Page 84 of Pet: Genesis

I’m tired.

I’m tired of feeling like humanity depends on me, yet I am failing them. I wish I had the resolve my brother had. But I don’t even have the strength to ask Remus about his plans for the rebels. Or beg. I don’t want to push him. I’m terrified of angering him. I was so stupid in the past, rebelling against him, and now I’m afraid that his patience has worn out. I fear the pain he can inflict and the fact that his rage knows no bounds. None that exist on this planet, anyway.

I face away from the water, keeping my gaze locked on the locket in my hand when movement catches my attention. When I look up, I catch a glimpse of Remus on the inside of the glass. But heisn’t coming toward me. He’s walking away from me with a plant in his hand.

My legs are moving before I can stop myself as I make my way back inside to follow him. The house is large but very spacious, which I’ve learned is a part of the Leviathan culture. They like natural light and open spaces along with plant life. I make my way up the hall until I finally realize where Remus is heading. He’s going to the courtyard, something I’ve noticed in each of his homes. They always contain a garden somewhere inside.

The entire wall surrounding the courtyard is glass, while the open area has the natural light of the sky shining down on it, so I can see him from inside the house. He’s still holding the plant in his hands, looking for a good place for it, I assume. I step closer to the glass, my eyes widening when I realize he’s holding Margot’s plant. I pull the door open, gauging his attention, and he watches me with an unreadable expression. His gaze wanders over me, lingering on my arms and legs before he speaks.

“How are you feeling?” he asks.

“I’m fine,” I say softly, eyeing Margot’s plant. “You saved her.”

Remus nods his head placing the plant on the table as he makes his way toward me. He doesn’t speak as he inspects my body, his fingers leaving a warm trail over my arms. “Of course I did.”

“How? I thought they burned everything down,” I say.

Remus smiles softly.

“I knew they would attack. I had already moved everything that was valuable prior to. Other than you, that is.”

He flips my arm over, tracing his fingertips over my veins.

“Your body seems to have reached normal working capacity,” he speaks to himself more than me. As Remus inspects the rest of my body, I peek up at him from under my lashes. He’s very focused on his task, allowing me to admire his beauty. His skin is smooth, his lips set in a line as he inspects me. Even his hair is pulled perfectly out of his face, allowing a view of his features. He’s once again distant yet extremely focused on me. His eyes meet mine, and I look away. For once, he doesn’t tease my shyness but I’m sure he’s aware of my sudden rise in heartbeat. Still, he doesn’t say anything about it, and I am grateful.

“It’s lonely, isn’t it?” he asks. When I look at him, his eyes are focused on my necklace. He grabs the locket, popping it open to reveal my family. I look at him as he looks at the picture taking in each of his features. Even the lashes surrounding that vivid gaze match the unnatural hue of his hair.

“The only family you had left abandoning you for a suicide mission...”

His eyes are still focused on the locket in his hands, and I find myself unable to look away.

“Even after you begged him not to, he chose them over you.”

I can’t find the words, so I raise my finger, pulling my locket out of his grasp.

“If you’re trying to make me hate him, I won’t. He’s only doing what he thinks is right,” I say.

“And what do you think is right?” Remus’s tone catches me off guard, causing me to look at him. He’s watching me with that strange expression.

“I think it’s pointless to fight. You’re not in our league... you’re just playing with us,” I say softly. Remus smiles at that, revealing his sharp canines. I find myself wondering if that’s a genetic trait to help him sink his teeth into someone.

“What happened to the woman that said, ‘I will never turn my back on my people’?” he asks. I finally see it. The motivation behind his taunting. His amusement stems from the power he holds over me and everyone on this planet. His pure enjoyment from watching us struggle in a situation we don’t understand... until we finally do.

“You broke her.” My voice comes out in a small whisper, betraying just how broken I am. Remus places his hand under mine, lifting my palm to his lips. He eyes me as a soft smile spreads over his lips.

“Then tell me this my broken Pet...,” his smile disappears and his eyes seem to glow with his next sentence. “How much information were you able to give those rebels?”

I rip my hand out of his grasp, my eyes wide as fear creeps up my spine. My body begins to tremble as I study him, trying to ascertain whether or not he’s testing me again. There’s no way he could possibly know.

I shake my head, clutching my palm to my chest as I try and force my body to stop giving me away. “No, I—”

“You, what? Thought I wouldn’t find out?” Remus steps closer to me, his gaze narrowing as he takes me in. He gently pushes my hair out of my face, leaning into me.

“It’s my fault, really, for not seeing you as a threat. I should have known you were a formidable adversary. Even if some of your methods were rather... enjoyable,” he says with a smile. He lightly pats my cheek, angling his head to better view my expression.

“Just how much did you give them? And how did you possibly get it out without me knowing?” he asks. I don’t respond, and suddenly, I feel myself growing weak as the familiar feeling of his feeding washes over me. My body is compressed in an icy chill, my legs growing weak.

“What did you give them, Iris?” he asks again. His tone indicates he has lost all patience with me. I collapse to my knees, my eyes wide.

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