Blood In His Hands

Penny had closed her eyes, sure that the dreadful conversation had ended. Who would have thought that one day all she wanted was to go back to her uncle and sleep in her room as if she was dead!

But…

"Even if you get rid of your uncle somehow. You know nothing about politics, you would not be able to survive in their world and would lose the honor your father had earned and your uncle is continuing.`` He was looking so confident about it that even when she turned to look at him, the smirk did not wipe off his face.

"Though living with him is difficult, you are still enjoying all the luxuries and have a sheltered life." he said as if her uncle was doing a favor on her that made her feel wounded and a wounded tigress never give up on showing her claws.

"Ha! And he is playing a big role in it by calling all the corrupt men to his house. What is he even planning, a rebel?" she asked in a mocking laughter and then paused suddenly covering her mouth in a fake gasp, "oh, how could i even forget that you are one of them. I am sure that you would not even blink even if you committed a murder."

She stared at him hard, gauging his actions as if waiting for him to defend himself but he just laughed. A laughter that did not clear his intentions, a laughter that instilled fear in the heart of the listeners.

She was only trying to wound him the way he was trying to but she had never thought that he would accept it.

Her face turned pale and she looked appalled as she shrunk herself behind the soft pillows when he looked away.

Finally! he felt relived somehow! finally, she will realize the fear she should have felt from the start. He was going to teach her that life was never a bed of roses and many were suffering more than her.

But just when he had thought she would cower and give up, only lord knew how she gained her courage back. She took a deep breath and then smiled at him as if she did not care how much blood was in his hands.

"If you think that politics should stay in the hands of noble men like you and my uncle, then I did not care much about it. But I will still find a chance to place my thoughts and get what belongs to me.`` Her words were made of steel so that Adam could feel himself being cut by them.

He felt offended but more than that, a strange spark could be seen in her eyes that forced him to keep looking at her as if he was in a trance.

"And you think that you and he can stop me? I must say that you can hide the truth for a while but I will find my way and will come out of the dark and that day.. I will be the only laughing one here.``He wanted to tell her that it was only a line for the gullible and that men like her uncle would rather get rid of her in the dark than let her voice come out in the light.

But he kept his silence. Even if he would explain to her, she was not going to listen to him. For her, he was an enemy. She was surprisingly witty when it comes to her but naive when it comes to the cruelty of the world. But she would learn for the time as the best teacher.

He looked away as if he was lashing out on the window when she gouged his expressions. Misunderstanding that her words had been moving and effective, a smirk was brought on her lips as she goaded.

"When you reach, there will be security all around. So, stay silent for a few days before acting foolish. We will stop here." he knocked the inside small window of the carriage that was connecting it from the seat of the coachman.

The carriage stopped and he did not wait for the footmen to open the door.

Penny looked around, they were still far away from the palace but she knew these woods.

With some caution, she walked out of the carriage when she saw him lighting a cigarette and taking a long swig.

"You know this area. Don't you?" The surety on his face was leaving goosebumps on her skin.

"I do not understand what you are talking about?" she feigned as she looked back at the carriage. "It is already late. We should not waste time standing here."

This is the heritage of her father. How could she trust a man like him!

"Ha! So, you do know that it is getting late!" he mocked as he held her hands and then started dragging her towards the small hidden tunnel.

She didn't even get the time to walk properly. She was moving her flailing hands but he was to the limit of his patience and did not give her enough time.

His long strides forced her to run behind him. But what shocked her was.. He knew the exact location of the heritage tunnel that was used during the emergencies.

"How did you do?" she asked with shock and horror when he scoffed.

"Since you remember about the tunnel, it would be better that you start walking on your own. Your uncle had already realized that you are not in that bar anymore and he could go to check your room anytime. Remember, all this time, you were sleeping in your room. Even if someone says that they had checked and you were not there, you will say you were in the washroom. You had not left the room even once."

She nodded her head as he let go of her hand and she started walking by herself but..

"how did you know about this tunnel, Adam? i do not remmber showing it to you!?"