Before I Fall

Chapter Fifty-nine

Matters to discuss? Morgan wanted to ask but she was too captivated by the painting above her head. She could feel Roman tugging at her arm but she wanted to look at the marvelous details.

"Hold on, give me a moment Raven." she said in a distracted breath.

"It's Roman."

"Yeah, whatever."

Morgan heard a frustrated sigh, but she didn't bother looking at him. She was too focused on the bloody battle in the painting between what appeared to be angels and demons. Right in the center of it all was an altered version of himself, but she knew it was Roman. It was monster side she'd experienced before and he was holding on to a spear, used by the angel, that would have pierced his chest.

"That's you." she stated.

"Yes." Roman confirmed without hesitation.

"When was this? What happened?"

Her curiosity got the better of her. Morgan felt Roman pull away emotionally and physically when he released her hand and she immediately regretted asking him above the painting. She finally returned her full attention to him, however, his withdrawn presence left her feeling cold and wanting to be closer to him again, in his arms.

"Follow me." he told her and she quietly followed his tall form.

Perfectly polished marble flooring reflected the bright lights over their heads and echoed the sound of their expensive shoes as they walked across the big entrance hall. Everything looked untouched in the home and there seemed to be no one around, except for a bizarre chittering sound that echoed throughout the large house. Did Roman have bats flying around? No, that was impossible. Plus, this wasn't a house, it was a palace. It was too grand to be just a regular mansion. Roman walked through an already opened door leading into what Morgan recognized as a drawing room. It was dimly lit, with the fireplace and a few electric lamps as the only source of light. She wondered how many guests Roman had entertained here as she began looking around.

"Wait here, I will be back shortly." Roman instructed then left her alone in the drawing room.

Chitter, chitter. There was the sound again, it was even louder in the drawing room. Before Morgan could investigate where the sound originated, she was captivated by another painting. It was a huge, beautiful portrait of Roman that hung over the fire place. Even then, all Morgan wanted to do was touch him, touch the impressive hair that framed his face. His eyes seemed to be following her with every step she took to plant herself in front of it, between two opposing high back chairs situated before the fire place. He didn't smile in the painting, nor did he frown. Roman just looked as if he was staring right through your soul and knew all your deepest, darkest secrets. His garments were from the eighteenth century and looked like it cost the earth even though she was unable to make out its colour. Chitter, chitter. An interesting thing Morgan noted was that the chair he was sitting on in the painting looked exactly like one of the ornate high back chairs she stood next to at that moment. It must've been his favourite. Chitter, chitter.

Morgan spun around quickly to look behind her when she heard a buzzing sound zoom passed her.

"Hello?" she spoke up in the empty room.

Chitter, chitter, chitter.... chitter.

Someone or something was replying to her. What was that? She'd never met a creature that emitted a sound like that before. Morgan felt a little nervous. She shouldn't have been though, if she could face the dark side of Roman and endure Mignon then she could face anything that came her way.

"Show yourself." her directive wasn't harsh but she still had to show that she wasn't dangerous, at least to someone she knew. She'd proven herself to be a murderer so she was capable of anything. "I won't hurt you, I promise."