The Bloody Scent (On Hiatus)

Chapter 3

Penelope's POV

Currently, I'm sitting in the car heading to Philip's residence to visit his considerable colossal library.

Due to yesterday's event, my head can't seem to forget about the Bridgerton family. I attempted to dig through any books in our enormous library that might have any appropriate information on that household but rather, but it appears like any details or stories about them have evaporated into the air as if somebody destroyed all of them.

Every page regarding them appears to be blank for me. At first, I thought that maybe the book I'm examining got a problem with printing so I immediately check other books, but all the books turn out to be the same as the first book. My exploration was interrupted by my mother as she abruptly appear behind me. She stares at me with a very unusual expression before making her way out of the library.

As my research regarding the hunter family turn out to be a failure due to the odd blank pages, I decided to visit my friend, Philip.

I made a call to his house this morning to ask for his permission but as usual, the butler is the one who picks up the call. Philip Crane is rather an old-fashioned person as he communicates using letters. He will write me letters if he required my presence at his house or rather merely for a mere conversation. It's a remarkably pleasant and fascinating way to communicate as I like to write.

I still remembered the day I alter myself in society as the famous gossip columnist, Lady Whistledown in 1813. I wrote about the good and bad things people do. It's easier to perceive the identity of those who hide their secret activities due to my smell sensitivity. It is quite an amusing distraction as I only join the season to avoid any suspicion by society.

Speaking of 1813, I'm not quite sure why occasionally my memories will get blurry. There are things that I can't recall even if I try my best to remember that moment. Not only in 1813 but rather for a few years afterward. After 1824, the blurriness and disappearance of memory ceased.

My thoughts abruptly end as the driver informs our arrival at the destination. As I reach out to grab the umbrella, Philip with his inhuman speed opens the car door while offering me the umbrella he using to avoid the burning daylight.

"Thank you, Phil" My smile widen as he responded with a smile of his own. Philip Crane is certainly one of the most good-looking men I ever met in my life.

'Sometimes I am interested to know the reason he has never been in a romantic relationship with any person as I have never seen anyone else except for the workers at his house. If he did indeed has a secret lover, I might have caught any unusual scent that will linger around him yet I have never smelled any other scent except for his scent'

"Penny, it is a pleasure for you to visit my humble house. It's been weeks since we last met each other, isn't it?" He leads me towards the house by linking our arms together.

"Yes, it seems so. Thank you again for letting me use your library. I hope I'm not interrupting your day" I smile politely at him as I look up at his face.

"You're welcome, don't worry about it. I'm certainly happy to offer any help to my dearest little friend" His smile widens as he watches me struggle to keep the same pace as him.

I pout at his statement regarding my height before giving him a playful smack on his arms as he laughs.

"May I ask the reason you need to use my library? Are you going to write another novel?"

"I might be continuing the previous series, but in the meantime not yet. I'm still in vacation mode"

Currently, I'm blending into society as a novelist. Not to brag, but all of my works are usually listed as best sellers. Well, all thanks for my years of practice since 1813. But the Whistledowns' columns are certainly still the best in my opinion. It was great entertainment during those days, not only for me but for others who enjoyed the columns except for those names listed perhaps.

I laugh as Philip's face turns confused due to my answer. Instead of explaining, I drag him to the library. He just follows quietly as he is still curious about my intention of visiting his library.

As we arrive at the huge library, I ask Philip to show me the section on the history of hunter families. I quickly browse through the shelf one by one to search for the same books I have explored.

"Here it is!"

Philip stands next to me as I open up the books page by page to find the information I'm searching for. As soon as I get to the page for the Bridgerton family, it turns out that the page is not blank.

"It not blank?" My eyebrows knitted together showing my confusion.

"Of course, it is not blank. Why are you so surprised about that, Penny?" Philip pats my shoulder softly as I stand still in shock.

"Uh, nothing" I smile awkwardly toward Philip before proceeding to read the information about that family.

Colin's POV

"Colin!"

A woman's voice wailed out my name in panic and terror. I can sense her soft yet wet hands reaching for my lifeless body in her arms. She hugs my figure tightly as she mutters some words I cannot understand due to the annoying ringing sound I hear in my ears and head.

"Please, don't leave me. I'm begging you, Colin! It's all my fault, I'm so sorry"

My sight caught the face of the woman who still crying for my life. It is the same woman that keeps on appearing in my dreams for these few days. Her face crumples with so many emotions that it hurts me to see it. Her sadness mixture of pain, anxiety, guilt, fear, and drastic anger.

"M-my l-love, ple-please don't cry"

It takes me a moment to realize that the man's voice belongs to me as I feel my mouth moving slowly to speak. My trembling hand reach out to stroke her soft delicate cheeks that were tainted by dry blood. She instantly leans her cheek toward my palm while crying until her eyes turn red.

"P-pen, I l-love-"

My hand that we're cradling her cheek goes limp onto my chest as soon as my soul exited from my body. The woman sits still for a few seconds before finally realizing that I already move on to another realm.

"COLIN!"

"Colin Bridgerton!"

I wake up to see the familiar ceiling of my room. My hand immediately grips the shirt located above my chest as the grief from the dream is still lingering.

"Colin! Wake up or we going to be late!" Eloise's voice echoes around the house as most of the furniture is already on its way to the new house.

Today is the day we finally move out of this house, to start our new life in another place. So many happy and sad memories have occurred here, but it is time for new memories to be created in the new place.

'What kind of changes and experiences I will encounter at the new place? Hope only good things though'

Author's POV

"Nothing good things will be received without confronting bad things first. It's the nature of life. Remember to be patient, my boy"

The elderly woman's voice echoes inside Colin's room unnoticed by anyone.