CHAPTER 104: BREAKING POINT

{Music Recommendation: Break Through (Orchestra Version) ~ Seol Hoseung}

It wasn’t cowardice, nor weakness, that made Rhane afraid...it was Jenna. He had seen her pale at the sight of blood it terrified her, stirred memories best left buried. The very memories he would tear from her soul, if such a thing were his to do.

When he found out that his father was coming to take Jenna away, Rhane was at a loss. Had it been only he and Kali, they would have fought for their home until the last man fell. It wasn’t just him anymore, he had someone to protect.

He had thought of seeking his mother’s aid yet at what cost? The woman was a monster in her own right, feasting at the devil’s table. Rhane walked deeper into the rabbit hole with no hope of what to do.

Yet how was he to proceed? His way would terrify Jenna, yet peace was no option. All in all, whatever plan...it was only going to end with Jenna still beside him. Which was why Rhane turned around, forgetting the looming problems but savoring the moment with Jenna.

At first sight of his father, hope stirred, perhaps there might yet be redemption. For what father could hate his own son until the very end?

Nikolai.

Rhane got his answer and more. Nikolai saw him as less than human, took delight in his deceit and in breaking him.

The letter. When Jenna looked upon him as a stranger the first time they met. Rhane knew, her memory had been twisted, so was his. Nikolai’s deceit had made him a pawn again and again. There was no saving him. Nikolai was an abuse to fatherhood and it took the night for Rhane to fully understand.

Once Jenna was taken away by his father, Rhane knew he didn’t have any reason to hold back anymore. If what he’s learnt about men like Master Brown, it was how their ego was as fragile as their guts. He would do anything to take Jenna home with him and prove authority.

It was easy to speak to Kali with his eyes, they had communicated in the same way for a long time when they didn’t want their mother to understand what they said.

The first was the greeting, Kali was bleeding but she gave Rhane a smile that said she could fight. And just when Rhane needed her to act, he walked into the room they held her in.

Tapping once meant don’t move, twice move when she’s alone. And four times.

Do as you wish.

Rhane and Kali always had each other’s back. They didn’t survive hell not to fully understand the concept of treading with fire. And the men that Rhane trained knew to respond when their two masters do. Once Kali made her move, all hell was bound to break loose.

In that moment, holding Jenna in his arms once more. The scream, shriek and steels clashing faded in a distance like he wasn’t there.

"D-di-did you ju-...you killed a man!" Brown stuttered, he tried to take a step back but missed a step and fell. Sweat beaded on his glistening brow.

Rhane first scanned Jenna’s body to be sure she was fine, when he turned her face to the side he noticed a line mark on her cheeks. His gaze became darker, his jaw ticked.

"Who touched her?" Rhane asked, his voice calm. A heavy silence followed.

The men around glanced at each other, then at Jenna’s father.

Master Brown’s audible gulp was heard, he pushed his body back, raising dust and sand in the process. "Look not at me! Take my daughter from this madman!"

Rhane twirled his sword, raised it for the full-on to cast a glow on the sharp edge then he drew it forward.

"Who touched her?"

The silence that followed didn’t last a second as another soldier who attempted to fight got blade trapped into his skull through his eyes before he dropped cold to the ground. The remaining men were fast to point at their master.

Brown held his stomach, his face turning blue with sickness. He flinched when the body of the soldier fell close to his feet.

"He hit her?" Rhane pointed his bloody-edged sword at Brown.

Brown raised his eyes, "What will you do? Strike me dead as you did to these men, you think Jenna’s heart will open to you after you kill her father?" He scowled.

"You might not know it, since your blood matches your filthy action but family comes first before the heart." He prided.

Rhane stared at the man, then at his sword. He lifted Jenna up, slinging her over his shoulder.

"Killing you would be more trouble than you are worth." Rhane said with a grunt, then he continued walking towards the man.

Brown scuttled back, his eyes searching for help. "You are just a mad man! Besotted with what is not yours. Jenna is anotherman’s wife!"

"Wife?" Rhane tutted softly. "And here I thought Nikolai held the crown for most useless. Alas, you’ve wrested it from him with ease." He loosed a weary sigh, shaking his head as though disappointed in a child.

"You pride yourself as her father...her family," Rhane spoke with disdain, "Yet you joined in stealing her peace...her youth...her joy. And even now, you call her your family yet your own hand bruised her."

Brown opened his mouth, but then closed it.

"To die by the hand of a man who does the work better, that is a mercy." Rhane aimed, "Be grateful."

Brown shut his eyes close and squirmed, "Please don’t kill me, please I beg of you."

Rhane was too focused on the man, he missed the sharpness of the arrow aimed at him until it grazed his hand. Rhane turned to see that he was now surrounded by even more men led by his father and other council men.

Brown opened his eyes, he searched his body and found no blood. "I’m alive, I’m—Nikolai!" He jumped up from the ground.

"He is mad! Your son has lost his mind. Take my daughter from him, please." The man wailed, running into the arms of his friend.

Nikolai pushed the man aside, his eyes now on Rhane. "I warned you, Rhane. Let go of Jenna and we’ll find mercy to spare you."

Rhane held Jenna, his grip even tighter around her waist like he held his prize. Blood dripping down his wounded arm, he still held unto the sword.

"Why should I?"

Brown was the one to reply, "She belongs to another—"

"She is mine!! Jenna belongs to me." Rhane growled, blood dripping down the side of his face. His eyes searched the faces of every soldier gathered,

"I shall spend my last breath before I let you steal what is mine." Rhane moved his eyes down, when he raised his face something maniac now clouded his hazel stormy eyes.

"Hell feasts well tonight many a soul shall be dragged to its gates. Do you hear me, Father?" Rhane raised his hand, his grip on Jenna unshaken. His eyes bloodshot with hate and cruelty.

In that moment Rhane was gone. What was left was a man ready to fight to death for his Lady.