Page 56 of Pet: Genesis

“She was all I had left,” I whisper.

Remus’s eyes drift past me to her lifeless body, and he shifts next to me, his gaze never leaving her.

“She was already dead, Iris. Her life was forfeit the moment we found your place of refuge. The human mind is a fragile thing. Idid her a favor by placing her under the inhibitor. The horrors she witnessed and endured in Yura’s care would not have allowed her to live past a month on her own,” he says.

I press my hand against the glass, dropping my head in despair.

“...Why?” I whisper. “Why do you hate humanity so much? We did nothing to you,” I sob.

“Hate? I find you irritating in your resistance to the natural order,” Remus says.

“Natural order?” I ask, keeping my eyes on Margot.

Remus places his finger under my chin, guiding my gaze around to meet his. An involuntary tremble works its way through my body. His eyes seem to glow as he looks deep into mine.

“You are a volatile race. Had you been left to your own devices, you would have destroyed the only home you knew. That is if you hadn’t destroyed each other first. While that is not the reason alone I abhor your kind, it is the reason I cannot allow you to continue leading an existence on this planet,” he says.

“So you’re just going to wipe us out because we hurt our ownkind? She died before she would harm me. Margot is proof that all of us are not like that,” I whisper.

Remus smiles at my words, and I find that I don’t like it. I prefer him when his expression is blank. His thumb lightly strokes my cheek as his eyes roam over my face in curiosity.

“As are you, Iris.”

He finally stands, making his way to the holographic panel on the glass where Margot’s body lies. His gaze shifts to Margot.

“Say goodbye. And make peace with your loss.”

I want to scream at him. I want to yell and release all of the anger I feel. But I won’t. Not when he’s allowing me the opportunity to say goodbye. My tears fall fast as I look at her, trying my best to take in her features. I don’t want to forget her. Not like I’ve forgotten my own family.

“Goodbye, Margot,” I whisper.

Remus presses something on the pad, and her body slowly becomes coated in a blue beam. My eyes widen, and Remus takes the liberty of explaining what’s happening to me.

“In Leviathan culture, energy is the key to life. Once your life has ended, the remaining energy is used to collapse your form, and you are released back into your world to give it life as it has you.”

I watch as Margot’s body slowly becomes a beautiful beam of light. My knees grow weak as I watch, and I slowly sink to the floor. I won’t let her death be in vain. I will stop him. I will find a way to help us all away from this nightmare.

Even if it costs me my own life.

The weather is beautiful. There’s a slight chill in the air, but the sun shines lustrously with barely a cloud in sight. The sky itself is the most vivid blue I’ve ever seen. It’s the complete opposite of how I feel. One thing I can appreciate the Leviathan for is their renewal of our planet. The blight may have been a terrible place to live, but the surrounding Earth has healed over the years. The airis crisper, the colors in the sky more vivid, and the greenery much more abundant.

Even from my place in this building, I can see the far stretch of the forest that not only surrounds the Leviathan city but melds into it. The Leviathan have built their society within nature instead of removing it to establish their cities. I suck in a shaky breath as more tears roll down my face. My eyes shift to the locket in my hands, my family’s faded picture looking back at me. This is all I have left of them. And for now, I have Margot’s memory.

Everyone’s left me.

I pull away from the window, going back in search of information in Remus’s study. He left an hour ago after what seemed like a heated meeting between him and some other Leviathan. I know that with the celebration winding down and still no sign of his brother, his patience is beginning to wear thin. It makes me wonder how long Remus can keep calm in a situation like this. It’s taken everything in me to keep my mourning behind closed doors. I can’t let Remus think anything has changed about me, especially my determination.

The resistance may think that they have Remus and his brother in a hard place, but we know virtually nothing of his sister. Even though she is light-years away, she could show up anytime if the situation becomes too unfavorable for the Leviathan. And having someone similar to Remus when we just got rid of one does not sound favorable to humanity.

I move back to Remus’s desk, looking at the spread-out maps. The last time I was in Remus’s study, I was close to discoveringwhat he’d been up to when Margot entered the room with the vases. I feel a pang of sadness in my chest but push it aside. I can’t be distracted—not now.

The information is difficult to decipher as I am still a novice in the Leviathan language. Remus’s notes on the maps are completely different from these notes. I don’t even know if they’re notes. They look different than the original language. I hear the sound of footsteps and push down the irritation I feel. I know it isn’t Remus, as I can never hear him coming. And right on time, one of his inhibitor-induced servants greets me.

“Your presence has been requested.”

It takes an hour, but I’m dressed and sent on my way without another word from them. I make my way to the room of the building that leads to the ground floor, silently wondering what Remus could want with me now. My attire isn’t as fancy as usual. I’ve been dressed in a white knit dress that hugs my body comfortably. It keeps my body exceptionally warm as I step out onto the street.

It’s empty except for the one being who stands waiting for me. Remus is dressed in a white trench coat, his hair pulled away from his face with a pendant to hold it. He smiles as I step out of the glass doors and steps close to me. He lightly places his finger against my cheek, taking in my features.

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