Baited~ Book 2

9

The three brothers slowly made their way inside and Remus couldn't help but pause. The whole place was dripping with energy. Dripping with a history it was trying to show the demon knight. Remus smiled as they let their fingers brush against what looked like a few scorch marks and laughed. 

"Remus?" The demon turned back to see Logan looking at him with concern. "Are you coming?"

"Of course we are, Logi." Logan narrowed his eyes in confusion as Remus's eyes darted about. "We just can't help but admire everything. It's been so long."

"Re..."

"Logan." The two froze up as Roman's broken voice reached their ears. "Can we just hurry this up please?"

"Right, let's go to the living room." Roman nodded as he walked off, not leading but definitely ahead of them both. When they got there, they waited only a moment before Patton smiled walking in through the door. Roman frowned as he curled up a bit onto the couch trying to keep out of his head. He knew Patton knew. It was clear as day. Why wouldn't Patton know? He could probably hear everything too. Damn it...

"It's ok, kiddo. This isn't your..."

"Don't read my mind." Roman's voice craked making everyone's eyes darken as Roman shook his head. "It's not a very safe place right now."

"Roman, what is going on with you?" The prince sighed as he tried to look away but Logan wasn't dealing with that. "Roman, talk to me."

"It doesn't matter, Logan." Roman clenched his fists trying to keep calm as he laughed in his head. "It's not going to change a thing. I fucked up."

"Roman, you can't beat yourself up about this." Roman scoffed as Remus glanced between him and Patton with growing concern.

"Wait... back up a smidge... We are very confused." Patton smiled softly as Roman tried to suppress a growl.

"Right sorry... I never introduced myself." Remus shook their head and Patton offered his hand to shake. "My name is Patton Starring, crowned prince of Ceit." Remus smirked wickedly as they jumped to the edge of the couch they were sitting on.

"We've been there." Remus giggled as Patton smiled. "We had so much fun too. Totally sent the people to a frenzy. That was a good time." Again Logan just narrowed his eyes listening to Remus talk as they laughed. "But we're not talking about us right now... We're confused about Roman."

"That is correct although we will be coming back to you eventually, Remus." Logan sighed as he turned to Roman with a worried frown. "Roman, what is going on?"

"There isn't anything you guys can do about it. I fucked up. Then again... maybe it was for the best." Patton frowned looking away as Roman narrowed his eyes in thought. "If I had succeeded then Deceit would have suffered even more."

"Ro..."

"It wasn't just the curse I took away from Virgil, Logan." Logan faltered as Roman turned back to the group with glowing purple eyes. Remus just stared at their brother with understanding eyes as Patton smiled knowingly at the prince. "I wanted Deceit to experience everything Virgil did, whilst also taking Virgil's pain away but I fucked up. I... I couldn't do. I started to lose control and before I got pulled out of it... it latched onto me."

"What did?" Roman rolled his eyes as he looked away again.

"Virgil's insanity."

'Moron, now their all going to hate you. Why'd to have to go and say something like that for? You could have just suffered in silence. That is a far better option than this crap. Don't you think?" Roman flinched as his mind screamed at him. His hands shook as he tried really hard to ignore it all.

"I messed up." Roman's voice was quiet but held that slight glitch that on;y proved what he was saying was true. "I couldn't do it. I wasn't strong enough to. Now I have his insanity and it is really hard to hold back."

"Kiddo, it's ok."

"No, it's not, Patton!" Roman's eyes turned purple as he clenched his fists. He could see the looks he was getting and he didn't like it one bit. Not a single one. Not Patton's small smile of support. Not Logan's look of concern. And especially not Remus's look of understanding. "He doesn't ever shut up and I'm trying really really hard not to snap. I mean Virgil suffered with this for so long and I can barely get through one freaking hour..."

'You forget Roro. I'm Virgil's insanity. I've been with him for most of his long life. That means I've got nearly 200 years on you.' Roman's eyes flashed as he shrunk into himself. Remus could literally see the insanity wrapping around their twin-like thorny rose vines cutting into his skin as it tightens with every second. It was really pissing them off. 'Roman, you have to understand. I was created from years of physical and mental abuse. Torture and hatred beyond anything a small child should ever endure. If you think you can't even handle this... you don't want me to show you what he went through.'

"Wait, what?" Patton's eyes narrowed underneath the cloth as Roman glanced off clearly listening to a voice the other, save for Pat, could not hear. "What do you mean?" Romans could hear the sickening laughter echo through his mind making him flinch. His hands subconsciously went to his ears only to be stopped by another's. Roman's eyes darted up to meet those of his twin who only smiled at him.

"It can't hurt you."