Heart of Darkness

Roxana was feeling happy as she went back home. Seeing wealthy people who were kind, gave her hope. She knew of course that not all wealthy people were bad, but she had just not seen many of them. First, it started with Alexander, the king himself giving her his button and feeding her, and then Angelica.

Her thoughts drifted back to Alexander. He fed her and then again for some odd reason, his mood had changed fast and he told her to leave. Just like the first time she met him as Rox. He was a strange man or maybe he had some temperament issues.

Hopefully not. She disliked those kinds of men, who were all about showing their masculinity by having a temper. All body muscle and less brain mass. If Roxana could choose a man then she would like herself to have an attentive man. Charming, well-mannered, kind, and caring. Unfortunately, those were like rare jewels and even if she found them, they wouldn't fall into her hands.

Once she reached home, she took a nap and then prepared herself to become Rox before leaving for the castle.

Roxana didn't know why her heart skipped a beat every time she entered the large gates of the castle. She would always take a deep breath before walking inside. Finding her way to the defense quarters to arm herself for the shift, she was surprised to find Gary and Peter sleeping. Did she miss anything? Was this not their shift?

She gave Gary a slight push where he slept in a chair with his legs resting on another one. He groaned and opened his eyes. "Rox." He said groggily.

"Good evening, Sir. Are we not supposed to guard His Majesty?"

"He wants to be alone." He yawned and closed his eyes again.

Even if that was the case, they shouldn't be sleeping. "We should still be somewhere nearby in case anything happens." She said.

Gary ignored her so she gave Peter a push. He groaned in resistance. "Rest Rox." He told her.

"You could be in trouble if you neglect your duties." She said feeling like she was the senior guard now.

Peter remained quiet.

"Alright, I am going alone." She told them hoping that would wake them up but they ignored her. Really? What kind of guards were these? Especially after they told her that the king had enemies even inside the castle.

Roxana picked an extra weapon from the storage and then went to find the King. She went to his chamber and asked the guards at the door, "is His Majesty in his room?"

"No. He is in the Royal park."

"Where is that?"

One of the guards gave her directions and once she arrived at the royal park her jaw dropped. This was a whole land of green and every other color of the rainbow.

There was a fresh bed of grass surrounded by thorny hedges, bushes, and shrubs. A fountain lay in the middle of the garden, spewing water into the air hundreds of feet above the ground. The flowerbeds were alive and well kept, a haven for ants. The hedges grew tall, dividing the garden into different sections, and a path of stepping stones curved around each bend in the garden, leading visitors to explore every corner. The vines and grass had already started to creep their way over and around the garden, anxious to seize any and all available areas for themselves.

The fountain was the pride and pleasure of the garden and despite all the beauty in front of her her eyes were drawn to the one who put all of it to shame.

In all the light to illuminate the garden at night, there was one brightly shining star. A rare jewel, as she called him. One she wanted to steal. But she was so far below to catch a star. She could only look up and admire its beauty.

Alexander sat on one of the benches, his hair softly blowing to the wind and his eyes looking into the far distance. He sat completely still, like a statue that was part of the garden's decorations.

What was he thinking about? For some odd reason, she felt sad looking at him. He seemed so lonely where he sat. She would guess that being a King would be a lonely thing.

His eyes suddenly came alive and he looked her way, almost as if he had known she had been standing there the whole time. Roxana forced herself out of her haze and descended the stairs that led to the garden. He watched her with eyes that darkened as she neared.

"Your Majesty," she bowed.

"Why are you not resting with your seniors?" He asked.

"Your Majesty, I couldn't. You have many enemies. Who knows, one could be hiding behind these bushes at this moment."

He leaned back, one brow raised and a corner of his lips curved upward. "So you will protect me?" He asked.

She suddenly got this strange feeling that this man needed no protection. He was a beauty but she was wrong to compare him to an angel. There was a dark power surrounding him. An aura of danger.

"I am still incompetent your Majesty, but I will do my best."

He watched her amused and then sighed going back to being serious. Again he watched something in the distance but this time he seemed aware of himself. A moment of silence followed, filled with the gentle night breeze then he stood up.

He decided to take a walk around the garden and Roxana followed him with a good distance between them. Now she understood why he wanted to be alone. Being followed everywhere couldn't be fun. She felt uncomfortable for him.

They walked through the hedges that surrounded them like a labyrinth.

"Your Majesty, I will leave you alone if you order me to." She said.

"Did you get tired?" He asked as he continued to walk.

"No! I just… I understand if you want to be alone."

He came to a halt and she stopped. He turned around and watched her, his eyes like hot iron on hers. "I don't want to be alone," he said his voice an intimate whisper carried by the wind. She shivered. What was wrong with her? You are a man now, Roxana. She was getting carried away and in the middle of it, she remembered her dream. The way he had touched her lips and whispered her name.

Her face became hot at the same time that his eyes turned from a glowing sapphire to a dark midnight blue. The edges of his face hardened making him look deadly and then he just turned around and walked away fast.

"Your Majesty," Roxana hurried after him as he disappeared around the corner of the hedge. When she came around the corner he was gone. She looked around. Where did he go? He couldn't be that fast?

She ran around every corner but he was nowhere to be found. It was as if he disappeared into thin air. Why did he suddenly leave when he told her he didn't want to be alone?

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

Skender rushed back to his room, holding his breath. His hands were clenched into fists as he let himself sit on the floor and lean back against his bed. Frustration gnawed at his nerves as he ran his fingers through his hair. He had seen himself many times in women's fantasies but this one did something to him. He had through her mind let himself feel her lips against his fingertips and her name… it already echoed in his mind.

God, he didn't even know her. This was absurd. He didn't know having a demon all the time would do this to him. It was as if everything attacked him. His extremely heightened senses didn't only wake him, they shook him to life. Every time the wind blew her scent toward him, he stirred like a starving man who had never ever touched a woman in his life.

'We are starving.'

"Be quiet!" Skender hissed.

'We could have her now. Hot, soft, and ready in our bed.'

His throat became dry and the blood in his veins hummed with desire. 'Stop it!'

'I can't. I am only reacting to the thought. The wish.'

Skender shook his head.

'Why are you scared? If she is only a woman you could have her and move on. Or are you scared she might be more than just any woman? You are scared you might want more once you had a taste.'

'She is a human. Do you know what that means?'

It meant hurt and pain. She would not sense him as the one as he did.

'Yes. That is why we can't let her go. She WILL leave.' He sensed the destroyer's anger. 'We can't let that happen.'

Right. He would find peace again once she left but the destroyer wouldn't let that happen. Skender was worried about what methods he might use the day she truly decides to leave on her own.

Skender spent the night in agony. He had thrown off the blankets, opened the windows yet nothing could cool him down. Nothing could stop the throbbing of his heart and the part of him that was man.

It must be his demon. He never felt anything close to this with Ramona.

He closed his eyes with a sigh of frustration caused by a neverending aching for a certain woman, dressed as a man. He chuckled darkly at the absurdity of it all. What would happen to him if she walked around here, dressed as a woman?

He drew in a sharp breath, his demon responding to the thought. 'I would strip her naked and …'

He shut his eyes tightly stopping the thought. Alright, he was going to sleep now. Sleep!

The night felt like forever and when the morning came he took an ice-cold bath. The maid watched him nervous, wondering how he could find such cold water to be soothing.

Once he was done, he felt disorientated. The hot and cold made him feel lost and paralyzed. How did Lazarus do this?

And of course, Lucrezia had to visit him now. She had been trying to find different ways to awaken the destroyer but she must know that he was already awake now.

"It feels really strange that I can't hear your thoughts anymore." She said sitting on the couch.

He hadn't thought about it yet but yes, with his demon awake she couldn't hear him now. "How lucky am I?"

She smiled. "Perhaps not so lucky. If you don't speak, I can't help you."

"Can you fight the destroyer?"

"To do it on my own would be dangerous." She said. "Defenders are born to fight. You don't realize how much power you hold."

"Well then, you can't help me."

"You seem to be doing alright with your destroyer."

"Don't let your guard down. He will get angry soon."

"Why?"

Because I am denying him Roxana, he thought.

"Because he is the destroyer."

"He is calm now, isn't he? While things are going well you should explore your power. I don't think you know what it feels like to be an archdemon."

She was right. "What can I do?" He asked her.

She smirked. "Many things.. Have fun exploring."