The Secrets of the Elements

"Then what did the kings and queens do?" quizzed Rishi.

"They battled him, against his enormous army of pure evil," revealed Indra.

"And lost?" asked Rutuja.

"Not really," said Indra. "Yes, they lost their lives but only after successfully destroying almost all his army. They just couldn't destroy him."

"Destroy?" said Rishi. "You mean to kill?"

"No, I mean to destroy," said Indra.

Rutuja and Rishi exchanged a confused glance.

Daksh, on the other hand, was now almost lying on the grass, closing his eyes, taking deep breaths, somehow not bothered about the story his father was telling.

"Azazel is dead, technically, so you can't destroy him," revealed Indra and looked at Dai Ma.

"What do you mean?" asked Rutuja and straightened her back.

"He did die in the battle against the kings and queens, but they did not kill him," said Dai Ma. "Nobody knows how he died, but, he resurrected, nobody knows how."

"I don't get it," said Rishi. "We all are protecting a self-sufficient book. I mean it has the powers of all kings and queens."

"Exactly, son," said Indra.

Daksh opened his eyes to look at his father and then shifted his gaze to Rishi who was somewhat smiling. He rolled his eyes and sat up straight, stretching his arms and turning his neck from the right to the left.

Rutuja looked at him and gave him a 'were you actually sleeping?' look.

"The powers in the book can be earned," said Indra. "Either if the book chooses you, or, forcefully, that's what we expect Azazel to do."

"Forcefully," Daksh finally spoke. "How? Dad."

Rutuja could not understand the need for Daksh stressing on the last word.

"Azazel holds some exceptional powers which we aren't aware of, yet," replied Indra. "If he gets his hands on the book, he can bewitch it, control Grantha, and snatch those powers, or worse, make her his slave."

~~~~~~~

Maya as she moved her hands in a circular motion, as though making a ball.

foot on the ground closing her eyes; Maya threw the

BANG!

and lightning. The hut was filled with a deafening sound, a blinding

on her knees keeping

Maya. The dust blocking her vision. She waved it off and took a few steps towards the cupboard which

her up in her arms. "Advika,

and removed a small water bottle from her bag. She sprinkled some water on Zarna's face. "Zarna, please open your eyes,"

hair and clothes all

small glass veil from her bag and filled her

the harm be undone. With the power of

few deep breaths, looking around,

asap," said Advika and helped Zarna get on

~~~~~

"So now?" asked Rutuja.

next step will be building

said Daksh. "Who will join us? Nobody dares to stand against

Indra. "Near our people, near the people who were and will

not see anybody here,"

here?" asked Rishi.

Ma

her eyes and

Rishi and got up dusting his

"What!?" Daksh mouthed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

creatures materialized in front of them. "Antillas,"

A group of children was playing hide and seek in the yard. Men and women busy doing their daily

resting outside his house, lighting a cigar and staring into the sky. "Can't

seemed like they were always there, just

~~~~~~

Ray closing his eyes. "One more mishap was exactly what we

sat beside Zarna,

large space. There was a small garden in front of the house with various flowers and

sitting facing her friends. There was an unusually large mirror in her bedroom,

her eyes glued to the ground. She sat