Heart of Darkness

“You can’t!” Angelica blurted. “Only my mate is allowed to bite me. It is something sacred and intimate and I won’t allow anyone else to do it!”

He tilted his head to one side and watched her curiously. “Alright then. No biting, but I still need to taste your blood.”

“Why?”

“You know very well why.”

“No, I don’t.”

His face hardened as if he had enough. “Don’t test my patience.” He said between clenched teeth. “I am trying to make this work. I knew you would never believe me if we only spoke through your gate and that is why I brought you here to show that I mean to bring you no harm. If you work with me.”

She just glared at him. Work with him? She couldn’t let him know that her blood wouldn’t work. What should she do? How would she explain it because he really believed she was the prophetess? The only way out she could think of was to pretend to still be the prophetess, have all the powers except for the blood thing. Would he believe it?

“Alright. I might if you tell me everything you plan to do.”

He shook his head as if that could never happen. “I can’t for my safety and your own. Especially before I make sure you are the one I am looking for.”

Angelica knew she had no way out. Either he would forcefully take her blood or she could cooperate.

“And you need my blood for that?”

“Yes.”

She nodded slowly.

“Come with me,” He said and then led her to a large parlor.

He motioned for her to sit down on one of the sofas and so she did. A servant walked inside holding a tray in his hands. Constantine picked the cup and the knife from the tray and the servant dismissed himself.

Even though being cut with a knife would be no different, she was relieved. He was really going to such lengths to make this work. What would he do once he found out her blood wouldn’t work?

“Are you ready?” He asked approaching her.

She stared at him as if he should know that no one would be ready for this. He smirked and came to sit in front of her. He reached his hand out and Angelica gave him her wrist. As if afraid she would change her mind, he cut her without warning and Angelica hissed in pain.

Constantine held her hand above the cup and let her blood pour down. When half the cup was full, he pulled her wrist to his mouth, and before she could protest he sealed the wound with his tongue. Annoyed Angelica snatched her hand from his hold and he chuckled.

“I was doing you a favor,” he said.

Picking up the cup, he gulped down her blood. So he only needed so little to feel a difference.

Licking his lips, he put the cup down on the table. “It will take time for it to work. Meanwhile, do you want something to eat or drink?” He asked.

Angelica shook her head. “Meanwhile can’t you let me go home? My little brother. He is just a boy.”

He tilted his head to one side and a sigh left his lips. “I can’t Angelica. But if your blood works and you choose to work with me, then you, your brother, and your mate will be able to live in peace. And if you don’t, not only will I be a danger to you but there will be many other dangers out there that I can eliminate for you.”

Yes, she remembered his offer that he would stop the shades from chasing down demon mates.

Constantine showed her to a room where she could stay while her blood worked. It was an extravagant room, almost like a royal chamber.

“Make yourself comfortable. Your attendant servants are standing outside if you need anything.” He smiled unsettling her. “And don’t try to run away, because you will fail and it will anger me.”

He gave her a serious look before leaving. Two guards closed the door behind him, locking her inside this royal chamber. Now she would have to wait here and dread what would happen once he saw no results from her blood.

Angelica sat down feeling nauseous. How is William? He must be so frightened and what was Rayven doing? He would put himself in danger to save her. Hours went by with her worrying and finally the sunset. Angelica lay down and closed her eyes. She needed to remain calm so she could succeed with the lies she planned to tell. She spoke calming words to herself and imagined calming images. Everything would be alright in the end and she would be back home, in her garden having afternoon tea with Sarah while watching Simu cut wood. She would greet her chickens every morning and then work in the kitchen. She would relax in the library and read a book or maybe even better have Rayven read her a book near the fireplace while she rested in his arms. Everything would be alright.

But she was soon snatched from this wonderful dream. Pulled out of bed she was teleported somewhere else and then pushed back. Angelica fell back into another bed and Constantine stood near her feet, glaring at her with fury in his eyes.

“I knew you would do something like this.” He said.

She pushed herself up and looked at him confused. “Do wh..”

Before she could finish her sentence he was on top of her. Wrapping his fingers around her neck he pushed her down and squeezed so hard she thought he would crush her throat. Angelica writhed and tried to fight him off but he squeezed harder. “What did you do to your blood? Why is it not working?”

“I… did…nothi…” she was suffocating and tears welled in her eyes.

He loosed the hold around her throat. “Don’t lie to me or I swear you won’t see the sunrise tomorrow.”

“I will tell you,” she hurried to say while she could speak.

He stopped strangling her but still had his hand around her neck. “Yes, I am the prophetess. I went to Lord Rayven because I had seen him in my visions. I also knew you would come looking for me. I know what you did to Ramona.”

He released her, his face twitching, his eyes hardening.

“My mother didn’t want me to have the same fate so she took my abilities away, carrying the burden herself.”

He stared at her for a long moment before he chuckled darkly. “I see.” He said thoughtfully. “I knew your mother was involved but she didn’t take the curse herself. The witch would have known that she was dying so she wouldn’t give her your abilities. Your mother hid them somewhere else. Now, where did she hide them?” ρꪖꪕᦔꪖꪕꪫꪣꫀ​ꪶ​

He knew. Angelica tried to keep a straight face. “I don’t know.”

He grabbed her jaw, leaning closer to her face. “Should I bring some motivation to make you remember? I don’t think you would like to see me experiment on your mate or even better, your little brother. How much can the young boy take?”

Angelica wanted to spit on his face but held herself back. “What makes you think I would risk the lives of people I love to hide some stupid powers? If I knew, I would bring it to you myself.”

He watched her again, his eyes protruding, searching. “You better not be lying to me. As long as I live, I will keep my eyes on you.”

“I am not lying.”

He nodded slowly and then released her. Getting out of bed he gave her one last stern look before turning away and walking toward the door.

“Wait!” She sat up. “Can I leave now?”

He turned around, his lips curving up. “No. I don’t have your blood but I will get some use out of you. You are now part of my second plan as well.” His eyes gleamed with secrets and dangers.

*************

Skender frowned his stomach hurting, his heart clenching. Why did he have to relive this moment? This moment of torture, blood, helplessness, and perhaps loss. He felt a sour taste in his mouth and every time Rayven landed a punch on the shade’s face, Skender felt it in his gut.

“Do you want to die here?” Rayven growled at the shade he had abducted.

The shade worked for Constantine and he refused to utter a word even though he was covered in blood.

Acheron and Lazarus held onto the shade, just so he wouldn’t teleport but they were getting tired. So was Skender. This was a waste of time and whatever secret Rayven was looking for was a big secret. One that these shades working for Constantine would take to their graves. Even sacrificing their families. That threat didn’t work. What could it be that they were hiding?

“Do you really think you can defeat Lord Constantine? You are a fool to pick a fight with him.” The shade spat blood out of his mouth.

Rayven paused, his knuckles bleeding from the punching when he lost his temper and patience of trying other crueler methods of torture. He went on to release his anger.

“He picked a fight,” Rayven corrected.

“You have already lost. You should surrender.” The shade said. “No one will tell you anything because they fear him more than any of you.”

Skender pushed himself away from the wall. “Don’t waste your time, Rayven.” He gave Acheron and Lazarus a nod to release the shade vanished as soon as he was free.

“No!” Rayven called too late. Then he turned to Skender, fury blazing in his eyes. “What have you done?”

He attacked him, grabbing him by the collar and pushing him into the wall. “Waste of time?” he yelled. “I know but tell me what I should do? Tell me!” He demanded. “Should I just sit and wait?”

“We will find a way.”

“Then find it!” He shouted into his face.

Skender felt something stir inside of him. He could understand his anger but he was losing his patience. He grabbed his wrists and forcefully removed his grip and pushed him away.

“You have lost your mind,” Skender said.

Rayven nodded in agreement. Sweat and tears dripped down his face and blood from his fists. “I have lost my mind. Have you ever had someone pull you back from the brink of death? Have you ever had someone hold you, telling you that everything will be alright and you believed them without a doubt? Someone who healed you with a touch, a word, a smile. Do you think I changed in a few days or weeks? You are wrong. I changed in a moment when someone took my hand and pulled me into their embrace. Now that person might…” The words died in his throat.

Lazarus and Acheron who were usually playful watched the grown man cry in silence. His pain made them feel pity but they didn’t know what to do. The prideful man, at last, cried in front of them. This must be his real punishment. The feeling of hopelessness he caused upon many. The power he abused but now didn’t have even to save a loved one.

Skender’s heart shrank. If he only knew. He was not pulled from the brink of death by the woman he loved, but he buried her. Covered her in soil and walked away. And now she was buried in his heart. Dead, but alive in his memories.

He never got the chance, even for a day to be her man. To know what belonging together felt like. It was all just a painful imagination. A dream crushed into a thousand pieces. And yet here he was. Supposed to save someone again. Set up to fail, again. Why? Who was Angelica to him? She was not Ramona. Who was William to him? Why was he putting himself through this pain again? Did he never learn from his mistake, not to care for anyone unless he truly could?

He teleported away, angry and frustrated with himself. Angelica wasn’t Ramona, nor his sister, or mother, or even friend. Nor was she his friend’s wife. Rayven never considered him a friend.

Despite what he told himself he found himself outside the magic fence that protected the witches’ village. “Marie!” he called not caring if the others heard him.

One of the females knitting outside a tent heard him and came to him. “A demon?” she said eyeing him.

“I need to speak to Marie!” He said.

“Skender!” Marie suddenly appeared from behind the other woman. “It is alright. You can leave!” She dismissed the woman before turning her attention to him.

“I told you not to come here!” She said.

“I have to ask first, did you take me home after I was attacked when I left you?”

She frowned. “You were attacked?”

He sighed. “Nevermind. I need your help.. I will give myself to you.”