Heart of Darkness

In the night, under the full moon, people were dancing around a large fire, chanting some strange words and then reaching their arms up to the sky. Smoke rose from the fire and then they bent down, picking up the wooden bowls at their feet. It held a thick red liquid that they gulped down before continuing their dance around the fire.

“Bring more.”

A dark haired woman gathered the bowls before going into one of the houses. It was dark inside and fire suddenly lit the room. A man was tied to a chair in the middle of the room, his head hanging low as if asleep. Or dead. The woman went to him, grabbed him by the hair and tilted his head back.

It was the King..

He opened his eyes a moment before the woman cut his throat without a warning.

Horrified William shot his eyes open with a gasp. Cold weat covered his face and he was panting. He realized it was all just a dream and tried to take a deep breath when he saw a white ghost like figure from the corner of his eyes and his heart skipped again. He rolled in bed pulling the knife he hid under the pillow and holding it toward the white figure that only happened to be Lord Amore.

“Oh, “William breathed relieved.

The golden eyed demon narrowed his eyes, standing next to the bed with his arms crossed behind his back.”You need to be quicker than that if you’re going to protect yourself against creatures of the night.” He said.

Even if he was quick enough he would probably not be able to kill a demon so easily. Or a shade.

“You’re under my protection here. No need to be afraid.” The demon said. “You could use a bath.” His voice was as cold as his aura and as he vanished he caused a chilling rush of air.

William shivered.

Since he had arrived here at Lord Amore’s mansion he had felt something strange. Lord Amore’s mansion was not as luxurious as Lord Quintus’s but not as dark as Lord Rayven’s either. It was just… dull. With it’s old black and gray walls and lack of furnishing it gave a feeling of a haunted house and Lord Amore looked no less than a ghost.

He moved quietly, spoke in a low voice and left an icy air and an eering atmosphere wherever he went. But what unsettled William the most was the feeling of being watched. It was as if Lord Amore followed him around or watched him from a corner just like a ghost. Not to mention his taste in art. The strange paintings that covered his walls, depicting strange scenarios of death, souls and possession.

Could demons possess humans?

Lord Amore made him nervous for some odd reason. He was even more difficult to read than the King. His body, voice and eyes revealed nothing. He could only read his face. Just a little. William wondered what his sin was, and why his eyes were so empty. They looked even more dead than Lord Rayven’s. Maybe that was why he frightened him. Nothing was more dangerous than someone who already considered themselves dead. They had nothing to lose.

William looked at the dagger in his hand and then put it on the bedstand. He could definitely use a bath since he almost never bathed in military camp. He would sometimes sneak to the lake nearby and wash himself whenever he got little time.

Lord Amore’s servant, an old man named Arald who seemed to know the true nature of Lord Amore but didn’t seem to be one of them, prepared a bath for him. William bathed quickly, not letting himself enjoy the luxury or else he might miss it. Arald then offered to cut his hair that had grown long but William wanted to keep it that way. He only let Arald cut the damaged tips.

Now looking at himself in the mirror, it felt like he was seeing a different person. In such a short amount of time, his whole life had changed and he had to change as well.

“You will become a handsome young man in a few years,” Arald told him.

Handsome?

William stared at his reflection. His bright blue eyes, his small face with a few scars from fights and his redbrown hair that reached his shoulders. He didn’t know anything about being handsome. All he saw was a helpless boy. One that could do nothing.

William felt trapped in his body. This body of a young boy was constricting him. It was holding him back from the things he wanted to do and was capable of doing. He didn’t feel like his age. Not even the age of the boys in camp that were a little older than him. He felt lost. He wasn’t a boy nor a man.

William was served breakfast and Lord Amore didn’t join him, but as usual he felt like he was being watched. He looked around the gloomy dining room but found no one. As he continued to eat his food, goosebumps covered his whole body.

Once he finished his breakfast, he sat outside in the sun, his eyes locked on the old metal gate door. Lord Amore had told him not to step outside. William’s lips curved into a faint smile. A life in fear and locked in somewhere was just as good as being dead.

Speaking of death, he remembered the dream he had this morning and while dwelling on it the man in his dreams appeared right in front of him. A gentle smile settled on the king’s face as they locked eyes.

“You look good,” The king said walking up to him.

William stood up and bowed, “good morning, Your Majesty. “He greeted.

“Good morning, William.” He said as he came to stand in front of him. He then motioned for him to sit down before sitting beside him. “How was your stay here? “

“Good, Your Majesty.” William replied.

The king nodded and leaned back and then they sat there quietly for a while. William somehow knew that the king was here to see him, despite his busy schedule and he hated that it made him feel good. Why was this man being kind to him?

William needed no more disappointments. He needed no more losses to deal with and these demons were struggling and could decide to end their lives at any time. Their world was full of danger. Loss could happen anytime and William didn’t want to hurt anymore nor did he want to hurt others. But what was life if not shared with anyone? It was a lonely existence and he didn’t know whether he feared loneliness or loss more. ρꪖꪕᦔꪖꪕꪫꪣꫀ​ꪶ​

He glanced at the king who just sat beside him as if speaking to him through the silence. As if he could read his mind and they didn’t need to speak. William knew he couldn’t. He knew this man didn’t know how he felt about him nor did he wish for him to know. No matter how much he wished to have a man in his life he could rely on he would not succumb to that dream.

“I had a dream about you. A vision.” William began.

The king turned his head and looked at him with a frown.

“You were abducted. It seems like the people who abducted you needed your blood. “

“My blood?” “The King came thoughtful. “What did they look like?”

“I don’t know. But they were dancing around a fire on a full Moon and chanting some strange words. “

The king sighed.

“Do you know them? “William asked

The king nodded. “Yes. It’s the witches. “

“Why do they need your blood?”

“Do you remember that I told you our blood could heal? “

“Yes.”

“Well, those who know about our blood want it because of it’s healing abilities. As long as our blood is in someone’s body that person doesn’t get sick or age. Some witches want to prolong their lives and protect themselves.” He explained.

“So after the mating my sister wont age or get sick? And she will heal fast from any injury? “

“Yes. But not as fast as we heal or as long as we live. She is still human and much more vulnerable than us demons.”

It certainly wouldn’t protect her from the shades if the shades could kill the demons themselves.

“What will you do? “William asked.

“You mean about the witches? “The king asked.

William nodded.

“I don’t know when and how it will happen so there isn’t much I can do.” He didn’t look the least concerned.

“Are you not afraid? Could they kill you?”

“Yes but I can’t lie and say that I am afraid of death.” His eyes became sad again.

William wasn’t happy to hear that. He really wanted him to live. Even though he didn’t want to admit it this man gave him hope that maybe he could change his life. That maybe his life would have meaning one day. Something more than just protecting his sister and staying alive.

“Someone once told me that I am just a waste of space in this world.” He chuckled but the sound was as sad as a cry. “My death would hurt no one.”

“That someone is wrong. If you died many would get hurt. The people of this kingdom would suffer in the hands of a new king if he happened to be cruel.”

For the first time the king looked at him with a hard distant gaze. “You hold me in high regard William. I don’t know why but I really don’t want to disappoint you. I have several faces and with every day that goes by I don’t know anymore which of them is my real face. I am still far from redemption and I might fall even further away before I get there so people will suffer in my hands as well. They say the longer the punishment goes on, I will change. Most likely to something worse.”

William shook his head slowly and confused. Please hold on, he wanted to say. Don’t lose hope, he wished to beg but he could see coldness creeping into those blue eyes. Something had happened and he didn’t know what.

William had thought that maybe he would look happier because he had heard in camp that it was time for the king to get married. That he was now looking for a spouse and that a heir would soon be born. He knew the king wanted children but of course he wouldn’t be happy. It was probably a political marriage and the King didn’t look like someone who wouldn’t be affected by such things. He didn’t have a heart of stone like most rulers. He was very much in touch with his emotions. He would suffer a lot as a ruler.

The King clenched his jaw and shook his head. “I’m sorry.” He said. “I shouldn’t be complaining to you. “

Because I am a child, William thought in his head a bit annoyed.

“I didn’t realize you were complaining, ” William said with a straight face but this man could read him.

He smiled, “it’s your turn now. What weighs on your heart?”

“Nothing, “William replied a little too fast and again the king smiled knowing that he was lying. “I wanted to meet Lucrezia.. I told Lord Rayven but I haven’t met her yet. Could you help me with that?”