Percy stumbled backwards at Rhane's words, holding his wine jar protectively to his chest.
"Y-you will..." he stammered, Rhane's wry humor flying over his head.
Rhane sighed tiredly, his eyes holding a bored gaze. He turned away from Percy, strutting to a nearby tree.
Percy looked back and forth and huffed. "He thinks I'm afraid?" He ran after him, increasing his steps to catch up even though Rhane was walking.
Eager to prove himself a hero and a great servant to his mistress, Percy decided to attack Rhane from behind. He bent down and picked a broken twig, aiming it at Rhane's back, his eyes shutting close, but he shook his head to keep himself awake.
"Pass me that drink, idiot."
Percy snapped his head around. This time he saw Rhane resting his back against a tree while smoking a pot.
"You-" Percy's words got stuck in his throat, his trembling hand with a stick pointing at Rhane.
Rhane took a drag of the smoke, then puffed, his eyes zeroed on Percy.
"You're not a child! You- you deceived us all," Percy widened his eyes. "I should tell the mistress."
Rhane nodded. "I knew I had to take care of this fool first," his steel voice rumbled. Stretching his muscles, he began to walk toward Percy.
"Stay away from me! I'm going to tell the mistress! You lied. Who are you -" he turned to make a run for it, but two steps were enough for Rhane to catch him.
Percy found his feet leaving ground, now hanging in the air. He was being suspended in the air, and Rhane held his neck tightly.
"Where should I bury your body so nobody finds you?" Rhane scanned the area, his hazel eyes looking bored.
"Bu-ry?" Percy stammered, sweat trickling down his trousers. Or so he assumed.
"P-please...take the wine, take my money. Don't hurt me. Please," Percy cried, shaking like the leaves on the tree being blown by the evening wind.
"If you harm me... everyone will know. Our mistress will suspect and...and...you don't want to kill me."
Rhane tilted his head, his eyes smiling but not his lips. He enjoyed the fear in the young man's eyes. "Why? Why shouldn't I? You know too much."
"I-I don't! I don't know who you are! I swear on my life." Percy cried, feeling his hand wobble that the wine he was holding almost fell, but Rhane dropped him first to the ground.
Picking up the jar from Percy, Rhane took a sip and hummed. Even his hum sounded like an animal growling.
Percy wondered how this man could act so innocent when even his voice was not one bit innocent. He narrowed his gaze at him, so many things going through Percy's mind at the moment. Even the alcohol he'd taken earlier cleared from his eyes.
"What are you looking at?" Rhane asked when he felt Percy's gaze on him.
Percy shook his head and looked away. "N-nothing."
"Why? Percy had a lot to say earlier." Rhane smirked. "Percy even hit Anne."
Percy gasped. "Oh, you're so foolish, Percy," he hit himself, faking a sorrowful gesture while on his knees.
"I- I didn't mean to- I'm sorry, my Lord?" Percy bowed, his trousers soaking up. "I tend to lose my mind most times. I deserve to be punished."
Rhane snapped his fingers and nodded. "Yes, you do."
Percy raised his face immediately. "Please don't kill me, Anne."
Rhane tilted his head, then stretched his body. "Why do you still call me Anne when you already know my name?"
Percy raised his face. He was right! "Rhane! Your name is Rhane. I knew it! I knew you were lying. Preten-" realizing his situation again, Percy bowed.
"I'm sorry, Lord Rhane. Please forgive this foolish man. I shouldn't have insulted you or even foolishly raised my dirty hands to hit you." He begged, cursing himself at the same time.
Rhane smiled. "Killing you will be too suspicious, but that isn't off the list. I need a cover and you'll do just fine." He got closer to Percy and sat on his heels, taking out a small dagger from his shoes. He rubbed it on Percy's hair.
"Please... please," Percy trembled, stammered, recoiling his body. "This isn't who you are...."
Rhane paused, a soft chuckle escaping his lips. "Who I am? Do you even know me?"
That was a good question, Percy thought for a second, his eyes on the ground. His mistress had saved this man. Housed him, fed him, clothed him. Yet they didn't even know who or where he came from.
Anyways, Percy shook his head. That wasn't the topic right now. He didn't want to be buried in the cold forest.
"I don't know you...but I know you're not a killer."
A glint of amusement flashed in Rhane's eyes. Shaking his head, he sniffed.
"You don't say a word about me or against me. You're either on my side or shut up." Rhane rubbed the dagger on Percy's face, and his trousers became even more soaked.
"I know a thousand ways to shave a man's head...not hair. I've done it all my life." Rhane rubbed the dagger down to Percy's chest and he froze.
"I can carve out your heart beautifully and make you eat it. It's not new to me. I lost count of my victims."
At this point, Percy was sure he wasn't sweating in his trousers. He had peed on himself all over again and he was crying—out of fear and out of shame.
"Keep your mouth shut, keep out of my business, and also...do only things to protect my interest. That is the only way you have your heart in your chest."
Percy didn't need to be told twice. "You're like a child. Your name is Anne. You're kind and Percy likes Anne."
Rhane shrugged. "That was fast." He twitched his lips.
Percy raised his face gently. "B-but why? My mistress is a good woman...why are you doing all this?"
Rhane's lips curled. "I like her...the lady. I want to make her mine." He turned to Percy and his smile fell.
"Don't you think I can make the lady mine?"
Percy shook his head, then nodded, then shook his head. He was confused.
"You can! You can, my Lord! All power belongs to you." Though he was afraid of the madman that had to pretend to lose his memory just to have his mistress. It was scary.
"Now scram and go clean yourself up. Stop acting like a child." Rhane snapped his fingers.
Percy's run was like lightning. He left one shoe behind and the wine he'd bought to enjoy the Festival of Maidens with.
"Stupid. Going to have fun playing with that one," Rhane chuckled, watching the boy run back home. It had been so fun since he arrived in Jenna's life and he noticed Percy was the most trusted around her.
Rhane didn't have intentions to kill the boy, but he wanted to make sure the boy kept his mouth shut. Knowing Jenna for a while now, Rhane knew she was scared of men, and that was because of her husband.
A little bit of the story Rhane heard. Now he wanted her to be comfortable around him. And so far, it had been going smoothly.
Too smooth...Rhane remembered where his lips had been earlier and he grinned.
"A little bit and now I want everything," Rhane whistled as he strolled around the forest with a satisfied smile on his lips. He loved more than anything to stay beside Jenna and wouldn't hesitate to unalive anyone who comes in between them.