Seeking Control: A Sanders Sides Tale

Chapter Twenty-four

Roman's P.O.V

"I am not a kitten," he says making all of us laugh. 

"Whatever you say kitten," I say back. 

He turns around and hugs me tightly. At first I'm surprised but then I hug back. He is smiling and happy but when I look down at him I notice a flash of sadness before he covers it up. I don't know what happened but I do know Logan helped him. Despite wanting to know I decide to let it go because he deserves to have things to himself. 

"Alright guys, while the Rune Knights take this guy in let's go get paid and go home. I could sleep for a week," Thomas says already walking away. 

The Rune Knights give us a ride back to the mayor's office and the whole ride Anx is seemingly in space.

The four of us were going to go back to the mindscape but apparently the mayor told the Rune Knights who told Thomas she wanted to speak with all of us. Why? I have no clue. 

"Guys, Pat and I will be right back," I say and pull him away before they can ask why. 

"Are you alright Roman?" he asks. 

"Of course, this is about Anx! He's not an official member of the Silver Hearts Guild and he doesn't have his guild emblem yet," I tell him while pulling up my sleeve to show him the red emblem and point to his right shoulder. 

"Oh yeah, so we are going to have the party?" he asks and I nod. I explain I need to talk to Joan and Talyn. 

"I need them to get the okay from Guild Master Camden," I tell him. He nods and closes his eyes.  

R: Joan? Talyn? Can you hear me?

J: Yeah, what's up?

P: Have you and Talyn talked to the master?

T: About Virge's party? Yes and he said it's fine!

R: Perfect! And the whole guild will be there?

J: Yep and since we have the least amount of members he won't be too anxious.

P: Okay, checklist. Master Camden, Joan, Talyn, Valarie, Terrance, Dominic, Derionna, Kyle and the four of us?

T: Sounds about right, Pat.

P: Aww, thanks kiddo!

T: I'm not-- never mind.

J: It's going to be tomorrow at around 12. Everyone is pitching in to decorate the guildhall and get some food.

R: Fantastic! All right we'll see you both tomorrow.

Patton and I have honestly been planning this since we found out about his magic. 

"Patton go ahead, I want to head back to the mindscape and check on something," I tell him. 

He nods and I sink down into the commons. I walk to the imagination because it's where my Arc of Embodiment Magic is at its strongest. This means anything I make in here can stick around permanently if I so choose. As I enter, I change it to my workshop, where I create my armor and store the ones I don't keep in my space pocket.

I walk to the large wooden table in the center and pull out the black box from underneath. Opening it I pull out the black string with a round black pendant I've been making for Virgil. It has a neon-like purple outline of his emblem and the entire thing is covered with purple lightning. Thank you Logan for your input! 

"Of all of these charms I've made I believe I may love this almost as much as I love my crown," I say to myself. Well the design is finished but I'm still low on magic power. Once I have enough I can fuse it with protection magic and the stabilizer. I place it back in it's box and push it back under the table. 

"You must be Prince Roman," someone says bitterly from behind me.

I requip a sword into my hand and turn around to see what I can only guess is one of the dark sides. He's wearing black dress pants and shoes, along with a black long sleeve button up and gold snake cuff links. He is also wearing a black and yellow short single-button cape, a black bowler cap with a single yellow stripe and dish gloves? But the most unsettling is his face. One half is totally normal with a brown eye but the other is covered in scales and has an actual snake eye.

"Don't bother, if I wanted you dead right now, you would be. Besides, I am merely a thought projection so that sword won't do anything," he says. 

If he really is a thought projection then my sword really won't do anything but I am not taking that chance. I try to call Patton or Logan by tapping into their telepathy but get no response. 

"Who are you exactly?" I ask. 

He starts messing with my various tools before answering with a short laugh and saying ,"You know who I am. Go on, say it, or are you too afraid of me."

"Deceit. Why are you here?" I spit out his name. 

"You have something I want. Virgil," he responds frowning. "

I will make you a deal, Roman. If you can break up with Virgil and convince him to come back to me then I will stop my mission for control of Thomas," he tells me. He's lying, he's Deceit for crying out loud. I know. 

"You don't honestly expect me to believe you and I will never break up with him. I've waited six years to be with him and I'm not about to end it because some freak with a snake face and dish gloves tells me to," I tell him.

"Wow, you really are smarter than you look. That's too bad... Hunter, have fun," he says in a sing song voice. 

With an evil grin he disappears. Hunter? Before I can react I get hit with a fire blast and am thrown against a wall. That hurt. Looking at my attacker I notice his attire, black skinny jeans, black combat boots, black tank top with a black short sleeve jean vest. 

I requip into my Flame Emperor Armor, cutting the damage from his attacks in half and Flame Blade before running at him. I manage to land a hit which sends him crashing into the table behind him but before I can hit him again he jumps out of the way.

As soon as he lands he shoots a bunch of flames in the form of elongated circles that spread out hitting all around me. A few of them manage to hit me and since I'm already low on magic energy, my armor disappears. 

"Hunter! We have to go! Now!" another person says appearing next to him. Also in all black, skinny jeans, black button up, leather jacket and black low Vans. 

"Why Carsen?! Dee said I could take him out now," Hunter growls in response. 

"The others are coming you moron! Let's go!" the new guy, Carsen says. They turn to teleport away but one of them, Carsen, turns back with an apologetic look on his face.

Weird. The others aren't coming but even if they were, they can't enter the imagination. I locked them out so no one would see Virgil's gift. Doesn't matter I need to sink out and let the others know what happened but I am really weak. That Hunter guy packs a punch with his attacks. 

I manage to pop up next to Thomas. They are still with the mayor. Oops. 

"We need to go you guys," I manage to breath out. 

"Roman?! What the fuck happened?" Anx says walking over to me and sinking down. "Let's go to your room, the energy in there will help a bit until Thomas gets home," he adds.