Kill them All

As for Reina's sacrifices for him, he believed that freeing her and giving her an opportunity was a fair exchange in his twisted perception. 

He felt no disgust towards Reina, just a weird sensation in his heart. 

With the key in his hand, he opens the chain around Reina's neck. 

When the collar opens, her skin is red and bruised. Reina touches her neck with her hand, flinching as she feels pain from it. 

She then takes a few breaths and looks deeply back at Malacai. 

The room is filled with the sounds of moans from the woman in heat. 

The woman with defiant eyes starts banging on the cage. She has heard their conversation and asks to be freed, too. 

The other lifeless woman just looks for a moment before turning her gaze back down.

Seeing that his gaze never flinches, Reina knows Malacai wants an answer. 

"Tell me why you still want me. And what do you mean by 'heart and soul'?"

"I honestly don't know what it means, but I need someone to give their heart fully to me. That is why I use 'soul' in my question, too," Malacai answers swiftly.

Nerissa perks up her ear, as it's the first time she has heard that. Reina gazes deeply at him. "Must it be me, or could it be anyone?"

"I am not stupid; I understand what you mean, Reina, but I'll be straightforward with you." 

"It's not only you; I need it from four people, and I will only offer this to someone I deem worthy of it," he replies.

His answer surprises her. She asks, "If I say yes, what will you ask of me?"

"A proof," Malacai says, taking out a knife from his pocket.

"How can I prove it with a knife?" Many thoughts run through her mind. 

Having been abused so many times by Darius and his men, she has shed enough tears to start killing her own emotions and common sense.

Many times, she has thought about how ugly people can be when given power and how useless and weak she is. 

She has even contemplated suicide but has never been able to follow through. Despite what has happened to her, she clings to life.

This realization makes her feel disgusted with herself; she already has no one, yet she still wants to live.

She often questions why, but every day, when Darius shows her Malacai being bullied, it always surprises her. 

She has even become numb to being raped, but every time she sees that, her heart clenches with pain.

Knowing she never had hope of being free, her eyes turned lifeless. 

Her thoughts are filled with Malacai, and the thought that she cannot be at his side to comfort him makes her feel crazy. 

In the last few days, she even tried to butter up to Darius to get a small hope of freedom.

Then Malacai appears before her eyes, and her mind quickly awakens, her heart beating loudly. 

The moment she sees no disgust or pity in his eyes, she feels a sudden relief and can act normally.

She moves her palm to Malacai's face, thinking about many things. 

The purpose of the knife, the thought that Malacai might ask her to commit suicide, doesn't even cross her mind. 

But Nerissa thinks of that possibility, making her question herself: Can she really wiggle into the heart of someone so cold and cruel?

Seeing Reina still puzzled, Malacai points at the rest of the women. "Kill them all."

The words fall heavily, causing the woman banging at the gate to shake in fear. 

"Stop... Don't kill me… We don't have any hate between us…" But she is ignored.

She keeps banging and complaining while Reina and Nerissa's eyes widen at Malacai's order. 

Nerissa doesn't understand why Malacai needs to kill them. 

Reina takes a few moments, grips the knife, and her eyes become determined. "Will you ever abandon me?"

Malacai's smile turns into an evil grin, his eyes flickering with malevolence. 

"There will only be four people I keep in my heart; the rest will be my tools." 

"But, no matter which one, once it becomes mine, it will be mine forever, and no one shall ever touch it."

The word 'tools' doesn't disturb Reina; she has been treated worse and has heard more derogatory words before. 

In her heart, as long as she is not abandoned, it's fine. 

Hearing his words, Nerissa's mind turns into turmoil. 'Only four, where does even that number come from?' she thinks. 

Nerissa even wonders if Malacai understands what it means to put someone in his heart.

Reina then tries to stand up, but her legs are weak from the many abuses, and she hasn't walked for quite some time. 

As she almost falls, Malacai's hand helps her. Even though his body is weak, he still has enough strength to prop her up.

Malacai doesn't say anything; his eyes are cold. 

Reina uses his body as an anchor, trying to stand up. After a few moments, she starts walking slowly. 

Nerissa wants to help her, but Reina signals with her hand for her to stop.

Reina reaches the other lifeless woman, who looks at Reina for a moment and makes a bitter smile. 

"It's alright, Reina. I don't have anything to live for anymore. But I don't have the courage to do it myself."

"I am sorry. May you meet your son and husband in heaven," Reina says.

Slash… Blood spurts out, painting Reina's face red. 

She slashes the woman's neck, causing blood to pool on the floor. The woman's eyes turn weak, her lips move, but no sound comes out.

Seeing this, Malacai feels something stirring in his mental space. 

He takes a step, arriving in front of Reina, who is still wiping her face from the blood with her palm. 

Malacai offers his hand, and Reina holds it and stands up. Her expression remains stoic throughout this.

The defiant woman, seeing all this, starts sobbing even more. 

"I… I can be your tool; just don't kill me… You may not know me… But I am quite popular outside. Please."