Unworthy

They all took a brief movement in analysing their surroundings. Other than trees and caves they did not spot any serpents.

With every alternate steps Saisha would pause due to some glitch. May be the tormenting past reminiscences or a feeling of guilt capturing her heart making her eyes teary.

As they marched into the so called city reaching the centre a small kid approached them. Running behind him came his mother with fear, shouting,

"Come back. Come back Phani."

Unfortunately, among all the seven protector, the kid hid himself at the rare of Saisha. Refusing to leave our side he shouted,

"I will not come to you. You will lock me again"

Mother replied back with concern, "Or else you will also be abducted"

"Abducted!", we were surprised to hear that.

"Who in the world is adducting serpent kids?!"

"What? Why?"

"Kids abduction!"

"What work a person has to do with kids?!"

"Are they safe?"

"Where might they have been taken to?"

Many questions entering our mind rapidly. And Saisha asked abruptly with a fierce voice,

"Nathair, is he not protecting you all?"

The lady responded with a mocking smile, "Protect! He can only protect himself. It was our worst decision to trust him."

"Why? What happened?", Saisha again asked.

The lady thought for a while and realised that she was talking to some strangers. She had no hint of motive behind their presence in that particular place. Because it was a path hardly taken by the travellers due to its creepy stories circulated all over the kingdom.

After a brief moment of thinking she dragged her kid with her and left in hurry.

"Why did she leave in a hurry?!", all were left in a confused state.

Orzala and Neihar were the one's standing at the back, suddenly a black cloth wrapped their face and some men in dark bluish to black armour looking like guards pulled them. Slowly others were also being taken care off but Zesiro was quick enough to dodge them in a go and was ready to shoot his arrow at them.

Saisha recognised the guards and gestured with her head to not to fight. Dropping down his wooden bow he let them capture him. Faces of all the seven were covered with a dark cloth to block their vision.

Saisha understood the assignment. She knew where they were headed to. She cursed in her mind.

"Stupid. He will never improve"

Soon they were taken inside a cave and their covered face was uncovered. For a second all their eyes were blurry as the sight cleared they saw a lean mass of meat structured in the shape of a man standing projecting his ugly smile.

Six feet tall but a weak, fragile body. I guess a single hit from anyone among the protectors must be enough for him to call his dear mother.

Even a delicate, rookie warrior like Orzala can bring him down.

His voice echoed inside the cave.

Saisha mumbled, "Creepy as always."

"Welcome. Welcome back sister", his gaze pointed towards Saisha.

"Sister!"

Everyone was amazed by her brother act.

"Stupid as always. What the hell did you do with our people? Where are the kids?!"

"Hold on. Our people!", laughing manically he expressed his grudge over his sister.

"Who do you call as our people? I am not stupid sister but you are. They are not our people. They are just people. The people I..you our family protected once. We lost our whole family to their well fare. We lost mother, father. You lost your dear husband and even your child. Don't you remember."

"Brother"

"No…No.. Let me finish it today. These people who never trusted us. Who always mocked at my weak health. After so many years when we asked them for one help they denied it and see now we are here. We don't have anything left."

"Nathair, what did you do? Did you do something crazy out of anger?", a polite voice, it was a different side of Saisha. She never begged, she only ordered out there in her world where she rules the night streets of Madai.

Orzala was flabbergasted to see Saisha with such a soft tone, "Wow! She can be soft too. Whatever. Blood is thicker than water", mumbling to herself she sighed.

Mekhala with her secret ability though found out the things soon but was not interested in meddling in amongst the sibling's business.

Sakda was enjoying the drama. Yathin and Zesiro counting the armed men around to escape the place.

Neihar lost in his own world without any clue.

Nathair again spoke more like a loud yell, "Why? Why it is always me who is crazy? Why I am the one being accused of unworthy? When I am not. Those people who the reason of our current situation will pay back. They will suffer like we did. They will lose what they love the most. Their kids.", a wicked giggle left his mouth.

Now Saisha lost her control, she gathered her energy to point her Serpent over her brother head, "Tell me Nathair, where are the kids? What did you do with them?"

He continued his laugh without uttering a word.

"Brother. I will forget that for the moment. Last time. The very last time I am asking or I will kill you right now."

"As you wish sister. I am also bored of this unworthy life. It would be great, if the only left my so called well-wisher liberate my soul from this sinful world."

Not even a single sign of guilt or fear of death on his face. As if he was mentally dead a long ago. His eyes were little different from the other.

Saisha was determined to hit me to death but emotions made her halt her act of stupidity. Loosing grip over her foot she fell down in grief,

"What was I going to do? Father forgive me. I was unable of disciplining my brother", weeping loudly she yelled.

Zesiro felt as if he was familiar with the aura radiating around.

"What was that? I feel it but hard to recall"

Someone was watching their action from afar.