Blood trickled down softly, staining the plain white marble tiles, leaving a trail behind the heavy boots that marched purposefully, eyes filled with acrimony.
"Run," Kali nudged Gerald, who was on his knees throwing up. "Run,"
Gerald groaned, writhing in pain. "I don't have anywhere to run to, my stomach hurts. I'm hungry,"
As Rhane got closer, Kali chewed her nails nervously. She could feel his suppressing energy even six steps away, and she knew it would only be a miracle if Gerald stayed alive.
"Fool," Kali hissed at Gerald, who didn't even know death was at his doorstep, yet acted preposterous. Dashing forward, Kali moved her hands to the side, aiming to hug Rhane and stop him from getting closer to Gerald.
"Please Rhane, look a—" The force with which Rhane shoved Kali to the side made her hit her face first. If not for her hands that she used to shield herself, she'd have at least two of her front teeth dancing on the ground.
"Urgh," Kali groaned, rubbing her elbow. She sat up and pulled her leg close. "I can't risk my life anymore, kill him... do whatever." She raised her hand tiredly.
Rhane wasn't hearing his sister, his eyes were fixed on his moronic step-brother, who leaned forward, rubbing his stomach.
"Kali, why is- ah!" Gerald shrieked when he got pulled up by his shirt collar from the ground with force.
Despite Gerald being nearly Rhane's size, tall and as scary as every burly man would look yet Rhane made it seem like picking him from the ground was an easy feat, as he didn't even grunt in the process. All Rhane could hear at the moment was Jenna crying, behaving crazy because of something she had remembered, and he wasn't so slow to notice that it was from a memory from her past.
And it was the bastard he held that inflicted such memories on her.
Rhane grabbed his face and smashed it against the nearest wall, and he pinned him there, squeezing his heavy chin.
"Argh," Gerald groaned, flailing his hands in the air. He pressed them against the wall, trying to free himself.
Rhane increased the pressure on his palm, almost to the point that the wall had a crack. He wanted to disfigure Gerald's face until it was left with nothing but his bones and peeling skin.
He wanted the fool to feel twice or more, whatever it was Jenna had remembered back in the room. For her to act the way she did.
"Rh-ane, you're going to regret doing this," Gerald tried to speak from the corner of his mouth, as his face was pressed so hard.
Rhane dropped his hand from his face, but his boot connected with Gerald's face. "You pointless piece of garbage." He kicked the man again in the face even after he had landed on the ground.
Kali shot up from the ground, her hand on her head. She paced around afraid of what would happen, if she should let Rhane continue. "Rhane... Rhane..."
Rhane landed more kicks on the man's face, his eyes blank and face expressionless, but his boots made heavy sounds as they connected to Gerald's bloody face.
"Rhane," Kali screamed, tears filling her eyes. "He has the family seal! If he doesn't approve, we'll be left under mother's care. Please... stop... I don't want to go back to that woman," rubbing her jittery hands.
Kali's words seemed to have an effect because Rhane reduced the force with which he was kicking. If Rhane had finished him, they'd never get the seal.
"Please... until we have our own seal," Kali inhaled deeply, "We are almost there," she slowly walked over to Rhane and grabbed his hand.
"I can't go back to mother. You know what she will do to me... she will make me serve—" Kali inhaled deeply, feeling tears sting her eyes. She pressed her head on Rhane's chest and closed her eyes.
Rhane stared down at his only sister, birth of the same mother, one that wasn't a noble woman like Gerald's own birth mother.
"You promised to keep me safe," Kali muttered. "We are almost free. We'll have our own family crest soon. Just us, away from everything. Us as Hendericks, nobody else." She hugged her brother. Kali could hear the frantic beating of Rhane's heart against his chest. He was trembling with vexation and fury.
Gerald groaned and turned, his eyes facing the sky. "Rhane hit me?" He rubbed his face. "And the flush of deserters and imposters will soon begin."
Kali pulled away from Rhane's chest. She noticed that his hand was covered in blood, and it was mostly his.
"Go and get this cleaned up. I'll take care of the rest," she suggested, wrapping Rhane's palm. "Don't worry about anything. Go and take some time away. I'll protect her from him."
Rhane grabbed the piece from Kali. Without a word, he turned and left.
"You both! Dirty vagabonds," Gerald snickered on the ground, then hissed when he felt his lips tear open. "Rhane, a dog made to fight with animals, and you a whore!! Made to serve even the dirtiest pigs. You dare lay your hands on me?"
Kali clenched her fist, staring at the ground with her back against Gerald.
"I'll make sure you go back to where you were found!" Gerald hissed, feeling an odd stiffness in his neck. "Out of mercy, I regarded you both as family, because we share same father. Put you under the family register, and made sure to approve of your family lineage every time! And you pay me back like this? I'll make sure you get it!"
Kali pressed her lips tightly, regretting why she didn't let her brother kill the fool. But when she turned, she still forced a tight smile.
"Oh, stupid Gerald!" She chuckled, flipping her hair. "What are siblings without a little quarrel?" She ran towards him, trying to help him up.
Gerald rolled his half-open, swollen eyes. "He wanted to kill me! And you see him, why? All because I need a little money. I don't even collect anything for standing at the councils for you both."
"You know how Rhane can be," Kali wiped the man's face, her jaw clenched. She smiled through her teeth. "We've been recording a lot of loss. I'm sure he's a little sad."
Gerald sat up, and with a sneer, he said, "I think it's because of her! That pig! That witch! She said something about me, I'm certain.."
Kali closed her eyes. She wished Gerald would stop for a moment, as her hands were already itching to unalive him.
"Or wait," Gerald tried to laugh but felt a sharp pain in his left jaw. "Is Rhane still angry I touched her first? After all his effort?"
Kali moved back, her eyes narrowed. "What is that supposed to mean? You, of course, should have her since you married her."
Gerald sucked his teeth and spat blood. "You know not half of it. You were just busy whoring at such a young age."
Kali gritted her teeth, but she tried not to react. She really wanted to know more of the nonsense the idiot sprout but it came at a humiliating cost.
"Rhane was promised by our father... and he almost lost his life for a wo—" Gerald paused and grinned. "Is he still angry about that?"
Kali didn't understand, but she wasn't sure she wanted to listen to everything. With the way Gerald spoke, she wasn't sure how long she'd keep a facade of a sweet sister.
"Let me take you inside so you can be attended to." Kali helped Gerald up. Despite his heaviness, she still tried. "I'm so sorry for the welcome you got."
Gerald scoffed, "No need to worry. Someone else will pay for it." He scowled. "That pig that can't please a man or make him hard."
Kali wanted to tell her fool of a step-brother that he was courting death, but she decided to let it be.