. I would probably die of anger before the wound. I gulped the lump in his throat and managed to rasp out, “Just do it, girl!”

Her fingers trembled as she gripped the arrow. Damn! Couldn’t someone else have found me? Bracing myself for a long torture season, I clenched my fists.

The only sound I heard for a long moment was her heartbeats and her labored breathing. Then there was a sharp tug and the arrow came off. I gasped as the feeling of relief gushed through me. I hadn’t expected her to get the job done in a single attempt.

“Oh My God! There is so much blood… what am I supposed to do,” her panicked voice sounded as she applied pressure over the wound.

I pulled out a small bottle from my pocket and lifted it with shaking hands, “Apply this…. It will remove the poison and help me heal.”

Her fingers brushed against mine as she grabbed the bottle from me. A bolt of electricity coursed through me. Why could he still feel the bond? Was the Moon Goddess playing some sort of game with him?

All the thoughts were blurred by the sudden burning sensation. Damn! She had probably poured the entire contents of the bottle on his wound. Stupid girl! I thrashed and screamed as the liquid burned the tissues around the wound.

“Arrhhh! F***! Do you have any sense? Why would you empty the entire bottle on my wound?” I shouted as I pulled myself into a fetal position. It was as if she had set my entire body on fire.

She was ranting something in apology but I zoned her out. The pain was bad enough without having to listen to her whining.

My body was completely drenched sweat by the time, the agony numbed a bit. I heaved a sigh of relief and was about to get to his feet when I was suddenly made aware of a change in the surroundings.

My ears perked up as I sensed the crunching of the grass from at least four men. Their steps were light; probably trying to keep themselves hidden.

I made my body completely still again. This would give me time to figure out their exact location and intentions…

Emilia’s POV

My heart ached when I saw Nivaan kicking and thrashing in pain. Why couldn’t I have asked how much of the liquid to apply? My heart went numb when I saw his body go limp again. If anything happened to him because of me, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself.

I was about to check on Nivaan when four men emerged out of the bushes. I picked up the arrow that I had extracted from Nivaan’s abdomen and held it up in a protective stance.

This caused the man standing closest to me to break into a peal of loud laughter. Shaking his head, he took one more step closer to me.

I tried to make my voice as menacing as possible as I warned, “Don’t try to come near him, else….”

“Else what? Are you going to kill me with a bent arrow?” the man taunted as he drew even closer.

I brandished the arrow in the air as I said in a deadly serious voice, “I will if I have to.”

The man chuckled and snorted, “Young love is so bold yet so stupid….” He grabbed my hand and snatched the arrow easily. Wrapping his arm around my shoulder he lowered his head and whispered, “I don’t want to kill your boyfriend, mate, husband, whatever…. I am here for you. So, if you go quietly with me, I will spare him.”

My face turned a shade paler and I gulped, “What do you want with me?”

The man ran the tip of his finger along my jaw, “I want to do so many things with you but let’s not dwell on that… My boss just wants….” His free hand slid to my abdomen and squeezed it gently.

My eyes widened in horror and my heart jumped into her throat. I wanted to kick him, thrash him; run far away from here but my entire body seemed to have turned into jelly.

Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Nivaan get to his feet and dust his hands. He cleared his throat and stated, “You guys just want her right? I guess I will leave then?”

“What? You don’t even want to try to save her?” The man holding me said in a startled voice.

NIvaan shrugged his shoulders, “Why would I try to save her? I had told her that I would kill her if she doesn’t leave immediately…. I should be thanking you for doing my work.”

“Nivaan!” I called out when I saw him walk away, “You can’t leave me alone with them.”

Nivaan ignored me and kept walking with slow but deliberate steps. He didn’t seem to be affected by the panic in my voice.

I kept speaking even when I couldn’t see Nivaan anymore, “I know that you hate me and want me dead. But what has this baby ever done to you? Why do you want to punish it for something that it hasn’t done?” I cried at the top of my lungs, “Please Nivaan! Please don’t let them hurt my baby; our baby….”

My knees buckled and I dropped to the ground. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I wrapped my arms around my abdomen. I just wanted my baby to be safe. Was that too much to ask?