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 be playful and tease him from time to time. He pointed toward his favorite friends. "I think Ash and I are the real monsters."
Acheron frowned, not liking the joke. Deep down, they all hated what they were. Even Lazarus.
"Alright. Let's discuss more important things than monsters." Skender spoke. "What do we do about Lord Davis?"
"We kill him. What else?" Lazarus said, placing his legs on the table, one over the other.
Skender didn't seem to like the idea. Rayven knew that he liked Angelica and was fond of William.
"Angelica and William only have their father," he said.
"And why should we care?" Blayze asked. "Or are you perhaps infatuated with Lady Davis?"
Blayze always wanted to pick a fight. Knowing that Skender ignored him.
"We can't compel everyone, Skender. We have to deal with some people the human way and treason is punishable by death." Acheron spoke.
A deep frown settled between Skender's eyebrows. He didn't like the idea at all. Angelica's father had seen his true colors and because he went into shock, compelling him didn't work on him. Some things got imprinted in the human brain in a way that couldn't be removed with compulsion. That is why it was very important for them to keep their true identity hidden.
"I don't want to kill him," Skender said.
Blayze stood up hastily, causing his chair to fall backward and his eyes blazed with fury. "Do whatever you want." He spat. "But deal with the consequences yourself."
He strode out of the room and shut the door so hard behind him it almost broke.
"Do you like her?" Acheron asked Skender.
"I care about her." Skender replied.
Rayven wanted to roll his eyes at Skender's diplomatic answer.
"Well then, you decide what you want to do, but you have to decide fast. If the Arch finds out that we didn't take care of someone who knew of our identity, they will punish you and kill him." Acheron said. He was the calm and sensible one.
Skender was in a dilemma, but they all knew how this was going to end considering the fact that Lord Davis wouldn't give up his mission to eliminate "evil". He would die doing so if he had to. His mission was more important to him than his children.
"I am more interested in what Angelica and her brother are. Did you find out?" Lazarus asked.
Rayven was curious as well. Why couldn't they hear their thoughts? They could hear their father's thoughts, but the woman and her brother were different. The boy was also too mature for his age.
"No. We compelled her already. If she is something, then she doesn't know it herself." Skender replied.
They were all a little disappointed even if they didn't show it. They had been excited when they found Angelica, but she wasn't the one. Rayven felt stupid for getting his hopes up. He should just accept and live with his punishment forever.
"Well then, no saving for us." Lazarus said, standing up. "I'll take my leave if you have nothing to add."
Skender gave him an approving nod and they all began to leave the room. Rayven picked up his book and decided to read for a while, and Skender remained seated. He looked troubled as he stared at the wall in front of him.
Ignoring him, Rayven opened the first page of the book. The title was what had caught his attention and someone else's it seemed. Why would a woman like her want to read this book? It is not as if she could relate to it.
Rayven remembered her hand on his, but before he could dwell on the thought, he pushed it to the back of his mind. But it was her eyes that haunted him. No human had ever dared to look him in the eyes the way she did or speak to him the way she did. She even called him ill-mannered and rude.
"What are you smiling at?" Skender asked.
Was he smiling? "Nothing," he replied, keeping his eyes on the book in his hand.
Enough with that woman, he scolded himself.
"You haven't said anything. What do you think of Lord Davis?"
"It doesn't matter what I think. The decision is yours." Rayven said.
"I thought you cared about them."
Rayven clenched his jaw and looked up at Skender. "You were the last to join us so let me enlighten you. None of us care for anyone but ourselves. You seem a little different, which is probably why they made you the leader, but don't ever think we are like you."
It was a clever move by the Arch to make Skender their leader. He had some goodness left in him and they probably hoped that it would have an influence on them.
Skender's mouth turned into an upside down smile as he nodded. Then he stood up and walked toward the door. Before leaving, he turned to him, "I hope you find reading more fulfilling." He said and then closed the door behind him.
The man always had to have the last word.
Not letting himself be bothered, he looked down at his book to read. He was not in the mood to read anymore.
Who am I, you might wonder
My face is only a cover
For the monster inside
I try to hide
But if you look closer into my eyes
You might discover my disguise
For I am no man, and I have no soul
No heart, and a beast I can't control
Alone, I suffer at night
And when the sun rises again, I pretend to be alright
My only wish is to be released from the chains
And the hatred that runs through my veins
But I know that the end is near
I shall dig my own grave
And rest in it with no fear
Because death is all I crave
Rayven 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 sword while William tried to pick up his.
Envy was worse than poison. The boys couldn't accept that a younger boy who hadn't had as long training as them was better.
Rayven didn't bother to interrupt them and watched William get hit. He hoped the boy would rise stronger because his foolish father would soon turn his life into hell.
William crawled to grab his sword, but the boy kicked it away and kept hitting him. At last, William had enough and used his arm to block the attacks as he stood up. With a growl, he threw himself at the boy, taking him down to the ground and then began to punch him.
Rayven had never watched anything so satisfying, but it was his duty to ensure that they didn't get seriously injured.
"William! That is enough now!"
William was angrier than he thought. Despite his orders, he landed one last punch before removing himself. He was panting and his hands remained clenched into fists.
Rayven stood up from his seat. "It is enough for today. You can leave."
The boy that was beaten by William got help with the help of his friends, but feeling embarrassed, he pushed them away and left in a hurry. His friends followed him, and the rest of the boys wished him a good evening before leaving. Except for William. He kept standing in the same place, while blood dripped from his clenched fists.
"I got too angry." He said, his eyes red.
Rayven had noticed that William looked tired lately, but hadn't bothered to care.
"You should get some sleep."
William gazed up at him. "How do you sleep when you suffer from nightmares?"
How did he know? Rayven was surprised at first, but then realized the boy was talking about himself. What was haunting this young boy that he couldn't sleep at night?
He sighed, frustrated. Why did he even care? Sitting back in his chair, he held his book up. "Try reading. It helps me sometimes."
"My sister likes to read."
The boy liked his sister too much, but then what was there to not like?
Rayven clenched his jaw, displeased with his own thoughts.
"Maybe she can read for you." He suggested hating himself more the more he spoke.
Slowly, William unclenched his fists and his shoulders relaxed.
"Have a good evening, My Lord." He bowed and then turned around and left.
Rayven watched him walk away. The boy was like his sister in many ways.
After reading for a while about the man who saw himself as a monster and his never ending suffering, Rayven decided to go home. When he went to the main garden, he found William still waiting for his father to take him home.
Before he could speak to him, he smelled the scent of a woman. A sweet summer scent that reminded him of warm and sunny days. Days that didn't exist in his life.
Resisting to breathe in her scent, he looked her way. Why did she have to come today of all days? Now he would be scolded for hurting her brother.
"William!" It didn't take long for concern to show in her blue eyes after she saw her brother. "What happened to you?"
Her brother looked worse than the last time she scolded him. He was curious to see what she would do this time.
"I am alright." William assured.
She grabbed his face, removed his hair before looking at the bruises. Then she released him with a sigh.
When her blue eyes shifted to his, they were burning with a fire as red as her hair. "Can he stay at home tomorrow? To recover." She asked him.
Rayven was surprised. He had expected to be scolded. "No." He replied.
She frowned, not expecting his answer. Why did she keep thinking that he would be kind?
"He won't be able to learn much with these many injuries, My Lord."
"Pain is the best teacher." He said. It wasn't his words, but he believed it.
Angelica narrowed her eyes,"I hope not, My Lord. Have a good evening." She curtsied, then put her arm around her brother's shoulders. "Let's go home." She said, leading him away.
Rayven tried to figure out the meaning behind her words and the reason she didn't argue with him this time. The woman was a mystery. Probably because he couldn't hear her thoughts, otherwise he wouldn't be so curious about her. Why would he?
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