Heart of Darkness

Skender was grateful that he was feeling weak or his rage could have burned this whole place. He looked at each and everyone in the tavern, imagining a slaughter in his head and turning this place into a sea of blood. Even looking at Roxana didn't calm him. In fact, he was furious with her. He walked over and she flinched sensing his anger as he reached for her hand. He pulled her out of the chair and then dragged her outside.

"Your Majesty." She croaked unable to keep up with his pace.

Once they were outside, he yanked her arm so she stumbled forward and ended up in front of him.

"What do you think you are doing?" He hissed.

He shouldn't be angry with her. He knew all this was part of Lazarus's scheme who had disappeared now fearing his wrath. If he was clever, he should never come back.

For a moment she looked confused, wondering why she caused trouble but the confusion only lasted for a moment. She wasn't in the right state of mind to think clearly and even if she was, she wouldn't be able to understand that manipulation done on Lazarus's part.

She gazed at him, eyes unfocused at first but then slowly getting distracted. "Your Majesty," her eyes scanned the length of him and then settled on his face. "You look like a… dark knight."

A dark knight?

She stumbled forward, coming to stand close to him, watching him through hooded eyes. "You are so… so exciting to watch… when you fight."

His heart made a flip in his chest. This woman and her flirtation. He guessed it wouldn't be subtle this time since she was intoxicated. As if he hadn't spent his day in torture already, trying to block the memory of kissing her and resisting finding her to do it again.

"You are so…" She grabbed his arms feeling his muscles. "Strong."

If she only knew, she wouldn't be so excited about his strength.

"And…" She moved even closer, now resting her head on his chest while still holding his arms. He stiffened. "You smell so good." She spoke with her husky voice and foreign accent that made everything she said sound seductive. "You smell like a man." She rubbed her cheek against his chest and inhaled his scent.

Skender's heart went wild in his chest. It was so loud she could probably hear it with her head resting there.

He grabbed her arms and pulled her away. Her head fell back but she kept her gaze on him. "Your Majesty, did you come to save me?"

He clenched his jaw. Why did he bother? It was exactly what Lazarus wanted. Even if he hadn't come he knew Lazarus wouldn't let things go too far, yet he couldn't help himself.

Roxana smiled. "My guardian angel." She wanted to fall on him again but he held her away for a moment. When she didn't stand back he gave up and let her fall against him.

He put one arm around her waist and her legs gave in. Well, this wouldn't work so he did what he shouldn't do. He teleported them. She was too intoxicated anyway.

He laid her on the bed in the chamber that he was given. She sighed as she felt the soft mattress beneath her. He then took off her shoes and put her legs up as well.

As he covered her with the blanket, she grabbed him by the collar pulling him closer. She watched him with hooded eyes. His heart stilled. This woman would get him killed.

"Your Majesty."

His instinct told him to run before she said anything else. Panic settled in his chest. He wasn't strong right now. He didn't have enough self-restraint.

"Will you kiss me again?"

His breath stilled.

"One last time." Her voice held a hint of sadness.

Last time? Because she was leaving him.

He tried to remove her hold but her grasp was firm. "You are intoxicated."

"Nothing has felt more intoxicating than your kiss."

Skender closed his eyes to calm himself down. Then he tore himself away from her hold and stepped back. His control was wavering. Weakening. He could hear and smell her so clearly. Her blood, her heart, and her scent attacked his senses. Caused his blood to burn, his fangs to pierce through with a shocking pain and speed.

He turned away to hide his face but he needed to make sure she fell asleep.

"Don't leave!" She called thinking that he was going away but he had to leave.

A rush of air cut through the thick tension in the room. "Sleep, my dear." He heard Lucrezia's hypnotic voice.

***********

"Skender."

The demon turned to her, his eyes completely a different shade and his fangs filling his mouth. There was no doubt he needed her help, but who was he now? She didn't wish to be attacked.

His gaze fell on Roxana and stayed there as if she wasn't in the room as well. "Trust me, you don't want to fuel your hunger?"

His gaze shifted to her. His pupils were dilated. He was extremely affected and holding back with all his strength.

"Let's have a drink." She suggested.

She took him to one of her homes and offered him some wine, even though that wasn't what he needed at the moment. He needed blood. He had been starving as an archdemon, living this long without taking blood.

"You need to drink something else as well." She told him as he took a sip.

"Blood?"

"Yes. Do you want me to arrange for that? You need to drink to be in control."

The last thing she wanted was for him to lose control and scare Roxana away. She needed his redemption more than anyone else's and if he hurt his mate, he would never forgive himself.

"How often do you drink?" He asked.

"Once a month. Sometimes twice."

"From who?"

"Well with someone whom I satisfy my other needs with."

"I don't want it." He said his face twisting slightly.

Archdemons were usually more "hungry". More sexually active but since he had his demon numbed he had never been one to indulge in those things. He wasn't inexperienced, but he didn't crave it either. Except for now. Not only was his demon awake, but his mate was also near. This would be an impossible fight. Even if he wasn't willing to open his heart, he wouldn't be able to deny the hunger for too long.

"You need to feed if you don't want to lose control." She told him.

He knew to take her seriously on this matter. He could probably not think of anything else now than the pain in his fangs. "Do you want a male or a female? I suggest a male." She smiled.

Not only because she preferred one with thick veins. Having her lips on their throat while holding their strong shoulders added to the hunger and satisfaction.

A male was perfect for Skender even though she worried a bit for whoever would be bitten. Yes, he had to bite them. It was part of quenching the hunger or he wouldn't feel full.

To her surprise, Skender showed great self-control for a first time. Or perhaps once his hunger was quenched, he felt no desire to take more. Even Lukas, one of her friends who liked to offer his blood was surprised.

"Does my blood not taste good?" He teased Skender.

Lucrezia knew it did. The man was delicious but, Skender had tasted his mate. This was just a need. Not a desire.

"You would prefer it this way," Skender replied.

The best thing would be to drink from humans when it was done merely to quench the thirst. Demon mates often bit each other for pleasure but humans were the source of food. Their blood tasted better and felt warmer. It was more alive and it was easier to feel satisfied. But Lucrezia hated the hassle of having to be gentle and then compel them to forget. She only went to humans sometimes but mostly she enjoyed the demons.

Lukas turned to Lucrezia. "I didn't know you had such an enigmatic friend. Why do you even drink from me?"

Because… Skender was like her… student? She shook her head. 'Your children' were the words her sister used to refer to those she punished. Lucrezia was sure taking care of children would be easier than these demons.

"I should go back," Skender said standing up.

"You should stay here and rest. And the rest I will take care of."

He looked at her suspiciously and she chuckled. "I gain nothing from making things worse for you. Your redemption is more important to me at the moment than it is to you."

"Yes. And you will use any means to achieve it." He said with dislike.

She sighed. "I am helping you right now. You need to rest while you process the food and I will take care of King Isaac and Roxana for you. Is there anything in particular, you would like me to do or not do? Like sending Roxana away or arranging your marriage with the princess."

He watched her for a moment. "I am actually thinking of taking your offer. I will sleep. You do as you please."

Now she was curious and wished she could read his thoughts. Was he simply tired, testing her, or giving up?

"Alright. Let me show you to your luxurious bed for tonight."

One night in a long time where he could sleep as Skender and not King Alexander. She could give him that one night.

He was the good child of all her children, yet she had given him the most responsibility. She had put a burden on his shoulders and unlike the others, he rarely complained and he had never shown her real hatred. And she… well she never enjoyed punishing him.

All the other demons she had enjoyed punishing at some point.  Especially in the beginning, when the pain they caused others was still new.

A punisher often took the amount of pain one caused others and then inflicted it on the sinner. The punishment had to be equal to the crime and so it was in the beginning until Lucrezia changed her ways. Only punishing them didn't bring her satisfaction.

She didn't think it was as easy as that. She thought that the punishment also had to be equal to the person's attitude, whether they had regrets or were still self-righteous. Whether they wanted to change and do better or still remain the same. There were many components to be considered. She also thought that the punishment should lead to some kind of realization, repentance, regret, and then of course she hoped it would bring change. Change for the better. Punishing them and letting them die was not the way.

In all that she had found Skender. Or he had found her asking to be punished. Normally she would begin by searching for the pain he had caused others and then inflict it upon him but she couldn't find anything significant worth a punisher's time. Even the fact that he didn't perform his duties hadn't been his fault, yet she couldn't leave him for some odd reason.

Perhaps it was that despite all the pain he had wanted to change and he had heard that she was the punisher to bring forth change.

He was also a fellow archdemon on his knees. A defenseless defender. She was curious to know if she could help him become the man he was born to be. If she could prepare him to take on the destroyer and emerge through the pain and darkness. But she had no clue how she was going to do it. All of this was experimental. It worked with Rayven, but there was no guarantee it would work with the others. She could fail. And now her mission was more than just curiosity. She needed them to redeem themselves.

At least one thing she had done right. Making him the leader. If anyone would have patience and care for the rest of the demons but also be able to put them in place when needed, it would be him. She had already seen the first part early on but now she was seeing the other side as the destroyer emerged. The one who would take control and discipline them.

Skender turned around and raised a brow. "Are you going to watch me get into bed as well?"

"Do you want me to cover you up?"

"Yes. why don't you sing me a lullaby too." He retorted.

"I have a good singing voice. It is soothing." She wasn't lying about that but he looked away with a thoughtful expression.

Lucrezia didn't have to read thoughts to know that he remembered something from the past. Perhaps his mother used to sing him lullabies. Lucrezia wished she could say the same about her mother.

Skender went to sit on the bed, now worry shadowing his face. "You are not thinking of doing something…"

And she thought he was letting go of his role for once.

"Forget that you are a king. I am giving you a night to be regular."

"As long as I don't have to clean your mess afterward."

"I do my own cleaning unless I intentionally want you to clean."

He let himself fall back. "Give me more than just a night then. I really want to escape."

"I can't. You might get used to it." She told him.

He turned to the side, adjusting the pillow under his head. "I am used to a life of no responsibility and luxury." He reminded.

Yet he never enjoyed the luxury because a part of him was missing and having no responsibility added to his emptiness.

"You know, I think you are in more pain than ever now but also a bit happier than you were before your punishment."

He became thoughtful. "Because… I feel alive?"

"Yes. And with being alive comes pain."

"I have no doubt." He sighed.

He wasn't used to it. He went from feeling empty to being burdened with a lot of pain. It was overwhelming him but it was necessary as well. She couldn't help him with that part. He would have to go through it.

He closed his eyes and just as she suggested, she went to cover him.

"What do you need me for?" He suddenly asked her with eyes still shut.

She became quiet and he opened them again. "You need me for something."

"I do." She admitted.

"But you can't tell me now?"

"No."

"What makes you think I will let you use me?"

The answer was simple. He was Skender.

"Perhaps you won't." She replied.

"Perhaps."