On Jenna's bed was a whip, a leash, and words scribbled on a parchment. Jenna knelt on the floor staring at the three things that would 'supposedly' bring back Rhane's memory. If she made him remember how his mother used to treat him, then maybe some of his memory would return and Rhane could be on his way.
Sounded easy, but didn't sit right with Jenna. What worried her the most was the young woman that had suggested it, someone she had met just once and didn't even know where she came from. Listening to her might be the worst idea, Jenna thought to herself while staring at the objects.
"My Lady?" Percy knocked on the door.
Jenna packed the things and quickly tossed them to the side of the bed. She fixed her shirt and walked to the door. When she opened it, she found Percy waiting for her.
"Percy," Jenna looked around as if she was expecting someone else. "Are you alone?"
Percy nodded, "Yes, Mistress," the young man replied. He hesitated for a moment, pressing his palms together. "I wanted to know..."
"Know what?" Jenna asked, this time stepping out of the room and closing the door behind her. "What is it you want to know, Percy?"
"When are we leaving this place?" Percy asked. "We have to go back and also buy more goods before the ship leaves the port. All of that we have to... but we are here, and we can't."
Jenna exhaled softly. The young man was right. She needed to go back to her life and do what she knew how to do best.
Percy narrowed his eyes. "Is it the owner of this place? Is he... keeping you hostage?"
"No," Jenna shook her head, "I mean, not yet... or do I say it doesn't feel like it." She was yet to meet the man claimed to be her brother-in-law and also bargain with him so she could get out of debt.
Percy rubbed his fingers on his lips, shaking his head. "My Lady, I think we should leave. Let's return home."
Jenna nodded, even if she wanted to stay around more for a reason unknown to her. Well, mostly because she wanted to meet the man that had made her feel something the previous night. It was time to return to reality, speak to the owner of the mansion, make a bargain, and leave.
"You're right, Percy. Let's leave the day after tomorrow." She glanced at her room. "Once I sort a few things out and make sure Rhane is on his way, then we can leave."
Percy's heart bubbled with joy when he heard of Rhane leaving. It was finally happening. "You're right, My Lady. We should send him to his own family too."
Jenna held her doorknob. "Send Rhane to my room," she said finally before entering her room.
"Yes!" Percy exclaimed, his face lit up with jubilation. "She's going to tell him to leave. I'll gladly bring him." The servant beamed. Turning away, he raced down the hallway searching for Rhane.
Inside her room, Jenna picked up the whip and leash she had dropped earlier. Raising them up, she stared at them for some time. If she was going to return to reality, then sending Rhane away should be her priority. Ever since he walked into her life, he blurred the line of what she knew was reality to what she always imagined, her fantasy.
"Master?" Rhane's soft knock on the door announced his arrival.
Jenna quickly hid the objects again. She didn't think it was a good idea. "Come in."
Rhane opened the door and entered. He stood at a corner, scanning Jenna's expression for some time before he walked further inside the room.
"Rhane," Jenna stood up from her bed. "Well... um. I have something to say to you. Come sit."
Rhane followed Jenna's gesture and sat on the bed, his head slightly tilted to the side.
Jenna fiddled with her fingers, taking in a deep breath. "Okay... um... Rhane, we are leaving soon."
Rhane arched his brows, his lips pursed in a thin line for a moment, then he said, "I'll get the carriage ready for us—"
"No, no." Jenna interrupted. "This time, you won't be coming, Rhane... it's going to be just Percy and I."
"Is Master going to abandon me?" Rhane asked calmly, his eyes on Jenna's lips.
Jenna's heart ached when she couldn't answer the question. She turned her face to the side and exhaled. "Rhane... I'm not your master. I... you... I don't know who you are, Rhane, so—"
"But I've been good, haven't I?" This time Rhane's voice had an edgy undertone like he was annoyed. "If you don't know me, then you can abandon me?"
Jenna noticed the sadness in his eyes like he remembered something. She wanted to hug him and ask him to forget everything she had said, but then it would mean taking him back home with her. How long was she going to keep deceiving herself and acting like she didn't want him?
"Rhane... you might not understand it now, but I can't keep you around me anymore. It's for your own safety," Jenna tried to explain the best she could.
Rhane chuckled softly, "If you can't say the reason, then it means I'm being abandoned—"
"No! Rhane, I want you! I want you the way a woman wants a man. I see you as a man, and I always think about you," Jenna blurted before she could think. She covered her mouth and turned, cursing under her breath.
Rhane's lips curled. When Jenna turned, he kept a straight face. He stood up from the bed and walked towards Jenna. "It's not bad if my master wants me... I'm glad Master thinks about me," he took Jenna's hand and placed it on his chest.
"I always think about Master too."
Jenna's stomach flipped, not that she was hungry, but like little birds were dancing, making her feel giddy inside. "I..." she rubbed her palm on Rhane's chest, it felt good. He sounded so sincere.
Jenna raised her face, and she got lost in the whimsical forest in Rhane's eyes. She wanted to remain there. Something about the way he looked at her made her want to trip on her toes and let him save her. A fantastic world she'd only imagined, one which had withered to remain a dream forever since no man would ever treat her nice.
Jenna and Rhane got lost in each other's gaze. Jenna could feel Rhane's hand trembling just from holding her. She loved it! The way he yearned for her.
"I—" Jenna closed her eyes and blinked, snapping out of the imagination. Subconsciously, she grabbed the whip from under the pillow and pushed Rhane back.
"Stay away. I'm not your master, Rhane," Jenna raised the whip to her chest.
Rhane moved his head to the side, staring at the whip curiously. He slowly moved his head to the place Jenna had grabbed the whip and he found the leash.
"I... you need to remember and go back to your mother," Jenna stuttered.
Rhane moved his eyes away from the leash and settled them on Jenna. "My mother?" he asked.
"Y-yes," Jenna nodded. "I'm sorry, but I have to help you remember."
With slow, intentional strides, Rhane walked towards the bed, and he picked up the leash, putting it around his neck slowly.
"W-what are you doing?"
Rhane finished and turned. "Master... I think I remember," he remarked, his voice dead cold. "My mother."
When he took a step towards Jenna, she backed away. This caused Rhane to frown.
"Master?"
Jenna's breath hitched. This wasn't the Rhane she knew there was something about his voice that made her shudder, the soft and kind man she saved, gone. This man was looking dangerous, his presence overpowering. She took another step back when he tried to come closer.
"Rhane, stay back. Don't come close, or I'm going to use this!" Jenna warned. When she tried to move back, she felt something hard behind her. It was the wall. She was trapped.
Rhane didn't stop. Slowly, he prowled forward. "Master, you like it when I'm close, don't you?"
"No... no, not now, Rhane. Look, I'm sorry about the whip and leash. I just wanted to help you." Jenna apologized, worried that sending Rhane back had made him angry.
Rhane hummed, "I'm not angry, Master." He took another step.
"Stay back!" Jenna screamed, closing her eyes. Her hand that held the whip moved up and landed on Rhane's body. When Jenna opened her eyes, Rhane was staring at her blankly.
"I'm sorry... Rhane, I didn't... please stop coming closer... please stay back." Jenna pleaded, feeling air leave her windpipe. She didn't like the look in Rhane's eyes one bit. When he came closer, Jenna raised her hand again, but it hung there because Rhane held the whip.
"Shh." Rhane held his finger over his lips and turned to the window. He grabbed Jenna's wrist and moved her behind him before going to the window. He dragged in a man dressed in black inside.
Before Jenna could even scream or understand what was going on, Rhane's face was covered in blood, and the man he dragged in gutted with his neck sliced open.
"Ah—" Jenna's scream got stuck in her throat. She dropped the whip, her knees giving way, and she fell, but not to the ground, because Rhane caught her and helped her stand properly.
Rhane wiped the blood on his face and sighed. "Fucking bastards. I wanted to make a good impression to my lady." He exhaled, his shifting from the dead man now intently on Jenna's shocked face.