Heart of Darkness

Alexander took her on a flight under the starry night and Roxana enjoyed the cold wind in her hair. She watched the city below, a thousand lights glowing, and then he flew her over the ocean, which reflected the sky and his large wings.

They landed on the beach and then she lay beside him, in his large wing. This was truly a magnificent experience. She felt free in an entirely different way.

“How come you don’t often fly when it feels like this?” She asked.

“I don’t know. I have things that feel better. Like being with you.”

She smiled. He was in a very romantic mood tonight but she knew he wasn’t trying to be. He was just speaking his mind.

“Shall we just sleep here?” He asked, his voice calm. “This place smells like you.”

“If you are alright with it. I am warmed by your wing anyway.”

He wrapped her up in his wing and pulled her closer turning to face her. Leaning in, he kissed her lazily and she just enjoyed the soft feel of his lips. The night was a calm breeze, passing by in rhythm with their calm heartbeats. It was peaceful, a night that was a dream itself, and Roxana slept in warmth and comfort.

In the morning she woke up from the sun rising and casting its rays on her face. She sat up, slowly watching it rise with its orange and golden hues. Alexander woke up beside her and they watched it together. Then it was time to get back to the hectic life before marriage.

Today she would stay with Alexander’s grandmother, Zelia. She invited her over to spend some time at her home.

“Come with me,” she said taking her to a secluded room. She pulled out a box from her dresser.

It looked like a jewelry box. “This belongs to Alexander’s mother. She got it from her own mother and wanted to pass it down to her daughter or daughter-in-law.”

She handed her the box. Roxana took the wooden box adorned with mirrors and opened it. She found everything from pearl necklaces and bracelets, to diamonds, emeralds, sapphire, gold, and silver.

“It is alright for me to take all of this?” She asked surprised.

“It is yours so I can’t keep it.”

Roxana never had so much wealth but she was going to cherish this and not sell it. It was from Alexander’s mother after all. It felt as if she met her in some way, knowing her taste in jewelry and wearing what she once wore.

“I will take well care of it,” Roxana said.

Zelia smiled. “I am sure you will. I have something else for you.” She said and went to bring another box. “This is for you and your sister.”

Roxana opened the second box and found more jewelry. “You didn’t have to.”

​ “I have too much anyway and I am too old to use all of it.”

Roxana chuckled. “You look younger than me and you don’t even need jewelry. You are a jewel.”

“Oh, charming as always,” she smiled. “Now, let’s go test the new dresses.”

Roxana felt tired of testing the dresses until lunchtime and then for the first time she didn’t feel much like eating. She just wanted to sleep and she was a little nauseous.

“You must be tired,” Diana said giving her a massage and she lay in bed. It was unlike her to be tired for no reason. The next the nausea was stronger as she spent time with Angelica.

“Oh, don’t remind me. I hate nausea. My early pregnancy days were horrible.”

Pregnancy?

They looked at each other at the same time. “Pregnant?” They said at the same time.

Roxana didn’t know how to feel except to panic. “Perhaps you are just very tired. You have very busy weeks since the incident.” She said.

Yes, busy weeks were half the time the business was the kind that led to pregnancy. She tried to count the days of her period. It should have arrived three days ago. “I need to find out,” she told Angelica.

“We should go to the demon world. They have experts there,” Angelica suggested.

Roxana was nervous. It wasn’t that she didn’t want children but after witnessing childbirth, she felt the dread of the moment.

Angelica took her to the midwife who took care of her during her pregnancy. She could immediately tell that she was pregnant and all she did was ask to taste her blood.  It was strange but Roxana agreed.

“I am pregnant?” Roxana repeated.

“Yes.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“Does the blood taste different?” Wouldn’t Alexander know then?

“Yes. It is very subtle but for someone with experience like myself, it is easy to detect. The taste becomes stronger with time. You are very early in your pregnancy.”

Oh Lord! Her heart leaped to her throat. She wasn’t married yet. But wait, she would be married in two days so it would be fine. She breathed out in relief, but still, she was a bit nervous. She needed a moment to absorb it.

Angelica stroked her back, to give her comfort. “You didn’t want children?”

“I do. I just didn’t think it would happen now. I thought demons took a long time.”

“Yes. Dreadfully long. It felt like forever.” Angelica said.

Roxana smiled thinking of little sweet Aiden. “I am sure it was worth the wait.”

“Oh, it was and maybe it was for the better. I don’t think I would have done well earlier.”

“Earlier or later, you would do much better than me. Can you see me as a mother?”

Angelica chuckled. “Why not? You would be a fun mother.”

Roxana smiled, thinking of herself as a mother. Perhaps she wouldn’t be the best but she was sure Alexander would be the best father and now she had her sister, Alexander’s grandmother, Angelica to ask for advice and Uncle Ben and Fanny. She was surrounded by lovely people so all would be alright.

Now she wanted to give this good news to Alexander. She knew how much he wanted children and she was already smiling thinking of him holding their child. It made her emotional.

She waited for him in their house in the demon world so she could tell him in private. She couldn’t tell the rest of her family yet.