By the time Damien and Penny reached the mansion, it had started to rain again. The sound of the rain numbing every other sound in the surroundings.The rain hitting the roof of the carriage continuously. Stepping down, they walked inside the mansion. Both of them making their way through the halls when Penny found Lady Maggie and Lady Fleurance who stood there as if they had only returned home a few moments ago.
Lady Fleurance and Lady Grace didn’t sit at the table since Damien had defanged Grace. And though Lady Maggie sat at the table she was more than quiet. Keeping her thoughts and words to herself, finishing her meal and then leaving the dining room. Right now she offered a smile to both of them.
“I will be here with Grace. You can take your father and the rest there,” said Lady Fleurance, sending a glare to Penny more than Damien as she was the reason her daughter had lost her fangs. The vampiress didn’t stay there long and left the hall.
“To Adam’s?” Damien inquired. Maggie nodded her head,
“She doesn’t want to leave Grace alone here while we go to visit them. She hasn’t been doing well and has locked herself in the room, refusing to see anyone. Will you talk to her?” asked Maggie, her voice hopeful.
“She will be alright. What is the given time for tomorrow?” Damien switched back to the subject. Penny caught on how Maggie’s shoulder slumped which was very subtle but was notable at the same time.
“Past noon.”
Damien placed his hand on Penny’s small back, guiding her to start walking which she did.
In Damien’s room after an hour passed, Penny looked at him from the corner of her eyes to see him sleeping with his eyes closed. Stepping down on the bed and placing her feet on the carpeted floor, she tip-toed and got past the room door. Clutching the knob of the door tightly while releasing it slowly so that it wouldn’t make a noise.
When the door closed, she turned around to have her heart jump out from her chest and she covered her face using her hand seeing Damien stand right in front of her.
“You didn’t sleep,” she exhaled the air with her heart beating in her chest.
“Were you hoping I was asleep? Where were you going? Not to forget the mouse-like movements,” Damien raised his brow in question. Penny offered him a smile of being caught while trying to hide it.
“Where do you think I was going?” Penny asked in return, taking his approach in handling the conversation which had him smiling that couldn’t be called a smile.
“You don’t have to go seeking people in here. If you aren’t going to rest I have a better job for you,” his threat being successful, Penny hopped back into the room to hear the door click close. She had been sure to be careful while stepping out but then what was she thinking? Instead of fooling him, she was the one who was fooled right now.
He already knew what was going on in her mind. She should have known better.
“You should know better to not try to sneak under my nose. You should know better than that,” that’s what she said too, thought Penny to herself. Her feet took her around the bed and climb on it to settle herself in. She felt like a child that was being reprimanded when she had actually done nothing.
“It is not my place and it is something I shouldn’t interfere-”
“Don’t then-”
“Why won’t you listen to what I am saying?” she asked him frowning to have him exhale.
“Speak.”
Now that he did give her the room to speak, Penny gathered the scattered thoughts quickly, “I know we spoke about it not less than a week ago but you need to know that there are times people change. I haven’t forgiven her and…neither should you,” because he wanted to protect her. That was right, thought Penny with her thoughts sinking into her bones. Damien was protecting her and the number of times she repeated it, the deeper it felt that she stared right into his eyes now, “What she did was wrong but she has been punished. I don’t know how far the matter goes but seeing the dire environment in the mansion, you should go talk to Grace,” she said to see him staring at her.
“And do what?”
“Master Damien, you might not share the same mother but you do share the same father. She is your sister. The young one and if Lady Maggie has been worried, there must be something which you could diffuse and bring ease to her mind.”
Damien rolled his eyes, “Maggie gets worried about a lot of things. To my misfortune, the girl fell on the humane side compared to the three of us,” he fluffed the pillow behind before letting his back settle on it comfortably, “She took after our father while I took after my mother. Punishments aren’t uncommon, Penelope. It is just that you have never been in the pureblooded mansion before.”
As much as she hated Grace for what she had done, there was a pinch of pity every time she saw Grace. Her appearance was pitiful. She didn’t raise her head to look at people and looked nothing less to a phantom. Gone was the girl who was rude and cruel, throwing words arrogance.
Having no family or siblings, she often craved for one. To have someone to talk to which had been lost now. Grace had committed the mistake and she had been punished.
“Don’t people deserve atonement?”
“In some cases, you cannot think to give an atonement because people don’t deserve it. Would you forgive me if I killed an animal right in front of you? An animal that you have loved dearly?” Penny stayed quiet knowing Damien wasn’t going to budge. Lady Maggie had appeared worried at that time which was why she wanted him to have one talk. Just one word, “You want me to go and talk?” asked Damien to have her nod her head immediately, “What do I get in return?” he asked.
Did everything have to be in give and take for him?
“Do what I ask and I will go talk to her right away,” he said turning her suspicious yet being curious.
Blinking her eyes twice, she asked, “What do you want?”
“Initiate a kiss.”
