Heart of Darkness

Both of them suspected Lucrezia. The question was why? Why would she care to stop Skender from helping Angelica? Rayven had actually wondered how it came that Skender managed to stay away from her. He wasn't the type to let things go, especially if he felt guilty about it. He wouldn't just leave Angelica. But what was Lucrezia planning? Why would she stop him by compelling him instead of just threatening him like she usually does?

Rayven didn't like the fact that Lucrezia was showing interest in Angelica. It was enough that she was playing mind games with him without others being involved. He didn't need more complications.

Sitting in the garden where Angelica had done some work, he looked up at the sky. It was gradually getting brighter and the sun was rising. Now, two days were left until the marriage.

Two days.

Rayven remembered Skender's words. He was right about everything. While he tried, they just laughed. He had no right to judge when he did nothing himself to change the situation for Angelica. But what could he really change? He couldn't even change his own fate. He was running. Like a boy. A cynical laughter left his lips.

He looked at the sky, at the rising sun. By now Skender could probably get some sleep. The man was cursed to have an uncontrollable demon at night. What a punishment. Rayven scoffed. And then they punished him for exposing them. He shook his head at whomever gave them their punishments.

Leaning back in his chair, he closed his eyes and decided to get a short sleep under the morning sun.

"My Lord." A voice woke him up and when he opened his eyes he was met by bright sunshine.

He squinted his eyes and turned to where the voice came from. William stood to his left with a polite smile on his face.

"Good morning My Lord. If you are going to the castle, I would like to come with you. I need to meet His Majesty."

He wanted to meet the King? Rayven wondered why?

"Alright." Was all he said, as he was curious.

While sitting in the carriage on their way to the castle, William was unusually quiet. Once he had asked him to marry his sister, did he change his mind now? Or was he planning to do something to Skender? Why would he suddenly want to meet the man who killed his father?

"Do you know why His Majesty took you away from your sister?" Rayven asked.

"Yes, I know. He tried to protect one of us."

Well, it seemed like the boy knew already.

"He did not want to kill your father." Rayven said.

Why was he defending him?

"I know." William said looking out the window.

Rayven got the feeling that the boy didn't want to talk to him so he decided not to speak further.

When they arrived at the castle, people were looking their way. They already knew he was getting married to Angelica and wondered if he had lost his mind. He wondered the same.

Rayven took William to the meeting chamber, where he knew Skender would be having his morning meetings that he had missed for many days. He had even lost count of how many days he had been neglecting his duties, and Skender probably had to deal with it in some way.

"It will take some time for the meeting to end." Rayven said.

William nodded. "I can wait alone if you have other things to do." He told him.

It almost felt like the boy was uncomfortable around him and didn't want to be near him. Rayven was confused. The boy had always treated him well. Now he was barely looking at him.

Was there something else Angelica told him that he didn't hear? He knew he stopped listening to their conversation after a while.

"Do you not like that I am marrying your sister?" Rayven finally asked.

The boy looked up at him for the first time. "You always told us that our thoughts, plans, and intentions don't matter to you. Only our actions. I understand why. Intention without action is useless, but action alone is not good or bad. Our actions bear our intentions. So intentions matter to me. Your plans and intenstions for marrying my sister matter to me."

Rayven nodded looking down. "You want to know my intentions. They are not good." He was honest.

"I know." William said and then turned to the door, to ignore him again.

******

Skender finally relaxed when the meeting ended. His head was throbbing in pain after not getting enough sleep for many nights. Things didn't get easier now when he found out that Lucrezia could be playing with his mind. Why would she do that to him? Yes, he knew he could put Angelica in danger if he went to see her, especially since he was the king and the shades would watch him more closely than the others, but why would Lucrezia care about that? So much that she would mess with his mind.

Did she find out something about her? About what she was? Was Angelica perhaps, as he expected, a prophetess? And the time that was erased from his mind, it seemed like he was on his way to her for more than one reason. What could it be?

He sighed.

"Is something wrong?" Acheron asked him as the others left the room.

"No."

"Well, someone is here to see you." He said nodding toward the door.

Skender turned around to find William standing at the entrance. He never expected to see him here. Not soon anyway.

"Your Majesty, Lord Valos." He greeted them both.

"I'll leave you two alone." Acheron said when Skender only stared surprised.

He left and closed the door behind him.

"Come in." Skender forced himself to speak.

William smiled and slowly walked closer.

"You seem to be alright." He said then felt stupid for saying such a thing.

"Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you for allowing me to be part of the military force."

Skender looked at him saddened. It wasn't really something he should be thanked for.

"Please sit." He told him and William sat down beside him. "What brings you here?"

"Your Majesty. Can I trust you?"