Chapter 27
2632 Words
“We must inform the king, at once!” stated Damian, as he and Xavier met back up with Roman and Lashanna, and Lashanna looked at Damian with wide eyes for a moment.
She knew she had to stop them from telling the king.
“Not yet!” she said, as she put her hands up, and Damian and Xavier looked at her in question, however, Roman only nodded.
“Lashanna, the king must know if his niece is missing!” Xavier said quickly, and then he cleared his throat.
Lashanna put her hand on his arm gently, and looked into his eyes.
“If he asks, you tell him that she wasn’t feeling well and that she went home. She will turn up,” she stated confidently, and Damian gave her a solid look.
“If she doesn’t turn up by morning, I am going to the king, and I am going to tell him all about you!” Damian snarled, angrily, as he pointed at Roman.
Fiercely, Roman glared at the guard.
“Really? Are you threatening me?” he growled, as he faced Damian, nose to nose.
Lashanna scoffed and crossed her arms.
“Boys! Stop arguing over her like she is a toy. We will find her!” she said, as she pushed Roman away from Damian.
“I will take you on, any place and any time for her hand!” snarled Damian, and Roman growled angrily as he towered over Lashanna.
“You’re on, playboy!” Roman snarled, and Lashanna sighed and shook her head with disbelief.
Why are they doing this now? she wondered, and then she looked up at Roman.
“Go home, or go look wherever you two have been,” she said as she gave him a knowing look.
For a moment, Roman searched her eyes and then he caught on. Instantly, by the look in Lashanna’s eyes, he knew that he needed to get his head back in the game and find Ashta.
“We will go look around the castle,” she stated, as she turned back to the two guards, and they both went their own separate ways.
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Suddenly, the front door swung open, and Chantelle looked up at her son, startled.
“Mom!” he exclaimed with a breath, and immediately, Chantelle’s finger went to her lips.
“Shsh,” she said, as she gestured to the couch where Ashta was peacefully asleep.
Roman looked over at the couch and his heart melted. There she was. Sound asleep. While everyone was frantically running around searching for her, there she was.
“She’s here?” he whispered in surprise, and Chantelle nodded.
Quietly, Roman shut the door and walked over to his mother. They both looked over at her.
“Poor thing. I found her sobbing on our doorstep when I brought our bags home,” Chantelle whispered, as she took a sip of her tea, and Roman looked at his mother in surprise.
“Why was she so upset?” he asked, softly, as he looked back at Ashta with concern.
“She thought that your father had taken you back to Taitum. She was so terrified,” explained his mother.
“Why would she be so upset about me leaving?” he asked, confused, as he took a seat next to his mother, closest to Ashta.
“Because she cares about you, but I have to tell you something. You have to promise me that you will not pick on her about it. She really does care about you, son.”
Roman looked at his mother in question.
“What is it?”
“Promise me,” she said, frankly.
“Okay. I promise. I won’t even tell her you told me,” he said, urgently.
Why is my mom doing this to me? he thought, as he felt the suspense in the air.
Chantelle looked at her son, and then she sighed heavily.
“She blamed herself. She said it was all her fault. I could see the pain in her eyes when she said it, Roman,”
Shocked, he looked at his mother, and then his face softened as he looked over at Ashta with care, and then he gently ran his fingers through her hair.
“Why would it be her fault if I had to go back?” he asked, as he pulled his hand back.
“Why did you burst through the door like you did?” she asked him, and he thought for a moment.
Seemingly, he looked at his mother and she searched his eyes. At that moment, he realized what his mother was telling him, and he nodded as he sighed. Suddenly, Lashanna popped in his head, and what Damian had said echoed in the back of his mind.
“Oh!” he said, as he abruptly jumped from his chair.
“I have to go tell Lashanna that she is safe. Everyone is looking for her. A couple of the guards think she was taken,” he said quickly, and then he ran out of the house.
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Roman ran as fast as he could, looking everywhere for Lashanna. Finally, he spotted Lashanna and the two guards walking up the steps to the castle.
“Lashanna!” Roman called, as he reached the castle.
Seemingly, they turned around and looked at him. Lashanna ran to him as Roman stopped and caught his breath.
“Roman, what’s wrong?” she asked, as she grabbed his shoulder.
“It’s Ashta,” he said breathlessly, and her eyes widened.
“What happened to her?”
Roman shook his head.
“No, she is safe. She is asleep on my mother’s couch.”
Lashanna sighed a sigh of relief. Her friend was safe and that was all that mattered.
“I’ll walk her home when she wakes up,” he said, as he caught his breath.
“Wait. How did she end up with your mother?” she asked, curiously.
“I am still figuring that part out, but she is safe,” he said, and Lashanna gratefully smiled at him.
“Thank you.” she said as she smiled, gratefully.
At that moment, Roman then glanced at Damian and Xavier, and then he looked back at her thoughtfully.
“I don’t know what you want to tell the goon squad over there, or the king, but I am only telling you where she is,” Roman said, as he straightened, and then Lashanna smacked him in the arm.
“What?” he laughed, as he looked down at her.
“Stop. Don’t antagonize them anymore. I will handle them and the king. Just please, take care of her,” she said, as she looked at him seriously.
Roman smiled and nodded. He then turned on his heels, and jogged away. Seemingly, Lashanna sighed, as she turned back to Damian and Xavier, and she headed up the stairs toward them.
“What did he want?” Damian asked, as she reached them, and she gave him a solid look.
“Ashta is okay and safe. She is staying at a friend’s house for the night,” she said frankly, and Damian looked at her with wide eyes.
“Where? With him? He does not have any say over the princess!” Damian snarled.
“Cool your jets, lover boy! She is old enough to make her own decisions, besides, she is safe with him. Roman will not let anything happen to her,” Lashanna stated, as she rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest.
“We must inform the king, at once!” exclaimed Xavier, and Lashanna gave him a solid look.
“I will tell the king about Ashta. We can’t have you two making a big deal about this, when, in all reality, it isn’t.”
Xavier looked at Damian and then he shrugged his shoulders.
“Women!” Damian muttered, as the three of them walked into the castle and headed for the throne room.
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Quietly, Roman walked back into the house, and closed the door behind him.
“Good. You’re home. I am going to bed. I hope you don’t mind, I gave Ashta a t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants of yours to change into,” said Chantelle, and Roman nodded.
“That’s fine. I am going to stay out here with her, just in case she does wake up scared.”
Chantelle nodded and then she disappeared into her bedroom. Roman decided to take a quick shower, and then he sat next to Ashta.
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Slowly, Ashta opened her eyes and the room came into focus. Wooden walls that were painted white, the coffee table in the center of the room, and the hand that was above her head on the back of the couch. Cautiously, with her eyes, she followed the hand, up the tattooed arm and shoulder up to a familiar handsome face.
“Oh, my!” she exclaimed, as she threw herself on top of Roman, hugging him tightly.
Alarmed, Roman’s eyes flew open and then he looked up at her face.
“Thank the gods, you are safe!” she cried, as she hugged him tighter.
Cautiously, and carefully, he embraced her in his strong arms and he chuckled.
“I really thought you were gone,” Ashta cried, as she placed her hand on the back of his neck.
“I am not going anywhere,” he stated, softly, and Ashta pulled back as she looked at him with tears in her eyes.
“You were really that worried?” he asked, as he searched her eyes.
Ashta nodded her head, and she bit her lip to contain a threatening sob.
“Oh, honey,” he whispered, as he hugged her tightly.
“I can go back anytime I want to, but I would rather stay here with you.”
Surprised, Ashta pulled back and searched his eyes for a moment.
“Really?” she asked, as she sniffed.
Roman looked up at her as he wiped a tear from her cheek and he nodded.
“Good morning,” said Chantelle, cheerfully, as she walked into the room.
Roman looked over the back of the couch and smiled at her. Quickly, Ashta pulled herself off of him, and sat back down in her place she was before.
“Morning, mom,” he said, and then he looked back at Ashta.
Sheepishly, she grinned at him, and he could see that her cheeks were rosy from embarrassment.
“Are you two kids hungry?” she asked, as she opened a cupboard, and Roman raised his eyebrows at Ashta.
She only nodded as she still was too embarrassed to show her face.
“Great! I will make breakfast. You know, tonight is the last night of the festival, maybe you two should go enjoy it together,” she chimed, as she busied herself in the kitchen.
Happily, Ashta looked at Roman, as she nodded and smiled.
“Are you saying you would like to go on a date with me?” he asked sarcastically, and Ashta looked at him oddly.
“You know what a date is?” she asked surprised, and Roman laughed as he pulled her back onto his lap, and put his hands on her sides.
“Of course. Selvempts have changed over the times, but it’s the Slayers who still live by the old ways,” he said matter-of-factly, and she nodded as she tried to sit back down on the couch, but he gently held her there.
“Okay. Well, then yes, I would love to go out on a date with you,” she said, as she relaxed and Roman smiled at her as he admired her beauty.
“After breakfast, we will have to go up to the castle. I can not work in clothes that are too big, and I can not wear that dress to the falls,” she said, as she leaned back a little, and Roman laughed a hearty laugh.
“That shouldn’t be a problem,” he said, and she grinned at him.
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Happily, Ashta and Roman enjoyed their breakfast with Chantelle, and then they headed to the castle. Quietly, they walked inside the castle, and then suddenly, they were face to face with Liam. Ashta swallowed hard, and then she straightened.
“Ashta, good morning, dear niece. Who is your friend?” he asked, as he looked at Roman.
Ashta glanced at Roman and then she looked back at Liam.
“Hi, uncle Liam. This is my friend Roman. I just came to change. We are working on something special for the festival tonight,” she lied, and Roman only nodded.
“Oh. Well, isn’t that nice? Hello, Roman. I am Ashta’s uncle Liam, brother of King Gale.”
Respectfully, Roman bowed his head.
“Good morning, sir,” he said, and Liam bowed his head back.
“Such a distinguished gentleman, ” Laim said, pleased, and then he walked away.
Relieved, Ashta grabbed Roman’s hand and she pulled him up the stairs and into her room.
“Do you think it’s okay to have me in your bedroom?” Roman asked, as he glanced at Ashta.
Ashta looked at him and scoffed.
“I think so,” she said, as she grabbed a black pair of pants and a white t-shirt.
She smirked at him, as she went into the bathroom and closed the door. Quickly, she changed and threw her hair in a ponytail. She then walked out of the bathroom.
“At least your people are polite,” he said, as he looked at the four-post bed.
Ashta rolled her eyes at him, and he looked at her.
“What?” he asked, as he chuckled.
“They are not my people. They are just distant relatives that are from a different planet.”
At that moment, Roman looked at her for a moment, and then he laughed.
“Ready?” she asked, as she laughed with him.
At that moment, the bedroom door burst open and Lashanna ran full speed at Ashta.
“Oh, my. I am so glad that you are okay,” she said, as she hugged Ashta tightly.
Suddenly, Damian and Xavier walked into the room, and Damian and Roman glared at each other challengingly.
“He didn’t hurt you, or try anything funny with you, did he?” sneered Damian.
Annoyed, Lashanna let go of Ashta, and both girls turned to him.
“I am right here, aren’t I?” Ashta asked, as she threw her arms out, and Roman sneered at Damian.
“Good, you are back home. Do you want us to escort this commoner out?” he asked, as he glared at Roman, and Ashta looked at Damian.
“Actually, he and I are just on our way out,” she said, quickly, as she looked up at Roman.
He smiled at her and then he turned his attention back to Damian.
“See, no need to get all riled up there skippy. Like the lady said, we are on our way out,” he said, as he put his arm around Ashta’s shoulders.
Ashta shook her head in disbelief as they walked out of the room.
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“See, not everyone is polite,” said Ashta, annoyed, as they headed for the trail behind the garden.
“Well, besides being your stalker. He totally has a thing for you,” Roman laughed, as he gave her a sideways glance, and Ashta gave him a funny look.
“Come on, honey. I know you are not that dumb,” he laughed, and Ashta smirked at him, as they headed down the hidden trail.
- Writer
