Baited~ Book 2

26

Roman froze up the moment he reached that door. Every time he sees it he can't help but think of Virgil... of the time he spends stuck in there because of Deceit. Roman's fist clenched as he bit his lip. Virgil was in so much pain... and now... now it was him who was.

"Roman?" The prince jumped at Janus's sudden voice and he had to stop himself from glaring. It's not Janus's fault. Janus isn't Deceit. Just like neither Virgil nor Roman is this insanity. "Are you ok?"

"Not really." Roman whispered softly with a sad smile. " I don't... I don't want you to get hurt Janus." The snake's eyes widened a bit as Roman frowned. "The whole purpose of sparring... is to snap... if you're there..."

"You might target me?" Roman nodded as he looked over to find Jan smiling a bit. "At least, you're aware of that possibility."

"How can I not when it's all he's telling me?" Remus laughed pulling Roman's attention away from the highly confused face Janus had. "Ray, I told you, I don't think its..."

"They need to see this Roman." Remus smiled as they held the tiny lizard up with a shine in his eyes. "So far they've only seen one side of this whole fiasco."

"Janus does not need to see shit. He's already seen that side... it's all he's seen." Roman shifted as Remus just sighed. 

"That's our point though, Roman. Neither has seen the change." Roman's eyes darted up as Remus smirked. "They need to see what really's going on with you... and if you won't take the initiative to show them..."

"Remus, there's only Janus." Janus's eyes shot wide as Remus smirked widely showing their fangs as Roman frowned in confusion.

"You sure about that?" Remus laughed seeing Roman nod as they pet the lizard eliciting another odd purr. "Roman, you aren't stuttering."

"So... the only reason I was stuttering is because Virgil's been gone." Remus deflated with a laugh as they looked down at the lizard and smiled. 

"Our brothers a moron." The lizard nodded a bit as Remus placed him on their shoulder before clapping and startling the prince. "Let's forget about Mr. Storm for a bit and focus on Lavender coffee over here.

"Lavender coffee?"Remus growled as their eyes darted to the snake. There was just something primal about the look in their eyes that took Janus by surprise. 

"Your scent... Lavender and Coffee." The lizard stuck his tongue out with a look in his eyes as Remus suppressed a shudder. "Fucking Lavander..."

"Virgil always smelt like... freshly fallen rain to me." Roman smiled as he ran a hand through his hair. "Ok. Now I understand why you call him Mr. Storm." 

"Says Rose Chocolate..." Roman's eyes went wide as he shifted a bit. "What?"

"Virgil... Virgil mentioned I smelt like that once." Roman smiled softly as he sighed. "I just miss him."

"The sooner we get everything situated the faster show himself to you, Ro. Until then... you need to get you head on straighter." Roman cocked an eyebrow up with a smirk the moment that left his sibling's lips.

"I don't think that's possible Remus. I'm gay." 

"Get your ass in the room now!" Roman just laughed as he pushed the room open only for Remus to freeze up feeling the lizard claw into him. "Hey now... What's wrong?" Roman frowned feeling this intense fear crash into him.

"Virgil's scared... why?" Janus and Remus shared a look before literally pushing Roman into the room and closing the door behind him. "Guys? I don't know about this. Something's going on with..." Remus handed the lizard over to Janus watching it push itself into his hoodie pockets and curled up. "...Virgil."

"I'm sure it's nothing, Roman." Remus smiled down at Janus who was trying to make sure the lizard was ok. 

"NOTHING?!" They all flinched hearing the glitch rip through Roman's voice. It was steadily getting worse. "This is VIRGIL we're talking about. And you say it's nothing..."

"That's not what we meant and you know it." Roman frowned as Remus pushed him farther in the room. "We merely meant that just because he's afraid... doesn't mean he's in trouble. Chances are he's fine and safe." Remus glanced over to see Janus petting the lizard as it fell laid all curled up in his pocket. Roman frowned feeling the wash of fear dim down as his hands shook. 

"Maybe... Maybe your right. I'm sorry. It's just..." Roman groaned as he walked over to his usually start spot in the center of the room. "When it comes to Virgil..."

"We know, Bro." Janus's eyes shot wide as Remus smiled. The little lizard peaked it's head out of the pocket as Remus sighed happily. "Roman, we may not be the twin you remembered but... We do still know you. We know you are and how you take things. That's why this is so hard on you but as we said before, You can do this. You just need help."

"I'm the only one that can, right?" Roman smiled but it was clearly broken and Remus frown. He knew what he had to do. They had to see... He... He had to see. This was the only way. 

"Are you ready Roman?" The prince tensed seeing Remus's form begin to shift. Janus smiled as the lizard seemed to shift his attention from one to the other before resting his gaze on Roman. "I won't go easy."

"You've gone easy on me?" Roman laughed as he held his sword out and with a glimmer in his eyes summand a bright transparent shield. "When was that exactly? Last I remember Remus was to be the best knight in the world... they never go easy on anyone." Remus shrugged as they held their own hand out summoning a bo staff.

"I am the best knight in the world, Roman." The demon expertly spun the staff around them all with a devious smirk on their face. "As the first-ever appointed Demon Knight of the Almira Kingdom... I take my title quite seriously." Roman faltered as Remus literally growled out with an animalistic and demon glitch. "Prepare yourself, Brother. I plan to make this short."