Heart of Darkness

"I don't need to be reminded. I know you." He said with clenched teeth.

Angelica just stared at him, looked at how he stood stiffly near the bed, his eyes reflecting both anger and something else.

He knew her? What did he know?

Taking a deep breath, he ran his fingers through his hair looking frustrated. He walked back and forth once before he stopped and looked at her for a long moment. Angelica wondered what was going through his mind before he walked up to her and grabbed her wrist.

"This mark, it doesn't change who you are. I know the kind of person you are." He looked down at her wrist and stared with a sad expression. "You are better than anyone I know." He said with a frown and then let her wrist slide from his fingers.

Angelica felt her heart tighten in a strange way. A way that brought a large lump to her throat and made her eyes sting.

Lord Rayven slowly lifted his eyes to hers. "I… I am not good. For you, for myself, or for anyone." So many emotions flickered through his eyes, some frightening. "When we get married, stay on your side of the castle. For your own sake."

And just like that, he left her alone confused. Angelica stood still, trying to process the things that he said. She was better than anyone he knew yet he didn't want her near him. For her own sake?

She touched her wrist where he had touched her. Even the way he touched her as if avoiding any contact, was odd. If he wasn't repulsed then why? And why did she care so much when she shouldn't?

Deciding to not let those thoughts bother her anymore, she walked back to her room. While on her way she came to the stairs. She definitely didn't walk those stairs up with Lord Rayven. She would remember if she did. This was where the strange thing happened.

She walked down the stairs and when she came to the bottom she turned around. She had been standing her with Lord Rayven, and then when they took a step forward they were suddenly in his room.

Angelica carefully took a step forward but nothing strange happened. She took another step and a third one. Still, nothing happened.

She shook her head. Something wasn't right. No matter how tired or how stressed out she was, she wouldn't imagine such a thing. Would she?

And the bats? Did Lord Rayven not believe her that she had seen bats in his room? No, it seemed like he didn't. But she was sure those couldn't be her imagination either.

Angelica scratched her head, feeling utterly confused. She had too much on her mind. Still, she was unable to let go of the strange events that happened last night as she went back to her room. When she arrived William sat on the bed looking a bit lost.

Angelica panicked for a short moment.

William!

She hadn't thought of what to tell her brother about where she had been the whole night. Hopefully, he slept through the night.

"Good morning." She greeted.

"Good morning." He replied without bothering to look at her.

"Another nightmare?" She went to sit at the edge of the bed.

"No. Just a dream." He said with dreamy eyes.

"Just a dream?" She became curious as to why her brother seemed so innocently calm and happy after sleeping. It was rare.

"I met a beautiful Lady." He turned to her. "Very beautiful. She was… elegant, confident, powerful, and...mysterious."

Angelica smiled. Her brother had truly grown and was now dreaming about women. But his standards...she shook her head. It was too high. Where would he find such a lady?

"I see. It seems like that is your type."

As if realizing what he had told her, his eyes widened and he blushed. Her brother blushed. She couldn't believe her eyes. "Uh, I wouldn't say that. She is also dangerous and cunning. She is… complicated."

"I don't know about cunning, but dangerous and complicated still sounds like something you would like." She teased.

"Not anymore." He said becoming serious. "You are getting married tomorrow." He changed the subject.

"Yes."

He sighed. "It seems like you haven't told Lord Rayven about your escape."

"Should I? Will it make a change?" She wondered.

It didn't matter whether she did the act or not. As soon as she got the brand she became a prostitute. No. Actually, it was as soon as she stepped into the brothel. The reputation of a woman was like a white cloth. Easily stained and the stain was very visible. No one cared how it became stained or why. Only that it was stained. Even if washed, people would remember that it was once stained.

Therefore when wearing white clothes, one had to be more careful than others. The white clothes should remain clean. Should remain pure or the value of it would decrease.

Angelica was sick of men putting a price on her. Why should it matter if she was pure or not? Even the word 'pure' sickened her. It sounded like a woman became dirty if touched. She became stained.

If so, then Angelica refused to be stained twice. She didn't want to give that power to anyone again.

If her purity mattered to anyone, then it should be the purity of her heart and soul. Even though she wasn't sure if those remained pure anymore.

"I don't know what you should do." William shrugged. "I don't know what I should do."

Angelica studied him for a moment. "Something is bothering you and I feel like you are keeping things from me."

"I am sorry. There are things I can't tell you yet."

What could it be this time, that her brother wasn't telling her?

"Is it something about Lord Rayven?" She asked.

William was quiet for a while before he replied. "I don't know whether to tell you to be careful and not let people get close to you easily or to do that. Both could lead to you getting hurt."

Angelica smiled sadly at the reality of his words. Having more people and more things she liked around her would make her happier but then she would have more to lose and losing it would make her sadder. Angelica didn't know if she could take the pain of losing more. Especially if it was someone she cared for.

"Dear brother. You are not the one to worry and give advice. If I have survived this then you know...I will be alright no matter what." She smiled at him.

"I know. That is what worries me." He sighed. "I don't want you to just survive. You deserve more than that."

Angelica lied down on her side, propping herself up on an elbow and resting her head in her hand. "Hmm. Then shall I die if I don't get more than that?" She said playfully.

"Die?" His eyes looked ahead s if seeing something that was far away before looking at her again. The look in his eyes when he looked back at her was concerning. "You wanted to die." He whispered. "You wanted to die when going through all of that."

Angelica sat up quickly. "William… that was a brief moment. I am sorry. I didn't …"

"You…" He cut her off. "You went through all of this to not leave me alone."

"No! Not just that. Because I wanted to keep seeing you. I wanted to see you grow, to see the man you become, to come to your wedding and see your children. To keep talking to you and see you smile. I wanted to be part of your life."

He nodded but he still looked sad. "But I was the one who was first supposed to see you getting happily married."

Happily married? A woman like her should be happy just being able to get married.

"I am happy.." She said firmly.