Please read the previous end of the chapter if you didn't read the updated version of it as I rewrote the end of it.Enjoy the next four chapters.
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It took Penelope less than five minutes before she started to doze away to a dreamless sleep. Her eyes that had turned heavy was now tightly shut close. With her head that rested on the soft pillow, a soft snore escaped through her lips.
Damien continued to look at her sleeping face. She looked utterly tired when he had met her at the Isle Valley. Her face marking fresh bruise, each one redder and darker with her lip that was cut. To make things worse his step-sister had made her crawl on the dirt-filled wet ground. The rim of her eyes red and it was very rare that Penny ever shed tears. Maybe today was the day where she had been comfortable enough to let the drops of tears fall in front of him.
She looked vulnerable. Her body as if weak and broken which was understandable. By the way she had answered his questions, Damien could tell that there were certain parts where she wasn't comfortable enough to talk about it. He didn't mind that because soon he would be getting the report from the very same person who had tried to damage what personally belonged to him.
Leaning forward, he moved a piece of her hair which fell on her nose, pushing it away and putting it behind her, he heard her heartbeat quiet and steadily.
After a while he smiled, she was finally opening up her thoughts for him to see. If she had the energy to hit him with the book over his small joke he didn't have to worry about her much. She was too exhausted and he couldn't but feel guilty enough to not take her with him. But at the same time, he was glad he didn't take her along with him to Woville where he had lost control.
Meeting up the witch who was dragging a woman, he had traveled by foot instead of the carriage. On the way, his corruption had started to act, making him turn in a way where he lost the count of space. It felt hazy and dark but somewhere he remembered drinking the blood of the vampires. It was one of the advantages of being a pureblooded vampire where one could feed on their own kind without worrying about the lack of humans around them.
While his state continued to fluctuate and with the amount of blood he had consumed on his way, he was finally able to travel as if the poison that had entered his core of heart was disappearing away.
Arriving back at the mansion, he had apparated to his room expecting to meet Penelope but she wasn't there. Walking around in the room, he had wondered if she down in the mansion or with his sister Maggie which had made him take shower before changing his clothes.
Stepping out of his room, he had met Maggie,
"You're finally back home," his sister Maggie had responded at his presence, "You didn't let anyone of us know that you would be gone long."
"It was a pressing matter. I didn't expect it to hold me back this long. Have you seen Penelope?" he asked looking at the below floor where some of the servants walked to work on their jobs in the mansion.
"Isn't she in the room?" Maggie questioned, her head falling to the side, "She didn't come out your room while you were gone. Maybe she is in the kitchen?" proposed his sister for him to give her a small nod. Looking down at the watch which was fixated in the hall as he stepped down the stairs, he saw it was early mid-morning. Did she not have her breakfast? he wondered.
Making his way towards the kitchen, he gave a glance trying to find her but she wasn't there either. The maids who were there bowed their head deep, not raising their heads until he had stepped out from the kitchen.
It was strange how both Damien and Penny had missed each other with less than an hour's time. If one were to arrive early and another to leave late, the whole misfortune could have been avoided but some things were meant to be. With furrowed brows, he had looked for her, trying to find her with the bond he had placed to realize she wasn't here.
There had been strict orders that Penelope was never to leave the mansion without his very permission. It was a rule he had given out when he had only bought the girl. With her not in the mansion, there was certain angst that brewed in his chest.
Penny knew not to run away and escape from the life he had handed down to her. She could be rash but she wasn't stupid when she knew how important it was for her to be safe. The question was where she was and who had taken her. With his anger bubbling up like a heat which had only started before the hot liquid would spill out, he caught hold of the maid who was walking past him with shaky legs.
He raised his hand to stop her from walking away, "Stop," the maid looked scared and worried. Her eyes looking at him as if she already knew the dread that was approaching, "Where is my pet?" he asked her.
"M-master D-Damien, Lady Grace took her," the maid stuttered unable to keep her conversation and ready to cry with the way Damien looked down at her right now.
"Where?" his jaw ticked, his red eyes narrowed to form slits.
With her throat dry, the maid gulped, "I am not sure-"
"WHERE?" his voice resonated loud enough for the glass and the other items to shake.
The girl flinched in fear. Though she had done nothing, her legs started to shake, "I-Isle Valley-ey."
Hearing this he didn't wait for a second longer. His up to no good sister had really crossed the line and it was only time she would receive what she deserved.