Chapter 35
1825 Words
Roman was training in the weight room, as he thought about how easy this match was going to be. He had the same powers as her, but he was a lot stronger. Evidently, he was a fighter and he trained every day. Not because his father made him this time, Roman wanted to be the strongest, the fastest and the best one in all of his matches.
So, why does this feel so wrong? he wondered, and then he slammed one of the weights down on the ground.
Not today. She was not going to get inside my head, he told himself.
Aggravated, Roman walked over to the wet bar and poured himself a glass of bourbon. Unknowingly, the drink wasn’t just bourbon. Cleverly, Maya had it specially made to alter Roman’s emotions. Seemingly, she was poisoning him and with every sip he took, the angrier and more distant he had become. Roman downed his glass, and he turned to see his cousin Ray walk into the room.
“Hey, cous. Are you okay?” he asked, as he saw the distant look in Roman’s eyes.
Immediately, Roman shook his thoughts away, and then he looked up at his cousin.
“Yeah, just getting prepared for today’s fight,” he said frankly, and then he walked over to the weight machine.
Evidently, Ray had heard some of the stories about how his cousin had fallen in love with the princess and when she had kissed another guy, that was when Roman had snapped. Ray didn’t blame Roman for being upset, he would have been too, if he had dealt with the same situation.
In his new power, Roman had women left and right throwing themselves at him, and graveling at his feet. However, he turned every last one away. Roman told himself that he would never trust another woman again for as long as he lived, and Ray respected him for that.
“Come on. I will train with you,” said Ray, and Roman only nodded.
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“You must not go through with this,” exclaimed the moon god.
Seemingly, Ashta was practicing in the garden, when suddenly, she was sucked into the Spirit Realm.
Ashta gave the dragon a determined look.
“I have too,” she stated.
“It was not supposed to end up this way,” the dragon said, sadly.
“I am sorry,” Ashta said, sadly.
“But you can stop this, and you choose not to,” he snarled at her, and Ashta looked up into his glowing green eyes.
“He made his choice, and now so do I,” she stated.
“He has been blinded, but you could make him see, if you would just try.”
“And, how am I supposed to do that?” Ashta asked, angrily.
“That is the answer that you must find,” he snarled, and she looked at him annoyed.
“How?” she asked.
Suddenly, the moon god growled a low growl and he and the Spirit Realm disappeared. Ashta opened her eyes, and then she sighed a heavy sigh.
“Ashta?”
Startled, she looked at the entrance of the garden and her eyes widened. Surprisingly, Roman was standing there, in the garden. At that moment, her anger and hurt disappeared and she ran to him.
“Is it really you?” she asked with tears in her eyes, as she reached him.
“You have forgotten the love that we share, and so have I, but you can break the distance between us,” he said sadly.
For a moment, Ashta studied the man before her, and he seemed to be slightly transparent. It wasn’t really him, it was a reminiscence of him. Damian had told her about these creatures. They were the part of you that had been left behind, if something disruptive happened in your path, and they would do anything to be back with you.
“Roman, no I haven’t forgotten. You made your choice to leave me,” she cried.
“Take me with you,” he whispered and touched her face.
Surprised, she looked up at him, and he smiled down at her.
“I truly love you,” he said, and then he disappeared.
Suddenly, she felt a surge of energy flow through her body and then she felt him there with her. She could feel his love for her and this made some of the broken parts of her heart mend. At that moment, she fell to her knees, and she began to sob. Instantly, Lashanna was by her side.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, concerned, as she knelt beside her friend.
“His reminisce reminded me of his feelings for me. He truly does love me,” Ashta cried, and Lashanna looked at her in question.
“Who?”
“Roman,” Ashta whispered.
“What! That can’t be right!” Lashanna exclaimed.
“It is. I am calling this whole thing off,”said Ashta, as she got to her feet, and Lashanna rose with her.
“You can’t do that, princess. I am sorry,” said Damian, as he and Xavier approached them.
Oddly, Lashanna and Ashta looked at them.
“The car is here to pick you up and take you to the arena,” stated Xavier.
“Already?” Lashanna asked, as she gave Ashta a worried look.
At that moment, Ashta nodded and straightened.
“I will be okay,” Ashta reassured her friend, and Lashanna only nodded.
“Come on,” Damian said, softly, as he put his arm around Ashta’s shoulders.
“You got this,” he said, as he noticed the look on her face.
She was worried. Without a word, Ashta nodded and they walked to the car together.
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“Get the guards ready, we are going to take down Nemiph while they are distracted by the prince destroying their precious princess,” Maya snarled to her head guard.
Immediately, he nodded and left the room. Everything was going perfectly according to her plans. Evidently, Roman took the bait. He was so preoccupied with his fights that he didn’t know what Maya had planned to do. She laughed hysterically, as she looked out of her window.
“They will all bow down to me,” she said, as she laughed.
“Who?” asked Rocco, and she quickly turned around.
“Oh, I was just thinking out loud,” Maya said, quickly, as she looked at him.
“Then why are the guards assembling for war?” he asked, as he looked at her suspiciously.
Maya looked at Rocco with sparkling eyes, and he immediately fell under her trance.
“If that wretched niece of mine finds a way to pin your son, then I will have the guards destroy her kingdom,” she said, as she stared into his eyes.
Obediently, Rocco bowed his head and nodded.
“Yes, my queen,” he stated, and Maya laughed.
“Great,” she said, as she turned back to the window.
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Roman showered and then he got dressed. He was already at the arena in his private room. Suddenly, he felt something and then he looked out of his window.
She must be here, he thought angrily, and then he saw a car pull up to the colosseum.
Curiously, he watched her bright auburn hair glow in the sunlight as she got out of the car, and then a guard escorted her into the building. At that moment, he felt a familiar twinge in his heart and he sighed a heavy sigh. It had been so long since he had seen her, and at that moment his heart yearned for her. His body wanted to feel hers against his and run his fingers through her hair as he gazed into her beautiful blue eyes.
Abruptly, Roman shook the thoughts from his head.
Stop it! he told himself angrily, and he walked over to his glass and downed the contents.
Instantly, the poison rushed through his veins, and he started to feel better and his feelings faded away. He was determined to make her pay for all of the pain she had caused him. For a moment, Ashta could feel Roman, but then it faded away as quickly as it came. She wondered why. Silently, she followed the guard up to the building as she looked up at it nervously.
Back again, she thought, as she sighed.
“This way, miss,” beckoned a guard, as he opened a door.
“Look! There she is,” cried a bystander, and Ashta waved and smiled.
Embarrassed by the fact that it was a group of guys, she shyly waved and smiled, and then she disappeared behind the door. Happily, she smiled when she saw Shane. Noticeably, the guard whispered something in Shane’s ear. He nodded and then he looked at Ashta seriously.
“Ashta! It’s wonderful to see you again,” he greeted, as he hugged her.
“It is good to see you, too,” she said, as their embrace ended.
“We have much to talk about,” he said, as he took her hand.
Ashta nodded as he led her down the hallway to a room with chairs and a table inside.
“Sorry, we don’t have much time, this time. The fight is going to start really soon, now that you have arrived,” Shane said, and she nodded.
At that moment, Shane sighed a heavy sigh and Ashta looked at him oddly.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, concerned.
“The queen has ordered the guards to attack Nemiph,” he stated, and Ashta stood abruptly.
“No, this can’t happen. I must go home and protect my people,” she said, alarmed, and Shane put his hands up.
“There is more that you need to know.”
Ashta swallowed hard and then she sat back down.
“Nothing is allowed to happen in Taitum, unless the prince gives the order. He is the one that makes the decisions for the kingdom now,” Shane said sadly, and Ashta thought for a moment.
“So, this whole thing is a distraction?” she asked angrily.
“I believe so,” he said with a worried look on his face.
“He is going to pay for this!” Ashta snarled angrily.
She was ready to destroy this arrogant bastard once and for all. Suddenly, Ashta jumped at the sound of the buzzer.
“Good luck,” Shane breathed, as they walked to the large door.
Angrily, Ashta balled her fists and nodded.
“I sure hope he is ready for the ass whooping he is in for,” she growled, as the doors began to open.
Courageously, she stared into the arena and cracked her neck.
“Let’s do this!” she snarled, as she walked into the arena.
- Writer
