"Master," Rhane moved back a little, but still, his brooding presence suppressed the air around Jenna. "Maybe we should calm down a little and talk this out."
Jenna closed her eyes and nodded. "Talk it out?"
"Yes, I think you're overreacting a little bit too much," Rhane replied matter-of-factly.
Jenna widened her eyes, turning her head to the side, since it was the only part of her body she could move. Rhane had her body pinned to the wall and her hand above her.
"Overreacting?! Rhane, you murdered someone like it was nothing! What was I to do, applaud you for it?" Jenna chuckled deliriously. "I may not look like it, but my survival instinct is on the high side. I know when to run."
Rhane sucked his teeth, pondering over Jenna's words. "But I was trying to protect you. Don't I get a pat on the head for that? Even cats are adored when they bring home a dead rat for their mistress. Why is mine different?"
"You're not a cat! And you killed a human! Flesh and blood!" Jenna raised her voice higher than she had intended. Realizing it, she closed her eyes and sucked her breath.
"I don't see how that's any different. Any potential threat to my master must be annihilated, be it human or animal." Mirth danced in Rhane's hazel eyes as he spoke.
Jenna groaned. "I don't even want to be your master anymore. Please, just let me go?"
"So you can run?" Rhane asked with a frown. "And you think running makes it better? No! It makes me want to really let you go... run... as fast as you can, knowing you're never going to make it if I'm chasing."
Jenna became very quiet, but her breathing was just the sound Rhane needed to know she could hear him. He continued regardless,
"I think you're getting everything wrong, Master. You didn't choose me. I chose you. So let's quietly talk things out."
Seeing that the man wasn't going to let her go because she pleaded, Jenna nodded slowly. "Fine... I'll listen. Just... let my hands go."
"As you wish, my lady." Rhane gently unwrapped the wrist he held with one hand and brought them down to her side. "There you go."
Jenna rubbed her sweaty palms together, her neck creaking as she slowly turned to look at where the lifeless body of a person lay close to her bed.
"No, not today." Rhane stood in front of Jenna, blocking her view from seeing the body. "Your attention should be on me."
Jenna pressed her lips, her breath getting shaky every time she remembered just how Rhane had killed a person.
"Now breathe in," Rhane encouraged, and Jenna followed his instructions, though she was shaking. "Slowly out... ask me whatever, and I promise to answer with the truth."
Jenna exhaled softly. She had a lot of questions she wanted to ask him but decided to start with a few. "How long has it been since you got your memory back? Have you been fooling me all along? Who are you? Was it the whip that brought your memory back? Why me?!" she blurted out, breathing heavily after she was done speaking.
"Er..." Rhane ruffled his hair. "There's a lot of it, but I'll start with the last. It's you because it's you. Couldn't have been anyone else."
Jenna rolled her eyes. "You're not making any sense. How is that supposed to help me?"
Rhane narrowed his eyes. "You mean you don't remember me?"
Jenna furrowed her brows, wondering what Rhane meant by his words. "Aside from the day I saved you, have we met before?"
"Yes, you came—"
The door opened, and Kali walked in, interrupting Rhane. She noticed a flicker of annoyance in his eyes and the leash around his neck. It took her seconds to understand what had happened in the room. But what surprised her the most was Jenna rushing in her direction.
"Thank heavens you're here, Kali," Jenna let out a sigh of relief, grabbing the woman's hand. "Please help me!"
Kali arched her brows. "Help you from...?" she drawled, looking around for any potential threat around the room. "I only see your beloved servant."
"He's an imposter! He lied to me!" Jenna blurted. "He isn't who he says he is."
Kali gasped. "That explains the body," she pointed when she found it. "He did that?"
Jenna nodded with a gulp. "Y-yes... and he says it's for me."
Rhane pinched his brows and sighed. "Master, come over here." He raised his fingers, calling Jenna to come and stand where she was. "You promised to listen."
"I can't... I can't..." Jenna refused, holding Kali tightly. "Kali..."
Kali rubbed her eyes and hummed. "I just want to know something. Who caught who? The mouse caught the cat, or the cat exposed himself?"
"Huh?" Jenna asked. "Kali, we need to go out and ask for help," she tugged the girl's hand.
Kali sucked her teeth. "Um... Jenna, help is here," she gestured her head toward Rhane. "Isn't he your beloved servant? I'm sure—"
"Did you send that to provoke me?" Rhane asked, slowly getting rid of the leash around his neck. "Putting a leash wasn't enough?"
Kali smirked. "You knew it was my doing?"
"Answer me." Rhane dropped the leash, his palm rubbing his neck.
Jenna moved her eyes from Rhane to Kali, confusion written all over her face.
"Yes, the leash was my doing... we needed you to focus," Kali replied with a dismissive shrug. "And as for the body? It wasn't me." She shook her head.
Jenna raised her hand. "Wait... hold on, both of you," she muttered. "You both know each other?"
"Why?" Kali continued, ignoring Jenna. "Did she remind you of Mother?"
"M-Mother?" Jenna stuttered. "How... what? I—"
Kali patted Jenna's back. "Don't worry, Jenna love. At least I didn't lie to you. The story I told you about his mother was true. He used to be treated like a dog."
"Kali!" Rhane's voice wasn't high but firm enough to show his annoyance.
Jenna rubbed her hair, some strands covering her face. "You both know each other?"
"Very well," Kali nodded. "We share the same mother," she replied with a bright smile.
Jenna closed her eyes, a small headache rising. "Wait, but you... you are the Scourge's lover and... um, what was that?" She tried to remember. "Someone's hand."
"Well, yes. They think my brother is my lover because I'm the only one who can get away with anything," Kali replied with a smile.
Jenna's eyes darted around the room. "Your brother... is Rhane, and if that's the truth, then it means he—"
"Brother!" Another person ran inside the room, getting on his knees. "Please help me this one time... help me."
Jenna opened her mouth when she saw the face of the man begging. "Gerald?"
"Jenna?" The man raised his face.
Kali raised her hand dramatically. "It's a family reunion, people."