Chapter 13

Horseback riding was taking place in a valley in a beautiful area of Gilgit-Baltistan. There was a roundabout in an open green field with horses running and spectators sitting around applauding enthusiastically. All eyes were on the horse on which Prince Haad was riding. Prince Haad, the embodiment of courage, was the youngest son of the king of this kingdom. He was famous for his brutality. He was very cruel to the wicked and gave tragic death to the traitors. People shuddered when they heard his name, but they also liked him because he did not oppress innocent people for no reason. And he treated the poor very well. Everyone respected him. His personality was amazing. With a golden complexion and a beautiful figure, he seemed to be a masterpiece of masculine beauty. All the girls in his area were in love with him. But he didn’t like any girl till today. He never paid attention to the girls. He loved horseback riding and swordsmanship. He was the commander of his army. Till yet, he has never lost a contest. Even today, victory was his destiny. His horse was the first to arrive at Winning Point. He pulled the reins to stop the horse, the horse neighed and lifted its front two legs. The scene was so beautiful that people started shouting and praising him. He didn’t even like to hear compliments about himself. He had been there for a long time and had left with his servants. Today he was going to the forest instead of home. His servants wondered why he spent the whole night alone in the forest on the fourteenth day of every moon. They didn’t know that their prince was a werewolf. Some time ago, he was bitten by a werewolf. At first, he had no control over himself. He went away from people to hide his secret. Gradually he began to control himself. Now he could transform at his will, except on a full moon night. When the moon was full, he became a wolf that night helplessly. That’s why he used to spend the night in the forest. He also had many powers but he was unaware of them.

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Women had been abducted in the Gilgit area for the past few days. Six women had been abducted but no one could search for them. It was very disturbing for Haad. Because it was his responsibility to protect his territory. He was furious and was trying to track down the abducted women as well as the culprit. A team of his spies had spread all over Gilgit and was monitoring the suspects but to no avail. One day Haad had an idea and called the team leader of the spies. He asked him to prepare a girl to catch the culprit. She should be kept under surveillance, but apparently, she should travel alone to where the last woman was abducted. In that case, she will be seen by the criminals and they will try to kidnap her. As soon as they get close to this girl, they should be caught. The team leader also liked the plan. Then the culprit was caught in the same way and Prince Haad severely beat him to take all the information from him. He said his team includes four other people. And they are kidnapping women at the behest of a man. That person lives in a cave and was a witcher. At his indication, Prince Haad and a few of his companions set out to arrest him. But by then it was too late. The witcher had killed the abducted women and burned them after getting their blood. Now, he had many demonic powers. He was now a powerful witcher and could compete with Haad. Prince Haad’s face turned red with rage. He drew his sword and approached the man, but he had disappeared by magic and appeared elsewhere, laughing. Haad turned and attacked him, but then he disappeared again. The prince’s companions also began to support him, but the witcher could not be caught.

“You can’t hurt me even all together.” Appearing somewhere, he said confidently.

“Not all of us, just I will ruin you.” Prince Haad began to move to the left imperceptibly. The witcher’s face was also turning towards him. Haad moved one step closer when the witcher’s back turned to the flames in which the innocent women were burned.

“Well then what will you do?” The witcher asked sarcastically.

“I’ll tear you to pieces.” He growled and the witcher laughed

“Okay. Give it a try.” The witcher said carelessly and Haad jumped on him but the witcher threw a spell at him and he became a stone statue. But he did not stand still first and fell forward, colliding with witcher. Due to his proximity, the witcher’s magic did not work and instead of disappearing, he fell into the flames behind him. A scream came out of his mouth and he was burnt to ashes. Haad had become a statue, but his feelings had not frozen. He could feel and see what was going on around him, but he could not move. His soul was imprisoned in this stone statue. But he was satisfied that he had eliminated the enemy of humanity. Haad’s companions were shocked and worried by his condition. They secretly took the statue of Haad to the palace. The king and queen wept a lot when they saw their son in stone state and tried many times to revive him but he could not. That area was later attacked by people from another area, who occupied the palace and killed the king and his entire family. But they liked the statue of Haad very much. They did not know he was a human being. They decorated the statue of Haad in the palace court. Time passed and circumstances kept changing but the statue remained there. The man imprisoned in this stone had seen everything for many centuries. But he was not dead. He had stopped growing old. About two centuries later, the palace became empty and its condition began to deteriorate, but a short time ago today, a woman came to the palace. She renewed the palace by magic. And set the statue of Haad in a position as he was offering for dance to a girl.

“Don’t worry, my prince. Just wait here a few years more.” She just said that, touched Haad’s chest, and disappeared from here. She was Zaria.

………………….

“Then one day Zaria sent Anna there. I was revived by the touch of Anna from statue to human.” Haad smiled remembering something and looked at Sanan who was staring at him silently.

“Why did she do that?” Sanan asked after a pause.

“I don’t know what her motive was. But all I know is that she had no good motive. She blackmailed me through Anna and you know what happened next.” Haad said, and Sanan stared at his face, taking a deep breath and shaking his head in affirmation.

“So that means Zaria should never be allowed to get close to Anna, otherwise Anna will be in danger,” Sanan said.

“Hope so that Zolun will not release her from prison. But we still have to be careful.”

“Don’t worry. Nothing will happen to Anna in your presence.” Sanan said smiling and he smiled too.

“I don’t believe in myself in that matter. She’s been close to me and she’s been in the mouth of death again and again. Noe, She’s far from me,” he said in frustration.

“Trust yourself. You can do everything.” Sanan reassured him. He was silent.

…………………..

Even today, Sanan had failed to find zaria. Anna was very angry with him.

“Okay, you don’t look for her. I’ll find her myself.” Anna stepped outside, saying in a blunt tone.

“Wait, Anna.” He tried to stop Anna, but she didn’t. Sanan quickly called Haad. He also taught Haad to use a mobile phone today and brought him a mobile phone. When Haad saw his mobile ringing, he understood that he had to attend a call. He picked up the call and put the phone to his ear.

“Anna is going out to find her mother,” Sanan informed him. He became very upset.

“Did she go too far?” He asked, getting up.

“No, she just went out.”

“Okay, I’ll go after her,” Haad said, hanging up the phone and following Anna. She was crossing the street when Haad came out of the house. He slowly followed her. Anna did not realize at all that anyone was following her. She was wondering where to find Zaria. She was imprisoned by a witcher. She didn’t know anything about magic.

“I should go to a deserted place,” she muttered. Haad’s footsteps continued to follow her. She was crossing a road with a mountain on one side and a gorge on the other. There were very few people on this road. A boy had seen Anna and immediately moved towards her, impressed by her beauty.

“Hey, Beauty!” He smiled warmly as he approached her. Anna looked at him in shock and took two steps back. Before the boy could say anything, he was hit hard on the head. He fell unconscious. Anna put her hand over her mouth and looked at him first then at Haad who was staring at the boy angrily. He intended to kill the boy. But Anna’s voice stopped.

“What the hell did you do?” She was talking angrily.

“Didn’t see what I did. Just hit.” He spoke calmly.

“Why ?” She yelled.

“Because he talked to you.” He shrugged.

“Oh God, you’re crazy,” she said angrily.

“Maybe.” He nodded.

“What are you doing here? were you chasing me?” She asked with doubt.

“Yes.” He murmured with innocence.

“You are breaking your promise,” she said.

“I promised you that you would be allowed to go away from me, but I can’t keep myself away from you,” he shrugged, and Anna gasped. Then she remembered her mother.

“I don’t know where my mother will be,” she said sadly.

“She will be in hell,” Haad saint under his breath, gritting.

“what did you say?”she shrank her eyebrows.

“I was saying if you want I can help you to find your mother,” he offered.

“Really?” She was happy. Haad nodded.

“Okay. Come with me then.” Anna said.

“Not now. We’ll go tomorrow. It’s late at night. Come back.” He grasped Anna’s hand and led her back. Anna sighed.

…………..

Taabish had left Fahad’s house for important work. Fahad thanked God and went to Zaria without wasting a moment. They traveled all day together. Then after dinner at night, Fahad came to her room before leaving the hotel. Zaria stopped him there and she took two bottles of wine out of the cabinet. Fahad refused a lot but Zaria trapped him in her loving words and gave him alcohol in which he got out of control with the stimulating drug. Seeing a beautiful girl like Zaria in front of him, he was already able to stop himself with great difficulty but then he could not stop himself far from zaria. He leaned over Zaria and the scene was captured on video by two cameras in the room.

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Sanan was worried for Anna. And Eshal was watching him carefully. He had never been so upset about anyone else.

“You love her, don’t you?” She asked, burning in her heart. Sanan fell silent for a moment.

“Don’t talk nonsense. Go to your room.” He said angrily.

“She’s your friend’s wife. Do you still love her?”

“Shut up.” He shouted.

“You didn’t deny me. You really love her. I’m the only one who is crazy for you. How can you love anyone instead of me?” She asked sadly.

“No one has control over love,” he said in a defeated tone.

“That’s what I want to explain to you. Please understand me. Don’t hurt me.” She spoke with wet eyes and Anna, standing outside the room, bowed her head in embarrassment. Because of her, Eshal was getting hurt. Sanan was starting to like her. But she could never want to hurt Eshal. She came out quietly and went towards Haad’s house.

Haad had come to his room when he heard the doorbell. Surprised, he came out and opened the door. He was stunned to see Anna standing in front of him.

“You?” He said with uncertainty.

“Yes,” she rolled her eyes. Haad blinked at the sight of her beautiful face expression.

“Won’t you invite me in? Will I stay here all night?” She bubbled and came in on her own.

“But you …” He was still astonished.

“I’ll be here from today. Do you mind?” Anna raised her eyebrows.

“No.” He quickly hid his smile, shaking his head in denial. His heart was sure that Anna would return to him. And that’s what happened.

“Why did you come here?” He asked curiously.

“I didn’t miss you. I just didn’t like being in someone’s house for so long,” she said. Haad was happy. She thought this house was hers. This was the cause of Haad’s happiness.

“You can make this house your own and live here for the rest of your life,” he said with a smile.

“I will go with Mama after she is found,” she said, and Haad pursed his lips in anger.

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