Heart of Darkness

Roxana couldn’t resist the pull of those dark midnight eyes. She didn’t know if it was him or her leaning closer. A small voice in the back of her mind resisted but it wasn’t strong enough to make her stop. She had dreamed of what it would feel like to have him kiss her but nothing could prepare her for such a kiss. With a touch of his lips, he stole her breath away.

His lips felt like everything she had imagined and much more. Softer than feathers, sweeter than delicacies, and hotter than flames. His mouth was addictive and demanding, sending a tremor of heat to her core. She leaned into him and his hand slid to the back of her head, pulling her closer, pressing his lips harder against hers. Her hold on his shirt tightened at the tug of his lips which made her legs weak and wobbly.

No, she thought weakly. She was a man to him. He thought he was kissing a man. She couldn’t do this to him.

With a groan of frustration, she pulled away while pushing him away. “No!” She breathed.

She quickly took a few steps back knowing how hard it was to resist. “I can’t.”

Her breath came out in ragged pants. Her legs were still weak and her mind was still a fog. She looked at him not paying attention to his reaction, only thinking of the appropriate thing to say or how to explain herself. “I apologize. I didn’t mean to… I shouldn’t have…”

“I am sorry.” he cut off with a frown.

Roxana paused and blinked surprised. She looked at him and his face tightened with distraught. “It won’t happen again.” He said.

He took a step back and sat down as if he couldn’t keep standing. His hands grabbed the bed on each side of his body and he looked down.

Oh, this was bad. How could she let it happen? “I’ll- I’ll bring you water.” She said not making sense but she just wanted to get away.

She hurried to the door and could only breathe once she stepped outside.

Oh Lord heavenly father. She was doomed. She took a deep breath to calm down as she walked away. It would be alright. She would leave tonight anyway. She had to. Things were getting worse.

Hot, bothered, scared, and confused she went back to her room. Peter and Gary were having lunch at a table. “What happened?” They asked her wondering what brought her back.

“His Majesty is awake.” She said.

“And why do you look like that?” Peter asked.

How? Stunned, petrified, or flustered?

“It is nothing.” She lied going to the window and pretending to look outside to hide her face.

The memories of the kiss flashed through her mind and again she felt breathless. Her heartbeat became irregular.

It was all her fault. She should have left before it went this far. But at least now she could leave. King Isaac would help her.

“What is he doing now?”

“I don’t know.” She replied quickly without turning around.

Why did he kiss her? Why did he touch her hair? And why… just why did it feel so good? Like she was in heaven. She had found a moment of bliss, just to be tortured by the emptiness it left once it ended.

She wrapped her arms around herself and closed her eyes. Soon, she would leave and she wouldn’t have to see him again. It would all be a distant memory in the future.

The day passed by slowly and the king didn’t leave his room. He needed the rest and she didn’t go inside again, avoiding him at all cost. She sent the servants inside with food and drinks and stood guard outside the room. When the sunset, she switched places with Peter and Luke and went on a break with Gary.

“I am hungry,” Gary said.

“I’ll be right behind you.” She told him and left to find king Isaac. She had no time to waste.

She hurried through the halls, trying to find her way when she came across someone that she didn’t wish to see as well.

“Rox.” He beamed.

Oh lord. She wanted to vomit. What did this shady Lord want from her right now?

The brothel! She forgot.

No! She had to find King Isaac.

“You are on a break? Shall we go to have some fun?”

“Ah, My Lord.” She grimaced pretending to be ill. “I think I ate something wrong. I am not feeling well.”

“Then you definitely need a drink.”

“I am going to vomit and ruin your night.” She said.

“You won’t. Come now!” He put his arm around her shoulders.

How dare this bastard?! She was so close to elbowing him in the stomach.

“My Lord. I can’t…I “

“Rox.” He called softly.

She turned to him and somehow his silver eyes glistened. “You and I are going to have fun.” He said with a hypnotic voice.

“Yes.” She breathed and then he led her away.

They arrived at a tavern to have some drinks. Why was she agreeing to this?

“You can drink until you are satisfied.” He told her and she nodded.

“Thank you, my Lord.”

She must have lost her mind to come here and have drinks. Why did she think this would be fun?

Suddenly music played and the night entertainment began. Singing and dancing women swirled around the tables, causing the men to empty their pockets.

Roxana gulped down the second cup of wine or beer, she wasn’t sure anymore but she began to enjoy the music and the show. Her tense body was suddenly relaxed, her mind letting go of the worries.

“Isn’t this fun?” Lord Quintus asked.

“It is.” She admitted.

He poured her some more of the drink that looked like urine. She took it and gulped it down at once despite the terrible taste.

While she was feeling some kind of funny way, Lord Quintus seemed to be quite alright. “You brought me here to get me drunk.” She said.

“I brought you here to have fun.”

“I don’t trust you,” She slurred leaning forward on the table and examining him suspiciously. “You are suspicious. I have my eyes on you. You better not try to harm his Majesty.”She pointed a finger at him warningly.

He smiled. “Aren’t you too protective of him?”

“I am his guard. His personal guard.” She hit the table with her fist. She was only his guard. Nothing more.

He chuckled. “Of course. You are his guard and so you shall remain.”

She glared at him with hatred.

“So can you sing? I am sure you would look better up there than those ladies.”

She accessed the room, watching some women dance and pour drinks to the men who tried to touch them as soon as they got the chance.

“Come and take…” one man tried to lure a woman by holding out a few coins.

Why was he wasting money?

Some men could really not think with anything other than what was between their legs and now he was throwing his money away. Roxana stood up forcefully, causing the chair to slide backward. Her gaze was fixated on those gold coins and the stupid man. She strode forward with what she thought to be determined steps but her drunken state made it look otherwise. When she was close enough she snatched the coins out of the man’s palm.

“You…!” He began and stood up to look at her with fury.

“What? You said come and take. I took it.”

His furious eyes slowly softened and he took a step back to examine her. “You are a woman.” He said. “She is a woman.” He looked over at his fellow mates at the table and they eyed her as well.

“Listen!” He said grabbing her wrist. He forced the coins out of her hold. “Why don’t you put on a dress and I will give you more than just a few coins.”

The other men nodded in agreement.

“Well, I need the coins to buy a dress.” She told him.

“Oh well then maybe a kiss will do,” he said stepping closer.

She wrinkled her nose at him. “You said to come and take. Now you want me to give?”

“A man can change his mind.” He shrugged.

“Alright. But only on the cheek.”

“Don’t be shy.” He told her.

“The cheek.” She repeated.

“Alright, that will do.”

He held out his cheek for her and she clenched her hand into a fist before landing a punch. His head flew to the side and pain shot threw her hand. The men at the table rose hastily but the one she punched held his hand out, gesturing for them to calm down. He turned to her, his eyes burning with rage again.

“I see. You want to earn without working.” He told her. “I know your kind. I will teach you some discipline.”

He grabbed her arm harshly and pulled her close before snarling his other arm around her waist. She bumped her head onto his face, causing him to fall back on the table with a groan. He held his broken nose as she stumbled back and rubbed her pained forehead.

“You bloody wench.” He said turning to her again.

Roxana stepped back not understanding why she caused a fight without a reason. Now she had provoked this big man and his friends. He stalked toward her, blood still seeping from his nose.

“Leave him alone!” Suddenly a familiar voice interrupted.

She turned toward the entrance and blinked in surprise at what she found.

Alexander.

He stood between the tables, wearing a white shirt beneath his long black coat that reached his knees meeting the knee-high black boots he wore. His usually elegant hair fell like dark shadows around a deadly face where he stood. But it was the look in his eyes that frightened her the most. A glowing abyss of darkness. His gaze was just as sharp as the lines of his face.

“Stay out of this fight. No need to be a gentleman.” The man told him.

Alexander tilted his head slightly at the man, his eyes still piercing. “Don’t make me repeat myself.” His voice was lethal.

“Alright young man. You want to fight.” He said now turning his attention to the king.

He clenched his hands into fists and got ready to attack. He launched forward and Alexander didn’t flinch. He caught the man’s fist right before it hit his face and slowly moved it down as the man began to scream in pain and fell to his knees. No one was sure what was happening until Alexander released his fist which looked distorted.

The other men at the table who were ready to fight now flinched in fear when Alexander lifted his gaze, his eyes promising to show no mercy. It made the men want to retreat without a try.

Why? She wanted to see a fight. “Are you scared of one man?” She asked the men. “Come on. Don’t be girls. Do you need me to find you a dress?” She began to use Sir Fulker’s speech.

One way to make men fight was to challenge their manhood. It worked every time. She added laughter just to agitate them and now they got ready to fight.

“Yes. Fight!” She chanted and soon the rest of the guests began to chant with her.

Unable to stand still she sat on a chair at a table with other men. She was ready to watch the fight just like everyone else.

The tavern owner was not happy. “Stop this now! Take your fights outside!” He called but his voice got muted by the chants.

The men attacked Alexander all at once. They were still no match for him. He was so swift as he avoided their attacks and so dangerous once he caught them and show them what pain felt like. Breaking of arms and legs, thrown into the wall, having their head smashed on a table. The crowd became wild, chanting louder for more blood until he had finished all of them.

Then…, he turned his lethal gaze to access the crowd. Their chants died immediately and they all shrunk in fear back in their seats. Roxana did the same when his gaze fell on her. He was enraged and she was in trouble.