Iviyana

I knew it. The bastard would somehow get a hold of it. And now what am I supposed to do?

If I grab for it, he'll know I was spying on him and that too at his naked self. I'll be labelled as a pervert of the worst sort and everyone will know about it. Papa will no doubt disown me. My beloved would never see my face. And the shame it would bring. The rumors will follow me and I won't be able to live with my head held high. Ever.

If I behave ignorant in this regard. I'll lose my most precious treasure to the monster. All the fond memories will vanish. The first gift I received from Papa. The only thing that stayed by my side all those lonely nights when Papa was away. Was I ready to part with it? The comfort it brought me. The childhood memories attached to it.

I didn't get the chance to make a decision.

"What are you thinking about so hard?" The bastard's voice seemed very close. I looked up and my eyes widened again for a different reason altogether.  His face was just inches away from mine. Such perfection at such close level. My mouth hung open at the beauty of it all. I forgot all about the wooden rod as his familiar fragrance hit me directly. I breathed it in deeply. The soft skin begged me to touch it and those silver eyes had black specks in the center. I had never noticed them before. How could I miss them? Two slanting dark brows and that sinful mouth. The full lips that were tilting up into a smirk. I wanted to kis..

I jerked at the thought and stepped back unconsciously. My hand on my heart which was beating rapidly. I blinked and shook my head. What is wrong with me? How can I think about kissing this bastard?

My eyes betrayed me again and flitted to his knowing ones, as if he could read where my thoughts just went. The sly grin on his face confirming my suspicion. The icy glare I directed his way widened that grin on his face. I must have lost my head there for a moment, swooning over this bastard's face like a love sick maiden. I cleared my throat and ignored this small error on my part.

"Ways to humiliate you. Torture you. Making you kneel in front of me." I said sarcastically, averting my eyes from him. I'd be damned if I let him know how affected I was by my very own thoughts.

He chuckled and stepped aside to allow me inside. "Are you sure it didn't had anything to do with my new possession? " He flung the rod up in air and caught it easily. Damn him .I ignored the jibe and walked inside briskly making sure I didn't touch his body accidentally. He sauntered over leisurely and sat down at the head chair. His gaze on me. He placed the wooden rod on table and rolled it. "You know something interesting happened yesterday."

My ears perked up at that. My eyes moving from the rod on the table to him. I moved to the chair farthest from him and sat down slowly.

"I caught a voyeur spying on me." I didn't let anything show on my face but my heart rate quickened. "When I was taking a dip in the lake." He paused again for effect and drawled in a very deep voice as if whispering a secret. "Naked."  I flinched ,cursing myself for the mistake. "The little rat ran away before I could catch him"  he looked straight at me and added  "or her."

I gulped. His eyes followed the movement. The bastard was goading me to tell the truth, he already knew. As if, I'll dig my own grave.

 "Unfortunately for him or her, a piece of evidence was left behind." The rod rolled once again. "You didn't happen to see or hear anything about it, did you?" He asked scrutinizing my face.

I shrugged my shoulders and shook my head. The lies flowing out my lips easily. "I am a deep sleeper. Once my head hits the pillow, it is near impossible to wake me up. Even if something of the sort happened, I don't see how I can be of any help. I don't even know the  names or for that matter faces of most here. But if you want I can ask the others if they know something." I said solemnly, keeping my eyes on him. Hoping that he'll buy it.

But the bastard is too shrewd. Too clever. His eyes narrowed . He got up with lithe grace and came over to my side. I shrink-ed back in the chair, appearing nonchalant outside and quivering inside. He sat at the edge of the table, studying me. His hands tracing the letters of my name on the rod. My eyes flicked to it. There is nothing to fear. My name on the rod didn't mean anything. Anyone could have written it. Papa will not be back in another few days, the only one who knew the rod belonged to me and until then, it will all be over. I'll steal it back. He has nothing on me and I'll cut my own tongue before admitting.

But the silent eerie way he was looking at me jumbled my nerves. I shifted and looked in the opposite direction to avoid this interrogation that was being carried out. Looking everywhere but him.  He is no fool. I couldn't dissuade him with my cooked up stories so it is better if I don't admit to anything and keep on playing innocent.

Argh, it is so unnerving. His gaze blowing holes on my face. Any more and I'll burst with all this tension and worrying.

I spoke up without thinking, not willing to endure this torture any longer. His closeness messing up with my already messed up head. My words out before I could mull it over. "I don't know who the wooden rod belongs to. If I did , I would have told you so this is baseless and I won't waste any more time on it." I stood up quickly ready to make my escape. Away from him. His hand wound around my arm, putting a stop to my bolting. I frowned at him. At the roguish grin decorating his face. At the narrowed ,intelligent eyes.

Realization hitting me.

His dark voice purred darkly. "Oh, but I never mentioned that the wooden rod is  the evidence."

I cursed myself yet again. Please someone cut my tongue out. It is a waste for me to have it. How stupid!!!

I closed my eyes defeated and decided to stick with the truth. "I wasn't spying on you, okay. I saw someone running from my window and came down to inspect it. How was I supposed to know you were taking a bath in the middle of the night and that too naked. And who does that? Just because you own this place doesn't mean you will behave atrociously."  I went on with my tirade. The pleading in my voice turning to outrage. How dare he put the blame on me when he was the one at fault.

"Hm." The bastard let go of my arm and sauntered back to his chair, sitting comfortably. I breathed a sigh of relief, free from his closeness now. His sharp eyes again on me. He regarded me with a blank face. "Of course. You couldn't have known." I nodded my head once to show him my satisfaction. Suspicion still lurking. 

"I hope Nastur agrees with you." I should have known.

He smiled evilly. My blood chilled. Fear coursing through my veins at the unveiled threat. He continued, not giving me any reprieve from the horror of his next words. "But I am sure he'll understand when I tell him that his very dutiful daughter was so intent on catching an "assumed" intruder that she stumbled to the lake where I was taking a bath." He nodded his head to himself. Coming to terms with what he had just spouted.  " Oh yes, I'll also inform him that even though it was dark, there couldn't have been any way that you saw me or any of my body parts nude."  He sat back in chair and cocked his brow sardonically. A wry twist on his lips mocking me.

"Y-you wouldn't dare." I sputtered indignantly. "And Papa will never believe you." I said stunned. Fully aware whose words Papa will give leverage to, if there ever comes a situation like this. But still giving it a try.

"Wanna bet on it." He said conceitedly, already knowing the outcome of such an endeavor, calling my bluff.

Only one weapon left in my arsenal now.

"B-but I am telling you. There really was someone and I went there to catch him. I didn't knew you were in the lake or I would never have gone there. You have to trust me. Please." I begged with a tear in my eye. Thanking my long sightedness to practice this move from my altercations with Maisie. 

Papa can never know. And if that means I have to beg the bastard ,then so be it.

He laughed shaking his head. An amazement shining in his eyes. I frowned at this odd reaction. I expected pity or may be stoic ignorance not this all out laughter. "You are good. I'll give you that. You have managed to do what no one could till now. Impressive. " At my questioning glance he supplied.  "Make me laugh more times than I can count." Rotten bastard.  I huffed and wiped away the lone tear flowing out my eye angrily. His chuckle still continuing and grating on my frayed nerves. I was the fool here to think I can persuade and implore his sense of humanity. As if there even was.

"You cannot tell Papa." I said in a no-nonsense voice . In no mood to share his joviality. 

"Now we are talking." He straightened up in the chair. His elbows on the armrest. 

All the gaiety disappeared form his countenance. A cloak of darkness replaced the blankness in his stare. "If you want your Papa to be ignorant of this small slip on your part. You'll do as I say." His words countered no argument. He spoke with authority. I shivered at the lack of emotion in his voice. At the calculations going behind those shrouded eyes. My mind apprehensive of  that predatory gaze, unable to form any coherent thoughts to voice my objection.

A trickle of fear slithered over my spine making me stay rooted to my feet. My eyes no longer able to hold his. I looked down at my feet. A sense of nostalgia hitting me. Only once had I witnessed this darkness from him. The  time I entered his room by mistake. Just like then, a coldness enveloped me.

He was dead serious and I knew then, I never really had a choice in the matter.

"Take her." The single command and a flurry of activities ensued as if they were awaiting the command. A group of maids got inside. My head whipped up.  I looked around flabbergasted. Take where? W-What is happening here?

Two of the tallest and strongest ones grabbed each of my arm and dragged me . I tried fighting back and free myself from their claws to no use. The bastard had planned everything right from the start.

"W-what are you doing.? Where are you taking me?" I cried out as someone encircled my waist in a thin rope. Hands flowing over the length of my arms. My shoulders. One even encircled my chest area. "Hey, where are you touching.. Stop it. Ouch.."

Its like they didn't hear or feel anything, they dragged me kicking and screaming all the while the bastard looked over gleefully, enjoying the torment I was going through. A sadistic smile on his face.

"You'll pay for this, you sick psycho." I screeched out as they led to an inner room with in the same hall. The last thing I saw was the bastard waving at me in his sick manner before the door closed with a bang.