Crimson Mists

22. Exhausted.

Chikamharida's POV.

I had meant to fake my bed-rest but now, as I laid on my floral sheet with a duvet over me, all I could say was that I was truly exhausted.

It was past noon.

I remember being carried back to my room by a familiar face. He'd showed late but still in time. He took me to my room and like before, once Henry came, he left.

Adele was sitting beside me, she hadn't said a word and neither had eye. Henry was also acting like he hadn't seen her, but my sixth sense told we he knew what had gone down.

"What were you thinking?" Henry asked after a beat of silence. I was shivering, and I didn't know what from. Maybe cause I was still drenched? Or maybe the time he'd used?

I closed my eyes, refusing to be at the receiving end of his glare.

I heard his steps, his monumental pacing. I could tell he was tugging his hair in frustration.

"You know what, get changed," he said. "I'm taking you out."

I refused to open my eyes.

"Open your damn eyes Harida? Sometimes I can't even tell what you'll do or what you wouldn't. The things you say, the things you do, it's like you just do them once without thinking it through! How on—"

"It was my fault," Adele said.

I opened my eyes immediately to look at her and my gaze her appraised her solemn countenance. Was she doped?

It seemed, I wasn't the only one she'd stunned. Henry had stopped pacing. With his back to us he slowly took his hand away from his hair, exhaled and turned towards us.

"You said what now?" He asked, switching his gaze between Adele and I.

"We had a disagreement and she was afraid that I'd been sent after her."

An emotion flashed in Henry's eyes. I couldn't tell what it was. Guilt? Amazement?

"You know what, just go to your room. Clean up and do what children do okay," Henry said to her, clearly dismissing her, but Adele had always been difficult.

"Harida," she said, meeting my schooled gaze. "I'm sorry for being problematic and for scaring you. I didn't mean to do that and I ... I just want you to know that I'd go through with your request but you have to promise me one thing, my dad would remain untouched."

"Your agreement or disagreement means nothing," Henry told her plainly. "The plan will go on without your input, there's no escaping it from your dad. I'd advise that you make the most out of your remaining time with him."

A mirage of emotions swiped through Adele's gaze and for the first time I could plainly tell what she was feeling. Was it defeat?

I wanted to console her but she first me to it. Standing from the bed, fisting and unfisting her hands before walking out.

"You didn't have to put it that way," I chastised Henry. But he spared me a cool look and said, "she has to understand now or later that not everything in life is a bargain. Get dressed."

*****

Henry picked a sleek RangeRover as our ride. I sat beside him on the passenger seat. He rolled up and turned on the heater.

The tension in the car was just too much.

"Where are we going?"

He didn't answer. Instead, he turned the key in the ignition and the car roared to life, before he stepped on the pedal and we moved with a lurch and at an high speed.