Heart of Darkness

"Your brother?" Lucrezia was utterly confused. "How can you have a brother?" He was an original demon. Unborn. Created.

"Well, we were created from the same essence to be brothers."

"Why have I never met him?" She asked.

He leaned back on the sofa. "I haven't met him for many years as well. We are not on good terms. Perhaps you can even call us enemies." He chuckled darkly.

Lucrezia became careful with her words now that it was his brother. She turned to him. "Are you not concerned then? And why is he creating shades?"

"There is nothing to be concerned about. I have banned him from our world and that is why he lives there, creating shades for whatever stupid reasons he has."

Banned? There seemed to be a very bad history between them. "Have you perhaps thought that your brother is creating shades to fight you?"

He laughed. "I have. That is probably what he is doing. Wasting his time."

"Maybe he has hidden weapons, You never know."

He leaned closer again. "Are you concerned about me again?" He smirked.

She stopped herself from laughing. "How does he create the shades?"

"I don't know. Don't concern yourself with this. I told you, I will get rid of those stupid rules."

Clearly, he trusted his walls and his servants to not spread the word while she had to be very cautious with her plan. Or, he just didn't care anymore and overestimated his power.

"You will be free with me." He said pulling her closer again.

She would be the exact opposite of free with him. I

"Do you know where your brother can be found? The shades are getting stronger. We should be concerned."

He pulled away from her, his eyes narrowing. "Is there something you know?"

She shrugged. "I just had a... strange vision." She lied.

He frowned. "What vision?"

"Something not clear but... but dangerous."

He became thoughtful. "You need to tell me if you see anything else."

"I think you need to do something. Be a few steps ahead. At least know where he is. I don't feel good about this."

Since he believed her and shades hated demons, there must be a deep animosity with his brother.

He sighed. "I should have killed him a long time ago." He said nonchalantly as he stood up. "I will take care of it."

He offered his hand and she took it. He pulled her out of the sofa and drew her close to him. Gently he caressed the side of her face with the back of his hand. "Are you worried about anything else?"

"No."

She was. She almost solved one problem since she was sure he had more resources and power to take care of his brother than she had but now he was pulling her deeper into this. She had always been firm with him because she had learned that showing even a little reliance or friendliness made him more vicious. Giving him a taste, only made him hungrier.

"Have lunch with me." He said and her stomach dropped.

He led her away from the parlor not waiting for an answer now that she agreed to give him a chance. As if he would stop even if she didn't so why not play along.

"Giving you a chance does not mean treating me like your pet." She told him.

He chuckled. "You will find no man who will give you all that you want and treat you better than I will."

Her mate probably would. Or not, since he would be human and would not feel the mate pull.

"I know you are independent but even the most independent women like a man who takes control." He said, continuing to lead the way.

Yes. Takes control. Not controls. There was a difference his distorted brain wouldn't be able to understand.

He took her to his large balcony where he pulled the chair out of her to sit at one of the round tables. He went to sit in front of her.

"What would you like to eat?" He asked, folding his arms and watching her intently. She could see his eyes settle on her neck for a moment before gazing into hers.

"Whatever you eat." She had no appetite at the moment.

"What do you like to eat then?" He changed the question.

Ugh. How would she put up with this?

"I am not much for food. I like to drink."

"Blood?" He tilted his head.

"Do you have any?"

"Have you had an original's blood before?"

"I don't want your blood." She told him.

"That's because you haven't tried."

She ignored him.

"I know you like your blood and sexual activities that probably leave you unsatisfied."

That was because she could only find true satisfaction with her mate. One that would make her feel fulfilled.

"You have never been with an original. I promise you it is nothing close to what you imagine." he leaned over the table. "I would fulfill you in every way until you ask me to stop."

She had no doubt he had the stamina and all tricks and techniques to please a woman but he would certainly not fulfill her in every way. And one thing she knew about his kind was that their forceful behavior and obsessiveness would only increase and now that she agreed to this, rejecting him after having had a chance would bring out the worst in him.

She sighed and decided to go for food to make him stay quiet but of course, he didn't. He tried having small conversations with her that she answered curtly. "I have to go," she said when she finished her food.

He looked up from his plate, his face hard to read. "Of course." He smiled. "No rush. I am sure we will have many lunches and dinners together."

God! Could he suffocate her more?

She hurried to leave and went home with a slight panic. She poured herself some wine in her room and but instead of sipping, she gulped it down at once.

Her sister appeared in her room. "Lu! Where have you been?"

Lucrezia went to sit on her bed and tossed her shoes off. "With Raphael."

Luciana grimaced. "What did he want this time?"

"I went to him."

"Lu!" She looked horrified. "Why?"

"I needed information."

"No! You don't ask that man anything nor do you make any deals with him."

Lucrezia stood up frustrated. "How long will I have to push him away? How long? I am tired of it! If he hasn't given up for so long, when will he ever give up? When?!"

"So you will give yourself to him?"

"Maybe!" She said angrily.

Luciana shook her head. "If you think that will make things better then you are wrong."

Lucrezia let herself fall back to sit on the bed again.

"Anyway, how is the storage going?"

She was talking about the storage of Williams's blood.

"I have not started yet."

"What are you waiting for?"

She wasn't sure. She had waited first because his body was small but now he was a young man. Maybe it was time to start storing some blood.