Roman's Reign

Vampire King

Epilogue

A small bat flies through the city of Tampa Bay. The night sky sporting a half moon. The bat lands on the roof of a bank and soaks in the sounds. Some teens are smoking and skateboarding down the street. A couple of buses roll past. A small cry of help from a man catches the bats attention. The bat flies off. Heading down a couple of blocks, it lands on Roman Reigns shoulder, who's sitting on the edge of an apartment building. He sits looking bored, eating an apple.

"Hey Nina, what you got for me?" Roman says to his companion.

The bat screeches to Roman. Roman shakes his head, understanding what his friend is saying. The bat finishes screeching and flies towards the man in trouble. Roman smiles and drops off the building.

"HELP, SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME!"

A college student runs down the street as three male thugs chase him. The student sees a car coming down the street. He stops and waves it down, screaming for help. The car keeps driving, almost running the student over. The thugs catch up and grab him, dragging him to a nearby park. They throw him down next to a swing set and beat him down.

"Guys, three on one? That's not fair."

The thugs turn around to see Roman sitting on the jungle gym. Roman dons jeans and black tank top, with sneakers. His beard has fully grown out and hair is tied back.

"You want a problem?" Says one thug pulling out a knife.

Roman laughs and walks toward them.

"Want a problem? I'm looking for one."

The thug with the knife runs up to Roman and stabs him in the stomach. Roman looks down, then back up unfazed, raising an eyebrow.

"What the fuck?" Utters the thug.

Roman grabs the thugs hand, squeezing it until the entire hand cracks and bleeds. The thug screams, grabbing his hand and falling down. Roman pulls the knife from his gut and flicks it in the air.

"Should we help Duke?" Asks one of the other thugs.

Roman starts walking forward and the other two thugs take off. Roman stops, looking over at the student. He sits shaking, glaring at his savior's red eyes.

"Get out of here." Roman tells him.

"Thank you." Says the student running off.

The other two thugs make it down the street. They hit the corner and stop to catch their breath near a bus stop.

"I think you guys lost him."

The thugs look over to see Roman leaning on a street pole, cleaning dirt from his fingernails

"Where you going?" He asks smiling at them.

Duke runs down the street, crying and holding his smashed hand. People staring as he runs around looking delirious. Duke runs into a parking lot and leans against a car. He closes his eyes, trying to block out the pain. A loud thud comes from nowhere. Duke looks up, as Roman is standing on the top of the car. His stab wound completely healed. Roman kneels down, showing his teeth glistening with the blood of Duke's friends. Duke falls to the ground, sliding back.

"Oh god no!" Duke screams.

Roman jumps off the car and picks up Duke by his shirt. Holding him high in the air, he brings Duke face to face.

"I'm not gonna kill you, I just ate. But I want you to live with this message. If I see any crime happening in my city, I'll be there to put an end to that shit. Understand?"

"Yes."

"Yes what?" Roman asks cupping his ear.

"Yes sir."

Roman tears a piece of Duke's shirt off and throws him to the ground. Roman wipes his mouth as he walks off into the night.

30 years have gone by since the night he was turned into what he was. That night where he killed Kevin Thorne was the last time he saw Paige. All through the day he slept or trained. All through the night he patrolled the streets, putting his vampiric abilities to good use. Sometimes against criminals, other times for personal use. How else would he get clean clothes and regular food.

Roman catches a couple coming out a liquor store with a bag. As the couple heads to their car, a large gust of wind hits them. The man looks around, then into his bag to see his wine gone. Roman sips on the bottle as he heads to a small home in a suburban neighborhood. He walks over to the side of the home, and peeks through the window, seeing a couple talking. He listens in on the conversation with his enhanced hearing.

"And then he told me I was doing a good job, but I could do better." Said the woman.

"Amelia, listen. You're one of the best filers they have. If you don't fell appreciated, take your talents somewhere else." The man replied.

"I've been trying. I haven't gotten any job offers back yet, so I guess I'm stuck doing tags and invoices for a while."

Amelia falls on the couch, looking at the ceiling. She rolls over, looking at her husband.

"I just figured I'd be doing more at 36 years old Tyler, you know ?"

"Well, you graduated college. Most people cant say that."

"Which has led to nothing but this stupid bank job. My dad was saving the world at 25 years old. I might not be here if it wasn't for him. He'd be so disappointed in me." She groans.

"I'm not, you're doing great." Roman whispers to himself.

"That's ridiculous to hold yourself to that standard." Said Tyler.

"Yeah but, I don't know. I'm just frustrated."

Roman checks in on her once a month to see how she's doing. Regardless of his curse, he promised to watch over her, wether he was physically there or not. Roman checks his watch, seeing midnight has come. Today was officially his and Tasha's anniversary. He finishes the wine and heads off to check on her as well. A few miles out from Amelia, Roman walks through a cemetery, heading to Tasha's grave. She was killed in a public shooting a little over five years ago. She died shielding a child from a few bullets.

As he gets closer to the grave, he can see someone standing near it. He braces his fist for a fight. Slowly approaching, he sees its a woman.

"I knew I'd find you here eventually."

The British accent hit Roman hard. He loosened up, hoping it was who he thought it was. Paige stands on a cane, wearing a nightgown and boots. Her hair a faded black with gray streaks running through. He thick glasses glaring from the moon. Roman walks up to her, mute from the shock. He touches her face, sliding his hand across, feeling the aged skin of his old friend.

"It's me Roman."

Roman hugs her tightly, almost breaking down. She hugs him back, fighting back tears herself. After their embrace, Roman takes a step back, getting a good look at her. After 30 years, seeing each other was a feeling of euphoria like no other.

"I can't believe it." Roman utters.

"You better believe it. How you been big guy?"

"Fine, for the most part. Been working alone all this time. Living on the streets. Keeping the streets safe. You know, the usual"

"Oh, sorry to hear that. At least you've embraced those powers. And you look great." Said Paige chuckling.

"Easy to look good when you don't age. Speaking of which."

"I'm 54 if your wondering. Go ahead, call me old."

"Nah, nah. You look good. I'd still hit it." He jokes.

"Thanks. Anyway, I needed to find you for a reason."

Roman sits on a tombstone and fold his arms.

"Okay. After that night you killed Kevin, my mind was never the same. I looked at everyone differently. Wondering what kind of monster they could be hiding on the inside. So, I did some research. Police reports and articles all over the U.S. talking about people being dismembered and eaten, amongst other things. I believe other monsters are at work out there."

Roman strokes his chin, taking in everything Paige just explained to him.

"You don't believe me do you?" She asks feeling unsure.

"I've been drinking and what you're saying sounds ridiculous. But I'm also a vampire with a bat for a friend, so I can't say I don't believe you." He replied smirking.

"I'm serious. They might not know what's going on, but I know. I've seen it with my own eyes. Other vampires, voodoo, cults, and even demons."

"Demons?"

"Yeah, demons. That's why I came to find you. People are in danger out there, and no one realizes the real threat. Except us. You have the power to stop them."

Roman's bat Nina flies in, landing back on Roman's shoulder. She screeches in Roman's ear, telling him something.

"What's she saying?" Asks Paige.

"She says you're not lying. Nina has a pretty good sense for these things."

"So you believe the bat, but not me!"

Nina screeches, causing Roman to smile and tickle her.

"That's my baby, I always take her word. Back to what you were saying. If there are monsters and demons and shit, where do we start?" Asks Roman.

"When you get some free time, come to my place in Stamford. You can stay with me and we can get to work on the voodoo mess in Brooklyn."

"Alright, I'll be ready. If you'll excuse me, I'd like some alone time with my wife. It's our anniversary."

"Of course. See you soon Roman."

They give each other one last hug, with Roman kissing her cheek before she walks off. Roman kneels down in front of Tasha's grave to pray. Paige stops and turns around.

"Roman, I need to know something before I go."

"What?" Roman asks turning his head.

"Are you afraid of the Boogeyman?"