Heart of Darkness

“What is wrong then?” William asked.

She sighed. “I saw doubt in his eyes when he said so.”

“You think he lied to you?”

“No. I don’t know. I think maybe he just wants to believe it so badly. I am not sure.”

William had already discovered this when he was here. Lord Rayven was honest but his honesty wasn’t always reliable since he believed in his own lies and only saw the truth that he wanted to see.

“Do you trust him?” William asked.

Angelica became thoughtful. If she had to think then there was no trust.

“I don’t think I do,” she replied. “Do you think I should trust him?”

William trusted no one anymore. It didn’t mean that the person was untrustworthy or that he was suspicious of them. Not trusting didn’t necessarily mean distrusting. He just didn’t want to give his trust away unless to those who earned it. He would have to be very careful from now on. But he didn’t want his sister to live like him. He wished for her to find happiness, love and trust.

“You should do what feels right. You know him more than me.”

She nodded thoughtfully.

William felt uncomfortable about it, but he just had to ask. “Did you do… the bonding thing?”

Her eyes widened. “Oh, just how much do you know?” She looked worried for him and he could understand why. “No, I haven’t.” She said.

“Will you do it?”

Angelica seemed to hesitate to tell him what was truly on her mind.

“Angelica. I might not come back for a while. Talk to me.”

She took a deep breath. “It is just a lot. I do not only have to get bitten but drink blood as well. It will connect us on a deeper level he said but why can’t we have a connection like that without it? It takes time to build something like that. If we don’t have it now, will the blood do some kind of magic to bring us together? Is our connection real then?” She sighed.

She really let out and William understood it was something she had kept to herself and it had weighed on her.

“Angelica. You had to keep things to yourself, be extremely patient, cry alone, hold in your anger because you were the adult among the two of us. But now it is the two of you. I know you are used to it but you don’t have to keep doing that anymore. If you are sad, angry, frustrated you can express it. He is not a child. I mean he acted like one sometimes, and he is blunt and rude. You can be so in turn. If you can handle it, he should be able to handle it too.”

Angelica chuckled. “Oh, William. You are really angry with him. He has changed a lot and he is making an effort. He is not rude anymore. He is very kind.”

“Well, it is too much and he should understand and you look like this. He is kind but has no food at home?”

Now she laughed and he smiled. “I hope you two can get along,” she said.

“Are you telling me not to give him a hard time anymore?”

She nodded. “He is already having a hard time.”

“Good for him.”

“William!” She looked at him wide-eyed.

“It just came out,” he smiled innocently.

She shook her head at him.

William didn’t want anyone to have a hard time. He was glad Lord Rayven was making progress and hoped he would find peace within himself and be happy with his sister. He had hoped that his sister’s positive light would affect him and he was happy to know it did.

“What happened with the shade?” He asked changing the subject.

Angelica told him what had happened and about her dreams and how they made her feel. She was concerned for him and wanted him to be careful and not tell anyone else about his abilities. But now he was concerned for her. Clearly, Constantine was looking for her and not him. He had a connection to the woman in her dreams.

“Now, I don’t know what will happen or what to do?” She said.

Although William knew his sister was the one to pave her own way and fight for herself, he really just wanted her to rest now.

“You don’t have to do anything. Let your husband deal with this.”

And it wouldn’t hurt for Lord Rayven to do some work. It would serve their relationship. Angelica deserved to feel protected and taken care of as well.

But what could he do? Now after knowing everything he was still clueless and so was Angelica None of them knew why these dreams occurred. There was Skender’s theory that was possible but how would they ever be sure?

He would have to go back to his home to find some clues.

They stopped talking about the troublesome things and Angelica went to show him around the castle. She had made a lot of changes and many things different in a better way. William knew his sister would make this castle a home.

“You shouldn’t be working this much,” he told her.

“I like it. It keeps me occupied,” she smiled. ρꪖꪕᦔꪖꪕꪫꪣꫀ​ꪶ​

She took him to the garden where she had also done some work.”I hope to see some plants here soon. Colorful ones. Maybe one day we can sit here among them.”

William nodded.

Suddenly, the king and Lord Rayven joined them in the garden.

“Are we disturbing?” The king asked.

“No, not at all,” Angelica said.

“You wanted to talk to Skender.” Lord Rayven said looking at Angelica then he turned to him. “Maybe William and I can talk as well.”

William looked at all of them and then took the hint to follow Lord Rayven inside, leaving his sister behind with the king.

They walked in silence at first and then Lord Rayven asked him, “how have you been?”

William was surprised. It sounded both strange and awkward coming from him as if he was uncomfortable asking such questions.

“I have been well, My Lord. How have you been?”

“Good,” he nodded.

He took them to the parlor and they sat down. Lord Rayven tapped with his fingers looking nervous.

William remained quiet, curious to see if he would ever speak. Then as if not being able to stand the awkward silence, “I like your sister.” He blurted.

William tried to keep his face straight but he was surprised. Did he just use the word “like”? He nodded slowly.

“I… I haven’t acted correctly in the past but I do want to make things right,” he continued.

William just kept nodding. Lord Rayven looked at him. Was he asking for advice?

Good Lord. No wonder his sister looked like a ghost. This drastic change was a shock. His voice, the change in his eyes, and the slightly worried smile on his face.

A smile!

It wasn’t as if he was gone for a month. He had only left a few days ago.

“You have to be patient, My Lord.” He said. “I just told my sister to give you a very hard time.”

Lord Rayven chuckled. “I deserve it. I guess that is one way to learn to do the right thing.”

Good Lord. Who was this man? A genuine chuckle and more than honesty, there was sincerity in his eyes. He realized the difference now and understood why he always thought the King was good. Lord Rayven was honest but the king was sincere. Now he hoped for Lord Rayven to keep being sincere as well.

“Please take care of her,” William said. “She is not used to relying on someone.”

Lord Rayven nodded.

“And your fear of dying, that will also take time to overcome. You can heal each other and together.”

Lord Rayven probably felt the need to promise that he wouldn’t leave but he didn’t have to. They just needed to be together, give each other time and support and let the trust and comfort build.

But how did he know this? The only relationship he had was with his sister.

Why did he know things he hadn’t seen in his dreams or learned in life? He never thought about it before.

“My Lord?” So many questions suddenly swirled in his head but Lord Rayven didn’t have the answers.

“Yes.”

“I need to meet Lucrezia,” he said.

“I can’t take you there. It is somehow guarded and we can’t bring anyone with us. Only she can meet you. Why do you want to see her?”

“I have questions to ask. Could you let her know I want to see her?”

Lord Rayven nodded. “Yes.”

“Do you trust her?” William asked.

Lord Rayven became thoughtful. “I am not sure,” he said his eyes looking distant.

“My Lord, I also need to go home. There could be some clues there.”

“I was thinking about that. But you shouldn’t go there. It will look suspicious. Skender and I will go if it is alright with you to look around your home.”

William nodded.

“I also need to know everything about the shades,” he said. “Demon’s too.” He added thinking of his nightmare.. It kept bothering him.