Heart of Darkness

Why did she have to come here at this time? Her eyes burned like blue flames into his. “Release him at once.” She said.

And so he did. The man almost fell down but stayed hidden behind the counter.

Rayven was in shock.

Did he just obey her orders?

Pretending like he did no such thing, he adjusted himself while Angelica went to help the seller get up on his feet.

“Are you alright, Sir?”

“Yes. Thank you, My Lady.”

Turning to him, she gave him a stern look. Rayven ignored her and picked up his books before walking past her maid, who looked like she had seen a ghost. When he was outside the shop, he went to his horse that was tied to a tree nearby.

“Lord Rayven.”

He almost groaned. Why was she following him? He kept pretending as if she didn’t exist and began to pack his books into the bag that hung from the saddle.

She was quiet for a moment that he had to glance her way to see what she was doing. Her cheeks were slightly flushed and he could hear her heart beat a little faster.

“Did you get your book back?” She asked.

“Yes.”

“Did you get a chance to read it?”

He stopped packing and gazed at her. “Yes. I read your silly poems. And I thought mine were terrible.”

She smiled. “I know. I am not as skilled as you. I tried.”

Why was she smiling?

Annoyed, he kept packing, but all the books refused to fit into the back. He bought too much.

“Maybe you can give me some advice on how to better myself.” She said.

And she kept talking. Why pester him?

Unable to pack the rest, he decided to give her some advice so she could leave him alone, once and for all.

Holding the rest of the books in his arm, he took a step closer and looked down at her. “There is one thing you can do.” He said, and she looked up at him curiously. “Don’t write poems.”

****

Angelica knew he was trying to be mean. Her poems couldn’t have been that terrible, but the fact that he remained just as mean as before she knew they couldn’t have been good either.

Holding the rest of his books, he climbed onto his horse. Angelica stepped back, and he rode away without saying goodbye.

Eva, who had been watching in horror, rushed to her side. “My Lady, you worry me. Why do you keep talking to him?”

Yes. Why?

She wasn’t sure. Something about him irked her both in a good and a bad way. People feared what they didn’t understand, but she became curious if she couldn’t understand something. She liked to solve mysteries and Lord Rayven was one.

After going back into the bookshop and buying a few books, she went back home. Back to her nonexciting daily life. She spent most of her day knitting or reading a book. Then she gave up and decided to find a way to bribe her father to allow her to follow her dreams. She wanted to open a small school for girls where she could teach them how to read and write.

Money wasn’t the problem. She could sell her jewelry and expensive dresses, but as a woman, she could not use the money to buy land and build a school. She needed a trustee to legally buy the land.

Going downstairs, she made her way to her father’s study. When she neared the door, she heard a few voices before she could knock. It seemed like her father had guests, so Angelica decided to come back some other time when she heard the voices speak about the king.

She halted and strained her ears. When she became sure that they were speaking about the king, she tiptoed closer to the door and put her ear next to it.

Angelica couldn’t hear what they were saying clearly but the few words and sentences she picked up alarmed her. They were talking about attacking. The castle? The King?

She panicked. Her father was still conspiring against the king. Despite her warnings, he was still doing what he wanted, not thinking of the consequences William and she would face. Feeling her heart sink and losing all hope of bringing her family together, she took a step back. ρꪖꪕᦔꪖꪕꪫꪣꫀ​ꪶ​

What would she do now? She could talk to him again, but why would he listen this time? He had made his choice already. She didn’t want to think about what she would have to do if her father insisted on proceeding with his plan.

Angelica looked around desperately. Who could she talk to about this? Who could she confide in, who would help her?

Hearing the voices get closer to the door, she hurried and hid behind the corner of the hall. She peeked from behind the wall.

Three men came out of her father’s study. They spoke about meeting the day after before the final execution.

Final? Would they take action tomorrow?

Angelica waited for her father’s guests to leave before she came out of her hiding. She went to confront her father, and he was a bit shocked when he realized she had eavesdropped on his conversation.

“What are you doing tomorrow?” she asked.

“It is inappropriate to…”

“Don’t change the subject! What are you going to do?” she demanded.

He took a deep breath. “I am going to do what is necessary.”

“Despite knowing the consequences it might have?” She asked.

“Angelica, I know you are worried, but I have strong and clever people by my side. I will free our kingdom and come back home safe. It is my duty to protect the people of this kingdom.” He spoke calmly, changing from this person who only cared about himself and his wealth to someone who cared about the entire kingdom.

Or maybe he was only trying to make himself a hero who saved the kingdom from the “evil King”.

“What about your duty as a father?”

“I am doing my duty as a father. I am restoring our kingdom so that you and your brother live in a better world.”

What scared Angelica the most was that he seemed to believe his own words. He was so convinced that he was going to save the world.

“What if you fail? What if something goes wrong? Did you think of what might happen to you and to me and William?” She was gradually raising her voice.

“Nothing will go wrong. I have planned this for two months now. I made sure everything goes perfectly as planned. I am the chief commander of the Royal army. I know everything about the castle’s defences and the ways through the castle.” He lowered his voice.

Oh, Lord. She was not going to be able to convince him. She would have to use threats.

“Father, you leave me no choice but to do what I need to do to protect myself and William.”

“What will you do?” He asked. “Will you tell the King that your own father is trying to kill him?” His lips curved into a smirk.

“Yes. If I expose you, the king will at least know that I wasn’t part of your plan.”

“You wouldn’t do that.” He said, shaking his head.

“Yes, I would. Have you seen me hesitate to protect William?” Angelica asked.

Her father nodded with the corners of his mouth tilted down. “Then you leave me no choice.” He said. “Thomas!”

Angelica became confused. Why was he calling their butler? She was about to look around when two strong arms grabbed hers from behind. Looking behind her Angelica realized it was their butler, Thomas.

She was shocked. “Did you know this?”

“I am sorry, My Lady.” He said, pinning her arms behind her back and dragging her away.

Angelica struggled to free herself. “Let go of me.”

Unable to hold her still, he chose to put his arm around her waist and carry her instead. “Where are you taking me?”

He was going toward the basement. Oh, no.

“You do not mean to lock me in there?” She was shocked.

She tried to free herself again, clawing at his hands and trying to kick, but that didn’t faze him. When they were in the basement, he threw her on an old mattress lying on the ground, then hurried to close the door behind him before she could chase after him.

Angelica was in shock. What just happened? Did her father just lock her in the basement?