Stone

Yash had always seen his mother suffer because of his father's other wives. She had been the Queen before her death but she hadn't been a wife to his father in a very long time. He had seen his father's love fade away for him and his mother after the arrival of his other wives and concubines. That's what had drove him to take a vow of monogamy. Occasionally, he did visit the brothels and had fun because he was still a bachelor. But he had already decided that once he marries someone he loves, he will stay loyal and fully devoted to her. Because he never wanted to turn into his father. But now he was in a difficult place.

Originally, he had planned to find the girl with the powerful blood and marry her. When he saw Visha, he felt his world came to a stop. As if everything revolved around her. And that's why he felt she was the one and wanted to immediately marry her. But she wasn't the one he was looking for. His heart ached to see the disappointment on Visha's face today. There was nothing he could have done. He had to make her go away so he could uphold his vow. But then why did he feel like something was off. That there was something that didn't make any sense. There was no other girl with a scar from a knife. She was the only one with a wound on her arm but her blood didn't smell like that.

Yash could not think of any other girl but her. It was only Visha. She was inside his mind. She was inside his dreams, thoughts, words, everything. She was everywhere.

He can't have two wives because of his vow. He can't give up on the girl with that blood. He can't get Visha out of his mind. It felt as if he was cornered against a wall and had nowhere to go.

***

Dhira came downstairs after changing and saw Visha eagerly waiting on the couch. Her eyes sparkled after seeing Dhira as she jumped up and followed her outside into the lawn. Dhira felt as if her Puppy was excited for a 'treat'. They went outside to the backyard and Dhira turned to face Visha. This was the first time Visha had seen the backyard. It was a huge plain grassland with hardly any decorations or bushes just a table ahead with a candle on it and a few chairs. And there could be seen a lot of trees after it. She knew this estate spread easily for a few kilometers but it still amazed her.

"Why don't you try a small flame spell?"

Dhira's voice brought Visha back and she nodded. She had a great memory and remembered the spell.

With her eyes closed, Visha started chanting and lift up her right hand towards the candle. It took her less than a minute to finish the incantation and she opened her eyes. To her surprise the candle was still not lit. She reflexively turned to Dhira and she looked a little surprised as well.

Dhira couldn't understand what was the reason for Visha's powers misbehaving. She remembered once she heard that Visha couldn't perform spells at her place too. And now it happened again, this time right in front of her.

Visha felt awful. It had been the worst day ever. First, that Yash bastard made her turn into a joke and everyone branded her as a 'slut' who was trying to put her 'moves'on the new guys. And now, it turns out that she is a terrible witch too. She dropped down on the grass disappointed and the laid on her back for a while. The yard had been very well kept as the grass felt so soft amd tickled her neck a little. She closed her eyes and tried to forget this awful day.

Something sparkled in the corner of Dhira's eyes and made her turn. It was coming from the red stone pendant around Visha's neck. Dhira bent down to get a better look and gasped as she recognized it. It was the Suppression Stone! No wonder Visha couldn't do any magic. These stones are used to suppress magic power. This was the biggest one she had ever seen. And quite a powerful one too. This might also have been the reason why Shreya could not find the Blood Bond. The stone must have suppressed the magic in her blood as well.

"This pendant?" she asked.

Visha opened her eyes to see Dhira crouching beside her. She was pointing at her neck. Visha subconsciously touched her neck and felt the pendant at the tip of her finger. She held it in her hand so Dhira could get a better look and Dhira too leaned in.

"Mom gave it to me a few days ago."

Dhira frowned at that. She didn't expect Payal to suppress Visha's powers. It was understandable that she disliked the witch world and hence hid it from Visha. But to suppress her powers seemed insane. It was a natural part of her just like breathing or eating. She was snatching away her identity. Why would a mother be so cruel to her own daughter? Her heart must be of stone!