Page 15 of Pet: Genesis

“I can tell your mind has been running you to exhaustion,” he chuckles.

“The curiosity that plagues your innermost thoughts is as plain as the nose on your face.” His fingers close around my chin, pulling me in close to his face.

“Open your mouth,” he murmurs.

I do as he says, and before I can think, his lips close over mine. I’ve seen kissing before. I watched movies as a child when the princess would get her happily ever after. But never have I experienced it, nor did I think it would be something I would experience in my lifetime.

His lips are warm and so soft. The same ache I felt in the tub has begun to ease its way back between my legs, and I feel my brain turning to mush as all logical thought leaves me. Remus told me earlier that this was associated with lust. I can’t think straight with this clouding my mind. I’m not even sure if I’m doing it right. But I hear Remus growl his approval just as his other hand comesaround to cup my face. I feel his thumb lightly stroking my cheek before all feeling of lust leaves my body.

Instantly, my body turns to ice. I gasp as a sweeping sensation washes over me—like the breath is being sucked out of me in an icy gust. Remus keeps his mouth over mine, not seeming to notice what is happening. My entire body feels heavy as the last bit of ice is sucked out of my veins, and I can no longer hold myself up. I whimper in pain as the feeling of needles pricking my flesh all over assaults me.

Remus holds my body, not concerned in the least. He pulls me against his chest, and I am still unable to move. I feel weaker than I’ve ever felt in my life.

“It’ll pass,” he says. I open my mouth to speak but can’t get anything past my lips other than a pained puff.

“Don’t speak. Just rest.”

The feeling of his finger lightly caressing the column of my spine engages my focus, and I use it to escape the pain.

“You’ll find that trust can be good grounds for exchange in my care. Earlier, you asked why I don’t eat. My sustenance is much different than that of the inhabitants of Earth. I do not need a physical nutrient to thrive. My intake is purer. It requires essence—lifeblood—your life source to be clear.”

“If I hadn’t given you that drink you ingested earlier, you’d be dead right about now. And judging from your reaction, I’ll have to increase the dosage. I didn’t think you would be so weak this far into feeding. I barely took from you, and your heartbeat is already faint,” he says gently.

I can only lie in shock, trying to retain the information he’s giving. The lights in the room dim even further, eventually plunging us into complete darkness.

“Rest now. You’ll need your strength soon.”

Chapter Six

Iris

It’s a scenic view, what lies beyond Remus’s bedroom. In the years I’ve been on this Earth, I’ve never seen anything like it. I don’t know how long I’ve been standing here, but I can’t tear my eyes away from the glass as I take in the large waterfall that crashes below. My gaze travels up to the edge of the crested hill, where the sun is slowly sinking behind the mountainside, casting an orange glow over the land.

The sun didn’t look like this in the blight.

“Iris, move away from the glass.”

I tense when the sound of Remus’s voice carries across the room. I turn at the sound of his voice just in time to see him entering, moving away from the glass and to the edge of the bed with my eyes down. I hear his footsteps as he walks around me, not bothering to acknowledge me past his reprimand.

It took me two whole days to heal from his “soul-sucking.” It was a terrifying and painful experience I never want to feel again. The situation itself adds to the growing list of questions about the Leviathan race. But it does reignite the fear I feel for him. I’ve seen him very little during my recovery time, which is okay with me. The last thing I want is for him to get any ideas around me, especially since he can make my body do what he wants just by touching me.

He chooses this moment to appear next to me, placing something on the bed.

“You can move,” he says.

I release a relaxed breath, slowly raising my eyes. I’m not a fool. Remus seems to be a very powerful and calculating being. In the past weeks, he has laid out his expectations and given me corresponding punishment if they aren’t properly adhered to. I know that he is preparing me for something. But for what? I have no idea.

I don’t bother looking at him as I turn to see what he’s placed behind me. I furrow my brow in confusion.

A dress?

The dress is white with jewels that look like diamonds encasing it. The sleeves are long and elegant, but the length of the dress looks like it would fall to my thighs.

Remus takes a seat next to the dress, looking up at me. His emotionless eyes roam over me, adding to my unease. I’ve never met such a strange being. He’s like a sculpture. He never smiles, never speaks, and hardly moves. He’s obviously inhuman. It’s stillunnerving and downright terrifying to be in a room alone with him, even if I am aware of his true nature.

He gently tugs my arm, pulling me onto his lap. I keep my eyes trained on his chest, but my heart rate is already giving me away just being near him. He uses his hand to guide my face to his. Staring into his eyes takes my breath away. The color is entrancing. I can barely bring myself to think straight.

His eyes drop to my lips, and I feel the cold splash of reality hit me. Fear comes at me in full effect as I recall his…feeding.

---