Heart of Darkness

As soon as her brother left and nothing else was occupying her mind, Angelica went back to think of the incident with Lord Rayven. She couldn’t believe that she was actually thinking of this rather than the departure of her brother.

His words kept echoing in her mind, causing her heart to beat fast.

Hungry. Taste. Bite. Beast. Why did he have to use such words? But most of all, why did these words bother her in a way they shouldn’t? Suddenly her corset felt too tight and her clothes too heavy. She was hot.

Angelica tried to fan herself with the book in her hand but it didn’t help, so she decided to read to occupy her mind instead. But even her love for reading couldn’t help her avoid thinking about what Lord Rayven had told her.

A loud sigh left her lips as she stood up feeling frustrated. She decided to go to the kitchen to help Sarah.

Sarah was busy making lunch when Angelica came to her.

“Oh no my Lady, you shouldn’t do any work today. It is the day after your wedding day. Let me know if you need anything.” She smiled.

“I have nothing to do. I can help.” Angelica insisted. She took the knife from her hand. “I can cut those for you.”

Sarah smiled and went to take care of the cooking food instead. Angelica began to chop the vegetables while her thoughts drifted away. He thought she smelled delicious. Again with the choice of word…

“Ahh!!” A gasp left her lips when she accidentally cut her finger.

Sarah rushed to her side. “My Lady. What happened?”

Angelica watched her finger bleed. Thankfully it was only a small cut.

“Oh, you cut yourself.” Sarah was worried.

“It is nothing,” Angelica said standing up to find some water.

She rinsed the wound with cold water and then wrapped it in a piece of cloth.

“Do no more, My Lady. I will take care of the rest. There isn’t much left. Should I serve lunch once I am done?” Sarah asked.

Angelica had no room in her stomach for food. It was filled with a fluttering sensation that refused to go away.

“No. You eat. I will go rest for a while.” She said and went back to her room.

She took off her dress and corset and then slid under the sheets. Even though she could breathe a little better now, her heart refused to calm down.

What would happen if she touched him?

She imagined doing so and then her imagination went ahead of her. She pictured them naked in bed, their bodies pressed intimately under the sheets and…

Oh no. She stopped herself as the fluttering in her stomach increased and she became flustered. Letting out a deep breath she got rid of those thoughts and tried to sleep. It took her a while but she finally fell into a deep slumber.

When she woke up, it was late afternoon but she was still feeling tired. She got out of bed with a groan just when Sarah knocked on the door and peeked inside.

“Come in,” Angelica said.

“You must have been tired after the wedding.” She said. “Do you need help with anything, My Lady?”

“I would like to wash up,” Angelica said.

Sarah nodded and went to bring what was needed. Angelica washed her face then cleaned her teeth with a crushed paste of pepper, min,t and rock salt before rinsing her mouth. She then washed her arms, her underarms, and her legs. It was a quick “bath”.

After that, she looked for new clothes even though she had only changed this morning. She picked a light blue dress and stared at it wondering what had gotten into her. Why was she getting clean and changing?

Not allowing herself to think much about it she went to comb her hair after putting on the dress. She took her time, watching her wavy hair get untangled by the comb. Suddenly a picture of Lord Rayven running his fingers through her hair came to mind.

Angelica dropped her hand and stared at her reflection. All this time, she thought he didn’t desire her. She could still not understand why he refrained from doing anything if he wanted her. She was his wife now and he could do as he pleased. Or was he being considerate? Such a confusing man.

Angelica tied the upper half of her hair in a white ribbon and lastly, she put scented oil on her wrists and neck before leaving her room. Her heart skipped a beat as she closed the door behind her and went to find Sarah.

Sarah had already begun to light the halls and the dining room since it was getting dark. Angelica helped her and even decided to light candles on Lord Rayven’s side of the castle. What was the worst that could happen? Him getting angry? She could handle that.

“Tomorrow we will remove these thick curtains,” Angelica said. It was time to let some light into this castle and make it a home.

Sarah looked surprised. Lord Rayven must have told her all the rules as well and she was afraid to break them or maybe she was afraid to tell her about the rules?

“Don’t worry. Lord Rayven will like it.” Angelica assured.

Suddenly she heard the creaking sound of the front door opening. It must be Lord Rayven coming home.

Angelica turned to Sarah, “Prepare the dining table for two.” She told her then braced herself to go see him.

The fluttering feeling in her stomach returned with a forceful intensity as she went to the main hall where she met Lord Rayven. He stopped walking as he took notice of her and she froze in place.

His hands rested in his pockets and his hair was slightly out of place. He tilted his head to one side, letting his eyes absorb all of her before raising one brow.

“How welcoming.” He drawled. “My eyes are greeted with such beauty.”

Beauty? Heat rose to her face and her lips parted but only a breath left her mouth, leaving her lips dry. Why was he speaking like this?

He walked across the distance to stand in front of her. He smelled of alcohol. Since he spoke firmly and walked steadily, she guessed he didn’t drink much. Just enough to speak this way.

“Am I delusional to think you dressed up for me?” He asked. “If so, is it to please me or to torture me?”

Angelica felt like she lost her tongue. Why would she dress up to please or torture him? She just… felt like dressing up.

“If it… pleases you then…” She stuttered.

Angelica felt small under his scrutiny. Why was she suddenly so nervous? ρꪖꪕᦔꪖꪕꪫꪣꫀ​ꪶ​

“If it pleases me…” He repeated thoughtfully.

Then quietly he walked over to sit on one of the couches in the hall. He fell back with a sigh and then placed his long legs on the table, one over the other.

Angelica realized that the only time he looked completely relaxed was when he was a little intoxicated.

“If it pleases me?” He repeated again before he turned to her. “You know what to say.” He sounded disappointed.

“Did I do something wrong, My Lord?” She asked.

He shook his head. “No. You are just…” It looked like he tried to find the right word. “Perfect.”

Perfect? He must have had something else to drink tonight.

“I am not.” She said looking down at her hands.

“In my eyes, you are perfect.” He said.

She had to look at him to make sure he was the same man she married. But how could she know? She didn’t know much about him.

Lord Rayven leaned back as he met her gaze. “I am hungry.” He said.

Hungry? Angelica’s eyes widened and her heart skipped a beat.

She remembered his words ‘I am a beast. A hungry one’.

Slowly his lips curved into a smirk. “What are you thinking?” He asked. “I am speaking of food.”

Food? Yes, right. Of course. She shook her head.

“Uh…Sarah is serving dinner. I mean she has probably already served.” Angelica spoke fast.

He swung his legs down and stood up. “Well then. We should eat before it gets cold.”

We?

As they walked over to the dining hall, Lord Rayven noticed that she had lit candles everywhere. Angelica walked a few steps behind him waiting for him to get angry but he remained silent.

Once they arrived at the dining hall, he sat down where the food was served. Hesitantly Angelica sat beside him when Sarah came in with a few more dishes.

Her hands were slightly shaking as she placed the plates on the table. Angelica gave her a reassuring smile before she bowed and left.

“I see you have made a few changes in the castle.” He began.

Oh, so he wasn’t going to ignore it.

“I was just…”

“Forget it.” He cut off before narrowing his eyes. “Just never break one of the rules I gave you. Don’t leave this castle without my permission.”

Angelica nodded.

“You can be in the backyard, the garden, anywhere inside the gates but not outside. Also, don’t let anyone you don’t know in. Even if they say that they know me. Cats and dogs are not allowed inside either.”

“Why?” She asked.

“Can you just not follow this one rule?” He asked.

Angelica sighed then nodded. “Alright.” She said.

“Good.”

He went on to put some food on his empty plate. Angelica did the same and then they began to eat in silence.

“What did you do?” He asked breaking the silence after a while.

Angelica looked up from her plate confused.

He nodded toward the cloth around her finger.

“I cut myself.” She said.

To her surprise, he grabbed her hand. “Uh.. it is nothing serious.” She protested but he held her firmly before unwrapping the bandage.

He studied the cut on her forefinger then gently bent the rest of her fingers except for that one. Angelica wondered what he was doing until he lifted her hand and put her finger in his mouth.

“My Lord…” A gasp left her mouth and she tried to pull her hand away but he held it in place.

His lips and tongue wrapped around her finger before she felt a pulling sensation that tugged at her and sent tingling heat down her arm and stomach. He sucked at her finger before slowly pulling it out of his mouth.

Angelica watched with an open mouth while feeling like her arm became paralyzed.

Lord Rayven then looked at her finger again but her gaze was still glued to his lips.

“It is gone now.” He said.

What was gone? She was too shocked to follow.