Pet - Chapter 24 (Patreon)

Iris. A beautiful flower on Earth. Not only that but a woman, as well. A woman that managed to change the course of her planet's history. She has no idea the role she has played in Earth being spared my wrath. The pathetic fight they put up is laughable. They would have been exterminated a long time ago. But when I met the one light among the darkness, I just had to have it for myself.

I stare down at her unconscious form. Her cheeks are red from crying. I feel anger, and betrayal at her constantly. Why she would stoop so low as to try and kill me when she knew I was virtually un-killable is beyond me. I think that is the human's flaw. They hold onto hope, using it to guide their actions instead of looking at the facts in front of them. That they are laughably outnumbered. They are a group of people meant to be ruled. It was just a matter of who found them first.

I slowly kneel, rubbing my palm across her cheeks. Her skin is so soft. My hand trails to the necklace that she holds so dearly. I open it looking at the family that smiles back at the camera. So blissfully unaware of the future that awaited them. I know that when she wakes, the constant anger and hatred will continue. I put up a mental block, which means that mentally there is a wall preventing our emotions from reaching each other. But with each passing day, that block grows weaker. And I can feel her every emotion towards me. I have never cared if anyone didn't like me. I know I'm not a favorable person throughout the galaxy. But it bothers me the amount of anger she feels with me.

I know that nothing I can do can atone for the wrong I've done to her. And I'm not the type of person to sit here and pretend that I can change. I am who I am, and I will never change. I am the leader of an empire, and I will always do what's best for my family and my people.

When I found Iris, I was intrigued. How could it be that someone so weak and frail, would willingly stand against a being that she knows is stronger than her? And for someone, she's never even met. It was the first display of selflessness that I had seen coming from the humans since I'd been here. Even after, when I continued to break her, just when I thought she was like the rest of them, she continued to prove me wrong. She continued to risk herself for others, knowing the consequences that awaited her.

I couldn't let a beautiful thing like that die along with this planet. I couldn't let it be wiped out, like the rest of her people. Even the girls she so adamantly fought for turned on her when an opportunity was raised. But she never once went back on her way. Not once. She takes in a shaky breath, and I watch the slow rise and fall of her chest. I smile. Such a light belongs in my possession. The Earth doesn't deserve her. Nor its inhabitants.

A knock sounds at my door, and I stand to answer it. I pull it open to reveal Azael. He bows slightly.

"The ship is at full capacity, sir. The engines are ready," he says. I nod my head, taking one last look at Iris and enjoying the peace while it lasts. Because I know when she wakes, there will be hell to pay. I step out of the room, closing the door behind me.

Azael and I maneuver through the halls and stairs, making our way to the control room. I pass by Ezra on my way, and he's staring out the window. When I look at his hand, I take note that he's holding onto something. But I don't have the time to stop and examine what it is. We make it to the control room, and Azael takes his seat. I walk to the front of the room, looking out at the Earth. I feel joy. I'm finally able to leave and return home. I turn my gaze to the direction of our homeworld. It will take a few weeks to get there, even with our light travel capabilities.

I know that Iris will resent me when she awakens. I know that she will have trouble adjusting to a new planet. And I know that she will not make it easy. The thing that shocked me the most is that she begged me not to take her away with tears in her eyes. She didn't try and fight or do anything reckless. But I know Iris. And if anything, the moment she awakens and finds out what's happening, she will have that fire back.

"The ship has cleared Earth's gravitational pull." I smile. I turn to look to Azael.

"Take us home."