Heart of Darkness

In the morning, Angelica was combing her hair when she noticed something strange on her neck. She moved closer to the mirror to inspect and found something that looked like a bruise. What was that? She touched it with a finger. It ached a little.

Ignoring it she went back to combing her hair. She tried really hard not to recall what happened last night since she acted like a crazed woman. What was she thinking when she didn't stop him? She shook her head but still couldn't stop her thoughts from going that direction especially when she was where it all started. In front of the mirror.

Taking a deep breath to cool down she put the comb away and went to find a distraction. The only thing that could stop her from thinking about the heated night was what followed after. The memories she saw. She knew these things didn't happen to her but it felt like they did. Her body reacted as if she had felt the pain herself.

Did Skender know? Angelica wondered. That the woman he loved had been bitten, used, and abused. Angelica was hurting for Ramona even though she didn't know the woman. No one deserved to be treated like a piece of meat. She felt sick just thinking about it.

"Are you alright, My Lady?" Simu asked who was working in the garden while she stood there to get some fresh air. He studied her face. "You look ill lately," he pointed out.

She just smiled at the whole thing not knowing how to react. This man had sold her without batting an eye. She had tried to understand him. Tried to understand that he was probably this way because he had done it so many times that it became normal to him. Or that he had to be indifferent because he also had a debt to pay to Lord Green and was forced into it as much as she was. Or maybe it was a combination of both. Either way, she understood that he was as powerless as she was, and watching him work every day she realized that he wasn't as bad as she thought.

She never felt uncomfortable with him, and he never looked at her the wrong way. He didn't even look at her with resentment. Sarah never complained about him either. In fact, she had seen them spend time together sometimes and laugh about something.

He hated every time she sent him to do some work that would take too long but once he started he seemed to get lost in it. He made the home for the chickens even better than she imagined.

"I am fine," she said. She sat down on the bench outside and watched him chop wood.

"Why don't you get married?" She asked.

He paused to look at her. "What family would let their daughter marry a man who used to sell women? Even Sarah would hate me if she knew."

Oh, he didn't tell her. Angelica felt somehow bad for him. If he didn't tell her he clearly cared about what she thought about him.

"Do you like being here?" she asked.

He shrugged. "It is calm. I don't have to worry about things."

Angelica wondered what he worried about before that he didn't have to worry about now? She hoped that it meant that he preferred this work instead of his old one.

"Sweet Sarah. She is so kind," Angelica said.

Simu remained quiet and went to pick another wood to chop. Angelica smiled to herself. She hoped Simu would choose to be better. If Demos could become Rayven then anyone could change.

Sarah came to the garden with juice. Since Lord Rayven told her to feed her she served her something periodically.

"Drink with me?" Angelica said. "Bring a glass for Simu as well."

Sarah smiled and hurried away. She brought two other glasses. She poured herself some juice and then to Simu before going with the glass to him. Since he was working she just put it somewhere nearby and came back to sit with her.

"The weather is nice today," she said.

"It is," Angelica said looking up at the sky. It was a clear blue sky in September. The weather had been a little cold and rainy but it was nice to see the sun shining so brightly again.

"It will get colder soon, so we need to buy proper clothes," Angelica said.

Sarah nodded.

They sat outside for a while, just talking calmly while enjoying the weather. Angelica missed this calmness and was glad she could forget all of her problems for a while.

But her problems didn't forget her. She suddenly sensed danger and by now she knew this feeling that made her blood run cold. Her eyes went to the gate and there she found him standing. He wore a gentle smile on his face and stared directly at her.

"Who is that?" Sarah said trying to get up.

Angelica put her hand on her lap. "I'll go and see," she said.

Standing up she tried her best to hide her fear but her fingers were already becoming numb because of how cold they turned.

Angelica tried to hide her fear as much as she could while making her way to the gate. She kept a safe distance even though she knew he couldn't enter.

"You have come back," she said.

He smiled. "Yes."

"How can I help you?"

He looked at her for a long moment before he spoke, "you know what I want."

Angelica nodded. "Yes. You want to harm me because I am a demon's wife." She pretended not to know the rest.

He chuckled. "I wouldn't waste my time on that. Only shades who have nothing better to do with their time or resentment chase demons' mates. I actually like that demons are mating with humans. Down the line, they will become more and more human."

"Then what do you want from me?"

"I just want to know if you are what I want. It will require holding my hand." He said holding his hand out.

"I am not a fool, My Lord."

He smiled again. "That is why I am here to talk to you. This will be the easiest way for you and your loved ones. You don't want your husband to get hurt while protecting you. Do you think he can fight me?" He asked.

Angelica just stared at him.

"If you are not what I am looking for then I'll leave you alone. I don't have time to waste."

"And if I am?"

"Then I am sure we can find a way to make it work. You give me what I want and in return, I will give you something."

"Like what?"

"Well, being powerful has it is benefits. I can make sure that shades stop chasing demons' mates. Does that sound bad?"

"Are you saying you won't hurt demons mates even though you are enemies with demons?"

"I know it doesn't sound believable but my biggest enemy right now is not human nor demon, "he assured her.

Then who? Or was he just telling lies?

"I'll leave you to think about it. Be smart." He told her.

He was about to turn around and leave when he paused. "I am just really curious," he began and looked at her neck. "Why aren't you marked yet?"

She didn't answer his question.

He nodded. "I understand. It is personal. Or maybe it just didn't work. Do you not like your husband or does he not like you?"

"That is none of your concern," she said getting angry.

He sighed, pretending to look sad. "Well, well. It is indeed none of my concern. I was just thinking that Lord Rayven was the only smart demon to not mark his woman. After all, the reason shades chase the human mate is to hurt the demon through the connection. But I understand that most of them can't resist doing it."

Oh, was that the reason? Angelica never thought of it.

"Anyway," he sighed putting his hands in his pockets. "Marked or not, I will definitely hold your hand one day," he winked at her before turning around to leave.

Angelica watched him walk away calmly. He didn't seem the least fazed. She touched her hands. Her fingers were not cold anymore. Maybe because she got too caught up in the conversation to be afraid, but now she slowly became afraid again. He was so confident that he would get her one day.

At least she was locked in here but what about Rayven and William? She didn't like this at all.

Now she knew he wanted her blood but why did he need her blood? She needed to find answers soon. Rayven wouldn't show her his fangs until she recovered, and she wasn't sure she wanted to see them. Not because she was afraid of getting scared. She didn't want to hurt him with her reaction. She hated the way she reacted knowing that his fangs were just the way he was and he even told her it was his body's reaction to her. Then how could she just be afraid of him? Her reaction must be hurtful.

Feeling overwhelmed by all the questions in her head, she went back to her room to think alone. She needed to find another way to overcome her fear but also find answers through the memories. There had to be more.

After thinking for a while she suddenly got an idea. The bats. She had seen them hang from the top of the castle and she would see them fly above sometimes. They always came from the back of the castle it seemed.

Angelica decided to find them even though she was so frightened. Her hands were already sweating as she made her way to the back of the castle. A scream erupted from her throat when a bat suddenly flew by without warning.

Oh, God! How was she going to do this?

She tried to find see where the bat could have come from when she found a large wooden door at the back. It was open and led downstairs. Angelica carefully walked in and looked down the stairs. It was dark and very quiet.

Gathering more courage she decided to go down. Her heart picked up a beat as she descended the stairs and it got darker and darker until she couldn't see where she was going but then slowly it became a little bit lighter again.

Angelica found herself in what looked like a dungeon. There were small holes in which light could enter from above but it was still mostly dark. She could feel the heavy dusty air that made her wrinkle her nose, and there were spider webs almost everywhere.

The sound of flapping wings made her freeze. She turned around slowly with a pounding heart and found a bat flying around. When it flew by too close she fell back with a shriek and crawled away against the wall just to find a few ones hanging above her.

Angelica screamed but it only made things worse. Now all of them were awake and began to fly around. Angelica curled herself into a ball and shut her eyes. She could hear the flapping of wings nearby and she just wanted to disappear. She began shaking, trying to cover her head and ears while praying for someone to come and save her. Her body became so tense and cold, her heart jumped to her throat, and breathing became hard.. She gasped for air and when she couldn't breathe she panicked even more. God, would she die here?