"I promise nothing." Rene said quietly, ire in his tone.

Jaden was just silent... preparing himself for what was to come.

Desiree heard Rene start to verbally tear into Jaden as she entered the bathroom, and just sighed, taking off her headphones and setting them to the side, as her world became silent again.

It took about 40 minutes or so before she was finished her shower, and another 10 minutes to make sure she was dried and dressed and such. When she stepped out of the bathroom, putting her headphones on, she heard Rene.

He was STILL reaming on Jaden, tearing him a new one.

And it seemed like he wasn't losing steam anytime soon.

However, Jaden was retorting, and while he was insistent on defending himself, she could hear the guilt and sadness in his tone.

"I didn't know! I already said that! And I used the EpiPen as soon as I saw her, before calling you right away!" he told the doctor.

"I feel terrible for this happening, all right!?" he exclaimed.

"You don't get it, do you!?" Rene asked, anger in his tone.

"Whether or not you were involved in this, or how bad you feel isn't the real issue here!" he said to him. "Desiree is unsure as to whether or not she feels safe with you any longer!" he told the dhampir further.

"And that means that YOU FAILED AS HER BODYGUARD!" he declared, seeming to let out his final burst of frustration.

And with that, a heavy silence hung in the air.

Both Rene and Jaden froze when they heard her.

Rene looked over to her with a surprised expression, and Jaden with a horrified one.

"Ah... Ah..." Jaden stammered.

"No! I mean, he's just-" he started to protest, before Rene sighed and interrupted him.

"No, Jaden." he said.

"I let that slip and Desiree heard it." he said further.

"The truth needs to be told, and I'll be the one to do it." he insisted.

"Desiree... take a seat, if you please?" he asked Desiree.

Rene just sighed and shook his head.

"Right." he said.

"Truncate it, huh?" he asked.

"All right... it might leave you with a few MORE questions, but here it is." he told her, taking a small breath.

"An outside party with your safety and best interests in mind went to someone looking for help. That help was in the form of stopping an attempt on your life from your family." he told her. "That someone decided that Jaden would be the best person for this job, as he was a magician like you, and could be around you without causing TOO much suspicion." he continued.

"Which I happily and readily accepted." Jaden interjected.

"Nothing was said, because we didn't want it to be awkward between you and Jaden. And if you didn't know about this, then it would be reasonable to assume nobody else would, aside from those involved in the discussions about this." Rene then reasoned. "Ie: the first party, the one they went to for help, Jaden, myself, and Kalin." he listed off further.

"However, this latest incident has me questioning whether or not this was a good idea, having Jaden be your bodyguard." he then said pointedly, glaring at the dhampir, who guiltily looked away.

"I swear, I wasn't!" Jaden insisted.

"The thought of someone harming you make my blood boil!" he declared.

"Uh-huh." Rene said.

"But that's not the point right now." he insisted.

"Desiree's safety right now, and if she feels safe here, IS." he told him.

"...that's true." Jaden admitted.

"That really IS all that matters right now." he agreed.

Rene sighed again.

"See? She still believes there's a chance you want her dead." he told Jaden.

"And that means you failed." he said further.

Jaden just bit his lip, before falling into one of the chairs there.

"...I'm sorry..." he apologised.

"I'm so sorry..." he repeated.

"I thought I could protect you... I wanted to keep you safe... but that didn't happen..." he said further.

"And now Desiree's going to need to move. AGAIN." Rene told him.

"Reeeeeeally hope you're proud of yourself." he said further, spitting a little venom at the dhampir.

"......." Rene was silent, before sighing again.

"Your choice, Desiree." he said.

"I'm watching you." he then warned Jaden, before disappearing in a bubble of water.

"....wow." Jaden said.

"He's really protective of you." he told Desiree.

"What... what happened?" Jaden repeated, clearly confused.

"Wh... when?" he asked.

"Like, this whole incident?" he asked further.

"It seems that the pasta sauce I got from that meeting buffet had shellfish in it. Like... bits of it." he told her. "Tiny bits." he went on.

"The one that spooned it up for me even said that it was seafood-free. I asked." he continued.

"....guess he was wrong."

"Eh?" Jaden mumbled.

"Well... yeah." he said.

"I mean, the hair, yeah. Eyes, I didn't get a close look at. But he DID look really effing skinny... like he hadn't eaten for... most of his life..." he went on, before thinking about it.

"And yeah, he DID have a scar on the left side of his face. Fresh or not... well, I suppose it did look it, yeah, thinking back on it." he admitted.

"Why? Who was it?" he asked.

"And how DID this happen?" he asked further.

Jaden was silent for a moment, raising his eyebrow.

".....yes..." he said.

"Like... sounded kinda like he could have a career in... like, radio, or something." he commented. "However, something happened... whether it be he smoked or some shit, or there was an accident, or what." he continued.

"But yeah, his voice was SO damn close to being... well... really nice to listen to." he admitted.

"You seem to know a lot about this person..." he then commented, before pausing.

"Is he... one of the ones out to get you?" he asked her.

Jaden was silent for a moment, almost stunned.

"Your... your brother!?" he exclaimed.

"Your own brother...?" he asked, before shaking his head.

"Holy hell..." he mumbled.

"Also, he planned that all out?" he asked further.

"That kind of tactical mind is... frightening."