BLOODY ROSES [3]

17

Roman was shocked at the sight of the crashed car.
Nora and Mary Louise had destroyed the
Phoenix Stone, giving their lives in the process.
However they also released all of the evil souls trapped within.
"They didn't know that Rayna had stabbed Stefan. That his spirit was already trapped in the
Phoenix Stone. They probably thought they were doing the world a favor."
Valarie mumbled sadly as Roman rubbed her shoulder in comfort.
"Well, that's awfully generous. Of you, not them. Considering they never gave a damn about anyone else other than each other. So, if you're done mourning Thelma and Mary Louise, I think we should get out of here."
Roman gave a heated glare to his brother.
"I'm not going anywhere with you. You could have prevented this. All you had to do was take Stefan's scar and put your brother first, for once in your life."
Valarie shouted at the eldest Salvatore with tears in her eyes.
"Hey! I'm trying to make it right, which is why we have to find Rayna and get Stefan's soul back in his body."
Damon growled angrily.
"The Stone is destroyed, Damon. And Stefan with it."
Valarie cried.
"No actually, not exactly."
The two looked at Roman in question.
"It destroyed the cell that was holding the souls, not the souls themselves."
Roman told them as their eyes widened.
"So you're saying-"
"Stefan is very much alive, we just have to find out where he is."

Roman and Damon had returned to the airfield after Valarie had set off to find Rayna.
"He's not here."
Damon sighed out as Roman looked around the airfield.
"Something isn't right."
Roman mumbled softly looking around.
The youngest Salvatore caught sight of his twin walking toward them, however something told Roman it wasn't who he thought.
"Remember anything?"
Damon asked as Roman looked over his twin's body once more.
"No nothing. I'm sorry, do I know you?"
He asked furrowing his eyebrows.
Roman shook his head softly.
"It's not Stefan."
He mumbled.
Damon merely shook his head dragging both his brothers to the car.

❁

"Here. Flip through that."
Damon handed 'Stefan' his old journals.
Roman sat in the passenger seat bouncing his leg up and down.
He knew the person in the backseat wasn't Stefan but Damon refused to listen.
"What is this?"
The man asked looking over the leather bound journals.
"It's your journal. See if anything jogs your memory."
Damon told him as he continued to drive.
"'Day 57 of being pissed off at my garbage-heap of an older brother-'"
"Just go ahead and read it to yourself."
Damon sighed as Roman snorted.
"Look, the most important thing is, man, you're not in that Hell, all right? This is real."
Roman rolled his eyes as Damon reassured the man.
"And look, man, the truth is, you have every right to be pissed at me, okay? I screwed up bad, and when you remember why, I do not blame you-"
"Damon?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm famished."

❁

"Arkansas? What the hell's in Arkansas?"
Roman heard Damon on the phone as he watched 'Stefan' kill employees of the restaurant. 
"Well, that depends on how cooperative my passenger's gonna be."
Damon sighed hanging up the phone.
"I told you it wasn't him, so who is he?"
Roman growled at Damon, his temper on the verge of being sent over the edge.
"Some guy called Ambrose."
Damon whispered.
"All right, brother. Time to go."
Damon gaped at the bodies lying around, casting a glance to Roman who merely shrugged.
"Not a minute too soon! This place is dead."
Ambrose smirked sending a wink to Roman who couldn't help but growl.