Page 88 of Pet: Genesis

My cheeks burn from my lack of knowledge after all this time. Learning the Leviathan language was difficult in itself, and I never tried to expand my vocabulary in English because I was so busy trying to pass on what information I could find. A ghost of a smile appears on Remus’s lips as he takes in my predicament.

“It means we won’t see eye to eye on this subject.”

“And you won’t force me to?” I ask. Remus’s smile widens, revealing his teeth, and he makes his way toward me.

“Force you?” he reiterates. A part of me is happy to see his open playfulness return after so long. But the logical part of me is terrified of what his playfulness will lead to. I slowly nod my head, my anxiety building as he stands over me.

“After all this time, do you still not understand the difference between you and me?” he asks, lifting my chin to meet his gaze. His eyes are gleaming in excitement.

“Your thoughts, opinions, and actions are your own. Though I underestimated you in the past, I won’t do so again. Other than that, you aren’t a threat to me. You’re only fighting for your people. A fight that I have warned you several times is a useless one. However, I respect it. If you continue to pursue this fight, I hope you are prepared for the consequences of those surrounding you. They will all die, and you will be left to endure the suffering. Because I willneverend your life.”

My eyes widen as I take in the being in front of me. A chill ripples up my spine, resting on the tops of my arms from his words.

“You’ve seen what they are willing to do to kill me. They aren’t worth your suffering.” He slowly rubs his thumb over my cheek, the simple gesture leaving a scorching trail. I can no longer hold his gaze, stepping away immediately. I wrap my arms around myself as I turn my back to him, unable to even stand in the same vicinity as him. My gaze shifts to the window, where a low rumble of thunder ripples across the sky.

“What about my brother?” I ask. My throat feels tight just thinking about his answer. And I don’t dare ask about Jude.

“...You will be very disappointed if you continue trying to fight for them,” he says gently.

“How do you know I haven’t given up already?” I ask bitterly, “I tried to convince him to give up the fight, and I give into you every time you touch me,” I add.

Remus scoffs behind me, and I hear him moving.

“You’re human. Denying yourself pleasure doesn’t place you in a winner’s bracket. It only denies you an experience. And you have a drive like no other—a will to fight no matter what. Right now, you have only just discovered how pathetically outmatched your race is. And you’ve lost the drive. But not your will. You’re unlike any other being I’ve encountered. You have such a strong will to live... to experience.”

I slowly turn to face him, and he’s watching me with a strange expression, his head angled slightly as he studies me.

“It’s one thing I’ve come to admire about you,” he says.

I fight the sudden tension in my chest at his confession. Remus, the almighty being, admires...me? I thought his feelings toward me were purely sexual. As I study him, his expression suddenly makes sense.

“When you said you were curious... you were genuinely curious because you don’t understand me?” I ask softly. Remus doesn’t seem shocked in the least about my revelation.

“I’ve always been transparent with you, Iris.”

Remus suddenly seems less relatable as he stands before me. His interactions with his own people, as well as mine, suddenly make perfect sense. I understand why he was always confused when I asked why he hated my people and if he disliked his own. He genuinely doesn’t hold emotion toward them. Either of them. His behavior toward everyone isn’t because he dislikes them. He lacks the emotional capacity to understand them. But somehow, being with me allows him a glimpse into something he doesn’t understand and finds interest in watching play out.

I find myself laughing at the bitter irony I’ve been dealt, looking up just as Remus places his hand in mine, his grip tightening as he pulls me along.

“Come. I wish to show you something.”

I silently follow Remus through the unfamiliar halls, making our way outside. There’s a chill in the air from the oncoming rain, causing me to shiver. Remus notices quickly, letting go of my hand just as he pulls his cape from around his shoulders, wrapping it around mine. He doesn’t speak as he clasps the front. The warmth immediately envelopes me, and I note that the bottom drags the dirt due to our difference in height, but Remus doesn’t seem to mind.

He continues to walk in front of me, and I take the time to look at my surroundings. Mountainsides surround us, his home sitting on the edge of the cliffside. It’s very secluded. No one can get here unless they have a ship or are an expert hiker. We finally reach the top of the hill, and a little in the distance, I see a ship. It’s bigger than the one Remus uses for transport, and the ship’swings are made from a transparent film. It’s breathtaking seeing the Leviathan ship from this distance. The exterior itself is made up of foreign metal and materials that don’t look anything like our own.

“What is this?” I ask. When I look at Remus, he’s looking at the ship with a blank expression.

“It’s a ship built for space. It’s large enough to transport cargo.”

“... Why are you showing me this?” I ask. My voice trembles as my brain takes me to a place I don’t want to be.

“I’ve realized that your remaining here can be a hindrance. Not only to me but to yourself. I’ve decided to send you ahead of me to my home planet...” Remus continues speaking next to me, but I can’t hear him. Suddenly, the sound of blood rushing through my ears is louder than his voice. My chest constricts, and my skin prickles as my worst fear is imagined. I take a step back, my eyes trained on the ship.

“No,” I say.

Silence permeates the air, the sound of thunder growing louder as the clouds thicken.

“No?” Remus repeats in a dangerous tone.

---