Page 27 of Pet: Genesis

I’m cut off as my body is ripped away from the glass. I feel the rough pull of my clothing as Remus seizes me, but I don’t care. I don’t care about any of the pain he is willing to threaten me with. I claw at his hands, kicking and screaming, never taking my eyes off Margot. My brain moves quickly, and I straighten my arms, slipping out of the shirt that I have on, freeing myself from Remus’s grip.

I watch in horror as her head slowly turns, and I know the moment she sees me. Her eyes fill with tears, and she’s moving toward the glass with as much intensity as I have on the other end. Her mouth is open, and I can read my name coming from her lips. A smile forms on my lips the closer she gets to me. Her fingers are outstretched toward me, inches from meeting mine against the glass.

“Margo—Ah!”

My body is wrenched away from the glass just as pain flashes across her eyes, her body tensing as her chip is activated. I watch in horror as she collapses, writhing on the floor in pain.

“No!” I scream.

Those are the last words of my own free will as I feel something press against my temple. My body tenses, a heavy weight washing over me as my words are silenced. The tight grip Remus had on me is loosened, and against my own volition, I stand silently in front of him, keeping my gaze on his chest. It takes a moment, but I finally realize that he’s put an inhibitor on me. I want to scream and fight, but I can’t. I feel Remus’s fingers underneath my chin as he lifts my gaze to meet his. My heart beats faster at the sight that greets me.

He doesn’t speak. He only searches my face and looks back beyond the glass where Margot screams as she is beaten. A light scoff leaves his lips before he stands tall, handing me the shirt I pulled off.

“Very good, Iris. Show me every weakness you have so that I may exploit it.” Remus stands to walk away from me toward the exit of the hall. He doesn’t have to command me verbally. My body knows what he wants me to do. I immediately put the shirt on and he doesn’t wait for me to finish, making his way to the door that remains open. I wait for the usual verbal command, but I get none. Against my will, my legs are moving to follow my master away from Margot.

Once we reach the end of the tour, the Leviathan, Yura, takes Remus into her office. The window in her office overlooks the entire facility. Two women and two men stand silentlyin her office, holding trays without inhibitors placed on their skin. Remus makes his way to one of the women, eyeing her closely. He reaches toward her, brushing her cheek softly. She doesn’t move. The training they do here works like a charm.

“You truly are the best, Yura,” he says.

Yura takes a seat behind her desk, gesturing for one of her slaves, who silently makes their way toward her, pouring her and Remus a drink.

“You are too kind,Aureon2.”

I notice that Remus doesn’t touch the drink that’s been poured for him. He doesn’t even acknowledge it. He seems more interested in the slaves she’s trained.

“How do you do it?” he asks, moving to take a seat.

“It takes a lot of training. Humans may be weak, but they are a willful group of individuals whose place in society over the years has given them a sense of entitlement. Though I do find most to be receptive to physical pain more than mental torture,” she smiles, taking a sip of her drink.

Her eyes drift to me.

“Would you like me to take this one off your hands?” she asks.

Remus chuckles.

“Not exactly. But I think this was a very eye-opening experience for both of us. Right, Pet?” he chuckles, looking at me.

Words of hate and disgust burn at the tip of my tongue, but they won’t come out. Not even a mutter leaves my lips.Remus laughs softly before turning back to face Yura. He switches back to their native tongue, and I immediately notice her eyes drift from Remus to me and back to Remus. She slowly stands, nodding her head before leaving the room.

Whatever Remus spoke to her about, she wasn’t all too pleased.

“Leave us,” Remus calls to everyone in the room. I feel my heart beating faster at the thought of being alone with him, but as per the hierarchy, everyone follows his command. Once the door closes, Remus reveals the lesson he was intent on giving today.

“Yura is known far and wide for her role in our empire. She collects imperative information on the surrounding species and discovers the best ways to condition them. This could be your life, Iris. Think very carefully. Is this what you want? Do you want to end up like the woman you were screaming for?” he asks.

In the silence, I realize I am trembling. His clear threat hangs in the air. This will be my life if I don’t fall into line quickly. Remus places his hand under my chin, lifting my gaze to meet his. A soft smile plays on his lips as he removes the inhibitor from my temple.

“Answer me,” he says mockingly.

But I can’t. This entire day has left me in a pitiful state. I never thought fear would grip me like this, but it has, forcing tears down my cheeks in response. I shift my attention behind Remus to the door, trying to find the strength to go after Margot and fight for her freedom. But nothing materializes within me, and Remus notices.

“Your display today is more than enough reason to leave you in the care of Yura. But I won’t do that, not yet anyway. I think I mayhave been a little premature in expecting obedience from you so soon,” he says.

A light knock sounds at the door, and Remus keeps his eyes focused on me for a second longer before responding in his native tongue. The door to the room opens, and my eyes widen. Yura looks between me and Remus, and a smile appears on her lips. I suddenly know exactly what the conversation they had before she left the room was about, and Remus’s cryptic words earlier.

“Show me every weakness you have so that I may exploit it.”

Margot steps into the room, her eyes dull and lifeless from the inhibitor at her temple. I can’t move as the trembling shifts into violent tremors. More tears spill down my cheeks as I take her in. I can’t even bring myself to say her name. Not when I know she cannot respond to me.

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