"Closer, My Darling"
Authors Note:I'm working as hard as I physically can to keep these chapters coming for my invisible audience. I do like to think that someone enjoys them. I must thank my two reviewers for their gracious reviews. So rude, my little poulet, to not review. I, of course, am kidding, but I do sincerely appreciate the reviews. They give me a sense of security, if you will. There is nothing I adore more than the input of the fans, be it positive or negative.
'Your cruel device, your blood like ice.
One look could kill, my pain, your thrill'
Queen Seraphina had her heavy head rested upon her palm as she stared out the window of her carriage. The white candlelight of the lamp posts lining Millfield reflected off the seemingly endless cobblestone road. She knew it was only a matter of time before her carriage came to a stop before the largest and most pretentious mansion in all of the district. Even from a mile or so off, she could see the ivory foundation of the ostentatious manor gleaming off the water. She wondered if the people who built it knew that such horrors would take place on its grounds. She herself had almost died on the premises once, let alone the countless people who had met their futile end there.
She had avoided returning here for as long absolutely possible, yet she knew deep in her mind that one day she would be forced to return. From the moment she had pardoned Reaver through mandatory regulation, she knew that she would once again find herself climbing the steps to his front door. That did not mean that she enjoyed it one bit. The only pleasure she found herself clinging to was the momentary peace and quiet before her driver announced their arrival. She took a deep breath, her hands intertwined together, kneading at her own skin in anxiousness. She sooner she could return home, the more amiable she would be.
Seraphina wished more than ever that Sir Walter were here with her. She had no doubt that he would know what to do as she glanced at the empty compartment of the carriage that he would be occupying if he hadn't passed away. He wouldn't have been pleased that she had been forced into a situation like this, but he would have stood by her side no less. She felt longing and the strange sensation of loneliness grasp her being. He would have protected her from Reaver. He would have even gone as far as to attend this meeting by himself to protect her from any feelings of insecurity. However, she was alone. Sir Walter had been taken from her, and the responsibilities of his passing fell upon her shoulders.
Several moments passed before her carriage finally came to halt. Dread filled her being as she brought herself to look out the window. The french styled manor stood tall and intimidating before her. The arabesque statues and perfectly trimmed garden all the same as her memory served her. She could hear her footman climb down off the carriage and make his way toward her door, apprehension flooding her limbs with his every footstep.
The Queen could hear the click of the door handle turning. It was time to honor her word. She put on a stoic face as her footman opened her door and offered her a gracious hand while she climbed the steps downward from her carriage and onto Reaver's property. He offered her a sympathetic face as she thanked him for his help. A part of her wanted to plead with him to take her back to the castle, where she could crawl into bed and pull the covers over her head and never think of this state of affairs again, but in her regal mind, she knew better. Her brother Logan had no doubt made sacrifices for his kingdom, and this was one she had to make.
She began walking the seemingly ridiculous amount of steps up to Reaver's french cut front doors when she heard a voice call out from behind her.
"Your Majesty!" It cried. She didn't recognize the voice, but she turned around anyways. She saw her footman standing before her. "Should... Should you need anything, absolutely anything at all, please do call to us." His voice was hesitant but assured. "We cannot imagine that this is a comfortable situation. Should you wish to return home, please don't hesitate to call upon us." His voice was genuine and caring, and his eyes glimmered with concern. She couldn't help but to offer a self assuring smile to him.
"What is your name, child?" She asked him. Her use of the word child was almost ironic, as she was almost certain that he was older than she.
"Jon.. Johnathan. I have worked for the royal family for quite some time. I have always admired you, your Majesty. I shall do absolutely anything within my power to assure that you remain within your comfort zone. I also realize that this movement is quite out of it, if I do say without overstepping my boundaries. Please don't hesitate to call upon your carriage. We only wish to see you safely home." He bowed slightly before her. He was a handsome if not childish looking boy, his mahogany eyes were wide and his cheeks reddened. He had lightened shaggy chestnut hair that lightly graced his forehead and heavy untrimmed eyebrows that were slightly hidden underneath his hat. His kindness was refreshing, and filled her with a small sort of hope. She smiled at him as he offered to take her hand.
"I assure you, Johnathan, that should any sort of dispute arise I shall call upon you immediately. I thank you for you your kindness. It is quite a change to see someone with a decent heart yet in this court." She released her hand to him, as he kneeled to kiss it. After a moment, he stood, offering her a small smile.
"Oh my! What an absolutely lovely sentiment! Why, it just melts my little heart to see such kindness and nobility!" The baritone, sing-song voice behind them seemed to shock them both. The Queen felt her lip tighten as she recognized it as none other than the voice of Reaver himself. Jonathan donned a look of surprise, and if she didn't know better, she would say terror. She saw his eyes met Reaver's cool amber ones for a brief second before Jonathan looked down at his feet.
"I must be going, your Majesty. My offer stands. Should you need to return home promptly, simply let us know." He quickly bowed before her once again before quickly taking off for the carriage. She gritted her teeth, wishing that she could accompany him. She wanted nothing more than to be on the road home. Closing her eyes, she slowly turned to face Reaver, refusing to open her eyes for several seconds.
When she did, she found him leaning lazily against his cane a few steps down from his mansion double-doors, his usual smirk playing on his lips while his eyes gleamed mischievously in the lantern light. His trademark top hat leaning ever so slightly on his perfectly styled long onyx hair. He seemed rather pleased with himself for foiling a pleasant moment for her. She narrowed her eyes at him, a scowl blatantly obvious on her mouth.
"My, your Majesty, I was just noticing the time when I realized that you were late. I of course began to worry, so I set out to find you myself. I was pleasantly surprised to find you in my own front yard, safe and sound!" His eyes flashed in the light as he cocked his head playfully to the side, sending occasional sideways glances at Johnathan.
"I am fine, Reaver. I spent many, many months on the road by myself, if you do not recall. I even managed to survive your onslaught of balverines. I would say that I am the least likely person in this kingdom that you should find yourself worrying yourself over." Her voice was harsh with irritation. Her banter with Reaver was often less than queenly, and she saw no reason to begin changing that now. She reluctantly began to climb the steps to his manor.
"I do recall your feisty fighting that night, your Highness. Quite impressive if I do say so myself." He smiled insincerely. "I must say that you look absolutely ravishing this evening, your Majesty. I myself have always enjoyed a vagrant woman. That corset accentuates all the right curves and is absolutely flattering on your figure." His smile deepened as he raised a perfectly groomed arched eyebrow, obviously prodding her, hoping for a rise.
"Keep your empty flattery for your courtesans, Reaver." She spat. "I'm sure they are air-headed enough to fall for it and much more."
"Oh absolutely, your Majesty. I do pride myself on my ability. However, I was not simply flattering you, but speaking the truth." His smile reaching brilliant proportions, flashing his white teeth as he offered her is hand. She sent him a sideways glare and rejected his hand, continuing to climb the stairs on her own. He accepted this rejection with a sense of dignity, simply lowering his hand. When they reached the last few, he yelled loudly for servants.
"I expect his door opened by the time her Majesty and I reach it. If it is not, I have no doubt that I shall be in a foul mood for the remainder of the night!" He hit his cane theatrically on the white marble steps. He needed to do little more than that. The door was indeed opened by the time Seraphina reached it. A feeble and weak looking servant cowered behind the door, holding it open for the two of them, hiding his face from her view. His eyes wouldn't meet hers, and she felt a renewed sense of disgust for Reaver.
Reaver however, seemed perfectly content and he elegantly strolled his way into his manor, waving the boy off.
"One of these days, Reaver, you and I will have a talk about the way you treat your workers. I have no doubt in my mind that it trespasses upon my labor laws." She swallowed a new bout of hatred.
"Oh your Majesty, such a fighter you are! I assure you that my servers are among the most well treated and happy in all of Albion!" He widened his arms, beholding his manor and his servants. Not a single worker flinched as she did this. They simply looked away and scurried off, no doubt finding something to do.
His mansion was beyond immaculate. It was hardly as she remembered it. The last time she had been here, bottles, cups and all manner of debris had been strewn across the floor and the lights had been dimmed to the point where it was quite difficult to see. Not to mention, she had only seen a small portion of it. She had been dead set on killing him during her last visit. She had hardly noticed her surroundings.
She took the time to look over the fine marbled surroundings, embellished with all matter of intricate carvings and refineries. The house seemed to be a marbled expensive jungle of sorts. The floor was laden with exotic indigo rugs and plush carpets heavily embroidered with extensive needlework. The few aesthetic tables were home to expensive looking statues and clay work of the finest stones. On the walls hung paintings (mostly of Reaver) that did not look like they came anywhere near cheap and were probably worth more than she had invested in the entire royal castle.
She squinted her eyes at some of the paintings, as they were beyond peculiar. Some of them showed him brandishing a sword, standing in armor and bravely commanding a battle. Others showed Reaver in a dress with makeup upon his face (which she could not help but openly scoff at). The rest were of him in various positions and poses, doing one thing or another. She felt overwhelmed at the amount of localized narcissism. The house was indeed absolutely lovely, but she could not help but feel it tarnished with all these paintings of him placed inside of it.
He watched her eying all of his possessions, and couldn't help but feel the urge to laugh. The look of utter disgust that took hold of her features gave him a deliciously pleasurable feeling his his stomach. He so loved when she was flustered. The look that took over her lovely features was positively delightful! Her dark arched eyebrows furrowed over her enchanting oceanic aqua eyes and her plump rouged mouth tightened in anxiety and he felt such exquisite happiness that it couldn't quite be described. He did so love to mess with the monarchy, just as he had loved to mess with her brother Logan.
Logan hadn't seemed to make it as easy however, as Logan was indeed more corrupted than his dear sister. None of Reaver's immoral suggestions had seemed to have rocked Logan's foundation. It had only taken a glimpse of his own home to rock our dear Queen. He did so look forward to breaking her. He looked forward to the delightful mess he intended to make. He did so enjoy making a mess, and even more so watching others clean up after him.
Once he had his fill of her questionable emotion, he finally broke the silence. "My dear, why don't we venture toward the dining room. I have gone to the trouble of having a most lovely dinner prepared for us. Although, if you do wish to see more of the bowels of the mansion, I assure you that it could most definitely be arranged." His voice was heavy with his implication. He smiled, awaiting her appalled reaction, and indeed it came.
"Dinner? Oh, I think not. I told you in my letter that I have many royal duties to attend to. I simply can't afford to stay for dinner." Her voice was stern. He loved it when she was so regal. That meant that there was no greater joy to him than breaking down her façade.
"Is that so, my dear? You see, I took it upon myself to check with your royal butler. He said that you were clear for this evening. Unless of course you have some sort of secret arrangement?" His voice was contemptuous and smug. He loved this part. He watched as her eyes fell, and she scrambled to find an excuse to leave. Her hands grabbed each other instinctively, and she stammered her words.
"Well, I have many duties. Letters to answer and propositions to consider. The life of a monarch seems never ending." She gave a nervous smile toward the floor, and he knew she was lying. She had given that same nervous smile to an inanimate object when she found herself fibbing ever since she was a little girl. Reaver remembered many visits to Castle Bowerstone when she was young and he had been attending her daily lessons with her brother Logan and he had yelled at his younger sister for something minor and unimportant more times than could be counted. Both of their parents had passed away, leaving Logan her only caretaker. This had stressed Logan to the point of cracking. He not only had a kingdom to look after far before he was ready, but a young child as well. She was too young to remember, of course, but Reaver was beyond ageless. He remembered every miniscule detail. He knew her excuses and her every behavioral trait. He had ages to memorize it all.
"Is that so, my dear?" He stepped gracefully toward her, by far overstepping his boundaries. It was only when he was all too close that she brought her eyes to his. He looked intimidatingly into her aquamarine eyes. His inhuman golden eyes staring down into her own. She bit her lip. Another trait she had held since he was a child, he thought. Ever since she was young, when she was anxious, she would bite and peel at her lips. It meant the pressure was building, and this pleased him.
"Look, I don't have a lot of time.. But I suppose I have enough for dinner. We simply must hurry." She brought her hand to her lips and began picking at them, her eyes flickering around uncomfortably and avoiding Reavers. Seraphina had never been one for confrontation unless it included a weapon of some sort. She was lying of course. He knew she simply wanted to return home, and this brought him a sick sort of pleasure. She would bend to his will, one way or another.
"I am absolutely delighted to hear it, my dear! I shall rally the servants and let them know of your inevitable company!" His hand was once again in the air theatrically. He brought it down to hers offering at first. "I promise that I myself am not displeased with your company." He kneeled before her, forcefully taking her hand and kissing it. A look of absolute abhorrence overtook the Queen's features. He felt divine pleasure once again overtake his senses.
"I only have one request." Her voice was strong once again. Oh my, he was so anxious to hear it.
"Absolutely anything, my dear. Anything for you." He gave her a devious smile.
"All the wine in your cellar at my disposal. This will be, by all accounts, an open bar at your expense." She gave a smile of her own, her eyes staring at him through her thick lashes. It was a smile that screamed hatred and malice. Her dark eyes narrowed when they reached his own.
"Absolutely, your Majesty. I would expect nothing less." He bowed to her, taking her hand once more and leading her up the stairs toward the dining room.