Masked Love Page 5

  Peter agreed. As for Lilly, she just stood up and walked away, throwing a little comment, “Whatever…! I’m off to the village… Rey… You better come with me too… The villagers and kids were asking for you…”

  Rey sighed and stood up, glancing towards the room where Venus was in before walking out after Lilly.

  “I can’t believe how arrogant she gets day by day…” fumed Peter. “I mean… How can she just walk out casually after doing something like that…? And, I can’t believe Rey is keeping quiet about all these…”

  “You know very well why Rey is lenient with her… She had to suffer the most among us.” sighed, Mia as she stroked Peter’s hair. “Don’t worry… We’ll sort it out for the girl… She can stay here as long as she wants… We need to keep her safe…”

  Peter sighed and kissed her hand. “She must be tired and hungry… Why don’t you bring something for her to eat… while I check on her…?” he asked and Mia nodded with a smile.

  Peter walked towards the room Venus was locked in and slowly opened the door. He felt really bad to see her curled up in a corner. It had been hours since she was tied up and locked up like this.

  “Who’s that…?” asked Venus, listening to the footsteps, trying to back away from her expected danger.

  “Don’t worry… I’m not going to hurt you…” Peter said slowly. “I’m Peter… Rey’s friend… and, I’m sorry about all these…”

  “Could you please get this rope off my hands…? It’s hurting me.” said Venus with a sniff. She forced herself to blink back the tears forming in her eyes not used to letting anyone see her cry.

  Peter walked behind her and gently removed the rope and released her hands. Venus immediately pulled her hands to her front and removed the cloth tied around her eyes before massaging her hands. It was really hurting her bad.

  “I’m really sorry…” said Peter. “It was a mistake…” he said and Venus nodded.

  “Are you going to let me go…?” she asked a bit nervously. She wasn’t sure about staying there but she definitely couldn’t go back either.

  “Um… I’m afraid you’ll have to stay here for a few days… as we have to take care of something…”

  Venus sighed. ‘Well… he doesn’t seem like a bad guy…’ thought Venus.

  “Hello there…” said a woman’s voice and Venus turned her head to see a beautiful, kind-faced woman walk into the room with a tray in her hand. She neatly placed it on the bed and turned to look at Venus with a smile. “I’m Mia…”

  “Venus…” she said returning the smile.

  “That’s a real cute name… and it suits you…” said Mia and Venus found herself warming to the both of them. “Now… you must be hungry…” She pointed towards the tray and Venus looked at it doubtfully. “Don’t worry… we didn’t put anything-”

  “Oh no… I wasn’t thinking about that…” said Venus as she sat on the bed and took a piece of bread and dipped it in the onion soup. It tasted delicious. She smiled at Mia as she took a mouthful.

  “So… Tell me Venus…” said Peter cheerfully. “What do you do…?”

  Venus swallowed her bread before answering. “I’m just a normal village girl… who likes to serve her village… I’ve learned the line of medicine from my father and help the needy and sick of our village…”

  “That’s a real great thing to do…” said Peter and she smiled. “So… What about your family…? Any siblings?” asked Peter, eyeing her closely.

  Venus’ face lost the glow. She looked at him with a sad smile and shook her head. “I don’t have anyone… Lost them all in the flood a few years back…” She stared back at her plate as she heard Mia’s catch of breath. Peter and Mia had already heard it from Rey, but hearing it from Venus made them gasp.

  “You must be too young back then… I mean, the flood took place a long time ago… when I was a kid, if I could remember…” said Peter, his voice reflecting concern.

  She nodded her head. “Yes.”

  “Oh… It must have been really hard for you to cope up with everything alone…” said Mia and Venus noticed the genuine concern in her voice, like she’d known how it would be.

  “I came through fine…” she smiled. “The villagers who survived were a great help and I had my father’s friend’s family to take care of me…”

  “But you had to live alone…” insisted Peter.

  Venus looked at him in shock thinking how he might have known, then thought about their idea of kidnapping her and nodded. “I-yes… I don’t want to be a burden to anyone… I don’t really like the idea…” she said and Peter nodded. She couldn’t believe she was talking to her captives as if they’re good friends. They seem really nice though…

  “Why are you guys doing all these…? I mean… you seem too nice to be cruel bandits…”

  “We are…” Peter sighed. “I assure you… We’re not the ones who’d done all those terrible things to the innocents for money… We never hurt or kill people for money…”

  “But you do rob people…” Venus insisted.

  “Only the rich ones who are squeezing the poor for their own benefits…” Venus looked at him and he shook his head with a smile.

  “Your case was a mistake… Our informer mistook you for the head of the village…”

  “A nasty one at it…” pouted Venus. “-who’d harm her own people…”

  “Well… no… We know your village just adores you… er… We did think that you might be a spoilt brat with that kind of richness…” he shrugged as she stared at him.

  “My father was a great man… He never kept a penny for himself… Helped the village with everything he had and the only richness I have with me is the love of my village people and the goodwill of my father…” she sighed.

  “We didn’t know about that…” said Peter. “We didn’t quite enquire the details deeply… We just needed the money desperately…” he sighed.

  “But why?” she asked. “Why do you need this much money…? What are you doing with it…? It’s just the four of you anyway…”

  He sighed and shook his head. “You’re not the only victim of the flood Venus…” he said staring at her. “There are people out there who’d lost their families… their loved ones… their belongings… and even their courage… We need to support them…”

  “You mean the village… Rey was talking about?” she asked and he nodded.

  Rey was standing outside the room, leaning against the wall listening to their conversation. He couldn’t really leave her in the room like that and he returned to release her and he heard her talking to Peter and Mia. But the conversation had drifted away too much… He must step in and stop it right now…

  “So… What’s going on here…?” he asked casually stepping in the room.

  Venus spared him one furious look and then turned to look at Peter. “But what would you do now Peter…? I mean… you need money…” she asked.

  “We’ll think of something… Don’t worry…” Peter smiled.

  “Can you take me there, Peter…? To the village…? I want to see them… if I may…” she added.

  He thought for a while and answered. “Not now… But very soon…” he smiled at her and Venus thanked him with a smile.

  ‘Now why is she getting all close with him like that?’ thought Rey as he looked at the both of them.

  “Venus… I’m sorry Lilly did that to you…” started Rey, but she cut him off with a cute yawn.

  “You must be really tired.” said Mia. “Sleep here… and we’ll talk in the morning… Good night.”

  “Good night, Mia... See you tomorrow, Peter…” said Mia and lay on her bed. Before Rey could talk to her, she turned to her side and pulled the covers over her.

  Rey sighed and walked out with the others.

  “She’s really innocent…” said Mia. “I feel terrible for taking her away from her village like this…”

  “Me too… But it’s a good thing… We could keep her safe here
…” said Peter. “I really like her.” said Peter and Rey turned to look at him, his fists clenching.

  He didn’t wait there any longer, just climbed the steps and walked to his room.

  Chapter 7

  The next morning, Venus woke up and freshened herself in the bathroom which was near to her room. Then, walked out, only to bump into Lilly.

  “What are you doing here…?” she fumed. “Just stay in the room…”

  “I don’t think I’m a prisoner…” Venus countered. “You must be Lilly… the informer…” smiled Venus and Lilly read a mock from her face. She spared her a look and walked upstairs to Rey’s room.

  Venus shrugged and then slowly walked around the house, looking around and finally stopped in the kitchen, where she found Mia working.

  “Can I join you…?” she asked from the doorway and Mia turned around with a smile. “Good morning…”

  “Good morning, Venus…” she smiled. Mia was cutting vegetables for their morning breakfast. “I was going to make some vegetable stew…”

  Venus took over the vegetable cutting. “Where’s Peter…?”

  “He’s outside…” Mia pointed towards their backyard and Venus saw Peter working on the vegetable farm.

  “He loves farming…” Mia smiled, looking admiringly at him.

  ‘And… You love him…’ smiled Venus as she stared back at the cutting board and completed the task.

  “It’s coffee time…” said Mia and poured hot coffee in a few cups.

  “I can’t believe that you guys are behaving like normal people… This coffee thing… breakfast preparation… and farming…?” Venus looked confused as Mia laughed.

  “Then what did you expect…? That we’ll wake up every morning shouting…” She cleared her throat and said in a throaty voice, “-whom do we rob today…?” Obviously trying to pretend a cruel, mean guy… and Venus couldn’t help but laugh. And, Mia joined her.

  She was about to take the coffee cups when Venus stopped her. “I’ll give this to Peter… Lilly obviously wouldn’t want to see me and I obviously don’t want to see Rey after the way he stood watching Lilly tie me up…”

  “He tried to protest you know…” defended Mia. “Lilly is a bit adamant… Can’t blame her… She’d been through a lot…” sighed Mia, but smiled again as she noticed Venus’ concerned looks. “Go on then, Peter doesn’t like waiting for his coffee…” said Mia.

  “You seem to know a lot about him and his habits…” smiled Venus as Mia blushed, and then they both walked out of the kitchen.

  “Good morning…” said Venus as she walked towards Peter with two steaming cups of coffee.

  “Venus… Good morning…” said Peter, turning around to see her standing there with the coffee. He looked towards the doorway.

  “She’s busy…” said Venus. “Don’t worry… It’s only for today… From tomorrow, she’ll give you the coffee, perhaps as usual…” smirked, Venus as he smiled sheepishly.

  They sat on the lawn bench, to drink their coffee.

  “So… Why is Lilly this way…?” Venus asked looking at him. “I know… it had only been a day since I knew you guys… But I think we’ve gone through the same fate for some reason… So tell me if it’s the right thing to do…”

  Peter sighed. “Lilly was affected by the flood as well… She lost her parents and her siblings in it and had to stay with their lifeless bodies for four dreadful days until Rey found her… She’d almost died both tired and weary out of her miseries and hunger by then… She was just a kid…”

  “Like me…” whispered Venus in shock and Peter nodded.

  “Like you…” he said. “We all have our own stories behind us…” sighed, Peter.

  Peter lost his baby sister who was the only family he had, in the flood. Mia lost her grandparents with whom she lived and it was still a shock to her… the whole incident shook her real bad… Rey lost his dad who was a traveler and a service person. His dad died trying to save Rey and a few of the village people…

  Then the famine and disasters took place all over the village. Rey, Peter, Mia and Lilly were put together by fate and they continued to be together to help their village… As no one even tried to help their village for a long dreadful years, they took the matter in their young hands, trying to feed their village… support them through hard times… earning them the name ‘bandits’. He said that they would stop what they’re doing the minute any village or leaders offer help for their village’s survival…

  Venus felt high respect for them by the time Peter finished. “So… What about the other bandit group…? The ones killing and robbing innocents…?”

  “They are the ones we are searching for…” Peter fumed. “They are doing this for their own benefit… We are trying our best to catch hold of them and put an end to their atrocities… You must be careful, Venus…” he warned suddenly and Venus looked at him. “They might be after you… thinking that you’re the heir of your family…”

  “Oh… Why do they have to get themselves committed before enquiring about things…?” she groaned.

  “Well… No one seems to know much about your village and your family wealth… Everyone is just after your family name and the goodwill…” Peter smiled. “-including us… But don’t worry… You’ll be safe as long as you’re here…”

  Venus nodded and then sighed, thinking about her own encounter with the bandits… ‘She must do what she can to help put an end to them…’ she thought.

  Mia was in Rey’s room folding the bedspreads lying everywhere and straightening the pillows and covers. Rey was still on his bed and Lilly was lying on the sofa in the corner of the room.

  Mia woke her up and gave her a cup of coffee. Then gently shook Rey.

  “Good Morning, Mia…” Rey smiled sleepily, and took the coffee from her. Lilly walked out of the room after emptying her cup.

  Rey sat for a while sipping his coffee when something struck his mind. “Is Venus awake…?”

  Mia smiled. “She woke up early in the morning… helped me with the breakfast and now is with Peter… in the backyard.”

  He stared at her. “With Peter…?” he asked and Mia nodded. He emptied his cup in one sip and hurried into the bathroom. Then, hurried out of the room, climbing down the stairs, he walked into the backyard.

  Venus was helping Peter with watering the plants. She sprinkled water over him and Peter chased her. Rey felt his insides burn as he saw her laughing with Peter. ‘Why is she enjoying with him…?’

  “Hey guys… Can I join the fun too…?” he asked trying his level best not to grit his teeth. Venus looked at him and then rolled her eyes.

  “Good morning, Rey…” said Peter. “We’re just watering the plants…”

  “I can see that…” said Rey with a forced smile. He looked at Venus but she wasn’t looking at him. ‘Look at me… Venus… Look at me…’ he thought hard and she turned to face him. Her eyes staring into his, but she immediately drew it away as she met with the strange intensity in them.

  “I’ll just go and er… see if Mia needs any help…” She walked back to the house and Rey followed her.

  “Looks like you’re enjoying…” said Rey his eyes on her.

  She didn’t reply anything, just kept on walking but Rey held her hand and forced her to look at him. “Look… I’m sorry I didn’t stop Lilly… I couldn’t…”

  “You said no one will hurt me here… and…” she looked at him. “I believed you…” she stared back at her feet. “So you’ll just do the same even if I’m in real danger…”

  “I won’t...” he stared into her eyes and Venus remembered about the stream incident. She didn’t know why she was trying to avoid him… But she was sure it wasn’t just because of ‘the Lilly tying her up’ incident… He was starting to frighten her… in a different way and it bothered her…

  Venus sighed and walked into the house, and stepped into the kitchen. Rey went to the living room and sat on a chair, staring at her often.<
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  After a few minutes, Peter joined Rey in the living room. But Rey didn’t talk to him much. He just stood up and walked into the kitchen.

  But Venus, on seeing him, strolled towards the living room and sat on the sofa beside Peter, talking to him.

  Rey felt his insides tighten as he watched them together, laughing and chatting like that. He walked over to Mia and stood there with his hands fold over his chest.

  “What’s with the long face?” asked Mia and he shrugged.

  “You know… I just had this feeling…” he looked at Mia. “Don’t you think they are getting really close to each other…?” he asked.

  “Who…? Venus and Peter…?” asked Mia and Rey nodded. “Do you think so….?”

  “I mean… look at the way they are sitting and laughing like that…”

  Mia looked at Rey for a minute before looking at Venus and Peter, laughing together.

  “They do look cute together, don’t they?” asked Mia, hiding a smile.

  “What? You-You’re not angry…?” he asked.

  “Why should I be…? They like each other… They enjoy each other’s company…” she looked at Rey closely noticing the anger in his face.

  “Not that I’m frightening you or anything… I don’t want you to be sad… The next thing you know, they might be really together… I’m just trying to warn you… Mia, you’re my best friend…”

  “I thought Peter was your best friend…” she asked and smiled at him. “Rey… Are you jealous…?” She looked at him and Rey’s eyes widened with shock as he shook his head. “I don’t think you’re jealous over Peter… I’ve been together with him all these years and you never seemed to be bothered by it… So… are you jealous over her…?” she smiled knowingly, staring at him closely.

  “What? Don’t be ridiculous… Why would I be…?”

  “Don’t worry… Peter told me yesterday, that she looks exactly like the baby sister he lost in… you know… His feelings for her are brotherly… So, you don’t have to be jealous…”

  “I’m not jealous…” said Rey. “Wait… did Peter really say that…?”

  Mia nodded and noticed him sigh in relief. “And, Venus… I don’t think she sees him that way…”