WARLOCK'S INTERNS

Chapter 16: A Pact with Snake King

Vaachaspati sat on the mat looking at his three kids, today he was anxious to dine with them. Many wild thoughts had crossed his very mind when he was earlier praying in the temple. He was afraid least they may not try for another adventure. He had got some bad news from Palace as well and that worried him further.

“So, what my dear darling did today?” He looked at Vasundari affectionately and enquired in a sweet tone.

“I had been to river to wash the cloths father.” Vasundari flushed a little. She knew her father liked her very much than her brothers and ironically, sometimes it did irritate her.

“And you?” Vaachaspati looked at Atma.

“I did catch lots of fish.” Atma was too eager to answer at once. He did not want to give a chance to his father. Least he may not get a thought that they were all in Mahapitha’s house that very morning.

“It was a tough day; I had been to collect woods.” Bakula tried to act as though he was tired as his father looked at him questioningly.

“Good, I heard that Mahapitha has sent a message to King warning about an ill fate on Swarnapuri.” Vaachaspati began to perform his ritual as Champaka finished her primary servings.

“My god! What’s going to happen?” Vasundari acted out her fear. She too wanted him to believe in what they have maintained.

“Probably Witches might attack Palace. Hence, I strongly forbid you all from roaming freely.” Vaachaspati warned them again. Atma began to think fast, if his father forbids them in going out, they would be utterly helpless; he has to think a way to get out of the situation.

“But, we have to do our daily chores.” Hence Atma protested as casual as possible.

“You could go out, but never cross the border of Swarnapuri.” Vaachaspati relaxed a bit; perhaps his kids were not careless as he thought.

“We shall not, father.” Bakula and Atma answered at the same instant exchanging a secret glance.

“Me too, father.” Vasundari did not want to lag behind as she said smiling very sweetly.

**

Rukma and Gorma looked at Lord Phaninath anxiously for his reply. Would his demand be too difficult? Would they be able to accept that?  Lots of questions aroused in the minds of Gorma. She didn’t want to give too much up for their quest. Gorma did not want him to demand for something extraordinary understanding their desperateness. 

One the other hand Rukma began to day dream. She began to dream of her alliance with Lord Phaninath which would make her the Queen of the Underworld.

But the thought of Lord Phaninath of Underworld was entirely different.

“Hiss!” he hissed once again before replying them, “You should leave the path to your world open so that we can crawl out as and when we needed to your world.”

“Why would you be interested in our world?” Gorma began to think hard. She always new serpents could be very dangerous given an opportunity.

“As you can see, our population is immense and we just don’t have enough space and food for all here. Hence I want to send half of my most venomous serpents to your world.” Lord Phaninath stood up at once and began to walk towards Gorma.

“I agree to leave it open.” Gorma replied hastily. She did not want to him to name any more demands.

“Of course, you will remember about the sweet alliance too, it is your responsibility to turn your beautiful sister into a serpent and offer her to me as my Queen.” Lord Phaninath said moving closer to Rukma and encircled her lustrous body tightly and bought his human face close to Rukma’s face.     

“That may take some time Lord Phaninath. For I need blue Sapphire which is currently not in my possession now. ” Gorma explained in a jubilant  voice observing that the Snake Lord has indeed fallen for the Charm that Rukma has casted.

Rukma, meanwhile being completely seduced by Lord Phaninath, parted her lips slightly and offered it to him moving her face closer to his. Gorma at once understood the danger and screamed at once.

“Rukma you fool, not now. If he kisses, you will die.”

Lord Phaninath hissed once and slowly released the body of Rukma from his grip and backed away to his position on the throne.  

“Your sister is right Rukma. We would rather wait for our alliance. Now tell me Gorma, how can I help you?” Lord Phaninath moved his head sideways and looked at Gorma.

“You only have to kiss.” Gorma smiled at him mysteriously.

“Kiss! But you just said his kiss would kill me!” Rukma uttered in awe.

“He has to kiss, but not you Rukma.” Gorma said as she took out a ripe red apple from her rucksack and offered it to Lord Phaninath.

“Hiss!” Lord Phaninath hissed again with a sudden motion to his right he slithered towards Gorma and took the red apple in his hands.

“So be it.” He kissed the apple with fervor and handed it back to Gorma. Further he slowly made his way back to his thrown and closed his eyes.

“Now it is your turn.” He opened his eyes after some time and hissed softly looking at Gorma.

**

It had been an easy journey back; Rukma was too delighted with the things. She started to spend more time on her day dreams now. She had good meat for her day dreams. Lord Phaninath was one huge meat!

Rukma began to brush her hairs to make it soft and silky just like the hairs of Princess Chitrakshi. She remembered the eyes of Lord Phaninath when he said that very words which made her to blush.

“Hiss! He likes me so much.” She blinked her eyes standing in front of the mirror.

“You fool, stop dreaming, we have lot of thing to do.” Gorma walked across and hit her back hard. She wanted all the help from her younger sister to be successful in her great quest.

“Ouch! Gorma it hurts. Now, what am I supposed to do?” Rukma was irritated at once.

“YOU - You are going to play a major role in this Rukma.” Gorma looked gently at her sister’s eyes and began to charm her. She knew it is essential for her to take Rukma’s help, however foolish she may be at times.

“Me? But how?” Rukma was surprised. Lately her elder sister surprised her too much, like saving her from death at the last moment, speaking to serpents in their own language and charming the Lord Phaninath himself!

“You see, the King is suspicious of our attack, hence, we need to change our plan.” Gorma walked towards the earthen pot and showed the latest pictures. They saw the pictures of guards all around the Palace and more pictures of guards around Princess Chitrakshi’s chamber as well.

“Are we going to send Lord Phaninath?” Rukma was still confused. She knew at once that they cannot enter Palace now. Guards always scared them both.

“You and your fantasy. I am going to send you.”

“Me! no - no, the guards would certainly kill me and I don’t have any intention of dying without getting married to Lord Phaninath.” Rukma changed her color to yellow immediately showing her worst fear; least she wanted was to die driven by a spear from Palace guards.

“You fool; you will be going as a Parrot, you will enter Princess Chamber and drop this deadly poisonous apple on her bed.” Gorma had planned this well in advance, but had kept it for helfself until now. She knew her plan would work perfectly; no guards would harm a flying parrot.

“But, I don’t know how to turn into a Parrot.” Rukma showed her helpless. She had never learned or used tricks like Gorma did. Tricks always scared her too much as she had failed miserably in achieving the desired results earlier.

“I shall turn you using the Moonstone. But do remember that I can only use this trick of ‘Impersonate’ only three times in our Witch life and for your kind information; I have already used it once in the past when we met the young Prince Maheepati twenty years back. So practically, I can only use this ‘Impersonate’ trick only once more after this time.” Gorma explained in detail and walked towards Rukma and put an arm on her shoulder. Slowly she walked towards the bowl and took the red apple.

“This apple kissed by Lord Phaninath is deadly poisonous, and there is no cure for this.” She turned and looked at her sister deep in the eyes.

“All you have to do is to drop this on the bed of Princess, of course UNNOTICED.”

“But will she eat it? What if -” Rukma had her own doubts, failure was not new to her and did not wanted another feather to add to that.

“I have put a charming spell on this apple; she will be enticed to eat this.” Gorma laughed heartily, she was very much sure she is going to be successful this time.  

****