Roman (Ch. 17)

372 31 9
                                    

"Ok, spill. What's going on with you?" I narrowed my eyes as Deceit practically threw himself into the booth I was sitting at. "And don't say you're just tired."

"I'm fine." He shook his head and I frowned. I started eating my fries, as I started to get a little annoyed.  "Well, I don't have to tell you anything so..." He grabbed my hand and I looked up to see him looking down at the table with this sad expression that nearly matched Virgil's. What is with these two?

"Roman... If it involves you that... It concerns me too." He let go and let his hand slip into his lap, never once looking up at me. "There is a lot you don't know. Your... Your parents, they... They wanted it kept secret so..." He shook his head in frustration and looked out the window, where Virgil was currently going through the RV. "You have to tell me ok?"

"No I don't, and what about my parents?" He glanced back over at me and I could see his eyes start to glow yellow, causing anxiety to bubble up in me. 

"Roman, Tell me now."

"Look, I don't know ok?" He raised his hand up in defense and I sighed. "I don't understand it."

"You don't have to. You just have to tell me what happened." I rolled my eyes and started eating my fries again, earning me a dirty look from him. "Roman, I'm serious. I have to know."

"I... I healed. Twice... and then Virgil..." Deceit's eyes went wide and just looked down at my food. I probably sound crazy. I'm human. I don't have magic like the other races. And as far as I am aware none of them can heal themselves or others. Not like that anyway. "I don't understand. I don't know how... or why."

"Shit." I looked up in shock at Deceit who was just smiling in... relief? "And here I thought it was something bad."

"It is bad. I shouldn't able to..."

"Roman, stop." His voice went deep and he looked at me with utter seriousness. Something I rarely, if ever, see from him. "When?"

"What?"

"When did you heal? The first time." I just shook my head and ran a hand through my hair.

"Last night. When the elves attack. I was... stabbed. I thought it was fatal." His eyes went wide again and he jumped up. "What?"

"They stabbed you? Fatally?" I nodded and he started to pace. I could see people start to stare and I tried to pull him back into the booth but he wouldn't have it. "Maybe that was what triggered it but... I don't get it. If it was fatal you should have..." He looked back at me and I cringed under his gaze. "The second time?"

"At the dealership. I cut my hand on the gravel or whatever."

"That's why you threw up." I just sat there letting him work through it. He groaned and sat back down looking utterly defeated. "Damn it, Roman?"

"WHAT?" He just laughed and laid his head down on the table.

"Nothing, moron." He started to get up and leave. "Let's go. We should be there soon."

"Took you guys long enough." Virgil said as we got back to the Rv. He looked over at me and I smiled sadly as the exhaustion started to wash over me. I hadn't been getting enough sleep lately at all. He frowned seeing me collapse on the couch and Deceit just started driving again. "Hey, you both good? Did something happen?"

"Nah, Virgil. We just had a chat." Deceit called back as I just waved to agree with him. I couldn't even keep my eyes open. 

"Hey, bud. Whatcha up too?"

"Dee. Come look. Look what I can do."

"That's... That's amazing, Roe. But... Let's keep it between us ok?"

"Why? I wanna tell mommy."

"And I'm sure she would love it but... She might get sad too. So it'll be our little secret ok?"

"Ok."

What... What's going on? I found myself standing in this inky black. It was silent. Too silent. The only sound I could hear was the occasional voice that ripped through the black like it didn't belong.

"What's going on?"

"Nothing. Daddy says I have to stay here with you today."

"And here I thought we were friends."

"WE ARE! It's just... something wrong with mommy. I know there is. And... And I could..."

"Roman, we spoke about this. You're too young. We don't know how it would affect you."

"But I can help. I want to help."

"I know bud... I know."

I narrowed my eyes as I listened. That was clearly Deceit's voice. He sounded the exact same as he does now. But... I don't understand. He called the other voice Roman. Me... But, I don't remember this. I don't remember it all. To be honest, though, I don't remember much from my childhood.

"Roman, you shouldn't be in here."

"But mommy..."

"Ro... Stop."

"I can help... I can..."

"No, you can't."

"Yes, I can. I can help her. I can..."

"She's gone, Roman."

"No, I can..."

"Roman stop." 

The black melted away and I just stood there in shock staring at Deceit crying. He was holding a small child in his arms as they both looked over at a woman laying in bed. I walked over and felt the tears begin to fall. Mom?

"Why? Why won't she wake up? I'm trying... I really am."

"I know, bud. It's just... She's gone." The kid looked up at Deceit and Deceit just held him tighter. "You can't bring back the dead."

"ROMAN!" I jumped up with a start to see Virgil standing there obviously scared. "Thank god. You weren't waking up."

"Sorry?" He laughed awkwardly as he let go and took a step back. I looked around to see we had stopped and Deceit was gone. "Where..."

"He said he would meet us inside." I narrowed my eyes as Virgil started to pull me up off the couch. "He just couldn't wait to be home."

*Discontinued* CursedWhere stories live. Discover now