Heart of Darkness

Roxana watched the physician examine Alexander. The only fault he found was that he was cold and his heart rate was slower than normal. He couldn’t find anything else or understand what was happening.

Roxana already had an idea. Alexander wasn’t normal. She had already seen the wound on his hand heal when she was worried she would be blamed for his injury. How was that possible? She remembered the time he got struck by lord Rayven’s sword. He had healed back then too.

Her head began to spin with many theories, none of which she could make sense of. He tore the bench from the ground as if it weighed nothing and his eyes had changed color with his drastically changed behavior. What happened to him? Was he perhaps… possessed? He spoke of being a demon once. He was possessed by a demon? It would explain his changed behavior and sudden strength.

Oh, Lord. Could there be a less complicated explanation?

The physician asked her what happened and she explained that he collapsed. He watched her with doubtful eyes and if it wasn’t for Peter and Gary’s trust in her she would have been thrown out of his chamber.

Roxana stayed with him the whole night, watching him sleep as if he was dead. He said he would come back. That she shouldn’t worry but she couldn’t help it. She was afraid of what was happening to him.

Was he truly possessed? He had told her some very personal things before he left. About the woman who broke his heart. About his parents. The words he used to describe his past were very dark. He was called useless. He had a part of himself killed. Numbed. That would explain why his eyes held so much torment. Why he looked so lonely.

Then there was the strange talk of mating. She didn’t know how to interpret that part. No matter how she looked at it, it made no sense. And lastly, he said he would bring him back for her. She understood that part as he would bring back his old self? The one she knew? But he also said he would come back.

She shook her head. She was reading too much into it. There was no he and he. He was only being strange but then how would she explain the collapsing. It looked like something left the body. It took her back to her theory of him being possessed.

Her head began to hurt after going round in circles and she was so tired when the morning came. Alexander was still unconscious.

The morning guards began to question once they arrived and she suddenly became a suspect.

“Roxana is loyal to His Majesty and he chose her as his guard.” Gary defended her.

“Until His Majesty wakes up, we need to keep her away from him. She is a suspect now and we are only taking precautions.” One of the day guards said.  “We need to keep her locked so she doesn’t run away if anything happens to His Majesty.”

“That is absurd,” Gary said.

“You are letting your personal emotions get in the middle of this. Stay out of it and let me do my duty. Take her away.” He ordered the other guards.

Roxana knew there was no need in fighting this. She gave Gary a nod to calm down as two guards came to grab each of her arms. “No need to. I will cooperate.” Roxana said.

“You can’t make such orders. Does Sir Fulker know about this?” Gary asked.

“I will let him know shortly.”

“What should I know?” Sir Fulker’s voice suddenly came from behind as he arrived at the hall. Roxana wasn’t sure if she should be happy or more worried.

The day guard turned to Sir Fulker and bowed his greeting. Then he explained the situation. Sir Fulker was calmed as he listened.

“We should investigate this.” He agreed with the day guard. Then he turned to her. “I hope you will cooperate.”

She gave him a nod.

“No need to treat her like a criminal.” He then told the guards who still held her arms. “Until proven guilty, she is innocent. You don’t want to falsely accuse a guard personally chosen by His Majesty.”

Suddenly they looked worried. Roxana knew she liked this man for a reason.

The guards led her to a secluded room where they locked her in. She would wait for whoever would question her. They were wasting their time and as she waited her eyelids became heavy. She needed to sleep. She placed her arms on the table and then rested her head above. Closing her eyes she allowed herself to sleep.

The uncomfortable sleeping positions made her wake up after a while’s rest. As she stretched her body she took notice of the young Lord Davis and stiffened.

“Oh, My Lord. I didn’t see you.”

He smiled politely. “You must be tired. I have arranged for you to sleep in the barracks.”

“Is His Majesty awake?”

He shook his head. “Unfortunately not. May I ask what happened?” He asked. “What truly happened?”

Truly? It was a strange way to question a suspect. She felt he didn’t suspect her but believed there was more to what happened. How could he know?

“We were talking and he collapsed.” She said.

His expression remained the same but she noticed the slight tilt in his head. “Alright. You should go get some rest.” He said standing up.

“Will I be allowed to guard him tonight?” She asked. She wanted to be there when he woke up.

“I will see to it that you can.” He told her and then left.

How strange? Why was he helping her? Did he really not suspect her like the rest or did he not care about the king because he also wanted to get rid of him? Either way, she was benefiting from it right now.

Roxana hurried to the barracks, avoiding people as much as she could. Some guards gave her certain looks but she ignored them and went into one of the guardrooms to sleep. This time she was able to sleep longer, yet she was disturbed by many strange dreams of demons and possession. And once she woke up she couldn’t remember clearly.

A growl of hunger came from her stomach. Adjusting her clothes and hair she left the room to find some food before her shift.

Outside the room, she was surprised to find Ronny. “Roxana.”

“Why are you still here?” She asked him.

“I heard what happened. Do they still suspect you?” He asked.

“You don’t suspect me?”

“Of course not.” He shrugged.

Her stomach growled again.

He shook his head. “Did they not allow you to eat?”

“Oh, it is not that. I was just tired and I feel uncomfortable around the others right now.” She admitted.

“Stay here. I will bring you food.”

Before she could protest, he hurried away. What a sweet man. This must be the kingdom of luck where she met all the good people.

Ronny came back to her with a big plate of rice, beans and some vegetables. Roxana ate it all at once.  He looked at her surprised. “You eat a lot.” He said.

“I can eat more.” She admitted leaning back to create more space in her stomach. “Ah, delicacies would be good now.”

He was baffled.

“Ronny.” She leaned closer.

“Yes.”

“Can I ask for a favor?”

He nodded.

“My brother and my uncle must be worried that I didn’t return home. Could you let them know that I am alright and will be back soon? Don’t tell them I am a suspect. I don’t want them to worry.”

“Of course.”

“Thank you.” She smiled.

She told him where they lived and then they said goodbye.

Now it was time to get back to duty if Lord Davis made those arrangements he said he would but before she could find out, Gary came looking for her.

“Well, His Majesty is awake.” He said.