Mosaic Windows

Chapter 21: A Cowboy Versus a Theatre Kid

Remus didn't even last an hour before he abandoned Roman. At first, he stayed in the library, wandering around and occasionally grabbing a book, reading a page or two, and putting it back. Then he decided to leave the library completely.

Roman was fine with it for the most part. He understood too, neither of them had long attention spans. The only reason he wasn't wandering around was because he was determined to find a way to help Virgil. He's not going to let the prince down.

Of course the first books said nothing, and it was only midday. Roman went into town to find something to eat, and then came back to the library when he was finished with lunch. Obviously he put the books away, and started collecting some more. He could only carry two or three books at a time, so that's what he grabbed.

Minutes turned into hours, which felt longer than it was. He found his attention slipping many times, and realized a good way to help with that was to take a few minutes doing something else. He mostly drew for a few minutes before going back to skimming over the pages. He couldn't waste time on reading the books in detail, he only slowed down when a book would mention cursed dragon witches.

After the first three books that he grabbed proved to be useless, he got up to grab some new ones. He struggled to hold onto them and walk at the same time, so he left a crutch at the table. It was the one with the most damage from the fight, a white wrap was wrapped around it where Janus's sword had struck it. Despite this small fix, Roman still trusted it least to hold his weight.

With the books under his arm, Roman made his way back to the shelf where he got them from. When he turned to walk down the aisle, he froze in shock. With a book in hand just a few feet down the aisle stood the man he wanted to see the least.

Janus looked up at him when he saw the movement in the corner of his eye. He too was shocked to see Roman there, but not for the same reasons as him. He thought that Roman would stay at that castle until the dragon witch was dead.

"What are you doing here?" the hunter found himself asking.

"I was wondering the same thing..." Roman muttered just loud enough for him to hear.

"I thought you were still with that..." Janus's lip curled into a look of disgust, "monster."

The Flores twin glared at him with cold eyes. "He... is not. A monster," he punctuated every other word.

"Please," the other scoffed, putting the book back on the shelf. "He's a dragon witch, they're the prime example of monsters! The royalty of the demonic race."

"There's not just one race of magical creatures, I would expect you to know that better than anyone else in this town. Then again, all the books you read about them are biased."

Janus glanced at Roman and the books in his arm. "Really? Well when you find a book that is sympathetic to those demons, let me know. What are you doing reading those anyway?"

"I'm looking for something, you don't need to know what."

"Looking for something that will justify this delusion you have of that dragon being even remotely benevolent? Good luck."

Roman's eyes narrowed and he moved closer to Janus. "Listen, that dragon witch is kinder than you will ever be. He saved me, took me in when I broke my leg."

"You really expect me to believe that? How do I know he didn't do that and he just altered your memory, or that you're not spelled right now?"

"Wouldn't you know if I was? You're the great hunter here, shouldn't it be easy for you to tell if someone is being controlled?"

Janus stared at him for a moment. He was right, and it was obvious Roman wasn't under some sort of mind control. His memories being altered was still a possibility... "I just don't understand why you and your father insist on fooling yourselves into believing he's safe. Besides... if he really wanted to help you, wouldn't he have healed your leg and sent you on your way?"

Roman opened his mouth to answer, the truth on the tip of his tongue before he caught himself. He won't tell Janus the truth, that Virgil is human, without knowing the hunters stance on cursed dragon witches.

His hesitation seemed answer enough to Janus. "Exactly, he was keeping you there when you could have gone home at any moment." He turned to leave.

Roman wouldn't let him. "You're right, I could have gone home at any moment. He would have allowed me to." That stopped Janus, and he barely turned enough to look at him. Still, his eyes were on him, so Roman would have to call up all his acting skills. "He told me that I could go whenever I liked, as long as I was healed enough to make the trip back home by myself. Or if someone would go with me. I told him not to heal me, I don't know too much about magic and I was too scared to find out how it would affect me. I still am. I don't mind healing the natural way. He accepted this, and he hasn't used magic on me once."

Janus's eyes searched him, looking for the smallest hint of a lie. He's very good at finding lies. It takes a liar to know a liar, and he's not called Deceit in this town for nothing.

However, Roman hasn't practiced his acting skills for nothing either. He kept himself calm and stable, forcing himself to believe the words that came from his mouth. Half of it was true anyway, Virgil did tell him he can leave whenever he wants.

To further drive it, Roman added, "Besides, I know you took his power away momentarily. I have no idea how, but you did. And if I was spelled, his control would have temporarily been banished, and yet I still threw myself into harm's way to protect him. He is my friend, and I protect my friends."

Janus's jaw tightened as he clenched his teeth. "I suppose that's true." He turned away from Roman, realizing that this conversation was over. Roman had won the argument. However, Janus still can't understand why Roman and his family would befriend a dragon witch. He never will, and he won't stop trying to protect this town.

He started to leave again when the most annoying voice in the whole town piped up. "Double D? The heck ya doing here?"

"Just leaving, Remus," he growled, pushing past the other twin who was holding a bag of sweets.

Remus watched him go, his eyes not leaving him until Janus was out of sight. "You know what... he's got a great ass for an ass"

"Wha-pft- excuse me?" Roman sputtered, shocked at the comment.

"What? Just cause I hate his guts doesn't mean he's ugly. He'd look better if he lost the country look. Anyway, I brought some sweets. You've been in here for hours, it's time you get some fresh air. Let's head out and snack on these, I'm pretty sure if I get caught eating food in here one more time, I get banned for life."

Roman laughed, after that tense conversation with Janus, his brother's theatrics was a nice relief. "Sure, that sounds good." He put the books back from where he got them.

"Did you find what you were looking for?"

"No..." he sighed.

"You know... if you just tell me what it is, I can help you look for it."

Roman chewed on his lip. His brother had a point... plus it wouldn't be that bad if he knew. It's not like he can tell anyone besides Nico and Thomas.

"Alright, but let's head home first. I don't want Boots McGee to eavesdrop on our conversations."

"Fine with me." Remus opened the bag and pulled out a small powdered donut.

"No eating in the library!" a librarian shouted.

Roman rolled his eyes as his brother shouted back, "We were just leaving!"