Heart of Darkness

Angelica stepped under the warm water wanting to take a shower one last time before they went back home. Showers were easier than baths after all. This would be one thing she would miss after leaving this world.

While showering she was careful with the slippery floor. Rayven's blood had helped her feel less tired, but she was still dizzy and suffering from a headache that refused to go away. She was surprised to know that she needed to drink more. She thought one glass was a "good amount" but it wasn't.

Drinking blood was not like she had imagined. She thought she would magically like it, like she did with the bite but Rayven told her those were different things. Pleasure could relieve pain and fear could increase it. When there was trust between two people, the bite felt less painful. It did not mean that it was less pain. But the taste of blood remained the same.

Well, it tasted horrible to humans. Angelica was glad that he left her alone to drink last night. Taking breaks between each sip and grimacing would be awful in front of him and she had been relieved once she was done. Only to find out this morning she needed to drink more when she didn't see a mark on her neck and wondered why.

How did humans do this? The ceremony was between two demons.

Rayven told her he wasn't thinking of having a ceremony for that reason. He didn't want her to put on a brave face in front of people she didn't know while drinking his blood. Angelica had fought the urge to lie. She really didn't want to be disgusted but her sense of taste couldn't change according to her wishes.

Cold blood tastes better for humans, he had told her. If she wanted it hot, she would have to drink it directly from the source. Hot blood? She squirmed. Would it taste better? At least she wouldn't have to do this so often. Once she got the mark, his blood would stay in her body for a long period.

With a sigh, she rubbed the soap into her shoulders. She shouldn't complain. Not everything about being with a demon would be pleasurable. She was getting the benefits of staying healthy and young for a long period. Anyone would force themselves to drink blood for that reason alone. But that was not the reason she was willing to drink the blood. She wanted to know what this mating was all about. How would she feel? What would it mean and what would the mark look like? She was curious, but she also wanted to do it for Rayven.

If other humans could put on a brave face and do it all at once, so could she. Drinking little by little was no better and this headache and dizziness was disturbing her peace of mind.

Once she was done, she stepped out of the shower. As usual, she saw her naked body in the many tall mirrors in the bathroom. You look alright; she said to herself while realizing that she wasn't feeling sore anymore. After drying herself she wrapped the towel around her body and walked into the chamber. She was about to look for clothes when she remembered she couldn't wear the ones here since she was going back home. Sitting near the dresser, she combed her hair instead while waiting for Rayven.

Rayven came back with a tray in his hands. He had tried to make breakfast again and Angelica fought back a smile. He looked proud of his achievement but there was a hint of worry in his eyes. She knew he worried she wouldn't like it.

"What have you made?" She said standing up and following him to bed.

He put the tray on the bed and let his eyes skim over her half-naked body. As if refusing to be distracted he looked he sat down and focused on the food. He poured her orange juice and had tried to make eggs again. They looked better this time. She also noticed the cheese but no chocolate?

Was he afraid she would lick them off his fingers again? He had been so flustered and bothered last time. She affected him and he looked at her with lust more often than not. He was under her spell and she enjoyed it more than she should, perhaps. It didn't make her feel so inexperienced. She felt like she was also in control and not just losing control.

"I think it is fine this time. I tasted it," He said handing her a slice of bread with egg.

At least he learned to taste the food before serving it. Angelica took a bite and chewed while trying to concentrate on the taste. "It tastes good," she told him.

Again he watched her as she ate. She would feed him pieces just so she wouldn't feel alone and he would accept her offer. Once she was done, "no chocolate?" She asked.

"My lips are just as sweet," he joked.

Angelica looked at his lips and then met his gaze. The air thickened, and she leaned closer over the tray, inviting him in for a kiss. With a smile he met her lips halfway and returned her kiss. She would have never thought that a kiss alone could bring her so much pleasure.

"I want to complete the mating," she said.

He grabbed her face and kissed her deeper. "We don't have to."

She pulled away to look at him. "I want to," she repeated.

He gazed at her for a long moment. "Alright," he finally said.

Rayven reached for the glass of juice that she had emptied.

"I'll drink from you," she said.

You can do it, she told herself.

He paused again but didn't protest. Instead, he cut his wrist without flinching and she took his bleeding arm to her mouth. The hot thick liquid felt strange in her mouth and she had to force herself to swallow it. It was the metallic taste that was hard to deal with and now that the blood was warm the taste was stronger.

Angelica had to pull away and take a deep breath for a moment but in that short time, his wound had already healed. Oh no. Now he would have to cut himself again.

"I am sorry," she said looking up.

He watched her with a frown. "You are stubborn. I told you, you won't like it. You are not supposed to either. Blood doesn't even taste good for demons or we would drink blood like we drink wine. But it doesn't taste bad either and the only time we drink is when we are overcome by the urge to mark which you don't have."

"But others can do it," she said.

"Not all of them. You heard the bringer. Fewer demons mate these days and even lesser are those who have a mating ceremony."

The bringer was the one who started the ceremony.

"Why is that?" she wondered.

"There are several reasons. Demons not wanting to wait for the one and live alone for so long. Adapting or being influenced by human culture. Also wanting to have a family. Or maybe we are evolving, just like we evolved from eating flesh and drinking blood to eating normal food, and sleeping during the day instead of the night. Perhaps we are evolving to find love without relying on our senses and only using our judgement and putting blind faith in one another without any kind of mating or mark to prove it. Or maybe some people just want companions, where love exists, but it is not romantic. There are both benefits and disadvantages to this kind of development, if that is what is happening."

Angelica nodded thoughtfully. There were many things to consider. Living for so long without a companion could indeed feel lonely.

"But what if they find the one later, after they marry someone else?" She asked.

"I don't know. We will have to see what happens with Skender."

Angelica was confused. "What will happen?"

"He will have to get married for political reasons."

"That is awful."

"Maybe it won't be so awful. Some people grow to love each other and you never know where you will find love. At the end what was meant to happen will happen and not everyone finds the one. My parents never did."

Yes, finding love was for the lucky. It seemed to be the same for demons. Same problem, only different reasons.

"I am glad I found you," she said. "My one and only."

"Angelica," his eyes softened, and he reached for her face. "My one and only. My Angel."

He drew her closer and kissed her.

When they went back home, Rayven had prepared for her the best surprise. He brought William. She knew it hadn't been long since she had seen him yet it felt like forever. But he looked at her with such sad eyes, with such torment her heart broke.

"What is wrong?" she asked.

He just came and hugged her. It was unusual. Unless she was sad he was not the one to hug her first.

"I know," he said. "It is not your fault."

Angelica was confused.

"I am glad to be the one with this gift and curse."

Oh dear. He found out.

"I know and you are doing much better than I would." She smiled stroking his hair.

He released her and stepped back. "I am getting used to it. In fact, I like it now."

How lucky she was to have a brother like him, she thought looking into his brave blue eyes.

Rayven left them to spend some time alone and William told her what he had been doing. He told her about his encounter with Lucrezia and the things he had learned.

Prophetic mind? So her brother had the mind of an old man? Woman? And somehow the consequences were that some memories stayed with her even if she wasn't the prophet anymore.

Angelica wanted to ask him if he was alright finding out all of this but he would lie to her. Even if he had the mind of an adult, to her he would always be her little brother.

"You shouldn't have gone to Lucrezia alone," she said. "Why did she tell you?"

Now she was more suspicious of this woman. Her brother's eyes darted. "She just did."

"William?"

"She wanted something in return."

Oh, she knew it!

"What?"

William shrugged. "I don't know."

Angelica dropped her jaw. Her wise brother just agreed to a deal, and he didn't even know what it was.

"Have you lost your mind?"

He smiled. "It will be alright. Whatever it is she wants will probably require of me to stay alive."

"Death is not the worst that can happen." She reminded.

Her brother frowned and became thoughtful. "I will be alright," he said at last.

Angelica abandoned the heavy talk and told her brother about the demon world and he told her about his stay with Lord Amore. The white-haired, light golden or silver she wasn't sure, but he had a unique look. His personality seemed to match what William told her. Strange, she thought.

After lots of talk and eating food, they rested in the afternoon in the garden. Angelica went inside to help Sarah make tea and then carried the tray to the garden.

Cold air made her shiver as she stepped outside, and her body froze in shock. Her hands gave in dropping the tray and the hot tea on her feet, yet she didn't flinch in pain. All she could see was Constantine, standing outside the gate with a dagger pointed at her brother's throat.

"William!" Angelica rushed to the gate but didn't step outside.

"You want me, not him. Release him!" She ordered.

She wanted to call Rayven, but if she said his name, Constantine could disappear with William right in front of her eyes.

"Then step outside!"

"Don't!" William said and Constantine pushed the dagger into his skin causing a slight wound.

"Release him first!"

Constantine replied by pushing the tip into his skin causing William to grimace.

"Alright!" Angelica yelled and stepped outside.

Constantine released her brother at once and grabbed her arm in a firm grip.

"Angelica!" Suddenly her brother's voice came from afar and she turned back to find her brother running toward the gate.

A moment of confusion passed by until the one she thought was her brother shifted into a man.

"Too late, little brother." Constantine said as William ran toward her.

"William, don't! Rayven!" She called, but it was too late.

An amused laughter followed the panic.