Revelation - Chapter 2 (Patreon)

My eyes fly open and I sit up in bed, screaming. Cold sweat is plastered to my body, and my hair is sticking to me. I feel hands on me, but squeeze my eyes shut. It’s her. She’s killing me. Killing us.

“No! No no no!” I screech.

“Iris!” I hear my name, and I know that voice. The hands gripping my arms are hot and I open my eyes to see Remus. He’s watching me with a worried expression, his brow furrowed slightly. I choke on a sob, and tears spill over. I can’t hold back the cry that leaves my lips. I cry and fall into Remus’ chest not caring it’s him for the moment. I just need comfort. Anything to get that feeling out of my brain.

“I thought…” I break off unable to finish my sentence.

“Shhhh...” He runs his hand over my back. I try and calm myself down but it’s no use. It felt so real. I was back on that cliff with his mother, and she was killing me. I feel Remus’ fingers underneath my chin.

“Hey…” He whispers to me, and I open my eyes looking at him. His eyes are burning so bright in the dark.

“I won’t let anything happen to you. I’m here now,” he says. 

I shake my head pulling away from him. Now that I’ve calmed a little my brain is back to tell me who he is and why I hate him.

“Iris…”

“Don’t,” I snap. 

I lay on my side rolling away from him and staring into the darkness. He’s quiet and doesn’t say a word. After a moment he gets up from the bed, and I close my eyes in relief.

The room is quiet. So I focus on my heartbeat and try calming myself. I take a deep breath. And another, and another. My body may be calm, but my mind won’t stop. I feel a light touch on my arm and jump letting a scream escape me.

Remus is standing next to the bed, with nothing on but a pair of pants, and he has something in his hand.

“Come on. Get out of bed,” he says. I narrow my gaze and open my mouth to tell him, no, but he narrows his gaze and his eyes seem to shine brighter.

“Iris.” He growls my name and it sends a chill down my spine. He holds his hand out to me and shock runs through me when I see what he’s holding in his hand. It’s clothes. A simple dress with sleeves. I grab it from him and step out of bed proceeding to get dressed.

When I’m fully dressed, Remus is waiting for me by the wall he usually enters in. I slowly approach in confusion. But he’s watching me carefully with his arms crossed over his chest. As I get closer, the wall dissolves. My eyes widen and I look beyond the opening but can see nothing but darkness. I look back to Remus.

He steps closer to me taking hold of my hand. He doesn’t speak as he pulls me to the dark opening. I pause slightly looking at him in confusion.

“No energy cuffs?” I say untrustingly. He keeps walking.

“No,” he says softly. 

We step into the hall, and it takes a moment for my eyes to adjust. I try and look around, but see nothing still. It’s as if it’s pitch black in this hall. I slow my pace, unable to find Remus in the dark, then feel his hand on my arm. A chill crawls up my arm from the contact, as we make our way through the darkened halls of this place, not once stopping. All I can do is rely on Remus and hope that he’s leading me correctly.

“Where are we going?” I ask. My voice echoes off the walls surrounding us, so I know the surrounding area must be large. Remus doesn’t respond though. He just keeps pulling me along, on some kind of mission.

We go down a set of stairs that wind until we reach the bottom of something. I hear a door, and Remus pulls me along the darkness. Except now there’s grass beneath my feet instead of the cold floor. It’s also chilly and I can feel the light breeze licking my arms. Remus’ steps finally slow down and I feel his hands on either side of my shoulders steadying me the direction he wants me. I look around me as my eyes adjust, but see nothing. I look up in the sky and a soft gasp escapes me when I see a star. Then another. And another. Until the entire sky is filled with stars and the spray of a galaxy.

I’m still squinting in the dark until I see something. It’s right in front of me. A small, purple light. My eyes widen as the light slowly rises. I can see the outline of Remus’ hands as he lifts the light up to his lips. I watch in awe unable to say a word. His face is so focused on what he’s doing.

He takes in a deep breath and blows on the small light in his hands, and slowly it lights up even more until it’s shining its light on the world around us. He opens his hands tossing the light and it floats in a different direction lighting up a path on its way. I notice out of my peripheral Remus is watching me, but I keep my gaze focused on the light. It keeps floating away from us until it lands on something. And the light multiplies. That’s when I realize it’s water. And that’s when the magic happens.

Remus holds his palm out, and it’s like life is suddenly given. The entire garden around us lights up and begins growing flowers I have never seen before. My eyes widen and my mouth opens as pure awe washes over me. Remus grabs ahold of my hand pulling me along the rows of plants that grow. An aura of purple and blue washes over the garden. We pause in front of a bench that has vines wrapped around it. Remus looks at me with a small smile on his face and touches his finger to the vines. Suddenly a pulse of blue flashes and it’s as if I can see the energy warping through the vines.

“Wow,” I whisper. 

I reach out to touch it and feel a tiny jolt through my fingers. I yank my hand back but Remus says nothing. He only walks ahead of me, looking up into the sky. I follow his gaze and my eyes widen. A spatter of light fills the sky, but there is no moon in sight. Only stars and galaxies. It’s beautiful.

My gaze travels to Remus. His hair is now moving from the cool breeze that washes over us. I admire his physique. His head is tilted slightly back

“When I was a child, I would play here,” he says. I look around in realization. I’m in Remus’ childhood home.

“I would practice. Train. Hide.” He laughs softly. “My mother and I would play in these gardens.”

“She could always find where I was hiding, no matter what path I created or what greenery I would hide myself in.”

“This place was my sanctuary,” he says. He turns to me, and as he walks towards me, he holds his hand out in front of him. A small light projects from his palm and an Iris slowly forms. He holds It out to me.

“Now it’s yours,” he says. I slowly reach out, grabbing the entrancing flower from his fingertips.

“I know you suffer. I swear to you I do,” he says. He traces his fingers over my cheek lightly.

“You’re not alone here.” His hand drops to my shoulder and he places a comforting grip on me, yet his next words do little to ease my spirits.

“This is your home now Iris,” he says softly.

~

Remus

When I was young, my father wanted to test my strength. So he took me to a planet that was far from home and uninhabitable. The beasts there were more frightening than anything in your worst nightmares. Even more so when you realized they come out in the dark. When you’re at your weakest.

I remember it only took us a few seconds to reach this planet. My father used his abilities to instantly place us on this planet. He walked me to the center of the desert, told me, “Good luck” and left. I had exactly thirty minutes until the sunset, and no weapon except my mind and what I had been taught so far.

Now I scoff at the memory. The moment I realized my father wasn’t coming back for me was the most terrifying moment in my life at that point. But none of that compares to the hell I’ve been through these past weeks.

I step out of the bathroom looking over to where Iris is asleep in the bed. For the first time in weeks, she actually looks peaceful. I can tell by her heartbeat she’s in a deep sleep cycle. Every night she has nightmares about things past, and last night was no exception. But after taking her out to the gardens and amusing her for hours, she finally grew exhausted and fell into a heavy sleep.

I walk away from her, leaving the room. As I exit the room two guards are on either side of the doorway waiting. They bow as I step out, and I nod in acknowledgment. The halls are beginning to slowly brighten as the days hours begin. It’s early in the morning by Iris’ internal clock.

I keep walking as the halls slowly light up, my insides coiling with each step. There have been a lot of hard days in my lifetime. But today will be one of the hardest. Right next to the moment I thought I’d lost Iris forever, and the moment I found out the fate of the life she was carrying inside of her. It’s ironic because the center of today’s pain is due to the woman that caused both of those heartbreaks.

I exit the east wing, and enter the main part of the castle, making my way to the rear courtyard. I notice the sudden pick up in servants that appear as I make my way through my childhood home. All of these halls, and spaces. I remember them. Now anyway. The one memory that burns itself into my skull is my mother dragging me out of my room in the middle of the night. Stealing me away from everything, and creating a lie for me to live in. I even remember the very moment she began tampering with my memories. I begged her. Begged my own mother.

A girl pauses in front of me bowing as I pass by. I take in her features as she stops what she’s doing to bow to me. Her hair is black. Eerily so. Not like humans, but color so stark that if a human laid eyes on it, they may freeze from the distraction. And although she is from this world, her eyes are as well. I frown slightly. I understand what that is. I understand why my mother took me away from here and why my people need me. Either way, I made sure to keep them away from my wing of the castle because I don’t want that risk. The people of this plane are a step above human existence.

“Sire!” I look up when I see Braith coming toward me. His hair is dark as the rest of his people’s and his eyes even more so. He’s young. I would guess him to be around Iris’ age. His hair is pulled up in a high ponytail. My gaze travels to the markings on his forearms. He’s been assigned the task of being my Royal Equerry. Though I ignore his presence most days.

I watch him approach until he finally stops and bows. I wait for him to rise before speaking.

“Yes?” I ask.

“The King has requested your presence in the Star room," he says. 

I watch him closely before stepping past him and making my way up the hall to my original destination.

“No.” I call over my shoulder. I let my father return without chains. But not before teaching him a lesson. Not before showing him that I am the one with power here. Not him. I couldn’t return to my homeworld and claim innocence with my father in chains. So he came as a free man and the King he is, and in a few months time, I will be the new king once my coronation is well planned out.

“But sir!” I hear Braith running after me, but I don’t slow down, My father isn’t a priority at the time. Once this day is over he will have all the time in the world to impose on everything that I do. But he won’t get in the way today. I know his game.

Braith continues to follow me, rambling in my ear about the importance of seeing my father but I don’t care. I finally reach the back of the castle and stand at the entryway. I turn to Braith, letting my emotions seep out of my pores and my irritation flourish. His eyes visibly widen.

“Go. Away," I growl. I don’t wait for his response.

I step outside just in time to see my mother being taken the waiting car. My eyes shift, and I see Ezra and Xion as well. They’re standing with energy cuffs to keep them from doing something stupid. I don’t miss the gaze of hatred Xion shoots me as I pass by. I deserve it. I walk down the steps and wait for the security escorting my mother to reach.

She has energy cuffs around her arms and throat. She keeps her gaze locked with mine as she approaches. Even though she is drained of her power, she still looks youthful and elegant. But I can see the sadness that lurks in her gaze. She lost everything. Her power. Her love. Her world. Her children. Her dignity. I can’t help but feel mixed emotions with her. I feel hatred, but I also feel sorrow deep in my heart. Deep deep in my heart. I look at the security surrounding her and they all stop.

She eyes me, and a small smile graces her face.

“Come to see me off?” she says. I don’t respond immediately. She has pride now that the rest of her children are watching as well as her people. But I can't help but wonder if any remnant of my Mother is in there somewhere. My eyes narrow.

“How are you?” I ask. She laughs softly looking around.

“Asking me how I am after dragging me back to this hell and exiling me?”

“You're being sent to your own family. They will dole out punishment there.” I say. She narrows her eyes at me. She came from a noble family that rules lands far from here. She was chosen among each of the women to be the queen of this realm. And she spat on that honor.

“As is their right,” I add.

“You watch your tongue,” he snaps. I step closer to her.

“I don’t take orders from you. Not anymore,” I growl. Resentment bubbles up inside of me. She glares at me, then a smile graces her lips. She searches my face, and her smile grows when she finds it.

“Ah. There it is.” She leans in closer to my face, and I can feel the energy I’ve kept at bay inside of her threatening to come back.

“My son is gone. And in his place is this monster.” She gets an evil glint in her eyes, and looks beyond me to my siblings, raising her voice.

“Keep an eye on this one while I’m gone. He’s dangerous.” She says.

“You don’t speak to them,” I growl. Her face shifts.

“I am still your mother Remus. I gave you life.” She snaps.

“Yes, as long as it suited your wrongdoings.” I raise my voice and can feel the vibrations of power humming through my veins. She laughs.

“Ha! My wrongdoings? I saved countless lives from y-“

“And now they’re all dead, aren’t they?!” I shout. I feel rage exploding inside of me, and a mass of energy surges from my body. A gust of wind draws in a circle inching out, and everyone steps back. Including my mother. Her shocked expression turns to a mocking one. She laughs softly and smiles. She doesn’t say a word as she walks to the car. She turns her back on me, and I feel a myriad of emotions to the point of not knowing what to think. I look down at my hands and look back at her.

“Did you know?” I ask. I look up at her, and she pauses with her back to me so I clarify my question. A question that has been eating away at me.

“Did you know she was pregnant?” I ask. I stare at her back. Her long white hair breezes slightly, and she keeps her back to me. The woman that I adored my whole life. The woman I looked up to and looked to for advice and love. I don’t even realize that I’ve been holding my breath until she answers me.

“I did,” she says before getting in the car. 

I stand in the courtyard unable to move. I know how, but it’s as if my body won’t cooperate with my brain. I feel rooted to the spot. I can feel the eyes of my siblings on me. I don’t know how long I stay here trying to comprehend the emotions running through me. I’ve never been so out of control in my life. So I take a deep breath and turn away from the now distant car my mother is in as she rides to her new life far away from us.

I wipe my face of anything I might be feeling, or may even be threatening to feel and bury it down deep. As I walk back to the castle I see my siblings looking at me. They watched the whole exchange. I don’t expect them to say anything as I walk past.

“Remus…” I pause looking at Ezra. He’s watching me with such a heavy pity in his eyes. I watch him with a guarded expression. But he only looks away before resting his gaze back on me.

“I’m so sorry,” he says. 

I don’t react though. I can’t. So I look to the guard behind him nodding my head to let him know to take them both back to their wings before heading back into the castle to see what it is my father wanted.

~

“My son.” I look up as I approach the room the elders have chosen to meet in. My father is standing in front of the door, dressed in regal attire. His shockingly white hair and purple eyes a physical reminder of who and what he is. What we are. He approaches me with a smile on his face and I narrow my gaze.

“Do not touch me,” I snap. The only reason I released him is that at the moment he is the rightful ruler of this world. It would be foolish of me to return to my people with their king as my captive. But after that exchange with my mother, I want nothing to do with him.

“Remus-“

“Don’t,” I snap. The servants at the door bow slightly, pulling it open as I approach. I take in their appearances as well. The same as the last servant. I make a mental note to make sure Iris doesn’t encounter any of them when she decides to leave the room and stop throwing a tantrum. It may be too much of a distraction for her.

The room has a high ceiling with crystal-like marble for the interior. The walls each have an arched opening so that the world beyond can be seen and felt from here. I can see the edge of the kingdom, that floats above the entire region. The region of my people. As my father and I enter the room, the men surrounding the table stand, and bow. I step aside so that my father can address the room.

Each of them with hair white like my fathers, but eyes that are white as well instead of the purple the royal family sports.

“My people. Let me first start, by thanking all of you for being here on such short notice.” He steps aside, motioning to me.

“Let me also introduce your king and rightful heir to the throne. My son, Remus has returned to us from the dimension beyond this one. He has unlocked his true power, and stopped his mother in her tracks. And now, he has returned home.” He smiles. Each of the men in the room looks at me in shock, and I just watch them. Gauging their reactions. Their eyes widen, and they each look at me in shock and disbelief. I can’t help but feel a tinge of sadness at the mention of my mother.

The man nearest to me slowly moves from behind the table, walking across the room. No one speaks as he does so. He stands in front of me, looking into my eyes with his. His brow furrows, and he drops to his knees, pressing his forehead into the marble-like floor.

“My king.” He murmurs. All of the men immediately follow suit, all dropping and bowing, murmuring their praise that I have “returned”. I look at my father who is smiling at me.

“You don’t know what this means for all of us.” He says smiling. I look back to the room of bowing men. He’s right. I don’t. I feel nothing at this moment. The moment I surpassed my father and became this powerful being, all emotion left my body. And each time I decide to feel, I can’t control the power running through me. I’m just existing at this point. But I can read every emotion in this room. And I know exactly what it is they want from me. So, I smile, moving to the nearest member of the council of elders, and place my hand on his shoulder.

“I can only hope to exceed your expectations and become the ruler you all have been waiting for.” His eyes grow wide, and he nods his head vigorously. I laugh softly, patting his shoulder before moving to take a seat next to my father.

~

Iris

I sleep for most of the day. Maybe even the whole day. By the time I wake, the light that usually shines in from the world outside is dimming. I sit up in bed remembering the events of last night. It was an amazing thing to see. I always knew Remus was a magnificent being. But last night only further surprised me and made me realize just how out of my league he is.

I look around the room and a soft gasp escapes me when I see the doors to the balcony are open. A cool breeze is wafting in from the air outside. I throw my legs over the side of the bed and count my steps.

One…Two…Three…Four…Five…Six…Seven…Eight…

Eight? I turn around and see no string of blue energy and no snag on my neck. Usually, I can move seven paces before the chains stop me. But they aren’t there for some reason. I quickly swipe my fingers through the air, but there’s nothing.

I step away from the bed and make my way quietly to the balcony archway. I’m about to step outside and pause when I see Remus. He’s sitting with his back to me on the edge of the overlook. He has one leg pulled to his chest and one dangles freely over the world below. His hair is caught by the breeze.

I slowly step outside, ignoring the chill that touches my skin softly. There is nothing but clouds surrounding us so I can see nothing. I approach Remus and as I round his side, I see his face and it causes uneasiness to ripple through me.

He’s just staring into the distance. I’m not even sure if he’s realized I’m here. Which is saying a lot since he always knows. His face looks empty. Emotionless as he stares off into nothing. I’m unsure of how to react or if I should be concerned. So, I back away and make my way back into the bedroom to leave him.

He’s probably contemplating how he can murder countless more people and ruin lives. It’s not like he ever feels anything.