Turmoil: Book Three of The Shadow Goddess series

Chapter Three: Roman's POV

I did as she asked, going home without even a second thought to the envelopes in my hand. She had saved my life. At the very least I owed her this one request. How could I deny her? I knew Rose was special. There was something about her, something that drew me in. I wish I knew why though. I also found myself wanting to see her again. Wanting to get to know her, help ease her pain if I could. The thoughts and feelings were foreign to me. Never had I wanted to be close to someone. Being a hydra shifter made being close to anyone hard, if not impossible. We were solitary creatures, only thriving in environments with our family.

No one in our town knew what we were. We’ve mastered keeping our nature to ourselves to better blend in. Hydras were all but extinct now, hunted for our venom. Venom that could kill even the strongest of creature. The only one that our venom could not kill was the reaper, but they had been killed off years ago. Now, there was nothing standing in the way of us being hunted to extinction. We were no longer under the protection of the royals. We were free game. So, we hid, and no one has found us yet.

“Roman!” My sister squealed, barreling into me. She clung to my shirt burying her face into me as tears soaked through the material.

“I’m sorry Sydney.” I murmured. “I got into some trouble, but I’m alright now.” I assured her. “Where is mom?”

Sydney sniffled, rubbing her nose along her arm. “In the kitchen going insane.” She told me, her voice still laced with pain.

“Is it because of me? Or because of the bills?”

“Both.” She sighed sadly. “We’re really in trouble Ro.” She whispered, more tears falling.

“We’ll be fine.” I said and ruffled her hair. “Here, someone gave me this to give to you.” I passed her the envelope and her eyes filled with excitement.

“For me?” She took it jumping up and down. “I’ve never gotten a gift before.”

“Well open it.” I laughed.

She stopped jumping and ripped the flap off to peer inside. Her soft green eyes widened and her jaw dropped. “Ro. Where did you get this?” She looked back up at me, renewed tears in her eyes.

“You remember the trouble I said I got in? Well a woman saved my life, then gave me these. There is one for each of us. Why? What’s in it?”

Sydney passed me the envelope and I peered inside. My own eyes widened at what I saw. The envelope was crammed full of euros. At least a few thousand. More than enough to get her new clothes and anything else she could need. I gave it back to her and opened my own. It held the same, more euros than I had ever seen.

I rushed into the kitchen calling for mom. She stood from the table. Fear and relief in her eyes. “Roman, what is it?” She rushed to me, her eyes scanning over me looking for injury.

My heart was racing as I told her what happened, and what Rose had given me and Sydney. I passed her the envelope Rose designated for her, my eyes and heart filled with light and joy for the first time in many years.

“Oh, my.” Mom’s voice broke. She pulled out the euros, her eyes watering as she counted the bills in her hand. “This….this is too much.” Mom cried.

“How much is it?” I questioned, never even thinking to count what was given to me.

“Roman. This is ten thousand euros.” She whispered, looking back down. Her brows furrowed as she pulled out a folded sheet of paper. Rose had written my mother a note. When I tried to crowd in on her to read over her shoulder, she shot me a glare. “Don’t even think about it Roman. I will read it aloud when I am finished.”

I backed away nodding. I understood. Rose hadn’t written me or Sydney a note, just my mother. It made me wonder what it is she had to say to her. I told her about mom And Sydney, about the situation we are in financially. Rose had gone above and beyond to help us, and I don’t think I will ever see her again to thank her for what she’s done. I could never repay the kindness she has shown to us.

“Roman. Did you tell this girl about us?” My mother asked, her eyes drifting from the note back to me.

“What? No, of course not.”

“Well, she knows.” My mother said, though her tone was kind.

“Mom, what does the note say?”

“To the mother of the man I saved. Hello, my name is Rose. Your son almost drown late yesterday evening and I am glad I was able to save him and send him home to you. He told me of the hard times you all were enduring and I wanted to help. I gave your daughter enough to buy her a new wardrobe, please allow her to do so. No child should have to endure such taunting for something that is out of her control. Please tell her, though I don’t know her. Tell her she is beautiful, and to never let anyone tell her otherwise. She knows who she is, and others should not decide how she feels about herself. Tell her to stay strong. Tell her to defend and protect herself. Don’t let her endure this alone. You’re her mother, her guardian, her protector, her rock. She needs you now more than ever. Twelve is such a delicate age. The age where a girl needs her mother as she reaches puberty and her body changes. You also might want to tell your son not to accept anymore dangerous bets, no matter the amount of euros promised. No amount of money is worth a life.

Now to all of you as a family. I know you’re hiding, your hydra heritage making you a target. I ask you to be careful and be prepared. A war is brewing, and is looming just over the horizon. If you wish, you can come and stay with me. There is a spare cottage where you can all stay. I can and will protect you. My home is hidden from the outside world, no one allowed in without me. You would be safe here. I guess now is when I tell you who I am, title and all. My name is Rose knight, and I am the last living reaper and the queen of the realm. If you decide to come stay with me, I will explain more to you. Meet me on the beach tomorrow at midnight if you wish to come with me.

“That’s impossible.” I breathed. “I would have known. I would have sensed it.”

“Not unless she wanted you to know.” Mom said smoothly. “Reapers are powerful and are easily able to mask themselves.”

“Are we going to go stay with her?” Sydney asked trying to hide the excitement in her voice.

“We just got a formal invitation from the queen to hide and protect us. Of course we are going.” Mom said as if it wasn’t even a question.

“What about school for Sydney?” I asked.

“I will home school her.” Mom shrugged. “Now Roman. I want you to go and help Sydney shop for new clothes. I will pay all of our backed-up bills, then we can pack, rest and leave for the beach tomorrow.”

I nodded as Sydney grabbed her shoes that bore holes, shoving them on her feet. She grabbed my hand pulling me through the door and down the street to the market. The little town didn’t have much in terms of shopping. Most people buy materials and make their own clothes or go out of town to shop. Sydney loved making her own clothes, so I knew she was going for fabric and sewing materials just as well as she would buy a few pieces of clothes she liked.

By the time Sydney had bought everything her heart desired I was wiped out. I had gotten me a new pair of shoes, a few t-shirts and a couple pair of jeans. While Sydney’s arms were crammed full of fabrics and supplies, she would need. She did buy a few pair of shoes, a couple skirts, shorts and pants. Along with t-shirts, tank tops and a bathing suit. The smile of her face as we made it back to our house filled my heart with joy. I’ve never seen a smile like that on her face. She could light up a room with it and melt the coldest of hearts.

I would never be able to repay Rose for the kindness she is showing us. For the she put on my sister and moms face. She had turned our darkened world bright again. Given us hope for a future where we didn’t have to hide or cower. She had given us an opportunity no one else could have. Or would have. We were nothing but scum here in this town, but we were too poor to move anywhere else. We had all be subjected to endless taunts and abuse. Even the few I thought were my friends tried to kill me by waving money in my face. And I fell right into their trap, my need to provide for my family overpowering my common sense.

I felt like a fool. Falling for the now clear attempt on my life. I just couldn’t believe it had gotten so bad they would try such a thing. I feared what would happen if I wasn’t there to protect my mom and little sister. My mom was young at age thirty-three. She had me at fifteen after she had been raped and brutalized by one of her w***e of a mother’s friends. She ran away after that and had me. I was eighteen now and better able to protect her, and my sister. My sister’s dad used to beat us, my mom, me, even my sister when she was only eight. I had finally cracked, killing the poor excuse of a man. Mom never even batted an eye at my brutal behavior. What would happen if I wasn’t here? I didn’t want to think about it.

“How did it go?” Mom’s voice drifted through the house to us as we closed the door. The happiness and ease in her voice as clear as the ocean outside. It made my heart swell even more at hearing the ease in her voice. It was usually so strained that it broke my heart every time I heard her speak.

“MOM!” Sydney yelled. “Look, look, look.” She bounced up and down as she threw here wares onto the threadbare couch.

Mom smiled as she picked through the heap of materials. Some shimmery, some covered in sparkled. Some were silken, some satin. There were so many different kinds and different designs I was excited to see what she could do with it all. An easy smile was on my moms face as she looked over everything.

“It’s all beautiful Syd.” Mom complimented. “I can’t wait to see what you come up with.”

“I’m going to make the queen a dress with this one.” Sydney picked up a deep red satin material. It was beautiful and had a little stretch to it. Remembering how Rose looked, I had to admit she would be beautiful in such a dress. I didn’t know if it would be possible to make her more beautiful than she already was, but as I pictured her wrapped in a dress made of this, my breath caught in my throat.

Loud pounding on the door took my attention from my mom. All of our faces fell as we looked to the door in confusion. The pounding started again; this time accompanied by the laughter of men.

“Knock, knock Beth.” A man called from the other side of the door.

“We just want to talk.” Another man chuckled. Mom moved to open the door but I grabbed her hand, shaking my head at her.

“We know you’re in there. You and that daughter of yours.” Yet another man said, not even attempting to hide the lust in his voice. Disgusting, she was twelve. It’s men like this that have no right to live. Disgusting pigs.

We all ran to the one lone bedroom, locking and barricading the door against the men. We knew there was at least three, but there could be more. I couldn’t fight them all on my own, I wouldn’t survive if I did. Even now I didn’t know if I would survive this encounter or not. When the front door burst open, I knew we were done for. If they could break that door, this bedroom door wouldn’t hold them back. I pushed my mom and sister behind me, facing the threat that would soon come through the door.

The door burst open in a spray of splinters. Five hulking men crammed the doorway, all with sinister smiles. When their eyes landed on me they seemed surprised, but the look quickly faded.

“Nathan will have fun with you.” One of the men purred at me. Fear sunk into me. Not only for myself but for my mom and sister. I couldn’t take on five men in this form, and I couldn’t shift and expose us. We were literally stuck. At the mercy of these men before us. And if looks were anything to go by, we wouldn’t survive the night.

Before I could track what happened the men lunged. I was quickly overpowered and ripped away from my mom and sister. Their screams ripped through me as I fought against the two men holding me. But I couldn’t get free, and my sister’s screams pierced the air, ripping at my heart.

“Hasn’t anyone told you that it’s rude to gang up on someone?” A familiar voice said behind me. The men were both ripped away from me, leaving me panting on my hands and knees on the floor. “You just can’t stay out of trouble, can you?” Rose asked, stepping past me and into the room.

I scrambled after her, just in time to see the three men thrown away from my mom and sister into the stone wall of the home. She pinned them there as if some force was at her beck and call. I stared in awe and fear as she approached the men, a look of pure malice etched across her face.

“A grown man who is willing to abuse women, especially a child does not deserve to live.” The coldness in her voice was terrifying. She somehow grabbed all three men, then they were just gone. Not even a second later Rose was back, alone. “Tend to your family Roman.” She told me, stepping past me. “Oh, no. I don’t think so.” I heard her say in a taunting tone, before a crash echoed around the room. I quickly grabbed my mom and sister’s hands and pulled them from the room. “I don’t like people like you.” Rose hissed. “Cruel and uncaring. Not a morsel of empathy, remorse or regret inside of you.”

Rose growled, the sound bone chilling. She turned to me, her eyes scanning and stopping on Sydney. For a moment her eyes softened, then she looked down at her torn clothes and tear-stained face. Rage burned in her eyes, as she looked at mom, who looked just as haggard as my sister. The floor beneath us rumbled, dust from the stone walls pluming around us. “Hide your sisters face.” Rose growled; her eyes turned to me. I nodded, reaching out to Sydney and tucked her into my chest. Rose nodded curtly before turning back to the men and quickly shoving her hand into their chests, pulling out their hearts. Like the others she grabbed the men’s dead bodies and disappeared, just to reappear the next second.

Rose turned back to us, her eyes still blazing with anger. She looked us over before waving her hand, new clothes materializing on each of us. My sister pulled away gasping down at the black shirt and purple top that she now wore. Tears were still streaking down her face, but relief filled her eyes.

“I see now it was a good thing I had followed Roman.” Rose stated as she looked us over, seeming pleased with how we now looked. “Grab your things, we’re leaving now.”

“Who are you?” Mom asked, pushing Sydney behind her.

“I am Rose.” She said matter-of-factly. “I am here to take you to safety.”