Urvi's jaw tightened.
Ratri was still hissing in fury where she had crashed into the wall, celestial dust flickering off her torn silhouette. Kiaan simply sat in the middle of the grand hall, playing with the tassel of the sofa cover as if nothing supernatural had just occurred.
Urvi snapped her fingers sharply.
"Nishi. Your turn. Bring me the child."
Nishi's golden eyes narrowed. She stepped forward, her Daakini aura pulsing, ancient runes spiraling across her arms like crawling fireflies.
A thin smile touched her lips.
"Little hybrid… let's see how fast you really are."
She extended her palms, and a shimmering net of Daakini-magic began forming. Threads of dark-blue energy wove together—hissing, tightening, glowing with predatory hunger.
Kiaan watched the spell curiously.
Then—
he vanished.
Not dissolved.
Not blinked.
Not invisibility.
Pure teleportation—effortless, instinctive.
Nishi's eyes went wide.
A soft giggle echoed behind her.
She turned sharply—
and there he was.
Right behind her.
Sitting on the floor with both hands pressed to his cheeks like he was playing peek-a-boo.
Nishi lunged to grab him—
But Kiaan popped out of existence again with a tiny flash of white-gold light.
She spun—
Too slow.
A small hand tapped her calf from behind.
Kiaan peeked up at her, smiling proudly.
"Ah!"
Before Nishi could react, he dropped straight downward—
like sinking through water—
a divine-warlock phase-shift.
He vanished into the marble floor.
Nishi gasped, stumbling back.
"Impossible—! He went into the ground—!"
A giggle floated behind her again.
She whirled—
Kiaan stood there, dusting his tiny palms, as if he had simply crawled out of a play tunnel.
He looked at her.
Tilted his head.
Then—
Clap.
A single, playful, baby clap.
But the sound rippled—
glowing—
expanding—
turning into a burst of warlock-celestial energy.
A shockwave.
Nishi didn't just fall—
she was thrown back, her body rolling across the marble as if struck by invisible thunder.
She hit the pillar with a wild cry.
Urvi's face drained of all color.
Ratri's eyes widened in disbelief.
And Kiaan?
He giggled.
"Da!!"
A triumphant squeal.
The Tri-Kaalishini—deadliest horrors of the realm—
were being defeated by a baby…
who thought they were playing with him.
Later
The evening sun spilled golden light across the mansion halls, soft and warm.
Kiara, Bhoomi, and Moti Baa returned from the temple, their footsteps echoing gently on the polished floor. The faint scent of incense lingered, carrying a sense of calm.
In the hall, Kiaan crawled happily over the rug, toys scattered around him. His tiny fingers gripped a wooden block, then a miniature car. His soft giggles tinkled like wind chimes.
On the couch, Susheela had dozed off, her head tilted slightly to one side.
Moti Baa shook her head gently, a soft smile on her lips. "Looks like someone got a little too tired while babysitting," she murmured, glancing at Susheela.
Chandrika—Moti Baa—kneeling slightly to shake Susheela's shoulder, said softly, "Susheela… you fell asleep? While watching Kiaan?"
Susheela stirred, blinking rapidly, eyes still hazy. "Huh? I… I must have been exhausted. I don't even remember falling asleep," she murmured, rubbing her face.
Kiara crouched and scooped up Kiaan, holding him close. "I hope you didn't give Susheela too much trouble, little one," she whispered, brushing a stray hair from his forehead.
Kiaan wriggled happily, letting out a tiny giggle.
Moti Baa chuckled softly. "Trouble? Oh no… I think she's the one who had the real challenge—keeping up with all this energy," she said, nodding toward the giggling child.
Bhoomi smiled. "Seems like he got all of Yuvaan's spirit. Already a handful, even at nine months."
Kiara laughed softly. "Exactly. I thought maybe he'd take after me for a little while, but no… he's all papa's little force of nature."
Kiaan waved his tiny hand, squealing as if he understood every word. "Ba! Ba!"
Susheela, now fully awake and still a little flustered, looked at him in awe. "I… I think he missed us more than I realized," she whispered, adjusting him gently in Kiara's arms.
Kiaan wriggled, leaning his tiny head against Kiara's shoulder. "Ba…" he murmured softly, golden eyes sparkling with innocence.
Moti Baa reached over and gently touched Kiaan's cheek. "Ah… he's a handful already, but what a beautiful handful," she said warmly.
Kiara held him closer, heart swelling with love. "Yes… my little miracle. Safe, happy… and very stubborn."
Bhoomi smiled. "This moment… it's precious. Let's savor it. For now, the world outside can wait."
Kiara looked down at her son, her heart full. "Yes… for now, nothing else matters. Just you, me… and this little life we've been given."
Kiaan yawned softly, curling into her arms, and the mansion settled into a warm, peaceful quiet—the kind that only family can bring.
To be continued