Heart of Darkness

“William, come here!” Rayven ordered when all the boys left their training.

William came to him, keeping his head down.

“What has happened to you?” he asked.

Today, he wasn’t as focused as he used to be.

William looked up at him. “I didn’t sleep well.”

“Seems like reading isn’t helping anymore.”

“I have read all the books at home. I have nothing left to read. My sister will buy me a book today,” he explained.

“Take this,” he said, giving him the book in his hands. “Make sure to come well prepared tomorrow.”

William looked at the book in his hands. The Monster Is Me. Then he looked up at him again. “What are you, My Lord?” he asked straight.

“What do you think I am?” Rayven asked.

“I am not sure,” William replied.

Interesting, Rayven thought. So he could sense that he wasn’t human. Rayven wondered how he would react if he told him the truth. Most people didn’t believe when the truth was told blatantly.

“I am what most people call a demon.”

“Not evil? Just demon?” he asked.

Rayven frowned. What was the difference to humans? All demons were evil to them.

“I am evil too.” Rayven replied.

He wasn’t being punished for no reason.

William nodded, but Rayven wasn’t sure why. Did he believe him or not? From the way his heart stayed calm, he probably didn’t believe him.

“I’ll keep your secret,” he told him.

Oh, this boy. Rayven chuckled.

“Why would you keep it a secret?” he asked.

His father was eager to spread their secret, and yet here was his only son, wanting to keep it safe.

“People are afraid of what they don’t understand. You wouldn’t be afraid of me?” He asked.

Did this boy really think he would be afraid of him? He had just told him he was a demon.

“Why do you ask? Are you what I might not understand?”

“I believe so,” he said.

“How so?” Rayven asked, becoming curious.

“What are your nightmares about, My Lord?”

“Monsters. Torture. Pain.”

“Mine are about the future.” He lowered his voice.

Future? Oh no! It couldn’t be.

“What you see in your dreams, does it happen?” he asked carefully.

William nodded.

How could it be possible?

A male prophet?

All of them were female. That is why the killing continued. They couldn’t find the female prophetess because he was a male.

Rayven understood now why he couldn’t hear the boy’s thoughts. It explained the maturity and wisdom.

But why couldn’t he read Angelica’s thoughts? There couldn’t be two of them in the same family.

“William,” he grabbed the back of the boy’s head and made him look into his eyes. “Don’t ever tell anyone what you told me right now. Not even the ones you think you can trust.”

“I trust you, My Lord.”

“Don’t!” He said.

For the first time he saw fear in the boy’s eyes. “Am I in trouble, My Lord?” he whispered.

“Not if you keep it a secret.”

William swallowed and nodded.

“Come, I’ll take you home,” he said.

On their way to William’s home, Rayven realized what he was doing. ρꪖꪕᦔꪖꪕꪫꪣꫀ​ꪶ​

What was he doing?!

He cursed himself.

“Is everything alright, My Lord?” William asked him.

Rayven felt like he was suffocating as soon as he realized his actions. When would they arrive?

When the carriage finally stopped, he stepped outside quickly and breathed in the cold air. The breeze carried a sweet scent that immediately stirred something in him.

He resisted looking up. He wanted to flee, but his gaze was already drawn to her.

“William!” She met her brother halfway and examined him, probably wondering why he brought him home instead of their father. When she found nothing wrong with her brother, her gaze shifted to his.

“Lord Rayven. What brings you here?”

My foolishness, he replied inside his head.

He stopped breathing simply to avoid her scent. He didn’t want to stir any desires within him that he couldn’t satisfy. Women were not part of his life. He didn’t take them even for pleasure because he couldn’t stand hearing their thoughts of how revolting they found him to be.

Angelica was a rare beauty, with her fiery hair and her calm blue eyes. A woman like her would never look his way. She had already chosen Skender, who probably was a better choice. The man knew how to charm women. Rayven only scared them before he could open his mouth.

“Oh,” she said, her eyes lighting up when she saw his book in William’s hands. “Did you come to lend me the book?”

As if he would bother doing such a thing.

“No. He gave it to me.” William said.

“Gave it?” Her eyes widened and then she turned to him and squinted her eyes at him.

Some unknown emotion went through her eyes when she noticed his burned face.

“What happened to you?” she asked with a frown.

He sighed. “Your brother told me his secret. You should never tell anyone.”

Shocked, Angelica looked down at her brother to confirm what he said, and William nodded.

Rayven turned to leave when he felt her grab his arm. “Wait! Do you know what it means? I mean that he has those…”

Removing his arm from her grip, he looked into her eyes. “You know what it means. You just don’t believe it because you have never seen it before.”

Her eyes darted around before gazing at him again.

“Do you know how he can get rid of it?”

“He can’t. It’s a gift and a curse that he has to live with.”

He tried to leave again, but she grabbed him again.

This woman. How dare she?

“Please, if you know a way, tell me,” she pleaded. “He has never known peaceful sleep.”

Rayven clenched his jaw. “I know nothing,” he said, removing himself again to leave.

Angelica hurried to stand in his way this time. Rayven was shocked.

“Lord Rayven, you came to my doorstep. You should at least have the courtesy to finish a conversation before leaving.” She told him.

Courtesy. She was using words that didn’t exist in his world.

“I am listening,” he said.

He only looked into her eyes, focusing on not letting his curiosity make his gaze go anywhere else. But a red strand of hair that fell over her face kept distracting him.

“My brother has been looking for someone to help him for some time now. He chose to trust you with his secret. Is there really nothing you can give back?”

“I am afraid your brother might become disappointed.” He said.

“I am afraid you want to disappoint, My Lord.” She retorted.

“Move out of my way before I kill you.” He snapped.

Rayven never had to actively chase someone away.

Angelica didn’t move and narrowed her eyes instead. So even this didn’t faze her?

He listened to her heartbeat. She was a little afraid, but it didn’t show on her face.

What kind of creature was he dealing with? Would he have to push her away?

Not wanting to put his hands on her, he waited. At last, she nodded and moved out of the way. She motioned for him to leave. “Have a good night, My Lord.”

Rayven walked away, feeling confused.