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 sadness behind his eyes and his smile.It made her think of what he had told her. He was looking for someone to save him and even though he gave her a feeling of danger, she felt like he needed to be saved. But from what, she didn't know.That is when she remembered the monster chasing the woman in her dream. She had felt the woman's fear and even though she was scared, she wished she had seen the monster before waking up. Now she was left with questions about who or what could have been chasing her.It couldn't be a coincidence that she had a dream about a woman being chased by a monster, considering what had been happening in her town and her brother's nightmares. Or maybe that was what caused the dream.While lost in thoughts Eva finished making her hair and Angelica looked at herself in the mirror to see how she looked."You look beautiful, my Lady." Eva said. She was always quick to compliment her."Thank you, Eva." Angelica smiled.But Eva was frowning and her lips were slightly down-turned."What is wrong?" Angelica asked."I am worried about you, My Lady and for all the young ladies in this town. What is happening is tragic. I thought it ended, but they found a dead woman again."The killing started again?Her thoughts went directly to the raven. It was a sign. Death came back to her town."It is tragic." Angelica said, feeling sad."My Lady," Thomas stood outside her door. "You have guests."Guests?"Lady Harris, Lady Alden and Lady Foster are here to see you."So her friends finally decided to include her again? Angelica was skeptical about them coming here and suspected that they came with gossip or to find out something about her and the king. Hilde must be curious."Welcome them and give them something to eat and drink while I come down."He nodded and left.What were her friends up to? Maybe she was suspicious for no reason and they were here to bond with her now that women in their town were being murdered. They needed to stick together. Angelica really hoped that was the case.Looking at her reflection in the mirror one last time, she went downstairs to meet her friends.Hilde, Natasha, and Vesna were already served tea and sweets when she entered the parlor."Good morning," she greeted with a smile as she approached them."Good morning," they replied and she went to sit on the sofa next to Vesna."We haven't seen you for a long time," Vesna said.Angelica knew that Vesna was trying to put the blame on her. "It hasn't been safe to be outside these days and I have been busy. I am glad you could come to visit me instead.""Of course. We understand that it is hard to raise your brother alone. You have always been more busy than us," Hilde said.Angelica responded to her with a smile only."I saw your brother at the castle. It seems like he started his training earlier. My brother has also started his training and I take him to the castle sometimes." Hilde continued."He must be excited." Angelica said."Is he training your brother?" Natasha asked, shocked."Yes. He is training all the young boys who want to become Royal knights. The king gave him that duty," Hilde explained."I don't know why the king keeps him, especially with all the rumors surrounding him." Natasha said.Natasha was the kind who believed in curses and magic. She also believed rumors too easily, saying that there was no smoke without a fire. Angelica could see that she was uncomfortable with the fact that Lord Rayven was training the young boys."Why would the king not keep him? He is known to be a great warrior. They say the king searched for him and appointed him as a Lord just to have a powerful and feared Lord by his side. Now people will think twice before trying anything foolish with the king." Hilde said."What if the people are not the threat and Lord Rayven decides to overthrow the King himself? Like you said, he is a powerful Lord and a great warrior after all." Natasha replied.Hilde scoffed. "He might be powerful but people would never accept him as their King.""He doesn't need people's acceptance if he takes the crown." Vesna added.Hilde shrugged. "The king is wise. He wouldn't trust anyone he shouldn't trust. I have spoken to him many times when I took my brother to the castle. He is kind and charming but he is also clever."It seemed like Hilde had been working toward her goal to seduce the King during the weeks that Angelica hadn't gone to the castle and now she came here to gloat about it. Angelica didn't let that bother her. There was no reason to be bothered. She wasn't in love with the King, so Hilde could do anything she wanted."It is strange that he doesn't have a queen already. It is also strange that none of the other Lords have a wife. They are good looking, young and wealthy. Except for Lord Rayven." Vesna seemed very curious about the Lords. Unlike her sister, she was still looking for her future husband."Only a desperate woman with nothing would marry Lord Rayven to find shelter and have food on the table, but being a Lord he probably holds himself in high regard and doesn't want to marry just any woman." Hilde explained.Natasha scoffed. "He will with time when no one accepts him.""Imagine sharing a bed with him. I would not be able to get any sleep." Vesna shivered."He is just a man with scars." Angelica said.They looked at her with eyes wide and brows lifted."Long ago scars were something to be proud of. Warriors wore their scars proudly. It was a sign of braveness, showing that they had fought battles and survived." Angelica told them from what she had learned in the history books. "People today are vain."An awkward silence followed her comment, and Hilde decided to lighten the mood. "It can't be that bad to be with him. He is a powerful Lord after all." She smiled.Hilde was all about climbing the ladder of hierarchy. It didn't matter what kind of man as long as he was wealthy and powerful.They gossiped for a little more while before her friends decided to leave. Angelica couldn't believe that she was relieved that the friends she once loved to spend time with were leaving.Hilde invited her to come to her house next week, where they would all meet. Angelica would have been happy a few weeks ago to be included again, but now she felt nothing in particular.Once they left, Eva came to her, "It has been a long time since they visited you. Is everything alright?""Yes," Angelica replied.Everything continued to be the same. Their friendship would never return to the way it was before. "Eva, get prepared. We are going to the market."Angelica was tired of staying locked inside her home. She wanted to leave the house for a while.The market wasn't far away from their home, so they walked there. Angelica stopped by a few shops and looked at some clothes and items. It had been a long time since she bought something for herself. She wondered what she wanted to buy.Books."Let's go to the bookshop," she told Eva.Eva shook her head at her with a smile, knowing how much she loved her books.They went to the nearest bookshop and Angelica walked around looking for a book to spark her interest. As she looked around, one finally caught her attention. It was the title that attracted her.'The monster is me'Feeling strangely drawn to it, she strode toward the shelf without tearing her gaze away from the book. She reached her arm out to grab it but ended up grasping someone's cold hand.She turned her head to see who was interested in the same book as her and saw a face covered in scars."Lord Rayven."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
Angelica paced back and forth in her room feeling anxious while her brother followed her with his gaze until he became dizzy and gave up. "Why didn't you tell me first?" She scolded. "I am sorry. I thought it was the right opportunity." He said. She stopped pacing and looked at him. "Why did you tell him?" she asked curiously. She thought he liked the King the most. "He is honest. If I tell him, I will know his intentions. He won't pretend to be kind and then betray me." Angelica didn't know him as much as her brother knew him, so she trusted his intuition. "What about the King?" "I can't know for sure if I can trust him." William replied. If the King was a charmer, then it would be hard to know what he was thinking if William told him. She was proud of her clever brother. When they went to bed at night, William was reading Lord Rayven's book. The one that had caught her and his attention in the bookstore. He had refused to lend it to her, but he gave it to William. He definit