Page 40 of Pet: Genesis

Chapter Fourteen

Iris

Remus is a sadistic creature. I always recognized him as a plausible threat for obvious reasons, but he’s patient—too patient. He’s reveling in my slow descent to a mental break, and I know he is aware that I am getting there. He spends his free time making sure he slowly picks away at my sanity until it all belongs to him.

I stand in the corner of his study, taking in the map on the wall. It’s of Earth. I recognize the continents from my fifth-grade test when we had to fill in the blanks of the United States. The bottom of North America was always strange to me, with all of its jagged edges and random plateaus. I also recognize the common continents—Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, and even Antarctica. I was especially curious about Australia as a child. All of the strange creatures that resided there, and yet humans made a way, creating a civilization in the midst of it. It made me respect human ingenuityin a way I didn’t realize could be shattered by the arrival of an alien invasion.

I step closer to the map, looking at the markings that Remus has placed. I assume the black pins are settlements that the Leviathan have created. He said they only had twenty cities on the planet. And that’s how many pins I’m looking at. I slowly reach up, touching the pin in curiosity. It’s strange that he would use something so simple and human to note the settlements. As my fingers brush over the pin, it lights up, projecting a hologram that reveals information in the Leviathan language.

My eyes widen as I take it in. The Leviathan technology is beyond my comprehension. All the information I could ever need is sitting right in front of me, and I can’t even begin reading it. Remus openly leaves information like this around the house. I don’t know if it’s because he is taunting me or if he just doesn’t see me as a threat. It’s insulting either way.

My mind shifts to his reaction to me wanting to learn the Leviathan language.

It can’t be because he sees me as a threat. He genuinely believes that I haven’t earned the right to it. I let out a bitter chuckle, my eyes drifting to the bookcase stretched along the walls of the study. There’s so much information at my fingertips and Remus is withholding it from me purposely. Even without trying, he taunts me.

“Still gnawing at the idea of education?”

I tense at the sound of Remus’s sultry voice entering the room. He has the same mocking expression that he always does wheninteracting with me like he’s amused by my existence and constantly interested in seeing my reactions. His gaze drifts to the activated pin. He doesn’t seem concerned in the least, confirming my suspicions.

He doesn’t see me as a threat.

He steps into the room, brushing past me to turn the pin off, shutting down my view of the map. He then takes a seat in his chair, facing me with an unreadable expression. I feel myself growing warm from his gaze as my nerves begin to fry themselves without so much as a word from him. A smirk finally peaks through his lips, and he angles his head, watching me. It feels like he’s taunting me again. He probably is. Everything I do is a game to him but not to me. To me, it’s life or death. Freedom or punishment. Pain or pleasure.

“Have you thought about what I said?” he asks. I blink in confusion at his words. I don’t know what he’s referring to.

“I don’t—”

“About earning privileges,” he says.

I narrow my gaze as my irritation flares. He’s once again taunting me. He’s flaunting his power in front of me.

“I shouldn’t have to earn the right to live,” I snap. His change of expression makes my heart beat a little faster. He was testing me, and I took the bait easily. He angles his head slightly as he watches me, his eyes twinkling in amusement.

“You’re such an angry human. Do you ever just take a moment to breathe and appreciate your place in life?” he asks.

“What do I have to be appreciative of?” I shoot back. Remus mulls over my words, his eyes drifting over me with slow decisiveness. He finally speaks, standing as he does so.

“You’re alive. You’re seeing the process of your planet’s history change. You’re in the midst of an alien world, seeing things no other human ever has. And you have managed to secure yourself a place in my care. I would say that is more than what the average human is experiencing at this very moment,” he says, coming to stand over me.

His eyes sweep over my face with interest, and he raises his hand to push my hair behind my ear. Blood rushes through me from his proximity, my body growing warm, but I force myself to remain still. Remus’s eyes darken, and his hands are around my waist as he hoists me up, placing me on top of his desk. I cry out in shock, my eyes wide as I stare at him.

“Maybe you should use your position in life to your advantage. Instead of fighting me… give in to me.” Remus’s lips press softly against the sensitive flesh between my throat and shoulder, instantly awakening a dull ache between my legs.

“I am a fair ruler. All you have to do is comply, Iris. And whatever simple thing you want will be yours,” he practically purrs as his hands dip under my shirt. “Including reading.”

His words are like cold water. He’s toying with me again. Before I can slap his smug grin off his face, a light knock in the doorway sounds, followed by the familiar tone of Margot’s voice.

“Your guests have arrived.”

Remus doesn’t move. His eyes are focused on me as he pulls himself out of his lustful mood, finally standing to his full height. His eyes don’t leave me as he speaks.

“Take Iris to get washed up. I will greet them.”

Remus’s voice carries up the hallway as Margot leads me to the guests. He’s speaking the Leviathan language, his tone laced with an ease I’ve never heard him use with his own kind. A woman’s voice also mingles with his, chiming in occasionally. Her voice comes off as strong. There’s no fear in her tone for Remus.

She’s relaxed.

Once we reach the large archway that leads into the living room, Margot steps aside to let me enter alone. I watch her silently as her head drops and her eyes focus on the ground. My heart aches as I see her like this, and I can’t force myself to move as sadness overcomes me.

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