Heart of Darkness

Heartless? If she only knew?

He watched her get dragged away by her maid, who had been panicking the whole time.

Foolishly brave, he thought to himself before going back to the castle.

Skender was busy dealing with humans when he went to see him. Rayven couldn’t understand how he could be so patient with the old men talking about making their kingdom better when the only thing they cared about was their own personal benefits.

But who was he to judge? He was just like them. Selfish.

When the meeting ended, the courtiers and Lords left the meeting room avoiding him on their way out and only the seven of them remained.

“You missed the meeting, Rayven.” Skender spoke displeased as he sat down.

“I have nothing to add,” Rayven said, pulling out a chair to sit down as well. He put his book beside him.

Lazarus leaned over his shoulder, taking a look at the book he bought.

“The monster is me.” He read the title and nodded thoughtfully. “Are you sure?” He asked him.

Lazarus loved to be playful and tease him from time to time. He pointed toward his favorite friends. “I think Ash and I are the real monsters.”

Acheron frowned, not liking the joke. Deep down, they all hated what they were. Even Lazarus.

“Alright. Let’s discuss more important things than monsters.” Skender spoke. “What do we do about Lord Davis?”

“We kill him. What else?” Lazarus said, placing his legs on the table, one over the other.

Skender didn’t seem to like the idea. Rayven knew that he liked Angelica and was fond of William.

“Angelica and William only have their father,” he said.

“And why should we care?” Blayze asked. “Or are you perhaps infatuated with Lady Davis?”

Blayze always wanted to pick a fight. Knowing that Skender ignored him.

“We can’t compel everyone, Skender. We have to deal with some people the human way and treason is punishable by death.” Acheron spoke.

A deep frown settled between Skender’s eyebrows. He didn’t like the idea at all. Angelica’s father had seen his true colors and because he went into shock, compelling him didn’t work on him. Some things got imprinted in the human brain in a way that couldn’t be removed with compulsion. That is why it was very important for them to keep their true identity hidden.

“I don’t want to kill him,” Skender said.

Blayze stood up hastily, causing his chair to fall backward and his eyes blazed with fury. “Do whatever you want.” He spat. “But deal with the consequences yourself.”

He strode out of the room and shut the door so hard behind him it almost broke.

“Do you like her?” Acheron asked Skender.

“I care about her.” Skender replied. ρꪖꪕᦔꪖꪕꪫꪣꫀ​ꪶ​

Rayven wanted to roll his eyes at Skender’s diplomatic answer.

“Well then, you decide what you want to do, but you have to decide fast. If the Arch finds out that we didn’t take care of someone who knew of our identity, they will punish you and kill him.” Acheron said. He was the calm and sensible one.

Skender was in a dilemma, but they all knew how this was going to end considering the fact that Lord Davis wouldn’t give up his mission to eliminate “evil”. He would die doing so if he had to. His mission was more important to him than his children.

“I am more interested in what Angelica and her brother are. Did you find out?” Lazarus asked.

Rayven was curious as well. Why couldn’t they hear their thoughts? They could hear their father’s thoughts, but the woman and her brother were different. The boy was also too mature for his age.

“No. We compelled her already. If she is something, then she doesn’t know it herself.” Skender replied.

They were all a little disappointed even if they didn’t show it. They had been excited when they found Angelica, but she wasn’t the one. Rayven felt stupid for getting his hopes up. He should just accept and live with his punishment forever.

“Well then, no saving for us.” Lazarus said, standing up. “I’ll take my leave if you have nothing to add.”

Skender gave him an approving nod and they all began to leave the room. Rayven picked up his book and decided to read for a while, and Skender remained seated. He looked troubled as he stared at the wall in front of him.

Ignoring him, Rayven opened the first page of the book. The title was what had caught his attention and someone else’s it seemed. Why would a woman like her want to read this book? It is not as if she could relate to it.

Rayven remembered her hand on his, but before he could dwell on the thought, he pushed it to the back of his mind. But it was her eyes that haunted him. No human had ever dared to look him in the eyes the way she did or speak to him the way she did. She even called him ill-mannered and rude.

“What are you smiling at?” Skender asked.

Was he smiling? “Nothing,” he replied, keeping his eyes on the book in his hand.

Enough with that woman, he scolded himself.

“You haven’t said anything. What do you think of Lord Davis?”

“It doesn’t matter what I think. The decision is yours.” Rayven said.

“I thought you cared about them.”

Rayven clenched his jaw and looked up at Skender. “You were the last to join us so let me enlighten you. None of us care for anyone but ourselves. You seem a little different, which is probably why they made you the leader, but don’t ever think we are like you.”

It was a clever move by the Arch to make Skender their leader. He had some goodness left in him and they probably hoped that it would have an influence on them.

Skender’s mouth turned into an upside down smile as he nodded. Then he stood up and walked toward the door. Before leaving, he turned to him, “I hope you find reading more fulfilling.” He said and then closed the door behind him.

The man always had to have the last word.

Not letting himself be bothered, he looked down at his book to read. He was not in the mood to read anymore.