Page 71 of Roman

“You really want the world to end?”Charlotte snapped angrily.“You want to watch it all burn, the world to be filled with demons?Is there nothing on Earth that you love?That you would want to save from that kind of evil?”She dared a glance at the demon.

He simply watched the two, a small smile on his lips as he took another sip.

Tora sat back in her chair, sadness in her eyes.“There is nothing left for me here.What makes you think I even have a say in the matter?”she said, the stony expression settling back over her beautiful features.“I’m following orders, like everyone else here.”

“There are some fates worse than death, Charlotte,” the demon finally spoke, looking at her, his vile grin getting bigger.“You should think yourself lucky that you will never have to know what they are.If I had it my way, sweet, you’d be coming with me for a one-on-one tour of the pit.”His gaze became hungry, and leisurely, he raked his foul yellow eyes over every inch of her body.He licked his lips slowly before he took another sip of his drink.

Charlotte wanted to vomit.She crossed her arms over her chest as if it would keep her safe.She didn’t want thisthinganywhere near her.The demon was right.She’d rather die a horrible death than suffer the same fate of the poor souls in the pit of Hell.

“Turel, take her to her seat,” Tora ordered, noticing the way the demon had been eyeing her.

* * *

The next eighthours passed slowly.Charlotte sat alone at the back of the plane, too scared to move or draw attention to herself.Every now and then, she would catch the yellow-eyed demon watching her as he moved about.The same smirk and hungry gaze that made her shiver in disgust plastered on his face.

She napped, but only ten minutes at a time.Charlotte didn’t trust she would be safe if she fell into a deep sleep, the fear of what would happen to her keeping her on edge for the entire flight.

She was starving, exhausted, and missing Roman.She thought of him constantly, the way his voice aroused her, the warmth of his muscled body that she longed to have wrapped around her at this very moment to help her feel safe.

Silly girl,she thought to herself.

Her story was never going to end with her living happily ever after with him.She longed for it, though.Longed for a life of happiness, where the person she loved wouldn’t leave her or disappear.Maybe in a different life, things could have been better.Maybe she wouldn’t have been Lucifer’s sacrifice, and she could have been just a normal girl and lived a normal life.

“Seatbelt,” Turel’s harsh order pulled her from her daydream.

Charlotte blinked up at him, quickly glancing around the plane.

“Hurry up, seatbelt now.We are about to land.”

Charlotte obeyed, buckling her seatbelt as he stalked back to his seat, doing the same.She peered around the seat in front of her, daring a quick look down the front of the plane.Tora was talking quietly to the demon, occasionally glancing back in Charlotte’s direction.Charlotte sighed, leaning back in her chair and looking out her window over whatever city they were flying into.

Where had they said we were going?Peru?Charlotte always dreamed of traveling.She never thought it would be as a prisoner used as a human sacrifice to end the world, though.

It was still dark, and the twinkling lights of the city blinked back at her as the plane flew lower.Charlotte could see the lights running along the edge of the runway, like little beacons leading the way to her death.

From the bits of conversation she had managed to overhear on the long flight, they were expecting someone to meet them, and they would then drive nearly three hours to Caral, where the sacrifice would take place.

Charlotte didn’t want to think about that part.She would need her wits about her.If she could somehow escape the car on the drive and find somewhere to hide or someone to help her, then maybe she could bide some time.

She knew Roman was on his way to save her.Nothing on the planet would keep him from her.He had made that very clear.The thought of her giant, angry angel coming to rescue her gave Charlotte renewed hope.When they dragged her onto this goddam plane, and she saw Tora and the demon, she felt defeated, accepting her fate, her death.But as the flight dragged on, no matter how hard she had tried to think of other things, Roman kept forcing his way back into her mind.Her knight in shining armor, her deepest, darkest desire, the one she loved above all others.

There was no fighting it.Charlotte had let the memories of him flood her like a calming blanket.His sandy blond hair messy from their lovemaking.The way his blue eyes seemed to see deep down to her soul.His smile, his lips, and the gentle touch of them when he would kiss her.The warmth of his hands as he would leave a burning trail over her body as he caressed her.

He was hers, and she was his.

I don’t want to die.The thought had hit her hard during the night.Charlotte wouldn’t give up.He was coming for her, and she would make sure she did everything she could to help him get to her.She wanted to live.She wanted the life she deserved, a life with love and happiness, a life with Roman.

The plane landed, jostling her in her seat.

Okay, Charlotte, show time.First things first, get a seat by the door.

She had it all planned out.Well, sort of.Once they approached the outskirts of the city, she’d throw herself from the car, run as fast as she could, and hide.She figured if she made her way back to wherever this airport was, surely Roman and the others would fly into the same place.Charlotte knew it was a shit plan, but it was all she could come up with.

“Alright, let’s get this show on the road,” Turel muttered as he pulled her out of her seat by her arm.He pushed her along in front of him, down the aisle, and out the door of the plane.

A cool breeze swept over her, gently blowing her hair from her face.The humid air was thick with moisture.She could see the main airport building off to her right in the distance—giant planes parked and the little lights from carts and cars buzzing around like bright little ants as people did their jobs.

The pilot had landed their jet far away from the hustle and bustle of the main building.The only thing around was a lonely hanger and a 4WD vehicle parked with its lights on, waiting for them.Tora and the demon were already waiting by the car, watching Turel force her down the stairs.

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