BLOODY ROSES [3]

16

2016

In the short time that Rayna Cruz had been captured by the Armory things were fine.
Stefan was traveling with Valarie of all people, Damon had been desiccating next to a comatose Elena, and Roman had been with Enzo and Bonnie.
They were all surviving just fine, that is until
Matt Donovan set the huntress free.
Stefan had called his twin immediately giving him the warning that his scar had opened up, and that he was on his way to wake their eldest brother.
When Roman got that phone call he knew that something bad was bound to happen.

❁

"I'm going to kill him."
Roman hissed as he paced through the parking garage in Dallas.
"Leave it to me love."
Enzo grinned grabbing the Salvatore's hand in attempt to calm him down.
When Roman found out Matt had released Rayna and the blame was pinned on Enzo he lost all sympathy for the human.
"Hey, Martel. What's up? I got your text. I owe you for calling off the alert on the whole hostage hoax, so whatever you want, man."
The two vampires smirked hearing the human's voice echo through the empty garage.
As the boy got out Enzo sped over pinning him to his car.
"All he wants is to cooperate with me. I compelled him to summon you here while remaining silent and calm."
Enzo smirked at a choking Matt.
"Detective, would you mind handcuffing yourself to the car?"
Roman grinned as the man did so.
The Salvatore stepped closer to the blonde, clenching his fists in anger.
"So, by now, I'm sure Alex has decided that my fiancé is the one who let Rayna escape, which, of course, is untrue."
Roman gave a cold chuckle as Enzo squeezed the boy's throat tighter.
"But what we've yet to understand is, why the hell would you release Rayna Cruz?"
Roman asked as Matt simply glared at the two vampires holding him captive.
Enzo rolled his eyes throwing Matt back into the back of the car and locking the door.
"Why are you two even in Dallas?"
Matt asked after regaining his breath.
"I'm here for work, Roman's here because I am.  Everyone's looking for Rayna, of course.
The Armory sent an alert when she escaped.
I knew she'd used Caroline to set a trap for Stefan, so I wasn't surprised by the hostage broadcast.
But I did grow curious when the police failed to respond. I discovered that you convinced them the whole thing was a hoax. Now, why would you do that?"
Enzo glared at the cop.
Roman had never felt hostile toward Matt Donovan, but when he saw Caroline in danger he was ready to rip the boy's throat out.
"We knew you wouldn't talk, even if we tortured you. So we decided why not tortured your employer?"
Roman hummed taking a step closer to the man handcuffed to the car.
"You wonder why I released Rayna? Look at what you're doing right now!"
Matt shouted at Roman, however the Salvatore merely rolled his eyes.
"I know you have a strong disliking for my kind, but if you wanted to unleash Rayna on us, why wait until now to free her?"
Enzo asked giving a questioning glance to Roman.
"Ask Stefan Salvatore."
Matt glared at Roman making the vampire scoff.
Roman furrowed his eyebrows as he heard a loud noise.
"Lorenzo-"
Suddenly something threw the English man out of the car.
"What the hell?"
Roman asked watching as Enzo struggled against seemingly nothing.
However as Enzo threw a punch Nora appeared, her cloaking spell having been broken.
"Motus!"
Nora exclaimed sending Enzo back into the car as the windows shattered.
Roman hissed running towards the girl and pinning her against the car as well.
As the Salvatore held her down Enzo ran over shoving a pill down Nora's throat, none of the supernatural paying attention to Matt as he escaped.
"Ossox-"
Nora's eyes widened as she realized her magic had stopped working.
"Fast-acting stuff, isn't it? That dose will keep you quiet for an hour or so."
Enzo smirked at the angry brunette.
"Your toy got away."
"That's fine, we much prefer you without magic anyway."
Roman grinned at the heretic.
"Well, lucky for you, I'm weak with hunger. Haven't had a proper meal in three bloody years."
Nora ran towards Enzo, the man putting her in a chokehold and attempting to bring another pill to her lips.
"No! No!"
Nora shouted as she tried to break free.
"Are you really that attached to witchy powers?"
Enzo gaped as Roman furrowed his eyebrows.
The boy had a feeling that something was wrong.
"I'm attached to being alive! Those pills are what poisoned Mary Lou!"
Nora panicked as Enzo let her go.
"What do you mean?"
Roman asked, his eyes now wide with panic.
"I was promised an antidote in return for Enzo's capture."
Nora heaved out.
"Who promised you?"
Roman questioned throwing a glance to Enzo.
"Alex. She said you released Rayna."
Nora looked between the two.
"Incorrect. I'm guessing she only told you that to motivate you."
Enzo sighed as Roman pulled at his curls.
"My only motivation is Mary Louise! She's all I have in this world, and I will not let her die!"
Nora shouted as she began shoving her hands into Enzo's chest.
"What's the matter huh? Afraid to hit me back?"
Nora hissed throwing her hands into the man's chest again.
"I'm calling a truce."
Enzo held his hands up casting a worried glance to a panicking Roman.
"I don't want one!"
Nora seethed.
Enzo grabbed the girl by her shoulders roughly, trying to calm her down.
"Listen to me! If those pills are fatal to witches, then we three need to work together.
"Why should I trust you? Either of you?"
Nora threw an uneasy look back at Roman.
"Because we care about this as much as you do. I swear it on my life."
Enzo breathed out as Roman ran a hand over his face.
Roman jumped as his phone rang, answering it instantly.
"Damon, are you okay?"
Roman asked quickly as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"Me? Never better brother. You and Enzo are still friends with those nut jobs from the Armory right?"
"Yeah why? What do you need?"
Roman questioned.
"I need to set up a meeting. Stefan's got Rayna Cruz on his tail, and he needs to come in for a landing."
Roman's panic only increased knowing his twin was in danger.
"I know a place."
Roman sighed as he heard Damon do the same.
"The Armory uses an airfield near Dallas. I'll text you and Stefan the coordinates."
"Thanks baby brother."
"And Damon?"
Roman took his brother's silence as a notion for him to continue.
"Please stay safe."
Roman hung up the phone walking back over to Enzo and Nora.
"You ready for the hostage exchange love?"
"As I'll ever be."

❁

"As requested."
Nora smirked appearing with Alex.
"And as promised, here I am."
Enzo grinned as Roman held on tightly to his hand.
"Where's Mary Louise?"
Nora asked hurriedly.
"Resting in the office."
Alex pulled a set of keys out of her pocket.
"I hope you remember how to drive."
Alex gave a fake smile.
"What about the antidote?"
Roman asked wrapping his other hand around Enzo's arm.
"Who said I had an antidote?"
Alex asked him with a frown.
"You said you'd help Mary Louise!"
Nora exclaimed as Roman's heart broke for the girl. 
"I said I'd give you everything I know about the pills. Here's what I know, we tried to create the antidote, and we failed."
Alex shrugged inconsiderately. 
"What?"
Enzo and Roman asked each of them feeling their hearts sink.
"Meanwhile, Mary Louise will be dead within the week."
Alex held back a grin as Nora lunged at her.
"I'll tear your throat out!"
Enzo quickly stepped in front of the heretic.
"No! I need her first."
"You can stay here and yell at me if you want, but then I might not give you a car. I suggest you go make the most of the time your girlfriend has left."
Alex shook the keys as she smirked at Nora.
"You're a terrible person."
Roman glared as Alex tossed the heretic the keys.
"For your sake, I hope you're lying."
Enzo turned glaring at the woman.
"Why so interested in the pills? They're only really useful if you want to fight a witch or hide from a locator spell."
Alex glanced between the two.
"Speak plainly, Alexandria. I'm not in the mood for delay."
Enzo growled as Roman grabbed his hand trying to calm him down.
"I know you've been raiding the Armory's supplies. Figured it out after Rayna's escape. But why did you steal so many pills? Who could you have been giving them to?"
Roman swallowed hard as Alex stared him down.
"Enzo hasn't stolen anything. Seems to me you've just lost track of your inventory."
Roman glared as Enzo squeezed his hand.
"Or perhaps you're lying to me?"
Alex chuckled as Roman's breath hitched. 
"We're family, well, almost family,"
Alex looked down to the engagement ring on Roman's hand.
"So you know I'm not an idiot. Give Bonnie Bennett my regards."
Alex left with a smirk.
Roman wanted to scream however the ringing of his phone kept him from doing so.
"Stefan's there, find him something's wrong!"
Valarie's voice flowed through the phone in panic.
Roman's eyes widened as he sprinted to the other side of the airfield.
"Stefan!"
Roman screamed.
The boy had arrived just in time to see Rayna drive her sword through his twins chest.

Roman sprinted to his brother's side, scraping his hands as he fell to the ground.
"Stefan! Stefan!"
Roman shouted as tears gathered in his eyes.
"Please wake up big brother."
Roman cried shaking his twins body.
"No,"
Roman heard Damon whisper from behind him.
"Stefan!"
Valarie and Damon rushed to Roman's side kneeling by Stefan's lifeless body.
"Tell him to wake up Damon!"
Roman's body was shaking as he looked to his eldest brother.
"Stefan, hey Stefan!"
Damon shook his little brother.
"We can bring him back we've done it before."
Valarie rushed out in a panic.
Roman shook his head as his lips trembled.
"Where's the damn sword? Where's the sword?"
Damon growled looking around frantically.
"It's my fault."
Valarie cried.
"No, this is all on me-"
"It doesn't matter who's fault it is!"
Roman cut them both off as he fell back off of his knees.
Valarie sighed walking away from the brothers.

Roman rested a hand on his brother's arm as Damon placed a hand on his youngest brother's shoulder
"Everything will be okay, Stefan. We'll get that stone, and we'll make this right."
Damon sighed shakily squeezing Roman's shoulder.
"We're gonna save you, big brother. I promise. I promise you."