A strange fear took over Neerja Devi's eyes.
Her heartbeat quickened.
Something deep inside her… already knew what was coming.
The Serpent Messenger continued, his voice heavy,
"Your Majesty… when our spy serpents were secretly observing the rituals in Paatallok, they noticed something unusual. Despite repeated efforts… the rituals were failing."
He paused.
"As the rituals continued, the dark priests began speaking about the need for the blood of someone special…"
His gaze sharpened.
"And our spies heard a name."
"A name? What name?"
Neerja Devi interrupted instantly, her voice filled with urgency.
The Serpent Messenger spoke slowly.
"Dhoomketu."
Silence.
Dead silence.
The moment that name was spoken—
Both Neerja Devi and Ambu froze.
Their eyes widened in shock… in fear.
Sweat formed on their foreheads.
That one name…
Changed everything.
Seeing their reaction, the Serpent Messenger continued,
"It seems the demons know about that child… and I fear they are after the one mentioned in the prophecy."
His tone grew darker.
"And we all know… who that child is."
A pause.
"And we also know the connection between Guru Dhoomketu… and that child."
Neerja Devi stumbled back two steps, her voice trembling,
"Th-they're after… Om… and his grandfather… Guru Dhoomketu?"
It felt like a shock had hit her.
She grabbed the edge of the table to steady herself.
"Dhoomketu's blood… which means… they are either after Om… or trying to find a way to counter him using dark magic."
Her mind raced.
"I don't know exactly what the demons want… but one thing is certain—"
She looked up, her eyes burning with realization.
"They know about Om… and they know about Dhoomketu."
A pause.
Her voice dropped.
"There's only one explanation…"
A chilling truth.
"There is a traitor… in our court."
This time—
The Serpent Messenger was the one left stunned.
"Your Majesty… if… if there really is a traitor… then even our council discussions could reach them!"
His voice carried urgency now.
"This is a serious threat… what should we do?"
But Neerja Devi had already changed.
The fear in her eyes was gone.
Replaced by anger.
By resolve.
"No."
Her voice was sharp.
"The council will happen… no matter what. And we will find that traitor as well."
She turned toward them, issuing commands without hesitation,
"Go. Inform all the leaders of every species—immediately."
Then to Ambu—
"Bring Guru Dhoomketu here. And arrange protection for that child—Om."
Her voice hardened.
"No matter what happens… we cannot lose him."
A pause.
"Om must live… and he must grow stronger."
Her final words echoed with urgency,
"Move. Now."
Without wasting a second, both the Serpent Messenger and Ambu bowed and rushed off to carry out their tasks.
Left alone—
Neerja Devi looked up at the sky.
The clouds were shifting.
Darkening.
The winds had changed direction.
Her face tightened with worry.
"The sky… it's changing so suddenly. Even the winds have turned."
A soft whisper escaped her lips,
"When nature shifts like this… it only means one thing—danger."
Her eyes narrowed.
"I fear… Guru Dhoomketu doesn't have much time left with that boy…"
A pause.
Her voice dropped even lower.
"Or maybe… there's no time left at all."
The next day—
In one of the city's biggest hospitals…
Inside a VIP ward—
Raj lay on a hospital bed.
Barely conscious.
His condition was critical.
His entire body was wrapped in bandages, machines quietly monitoring his unstable state.
A few doctors stood nearby, keeping a close watch.
Outside the ward—
Supriya's aunt, Rekha, sat on a chair, visibly anxious.
Suddenly—
A tall, heavily built man walked down the corridor toward the ward.
He looked like a wrestler.
Broad shoulders. Muscular build.
Dressed in an expensive white suit, surrounded by bodyguards.
Tattoos covered his arms.
A cigarette burned between his lips.
Gold chains around his neck.
Rings on his fingers.
Black sunglasses hiding his eyes.
He didn't walk—
He owned the space.
The moment Rekha saw him—
Fear took over her face.
She quickly stood up, folding her hands nervously.
But the man didn't even look at her.
Not once.
With a cold, angry expression, he walked straight into the ward.
Inside—
His eyes landed on Raj.
He stood there for a moment… silently observing him.
Then, taking a drag from his cigarette, he said coldly,
"Doctor."
The doctor turned—
And froze.
The sight of the man and his goons made his face pale instantly.
"Y-yes… sir… your brother's condition is critical. I mean… he won't be able to get out of bed for at least six months."
His voice trembled.
"I'm sorry, but apart from the external injuries… he has suffered severe internal damage as well. It's difficult to say how long it will take for him to recover."
He hesitated.
"And… for some time… it would be better if he doesn't speak…"
He stopped.
His head lowered in fear.
Seeing him go silent mid-sentence, the man spoke again—
Calm.
But deadly.
"Doctor… what else?"
A pause.
"Say it. Because if you don't… you might never be able to say anything again."
The threat was soft.
But it hit like a hammer.
The doctor's soul shook.
He immediately blurted out in panic,
"S-sir… I'm afraid… your brother may never be able to become a father…"
He swallowed hard.
"I mean… he won't be able to have physical relations anymore… and his mental condition is also unstable."
For a second—
There was silence.
Then suddenly—
The man exploded.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN my brother won't be able to do that?!"
His voice roared across the room.
"Do you even know who you're talking to, doctor?!"
The doctor stuttered, trembling,
"S-sir… whoever did this to him… attacked him brutally… especially… his private parts…"
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"Not once… but multiple times."
He shut his eyes briefly.
"And because of that… he has lost both his physical ability… and his mental balance."
The room fell silent again.
But this time—
It wasn't fear.
It was something else.
Something far more dangerous.
Because now…
This wasn't just about injury.
This was about revenge.