A figure emerged from the shadows. Vedant who was tugging at his mother's legs hugged her tighter. The figure then came fully into view.

"Stop"

A single monosyllable made all the intruders lower their swords and stand beside the source of the order. Vedant smiled and ran towards the leader recognizing her at once.

Svaksha

"How dare you fight with the royal family?"

A pause! Svaksha wasn't bad after all. Their relief however was short lived.

"You are just wasting your time. Just tie them up."

This single statement made an electric shock run down their spines. She was still patting Vedant and stroking him, but her face contained an entirely new expression. She was not the Svaksha they recognized.

Aparajith came from her right and moved to imprison the queens. Shock was etched in the faces of every family member, except Vedant who was busy counting the pearls sewn in Svaksha's robes. Advantages of being a child! Ashwarth, who was the first to get accustomed to the thunderbolt bellowed as Aparajith edged towards his mother.

"Whoever tries to touch my mother will have their necks slit."

"Well then Ashwarth, you yourself ask your family to get inside the ropes. In that way your mother won't be touched. Anyways I don't have any intention in getting any of my men's arms dirty by touching you Mauryas."

All the astonishment in the Mauryas turned into fury and Ashwarth roared.

"If you are thinking that your petty act has frightened me then, I am so sorry. You, a disgusting piece of filth dares to try imprisoning the Mauryas, huh? Try to do whatever you can."

Svaksha clicked her tongue and moved dangerously close to Ashwarth. This was the proximity Ashwarth dreamed to have, but unsurprisingly this closeness only brought out disgust and rage.

"Tch tch! Ashwarth, my darling you are going to repent hard for your words. So honey, get ready to see the actual face of your lover."

She moved back and clapped. A person came and stood in front of them. Lean and slightly muscular dusky physique which usually held bright and twinkling emerald as eyes, now stood before them devoid of expressions. The twinkling sparkle in the emerald was lost and it only had the shade of an abandoned green as in specters. The figure lifted a sword and kept it near its neck.

Avyukth!

Svaksha kept her arm on a table and leaned casually on it.

"Ashwarth, if you don't ask your family to get into the ropes, then I will order Avyukth to slit his throat."

Despite being in astonishment, Ashwarth managed to hide it well.

"As if he is going to do that..."

"Becoming over confident now, aren't we? Fine, Avyukth cut a piece of your flesh and show them."

Before even Svaksha could finish her statement, the sword in Avyukth's arm slashed past his left shoulder. A lump of his dusky complexion drenched in red curled off his biceps. The mount of bloodied flesh fell on the floor with a plop and that was the only sound heard in the palace. Vedant who was holding her legs tight, jerked out of her arms and stood aside, watching her hawk eyed.

Svaksha let out a small chuckle, which usually seemed endearing and beautiful. Today it portrayed her actual form- eerie, vindictive and a hell vicious. Ashwarth's eyes were still glued on the piece of bloodied mass on the ground. He couldn't bring himself to believe that his best friend, who regards his blood as his most precious possession, now was ready to even give his life for some imbecile.

"Avyukth, looks like they are not going to heed our advances, cut another..."

"No, stop! We will get inside the ropes."

"Good, very good! But, you all are my family. How can I ever have the hearts to tie you?"

Pause, but this pause wasn't of relief but was expecting the next ordeal.

"Chain them and that too separately. Yes, and take the kid too. "

She bent low and whispered something in the child's ear, after which he started grinning and ran towards his mother, asking to get into the chains. She didn't wish to ruin his childhood and his innocence. She knew full well the cost of a child's childhood.

"Svaksha, tell us if someone is forcing you. We can overcome this together."

"You think that I am as naïve as you to get influenced by someone? Well, if you keep speaking nonsense, then I might start considering stuffing your mouths with clothes."

"What did you do to Avyukth?"

"Oh, Avyukth has sure been of good use, isn't it? Thank you, Avyukth. And now, let me answer your question, though I absolutely have no need to. Ashwarth you and your family have your eyes blinded. You couldn't even realize the pain your friend was undergoing. His family was starving and that was the reason he had to work in different parts of the country. You being a royal couldn't even get your friend a work in YOUR state. So, I did the job for you. Avyukth's family now resides in MY mansion. His elder sister is married in a very lavish marriage, thanks to the money I contributed."

"Avyukth, you could have asked."

Avyukth, who stayed quiet the entire time, spoke.

"What do you expect me to do prince? Beg you for mercy? Queen Svaksha, who saw me only once, had found out my problems and she very generously solved them. And you, addressing yourself as my best friend, wanted me to come and fall at your feet!"

"Enough talk. Avyukth, you may retire to your chamber and so can the others. All of you may take the positions allotted."

There was a wave of bows and Avyukth with a few men left the court and went into the royal guest chambers. All of the family members were chained separately and the door to the interior was opened. Each Maurya was anointed with a guard who stood ready to charge with a sword, under Svaksha's supervision. Ashwarth felt a pang of guilt curl upon his mind when he thought of Avyukth's plight.

"Oh wait, don't tie Shresht to the pillar. Not yet! I have a small conversation to finish. I want him inside my chamber and don't hurt him too much, if he is reluctant."

Svaksha winked. Her men understood and grabbed Shresht by his shoulders, dragging him with them. A small smile played in Svaksha's lips.

Vicious, vindictive, violent and repulsive smile

"Svaksha, how can you do this? You are a part of our family."

"Part of your family... Bullshit! I am Svaksha Roudra, the heir and the chief of the Rudras. I had to lose my childhood because of you and you call me a part of your family? Bloody barbarians... Do you even know what I had to face because of you? Born a royal, yet growing up in ruins, hating my parents for the mistake they never committed, why? All because of you Mauryas, you bloody Mauryas! You defamed the very name of the dynasty I belonged to, making it synonymous to disgust."

Svaksha then twitched her facial features into a victorious smirk, pleased with her success and strode out of the chamber as Shresht was brought after her. Her Schorl black eyes, which Ashwarth found endearing was as black and disgusting as her real persona. She halted before striding forward.

"Oh and Ashwarth you paint really well. If it wasn't for your painting, my love, I would have never known my identity."