Beautiful Darkness

➵Heaven in Hiding

Any air that flowed throughout my lungs immediately escapes. An emotional blow to my stomach leaves me breathless as my divided mind tries to comprehend.

I cannot force myself to move a single muscle as he slowly enters into the arena after the red door opens. Roman has various pieces of armor lining his muscled and strong physique. A darkened expression is steeled across his face. He looks through me rather than at me, as if he doesn't recognize me.

"Roman?" I croak. Wincing away from the inevitable hurt to wrack me, my shoulder throbs more intensely than ever. I double over in pain as heavy amounts of blood soak through my clothes. Rosalina must have hit an artery. He doesn't even blink. A larger form exits from the red door and slowly nears us until it stands beside Roman. My breath hitches.

Antonis.

"I must say, I am impressed. I didn't expect my commander to pull through on this particular mission. I see he used his charms wisely." A wicked gleam crosses his foul features.

The surrounding air goes bitter.

His charm?

Realization crashes threw me like a tidal wave.

I've been raised and created into a soldier. A leader of soldiers. Some would say I am death itself. Surviving is in my nature.

My father sacrificed himself for Antonis, for his race. Nobility aside, who am I not to do the same? I was born a Light. I couldn't imagine defeating the army my father built.

I decided long ago that the Light were the most capable to win.

His words endlessly echo throughout the depths of who I am. He played me, he manipulated me, and he used me.

Disgust and betrayal consumes me.

"You..." I trail off. If I speak these forbidden words, they become true; they become real. For the first time since he appeared, Roman looks up at me. The golden eyes I came to care and learn about are now completely unrecognizable. Was this all a façade?

"Yes." His deep voice reverberates with a detached quality. Whoever this person before me is, I do not know them either.

The intercom speaks.

"King Antonis, you have one minute to remove yourself from the field before you will be forced." Irritation is evident amongst the speaker.

Antonis merely chuckles.

"I only wanted to see your face when you realized that any hope you once held is gone. You will be defeated, or defeat yourself in the process. Revenge is sweet, is it not?" With his final words he leisurely leaves through the blood colored door.

My two daggers are held in front of me as I await Roman's first move. He examines them with a hard concentration and a wounded expression.

"Stop it." I bite.

"Stop what?" A bitter tone fills his mouth. A mouth that was once intertwined with mine. The memory stings as I throw it away.

"You don't get to look hurt and confused. You don't get to be anything other than the sadistic liar you are." I don't even recognize myself. A soft quality reappears within his eyes if only for a moment.

"I warned you. I told you where my loyalty ultimately lied from the beginning." He presses.

"What about kissing me?" I interject. Hurt is everywhere. He remains endlessly silent on the subject.

"You will have to kill me before I give up; before I stop coming after you." I give a warning of my own.

"I know." The words are short but contain an infinite conclusion.