Heart Of Darkness

Chapter 60

Rayven sat near the fire alone while deeply lost in thoughts. The more the wedding neared, the more he began to doubt his decision, knowing he was doing this for selfish reasons. What would happen to Angelica once he died, even though he wasn't sure how he would die? He needed to get his heart back for that, and there was no other way to do it than to make it bleed. It was not something he wanted to do. He couldn't afford to have feelings other than those he was used to. Emotions that darkened his heart, like pain, pride, hatred and ...

"My Lord..."

Startled, he looked to his left, where he found Angelica standing.

"May I sit?" She motioned to the chair in front of him.

He nodded, and she went to sit down before looking at him. He had tried not to listen to her conversation with her brother but failed. She told him he had been kind to her.

When? He wanted to ask. When exactly was he kind to her?

"Thank you for everything today. The clothes, jewellery, the servants, and mostly for bringing my brother."

Was that the kind she was talking about?

"I bought the clothes and jewellery, so you look presentable. When you become my wife, you must consider how you dress and carry yourself. Your reputation will be my reputation. As for the servants, we needed them anyway."

She nodded. "Yes, yes, of course." She forced a smile.

Rayven studied all of her. It would be even more difficult now when she dressed nicely and smelled so good. And then he saw the mark on her hand. He had tried not to think about it. Would she have the impact if he had gone to see her when Skender told him? When he was busy trying to die.

He had not done anything for her and did not even save her brother. Her brother hasn't marked an enslaved person today because Skender had taken it upon himself to keep him.

That demon, as noisy as he was, cared. Unlike all of them, he managed. Even when he messed up, it was with good intentions, while they messed up, knowing very well what they were doing wrong.

Perhaps that was why Angelica showed interest in him. His eyes weren't dead like theirs. He still had hope, and he fought for it. He still believed in good even when the likes of him surrounded him.

"Do you resent His Majesty because of your father?" He asked.

Angelica looked up at him, surprised. Her eyes darted before looking at him. "I don't resent him." She said.

Do you like him then? He wanted to ask.

Skender had fought to find another solution, knowing the world would be a harsh place to live alone as a woman. She would struggle greatly if her father weren't seen as a traitor. His delay had made things worse, even if his intentions were in the right place. Would Angelica think differently of him if she knew the truth? If she knew that he tried until the last moment?

Sometimes Rayven wondered if things would be different if he had tried to help Skender, even a little. Would they have found a solution and saved her from all this trouble?

What had he done to help her?

Nothing. And he would have continued to do nothing if she hadn't come to him.

"I was there when your father was killed." He began.

She swallowed and nodded. "I hope his death was quick."

"It was."

He could see she cared for her father despite the situation he left her in. Rayven couldn't relate to her. He had not shed a tear when he killed his father with his own hands. The man was irredeemable, just like him. He had raised him, after all, and he was the one who told him never to cry.