Page 54 of Roman

It didn’t take long for reality to rip it all from her after she had awoken from the nightmare.

That’s right.The devil wants to kill me.I’m going to bring on the end of the world.

She thought nothing could shock her more than when she heard the witch say Lucifer was going to eat her heart until she’d told everyone she was Roman’s soul mate.Then, to top it all off, Roman had changed, terrifying her.

Charlotte slowly backed away from Roman until she bumped into Armaros, startling herself.The giant warrior placed his big hand on her shoulder to steady her.They quickly shared a glance before he removed his hand.

Roman stood in front of them, his appearance now back to normal.He had looked evil moments ago when he’d completely gone off the deep end.His eyes had gone from glowing to on fire.He had grown giant fangs, which had scared the living shit out of her.When he’d snarled at Armaros, she didn’t think it possible, but she’d been sure he had grown in size, which made no sense at all.It was like he’d been in the midst of some kind of… transformation.

In that moment, Charlotte didn’t know why she had stepped in front of him.Her fear of him hurting Armaros, someone she felt safe with, who’d protected her from those demons, had caused her to act in the end.She also knew Roman wouldn’t forgive himself if he hurt one of his friends.But she had never in her life been so terrified than when she had looked into his crazed face and those flaming red eyes.

She couldn’t believe it when he’d stilled, the flames rapidly disappearing.Charlotte could see him shaking off the rage and pulling himself back from the brink of whatever had been happening to him.It still didn’t change the fact that Charlotte was now terrified of him.

“Roman,” a man snapped.

He looked so much like Roman.She frowned.The same hair color and tanned body.Only his eyes were green instead of blue, and he was slightly shorter.

He approached Roman with a frustrated frown.“You better answer me, brother.”

Brother?

Roman looked torn and exhausted, the weight of the world now resting on his shoulders.Concern for him rushed over her.The sight of this strong, fearless warrior looking so vulnerable made her heart melt.She almost took a few steps toward him, but a flash of his burning eyes passing through her mind kept her standing where she was.

“Now, Roman,” the guy said angrily.

Roman slowly shook his head, making eye contact with him.

“I’m sorry, Maalik,” Roman whispered.

“For what?”he asked coldly.

“For the secret I’ve been keeping.When I fell into Hell, the hordes captured me.They had been ordered to lock me up in the cells, then they knocked me out.”

Whatever harrowing memories Roman had buried from long ago were now creeping across his face, and his expression grew dark.“When I came to, four demons were dragging me through the tunnels.I took them by surprise, fought them, and killed them.Disoriented, I stumbled around, trying to regain my bearings.When my eyes adjusted, I could see giant caverns carved into the walls with thick bars and no doors.I must have backed up too close to one cell, and something… bit me.”

“What?What bit you?”Maalik asked, alarmed.

Roman looked at Maalik, then he glanced over his shoulder, locking eyes with her for a moment.He looked completely tormented.“Some kind of ancient fire demon, maybe.I-I don’t really know.It changed me, altered me.Turned me into something… different.If I lose control, I mean fully lose control, I turn,” he said quietly back at Maalik.

“Turn into what, brother?”

“I don’t really know what it is.It was so dark inside the cell, I couldn’t make out much,” Roman answered, looking ashamed as he stared at the ground.

The room was silent.Charlotte’s heart froze at the worddemon.

No, no, no!her mind screamed.He couldn’t be a demon.Her eyes started to tear up.Charlotte took a step back, hitting Armaros again, forgetting he was behind her.She couldn’t deal with that; she was terrified of demons.They had plagued her dreams for too long and hunted her for her whole life.Attacked her and hurt her.She’d never been more terrified of anything in her life than the creatures chasing her in her dreams.Now, to find out the angel she’d begun to fall in love with was not an angel at all, but…a monster.

Oh god, she’d let him make love to her, take her virginity.A demon.Charlotte felt sick, the sandwich she’d just eaten starting to make its way back up.She held her stomach, her hand going over her mouth as she shook her head in disbelief.

This can’t be happening.

“Charlotte, please.”Roman started walking over to her, his face twisted in anguish.

She held her hand up, making him stop.“Stay away from me,” she whispered.

Maalik watched her closely with a small frown, taking in his brother’s tormented look.“Charlotte, let him explain,” Maalik told her, taking a few steps toward her.

“Don’t touch me.I don’t know you!Roman, stay away from me you… you… demon!”she snapped, terrified, a tear escaping and trailing down her cheek.

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