Heart of Darkness

Roxana became completely heartbroken as she listened to Alexander’s story. So much pain, loneliness, confusion, and betrayal, and it has been going on for so long. Every time she thought things would get better, it only got worse, and when he finally came to talk about the most recent times things got only more painful and confusing.

He told her about Angelica and William and their connection to the woman he used to love. Ramona. The prophetess. Another being she didn’t know existed. And then he told her about Constantine and his father and how he recently suspected that it wasn’t the shades who killed his parents as he thought. He was worried that there would be an enemy out there still and that he might lose her. He had been through so much loss. He couldn’t take another one.

Roxana wiped away the tears that had been streaming down her face and kept holding his hand tightly the whole time.

“I wanted to leave the past behind. I even abandoned the thought of revenge because it wasn’t worth risking what I have now. But… It seems like the past is still after me.” He said.

She frowned saddened. “It is going to be alright.” She assured him. More bad things could possibly not happen to him. Good times had to come at some point. She would make this time his good time.

Pushing herself up and feeling like her bottom was sore after sitting for too long on the ground, she took his hand and pulled him up. Once he was on his feet, she stepped closer and looked into his eyes.

“Alexander. I have twelve lives. It was said at my birth and after escaping so many deaths I know for sure that I have so many lives so don’t worry. Besides, I could very much die of anything else. I could get sick tomorrow by some deadly disease or be bitten by a snake or just never wake up again.”

He frowned. “Don’t say that.”

“I am just being realistic. We can’t escape death when our time comes. We can just do our best to protect ourselves so let’s not be so fearful. Let’s live our lives and be happy as much as we can.”

He looked at her for a long moment and then nodded.

“Good. Now let’s go shopping for some food. I will cook for you.” She said although she wasn’t the best cook, food could make anyone’s mood better. But then she remembered he didn’t need to eat.

“Do you enjoy the taste of food?” She asked.

“Yes.”

“Alright then. Let’s go then.”

Roxana never enjoyed shopping so much. She loved seeing Alexander in the crowd of people he wasn’t used to and trying to navigate himself through the masses. Even though he could read people’s minds and know that the sellers pushing their items into his face were lying to him, he would buy it.

“You can’t buy everything.” She told him.

“We might need it.” He said.

“What do you need a body oil for?”

He looked at it. “I don’t know. Maybe I could give you a massage.”

She shook her head at him.

As they went to another shop, the seller recognized him. His eyes widened. “Your Majesty…” His mouth fell.

“You don’t know me,” Alexander told him with a hypnotic voice.

The man stared dazed for a moment then shook his head. “What can I help you with, My lord?”

What? Did he just forget?

Roxana stared confused between the two as the seller went on to endorse his items. Once they left him she had to ask what on earth happened.

“I compelled him.”

“What is that?”

He gazed at her for a moment. “Ah, I haven’t told you.” He said, grimacing slightly. “I can manipulate people’s minds to think a certain way.”

She frowned. “Have you done that on me?”

He looked defeated. “Yes. Once.. or twice… I think. I don’t remember clearly.”

“Don’t remember?!” She almost yelled and then looked around to make sure she wasn’t heard before turning back to him again. She glared at him. ρꪖꪕᦔꪖꪕꪫꪣꫀ​ꪶ​

“I am sorry.”

“No. Don’t apologize. First mind reading and now this. Tell me what else?” She hissed.

“Nothing else.”

“I want to go home.” She said and just walked away from him.

“Roxana.” He followed her but she kept ignoring him.

She could navigate herself through the crowd much easier than he did and since he couldn’t just teleport he had to suffer for a while carrying the bags of all the things he bought.

He deserved it.

Once they left the crowd, he quickly got hold of her and teleported them back home. She tore her arm away from his hold and folded both her arms over her chest, giving him a deadly look.

He just dropped the bags on the floor. “I know. It is unacceptable but I never thought we would be together.”

She narrowed her eyes. “What did you do exactly?” She asked.

“Well… I compelled you to sleep and think… it was all a dream.”

“What was a dream?!”

“The time when we were at king Isaac…”

She remembered and her eyes widened. “It wasn’t a dream?”

“No.” He said.

Her cheeks burned with anger and she turned around to go and lock herself in some room, but he locked his arms around her before she could leave.

“No! Let me go!”

“I can’t. I told you once we are together there is no separating us.”

“Well, I want to separate now.”

“Who will cook?”

“You can starve.” She told him.

“That won’t be good. I turn into a beast if I starve and you know what I will feast on then.” He bit her shoulder playfully and then trailed kissed up to her neck.

“I won’t let you feast on anything.” She said but he was already distracting her. “Alexander!” She gripped his hands to tear him away but right then his lips reached the tingling spot on her neck. It felt even more prominent than before.

“Let’s mate tonight.” He told her, burning his lips into her skin.

Roxana couldn’t explain the feeling but her whole body came alive. It was as if she could feel every small touch stronger than before which made her body react faster. His scent was also more powerful. He smelled more minty and even more masculine. He smelled like something she would want to taste.

She turned around in his arms and took his face between her hand before kissing him. Yes, he even tasted better. What was happening to her?

She pulled away and looked at him.

“What is wrong? “He asked.

“Does your blood… do more than healing?”

“Yes. It will give you a little bit of everything I possess. It will heighten your senses.”

“Oh…” It explained why she felt this way.  So it meant he was more sensitive to the taste of her? And touch?

She liked it.

“Tonight will feel much better.” He told. “I am going to keep you awake until you are exhausted so let’s cook and eat.”