Heart of Darkness

Roxana watched Alexander disappear into thin air as he walked away. She stood there staring into the emptiness, where he had once been walking. Her mind refused to function and she didn’t know what to make of all this.

A demon? And if not the kind she believed in then what? And where was he going?

From the way Angelica told him not to go alone, Roxana felt like she should worry. Worry about someone who could tear apart a dozen of large wild animals. Oh, Lord. She was losing her mind.

“Roxana?” Angelica put her hand on her arm. She had probably called her a few times before.

“Yes.” She said turning away from the gate.

Angelica looked at her sympathetically. “You must have been through a lot in one day. Come inside. He will be back.”

This made her thoughtful. “You know…what he is?” She knew.

Angelica nodded.

“Are you…”

“No.”

No, but… Roxana turned to Lord Rayven who stood behind his wife. The pale skin, the beauty….

He was a demon. She had been right to be suspicious of the similarities.

Then… Roxana looked at Angelica’s swollen belly. Demon baby? How?

Angelica grimaced slightly when the pain hit her again. Her husband came to her side and she gave him a reassuring smile.

“Yes, let’s go inside,” Roxana said not wanting to be a nuisance on such a day.

She lend Angelica a hand and helped her inside. Her husband, the demon was right behind them. Roxana helped Angelica sit down on one of the couches in the hall.

Angelica sighed in pain. “I was supposed to take a walk.” She said.

“Rest if you are in pain.” Her husband said going to stand beside her. Roxana went and sat on the couch across from her.

“How close are you?” She asked.

She didn’t know much about pregnancies and delivery but she knew the pain would gradually increase and it could take a long time for some women. And this one was pregnant with a demon’s child whatever that meant. Was it not dangerous? This only made her more confused and worried for Angelica.

Just as she thought if they should call a midwife a woman with equally white skin as Lord Rayven came down the stairs. Since she also possessed that unearthly beauty, Roxana guessed she was a demon. The woman gave her a smile and a nod and then turned to Angelica.

“How often is the pain now?” She asked.

Midwife? Demon midwife?

“More often than before. Maybe twice as often.”

“Good.” The woman smiled. “I am glad you have a female friend here.” She looked at Roxana.

Friend?

Angelica smiled. “Yes. It is a relief to have you here Roxana.”

“Uh…” She didn’t know what to say but she was interrupted when Angelica looked behind her and she heard the young Lord Davis’ voice.

“William.”

“I am sorry, I am late.” He said hurrying to her side. “How are you?” He watched her concerned.

“I am alright. Everything is going smoothly so far. And Roxana is here.”

William turned to her and greeted her with a nod.

“Where is Sara? Could you tell her to serve Roxana something to eat and drink?”

“Oh no. I am fine.” Rxoana said not wanting to be a burden.

“You were scared to death.” She said not believing her. Her eyes continued to look out for Sara who came quickly to her side. “Sara. Take Roxana, give her some new clothes and everything else she needs.”

The servant nodded and then turned to her.

Roxana looked at Angelica who gave her a smile. “Make yourself comfortable. Don’t be shy. Consider this your second home.”

“Thank you,” Roxana said not wanting to resist when Angelica was already battling pain. Besides, her dirty clothes could stain their home.

Roxana followed Sara who took her to a dressing room. Angelica’s dress was a bit small on her curved body but nothing too visible. Now when she was clean and dressed Sara took her to Angelica’s room where she was resting in her bed.

Lord Rayven pulled a chair for her from the dresser and placed it near the bed. He motioned for her to sit.

“Thank you,” she said as she sat down. Lord Rayven left them alone.

“We shall have tea soon,” Angelica said but she looked to be in no condition to have tea.

Roxana just nodded.

“The woman you saw earlier is my midwife, Cassandra.”

Roxana nodded again. “She is a demon.”

“Yes.”

“And your child…”

“The child will be part demon.”

“And… I am sorry if I am rude but is this safe?” She was truly worried for her.

Angelica smiled. “Don’t worry. It is no more dangerous than any other childbirth.”

Roxana remained quiet trying to think of how it couldn’t be more dangerous. If demons prayed on humans then…well a child usually fed from his mother so maybe there wasn’t much difference?

Oh, she wasn’t sure.

“I know it is a lot to take in at once. You witness both demons and shades on the same day and other things you did not wish to see. You are doing much better than I did.”

“Were you also scared?”

“Very much. I had excessive fear of fangs and claws because of something that happened in the past. It took a while to be completely comfortable with it.” She explained. “It will take time for everything to fall into place and feel normal. Make sure to express your worries and fears and ask all the questions you need. It will bring you two closer.”

Closer?

“I don’t even know where to start or what to ask,” Roxana admitted.

“Roxana.” Angelica began suddenly looking at her with seriousness. “I wish that you had more time than I had to process things but bad things seem to come in pairs. One thing you need to know is that demons have enemies and those enemies target their women because we are seen as their weakness.”

Roxana frowned. “It is the animals from before.”

“Yes. They are not just animals. They look a lot like us but can shift to cat and dog animals. One way you can tell the difference is that most of them have catlike eyes but they can disguise themselves as people that you know. I know right now you might want to be alone and away from all this for a while but I just want you to be safe.” She told her.

Roxana nodded. “I understand. Thank you.”

Angelica grimaced in pain again and began to take deep breaths for a while. Roxana wasn’t sure what to do to help her. There was no way to remove labor pain. She tried to talk again to explain some more but Roxana prevented her. “It can wait. I am alright.”

“No, it is fine. It is a good distraction.” She half grimaced and half smiled.

“Is he in danger? Those shades, how dangerous are they?” Roxana asked.

“Just like demons, they have a hierarchy of power. The more powerful ones are more dangerous.”

She went on to tell her about Constantine and his father who were of higher rank. She also told her that Alexander was of higher rank too, the ones called the Arch. On top of that, he was also a defender. Roxana had heard him talk about that and when she asked further, Angelica suggested she should ask Alexander about that part of the story when she was ready. She told her it was a long, complicated but also personal story.

There was so much to know and understand. It was like the world she knew became a whole different world. Angelica stopped talking realizing it might be too much. Yes, it was too much.

“You can stay here as long as you wish and just take it one day at a time.” She smiled.

Roxana would if she didn’t have Uncle Ben and Fanny to worry about.

Soon tea was served and Angelica could take a few sips with her before the pain increased. The midwife came to take a look. “You are close. Just a bit more.” She said.

Roxana could tell she was close. This time she couldn’t talk much and her husband came to be beside her. He held her hand the whole time.

Despite what the midwife said about being close, it took a few more hours and Roxana struggled watching Angelica struggle. This was so difficult and went on for so many hours. Angelica was calm at first but then became tired too.

“When?” She asked pained. “I can’t anymore.”

Despite her complaint, she was much calmer than her husband who became hysterical. He couldn’t bear to see her in pain. He went back and forth, bringing the midwife a thousand times, asking her to look, questioning their condition and if everything was right. The midwife kept assuring him that it would all be alright and that the pain was part of it. It meant progress. There was nothing to do about it but that didn’t help calm him down.

Roxana could definitely understand that it was difficult for him to accept. Watching the one you love, be in so much pain was not easy.

Suddenly she remembered Alexander’s words. ‘Because I love you for God’s sake. Is that a reason enough.’

He loved her and she… she loved him too. As strange as it sounded she did. She loved the man who admitted he wanted to prey on her.

Oh, Lord. She was sick. Something was wrong with her mind but then she looked at Lord Rayevn and Angelica. How well he took care of her, how he was by her side, truly worried, holding her hand, and being observant of her pain. Unlike what she knew of men he was more worried about her condition than the child’s.

“Just take it out now.” He told the midwife and both the women laughed at him.

Roxana smiled. “Let’s not make your wife’s efforts and pain go to waste.” the midwife calmed him.

The poor man needed a break but she knew he wouldn’t leave his wife’s side. Nothing about him made him look like a predator or a monster. He looked like a dutiful husband who loved his wife too much to let anything happen to her even if the result was having a child.

“Rayven…ahh..” Angelica groaned and the midwife came to check again.

“I think it is time,” she said.

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