Chapter 10

Reina’s POV

I got dressed in an hour like he said, a simple gown from the wardrobe. I stood in front of my room door, fidgeting with my hands until a guard came for me and led me to the garage.

He opened the door to a Bentley, and I realized Rai was already in it. I tried to make myself invisible, but he actually paid me no attention this time, like I didn’t exist. Like there was no presence in his car. It felt relieving but weird at the same time. His eyes always met mine before.

We rode in silence for what felt like about twenty minutes till the car stopped. He stepped out and I followed, wondering where we were.

It was an open field with a serene environment… There were flowers and a little hue of nature. It felt peaceful. My mind relaxed immediately, breathing in the fresh air.

I continued to look around till I found handguns in a carton.

My heart sank.

“Wipe that fear off your face now, Petalo… at least for now. We are practicing… in a shooting range.”

My eyes found the targets immediately. I wondered for a second if he was going to use humans at all, but all I saw were targets.

My fear started to vanish a little.

Just then, a small white rabbit passed by me, stopping at a small patch of grass by my side. I unconsciously gasped, smiling before going to it, carrying it, forgetting in a minute my predicament.

I carried it, stroking it.

I had a thing for cute animals… rabbits especially. I had one as a child. I loved it so much till it died mysteriously. Now I realized maybe either Grace or Amara killed it because it brought me happiness.

I cried so much when I saw its dead body, matted in blood.

I was still smiling, stroking its soft body when I looked up, meeting Rai’s eyes.

My body stiffened quickly, suddenly aware of him. He had this amused look on his face.

I quickly dropped the animal, slowly walking back towards him.

“Fascinating,” was all he said before he took eye protection and ear protection, placing them on me.

He didn’t use any as he handed me a gun.

My hands shivered as I held the strange, heavy, cold metal. It was the first time I’d ever held a gun.

“Now shoot,” he said to me, startling me.

I looked at him in confusion. He gestured with his head towards the targets.

“Shoot, Petalo.”

I looked at the gun in my hands, slightly shaking my head. I had no idea how.

I looked back up at him, my heart pounding as my hands shook. I shook my head slightly.

“What? You don’t know how to shoot?” he asked, looking down at me, while I wondered why he suddenly wanted me to learn how to shoot, just a few days after owning me. Did all his maids go through this too?

“Well, we have to make you learn, Petalo. We don’t want you missing your real targets,” he said and moved behind me.

Real targets?

I swallowed.

I felt his heat and hot breath behind my ear and body as I felt dizzy in his presence. He had that much effect on me.

My hands started to sweat.

He pulled me closer to him from behind as my heart picked up pace, then he slowly put his hands on mine, angling the gun towards the target.

“You need to focus, Fiorita. Position your gun to the target.”

My breath hitched with him so close to me as his breath fanned my neck. I felt a strange sensation.

Our hands together gave me a sharp current that unexpectedly felt warm.

He was like a shield.

I felt his chest, which was surprisingly warm.

His chest that harbored his cold, dead heart.

“And when your target is in focus… you pull the trigger.”

He pulled the trigger and I gasped from the force as I looked at the target.

Bullseye.

10 points.

I smiled at the accomplishment, then he stepped away, and I felt the absence of his presence immediately.

I felt bare.

“Now try it on your own,” he said, looking relaxed as he watched me.

I stood positioned like he taught me, pointing the gun towards the target and angling it.

I breathed in and out, steadying my racing heart.

Then I shot.

I squealed, seeing I got 8 points, outer ring. I squealed in excitement, forgetting myself as Rai watched me with an amused look before he started clapping.

It brought me back to my senses.

“Good job. You’re a fast learner,” he said, smirking.

“Now for the main show…”

A guard suddenly brought something forward, placing it on the target and tying it to steady it.

It was white.

And moving.

My gun dropped from my hands in shock.

No…

Fear hit me as I realized what was on the target.

The rabbit I carried a few minutes ago.