The air in the Pratap Singh mansion had turned dense, like a storm waiting to explode. The chandeliers flickered wildly, and even the gods' lamps near the family temple seemed to tremble.
Kiara slowly released Yuvaan's hand. Her eyes, which moments ago had been filled with affection, now blazed with righteous fury. Every step she took echoed through the marble hall.
She faced Susheela squarely, her voice calm but sharp as a blade.
"Your real face will soon be exposed, Susheela aunty…"
Her lips curved into a bitter smile.
"Oh, sorry— that isn't even your real identity, is it?"
The accusation struck like thunder.
Vinod's eyes widened. "Kiara! Have you gone mad? You're pointing fingers at your elders to hide the truth about him?" he said, glaring toward Yuvaan.
Aakash joined in, his voice rising. "Exactly! Don't twist things, Kiara! Yuvaan is the one with crimson eyes and dark powers— not Ma!"
Riddhi clung to Aakash, terrified. "You're just trying to blame Mom to protect that monster!"
Kiara didn't even flinch. She turned, her voice resonating with confidence and a tinge of divine power.
"I'm not protecting anyone. I'm exposing the real enemy."
Her gaze returned to Susheela— calm, piercing, fearless.
"And I will not just point fingers…" Kiara declared, stepping closer, her anklets ringing like temple bells before a storm. "…I will reveal the truth."
Susheela's smile twitched. "You dare accuse me—"
Kiara cut her off, her eyes burning with divine rage. "Enough of your lies! Y-G-I-U."
Susheela froze.
The air turned colder.
Yuvaan's eyes widened slightly— he knew what those letters meant in ancient demonic code: Your Game Is Up.
Kiara raised her hand.
"You've hidden long enough behind this fake façade," she said, and in a swift motion— snatched the mangalsutra from Susheela's neck.
The beads scattered on the marble floor, rolling like fallen secrets.
A deafening silence followed— before a ripple of energy burst through the air.
The golden necklace melted in Kiara's palm, its illusion-breaking power rippling outward.
Susheela gasped, stumbling back, her skin flickering like a broken reflection.
"Kiara… what have you done?!" she hissed, her voice no longer sweet— it had turned sharp, metallic, and filled with venom.
Her back hit the wall. Her eyes flashed emerald green, her once-dark hair turned wild and cascading down to her waist. Her voice deepened into an unholy tone as the walls began to vibrate.
"You foolish girl… do you know whom you've defied?"
Yuvaan stepped forward instinctively, standing in front of Kiara, his energy flaring crimson, protecting her. Chandrika cried out, and the rest of the family huddled together in horror.
Varun and Vikram, their hunter instincts kicking in, grabbed their enchanted bows from the altar— nocking arrows tipped with holy ash.
"Stay back!" Vikram ordered.
But it was too late.
Susheela's human form dissolved like smoke, revealing a beautiful yet terrifying figure clad in flowing obsidian silks, her eyes burning green fire. Her beauty was ethereal, almost divine— yet laced with darkness so pure it made the air shimmer.
She landed gracefully on her bare feet, her shadow expanding like liquid around her.
"I am not your Susheela…" she declared, her voice echoing with power that made even Yuvaan's crimson aura waver.
"I am Taamsi, the Shadow Witch— the first daughter of the Abyss, and the mistress of the Kaal Realm."
Gasps filled the room.
Vinod's knees weakened, his face pale. "This… this can't be true…"
Kiara stepped beside Yuvaan, her voice steady and bold.
"I present to you all," she said, her tone like a verdict delivered from heaven, "the true face of the woman you've called Aunt Susheela all these years— Taamsi, the shadow witch who's been living among us, feeding off our fear."
Vinod stared at her, speechless, as the chandelier above flickered dangerously— the mansion itself seeming to tremble in response to the unholy revelation.