Heart of Darkness

After spending the whole evening watching the king chat with the princess, it was finally time to go to bed.

“I will stand guard with Luke. You two get some rest.” Peter told Roxana and Gary.

Great. At this point, she wanted nothing but to sleep so she could wake up with a fresh mind and think clearer. Right now, she was being irrational. She was acting and feeling strange.

All of them were escorted to their rooms and even the guards were given comfortable accommodations. Roxana lay on the soft mattress with a sigh. After sleeping on the ground for two days straight this felt like heaven. They were five guards sleeping in the large room. Two of them collapsed on the mattress and began to snore immediately after having a little too much to drink.

“I think we will have a royal wedding soon.” The guard Jonathan spoke as he took off his armor.

Gary lay down on his back, placing one arm under his head. Roxana shifted uncomfortably, facing the other way and trying to block their conversation. She didn’t want to hear more of it.

“Let’s hope for that,” Gary said.

“Why? Are you doubtful? Princess Serena is a beauty and loved by her people just like His Majesty. They make a great match.”

“What do you say Rox? You have been quiet?” Gary spoke.

Roxana stiffened. Why was he getting her into the conversation? Was it to test her because she was the king’s whore now?

“I think they look lovely together,” Roxana said and God, as much as she hated it, they did look good together. Both beautiful and elegant.

She closed her eyes, stifling a sigh. Why was she feeling this itch of annoyance? When did she ever wish to be a lady and marry a king or to look more beautiful and decent? She had never cared about such things. She was never one to go around wishing for things she couldn’t have. She was one to take what she could have.

Closing her eyes, she forced herself to sleep only to be plagued by a horrible nightmare. Guards barging into the room waking her up. Two of them came taking each of her arms and dragging her out of the mattress and on her knees in front of King Isaac. He looked down upon her with red eyes.

“Your Majesty, what have I done?”

“You dare deceive your king.” He said coldly.

From behind him, King Alexander appeared, a disappointed and hurt look on his face.

“Your Majesty.” She tried to crawl to him but the guards held her in place. “I am loyal to you. I did not wish to deceive you.”

“But you did.” He spoke. “I don’t like to be lied to.”

“Forgive me, Your Majesty. I do not know better. I wish to do better if you give me a chance.”

Now he looked at her with disgust. “Take her away.” He ordered and the guards began to drag her out.

“Your Majesty. Please, allow me to explain myself.” She struggled to free herself but to no avail. “Your Majesty!” She called as she was dragged further. “Please, at least allow me to meet my family once.”

The king refused to look at her. “Please. Your Majesty!” She cried.

The dream slowly faded and she woke up without opening her eyes. She felt a hand on her cheek, a cold thumb wiping away her tears. “It is alright,” a soft familiar voice spoke.

Roxana opened her eyes and found Alexander looming over her.

“Alexander.” This had to be a dream. Only in her dreams did he come to her at night.

He loomed over her in the dark, holding her cheek gently. She placed her hand on top of his and then pushed herself up. “Alexander.” She then leaned into him and he held her closer, stroking her back.

She buried her face in his chest, getting lost in the fresh, intoxicating scent of him. This felt so real and good.

“It is alright now.” He whispered.

She drew back to look at him. She could see him in the dark. He felt so real. She reached for his face, letting her fingers caress his cheek. He closed his eyes and she felt a muscle clench in his jaw. He then shook his head and tried to pull back.

“No.” She grabbed him by the collar. “Don’t go.” She whispered.

Not yet. She didn’t want this dream to end yet. His eyes darted, slightly panicked and unsure.

“Alexander.”

“Roxana… I-I can’t…” He grabbed her wrist to remove her hold but she refused. With her other hand, she grabbed his shoulder as well. At least in her dreams, she wanted to have him.

He was so close, his lips only a hot breath away from hers. She wanted to feel those lips against hers.

Alexander drew in a sharp breath, his hand hesitantly traveling up her back and his fingers going into her hair. He leaned closer, his trembling lips brushing the side of her mouth. Roxana shivered, her lips tingling with a longing to be kissed. Her hands snaking around his neck with the need to have him close.

Alexander’s hot lips brushed along her jaw and went to her neck. Roxana leaned her head back and arched against him while pulling him even closer. He was keeping his body away from her and it only made her ache for him more.

Alexander grabbed her wrists and pinned them down. “No.” Fear vibrated in his voice.

“Please,” the plea left her lips before she could think. But who cared? It was just a dream.

And then he gave in. His mouth burned into her neck, sending heat down to her core. He kissed her softly at first and then sucked lightly awakening a tingling in parts of her body that she didn’t think was possible. A moan left her lips and his hold around her wrists tightened painfully as he stopped.

She writhed frustrated beneath him, not wanting him to stop and he responded with a low groan before kissing her again. Sucking and nibbling and causing her to get lost in a wave of heat until she felt something sharp prickle her skin.

She hissed and Alexander drew back at once, his eyes wide with fear. He released her and covered his mouth with a hand. “I am sorry.” He said.

Roxana watched him confused.

“This never happened.” He said looking into her eyes. She could see the pain in his. “You will forget this. I was never here and you are tired and sleepy.”

What? Suddenly she felt like she couldn’t keep her eyes open. She was indeed tired.

“And now you will sleep.”

Roxana relaxed and closed her eyes.

***************

Escaping from the castle, far away from where he could sense her Skender walked through the woods feeling angry with himself. What was he thinking going there and almost risking biting her? How reckless could he be?

Anger boiled his blood but it burned with something else as well. He had never been so inflamed by a woman. Never experienced such longing that it was painful.

He was hard, hungry to bury his body in hers. His fangs were fully elongated and paining him with the need to sink his teeth into her flesh. To feel the taste of her blood and soak in the wetness and warmth of her body.

He cursed inwardly as his hands clenched into fists, his claws making holes in his palms yet he felt nothing but thirst and hunger.

Why was she so willing?  The way she had pleaded and called his name. Arching and writhing beneath him. And then that soft moan that triggered the demon in him to want to mark her.  His fangs had never elongated with such force before that it pained him as well.

God, he was the worst. He shouldn’t have done that when she thought it was only a dream. He shouldn’t have gone there at all and now he had to compel her. He punched a tree causing it to break and almost fall over him. He grabbed caught the trunk and threw it away.

Then he chuckled sadly at his own stupidity. He was getting more aggressive each day, and it was unlike him. He never threw or punched things when angry.

Giving up, he went back to the castle and ordered some wine to calm his emotions. Then he drank himself to sleep.