Page 71 of Pet: Genesis

“I feel the atoms and molecules that make up the world around me. I tell them what to do, rearrange them, and put them back together how I want them,” he says as if it’s simple math. I watch in fascination as the grass dissipates into nothing, and in the same instance, a purple flower appears, earning a gasp from me.

Remus closes his fingers around the stem, watching me with a gentle expression as he holds it out to me. I take the flower from him, looking at it in confusion. It’s beautiful. It’s the same color as Remus’s eyes with its vibrant, waxy petals. My mind is reeling from the magic trick I just witnessed. My fingers touch the vibrant petals, testing their texture. They’re as soft as they look and real.

“It’s an iris.”

I look at Remus in confusion, and he tilts his head slightly, looking at the flower.

“You’re named after a flower,” he explains with a grin. I look back at the flower in awe. I had no idea I was named after a flower. And such a unique-looking one.

“Amazing,” I whisper.

Remus’s explanation of matter and manipulation flies out the window as I stare at the flower. It represents something about meas an individual. It’s something from my past that has become a part of my present, and I am enthralled by it.

My breathing hitches in my throat. I’m crying, but not from fear. It’s something else—something pleasant. I vaguely note that Remus is watching me silently, but I don’t dare look to see his expression.

“Can I keep it?” I whisper.

Remus doesn’t speak as he reaches for the flower, placing his finger lightly against the petal. I watch in fascination as the flower’s color grows more vibrant. I look at Remus in confusion, trying to figure this alien out. He is nothing like his race. He is much more regal and capable of so much more than they are. Is it even possible to stop him?

His gaze shifts from the flower to me, and I feel a chill crawl up my spine as he studies me. His fingers thread through my hair as he pulls me into him, placing a soft kiss on my forehead.

“Goodnight, Pet.”

He takes one last look at the sky and stands before walking inside. I wait until he disappears into the house before looking down at the flower in my hand.

“Iris,” I say the name aloud.

Not only my name but the name of this flower. It’s something I never got to ask my parents about. I hadn’t reached the age to be interested or even learn about the different types of flowers other than roses I’d seen in films. But Remus has revealed a piece of my past to me that never would have been realized otherwise. I push down the desire to throw this feeling away. For all the turmoil I’vefaced, I will allow myself this one little moment of happiness even if it was given to me by him.

In my time within Remus’s care, I’ve only ever seen the Leviathan cities. They’re beautiful and magnificent, somehow mixing themselves with nature so as not to harm it but to help it thrive. This Leviathan settlement is no different. Though it’s not as big as the cities, it’s just as magnificent.

I watch in awe as the Leviathan surrounding us go about their daily lives, appearing to enjoy the warmth that the sun brings as well as the vibrant scenery. They have somehow created buildings with greenery growing on the exterior walls. It makes me think of a town more so than a city. And it’s been nestled within the abundance of the mountain. It reminds me of the Italian villages I saw on TV as a child, except it’s much more... foreign.

My eyes shift to Jude, who is walking silently in front of me. He seems to know where it is we are going, but I haven’t the slightest clue. I haven’t seen Remus in a week. He’s been gone since he gave me the flower, leaving me alone in the villa with only Jude to keep me company. But now we have finally been summoned. We are both making our way through the nearby town, I’m assuming to where Remus has been all this time.

The Leviathan around us don’t seem to mind our presence. But as I look around, we are not the only humans wandering withoutthe presence of a Leviathan. There are many silently moving with objects and produce in their hands, more than likely doing tasks for their masters. I feel disgust brewing in my stomach at the sight of them. I know what it’s like to be under the spell of an inhibitor. It’s torture without being fully aware of it. You’re locked in a dark abyss, forced to watch the world around you but having no say in what happens or what you’re doing. Your brain is constantly fighting, trying to figure out what is real and what is fake, trying its best to adjust to the reality surrounding you with no rest.

I suck in shuddering breath as my eyes fall on Jude. I was only under for a month, and I’m barely able to function normally. I can’t imagine Jude’s mental state. Remus is cruel in his intent to keep me obedient. Jude was so strong and confident. He always found unorthodox humor in our situation. It was one of the things that drew me to him—his unwavering optimism. And now, he looks back at me with the same expression Margot held, with no hope of ever being released.

We continue our trek up a small hill until we finally reach a foreign residence that appears to be made of stone upon closer inspection. Jude makes his way to the large wooden door, pushing it open for us to enter.

The interior is just as breathtaking as the exterior. The colors are different shades of nude, with pops of color strategically placed throughout. It’s not as magnificent as Remus’s usual choice in residency, but it’s still just as beautiful. Jude keeps walking knowingly through the open dwelling, pausing when he reaches the archway. I silently make my way past him, expecting to see Remus, but heisn’t here. There’s a Leviathan I’ve never seen before standing in the center of the room with his back to me. His hair is black, falling down his back in a secured ponytail. He’s also dressed in what I’ve come to realize is traditional Leviathan clothing. So, he cannot be a general or someone of the upper class.

The Leviathan that are in normal standing wear simpler colors than white or vibrant hues, just as this one does. But even if he isn’t someone of high standing, I am still human. I immediately recall my training, pausing in the archway as I drop my head. The Leviathan shifts in front of me, already sensing my presence, but I don’t dare make a sound. I hear a soft chuckle followed by the sound of the Leviathan approaching me. My heart speeds up as fear overcomes me. Remus is nowhere to be found, and this Leviathan is coming toward me with intent. I recall how Remus was with Iriel and Alistar and find myself stepping back as he enters my personal space.

“Is that any way to greet me after being away from me so long?” My eyes widen at the sound of the voice. I look up in shock to see Remus looking at me with a twinkle of amusement in his gaze. His eyes have dulled from their usual purple to a peculiar blue, his hair the same color as mine.

“Wha—How...?” I trail off, unable to find the proper words to express my shock. He smiles, and to my utter astonishment, his sharpened canines are nowhere to be found, just a normal row of straight teeth. He somehow looks different and the same all at once. His abnormal gaze roams over my body with delight, and he wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me into him.

“I’ve missed you,” he murmurs into the crook of my neck. My body reacts to his proximity, warmth washing over me, but Remus doesn’t acknowledge it. He gently releases me, keeping his hand wrapped around mine as he leads me to a courtyard overflowing with plant life.

I watch in shock as his hair changes in front of me, the color returning to its white hue just as his eyes seem to twinkle in delight as they shift to their natural color. My eyes are wide as I take him in. Seeing him in something other than white is strange, yet he seems to be just as intimidating.

He continues leading me to cream-colored cushions in the courtyard’s center. I note that glasses filled with water and food are waiting for me. I slowly sink into the cushions, my gaze focused on Remus as my brain tries to decipher what I just witnessed.

Remus smiles at my confusion, his sharp canines revealing themselves as he speaks.

“I cannot always be around as myself. Not if I want to see how my people are truly adjusting to their new lives,” he says softly.

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