Chapter 110

                                    

                                          
'To get yourself killed?' Kairavi mocked him. The demon's nostrils flared in rage. 
                          
He grabbed the back of her neck and yanked it backwards, making her whimper a little. His crusty, dirt-caked fingernails dug into her skin. 
                          
"Don't compel me to make your death even more painful than I have planned, Chandraputri." He warned. Kairavi glared at him, her raw and revolting eyes breathing fire. She would have definitely made him regret doing this if he set her free. 









                          
He looked her up and down and let go of her jugular. Prahasth was enormous in size. He easily reached the top of the tree, well over Bheem in height. His body was equally burly, not hiding anywhere, the fact that he was inhumanly strong as well. 
                          
She doubted whether her brother-in-law would be able to take him down single-handedly because that rascal would use his magic to ensure his victory.
                          
He disappeared into thin air as the voices of the Pandavas grew louder. They had entered the forest and were approaching her. 
                          
Hanging ten feet above the ground gave her an advantage of vision, enabling her to locate them through the thickets. She smiled in transitory relief.











                          
"Kairavi?" Yudhishthir yelled while his brothers spread out in different directions to search for her. Before they could go any further away from each other, an ear-piercing sound echoed through the forest. Their petrified eyes flew in different directions. 
                          
'Arya!' Sahadev heard a familiar voice in his head. "Kairavi?" He said out loud. Nakul turned to his twin, intrigued by his change in tone. 
                          
'I can see you. You are very close to where I am. Just keep walking forward.' She instructed while her vision kept strict surveillance on their surroundings so that she could alert them if the shape-shifter tried to ambush them. 









                          
The brothers ran towards the clearing as Arni helped them with the directions. Deep within, she knew she was only helping Prahasth by luring them into his trap, but she could not win against him alone. 

                          
She needed their help.

                          
"Oh my God! Who did this to you? I will kill him!" Nakul spoke through gritted teeth, seeing his co-wife bound to the uppermost branch of the tree. 
                          
He was about to step into the pond but Kairavi stopped him. 'No! Don't step on the flowers!' She yelped, making him stagger on the bank. "Why not?" He asked.
                          
She motioned towards the sky with her head and they all looked up. The purple hue was enough to let them know that they had landed themselves in trouble. 









                          
"Illusory forest," Yudhishthir remarked. Bheem straightened his shoulders and popped his knuckles, "Whoever the demon is, come out and duel with me!" He roared at the emptiness of the settings. 
                          
"The last time a demon trapped us in an illusory forest, I ended up marrying his sister!" 
                          
The silence brooded over as the four of them looked around. Prahasth was nowhere to be found. Sahadev took out a dagger from his scabbard and aimed at the vine that was holding her to the bough like a cocoon. 








                          
But the weapon slipped from his hands as he felt his legs being dragged ahead. He shrieked, trying to grab the floor to stop himself as the vine hauled him upwards. 
                          
Being closest to his younger brother, Bheem caught his arms and pried them away from the force lifting him off the ground. His attempt was unsuccessful as a series of creepers crawled from the shrubs and wound around his ankles.