Curse's Vendetta Four: Vidi Melius Dies

Lies on the Border of Truth

We stopped in a room that I didn't even know existed. I watch as they carry Roman into the room. Neeka stops me though. I cross my arms. "You can't go in there. Things are going to happen that we can't allow you to see." Degore steps in though.

"Who cares?" He says, pushing Neeka out of the way. "It's enough to watch someone die. It's probably better for her if she stays, Neeka. I'm sure all will be forgiving. He was never the type of guy that would hold grudges for something like this." Neeka shakes her head.

"I don't care what you think, Degore. She's not allowed in there." Neeka insists.

"I'm right here, and Roman isn't the first man that I watched die. I was there when Dexter died, I was also there when Dexter killed the Ruinach by Anvil. I've seen death already." I comment and they both look at me. Neeka looks like she's about to say something, but Degore grabs my arm and pulls me into the room.

I run over to Roman without thinking. I sit beside his unmoving body. I slowly peal back his hood to reveal his face.

Roman's eyes were closed and his pale face was shrouded in deaths cold embrace. I was haunted by his image like I had seen a pale ghost in the dead of night. Still, I couldn't look away from him.

His features were kind. What struck me was a scar on his forehead. It was shaped like a sun. I reach out and touch it. I could feel the ridges of scared skin beneath my fingertips. I sit there for a while and time creeps by slowly. I wanted to leave, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I felt a connection to Roman and I had no idea why. Something about him seemed to draw me in. I couldn't stop staring at his deathly face.

Degore remained. Neeka and Larzen had left shortly after leaving Roman here. They all seemed unaffected by his death. It was the same as what happened with Dexter. Something was going on here but I couldn't quite put a finger on it...

As I continue to stare at Roman, his body releases a spasm. I jump away from him. It looked as if he was struck with lightning magic. I hear him suck in air and I gasp. Roman was alive. He coughs and spits out a glob of blood. I retch at the sight of it.

I slowly back away from him. Degore puts a hand on my shoulder as Roman slowly sits up. "R-Roman..?" I ask quietly and his eyes lock onto my face. Something in his look was empty. It was full of a complete void. I had seen nothing like it before. His dark eyes remained locked to my face. I couldn't look away either. It was as if someone and frozen me in place. I breathe slowly trying to keep myself calm.

Roman stands up fully and Degore keeps a firm grip on my shoulder. "Remember your training." Degore says, his voice clear and commanding. Not a shiver of fear showed in his voice. Roman didn't listen though. His eyes were still set on me.

"What is she doing here?" Roman growls. His tone was cold and angry. I shiver as if I could feel the cold coming from his voice. I was scared, and I couldn't deny it. Roman seemed angry, and his dark eyes were bloodthirsty. He was capable of killing anyone, even me.

"Mercer!" Degore yells. "Your training, remember it." That's when Roman looks over at Degore. Roman looks back at me and starts advancing towards us. "Stop, or I'll make sure you stay on the ground." Roman doesn't even hesitate. "I don't want to do this..."

Degore's grip on my shoulder drops. He raises his poleaxe and moves towards Roman. He lifts the poleaxe to strike Roman with the hilt, but Roman was ready for it. He grabs the shaft of Degore's poleaxe.

Roman uses his strength to throw Degore against the wall. Degore falls to the ground, than struggles back to his feet. At this time, Roman was now ignoring me. He grabs Degore by his throat.

"What is my daughter doing here?"

"Wait a second, daughter?" I ask. Roman looks at me, and he drops Degore. "You're my father?" I ask. I didn't believe him. He was insane. Some guy who just died and came back to life couldn't be my father. "Are you even Roman anymore? Degore just called you Mercer. Are you this mysterious Mercer guy that my mothers looking for?" Roman remained silent. "Answer me!" I yell, and Degore flinches at my sudden outburst.

Roman looks at Degore than back at me. The bloodthirsty look in his eye had disappeared. Now sadness filled that once empty void lurking in his eyes. "I didn't want it to happen this way." I cross my arms.

"You have a lot of explaining to do, Roman- or whoever the fuck you are." I say.

"My name is really Mercer, and I am your father. The reason I didn't reveal myself was because I wasn't ready to see you or your mother. Your mother and I didn't exactly leave off on the best terms. In fact, when she left, we hated each other. I didn't expect to see you or even see your mother again. Now you know and I hope you can forgive me." He looks at the ground. I could feel the sadness radiating off of him. It was like a rising tide.

"Forgive you?" I ask. "How? You let me believe that you were just an actually decent guy that could help me past the time in this fortress while my mother looked for you. You were right there and you knew exactly what was going on. There's no reason for me to forgive you for that. You didn't even try to help my mother when she was struggling to raise me and keep me from getting myself killed, and here you are living in this fortress hiding behind a bunch of hooded men. Who are you even? My guess is that you're some selfish stuck up asshole. Maybe mother was right about you. I would probably be better off not knowing you existed." I say, anger filling me to the brim.

I storm out of the room. I didn't have anything else to say, nor did I want to hear what Mercer had to say. It still was shocking that he was Roman, but my anger overwhelmed that feeling of shock.

"Zyine!" I turn to see Degore. I sigh in annoyance and I keep walking. I didn't want to talk to him either. He catches up to me though. "I know what Mercer did isn't ideal, and you probably don't want to talk to him, but I have one thing to ask of you."

I stop walking and turn to him. "What? If it makes you and Mercer leave me alone than tell me, if not, than leave me alone."

"All we ask is that you keep this to yourself. As Mercer said, he's not ready to reveal himself. He's trying to learn to be better, and it starts with him closing off from everyone he loves, including you and Zyllebal. Mercer is strong, but we all have weaknesses. Mercer is trying to overcome his weaknesses so he can be better for both you and Zyllebal." I turn on him.

"That's still doesn't explain anything, Degore. Mercer still pretended to be someone else right under my nose. He didn't have the decency to tell me that he was my father. I'll decide whether to tell mother about him or not. Until than, I don't want to even see Mercer." Degore just stands there in silence. "I'll just find something else to do while mother wastes her time looking for someone hiding behind his own fears." I walk away again, by this time I hear Degore's footsteps moving in the opposite direction.

I step outside of the fortress to see my mother waiting just in the courtyard. "Zyine thank the Divines you're okay." She tries to hug me, but I push her away. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to lose it like that again. First Dexter and now Roman... I hope you don't hate me for that." I just shrug. At first I cared, but now I just felt emotionless to it all.

"It doesn't matter. It's not like I knew either of them well anyway. Even so, death comes comes for everyone. I'm not mad at you, I just have a lot on my mind. And before you ask, Roman didn't tell me anything else about Mercer before he died. All I know is that Roman was trained by Vortiger, but he hadn't ever met Mercer." I say just to get her to leave me alone.

All I wanted to do was be alone with my thoughts. Sure, they'd haunt me. Sure I wouldn't be able to get the image of Roman— Mercer's— dying face out of my head, but at least I could be alone to let all of those emotions building up inside me run ramped. "Alright.." mother says slowly. "If there's anything you need, just let me know. I'll be taking to a few people I used to know hack when I was a part of the Black Priors." I just nod and go back into the fortress. I retreat to the room I was staying in with mother.

I lay down under the blankets and cover my entire body with them. I wanted to disappear, not even be a part of this world anymore. My thoughts were a jumbled and hazy mess inside of my skull. Eventually my thoughts send me into sleep.