Masked Love Read online

  Rey walked out of the kitchen towards the living room. He sat in between Peter and Venus and smiled at them.

  “Hey what are you…?” started Venus, but Rey was thumping Peter.

  “What’s that for…?” asked Peter, and Rey grinned.

  “Nothing… Just feeling great this morning…” he smiled, but his smile changed into a sheepish grin as he noticed Mia smile and shake her head in mock.

  “Breakfast is ready…” she said to them and everyone followed her. Lilly walked back into the room and joined them. She spared a look at Venus and then sat on a chair.

  Venus was staring at her too… thinking, ‘She’s just like me!’

  Chapter 8

  The days passed by slowly, and Venus was enjoying every minute with the guys. It was like she was with regular friends… Lilly was still the same with her but Venus knew she could try and change her, as she knew very well how she felt inside… lonely… afraid… withered…

  Rey, he was with Venus almost every minute… and she even forgot that she was supposed to be staying away from him. They were becoming real good friends… and she tried to keep it there. Whenever he tried to cross the line, Venus brought up Jellal and the engagement, and he’d just clench his fist and walk away… She felt worried but she had to do that to prevent herself from falling for him… She knew it could never work out…

  The guys were visiting the village often and Peter said that he would take her there soon… and she didn’t push it… They needed time to trust her completely… like she did.

  One night, Venus was standing in the backyard, enjoying the moon. She was wearing Mia’s night robe and her hair was moving around her gently in the breeze. Right then, she felt him stand close to her…

  “Didn’t you sleep…?” he asked her, moving closer, his hand gently brushing hers.

  She shook her head. “I was just thinking…” she said looking at him. “I was wrong about you guys… I mean… when you kidnapped me… I wanted to…” she smiled. “-tell my village people and uncle about it… So they could take care of you… But now… knowing you’re doing these for a great cause… I feel like being with you… to do what I can to help you…”

  She felt him move closer again, but stood still. “Then, stay here…” he whispered. “Be with me…” She felt him breathe against her neck.

  She turned around with a smile… as if she wasn’t feeling her heartbeats rise… as if she didn’t want to hold him close to her to let him do what he wanted with her… as if… as if… she wasn’t really feeling his feelings at the moment.

  “Venus-” He whispered as he leaned forward, staring at her lips.

  “You know what…? I know what to do…” She smiled as he looked at her with a smile. “I’ll say to uncle about this and he can help us… Jellal would be really glad to…”

  But she noticed the smile fade from his face at the mention of Jellal’s name.

  “No…” he growled. “We don’t want anyone to know about our village… or us…” he said his fists clenching. “We don’t need anyone’s sympathetic looks or help… We’ll be fine…”

  “But Rey… You cannot go on like this…” She tried ignoring her own heart ache. ‘Why is she feeling like this…? She knew she’d hurt him… again… But it’s for the best… He was just attracted to her and it might turn out worse for her if he starts to realize it after she’s fallen for him… And, to think about what Jellal might do if he knows about any of these…’ Venus sighed. “Peter told me that you guys could stop what you’re doing if some village or the leaders promise to help.” she completed.

  “And do you think it would ever happen…? The other villages and the people just care about themselves… It would only turn out worse for our people if anyone gets to know about us… considering who we really are…” he said the last words a bit sarcastically.

  “But Rey…”

  “Leave it Venus…” he sighed angrily and Venus spared him a look before turning to leave. But suddenly, she felt him pull her by her arm and held her close, staring into her eyes. He groaned softly as he felt her entire body pressed up against his and stooped his head to kiss her furiously. But she stopped him with her fingers over his mouth.

  “I’m already engaged, Rey…” she said. ‘Now, why is she hating herself for that…?’

  “You don’t have the ring anymore…” He breathed still holding her close, and Venus stared at her fingers.

  “I-I lost it in the stream… Jellal will be worried…”

  ‘Again…? Arrrgh… What can he do to make her forget about this Jellal guy…? She was driving him insane…’ he thought as Venus pulled away from him and walked into the house.

  Rey stood there staring behind her. He dug in his pocket and took out the ring… ‘He’s never going to give it back to her…. And he’s definitely never going to give her back to anyone.’

  The next day, Venus was in the kitchen with Mia when Rey and Peter walked in saying that they were going to the village.

  “Venus… Don’t just stand there… Get ready…” said Peter and she stared at him.

  “You mean…” She smiled at him and looked at Mia who nodded at her with a smile. “Oh… Just a minute.” She hurried to her room and chose a pink dress from the dresses Mia had given her and wore it in a hurry and then hurried back to them hand combing her hair.

  Rey noticed that she’d never looked more beautiful, but he tried to ignore her when she looked at him. He was not talking to her since their conversation the previous night. Venus was bothered by that but she trusted everything was for their own good.

  They reached the village in a few minutes and before Venus could even blink, she heard a kid shout, “Rey… Peter…” and ran towards them. Venus turned around to see a small boy of about five or six years old run towards them from Lilly’s side. Lilly was a constant visitor of the village.

  Rey took the boy in his arms and raised him. “Hey there, Max…”

  Venus was smiling at him as a few people came towards them saying their ‘hello’s’. They looked at Venus and smiled. ‘You must be Venus…” said the oldest lady among them. “Peter told us about you…” she smiled and Venus smiled back at her. She took in the whole village. It was small. The people were walking around with their jobs at hand – cutting wood, fishing… carrying logs… Venus noticed everyone was doing something, even the kids. The women were cooking, or cutting vegetables or carrying water from the stream… There were not much houses in there… but shelters. But the people were looking happy and good. She looked at Peter who was helping the men with cutting woods and chatting with them. Rey was talking to a group of kids. Lilly was with him.

  The village wouldn’t have survived these many years… not with just these men who looked cheerful but was really weak with their losses on the inside. It was only because of these four people… whom she considered as the cruelest and disgusting bandits before… that these people are still alive on this world. Venus could see the love they had for the four of them and that alone was an enough proof to excuse whatever they had done…

  She looked at Rey who was playing with Max now and a small smile lit up her face… She felt herself admiring him… and felt the strange feeling creep up her heart. But this time, she couldn’t push the feeling away…

  Rey turned to look at her and caught her staring at him. He almost stumbled forward on that look and felt his heart flutter as she walked towards him.

  “Rey… I’m just feeling really proud of you guys right now…” she smiled. Lilly gave her a look and slowly walked away.

  Rey stared at her eyes, which were gleaming at him at the moment… and he knew… something had changed in her.

  Venus felt someone pull at her hand and looked down to see little Max standing there, his head tilted. She knelt down before him and smiled at him.

  “Are you Rey’s wife…?” he asked.

  Venus looked at him shocked for a moment and then raised her head to look at Rey. He was s
taring at her too… with his usual, disturbing, looks that made her draw her eyes back and lick her lips nervously. They were both thinking about the forest incident.

  “Er…” She shook her head and smiled at him. “I’m his friend…”

  “Oh… Okay…” he said and Venus placed a small kiss on his forehead. Rey was smiling at her.

  Suddenly, there was a noise as if someone crying out. Rey hurried towards the other side from where they heard the noise and Venus followed with Max.

  “What happened…?” he asked in panic, sitting near Lilly and staring at the small girl, Tammy, around the age of Max, shivering uncontrollably. She had her eyes closed and her breathing was not even.

  “She was playing with the kids and suddenly collapsed down…” said Lilly, as she held her forehead. She had a high fever.

  “We must take her to a clinic…” said Rey.

  “But Rey… it’s really far from here… and what if something-” started Lilly.

  Venus sat beside them and touched little Tammy’s forehead. But Lilly was furious and slapped her hand away. “Just mind your own business…” she fumed as Venus stared at her.

  “This is my business…” said Venus as she raised Tammy in her hands and walked to a shelter and placed her on a cot. She took a piece of clean cloth from the shelter and dipped it in clean water. Then, laid it neatly on the girl’s forehead.

  By this time, Peter, Tammy’s parents and the other villagers had gathered around them. The parents of the little girl were sobbing quietly.

  “You shouldn’t have let her out when she is sick like this…” fumed Lilly. “What were you guys thinking…? What if something happens…? You know very well about our situation…” their parents sobbed harder.

  Venus cut her off. She held Tammy’s mother’s shoulders and pulled her close. “Don’t worry… everything will be fine… She’s going to be alright…” The poor lady gave a small nod as she sniffed back her tears.

  “Peter… Get me some clean clothes… and Rey, come with me…” she said as she walked out. As though remembering something, she turned around and looked at Lilly. “Lilly, get some warm water… and wipe her whole body… and don’t forget to dip the cloth on her forehead in cold water once in a few minutes…” Lilly stood there staring at Venus. “Please hurry… we must bring the fever down soon…” she said and Lilly hurried out.

  Rey was watching Venus move beside the plants and trees, smelling some leaves before collecting them, gathering some roots and then gave them to Rey. “I want the essence of these… make sure you add a cube of sugar when you grind it…” said Venus and Rey nodded. They walked back to the shelter where Tammy was lying and saw Lilly holding Tammy in her hands and helping her mother wipe her down.

  “How’s she doing now…?” asked Venus as she sat near her and held her forehead. The fever was still there.

  “The shivering is much better…” said Peter. Rey hurried with the essence as Venus had asked and handed it to her.

  Venus slowly raised the girl in her hand and tried to pour the medicine gently into her lips. Tammy struggled a bit but was then swallowing it slowly. Venus wiped her mouth and laid her back on the cot. They waited staring at the girl… After a few minutes, she was starting to sweat heavily. And, after another few more minutes, she slowly opened her eyes and looked around. “Tammy…. Oh God… Thank you…” said her mother as she took the girl in her arms and kissed her. Her father kissed the girl’s forehead and looked at Venus with tear filled eyes.

  “Don’t worry… Just let her rest well… and she’ll be alright tomorrow morning…” said Venus. “You do want to play with the other kids right Tammy…?” asked Venus to her and she nodded. “Good… now take a long nap and you’ll feel really better in the morning… I’ll give you a visit tomorrow evening, and you can tell me all about the games you’ve played with your friends… ok…?” she kissed her forehead and Tammy nodded with a smile.

  The villagers thanked Venus, but she just shook her head in modesty. ‘It was, as her father used to say, what she’s supposed to do anyway… serve the needy…’

  They walked towards their house and Lilly was silent all the way. Rey was staring at Venus most of the time but she was busy looking around her and asking Peter her doubts about the village and the area.

  Chapter 9

  When they reached the house Lilly walked straight to her room and Peter hurried to Mia to tell her what had happened in the village that day. Venus walked to her room and then stepped into her bathroom to fresh up a bit. When she stepped out, wiping her face however, Rey was sitting on her bed, staring at her.

  “Rey…” Venus started. “Er… What are you doing here…?”

  He looked at her and tilted his head. He was sure he saw a tint of her real feelings in her eyes when she looked up at him like that at the village… But now, she’d put the mask back on. He shook his head and then shrugged. “I felt like being here…” he said and his tone somehow bothered her.

  Venus blinked and was about to walk out of the room, when Rey beat her to it. He closed the door shut and leaned against it, staring at her face… his eyes boring into hers.

  “Rey… Come on…” she tried to smile but her nervousness was getting the better of her. “Move… I must go and help Mia…”

  Rey shook his head and Venus felt a tremor… not of fear but of excitement, which was even worse, run through her entire body as she noticed his looks fall on every inch of her body. Her face reddened and she dropped her eyes to the floor.

  “Look at me!” he growled, and her eyes immediately shot to his’. “I’ve seen the way you looked at me earlier, Venus… and I’m never going to forget that… And, I’m definitely not going to let you forget about that…” he said as he moved towards her. Venus backed away from him and she found herself taking a few desperate steps backwards to match his every single steady step forwards. She was proud of being a strong young lady… who could stand up to face every problems life threw at her… But then, it was a shock to her that her confidence and inner strength was melting away with just a look from him and it terrified her. “Wh-what do you want, Rey?” Venus managed, trying to pull herself together.

  Rey gave her an overall look, before smiling down at her pretty little face which was even redder now. “Do you want to know…?” he breathed his eyes gleaming at her.

  “Rey… I’ve told you before… You just can’t toy with me like this… I’m already-” But he held her mouth with his fingers before she could complete.

  “Not anymore…” he whispered, pulling her close. “I’m not letting you go, Venus… You belong here… with me.”

  “Rey…” Venus pulled away from his grip and looked at him furiously. He was bothering her in a different way and it was making her uncomfortable. Venus had never let anyone get close to her before… She lived in her own way until then… and she would not let anyone order her around… ever. Except Jellal and his parents that is! She couldn’t seem to avoid their request of marrying him even though she didn’t even like the idea. For some reason, she couldn’t disobey her father’s friend’s request… who was more than just a family friend for her. “Look… I can’t stand anyone ordering me around… and, I’ve already told you this. I’m already engaged and you should avoid flirting with me… If you know what’s good for you…”

  Rey gave out a grunt before holding her arm and pulling her close. “Alright… Just tell me one thing then… I’ll leave you alone, if you do…” Venus looked at him angrily, still struggling to pull away from his grip. “Tell me… Do you really want to marry him…? Do you really want to live with him…?” Venus froze for a moment, her mind swirling with her own thoughts about how much she wanted to call the marriage off… How much she wanted to run away from the life chosen for her… But that could never happen…

  She dropped her eyes to the floor. “That’s…” she started without looking at him. “None of your business…” she whispered.

  He held her fa
ce and made her look at him. “I intent to make it my business…” he growled as he leaned forwards and slammed his lips against hers… pulling her closer to him… He kissed her furiously as if there was no tomorrow… Rey probed her mouth with his tongue and with a fierce nudge he managed to gain entrance to taste and devour her mouth. But when his tongue touched hers, Venus snapped out of her shock and pushed him away. She breathed hard… her eyes filled with tears of confusion and uncertainty. Venus raised her fingers to her mouth and felt her swollen lips…

  “Venus…” tried, Rey as he pulled her close. But she shook away from his grip and stared at him.

  “No…” she whispered, shakily. “Leave me alone… Rey.”

  Rey shook his head, gripping her arm. “You’re mine, Venus…” She shook her head again and stepped back. “I know it… You don’t like him… this stupid marriage with him is not what you want… Because, if you do… you won’t look so relieved when you lost your engagement ring… You won’t look so distressed every time you say his name…” Venus stared at him. “Trust me… You really want to stay here… with me.”

  “No…” Venus snapped. “I want to go back… to my village… to-”

  “You don’t have to lie to me…” he smirked. “Let me put it this way… You’ve lost your engagement ring… and as long as its’ not on your finger, you’re not engaged to anyone… And, I have all the time… and ways to help you make up your mind…” his smile for some reason sent tingles down her feet.

  “Rey…” but he had pulled her towards him to silence her with a kiss on her forehead.

  “You don’t have to mask your feelings from me…” he whispered huskily.

  “I’m not-” But he had already moved towards the door with a smirk.

  “And… thanks for helping Tammy today… It was really nice of you…” he smiled at her and then winked before walking out.

  “Great!” Venus sighed as she sat on her bed holding her head in her hands. ‘What the hell is going on with me…? Why couldn’t I pull away from him earlier…?’ thought Venus. ‘Stay away from him…’ She warned herself. “She’ll have to stay away from him because… she cares about him…’ But Venus knew she’d lose the battle if he tries his way on her…