Heart Of Darkness

Chapter 65

"I don't need to be reminded. I know you." He said with clenched teeth.

Angelica just stared at him, looking at how he stood stiffly near the bed, his eyes reflecting anger and something else.

Did he know her? What did he know?

Taking a deep breath, he ran his fingers through his hair, looking frustrated. He walked back and forth once before he stopped and looked at her for a long moment. Angelica wondered what was going through his mind before he walked up to her and grabbed her wrist.

"This mark, it doesn't change who you are. I know the kind of person you are." He looked down at her wrist and stared with a sad expression. "You are better than anyone I know.." He said with a frown, letting her wrist slide from his fingers.

Angelica felt her heart tighten strangely. A way that brought a large lump to her throat and made her eyes sting.

Lord Rayven slowly lifted his eyes to hers. "I... I am not good. For you, for myself, or anyone." So many emotions flickered through his eyes, some frightening. "When we get married, stay on your side of the castle. For your own sake."

And just like that, he left her alone, confused. Angelica stood still, trying to process the things that he said. She was better than anyone he knew, yet he didn't want her near him. For her own sake?

She touched her wrist where he had touched her. Even now, he felt her, as if avoiding any contact, was odd. If he wasn't repulsed, then why? And why did she care so much when she shouldn't?

She decided not to let those thoughts bother her anymore, so she returned to her room. While on her way, she came to the stairs. She didn't walk those stairs up with Lord Rayven. She would remember if she did. This was where the strange thing happened.

She walked down the stairs and turned around when she came to the bottom. She had been standing with Lord Rayven, and then when they took a step forward, they were suddenly in his room.

Angelica carefully took a step forward, but nothing strange happened. She took another step and a third one. Still, nothing happened.

She shook her head. Something wasn't right. No matter how tired or stressed out she was, she wouldn't imagine such a thing. Would she?

And the bats? Did Lord Rayven not believe her that she had seen bats in his room? No, it seemed like he didn't. But she was sure those couldn't be her imagination either.

Angelica scratched her head, feeling utterly confused. She had too much on her mind. Still, she could not let go of the strange events last night as she returned to her room. When she arrived, William sat on the bed, looking lost.

Angelica panicked for a short moment.

William!

She hadn't thought of what to tell her brother about where she had been the whole night. Hopefully, he slept through the night.

"Good morning." She greeted.

"Good morning." He replied without bothering to look at her.

"Another nightmare?" She went to sit at the edge of the bed.

"No. Just a dream." He said with dreamy eyes.

"Just a dream?" She wondered why her brother seemed so innocently calm and happy after sleeping. It was rare.

"I met a beautiful Lady." He turned to her. "Very beautiful. She was... elegant, confident, powerful, and...mysterious."

Angelica smiled. Her brother had indeed grown and was now dreaming about women. But his standards...she shook her head. It was too high. Where would he find such a lady?

"I see. It seems like that is your type."

His eyes widened as if realizing what he had told her, and he blushed. , Her brother blushed. She couldn't believe her eyes. "Uh, I wouldn't say that. She is also dangerous and cunning. She is... complicated."

"I don't know about cunning, but dangerous and complicated still sounds like something you would like." She teased.

"Not anymore." He said, becoming severe. "You are getting married tomorrow." He changed the subject.

"Yes."

He sighed. "You haven't told Lord Rayven about your escape."

"Should I? Will it make a change?" She wondered.

It didn't matter whether she did the act or not. As soon as she got the brand, she became a prostitute. No. It was as soon as she stepped into the brothel. The reputation of a woman was like a white cloth. It easily stained, and the stain was evident. No one cared how it became stained or why. Only that it was stained, even if washed, people would remember that it was once stained.

Therefore when wearing white clothes, one has to be more careful than others. The white garments should remain clean. It should remain pure, or the value of it would decrease.

Angelica was sick of men putting a price on her. Why should it matter if she was pure or not? Even the word 'pure' sickened her. It sounded like a woman became dirty if touched. She became stained.

If so, then Angelica refused to be stained twice. She didn't want to give that power to anyone again.

If her purity mattered to anyone, it should be the purity of her heart and soul, even though she wasn't sure if those remained pure anymore.

"I don't know what you should do." William shrugged. "I don't know what I should do."

Angelica studied him for a moment. "Something is bothering you, and I feel you are keeping things from me."

"I am sorry. There are things I can't tell you yet."

What could it be that her brother wasn't telling her this time?

"Is it something about Lord Rayven?" She asked.

William was quiet for a while before he replied. "I don't know whether to tell you to be careful and not let people get close to you easily or to do that. Both could lead to you getting hurt."

Angelica smiled sadly at the reality of his words. Having more people and things she liked around her would make her happier, but then she would have more to lose, and losing it would make her sadder. Angelica didn't know if she could take the pain of losing more. Especially if it was someone, she cared for.

"Dear brother. You are not the one to worry about and give advice. If I have survived this, then you know...I will be alright no matter what." She smiled at him.

"I know. That is what worries me." He sighed. "I don't want you just to survive. You deserve more than that."

Angelica lay down on her side, propping herself up on an elbow and resting her head in her hand. "Hmm. Then shall I die if I don't get more than that?" She said playfully.

"Die?" His eyes looked ahead s if seeing something far away before looking at her again. When he looked back at her, the look in his eyes was concerning. "You wanted to die." He whispered. "You wanted to die when going through all of that."

Angelica sat up quickly. "William... that was a brief moment. I am sorry. I didn't ..."

"You..." He cut her off. "You went through all of this to not leave me alone."

"No! Not just that. Because I wanted to keep seeing you, I wanted to see you grow, see the man you become, and come to your wedding and see your children. To keep talking to you and see you smile. I wanted to be part of your life."

He nodded, but he still looked sad. "But I was the one who was first supposed to see you getting happily married."

Are you happily married? A woman like her should be happy just being able to get married.

"I am happy." She said firmly.