Pet: Genesis Ch. 28 (Patreon)

Part of me wants to run into the room, screaming with joy that my brother is alive and well. I thought for years that my family had left me and that I was all alone in this world. But as it turns out, I’m not. And my brother sits in a room within these walls, waiting for my appearance.

The other part of me, the logical part, wants to never set foot in that room. I know that once I do, my life will shatter in the most primal of ways. I will have to convince my brother to turn his back on humanity for the sake of himself. And I know that he won’t. He will want to continue to fight for them. It’s like Remus said. He’s a commanding officer in the rebel army. There’s no way he would turn his back on them for anyone. Especially his sister he hasn’t known for several years.

I look up as Jude comes to a halt in front of one of the doors. I fear what I’ll find on the other side, my hand coming up to clasp the locket that rests around my neck. I glance at Jude’s emotionless expression feeling my heartache at my place in this war. Every time I tried to stay on the side of humanity, I ended up hurting those that I cherish the most in this world. Every time I close my eyes, I see Remus deflecting the rebel's weapons before massacring them with power beyond our imagination.

I recall the first time I ever met Remus. I tried to blow both of us up with a live grenade. And yet, I am here. I tried to attack him with a knife, but the steel was too weak to penetrate his flesh. There are no sides. There’s only Remus and his patience. And judging from his words before sending me to my brother, he is at the end of his rope.

I suck in a deep breath staring at the door. I finally find the nerve to push it open, revealing my brother. He’s still in his battered armor that did little to protect him against Remus’s wrath. He’s also sitting in a chair that has his hands locked into the armrests. His eyes are closed, his breathing even as I step into the room.

I take the moment to take in his features. His dark hair is wild and tussled, and I know that if he opened them, his eyes would be the same color as mine. I vaguely register that Jude has stepped into the room as well, moving to the corner to silently observe. Cypress still doesn’t move as I approach, but I know he’s awake. I can tell by the way his fists are clenched.

I finally stand over him, reaching out slowly to touch his cheek. There’s still a small smear of blood on it.

“Cypress,” I whisper his name just as my hand comes into contact with his cheek. His eyes fly open and he lifts his gaze to look at me in shock. He takes me in for at least thirty seconds before finally opening his mouth to speak.

“… Iris? I thought… I thought he…,” he trails off unable to complete his sentence as tears brim his eyes. He silently leans into my touch as sobs wrack his body, and I pull him into an embrace, enjoying the warmth of my brother. He’s normal temperature, as humans should be.

“No, I’m here,” I say softly.

I feel bitter hatred towards Remus at this reunion. I can see and speak to my brother and yet he’s trapped in a chair unable to hold me. Remus’s mercy is a cruel side to be on.

“How did you escape? How did find me?” he asks. Now it’s my turn to cry. I silently step away from my brother, taking a seat in the chair across from him. He’s watching me in confusion, and I suddenly find myself unable to look at him.

“He owns me… Remus does,” I say softly. A silence overcomes us as he processes this news.

“Remus as in the Leviathan leader?” he asks. I nod my head, my vision blurring as more tears spill from my eyes.

“Then… why were you in the town? Why were you at Iriel’s?”

“Remus sent me under the guise of delivering something. He knew Iriel was a traitor. He knew you would be there. He even knew about the attack and how high of a rank you are in the rebellion. And now, he wants me to convince you to give him the information he needs,” I say.

“And why does he think I will give him information?” he asks. I look up at him feeling my chest swell in bitter sadness. I can see the hope that he has. It’s the same level of hope I once had. That drive and fight for freedom. But as Remus said, it is an illusion. I can see why Remus saw me as naive. How could I have ever thought someone like me could beat him?

I let out a bitter laugh looking at my brother as more tears spill down my cheeks.

“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.”

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 he watched me in amusement, 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 on the same level?” 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 that they had to get out of issues. Ezra is the one that makes rash decisions. Do you truly 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?” 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 it is I’m saying.

“So what do you want me to do Iris? Turn my back on my entire race? Stop fighting against the Leviathan because you’re scared?” he snaps.

Silence overcomes the room and I find myself glaring at him as 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 at ten years old! 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 fought every single day.”

“Remus came and destroyed our refuge within an hour. And I still fought him. I took his beatings and torture, and I fought. Not only did I suffer, but 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 him. I’ve seen what he can do by 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.”

I shake my head as more tears come spilling down my face.

“I’ve seen the man 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.”

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