Pet - Chapter 16 (Patreon)

My hands hurt. They hurt bad. They feel like, they're on fire, and crushed. If that makes sense. My throat hurts too. It burns. It hasn't been this raw since Remus ripped every ounce of flesh off of my back. And my head hurts. It hasn't hurt like this since I cried for the loss of my girls.

I've been beating on this door for ages, and it hasn't budged. I've resorted to kicking now because my hands are all but crushed. I can hear the screams beyond the door, and I know who it's coming from. I don't remember much about my brother. Growing up he wasn't around much, and I hadn't seen him prior to the invasion either. I only know what my brother looks like because of the locket that has been so secure around my neck. And even in that picture, he looks much much younger than he is now. I didn't recognize him as the man that was staring at me when I was speaking to the rebel leaders, or even when he gave me a hug.

I feel overwhelming hatred towards Remus. What was his whole point in releasing me? He obviously wanted to make me suffer, to see his power up close and personal. He wants to constantly dangle things in front of me, to make me suffer, and it destroys me more and more each time. He'll win. One day he will break me, but not today. Not when I can hear my only living relative's cries of agony just beyond that door.

The door swings open, and I fall forward, landing on my face. My hands are unable to even cooperate. I look up, and Remus is staring down at me, with a look of irritation. He kneels down and reaches towards me. I immediately jerk away from him, looking beyond him to see my brother perfectly intact. I stare in shock. Judging from his cries, I could have sworn that I would be greeted with a bloodbath. But instead, he's shaking, like a deranged person, not focusing on anything, and his eyes are heavily dilated.

"What did you do to him?" I whisper, tears brimming my eyes. Remus gently grabs ahold of my hands inspecting them.

"I merely forced his mind into a catastrophic state," he says simply. He presses lightly on my hands, and I flinch in pain.

"You've broken the bones in your left hand," he says.

"You bruised the ones in your right, and there is a small fracture," he looks up at me, irritation on his face.

"That was your bright idea to stop me? Break your bones?" he asks as if I'm stupid. I jerk my hands out of his grasp, trying to mask the pain I'm feeling.

"L'erpiosretrianfortyuiond?" I jump when I hear the strange sentence. I look up, and the man that was here earlier is standing by my brother, but looking at Remus as if he's asking permission for something. Remus smiles lightly.

"Priyan," he says. The man smiles softly and laughs to himself reaching to touch my brother. I try and jump over Remus.

"No! Don't touch him!" I scream. Remus catches my body, causing my body to collapse over his shoulder. He laughs softly and stands, walking me over to a chair, and sitting me down.

"Azael is just going to pull him out of his coma," he says. He places his hands over mine, and I feel that warm sensation coursing through me. I look down at Remus in shock. He's healing me? Then I realize the name he used.

"Azael?" I whisper. My mind immediately shifts back to the little girl that was in that village with me. She hated humans and thought the world of Azael and his happiness. Remus begins lightly placing pressure on my hands, checking to see if they're healed.

"That's right. You probably met his extended guest in the village. She wanted to meet you for some reason," Remus says absentmindedly. I open my mouth to question it when a loud gasp fills the room. I look up and see my brother coming into consciousness. He's a sweaty mess and looking around frantically. Remus' eyes take on that exciting glint, and I know that something is about to happen that can't be good.

Remus leans in close to me, sniffing my neck lightly. I shudder in fear, trying to be brave. He lets out a small laugh. He stands, turning to my brother, and Azael steps back. Remus slowly walks towards my brother, and I can see him shaking in fear upon his approach. Remus' hands are behind his back as he circles him, looking him up and down. The room is so quiet.

Remus' gaze travels to me.

"Are you going to greet your brother, Iris?" he asks. I look from him to my brother, who has just taken it in that I am in the same room. His eyes widen, and he opens his mouth to speak, but Remus places his hand on his shoulder.

"No talking," he says. My brother listens, but keeps my gaze, tears falling. I slowly stand from my seat, taking slow steps to where my brother is. The sad thing is, I don't even know his name. All I know is that he is my brother. I have vague memories of him, but they are like watching a movie through murky water.

I'm standing in front of him, and I look up at Remus who is staring me down with an unreadable expression. I don't realize how terrified I am until I reach out to touch my brother's face, and my hands are shaking. I slowly feel his cheek, the rough stubble that resides there and let out a soft laugh. I can't stop the smile that forms across my face.

He closes his eyes, leaning into my touch.

"I'm sorry," I whisper. I slowly move my hands so that my arms are around his neck, and I hug him. I wish that he could hug me back, but his arms are restrained behind him. I hold him tight, reveling in his warmth. Not scorching heat like Remus' body temperature, but nice warmth, that comes from being a human.

Remus steps beside me, and I know that it's time to pull away. I look up at him, and he motions for me to move backward. He steps next to me and reaches out to touch the locket around my neck. He lightly touches it, then steps away.

"I am here for one purpose. To conquer and expand," he walks around me but keeps his gaze trained on my brother.

"Surely you can understand that."

"Imagine, my rage when I discover that the race of creatures I aim to destroy, is killing my people with our very own weapons," he says. My brother's eyes narrow at him.

"I only have one question for you," Remus walks around me, standing above my brother looking as sinister as he does beautifully.

"Where are they hidden?" he asks. I can see the internal war my brother is fighting. He wants to tell, he wants to end his suffering, but he won't. He looks at me and then drops his gaze to the ground. I tense when I feel Remus' hand on top of my head. He lightly strokes my hair, then the pressure increases, and I am forced to my knees. I let out a small noise, and my brother hears it, raising his head.

I shake my head at him. No matter what, he can't tell. He can't.

"Don't- Ahhhhhh!" I let out an ear-piercing scream, as a searing pain rips through my arm and up my bones. Remus snapped my arm. My brother opens his mouth.

"Stop! I'll tell you, it-"

"No!" I screech through my pain. Remus kneels next to me, tilting his head slightly causing white strands to fall on his face.

"No?" he says. He laughs.

"You do understand your position here, don't you, Iris?" I'm still crying in pain, but I don't listen to him, I focus on my brother who is watching me in turmoil.

"Don't tell him anything," I sob.

"He's evil," I get out before Remus snatches me up. He's carrying me out of the room, jarring me constantly, igniting furious pain throughout my body, but I use all of my strength to encourage my brother, not to say anything for my sake.

"He will murder everyone! He will kill them, you can't say a word!" I scream. I'm crying as Remus drags me up the hall and throws me on the couch. Pain explodes across my face, as Remus slaps me. I look at him, and immediately shut my mouth. I try and put on a brave face, but the tears are coming. Remus takes in my appearance with a blank expression. And out of nowhere, the corner of his mouth turns up slightly, and he's smiling.

He doesn't speak as he moves next to me and grabs ahold of my arm. I hiss in pain, but he jerks really hard, and after a sharp pain and a loud pop, my arm is... fine? I look at it in shock and move it around. It isn't broken? I look at Remus in surprise, but he's smiling at me with so much amusement in his features, it scares me.

"Wha...?" I trail off not knowing what else to say. But he says nothing else, only turns his back to me, and walks back in the direction he came. I jump up.

"Wait!" I shout. He turns slowly to look at me, but before I can say anything, he does.

"I won't hurt him. Nor will I kill him. I have everything I need to know. I'll see you at dinner, Iris." He turns away from me, leaving me completely confused.

I'm sitting at the edge of the porch, with the Iris Remus gave me in my hand. After all these days with no water, it's as fresh as when he gave it to me. I don't understand it.

"Iris." I jump and turn to see Remus coming towards me. He's once again wearing all white, his hair blowing behind him as he walks. His gaze is intense, and as he approaches me, he rotates his hand, and an Iris appears. As he stands above me, he brings it to his nose, sniffing it lightly. He sits down next to me and hands it to me. I take it, watching him carefully.

"My weakness is my siblings," he says. My eyes widen as he relays this information to me. His eyes meet mine, and he smiles.

"I am the oldest. It's my job to protect them. Xion has always been so stubborn. Barreling ahead and making me respect her, but Ezra, well, he's always been searching for my approval." His gaze travels up to the sky.

"I have always been proud of him. I just never showed him. I treated him like a child, so he grew more and more reckless, trying to win my approval. Xion and I just hovered. Really badly over him." He lets out a soft laugh.

"I remember when we were young, he made a pack of tryps′ so angry, just to make them fight him and prove to us that he was strong, but we ended up bailing him out of it. Like we always did."

"But now I fear the worst." He looks at me now.

"If I find my brother, dead, there will be no saving this planet from my wrath. Everyone will die. Everyone," he says. His voice sends a chill down my spine.

"I tell you this because I understand the importance of family." He reaches out, pushing my hair behind my ear. I'm in complete and utter shock as I look at the compassion that is in his gaze.

"You may go speak to him if you'd like." I don't know what to say. This is Remus we're talking about. Remus. The bringer of death, destruction, and pain, the same being that lacks emotion and feeling. That manipulates and destroys people. And he's telling me I can go and see my brother?

"Are... are you serious?" I stare in shock.

"Very," he says simply. He stands, walking past me back inside, and heading to the bedroom. I gaze at his back in complete confusion. If this week has taught me something, it's that Remus NEVER does nice things just to be nice. There is always a reason. Always a purpose. I slowly stand, and instead of going to where my brother is, I follow Remus.

I walk into the room just as he's taking off his shirt. I quickly lower my gaze, not wanting to be caught staring.

"Iris, are you lost?" he asks. I look up at him and narrow my eyes.

"Why are you doing this?" I ask. He raises a brow at me, feigning confusion.

"Doing what?" he asks.

"You know exactly what. You never give me anything. All you've ever done is take from me, so why are you letting me see him?" I ask. Remus only shrugs, turning away from me.

"You wish for me to retract my earlier statement, and refuse to let you see him?" he asks simply. I close my mouth. Of course, that's not what I want.

"Why are you being nice? You're never nice," I say. He laughs. Actually throws his head back, and laughs joyously.

"No, Iris. You're just never obedient," he says. He walks to me, towering over my form, and runs his thumb along my cheek.

"I like to see my pet happy occasionally. Think of it as a reward," he says. I narrow my eyes at him.

"For what?" I ask.

"In due time," he says simply. He steps away from me, heading to the bathroom.

"You may want to see him now, Iris," he calls over his shoulder.

I slowly push the door open to the room, to find my brother in a cage, sitting in the center with his head in his hands. He looks up at my entrance, his whole body tense and rigid until he sees who it is.

I take slow, unsure steps towards him until I am directly in front of his cage. I slowly sink down, sitting in front of him, and he watches me the whole way. He gives me a soft smile, tears brimming his eyes.

"Are you hurt? How...?" he trails off as I stop him.

"I'm fine. Remus knows how to heal my body instantly," I say. He looks confused and shocked, but his features shift and he looks sad.

"You're so grown up... I never thought I would see you again," he says. I look at my hands.

"I... I don't know your name," I say softly. He looks up at me in surprise.

"Andrew," he says. I smile. Finally, after all this time. A name to a face.

"I'm not surprised. You were so young when I was shipped off, and me and Dad never got along, so I just stayed away," he says. I look at him as I remember our parents.

"Are they... " he trails off as I shake my head slowly. He lets out a sad sigh. I feel his hand over mine as he reaches through the bar. I look up and he's smiling at me. He looks just like our father.

"Hey, we have each other now. And that's all that matters," he says simply. I shake my head, crying more tears.

"But for how long," I sob. Andrew has a troubled expression on his face.

"Remus is evil.. he'll kill you just to teach me a lesson. I don't know what to do..." I cry.

"Remus?" He says in confusion. I nod my head slowly.

"Remus is the leader of them. And he... owns me now," I say.

"Don't say that. He does not own you!" Andrew hisses. I look up at him, and I see it. That fire Remus hates so much. That spark of hope. Andrew has it burning bright in his gaze as he glares me down. I shake my head. I can see why Remus calls me naive all the time.

"No... he does, Andrew. With a simple touch to my shoulder, he can suck my life away," I say, remembering how he killed that trainer with one touch.

"He's... a monster, Andrew. He isn't some kind of being that can be beaten. I don't even know if killing him is possible. I've never encountered anything like him," I say, realizing just how terrifying he really is. There is silence, and then I finally hear him speak.

"What do you mean, he can suck your life away?" he asks. I look at him in confusion. How could he not know that? I told Jude a long time ago.

"He... feeds off life. Essence. And he can take it just by touching you," I say.

"How did you not know that? I thought that Jude told you all a long time ago," I ask in confusion. He stares at me in horror.

"No... my battalion was never told any of that..." he says in confusion.

"Andrew, you are a part of the resistance aren't you?" I ask. He opens his mouth to respond, and out of nowhere, a loud explosion happens. A flash of bright light appears, and I can see the blazing inferno beyond the door that is quickly coming towards me. I don't know what to do. All I can think is that I'm about to die. And strangely enough, I don't want that.

I close my eyes waiting for the pain, the emptiness, something. But instead, I'm met with Remus. He's in front of me, and the fire is blazing around us as if there is a massive bubble that is protecting us from the blast. I know that it's Remus. I remember his science lesson. He can manipulate anything. Including explosions.

Remus turns to me.

"Are you hurt?" he asks. I shake my head, still in confusion about what is happening. I quickly turn to see if Andrew is OK, and he is as terrified as I am, looking around in confusion. Remus does a quick once over of my body, and stands grabbing a hold of my arm.

"They're attacking. Let's go," he says simply. I look back at Andrew who will be caught in the crossfire if I leave him.

"What? No! We can't leave him!" Remus isn't listening to me though, and we're getting further and further away from Andrew.

"Remus, Please!" I screech. He stops and whirls around to face me. I take note that he isn't even worried. He has a look of irritation on his face. His head perks up as if he senses something, and he turns around just in time to see a missile head shooting towards us. He shoves me backward and puts his hand out.

The missile explodes against his palm on impact, a raging inferno catching fire to all of the houses surrounding us. None of the flames touch Remus, and he seems to be looking beyond the bomb for something. His eyes narrow, and I notice a ghost of a smile on his face.

I turn back to Andrew and make my way over to him. He's holding onto the bars, looking at me with fear in his eyes. I place my hand in his, through the bars.

"Iris, go, get out of here!" he shouts through the sounds of bullets. I can hear them as they hit the columns, ricocheting. I shake my head.

"No! I won't leave you!" I shout. I hear a loud creaking and both Remus' and Andrew's voices at the same time.

"Iris!" I look up just in time to see the roof collapsing on top of me. My body is immediately crushed, and I feel pain. Unimaginable pain. The boards that aren't intact completely are on fire and are burning into my flesh. On top of that, I'm pretty sure some of my bones are broken from the impact.

"Ahhh!" I scream in agony. Even my voice is crushed. I can feel the prickling sensation as the fire burns through my flesh, and I wish more than anything that I could die now. Anything to escape this pain.

I feel the boards slowly being lifted from my body, but it's not enough. It's not moving fast enough. With every passing second, more and more of my body catches fire underneath the heated boards. I'm constantly screaming. I can't decipher pain from anything else. Not even common knowledge.

"Iris, listen to me," I can hear Remus' voice. It's strangely soothing, out of character... gentle. Even though the boards are no longer on my body, I'm in unimaginable pain. I'm literally convulsing from it.

"Iris, you're going to be OK," he says. I open my eyes, trying to focus on something. I see the burning house, the broken windows, and the white strands of Remus' hair around me. I use all of my strength to claw at his shirt.

"Don't leave him," I choke out.

"He's all I have," I whimper. Remus sets me gently down, and I force all the strength that I have to watch him as he walks towards Andrew. My vision blacks out, but I force myself into consciousness.

Remus rips open the cage, and yanks, Andrew, out. I watch in horror as he bites down on his throat, ripping his flesh.

"No..." I try and scream, but it's broken from the pain. Andrew screams, but Remus simply digs into the gaping hole and pulls something out of his throat. I can't decipher what it is due to the intermittent loss of consciousness.

Remus throws Andrew's body over his shoulder and comes towards me with a look of irritation on his face. He reaches down, and I can't help but wonder if I imagine his features morphing into gentle ones.

"This is going to hurt you, but I have to get you out of here, Iris," he says. He grabs my body, hauling me up, and even more, pain rips through me. I scream as loud as I can, my tears burning a trail down the side of my face.

I don't know what's going on around me, or how long it lasts, but Remus finally places my body on a cool, cushioned table. I look around and notice I'm in a ship of some kind. I look for Andrew's body, as well. He has his hand over his throat, blood coming from under his hand, but he's alive as he sits across from me with tears in his eyes.

Remus is shouting something in his language, and I can't understand it. The ship takes a slight bump, jarring my body, and I groan in pain, praying for something to happen so that this pain can stop. My stomach drops as the ship takes off, and it takes a minute or two, but I'm finally met with a pair of purple eyes. He's watching me and there is anger clear in his expression.

He mutters something in his language, as he touches my arms and looks over my body.

"The damage is too extensive," he murmurs. His gaze travels to my face, and he pushes my hair out of my face, leaning over me. His gaze drops to my lips, and he places his mouth over mine. But not in a kiss.

My back arches in pain as a tidal wave of something I've never experienced before washes through my body. I reach up, trying to pry Remus away from me, but his hands grab ahold of mine and he holds them down. I'm literally screaming in his mouth. I just want the pain to end.

Remus pulls away from me, looking to someone, and says something in his language. He's shouting, actually, and frantic. He points and points and I feel plugs and needles going into my body, and patches of something over my skin.

I shakily reach around my neck, yanking my locket off, and holding it out, hoping that Andrew will see it and take it. I feel Remus' fingers on my temple, and the chain as it slips through my fingers before darkness overcomes me.