Percy paced back and forth inside the small room he now shares with Rhane.
"Master never lets any man inside her room! Not even me! Not even me! And just on your first day, you—" Percy gritted his teeth and pointed at the young man who was sitting in the corner of the room.
"You know what you're doing, don't you? Tell me the truth! Don't lie to me, I know those eyes. Those lying, conceited eyes!"
Rhane remained calm, sitting on the bed with his legs folded as if he were meditating.
"Anne? No man bears such a name! You're a fraud, and I know it. Those thieves, they wanted to say your name... Rhane? Anne? Your name is Rhane, isn't it? And you're mocking us all by acting like a child!"
This time, Rhane raised his face, his eyes on Percy as he continued throwing tantrums. He tilted his head when the young man said his name.
"Calling her master and this and that! Ughhhh! I knew it! I had a bad feeling about you coming with us. I will find the truth, and I will expose you. You bet!" Percy angrily crashed out of the room, his mission to expose the young man who had come to take his Mistress away from him.
To take the attention and care. Before Rhane, Percy had been Jenna's favorite- the beloved servant of Jenna.
Once the young man left, Rhane returned to his meditating pose, this time with his eyes closed.
After some time, he stood up from the bed and walked out of the room.
. . .
Jenna locked herself inside her room, trying to understand what exactly had come over her when she came so close to the young man she had only just met.
She was being too comfortable with him, and that was bad. He wasn't to be trusted, and maybe Percy was right. The man could be dangerous.
At dusk, Jenna decided to take a stroll to clear her mind before returning to rest for the day. Tomorrow would be a very long day; it was the beginning of sales for every merchant. A lot of people would be on their way.
The merchant season used to be Jenna's favorite. She would sell quickly so she could spend time with Cortez, but that was now in the past.
Now Jenna struggled to survive, and the merchant season helped her a lot.
Changing her stained shirt, Jenna put on something loose before leaving her room. Getting to Percy's room, she noticed the door was locked.
Jenna decided to leave them. Their journey had been so long, and they must have been tired. She was tired too but needed to cool her head.
Outside the house, merchants were already cleaning their goods. Candles lit every corner of the street, the moon was already out but shyly hiding behind the clouds, making it look like a blur of magic.
Jenna didn't need any attention from the merchants, so she took a darker path until she was far from the houses. She continued to stroll, humming a soft melody to keep herself company.
The night was cool, all living things preparing to nest and rest. Jenna used to hate this time of the day the most. It was at this time that her husband would return from wherever he had gone. And his anger would begin.
He was either hitting her or forcing himself on her. Jenna remembered the one time he had tortured her with candle wax while whipping her body.
The memory made goosebumps rise on Jenna's neck. It was scary how she had endured those torturous nights for too long. It wasn't fair to her at all.
Yet now, nights like this one made her very happy. She could walk around freely and enjoy nature.
The sound of the spring just ahead of her made Jenna smile. She decided to turn for the day and go rest, but she was tempted to visit the spring.
She had missed her opportunity to use the spring while they were on the road; maybe she could use it now.
Jenna looked around to be sure nobody was there, then she walked in further. She decided that if someone was there, she would turn and leave.
All she wanted was just solitude. A time alone.
As she wished, the spring was empty, and the crescent moon was now fully out, its reflection on the stainless water.
Jenna was so excited that she quickly got undressed and jumped inside the water.
"Ah," Jenna moaned at the pleasure the soft, cold water gave to her skin. A sweet sensation. She walked in deeper into the waters, washing her face and her body happily.
Jenna relaxed her body and exhaled. This was it! Moments that made her feel grateful for life. While living with her monster, Jenna had prayed every day for death.
She had been tired of living, of doing anything. Yet here she was, grateful that she could live to enjoy simple things like this one.
While bathing, Jenna heard someone's footsteps, and she quickly ducked, hiding under the water. Luckily for her, holding her breath underwater wasn't a challenge since it was among the things she had survived while being married.
"Do you think someone might find us here?" a woman's voice asked.
Jenna knew for sure who they were, forbidden lovers who didn't want to be caught.
"You know my wife comes here every night... let's use the other place," the man suggested.
Jenna rolled her eyes underwater. That was it with every merchant. They shared their wives and husbands, doing atrocious things.
"We can't let my husband find me. I'm really scared. I feel someone might find us," the woman replied.
"Then I'll be quick. Just raise your skirt slightly."
Jenna widened her eyes. Was she really going to listen to these people please each other while she struggled for her life underwater?
"Alright, fine. I'll need something to lay with...oh look, someone forgot their clothes."
No! Jenna cried. It was hers. They were using her clothes to- when she heard the woman moan, she tightened her eyes shut.
"Did you put it in too deep?"
Jenna gritted her teeth. She decided to come out, or else she would die underwater trying to protect adulterers.
"Ehm,"
The duo, who had just started their business, jumped when they heard someone's voice.
"I told you we'd get caught!" The woman pushed the man and quickly gathered her skirt, including Jenna's, and ran out of there.
The man, who was still hard as a rock, ran after her, struggling to hold up his trousers.
"Wait! Wait! Let me just put it in so I can release. Wait." He ran after the woman.
Jenna didn't wait to scout the area. She raised her face and half her body, trying to catch her breath.
"Ah," she sighed, pushing her hair back. "I almost died."
Flipping her hair to the side, Jenna stood inside the spring with her breasts exposed. Only after she relaxed did she notice that she wasn't alone.
"A-Anne?" Jenna's face paled upon seeing the young man standing on the other side of the spring, staring at her.
"Master," Rhane answered without breaking his gaze. His eyes moved from Jenna's shocked face down to her chest.