《Her glowing secrets.》 Prologue Their eyes met across the room, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still as the weight of their shared history hung between them like a suffocating fog. Aanya''s gaze was cold and unyielding. She could see the flicker of amusement in Zafar''s eyes, a cruel mockery of what they had once. "You''re late," Zafar remarked casually, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he lounged in his chair, the picture of nonchalance. Aanya''s jaw clenched in silent fury, but she refused to give him the satisfaction of a response. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. "You look lovely, darling," Zafar continued, his tone sickeningly sweet as he flashed her a condescending smile. Aanya''s nails dug into the palms of her hands, her fury simmering just beneath the surface as she struggled to maintain her composure. But she remained silent, her lips pressed into a thin line as she forced herself to meet Zafar''s gaze head-on. She would not let him see the cracks in her Armor. For in that moment, she knew she was facing the embodiment of her deepest fears and darkest nightmares. "I will destroy you" her conscious spoke. "And I will make everyone watch" she vowed to herself. characters. Aanya Khan Nawab:
Aanya is a young journalist with an insane amount of curiosity and a thirst for knowledge. She has long, dark hair that falls in loose waves around her shoulders and expressive eyes that reflect her passion for uncovering the truth. Her determination and resilience make her a formidable protagonist as she embarks on a journey of discovery. Aanya is intelligent, resourceful, and fiercely independent as well as a goof ball. She is driven by a desire to uncover the mysteries of the universe and is unafraid to pursue the truth, even when smacked in the face with danger or uncertainty. Aanya comes from a modest background in Karachi, where she was raised by her loving family (according to people). Zafar Ahmed Rajput:
Zafar is a mysterious and enigmatic figure with a brooding presence, he is the to-be Raja to be of the Rajput Dynasty, a ruthless empire. He has dark, tousled hair and piercing black eyes that seem to hold a world of secrets. His rugged appearance belies a hidden depth and complexity that intrigues those around him. Zafar is fiercely protective of his secrets. He is haunted by his past and carries a burden of guilt that weighs heavily on his shoulders. Despite his aloof exterior, he possesses a strong sense of loyalty to his empire. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Zara Khanzada:
Samara is Aanya''s best friend and confidante. She belongs from Peshawar but settled in Karachi after her father moved there due to his work. She has a bubbly personality and infectious enthusiasm that brightens Aanya''s life. Samara is outgoing, loyal, and fiercely protective of Aanya. She provides a source of emotional support and comic relief, balancing out Aanya''s more serious demeanour with her light-hearted antics. Samara and Aanya have been friends since childhood, sharing countless memories and experiences together. Despite their different personalities, they share a deep bond that withstands the test of time. Armaan Durrani:
The heir to the Durrani empire. Armaan exudes an air of regal authority and sophistication, befitting his noble lineage and position as the future leader of the Durrani dynasty. With his striking features and commanding presence, Armaan is a formidable figure who embodies the values of honor, tradition, and duty. Despite his privileged upbringing, he possesses a compassionate heart and a genuine desire to serve his people. (you will get to know more about him in the story) ?? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This brings us to the of the 4 main characters that the story revolves around. I hope you like it and I would love to hear your thoughts on them. With love, *H. Ahmed.* Chapter 1: The manuscript. As Aanya''s fingers delicately traced the intricate curves of the ancient script, she couldn''t shake the feeling that she had stumbled upon something truly extraordinary. The manuscript lay before her, its pages illuminated by a soft, otherworldly glow that seemed to pulse with a life of its own. "Isn''t it remarkable?" Aanya whispered to herself, her breath catching in her throat as she leaned closer to examine the text. Beside her, her best friend Samara, with her bright eyes and infectious smile, glanced over with a knowing grin. "Oh wow, Aanya, you''ve found something amazing," she said, her voice tinged with excitement. "That manuscript has been in this shop forever. My father used to talk about it all the time, saying it holds secrets from another world." Aanya''s eyes widened with fascination. "Do you know what language it''s written in?" she asked, turning to Samara, her curiosity piqued. Samara shook her head, her curls bouncing with the movement. "No idea, but there''s definitely something special about it. Just look at how it glows!" Aanya nodded, her heart pounding with anticipation. "I have to know more," she declared, her voice tinged with determination. With trembling hands, she carefully turned the page, her eyes scanning the unfamiliar characters as she tried to decipher their meaning. "It''s like nothing I''ve ever seen before," she murmured, her brow furrowing in concentration. Mr. Khan, the owner of the bookstore and Samara''s father, approached them with a warm smile. "Ah, I see you''ve found our little treasure," he said, his voice tinged with pride. "That manuscript has intrigued many over the years. You have excellent taste, Aanya." This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Samara intervened with a playful smirk. "You always say that to her, Dad." Mr. Khan chuckled and ruffled Samara''s hair affectionately. "And I''ll keep saying it as long as it''s true. But remember, Samara, Aanya''s curiosity and determination are qualities we should all strive to emulate." Samara''s cheeks flushed with embarrassment, but she nodded in agreement. "I know, Dad. Aanya is the best." Aanya was amazed at those compliments and sheepishly smiled at the both of them. Mr. Khan patted both of their heads and handed another book to Aanya. "This book is related to that book, when I once looked at the blurb of it, they had similar scripture and seemed to point towards similar things" he said. This book looked as mysterious as the first one just that this one had a lock buckle on it. She put her touched her finger on it and it seemed to glow on the lock is what she thinks she saw. "???? ??? ?? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???" she inquired. (Where is the key for this, Uncle Khan?) she inquired. "????? ?? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???? ???? ???? ?? ?? ??? ??? ???? ?? ???? ?? ???? ???? ?? ??? ???? ??? ???? ??? ?? ???? ???? ????? ?? ???? ????" he replied. (Child, the key to this book was never found, I do not even remember anymore how this book even got here. If you do not wish to take it, I can keep it back) he replied. "As if Aanya would give a book back, papa" Samara said while looking at some fictional books. Mr.Khan laughed and looked at Aanya in a questioning look. "For once, Samara is right" she whispered to Mr.Khan. Samara screamed "I HEARED THAT" and came fuming. Mr.Khan and Aanya started laughing hysterically while Samara whined like a baby. Walking home, the only thing in Aanya''s mind was ''I hope this gives me a purpose''. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This brings us to end of the first chapter of her glowing secrets. Hope you enjoyed. Do provide feedback. Love, *H.Ahmed* Chapter 2: Hidden Knowledge. Zafar Ahmed Rajput: In the heart of the opulent Rajput palace, a figure cloaked in shadows stood before a towering bookshelf, his piercing black eyes scanning the titles with a calculating gaze. Zafar, the heir to the Rajput Dynasty, exuded an aura of power and mystery as he immersed himself in the world of ancient knowledge. Aanya Khan: (What are you reading, Aanya?) Zayn, the younger brother of Aanya, is a bright-eyed soul with an age difference of about nine years between them. Their family''s world was upturned when their father passed away unexpectedly when Aanya was just eleven, leaving her to shoulder the responsibility of raising Zayn from the age of two. Despite their significant age gap, Zayn shares a deep bond with his sister, nurtured by the love and care she provided during his early years. Growing up under the shadow of loss, Zayn embodies resilience and curiosity. As Aanya''s companion, Zayn is a source of light and joy, a reminder of the unwavering strength of their familial bond. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. (Just something I stumbled upon at the bookstore.) (Can I see?) "Zain, can you check who is at the door?" their mother said from within the kitchen while cooking. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hope you enjoyed. Chapter 3: Unexpected visitors. ??? ???? ??? ????'' my mind wandered off. (How did he know?) ???? ?? ????? ???? ????? ?? ??? ??? ???? ???? ?? ??? ??? ?? ??? ?? ??? ?????? ???? ??? ?? ??? ?? ??? ???? (But why now? Why after all these years of it just being there and now he has an interest in it? When I took it?) Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. ''How did I do that'' she whispered to herself thinking it was a dream while staring at her hands. "HAH, I KNEW YOU COULD WEILD IT, JAHANGIR''S DAUGHTER!" said the taller man. "Wield what?" Aanya whispered. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hope you guys enjoyed...... Tehehe. Chapter 4: The shadows embrace "???? ???? ?? ????? ???" (We have to get out of here) Zayn muttered, his voice strained but resolute. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it A friend or foe? Aanya Aanya¡¯s pulse boomed in her ears as she locked eyes with the stranger standing at her doorstep. The dim light from the hallway cast shadows across his face, highlighting the sharpness of his features¡ªthe chiselled jawline, the piercing blue eyes that held something unspoken. There was urgency in his stance, a quiet desperation in the way his fingers curled into fists at his sides. Zayn, still clutching his ribs, staggered to his feet and positioned himself slightly in front of Aanya, his protective instincts overriding his pain. "??? ??? ??" (Who are you?) Aanya demanded, her voice steadier than she felt. ''''??? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ???? ???'''' (And why do you care about the manuscript?) The stranger hesitated for only a fraction of a second before speaking. ''''???? ??? ????? ????? ??? ??? ??? ?? ??? ?? ???? ???? ????? ???? ?? ?? ?? ???? ???? ??? ?? ????? ??. ??." (My name is Idris Durrani. And if you want to survive the night, you need to come with me. Now.) Aanya exchanged a quick glance with Zayn, who shook his head almost imperceptibly. The wounds from their last encounter had barely begun to settle, and now, here was yet another mysterious figure demanding their trust. Aanya folded her arms. ''''????? ?? ?? ??? ???? ??? ???? ??? ??? ??????'''' (You¡¯re going to have to do better than that, Idris) A flicker of irritation crossed his face, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared. ''''?? ???? ??????? ???? ??? ?? ????? ?? ?? ?? ???? ?? ??? ??? ?? ??? ??? ???? ???? ??. ?? ??? ??? ???? ?? ??? ??? ?????? ???." (You don¡¯t understand. The Midnight Court has marked you. They won¡¯t stop coming. What happened tonight? That was only a warning.) Aanya felt the weight of his words settle over her like a shroud. The memory of the glowing mark on her chest, the way the figure had recoiled in fear¡ªit all came rushing back. ''''?? ??? ?? ??? ????? ????'''' (What do they want with me?) she asked, her voice quieter now. Idris exhaled sharply. ''''???? ?????'''' (Not here) He glanced around, as if half expecting shadows to come alive. ''''?? ??? ?? ?? ?????? ???? ???? ??? ????? ?? ????? ???'''' (They have eyes everywhere. We need to move) Zayn stepped forward, his expression unreadable. ''''??? ??? ?? ????? ?? ??? ?? ??? ?????'''' (And what if we say no?) ''''??? ?? ?? ??? ???'''' (Then you die), Idris said simply. Silence fell between them. Aanya could hear the distant ticking of the grandfather clock in the living room, a rhythmic reminder that time was slipping away. She had spent her whole life chasing stories¡ªunearthing truths buried beneath history¡¯s weight. And now, for the first time, she was the story. The hunted. Zayn must have seen the shift in her expression because he groaned in frustration. "????-" (Aanya¡ª) ''''????? ??? ???? ???? ???? ???'''' (We don¡¯t have a choice) she said, meeting his gaze. ''''?? ?? ????? ?? ?? ??? ??? ???? ???? ???? ??????'''' (You saw what happened tonight. We need answers.)Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Zayn ran a hand through his hair but gave in with a curt nod. ''''???? ??? ???? ??? ?? ??? ??? ?? ??? ??? ?? ??? ???? ??? ????? ??? ????" (Fine. But if this is some kind of trap, I¡¯m throwing the first punch.) Idris gave him a wry smile. "??? ???. ??? ?? ?? ????? ?? ????? ?????. ?? ???? ??? ??? ??? ????? ???" (Noted. Now, grab what you need. We leave in five minutes.) The streets of the old city were eerily silent as they moved through the labyrinthine alleys, their footsteps barely making a sound against the uneven cobblestones. Aanya pulled her scarf tighter around her shoulders, suppressing a shiver that had little to do with the night air. Idris led them with a confidence that suggested he knew these streets well. Occasionally, he would glance over his shoulder, his expression taut with vigilance. ''''?? ???? ?? ??? ????'''' (Where are we going?) Aanya finally asked. ''''??? ????? ??? ????'''' (To a safehouse) Idris replied. ''''???? ?? ???? ????? ?? ?? ???? ???? ?????'''' (Somewhere the Court can¡¯t reach you.) Zayn scoffed. ''''???? ??? ?????? ???? ??? ????? ???? ??? ?? ????? ???? ??? ?? ???? ?? ?????? ???? ????" (Right. Because shadow demons totally respect safehouse boundaries." Idris shot him an exasperated look but didn¡¯t argue. Instead, he quickened his pace, guiding them deeper into the city. Aanya wasn¡¯t sure how long they walked, but eventually, Idris stopped in front of a wooden door between two abandoned buildings. He knocked twice, paused, then knocked three more times in quick succession. A moment later, the door creaked open, revealing a dimly lit interior. Inside, the space was sparse but functional. A worn Persian rug covered the floor, and books lined the walls in stacks. A single oil lamp flickered on a wooden desk, casting long shadows against the cracked plaster walls. An elderly man sat behind the desk, his gaze sharp despite the deep lines carved into his face. He studied them for a long moment before speaking. ''''???'''' (So) he said, his voice like dry parchment. ''''?? ????? ?? ??? ???'''' (She has awakened.) Aanya stiffened. ''''?? ????? ?? ??? ??? ????'''' (You know who I am?) The man nodded. ''''?? ?? ??? ??? ?? ?? ?? ??? ????? ??? ?? ?? ??? ???'''' (More importantly, I know what you are.) Aanya felt Zayn shift beside her, his body tense. ''''??? ?? ????? ??? ???'''' (And what exactly is she?) The old man leaned forward, steepling his fingers. "???? ?? ??? " (Marked.) Aanya swallowed hard. ''''???? ?? ??? ??? ???? ?? ??? ???? ????? ???. ???? ?? ?? ??? ???? ???" (That¡¯s what the shadow said. That I bear the mark. But what does it mean?) The man studied her, his expression unreadable. ''''?? ?? ???? ?? ????? ?? ???? ????? ?? ???? ???'''' (It means, child, that you are the last of your kind.) The room seemed to shrink around her. The words settled heavily in her chest, suffocating. ''''?? ?? ???? ??? ??? ?? ??? ???'''' (What are you talking about?) she whispered. The old man sighed. "?? ???? ???? ?? ????? ?? ?? ?? ??? ?? ???? ?? ???? ??? ??? ?? ?? ??? ?? ???? ?? ?? ??? ???? ???? ?? ???? ?? - ??? ???? ???? ?? ?? ?? ???? ???? ????? ?? ?? ?? ??? ?? ????? ?? ???? ??? ???? ?? ??? ?? ????? ????? ????? ?? ?? ???? ???? ?????? ???? ?? ?????" (The Midnight Court has hunted your bloodline for centuries. The mark you bear is proof of an ancient power¡ªa power they fear. They tried to erase your lineage, to make sure no one like you would ever rise again.) Aanya¡¯s hands curled into fists. ''''?? ??? ??? ???? ???? ????'''' (Then why am I still here?) "?????? ???? ???? ????? ?? ?????? ???? ???? ???? ???" (Because fate is not so easily rewritten.) A tense silence followed. Then Zayn spoke, his voice low. "??? ?? ?? ??? ??? ??? ?? ?? ?? ... ??? ?? ?? ??? ?? ???? ???? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?????" (If what you¡¯re saying is true¡­ then they won¡¯t stop until she¡¯s dead.) The old man met his gaze. ''''?? ???? ???'''' (That is correct.) Aanya forced herself to take a steadying breath. Fear clawed at the edges of her mind, but beneath it, something else stirred¡ªanger. Defiance. She had spent her life uncovering lost histories. Now, she was a part of one. And she refused to be erased. She straightened, meeting the old man¡¯s gaze with determination. ''''??? ???? ???? ?? ???? ??? ???? ?? ????? ???'''' (Then tell me what I need to do.) A slow smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "????. ?? ???? ???'''' (Good. You are ready.) But before he could speak again, a thunderous crash shook the walls. The shadows had found them.