Chapter 103 - Consequences

Music Recommendation: Bevor Alles Wieder Passiert- Ben Frost

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When Roman entered the boy's Dormitorium, the warden of the building looked up from behind the desk to look at the person who stepped inside. And though it was past the curfew time of the university, the warden made no effort to stop Roman. As he walked, the sound of his boots were prominent, and it echoed. 

Though Roman didn't speak to every person, he knew the people and the ones they were involved with. It was one of the advantages of sitting back and observing people as if they were part of an experiment. He walked to one of the dorm and knocked on the door. 

The dorm door was opened by one of Mateo Jackson's lackeys. Seeing Roman standing right in front of his room, his eyes widened. He tried to prepare himself to hit the person who had shown up in the middle of the night. But Roman was quick, and he punched his nose hard enough that they both heard the bone crack, and the boy's nose started to bleed profusely. 

Roman's face was warped in rage, and he stepped inside the room before closing the door behind him. 

"Moltenore, one more hit and you will get into trouble," warned the boy, who had fallen on the ground. 

Though the boy in front of Roman was a morm, who did the bidding of higher vampires than himself like Mateo and Griffin. 

A cold chuckle escaped from Roman's lips, and he said, "Are you new in Veteris to think I care about such things, when you tried to put your filthy hands on things that belong to me?" 

Stepping forward, Roman picked up the morm, who tried to reach the dorm's door. He twisted the morm's hand, catching hold of the boy's face, and he pushed it against the nearest wall. 

"I-I didn't do anything to her! I swear! It wasn't me but Mateo and Eddie who hurt her. I-I didn't do anything to her!" The morm panicked because he hadn't expected Roman to pay him a visit when the Elders were in Veteris. 

Roman's hand gripped the boy's head, smashing it against the wall that slowly started to mark itself with the blood of the morm. 

Smashing the boy's head two more times, Roman pulled the boy away from the wall, where one side of the head was covered in blood, and the morm looked like he was going to pass out. 

"I-It wasn't m-me, but Eddie who hit her and Mateo wanted to assault her. I was only th-there-"

Roman punched the boy one more time before the morm fell unconscious. 

Right now, Roman's eyes had turned dark red, and he was only getting started in serving what had been asked for. Stepping out of the room, he walked to the next one.

This time, he didn't wait to knock on the door as his patience had been worn out, and he kicked the door open. Eddie was busy playing cards with two other juniors, and on seeing Roman, he scoffed. 

"Nobody invited you in here, Moltenore. Get out of the room," Eddie waved his hand as if to shoo Roman out of his dorm. 

Roman glared at the two vampires in the room, who were from the freshman year, and ordered, "Back to your dorms. Now." 

His gaze alone was enough to have the two boys stand up and make their way towards the door. 

"Nobody is going anywhere. This is not your room." Eddie then looked at Roman and demanded, "Do you have difficulty understanding what I said, you half vampire?" demanded Eddie. His eyes then fell on Roman's hand that was coated in blood. "How is your girlfriend doing? Heard that someone pleased her this afternoon," he stoked Roman's already burning anger. 

Hearing those disgusting words, Roman's mind filled with rage, and in less than a second, he picked up Eddie from where he was, gripping his hand around the boy's neck. 

"Go ahead, hit me more," laughed Eddie while running his tongue over his teeth. "Let me tell you something. Her legs are amazing, I felt them up and I heard her heart skip a beat. If I am not wrong, she definitely liked it." 

Roman's fingernails dug deep into Eddie's neck, and he pushed him back before beating the boy up with his hands and legs. 

The two freshman year students quickly hurried out of the room. Not to get back to their dorms but to inform Mateo. Back in the dorm, both Roman and Eddie fought, trying to hit and beat the other person. Eddie was a turned vampire, and though he wasn't as strong as Roman, he tried to fight with him. 

The commotion caused by the fight brought the other students out of their dorms to check what the noise was all about. 

Eddie laughed at Roman's anger, and he taunted, "Aren't you pathetic? To not be able to protect any person? Might as well breakup with her and give her to me, I think she would be great in-"

Roman punched right into the boy's face, so hard that it took a while for Eddie to get back on his feet, and he took the support of the wall. 

"You might have tried to put your hands on her once, but don't think you will live to see that happen a second time," threatened Roman in a low voice. 

Roman lifted the boy by his collar and said, "Have you ever wondered how it feels to be human again?" his eyes burned holes into the person. 

Eddie tried to hit Roman, but Roman quickly kicked the person right into his stomach with his knee. Still holding a grip on the boy, Roman used his other hand to hold Eddie's face, putting pressure on both sides of Eddie's face. 

"Fucking, Moltenore!" Eddie gritted his teeth, noticing Roman's eyes turned cold and empty. 

Roman used the other hand to twist the boy's hand, turning it to the point until it had dislocated from the boy's shoulder. Eddie screamed in pain. Using the opportunity, Roman pulled the vampire's fangs out of his mouth, and more screams filled the room. By now, a crowd had formed outside the dorm.

He dragged the boy out of his room, who was in pain. In time, Mateo appeared, who hadn't been in the Dormitorium until now. Mateo came to help his friend and landed a successful punch on Roman's face. 

Mateo had come from the corner, at the same time when Roman had stepped out of the dorm. The blow had been a surprise, and Roman ran his tongue over the corner of his lips to taste blood in his mouth. 

Right now, Roman was high on Julie's blood and also the anger that coursed through his veins. He didn't care about anything except about one person. 

"What the fuck did you do to him?!" Mateo glared at Roman, noticing the fangs in Eddie's mouth were missing. Apart from the vampire students, some of the human students had stepped out of their dorms, which was why the vampires hid their vampire features. 

A chuckle escaped from Roman's lips, and he said, "Trying to turn him back to human."

Mateo glared at Roman and went straight at him, where both of them started to fight in the middle of the corridor. Some of the students moved towards corners so that they wouldn't get in the middle of the fight. 

Griffin, who had stepped out of his dorm, stood at the side with his arms crossed, watching the fight. This was what he wanted. He knew that Roman had a bad temper, and it was only a matter of time before Donovan would disown him, and Elder Luciano would praise him. 

Roman blocked the hit that Mateo was trying for, pushing Mateo's hand away, he used his hand to strike Mateo's chest, which left a shock, and Mateo took two steps backwards. Hearing the commotion not stop, the warden reached the floor, and he shouted, 

"Stop it right there, Moltenore and Jackson!" 

But neither of the two boys paid any attention. The warden glared at the other students and said, "What are all of you doing out of your beds? Go back to your dorms so that I can handle the current situation before I call Ms. Dante." 

Most of them went back to their dorms, mostly humans, while some vampires lingered, wanting to know what caused the fight in the middle of the night. 

"Did you not hear me?" The warden looked at the vampires who had lingered, and the students reluctantly stepped into their dorms and closed the door. 

Simon and Maximus, who had already climbed down from the above floor, still stood at the side and watched the fight. 

Roman and Mateo's fight continued, and Mateo laughed, "Look at how weak you are, you have truly fallen. Getting involved with a human girl and trying to protect her. Are you in love with her, Moltenore?" 

Mateo's words only resulted in Roman's hand turning into a fist and punching Mateo multiple times on his face. On one side of the corner, Eddie groaned in pain because of the dislocation of one of his arms and his fangs that had been pulled out from his mouth. 

When the warden tried to push both the vampires away from each other, Roman's hand hit the warden's face, and the older man winced. 

"Stop the fight right now, else I will have to get one of the teachers," the warden warned them, but seeing the fight continue, the man left the floor. 

Roman caught hold of Mateo's neck and then slammed Mateo right on the ground. 

"Beating you up seems to have done no good," remarked Roman through his gritted teeth. "I warned you to stay the fuck away from her." 

"She has a slender neck, you know I have felt it when we were on the stage," poked Mateo, the smile on his lips not leaving his face. "So fragile that one snap is enough to break her neck."

Mateo pulled out something from his pocket and then used it to stab Roman. Roman brought his hand forward to grab it, and the silver nail burned into his hand. Mateo kicked Roman and then got up. 

"You fucking don't belong in this place, you were supposed to be dead. To think you are smart, Moltenore, you are nothing," huffed Mateo and then said, "How about I go and fuck the girl, she won't even have to know it is me if I compel her, and let us see what she says?"

The words from Mateo snapped the last strands of thread that Roman had been holding back. Within a second, Roman got up and caught Mateo before he repeatedly punched the vampire's face that was now dripping in blood. Holding Mateo by his neck, Roman pushed him against the wall. 

"Few people are redeemable, but some are just vile and need to be discarded, Jackson," came the cold words from Roman. With one hand still tightly holding the vampire's neck, Roman raised his right hand while Mateo tried to catch his breath. 

Though Mateo tried to get out of Roman's hold, but Roman had always been stronger than most of the vampires to let him go. 

Noticing Roman raise his hand, Griffin, who had been quietly enjoying the scene, stepped forward and warned, "What do you think you are doing, Moltenore?" he demanded. 

Roman's grip on Mateo's neck didn't loosen, and he tilted his head to the side, looking at the person. He was the person who had made Julie cry today. The one who had marked her skin. For a few seconds, he didn't answer as if he didn't hear what Griffin said. Roman then calmly said,

"Have you heard that action speaks louder than words?" 

There were barely six students in the corridor, while most of them had gone inside their dorms on the warden's word. The ones who saw Roman's hand raised, their eyes widened. Because it wasn't the first time, they had seen him do something like this. 

Mateo, who had been looking at Roman with a mocking expression on his face until now, the expression on his face froze. 

Roman's hand had moved inside Mateo's chest in a swift movement, where his heart was present. Roman squeezed it in his bare hands until it burst. Mateo's eyes turned hollow, his expression vacant, and his body fell slack on the ground.

Silence filled the corridor, and Griffin's mouth fell open. 

He had expected Roman to get into trouble for causing a ruckus in here, for touching his precious little human. But he hadn't expected Roman to kill someone, that too, a vampire. 

"You fucker!" Griffin cursed at him and stomped his way towards where Roman stood. He swung his hand, ready to blow a punch at Roman for killing Mateo. 

But Roman was quick to step back. Lifting his leg, he kicked right into Griffin's face. 

Griffin's vampire side surfaced in his eyes, and the features on his face changed. Swiftly getting up, he used his speed and strength to tackle Roman down on the ground. He started punching Roman, when he pulled his hand back for the third time, a couple of footsteps were heard on the floor, where they were. 

Griffin had his back facing the stairs and was pissed that Roman had killed his friend. 

"That's enough!" came a loud and rough voice that had Griffin's hand freeze in mid-air. 

He quickly stood up, and when he turned, he saw the four elders standing not too far from where he and Roman were, along with the headmistress and the warden.

Griffin felt the tension in the air increase. Even though he wasn't involved with the death here, unlike Roman, he could feel the heaviness around them. But having been caught in the fight, he quickly bowed his head. 

The Elders eyes fell on the two vampires before it fell on the third vampire who lay dead on the floor, with blood spilt around him. Then the fourth vampire, sitting near an opened dorm, with his hand on his shoulder. 

"What is going on here?" questioned Donovan, where not even one Elder looked pleased by the sight that presented in front of them. 

"I thought the rules were quite clear. And to think it happened when there are other students," Dante's voice was hard, and she tried to speak on behalf of the Elders before they would say something that would lead to more deaths. 

Castiel had a grim expression on his face, and he turned to look at the warden, who was once the Marudas family's butler, Albert. He ordered, "Take the dead vampire's body out of here and bring it to the forest so that the humans don't come out and get into shock. Also get this place cleaned." 

Albert, the warden, bowed his head, and he quickly went near Mateo Jackson's body and picked it up. Putting the boy over his shoulder, he started climbing down the stairs. 

Griffin was quick to speak up, and he said, "It was Moltenore who did this! He was the one who killed my friend Mateo Jackson!" 

The Elder's eyes shifted from Griffin to look at Roman, who didn't speak as his mind was still consumed with anger. 

Luciano had a scowl on his face while he spoke to Griffin, "Who told you to get involved in it when you are supposed to inform the closest authorized person? First of all, killing your own kind?" he looked back at Roman. 

Donovan looked at Roman without any expression on his face, but his eyes were filled with intrigue. He then looked at Roman's hands that were covered in blood. With the hole in the dead vampire's chest and the heart missing on the ground, the Elder could only guess how Roman had killed him. Though Roman's face appeared to be blank, his eyes danced in a raging fire. 

Elder Donovan asked, "Why did you kill him, Roman?"

Roman's cold eyes met Donovan, and the look in the younger vampire's eyes excited the Elder that he could turn into a perfect ripper. 

To make sure to add fuel to the current situation, Griffin informed them, "Mateo is my friend, and Roman came to this floor in the middle of the night, and started beating him and his friends. As you can see, he has done more damage than anyone has ever thought of—"

"Nobody asked you to speak," Donovan cut his words, sending a slight glare at Griffin that shut him up immediately. "No need to be a parrot in here." 

Luciano looked displeased, sending a glare to both Griffin and Donovan, but the latter to be a quieter one. He commented, "Killing a vampire for no reason is against the laws that we have set here in Veteris. You know that, don't you, Roman?" he asked in an air of superiority.

"Depends on the reason, doesn't it?" asked Castiel, giving Roman the opportunity to speak. 

Roman gave it a few seconds before he replied, "He deserved it, there's nothing more to it." 

The fourth Elder vampire, Remy Oscar, stared at Roman with a small frown on his face. And though he stood there with the others, he didn't take part in the conversation. 

"That isn't enough reason that you can go and kill someone of our own kind. You have offended us, by not following the rules that were meant to be followed or do you think you are better than the rest of them," scoffed Luciano. He then turned to look at Donovan and said, "Looks like you are unable to keep a hold on the boy. It is time to teach him how to behave by imprisoning him in the dungeon. We can then decide on how to punish him more for his misbehaviour. Don't you all agree?" 

Castiel pursed his lips and said, "Unless you don't give the reason as to what happened and what forced you to take such extreme step, I think you will need to stay in the dungeon, Roman."

"If that is what you want," remarked Roman. Castiel frowned, while Luciano looked even more offended. 

Roman wasn't going to let Mateo or Griffin off without repaying what they did to Julie, and getting into trouble with the Elders seemed to be an unavoidable thing. 

"The boy knows that Azazel will get him out of there, and he does what pleases him. There will be a day in the future where your disciple will hold a dagger at your chest, Azazel," Luciano shifted his eyes to look at the Elder, who stood next to him. 

Donovan questioned Roman, "Let me help, why did you kill the boy?" 

And though Griffin wanted to speak, he tried hard not to open his mouth. He was aware that stepping on the line would only end up in being smacked across his face or spending his time in the dungeon.

Seeing Roman's unwillingness to speak on it or try to defend himself, Donovan said, "Alright then. If you want to spend your time in the dungeon, then so be it."

Roman's eyes didn't break eye contact with Donovan, before the warden could get him, Roman started to walk and was followed by the others. 

"He acts so prideful as if he's done no wrong!" commented Luciano, his eyes flaring, and Castiel placed his hand on the Elder's shoulder, while Donovan only stared at Roman's back. 

The floor where the death had taken place had been cleaned, and any spots of blood on the wall had been removed. The boy whose arm had been dislocated had been taken to the infirmary, and so was the other boy, whose head Roman had smashed on the wall a couple of times. 

An hour later, in the restricted side of the forest and the underground dungeon hidden from the human's eyes and only used for vampire's purposes, Roman was placed behind the rusted bars. He stood there with his arms crossed against his chest and his body leaning against the two bars of the cell. 

Luciano commented, "Don't you think you should execute him for such misbehaviour?" to Donovan. 

"Aren't you too eager to kill him off, Luciano. You don't have to worry about him. Go catch up with your sleep and you too Griffin," Donovan offered a slight smile that didn't reach his eyes. 

"Hmph," harrumphed Luciano, "If he and Griffin weren't fighting, I wouldn't be here bothering your boy."

"Then we should also put Griffin inside as he seemed to have forgotten about the protocols, and decided to do what he wanted," Donovan turned to look at both of them. 

Griffin bowed his head, looking at Donovan with a pleading expression as if wanting to say something. 

"What is it, Griffin?" questioned Luciano. 

"I know why Moltenore got himself into this. If I may speak please," Griffin didn't raise his head. 

"Speak," said Luciano. 

"Roman always used to threaten Mateo and this isn't the first time he has done this. It was only a month ago he had beaten up Mateo. And all of this for a human girl, that he has been saving for himself, without drinking blood from her," explained Griffin, and Roman, who stood there, didn't bother to look at the three of them. 

"So this is for a drink of not sharing," Luciano clicked his tongue.

"I believe Mateo wanted to take a drink from her and Roman got very angry about it. Moltenore has developed this-"

"You sound like a girl right now Griffin. Gossiping, and as much as it interests me," stated Donovan, looking down at the other Elder's boy, he continued, "I prefer to take the information directly from Roman than from a third person. Boys fight all the time, it's a very common thing. Like I said, I don't need a parrot. Go treat your wounds, unless you are strong and can head back to the Dormitorium." 

Luciano turned to Griffin, giving a nod as if to obey what Donovan said. Griffin offered his bow to both the older vampires, and before he left, he turned to look at Roman with a smirk on his face. 

Luciano walked in front of the cell, and he said, "Azazel thought you were like him, but what a let down. To think this was all for food. Unless Griffin meant that you have created a special bond with this food of yours." 

Roman only stared at Luciano, and if the boy weren't Donovan's turned and prized vampire right now, both Luciano and Roman would have been in a fight. And the Elder would have made sure to let the boy know who was more superior in the room. 

He turned around, ready to walk out of the dungeon. But before doing so, the Elder stopped in front of Donovan and said, 

"Looks like your treasure has found something else to be interested in, and not you. Doesn't even answer you," Luciano scoffed before he walked out from there. 

With just them in the dungeon, Donovan stepped forward, his hands held behind his back and looking at Roman. He said, "You killed a vampire that has upset people. Though personally, I am not upset about it and am rather pleased to see that you can still kill. What I am upset about is that you haven't given me an explanation about what happened." 

"The matter is solved now. There's nothing you need to worry about," replied Roman, his voice barely holding any emotion in it. 

The corner of the Elder's lips threatened to pull, and he said, "Humans are fragile in nature, Rome. They are our food source, and nothing more than that. Treat them like toys, but don't grow attached to them. Because as you know, after some point of time, all toys break."

"I am possessive about my things, Azazel," stated Roman, staring at Donovan, while the man stared back at him with the same intensity in his eyes. "And I don't like it when someone even tries to look at it. Lest touch and try to sully it." 

Donovan nodded his head, his lips twisted, and he said, "I am aware of it, and I understand it. But I need you to focus on important things with me, not on something else. We have places to go."

"I have no interest in it. Find someone else to replace me, not something that you cannot do," deadpanned Roman, and Donovan smiled. 

"It's not that I can't, but I don't want to. Why look for copper when I have diamond?" asked Donovan with a smile on his face. "And to make sure we are on the same page," he drawled. 

Roman's eyes narrowed when he heard footsteps echoing in the dungeon, and soon two vampire men appeared, dragging a girl inside. 

It wasn't Julie, but it was a human girl, Julie's friend, who was being dragged inside the dungeon. She had a terrified look on her face, not knowing what was going on.

"Where are you taking me!? I will complain about this, let me go!" shouted the human. 

Roman clenched his jaw, and his eyes hardened, "Let go of her, Azazel. She has nothing to do with us." 

Donovan shook his head, "I would tell otherwise. Let me show you how a toy works." Seeing Roman there, Reese's eyes widened, feeling relieved yet confused, not knowing what he was doing there. Donovan came to stand behind Reese, holding her head, and he calmly said, "As beautiful as the toy is, it is easy to break. See." 

Saying this, the Elder snapped the girl's head, and the human's body fell on the ground, with eyes still wide.