Roman was startled when he saw Manon running towards him. She was coming at him so fast, she almost knocked into him.  “Hey, girl! Where is Mom? Is she okay?”

The look on Manon’s face was enough of an answer. Not to brag, but Roman was, like, an animal whisperer. She looked completely crazed, and her eyes were unfocused. “Ok, I’ll tell you what. I’ll go get some supplies, then we’ll go look for Mom.”

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Patton was pacing back and forth, or the best a tea pot could, and ranting about how horrible he felt. 

Logan, Remus, and Virgil were watching him pace back and forth, occasionally trying to comfort him. Okay, mostly it was Virgil. “This probably isn’t the best time,” Logan muttered to Remus. “But, I told you so.”

Remus turned to Logan and stuck his tongue out at him. “I was just trying to be helpful!”

Logan narrowed his eyes at him. “That’s bullshit. You just wanted to upset Janus.”

Remus sighed dramatically as he fell backwards. “You know me too well, babe.”

Logan sighed half-heartedly. “I know.”

Patton clicked his tongue to get their attention back to him. “Guys! What are we going to do? She was completely innocent!”

Logan saw Virgil shrug out of the corner of his eyes. “I told you guys it was a bad idea. I voted ‘no’.”

Logan nodded in agreement when they heard the castle doors open. “Good god, how many intruders can there be in a day? Come, Remus. We might as well warn them of their doom.”

Remus shrugged as he stood. “Sure.”

Logan and Remus made their way to the front door, leaving Patton and Virgil to worry themselves sick. 

On the walk to their destination, they discussed how many sticks of deodorant that one could consume before falling ill. When they reached the place they meant to reach, Logan heard Remus scoff. “Hello?”

The man in the front area seemed startled to be addressed. He looked around, and when he found nothing spoke. “Who's there?”

“Hey! Big guy! Down here!”

The man seemed unfazed to see a candelabra speaking. “Oh! I get it now,” he said, as if relieved. “This is a terrible nightmare. I’m dreaming. This place,” he paused to gesture around him, “doesn’t exist.”

Logan decided now was probably the best time to intervene; who knows what Remus could convince this man when he wasn’t in sound logic. “I’m afraid that’s not true. Is there a reason you’re here?”

The man’s eyes unfocused as he spoke. “I’m Roman, and I’m looking for my mother. Our horse arrived home without her and Bethany.”

Logan nodded, as if it was obvious. Which, really it was. Why else would two people show up, when no one has shown up since everyone was forced to forget they existed? Clearly, the two had to be connected. “If you follow us, I’m sure we can help you solve this conundrum.”

Remus looked flabbergasted. “Bro! What the heck?! I thought we were telling him to leave and never come back,” he whisper shouted. 

Logan shrugged. “We were. But, he might be the one! The one to break the spell!”

“And how is us leading him to his doom going to help?”

“We aren’t going to lead him to his doom. We are going to make Janus and this stranger sit down and get to know each other, if it’s the last thing we do.”

Logan heard what he thought was Remus mutter, “It will be the last thing we do,” under his breath. 

Logan looked behind him to make sure Roman was still following, which he was.  

“So,” Roman began. “How can you two talk? Being objects and all.”

Logan shrugged. “We’re enchanted.”

Roman gestured to the two of them. “And you’ve, uh-, you’ve been like this you whole lives?”

Logan rolled his eyes. “Hardly. This happened about ten years ago, no thanks to the prince.”

Logan heard Roman gasp dramatically. “There’s a prince here?! Where?!”

“I don’t think you’ll want to know.”

“But- it’s a prince! Gosh, could you imagine being a prince?”

Logan held back his annoyance; if he wanted this to work, he’d have to try and keep being as polite as possible. “No. Being a prince comes with great responsibility.”

“So, where are we going?”

“We are going where we think your mother is.”

Roman laughed heartily. “You think my mother is here?”

“Yes, we do. No one else has been here in the last 10 years; the two of you have to be connected.”

“I guess that makes sense.”

--------------------------------------------

Emily was sitting in a small jail cell when she heard footsteps approaching. She wouldn’t say she was terrified, because never in her life has she been terrified, but the feeling she was feeling wasn't a good one. She heard the french voice speak, although she couldn’t make out what they said. 

“...and be very quiet. The last thing we need are any issues before we can explain this to his highness.”

The next thing she knew, she was blinded by a sudden light, and she saw Roman. “Roman,” she screeched. “What are you doing here?!”

Roman looked flabbergasted. “Mom? What are you doing here?”

Emily rolled her eyes as she remembered why she was here. “Those pesky wolves,” she grumbled. “Scared Manon half to death.”

Roman chuckled. “Only you, Mom.”

Very suddenly, there was a loud growling, and she would almost feel the irritating rolling off of someone. 

“What the hell is going on?” 

The french voice spoke up. “Now, your majesty, before you overreact-”

“Who is this?” the voice hissed. 

“Someone who has come to rescue his mother,” Roman said.

The man, Emily didn’t know his name, turned to face Roman. Although, no one could see his face, as he kept it out of the light. “You can’t save your mother. She trespassed.”

Roman, however, was determined. Emily could hear him change his stance, something he did when he was about to do something he was uncertain of. 

“We could make a trade,” Roman said.

The voice scoffed. “What could you possibly have to offer me?” 

“Myself.”

Emily gasped loudly, making Roman turn towards her. “Roman, please don’t do this! Your old mom isn’t going to last that much longer anyhow. It would just be best to go home, leave me! You have too much to live for!”

She heard Roman scoff. “No offence, Mom, but I really don’t. My life is so boring, being held hostage has to be better.”

“Roman,” she demanded. She would not let this happen. “I forbid you from trying to take my place.”

Roman made a face of displeasure, but he knew he had lost. There was nothing he could say to her to change her mind. “Fine,” Roman turned back towards the figure. “I want to say good-bye.”

There was no response. Only footsteps walking away. 

Roman wouldn’t have it, apparently. “Are you so cold hearted that you won’t even let a son hug his mother good-bye?”

At this her door opened, and Roman stepped inside. 

“Once this door closes,” the voice said. “It will never open again.”

Emily was quickly enveloped in a hug. Roman was holding strong, unlike her. “I love you,” she whispered.

“I know, Mom. I promise I’ll escape.”

Emily pulled away to look at Roman. “Wha-”

Before she could finish, Roman had pushed her out of the cell and slammed the door.

Emily was quickly ushered down the stairs and out of the castle.

When they arrived at the front door, Emily assumed this would be an appropriate time to speak up. “You can’t do this! I can’t live without him; I can’t live knowing he’s in danger!”

The american voice stepped forward to comfort her; the voice turned out to be coming from a candelabra. “Ma’am, we promise your son will be taken care of! Nothing will cause him harm; we’ll make sure of it!”

And with that, she was shoved out the door, forced to walk back to her small, ol’ town.