Angelica's chest felt heavy and breathing became difficult. She wasn't stupid. Lord Rayven knew about her father's plans, but he was using other words to warn her. Knowing something like that and not telling the King would otherwise be seen as betrayal. Why was he doing it then? Why was he warning her and not telling the King?
She took a deep breath. "I will. Thank you," she said and tried to walk past him before she could see her reaction, but he blocked her way. His gaze hardened."Lady Davis, you might charm the King but you won't fool me. I don't know why you have taken an interest in him, but I would be careful if I were you. Don't try anything stupid."What? Angelica became confused. Did he suspect her also? He went from helping her to protecting the King."I don't want any harm to come to His Majesty," she assured him."I hope not."They looked at each other for a short moment before Angelica felt uncomfortable and pushed past him, rushing to find her brother.She didn't know how she managed to find her way to the garden, but once she arrived her head was spinning. William sat on a bench, waiting for her."William, let's go home," she said, feeling dizzy.Throughout the journey, Angelica's heart was beating fast, and she imagined yelling at her father a thousand times before they were finally home."Why don't you go bathe and change?" she told her brother. She didn't want him to see the fight between her and their father.When William left, Angelica hurried to her father's study, where he sat busy reading some papers."You plan to kill the King and put us all in danger." She didn't care to greet him first or wait for him to notice her arrival.Horrified, he looked up. "Who told you that?""So it is true?"He put the papers down and went around the table. "No! It is not. Why would I kill the King?"Angelica didn't believe him. It seemed like he didn't abandon his plan even if he came back home without harming the King."Father, don't lie to me. Lord Rayven knows and tomorrow the King might know as well. This is not only about you. You are putting me and William in danger. He doesn't deserve this." She was speaking with clenched teeth because of how angry she was."Angelica, I am not putting anyone in danger. I told you, I have no such plans."Angelica studied him, trying to figure out if he was telling the truth or not."If you care about us, you will go to His Majesty tomorrow and tell him that you heard rumors about yourself and they are not true. You will tell him that you are loyal to him and will remain so."Angelica knew she was giving her father orders, but at this point, she didn't care. Anyone or anything that would put her brother in danger, she would fight.Her father clenched his jaw but nodded. "That sounds like a good idea.""If you are lying to me and I find out about it, know that I won't hesitate to do what is necessary to protect William and myself."Her father pressed his lips into a thin line and nodded.Now that she made it clear, she let her shoulders fall with a sigh. "I would not want you to get hurt as well. I hope you make no mistakes." This time, she softened her tone and almost pleaded."I understand Angelica. I won't do anything." He said, getting annoyed that she kept talking. Clearly, he didn't appreciate that she worried for him. Feeling disappointed, she left him behind. At this point, after disappointing her so many times, she shouldn't feel that way. She should be angry.Her father did as he promised in the coming days. He spoke to the King, went back to his royal duties and took her brother to his lectures at the castle every day. Angelica was relieved that things went back to normal in her family and even in her town. There had been no killing for the past three weeks. Her father also never named Sir Shaw again after he spoke to the King. Angelica wanted to thank him but thought it was best not to see him again. She was happy with the way things were right now.The only thing she would want to change was her brother's nightmares that continued to bother him. He managed to sleep a few days in his room and then came back to hers. Angelica became more and more desperate to help him. He couldn't live on like this."Did you find out how the Lords and the King are different?" She asked him as they lay in her bed."No," he replied."So we don't know if they can help you or not yet?""I don't think they can," William said disappointed. "They are different but they are not like me.""What if they can still help? We don't know how they are different after all."William was quiet. She knew he was thinking."The most important question is if we can trust them. Do you think we can trust them? Or at least one of them.""I don't know. They are harder than other people to understand." He said.Angelica definitely knew the mixed feelings they gave. One moment they seemed caring and the next threatening. She could still not understand why the King left her looking upset the last time they met. It kept bothering her."Will you not marry the King?" He suddenly asked."Are the monsters still chasing me?"He nodded.But the killing had stopped. Who were the monsters chasing her then?"Don't worry, everything will be alright." She told him but just that night, as if warning her that things wouldn't be alright the raven came back and sat on the tree outside her window.Angelica watched it for a long while but it didn't fly away. Getting out of her bed she went to the window. She looked outside and watched the darkness that fell over her town. Then she looked up and far away. She saw the cursed castle standing proudly on the hill. People called it the wolf's den because they said anyone who went to the castle never came back. They were eaten by the big hungry wolf living there.Lord Rayven lived there and was unharmed but then who would possibly challenge that man? If there was any wolf living in the castle, it would run away in fear of Lord Rayven. She wondered if his suspicions were gone now that she hadn't visited the King for a while? What did he even think that she wanted to do with the King? Kill him? Seduce him? Well, maybe she did have that thought for a while but what could be the harm in that?So hostile, she muttered.She looked at the castle, again. The windows were dark. She wondered what the inside looked like after being abandoned for so long? Did Lord Rayven make any changes inside because it looked the same on the outside?Shaking her head, she wondered why she was even curious. People just liked to have something to gossip about. She had heard all kinds of things about him. Some said he turned into a monster at night that hunted women. That he was the hungry wolf at night. The religious ones said he was a demon eating young womens souls and others simply believed that he was a bad omen. She wondered how he felt hearing all those things about himself?Not to mention that they called him ugly and were repulsed by him. Her annoyance with him disappeared and she suddenly felt bad for him instead. How lonely he must be. She felt lonely at times even though she had her brother, so he must feel worse.Going back to her bed, she fell asleep next to her brother.A strange dream disrupted her peaceful slumber. She saw a redhead woman running through a field of tall grass. She seemed happy as she ran and when she came out of the tall grass, she slowed down. The back of a man came into sight.A smile lit up his face and the wind blew back his dark hair. His blue eyes looked at the woman with affection as she walked up to him. The man held a crown that he made of grass and flowers in his hand."I have been looking for you. I have something to tell you," the woman said excitedly."What is it?" He asked."You will be a King one day. King Alexander."The man frowned. He didn't seem happy to hear the news. He looked down at the crown in his hand before carefully placing it on top of her head. "And you won't be my queen?" he asked in a way that made it seem like he knew the answer."No Skender. I can't be your queen."He looked so sad that her heart ached and suddenly the woman was back, running through the tall grass. It was dark and she was frightened. Something was chasing her and she was running for her life. Tripping over something, she fell and a clawed hand came out of the shadows, reaching for her.Squealing, Angelica woke up from the nightmare. She stared at the ceiling, hearing the loud pounding of heart in the quiet room. What was that?Placing her hand on her chest, she tried to calm down. The man in her dreams. King Alexander. Why did she dream about him? And who was the red-haired woman?Eva combed Angelica's hair while she thought about her dream. A red-haired woman? Why? There weren't many people who had the same hair color as her. The woman also predicted that Skender would be King which made her think that this was something that had happened in the past. Something that was more than a dream. It felt like a memory as strange as that sounded.The way they were dressed was different from how people dressed today, which also indicated that this was in the past. Angelica shook her head, thinking of how crazy she was for actually believing that this could be a memory of the past. Skender would look different today if it was a memory and she would have been the woman, or at least someone she knew. But the woman was unfamiliar to her. Skender. He looked so beautiful in her dream with his clear blue eyes and vibrant smile. It was unlike the way he smiled today. In her dreams, he seemed genuinely happy until the woman rejected him. In reality, there was always a hint of
Angelica was surprised to find him in a bookstore. He stared at her hand on top of his and Angelica quickly removed her hand away. He picked up the book from the shelf before looking at her. "I'll take it," he said. Well, it is not like she could fight him to get it. She nodded. "Do you like reading?" Angelica smiled, realizing that he was being sarcastic. He always seemed annoyed. Eva watched them from a distance, looking worried. "Then maybe you can lend it to me. I'll read it fast and give it back to you so you can put it on your shelf." He narrowed his eyes. "Do you like to read about monsters?" She nodded, "Yes. It seems like we have the same taste." Angelica wondered why he picked this particular book. She could hear him say the title 'the monster is me' in his dark husky voice. She would have believed him had he said so. Lord Rayven ignored her and went to pay for the book. The seller's eyes widened and his hands trembled slightly as he received his money. A sigh lef
Heartless? If she only knew? He watched her get dragged away by her maid, who had been panicking the whole time. Foolishly brave, he thought to himself before going back to the castle. Skender was busy dealing with humans when he went to see him. Rayven couldn't understand how he could be so patient with the old men talking about making their kingdom better when the only thing they cared about was their own personal benefits. But who was he to judge? He was just like them. Selfish. When the meeting ended, the courtiers and Lords left the meeting room avoiding him on their way out and only the seven of them remained. "You missed the meeting, Rayven." Skender spoke displeased as he sat down. "I have nothing to add," Rayven said, pulling out a chair to sit down as well. He put his book beside him. Lazarus leaned over his shoulder, taking a look at the book he bought. "The monster is me." He read the title and nodded thoughtfully. "Are you sure?" He asked him. Lazarus loved to b
Who am I, you might wonderMy face is only a cover For the monster inside I try to hideBut if you look closer into my eyes You might discover my disguiseFor I am no man, and I have no soulNo heart, and a beast I can't control Alone, I suffer at nightAnd when the sun rises again, I pretend to be alrightMy only wish is to be released from the chainsAnd the hatred that runs through my veins But I know that the end is nearI shall dig my own grave And rest in it with no fearBecause death is all I craveRayven closed the book. Whoever wrote it had described his suffering so well. Death was indeed all he craved. He looked over at the boys' training and his gaze fell on William. The boy was working hard and getting better each day. He caught up to the older boys that had longer training than him. His hair got in his eyes as he fought, distracting him and giving his opponent a chance to knock the wooden sword out of his hand. The boy then proceeded to hit William with the wooden
"My Lady, someone is asking for you?" Eva informed. "It is a man. He is waiting outside." Angelica frowned. A man? It couldn't be Sir Shaw because Eva knew him. "Did he not tell you who he is?" She looked confused. "I… I didn't ask." "It is alright. I will go see him." Who could it be, she wondered. When she went outside, she found a man on his horse. He wore a black cloak that covered his face. When Angelica neared, he removed the cap, surprising her. "Your Majesty?" He smiled. "Angelica." She looked around, but he was all alone. What was happening?"Are you busy?" He asked. "No, Your Majesty." "Would you mind spending some time with me?" The question surprised her. She hadn't seen him for a month and thought that he was angry with her the last time they spoke. She didn't understand why he kept showing interest in her. The last thing she needed was to like someone and become disappointed. He was easy to like and feel safe with. Angelica thought of denying his request befor
Skender arrived in time and joined them in the backyard together with Blayze, Mazzon and Vitale before the Arch arrived. Rayven could feel the tension in the air when everyone gathered. No one was pleased that the Arch would come and they wouldn't have visited if Skender had done his job. Blayze was already showing his bitterness toward Skender. Mazzon kept to himself, and Acheron and Lazarus stayed quiet. Vitale sat on the floor, looking exhausted. He didn't know if it was the thought of the Arch coming alone that exhausted him or if there was something else. "Well, well, you have already gathered, my Lords." Lucrezia appeared from thin air with her two wingmen on each side, startling a few of them. Her aura sucked all the existing air whenever she arrived. Today she wore a long-sleeved green dress that complimented her green eyes and a crown of black thorns sat on top of her head. Her dark hair cascaded down to her waist in elegant waves and her sun kissed skin glowed in the eveni
Oh pain, what have I doneTo make you my companion Having you around is no funI want you goneRayven opened his eyes slowly, the lights greeting him with their warmth. But right now, all he wanted was to feel cold. To feel numb. Why did he wake up? He wished he had never opened his eyes again. Skender sat next to the bed in a chair and Acheron on a coach in the corner. He was falling asleep when he saw that Rayven had woken up. Skender loomed over him with a worried expression. "Rayven, you worried me." He said, breathing out in relief.Acheron came to his side as well. "What did she do to you?" Rayven saw anger in Acheron's eyes. The man never showed anger unless he was hungry. Opening his mouth, Rayven tried to speak despite his extremely dry mouth and throat. The words cut through him, causing him to grimace in pain, but he could barely be heard. Acheron hurried away to bring him water. Pushing himself up with his arms, Rayven tried to sit, but almost cursed when his healing
29"William, ;come here!" Rayven ordered when all the boys left their training. ;William came to him, keeping his head down. ;"What has happened to you?" he asked. ;Today, he wasn't as focused as he used to be. ;William looked up at him. "I didn't sleep well." ;"Seems like reading isn't helping anymore.""I have read all the books at home. I have nothing left to read. My sister will buy me a book today," he explained. ;"Take this," he said, giving him the book in his hands. "Make sure to come well prepared tomorrow." ;William looked at the book in his hands. The Monster Is Me. Then he looked up at him again. "What are you, My Lord?" he asked straight. ;"What do you think I am?" Rayven asked. ;"I am not sure," William replied. ;Interesting, Rayven thought. So he could sense that he wasn't human. Rayven wondered how he would react if he told him the truth. Most people didn't believe when the truth was told blatantly. ;"I am what most people call a demon." ;"Not evil? Just dem