Page 79 of Pet: Genesis

I let out a bitter laugh, looking at my brother.

“He knows you won’t willingly, but he’ll take it from you anyway. This is just so I can speak to you one last time as yourself... before he makes you just like Jude,” I say softly. Cypress’s eyes widen slightly, and he studies me intensely, finally seeing my broken self.

“Iris, what happened to you?” he whispers. I smile softly.

“I just finally see now,” I whisper. It’s taken a while, but I finally see. Remus is the most patient creature in existence. He wields unfathomable power, and yet he deals with humanity on our own level. I think of all the times I openly disobeyed him, and hewatched me entertained, toying with me because he knew just how helpless I truly was. He likes to watch things crumble. I shudder to think what would have become of me had he decided he was no longer interested in my lack of obedience.

All this time, he’s been toying with me, letting me believe I had freedom and a chance.

“Iris, we know how dangerous he is. We handled his brother just fine. The rebels won’t take lightly my being captured. They will do something about it,” Cypress says, pulling me out of my thoughts. I look at him in confusion.

“At what point did you think that Remus’s brother and him were the same?” I ask. Cypress doesn’t respond immediately. He grows quiet thinking about my words.

“Do you know why Remus is looking for his brother so much, Cypress? It’s because out of him and his sister, Ezra is the weakest. Ezra is the one they had to help out of issues. Ezra is the one who makes rash decisions. Do you really think you stand a chance when they both have a sister out there who is ready to come and avenge them should anything happen?” I ask.

“But Iriel—”

“Fuck Iriel! He can’t deliver any of his promises, don’t you get it? He’s using all of you! He knows the Leviathan race would never back this... suicide mission! He’s using you and all of your resources to fight against Remus. Why do you think he fled when the attack happened? Where was he when this great battle was about to ensue? He took off the moment he realized Remus was involved!” I shout.

“Do you know nothing about this society? You and your resistance are being played!” I add. Cypress eyes me, clearly finding offense in what I’m saying.

“So what do you want me to do, Iris? Turn my back on my entire race? Stop fighting against the Leviathan becauseyou’rescared?” he snaps. Silence overcomes the room, and I find myself glaring at him as the rage I’ve pushed down comes barreling to the surface.

“Yes, Cypress. I’m scared. From the moment they arrived, I’ve been on my own. I watched our parents die within hours of each other. I was left alone atten years old! For thirteen years, I watched the world crumble, never knowing what actually happened. I fought every single day for my life just to be able to wake up and do it all over again. I foughtevery single day.”

“Remus came and destroyed our refuge within an hour. And I still fought him. I took his mental and physical torture, and I fought. Not only did I suffer, but the girls I fought with suffered at his hands! I spied, I sacrificed, I loved... and I lost. I lost Jude. I lost Margot. I lost everything and everyone to Remus. I’ve seen what he can do by simply looking into my eyes. I’ve seen what he can create with a wave of his hand. And I’ve seen what these... innovative weapons do to him.Nothing!” I hiss.

I shake my head as more tears spill down my face.

“I’ve seen the creature you’re battling up close, and you don’t stand a chance. So yes, I am scared... and you’re a fool not to be.”

1. Wolf-like animal of their world

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Iris

The moon is full in the sky, casting a beam of light over the mountainside. Without a cloud in sight, everything is illuminated beautifully for me to see. Nighttime is much more peaceful here than it was in the blight. In the blight, nighttime was when you could hear the moans of the sick. You could hear the screams of those being attacked by their own. Nighttime never brought peace. It only ever brought the fear of not seeing the next day. Nighttime here, however, brings peace. The backyard of Remus’s home is surrounded by trees with warm lights illuminating the path. Sometimes, it doesn’t feel real seeing the world like this.

I suck in a deep breath pulling my knees to my chest. There’s a heavy cloud descending over me. I can feel myself beginning to check out mentally. It doesn’t feel worth it. Nothing feels worth it anymore. I silently pull the locket up to look at my family. I nolonger have the tears to cry over what has become of them. Nor do I have the strength to fight. I am utterly spent. My brother belongs to the rebellion, and my parents are dead. I am nothing more than an orphan, taken in by an extraterrestrial being for his pleasure. And once his amusement with me ends, my life will be forfeit.

I hear the door to the yard opening, but I don’t bother to look who it is. I know it’s Remus. He doesn’t speak as he approaches where I am seated. He silently takes a seat next to me, looking up at the stars.

“I assume negotiations went awry?” he says gently. I silently drop my locket, looking out over the mountainside.

“Yes. But you already knew that,” I say bitterly.

Remus laughs softly, turning away from the stars to look at me.

“Why do you think I would know that?” he asks. I shrug.

“Jude was in the room. Can’t you just spy through his inhibitor?” I ask sarcastically.

Remus laughs again, and despite my hatred toward him, the sound is nice. It makes me feel like everything isn’t so bad.

“That isn’t how inhibitors work.” He gently places his hand under mine, lifting it to his lips, and I find myself following the motion until I am looking into his vibrant gaze.

“Inhibitors are used for control. I can’t see into your mind and read your thoughts. While that would be convenient, the cellular makeup of a human is much too complex to be able to hear something that isn’t manifested audibly. I can only physically control you and give commands on what to do,” he says.

---