Heart of Darkness

Roxana couldn’t believe what Alexander was asking her. Leave Fanny and go to the demon world. No!

“Do you know what you are asking me?”

“I will do my best to look out for Fanny. But leaving you both is not an option. If I can protect one of you the most I have to.” Alexander told her.

Ughh… She scratched the back of her neck. “I would not be able to rest. My protection means nothing if the people I love are not protected.”

“Then you know how I feel. Please, help me. I want to do all that I can to protect you.”

“And what will I tell Fanny?”

“Tell him you are going with me as my guard on a mission,” Alexander said.

“So you want me to lie as well?”

Alexander sighed. “I could compel him if you want.”

“Alex!” She couldn’t believe him.

“What do you want me to do?!” He asked frustrated.  He paced running his fingers through his hair and sighing. She could feel how distressed he was. His biggest fear was to lose her.

He stopped and looked at her. “I can’t live if I lose you. I stop breathing just thinking of it.”

Her eyes watered.

“Don’t make me have any regrets. Let me protect you. You staying here won’t increase the chances of Fanny being safe.” He explained calmly.

Roxana took a deep breath and then exhaled. She couldn’t believe that she was going to do this._.

“Alright.” She said.

Alexander helped her pack and then teleported her to Lord Rayven’s house where she would stay with his wife and child.

Once they arrived, they found the couple in the parlor. Angelica held her son in her arms and smiled once she looked up. “Did he manage to convince you at last?”

Roxana smiled. “I am not sure. I feel like he compelled me.” She joked.

Angelica chuckled as she stood up from her seat. She gave Aiden to Rayven. “Let me show you your room.” She said.

They followed her upstairs and Angelica took them far out to the room on the left corner. “These demons have very good hearing so I am giving you a space far away from us.”

“Thank you. That is very considerate and thank you for allowing me to stay.” Roxana said.

“Well, I am glad to have company.” Angelica smiled and then motioned for them to get in.

They went in and Angelica gave them privacy by closing the door behind them. Alexander went and placed the chest with clothes in a corner.

Roxana looked around the luxurious room. It was large, with brown furniture and white clothing and walls. This was almost half the size of the whole ship she lived in.

But then she looked outside the window and balcony. She knew it was afternoon when they left the human world. Why was it dark outside? And where was the light inside coming from? She looked up at the roof and noticed some strange glowing things hanging. Was there a candle inside?

“Alexander? What is happening?”

He followed her gaze and looked outside. “Our world is mostly dark. The hours where there is light are very few.”

“Oh…” She nodded.

“And those are called lamps. They are like oil lamps but they work with electricity.”

Electricity?

“Let’s take a nap and I will show you around and explain the things different about our world.” He told her.

A smile curved her lips. “You want to take a nap?”

He began to take off his clothes. “I am beginning to like it.” He said. “I see what you mean.”

He tossed his jacket, shirt, and pants aside, and then he clicked on something that made the lights go off before getting into bed.

“Come.” He told her.

She went to him, with the help of the light from the moon outside. He held his arm out and she lay beside him.

“There is still much I don’t know.” She said.

“You will learn everything with time.” He said closing his eyes.

She watched him in the darkness. Although she said he wanted to take a nap she had this strange feeling that he was only escaping. That he was in great distress. Was this what he meant when he told her she would be able to sense his feelings through the bond?

“Will you let me meet your grandma?”

“No.”

“Why?”

He opened his eyes. “You won’t like her and she won’t like you.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I know her and her priority is her duty. She is probably not happy about you being human and therefore interfering with keeping the bloodline of defenders pure.” He spoke fast as if he didn’t want to hear his own words.

It was sad that it was like this between him and the only family member he had left. Roxana wanted to save this relationship even if she wasn’t fond of his grandmother.

“I want to meet her, Alex.”

He sighed. “You are so difficult today.”

She kissed his shoulder and then rested her head on his chest. “Just today and tomorrow when you let me meet her. Then I promise to be easy again.”

He chuckled and she smiled at his chest vibrating against her cheek. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you. She is frightening?”

“More frightening than when you become a destroyer?”

“Yes.”

“Oh.”

“No. She is just… I don’t know. She confuses me.”

He was confused. She could understand. He met her after so many years. Years that a human didn’t live even if they lived the longest period.

“Everything will be alright.” She said.

She would see this grandma and hopefully deep down she wasn’t what she seemed to be.

After her short nap, Roxana woke up and it was still dark outside. Alexander wasn’t sleeping beside her anymore. She adjusted her dress and hair and left the room. She took the same hallway back and then went downstairs.  In the parlor she found Rayven and Alexander seated beside him holding Aiden.

Across from them sat Angelica.

“Can you read his thoughts?” Rayven asked.

“Yes. He wonders who is truly his father?”

Rayven scoffed and his wife chuckled.

As Roxana walked further in Angelica stood and was about to leave when she took notice of her. “Oh, I am glad you are awake. I was just thinking of serving dinner.”

“Let me help you,” Roxana said and followed her to the kitchen.

The kitchen? What was this place?

Angelica was familiar with everything while she looked around confused. “Don’t worry. You will get used to everything in time.” She smiled opening a cabin and pulling out a dish.

“There are plates there!” She pointed at one cabin.

Roxana went to take out the plates and went to the hall ahead to serve. Angelica came with the dishes and Roxana went to look for cutlery and glasses.

“How does it feel to be mated?” Angelica asked.

“Oh, it is still new,” Roxana said not knowing how to answer it. Then she thought about it. How she could feel his emotions. “It feels very intimate.”

Angelica nodded knowingly. “It is.”

“How do you do it?” Roxana asked knowing that Angelica couldn’t bring her brother to this world either. “Stay calm in this situation and with your brother out there?”

Angelica smiled. “I have been in danger so many times and worried for so long,” she shrugged. “I am just doing my best and leaving the rest to fate. But know these men will do their best to protect us and our loved ones. I promise you that.”

Roxana nodded. She was sure of it but she was still worried.

“Good times will come,” Angelica assured her. “I really wish your beginning was less stressful than mine. It seems like beginnings are the worst with demons.”

Roxana chuckled. “It seems like it.”

She noticed how organized Angelica was, placing everything so perfectly and right on the table. “Ah, I am so glad you all are here and we get to spend some time together. Some good things have come of this at least.” She tried to be enthusiastic.

Roxana smiled with a nod. “Alright, let’s eat. And maybe you and I can go shopping later. There is a lot you need to try, like chocolates and ice cream, and see the night market with all the lamps and the demon clothing. Oh, yes.” She leaned closer with a devious smile. “What is his favorite color on you?”

“Pink,” Roxana whispered back.

“Mine is Red.”

They both chuckled quietly. “Well, then we need to find you a nice pink dress but let me warn you, they are different from ours.”

“How?”

“You will see.”