Fearkeeper: Book 2 (Keeper Trilogy)

11

"REMUS?!" The man before him smiled as he held his arms out as if showing off himself a bit, although anxiously. "How... What..."

"It's been a long time... hasn't it?" He wore a dark suit with bright fluorescent neon green sash similar but more... extra, to Roman Princely uniform. His green eyes never dimmed showing just how emotional he really was. 

"A long time? Remus, I haven't seen you since we... since we..." Remus nodded as he shifted and sighed. "Once. I saw you once... for a minute and then you were carded away and I never saw you again. Years Remus... I've been alone for years."

"Alone?" Remus frowned as he looked away. "I'd hardly count this as alone." Roman's eyes widened as Remus smiled sadly. "You have a father... a friend... a family. What do you mean... alone?"

"Remus..."

"I was alone." Remus glared over at his brother as Roman gripped the envelope out of nervousness. "When we split you were given a home with people who cared about you. You've NEVER been alone. I was sent to the dark realm... with Colt. A washed-up reject creativity, who's nothing but a carbon copy of his brother. Who wants me when they already have you?"

"Remus..."

"I waited you know." Roman's eyes shot wide as Remus hugged himself. "You told me you would find me. You said you wouldn't rest until I was back with you. You said I never had to be afraid... that even though we were split... we'd never be apart. I waited..." Remus shook his head as he poked Roman with a teary expression. "You replaced me."

"Remus, it isn't like that..." Remus rolled his eyes as he backed up shaking his head. "Ray..."

"Don't bother." Roman froze hearing the anger in Remus as he started to turn away. "I only came because I made a promise. You aren't the only one who lost someone Roman..." Roman was taken back by the way Remus's voice shook. "You aren't the only one suffering." Remus smiled sadly as he looked away. "At least I can say I did something by him though. I couldn't protect him... but I could at least keep my promise."

"Where are you going?" Remus froze up as Roman grabbed his arm. "Don't you want to know what in the envelope?"

"Why... it isn't going to bring him back." Remus narrowed his eyes as he pulled his arm free. "I'm only here because he had begged me. Otherwise, I never would have done shit. I'm going back home."

"So you just so happened to know how to get here." Remus stopped as Roman called after him. At this point they were making so much noise Logan had peeked out of his room only to freeze seeing Remus in front of his door. "You knew how to get here and you didn't even try to come to see me."

"Roman, do you understand how hard it is to get out of the Dark Realm? I only got out now because Colt is too fucking mental to give a shit anymore!" Remus spun around and whipped his hand through the air summoning a mace as he pointed it at his brother. "Colt had all us dark sides on lock and key. I couldn't get out even if I wanted to. For the first 7 years of my existence, I was shoved and pushed around... forced into unknown territories for so long I had no idea where I was or when for the most part. I had no home. Then the monsters started showing up and it was my job to protect fear... because he was the golden child." Roman's eyes widened in shock as Remus deflated. "Then I met him and... it was about protecting them both until Colt shoved me aside yet again leaving it for Pain to watch them. You couldn't protect him could you?"

"P-Protect?" Roman couldn't hold back the tears as Remus growled. 

"You had Fear... You had him and he was all you cared about, wasn't it? To be totally honest I didn't care that you abandoned me because I found out you had him... Him and Fear. As long as he was there I was certain you would protect him. That you would protect them both but... He wasn't Fear was he. Fear was all that mattered. You had him and so he was forced to suffer... abandoned just like me. And now they're both dead!" Roman stumbled back as Remus yelled out through his own tears. "Don't think I came here for you... or for Fear. I came because he asked me to. I came because he begged me. Years ago he begged me to be there for them both... And unlike you, I don't break my promises."

"Remus..."

"He's dead, Roman." Remus held back his choking sob as his mace disappeared. "I haven't seen him in years. The only thing that kept me going was the thought that I would see him again. That I could tell him how I felt about him. How much I loved him... and I come to find out... He died. He died protecting all of you." Remus laughed as he wiped the tears away and deflated. "Deceit's dead..." Remus fell to his knees overcome with emotion as his brother just stared frozen in shock. "...and you didn't even have the decency to come to find me. I had to learn from Colt. During one of his episodes... funny that. The man that killed him had more humanity than my own brother."

"Ok, that's enough of that." Logan called out as he held his hand out freezing Remus in time as Roman just stood there. "Are you ok Roman?"

"He's here." Logan's eyes narrowed as Roman absent-mindedly reach out towards him. "Remus... I never... I thought I wouldn't ever see him again and..." Logan spotted the envelope and tensed up as Roman held it up. "Virgil, he... He had him deliver it."

"You should hurry and read it, Ro." Roman nodded as Logan sighed. Roman narrowed his eyes as he pulled out a card and another letter. "Give me the card." Roman did what he was told as he just sat down in front of his brother with this lost look in his eyes. "It's going to be ok Roman."

"He thinks I abandoned him." Logan frowned seeing the way Roman's eyes darkened. "I guess in a way... I did." 

"You gave me light. You gave me love. You gave me a family. It's time I do the same." Roman sighed as Logan started to read the card but his eyes wouldn't leave his twin for a second. "I know this will be hell but it needs to be done. You need to forgive him and move on." Logan paused and Roman frowned confused at what the meaning behind that was. Why would he need to forgive Remus? "Christmas should be spent with your family. You'll see what I mean if you actually try. Just talk to him with an open mind... I believe in you, babe."

"Forgive him... for what?" In a moment of lapse, Logan accidentally unfroze the duke giving him time to lash out and attack Roman. Remus had him pinned against the ground before reality caught in and he froze. His eyes went wide as he jumped off and held his hand up in surrender clearly expecting the worst. 

"I'm sorry. It's just... you were just there and I didn't... I didn't understand... I just reacted..."

"It's ok." Roman choked out as he pushed himself up with Logan's help. "It's ok. Virgil's done things too. I understand. It's not your fault."

"I'm sorry." Remus tensed as Logan narrowed his eyes before sighing and shaking his head. "I'll just..."

"No, you won't." The twins both froze up as Logan fixed his tie and sighed in slight annoyance. "I will not allow another side to go back into that hell if I am able to prevent it. As of now, you may take Deceit's old room until we can work one for you." Remus's eyes went wide as he started to shake his head furiously. "Forget it, Remus. For one... you are a participant in Roman carol, however unwitting you may be. For that reason alone I wouldn't have let you go back... however, I am not too closed off to my own emotions to not know the trauma I went through and the effects it had on me. For my own sake as well as yours... you are not to go back there."

"But I don't have a choice." Logan narrowed his eyes in confusion as Remus looked between the two. "I'm the oldest over there. I have to care for the others. With Colt out of commission mentally and Willow MIA, I'm the only one who can provide for them. The monsters thankfully haven't been doing anything. In fact, there hasn't been an issue at all but that doesn't mean it's a permanent thing. Plus Kai's always sick and Kiaras being rebellious again. If I'm not there something could happen and I don't want to lose..."

"I'm sorry Remus." Logan stuffed his hands into his pockets before going to help Roman to his room. "I just cannot allow it. You may return once I know its safe... or you can stay and keep an eye on things from here." Remus's eyes widened as Logan smiled. "After all, as a side, you are just as much a part of this family as the others." Logan laughed as he walked off with Roman back into the prince's room. "And I know at least one person who's going to love having another kiddo in the house." Logan laid Roman on his bed frowning as the bruises already beginning to form on the man's head as he closed his eyes. "Hey, Ro?" The prince grunted in acknowledge as sighed in concern. "Don't forget to read the letter."

"O-Ok..." Logan turned to leave only to see Remus hovering by the doorway.

"He didn't break his promise." Remus's eyes narrowed his eyes as Logan passed him. "He searched for you nearly every single day. Why else do you think he was in the dark realm to begin with when he found Virgil? He was looking for you."