Manjarachi Savali

MANOJ FOLLOWED NEMADE INTO THE ROOM. SUDHIRA WAS SITTING ON THE BED, HER BACK TOWARD THEM. SHE TURNED SHARPLY AT THE SOUND AND MANOJ RECOILED IN HORROR. SUDHIRA HAD WASTED AWAY TO NOTHING; HE COULD SEE THE HARSH LINES OF HER COLLARBONES BENEATH HER DRESS. HER EYELASHES HAD TURNED WHITE, AND HER SKIN WAS COVERED IN A PALE MOSS-LIKE FUR. AS HER EYES FLICKED UPWARDS TO MEET HIS, HE SAW IN THEM A FLASH OF BRILLIANT GREEN. DESPERATELY, MANOJ SEARCHED SUDHIRA`S IMPASSIVE FACE, BUT IT BETRAYED NO SIGN OF RECOGNITION. NUMBLY, HE TURNED AWAY FROM SUDHIRA AND HIS GAZE FELL ON HER SHADOW. THERE, A DARK ANTONYM TO THE STARK WHITE OF THE WALL, WAS THE SILHOUETTE OF A CROUCHING CAT... . . . . . . . . . . . , . , . ... , .