Heart of Darkness

Roxana couldn’t believe that she was offering to feed him. She could see that he was trying to contain his surprise because his eyes darted a little. Still, she felt bad. He was so wrapped up in the blanket, shivering and looking so cold that she could understand why he wouldn’t want to try to eat.

“I can help,” She smiled.

Standing up she went to grab a chair to sit closer. She could feel him watching her the whole time. He didn’t say much since he woke up, probably trying to fight the shaking. She could hear the slight tremble in his voice the few times he spoke. For a moment she wondered if she should call the physician but then… she didn’t know what he was suffering from and if a physician could even help him.

As she placed food on his plate the idea of possession came to mind again. She had heard the presence of demons, ghosts, and spirits brought a feeling of coldness. But, he wasn’t possessed right now and she wasn’t the one feeling cold. His eyes were also back to normal. They were back to being beautiful sapphires.

Roxana grew nervous as she picked up a knife and fork. Would she really feed him?  She raised her head to see his face. He was simply observing her. Her heart was racing. Her heart raced. Well, this was… strange so she decided to do what she usually did in tricky situations. Put a smile on and pretend like everything was normal.

She took a slice of potato and placed it in front of his mouth. Her eyes were drawn to his unmoving lips, and she raised her head to meet his gaze. “Your Majesty, you should eat.” She hurried to say something while putting on a brave front.

He watched her for a moment and she tried to keep her hand from trembling. Then he parted his lips and took the food into his mouth. He began to chew slowly as if tasting it.

“Does it taste good?” She asked.

He nodded. She went ahead to pick some more. He looked at what she had picked up.

“I will never finish if you take such small pieces.” He told her.

“Oh,” She looked at the piece. It wasn’t small but surely he could eat bigger. She tried to slice a bigger piece.

“Just pick up all of it.” He said.

Really?

“Alright,” She said taking the whole potato. Curious she watched his mouth open and he took all of it into his mouth with ease. It was even easier for him than it was for her and she could eat some very large pieces.

“I didn’t know you were like me.” She said. “I like to eat large pieces.”

The few times she dined with him, he barely ate.

Suddenly Alexander choked on his food. Or maybe he wasn’t like her, after all. She hurried to pour him some water but he had already swallowed by then and a laugh followed.

Did she say something funny?

“What is enjoyable about that?” He asked.

“Well… it fills your mouth. The taste.” She said and then thought more carefully. “Or maybe I am just less patient with food.”

He nodded with an understanding smile. “Then you should eat. I can’t finish all of this anyway.”

“I should help you…”

He removed the blanket from his shoulders. “Let’s see who eats the bigger piece, or faster,” He said.

Oh, did this turn into a challenge?

“And then…?”

He looked at her questioningly. “And then?”

“Well, the winner should get something, Your Majesty.”

A smile curved his lips. “I see. What do you want if you win?”

Oh, the possibilities. All the things she could ask from a king. Gold, silver, diamonds, emeralds but that was her old self. Well, not entirely but the object of her desires was something else now. Someone, to be precise.

She watched him thinking of what to ask? “If I win then… I want you to allow me to remain your guard.”

His eyes narrowed and then glistened with something unknown. “Is that all that you want?”

“Yes.”

“Alright. If you win, you may remain my guard as long as you wish.”

Well well, she solved one problem, and staying by his side, she could solve the rest. Especially the mystery around who he was. Or what he was.

“What do you want?” She asked him curious about what he would ask. She had nothing he didn’t have already. What would he ask her? To leave him alone?

He lifted his gaze with a slight smile and then watched her with intense eyes. She wasn’t sure why her heartbeat picked up from the way he gazed at her.

“What I want…” he began with a slightly lower tone. She listened carefully, her heart pounding. “Is just to win.” He smiled.

Huh? She blinked, confused.

What? She thought…

Ugh! Nevermind. Why was she frustrated?

The smile remained on his face as if something amused him.

“You must want something.” She insisted.

“What I want I will get, whether I win or not.” He said confidently.

There was an underlying promise in there.

“Shall we begin?” He asked.

“Yes.”

She wondered if he wasn’t cold anymore. His skin still looked the same. She watched his hands as he poured the same amount of food into their plates. They were pale, almost blue.

“Ready?” He asked.

“Are you?” She asked in turn.

“I am.”

They picked up their plates and then gave each other a nod to start. Roxana was confident she would win but looking at how he easily put large pieces into his mouth and swallowed she remembers she was possibly challenging a non-human creature. Of course. This was stupid.

He gave her a smile while she panicked and tried to chew harder and faster. He chuckled amused by the whole situation. Finishing his food while she still had half of hers left he put his empty plate down on the table. He then drank his water before pouring her a glass.

Giving up she put her plate down. She took the water to swallow whatever was left in her mouth.

“This is unfair.” She said once she could breathe.

“How so?” He leaned back relaxed into his chair.

You are not normal, she thought. But she couldn’t say it out loud. Not yet. She didn’t want to give him another reason to run away from her.

“Your Majesty? Have I not shown to be useful? I would still like to remain by your side. I promise not to be a nuisance.”

He frowned, watching her carefully. What would he say? Would he now finally get rid of her?

“You are a nuisance.” He began. “But I like you that way.”