Page 73 of Pet: Genesis

“Your society sounds just as bad as ours,” I say bitterly. Remus chuckles.

“My society is based on strength and value. Leviathans know where they belong and have every opportunity to try and advance themselves if they believe they are capable of more. There are no restrictions that you are adamant about finding.”

Remus takes a step back from me, grasping my hand in his. He pulls my knuckles to his lips, gently placing a kiss there. I gasp softly when I look into his eyes, and they slowly change to that dull blue. It’s fascinating to watch the transformation happen right in front of me.

“Do not be frightened. I will be following you as long as I can,” he says softly. He reaches around me, pulling open the door as he gestures for me to exit.

“Good luck.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Iris

The Leviathan village has thinned out in a matter of hours as its inhabitants have begun to gather in different buildings to enjoy each other’s company socially or retire for the night. My gaze shifts to the top of the hill where the fawn-colored home sits. According to Remus, that is where Iriel resides and where I am to deliver this package. Remus’s words taunt me just like everything else he does as I make my way through the village.

“Good luck.”

Remus never does anything without purpose. And he never sends me to do work that he could have easily sent Jude to do. He has a specific reason for using me to accomplish this, and my stomach knots as I think of what that reason could be. I silently look around at the remaining Leviathan, searching for Remus’s disguise, but he’s nowhere to be found.

Chills form across my skin as I think of Remus as an entity. There’s little to nothing known about him. If anything, the more he reveals about himself, the more I realize just how in the dark I am. We’re further away from knowing the truth about him than when I was relaying information to Jude. Remus can manipulate matter and change his form like it’s nothing. It’s beyond my imagination just how powerful he is and why he hasn’t just used his power to wipe out humankind. I’m sure there’s much more to him than the useless bits of information I’ve discovered. At this rate, I don’t want to find out exactly how much power he has. I think back to my earlier days in his custody. I tried to attack him with a knife. The sharp blade wouldn’t even scratch the top layer of his skin.

“Nothing on this planet is strong enough to bring me down.”

Now I realize just how blatantly true those words are. We may be fighting a losing battle.

I continue my trek through the village, passing by humans and Leviathan, who don’t seem bothered by my presence. I recall Jude saying some humans pose as slaves to infiltrate their society, and I find myself wondering how many of these humans are posing as slaves. It could be the reason Remus is here in disguise in the first place. And if that’s the case, I feel my heart sinking for the humans who have found comfort in this village they believe is far from the leader of the Leviathans.

Remus being here can only mean one thing.

He knows.

The walk to Iriel’s takes a while, but it gives me time to enjoy the fresh air and temporary freedom I’ve been granted. Even if it is for Remus’s amusement. As I walk up the stone road to Iriel’s residence, I note that many humans are leaving his residence. My eyes shift to the nearest human. He’s wearing an inhibitor and has a blank expression on his face. He doesn’t bother to look in my direction as he makes his way down the mountainside.

I suck in a deep breath, making my way to the large double door that allows entrance to Iriel’s residence. I make sure to check my surroundings once again for Remus, but he is nowhere to be found. Once I reach the doors, they’re pulled open as a slave with an inhibitor silently waits for my approach.

I step into Iriel’s dwelling, my grip tightening around the box in my hands as I enter. The slave doesn’t speak as his eyes focus on me, taking in my appearance.

“What is your purpose here?” he asks. I silently hold up the package in my hands.

“I was sent to deliver this to your master,” I say softly.

In my time under Remus’s roof, I’ve spent more hours than I like to admit around slaves with inhibitors. And somehow, I can tell something about this slave is different. He doesn’t take the package from me immediately. He appears to be thinking—something that humans with full inhibitors don’t do. His gaze shifts to my temple, where there isn’t an inhibitor, and I suddenly realize the low dilation of his pupil.

My mind is instantly on high alert. Remus must know. He has to know. He’s been observing this village for over a week now anddoesn’t seem the least bit paranoid. I almost open my mouth to warn this human before me but decide against it. I can’t be one hundred percent sure he isn’t being controlled by an inhibitor, and Remus sent me to deliver this package specifically.

If I’m wrong and I try to go against Remus again only after just getting my freedom back, there will be heavy consequences to pay. And Jude is still by Remus’s side. I can’t risk his life. I know there’s only so far I can push him. And my tryst with Jude burned the last bit of patience Remus held with my disobedience. I need to tread carefully from here on out.

“Julius, what’s the holdup?” A new voice enters the room coming from behind the human named Julius. His body tenses, and he silently steps aside to reveal me.

“A slave has come to deliver a package to Iriel,” he says. The voice scoffs lightly before making its way to us.

“Just take it from her an—”

“She isn’t wearing an inhibitor,” Julius interrupts.

Silence washes over the room as both humans in front of me take in my appearance and my lack of an inhibitor. They both seem to be at a loss for what to do. Julius moves before I can react, his forearm pressing against my throat as he pushes me into the wall, holding a blade to my throat.

“Shall I dispose of her?” he asks, eyeing me with malice. I cry out in pain as panic washes over me. All I can think of is Remus charging in at any moment to destroy this place and any other humans hiding in it.

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