CHAPTER 119: NIGHTMARE WITH A PRETTY FACE

Kali stared at the young man in front of her. The moment from their last encounter was still fresh at the back of her mind. Percy’s words and how he looked at her, but most especially he had ki-

"Ow!" Percy grabbed his stomach, his whole body shook from the bolt of pain that ran down his spine up to his throat. If Percy hadn’t witnessed it firsthand, he wouldn’t believe a woman’s punch could send his brain spiraling.

Kali retracted her hand that was still fisted, her ears flared red with emotions she couldn’t explain as she glared at the young man in front of her.

"Don’t kill him, Kali." Rhane warned seriously from inside the room.

Kali brushed her palm on her shirt and scowled, "A tap to the chest won’t kill the whelp, will it?"

"N-no," Percy begged to differ. He was seeing memories of his childhood and they were all fading into a white distant light. Taking a step away from Kali, he turned his head to the side so she wouldn’t see his eyes that had filled with agonizing unshed tears.

Kali followed, she didn’t know that but she did. Taking a step closer, she asked with a stern voice, "Oi! Didn’t know playing hero was one of your foolish dreams. Standin’ in front of flying arrows?"

"Huh?" Percy forced himself to speak, his voice doused in pain. The more he tried to stand, the worse the pain got and not a hint of why he had been hit did he understand or was explained.

"I told you plain— stay with Jenna, did I not?" Kali noticed he was about to stand, she quickly fixed her hair leaving a button on her shirt open. Realizing what she had done, she immediately fixed it back but Percy was already standing and his eyes fell on her fingers tumbling with the buttons.

"What stare is that, swine? Do you want me to tear out yer eyes and make you choke on them?" Kali snarled, raising her fingers forward.

Percy quickly turned around, he’d thought the fear of Rhane was the beginning of knowledge but how wrong he was. Avoiding Kali was the path to long life. Percy cursed himself for ever believing that Kali was anything close to a woman. The girl was nothing more than a nightmare with a pretty face. Nodding to himself, Percy decided to leave the hallway and never return before her.

"Why are you here, huh?" Kali began, clearing her throat. "Missed licking the boots of your master that bad?"

Percy furrowed his brows, he turned his head to the side but not his entire body. "Master?"

"Mm, your master Brown, the one you worhsip like a god." Kali mocked with a sneer.

Percy finally turned, he forgot the reason he had returned to the estate in the first place. Getting punched by Kali had so many perks, starting with brainwashing one.

"I-"

"Tch " Kali tutted, "Me and me brother treated you fair, and the sight of a few arrows had you running like a scared rat." She shook her head in disappointment.

Percy blinked, he hadn’t noticed it until now but there was something different about Kali. He couldn’t point fingers exactly what it was, but something was very different about her.

"But since you’ve come crawling back begging, we’re decent folk, yes?" Kali raised her shoulder subtly, "You may stay...for now." She said with a grin.

Percy wanted to say something, but thought against it. Instead, he said, "I was sent by Master Brown to return with R- ehm...Rhane." He was still afraid to say Rhane’s name especially to his crazed sister.

"You’re leaving..." Kali’s voice became low, she squeezed her hands on her side. "Good riddance. Fools have no place under this roof." She chuckled to herself.

Percy rubbed his palm together, he didn’t understand the expression on her face. He’d come to understand the two expressions Kali made, disgusted and anger. But on her face now was something Percy had never seen. Afraid of getting hit again, he gulped.

"You will come to the tournament, won’t you?" Percy asked with a soft voice.

Shrugging with a scoff, Kali replied. "Bah, who’s time for that? I know my brother— he’ll finish the sport quick and ride home. I’d rather keep watch here and mind what’s ours."

Percy wanted to believe that.

"What?!" Kali barked when he noticed his eyes narrow in suspicion.

Percy raised his hand in surrender, "I knew you found things like that boring." He muttered, "Would have been lovely to see you in a dress, though."

"Blood upon me if I ever wear a bloody dress!" Kali spat, folding her arm across her chest.

Percy nodded slowly, when his eyes met Kali’s own he looked away. "Very well then, I will wait and leave with...your brother." He bowed.

Kali’s lips parted, her nose flared.

When Percy raised his face, he gave her a tight smile then quietly turned to leave. Not two steps had Percy’s legs walked when a firm hand grabbed his wrist and pushed him against the wall with force.

Percy winced, seeing the rage in Kali’s eyes he used one hand to cover his face then the other his stomach.

"W-hat did I do wrong this time?" He cried in exasperation.

Kali swallowed, hitting her fist on the wall behind Percy. "Do you not get it? A dumb smile like that can kill fishes, you daft goat!"

"W-hat?" Percy stammered.

"Shut your trap, idiot! Where I lived, birds drowned in the water ’cause they went after dead fishes— and it’s all ’cause fishes are... are..." Kali blinked, dropping her hand back to her side.

"If anything happens to my brother, I’ll gut you like one of those dead fishes. No bird’ll pick your bones clean, you’ll rot cold and forgotten."

"But I’m already dead after you kill me," Percy lamented with a weary voice.

Kali darted her eyes, "Yes! You’re already dead if anything happens to Rhane. Do you understand me?"

"B-but Rhane is strong-"

Kali punched the wall again, "Do you catch my meaning now?"

"Y-yes...I will die first before anything happens to Rhane." Percy found himself swearing to protect a man thrice stronger than him.

Kali felt heat rise up her neck, she turned around and quickly left the hallway without a word.

Percy let out a silent exhale when she walked away, he moved a fist into his mouth that muffled his scream. He just couldn’t understand the woman no matter how hard he tried.

The door to Rhane’s room opened and he stepped out.

"I cannot yet tell if you’ve found favor or dug your own grave." Rhane mused, standing at his door with his hands tucked in his pocket trouser.

Percy glanced at Rhane, then the path Kali had walked through. Something was different about Kali, he thought to himself once more.