Heart of Darkness: Book One: Goddess of Dragons

Chapter Nine Part 2:

Meanwhile at the Night Castle, things are not going as good nor as peaceful. For the past two hours, since Serena’s departure, Vladamir and Teyaldin have been arguing about who will get to sleep with Serena when she returns.

“Listen here, Teyaldin, she isn’t your wife yet, and on earth she is my wife. That child you held earlier is my son, not yours. Just because she must marry you for the kingdoms to unite does not mean that you get to sleep in the same bed or room as her. And I will be damned if I am going to let you touch her in the same way I do.” Vladamir yells at Teyaldin.

Teyaldin looks at Vladamir and says, “What is the matter? Are you afraid that if I have her, she is going to enjoy me more than she enjoys you? Do you think so little of your love making that you don’t want her risking the chance of having someone better, and never letting you touch her again? That’s so pathetic, why don’t you go back to Sole Luminoso and die with the rest of them?”

Vladamir becomes hot with anger and retorts, “Well at least I didn’t have to have my father step in and make it a necessity for her to marry me, you do realize that the only reason she is agreeing to this is because it is what’s best for the people. She has no feelings for you, she’s in love with me you fool, so don’t think you can come in here and steal her affections from me because you won’t be able to, even your father won’t be able to change that.”

Before Teyaldin can respond, the great dragon Vearso comes out of nowhere and adds in his own input about the matter, “I don’t see how it matters to either one of you. Eventually you are both going to die anyways and she will remain, the only person who is left for Serena to even consider as a future anything is Reaperiam the God of Death, he is immortal unlike the rest of you. In time, he is the one she will be in love with because they are one so similar and they are both Gods. He will always understand her better than either of you do and when she finally realizes this neither one of you will stand a chance. So how about you both just shut up and get along because inevitably if she doesn’t kill your old age or a sickness will. All you have to look forward to his death and nothing more.”

Vladamir and Teyaldin look at one another, after a few moments Teyaldin speaks, “You know Vladamir, he is right about that, what hope do we have of being with her forever? We both are going to die anyways, so we might as well enjoy her company while we have it.”

Vladamir looks at Teyaldin and retorts angrily, “Serena would never betray me like that. When she returns, I have every intention of asking her for immortality then I won’t have to worry about this happening to me. If she truly loves me, she will give it to me.” Vladamir then leaves and goes into his room to bed.

Teyaldin shakes his head as he watches Vladamir walk away and he thinks to himself, ‘What an i***t. He’s just setting himself up for disappointment,’ after a few moments of being alone Teyaldin to heads to bed for the night.

*****

Serena wakes up to the sound of Radin snoring loudly. She lets out a quiet laugh and pokes him on the side of his stomach. “Radin wake up kitty, we need to be heading home.”

Radin lets out a yawn and opens one eye, “Ten more minutes Serena, then I will wake up.”

Serena pokes him again this time a little bit harder. “Come on Radin we need to go you can sleep when we get back to Noir Lune.” She jumps on him and starts to tickle him making him laugh and finally open both his eyes.

Radin gets up and shakes out his fur stretching out on the floor. Serena shakes her head and laughs, “You have no idea how much I have missed you Radin. Twenty years apart was not easy for me, oh and I wanted to say thank you for coming and seeing me that one day. From the way you were looking at Vladamir I should have known something wasn’t right. But my heart was blinding me. Do you think I did the right thing by forgiving him?”

“Honestly if I had been you, I would have killed him and never have to worry about him anymore.” Radin replies.

Serena thinks about it for a moment and then changes her clothes. After changing, she and Radin get back into her car and head to Noir Lune. While she drives Serena tells Radin what she thinks about Vladamir.

“Radin, I’m not going to lie and say I don’t love him because I do but the problem, I have is that I kind of feel as if my heart is starting to not love him as much as I once did. I don’t know what to do Radin, I don’t want to kill him for something I already forgave him for so I guess I will just bide my time until he screws up again before I make my move. It’s not like he isn’t going to die eventually anyways.”

Radin laughs gently and retorts, “I give him less than a year.” Serena shakes her head at him and drives into the portal of Noir Lune. She parks her car right in front of the Night Castle’s gates. She and Radin get out and walk inside the castle. Serena walks up the stairs that lead to the throne room and she stops outside the throne room doors because she hears yelling.

Inside Vladamir and Teyaldin are yelling back and forth at each other. Serena looks at Radin, rolls her eyes, and walks into the room.

The moment she walks in, both Vladamir and Teyaldin stop talking and look at her. Vladamir’s expression is one of surprise while Teyaldin’s expression is one of nervousness. “So much for getting along with each other,” Serena says sarcastically as she walks to her throne and sits down.

Vladamir walks over to Serena where she sits in thought. She looks at him intently and thinks about what Radin had told her. She begins to wonder what life would be like without Vladamir. Vladamir interrupts her thoughts and says, “Welcome home Serena I missed you. Did you have a nice visit with your father?”

“Vladamir what is it that you want from me?” Serena says looking at him, she knows exactly what he wants but she wants to see if he will tell her. Vladamir can tell that Serena already knows what he wants and so he decides to be honest and tell her the truth.

“Serena I was wondering something, you see we were talking, and we were told something very interesting by Vearso, I don’t want you to have to be alone forever or resort to being with Reaperiam so you don’t have to be alone, so I have come to a good conclusion. If you give me immortality, then you won’t ever have to be alone or worry about us being separated by death. I understand this is kind of a big request, but I think it would be best for us both, and our son.” Vladamir hoped that by using their son as a crutch then she would be more willing to oblige.

Serena gives Vladamir an irritated look and then looks at Teyaldin, “Are you going to come over here and ask me to make you immortal as well, or is this just his idea?”

“My lady, I would never ask that from you if you wished to give me immortality that would be up to you. I would never assume to think I deserved it.” Teyaldin says quietly and then sits down by the window.

Serena watches him for a moment and then turns back to Vladamir who is giving Teyaldin a very dirty look.

“Why is it, Vladamir, that you are so eager for immortality? For some reason, I am getting the feeling it has more to do with not wanting Teyaldin here to get my affections. So, you figure if I give you immortality then you will have no reason to worry. What you fail to realize is this, I only give immortality when I feel it is truly deserved, and after all that you did to deceive me do you really think you deserve to have immortality.” Serena says quietly.

Vladamir looks down and shakes his head, “No, I guess not.” “That’s what I thought, Teyaldin I think it’s time we go see your father before I get too tired and decide not to go today. Come on let’s get on the road.”

As they begin their journey to the south land of darkness, Vladamir stays with Andradin and Joseph in the Night Castle. As he watches them drive away, he knows that no matter what happens he has made the right choice.

Serena, Teyaldin and Radin continue southward in what Radin calls their little adventure and as she looks back and sees Vladamir standing in the window holding Andradin she knew that her happiness could be so much greater and yet she wonders what obstacles lay waiting for her in the upcoming days. And wonders how bad the battle that lies ahead will be.