Revelation - Chapter 4 (Patreon)

Remus

I keep my eyes trained on the papers in front of me. Braith has been speaking to me for the past 15 minutes about things that need to be done, but I haven’t been listening. Currently, I have five humans in my custody. Sky, Christopher, Jude, Andrew, & Iris. The question is what to do with them.

Since Ezra has joined my council he will quickly make his way to being general. He will stay here in the castle along with Xion. Both of them will have their mates with them, and that leaves the placement of the others. I can send them away to the countryside. Though I know Iris will grow even more upset once she realizes her brother is no longer here. But the fate of the other mongrel has been sealed. The only reason I let him live in the first place was for the sake of my sister. He is not staying in the same place as Iris.

“Still there is the issue of your return and exposing you to society.” Silence envelopes us as Braith waits for my answer.

“What about it?” I ask. He clears his throat uncomfortably.

“Well, no one has seen you since your return. And since you’ve finished all of your duties and caught up on the history, now would be a good time for you to show the people you’re still the loving son of the King and Q…” He trails off as I stare him down. The mention of my mother only makes my blood boil hotter. I look back to the papers in front of me and all the provinces in place.

I should invite the rulers of those lands to dinner and make my way to the people after I’ve earned their approval. I stand from my seat grabbing the papers in front of me. Currently, I only have one person allied with me. And that is Ezra. Xion is still bitter about the destruction of Leviathar, and only agreed to stay so that she could keep an eye on our little brother. There’s no telling when she would turn on me if given the chance.

I know I have Ezra’s loyalty. But with the coming of my coronation and my father’s time as ruler coming to an end, he wants to put people in the palace to continue to have control over me.

“Also you’ve gone three days without meditating sir. You should-“

“I know,” I say before walking to the door. 

With great power comes great responsibility. And in the coming weeks, I must complete the task to become the new king of this world. I just hope there are no distractions that will prevent me from focusing. If I mess up even in the slightest, it could be the end for me. I walk through the halls, making sure to glance at each of the servants as I pass by. I know that if Iris met one, and found out their purpose here, she would not like it. And she would climb back on her soapbox lecturing me about what’s right and what’s wrong.

I haven’t spoken to Iris or seen her. I have no idea how she is feeling or how I can even begin to communicate with her. Everything has moved so fast, and she seems fine to stay in the confines of that room. Even if I know it doesn’t truly suit her.

“Where is my brother?” I ask.

“He’s in the gardens, sir.” I stop my walking and look at Braith. I take note that every time I look at him he shrinks away.

“Why?” I ask. Braith seems to be wracking his brain for an answer but I don’t wait long enough for him to come up with one. I know I won’t like it. So I turn away from him making my way to the gardens. I pause in the archway.

“Wait here,” I say to Braith. The last thing I want is his kind in here.

The garden is still vibrant and pulsing with life. My life. I walk through the garden, walking around the shrubbery until I find my brother. But he’s not alone. Sky is with him. They’re at the water's edge and she is leaned over looking in awe as he explains something to her.

I watch them closely not wanting to interrupt the exchange. It’s a curious thing, love. My brother has never been one to latch onto any being that he has encountered, but he somehow was attracted to this one. As was I and my sister. It makes me wonder what it is about the human race that has us all in their spell?

His face looks relaxed and calm. Something I haven’t seen in a while from him. He truly cares for this woman. I clear my throat and he immediately turns around, standing tall. Sky does the same, but when she sees it’s me she only narrows her gaze, bowing her head nonetheless. Strange.

“I need to speak with you,” I say. Ezra looks at Sky and she nods her head walking the direction I came. Hopefully, she runs into Braith. Ezra watches me carefully. His eyes shining with distrust.

“You look better,” I say. He shrugs. He looks around at the garden.

“So this is you, huh?” he says. I can’t help myself. A small smile cracks the corner of my lips.

“Always the perceptive one,” I say. He turns away from me motioning to the pulsing vine in the ground.

“I had an idea when we arrived. But this just cleared things up for me.” He says. I nod my head walking past him looking in the large body of water that stretches for miles within the courtyard. I make a mental note to have my Labryo moved into the water. Iris would love that.

“And what exactly did it clear up?” I ask testing his knowledge. He fidgets uncomfortably looking around.

“You. Your father. Our mother. You’re all connected to this place. Somehow.” He says. I nod my head but don’t bother elaborating. There will be a time and place to tell him how this world works but now isn’t that time. I motion to the direction his mate just left.

“If she is to stay here, she needs to be educated,” I say. I notice him getting defensive but hold my hand up before he can speak.

“Iris as well. They are in a world that is so different from their own. You now hold an important position in this society. I assume you wish to spend your life with her. She must know of her new home. Her new people and its history. Once I become King I plan on keeping Iris as my queen. I can’t have her know so little of her kingdom. The people won’t accept them as they are now. Not only that, but they are royalty now. They cannot be as they are.” I say. Ezra’s gaze narrows but he doesn’t say anything.

“I will be holding a dinner to bring the rulers of the eight provinces together and to meet the newest additions to our world. Including me and you.” I say. “I expect all of you to be ready by then,” I add. He only nods his head so I take that as my cue to leave.

Iris

I sometimes find myself wondering if this is the same Remus I met on Earth. If not, how has he changed? Is he kinder? Is he more understanding? It’s impossible to figure out. To figure him out. I constantly have to remind myself that I hate him. More than anything I hate him.

But in moments like these, I find myself wanting to talk to him. Wanting to ask him questions. For the first time since I’ve been in this new world, Remus isn’t doing anything. He’s across the room laying on the couch. One leg is lazily draped off the couch, resting on the floor. He has one arm behind his head, staring at the ceiling while his other hand lays motionless across his chest.

He’s not wearing a shirt, nor is his hair secured in a ponytail. He’s not reading or writing or studying, he’s just staring at the ceiling. He does this a lot lately. He just stares off into space. His mind obviously running wild. I look up to try and see what it is that’s caught his eye. It’s a mural. Nothing like any kind I’ve ever seen. But it’s beautiful nonetheless. It looks to be a meadow of some kind. With flowers and a waterfall. My gaze drops back to Remus. Usually, he notices me staring and glances in my direction but not today. Today he is silent. And if it weren’t for the slight rise and fall of his chest, I wouldn’t even know he’s alive.

So I pull my knees to my chest, resting my chin atop them and watch the alien creature be lost in thought across from me. Time stretches on for what seems like forever, but he finally pulls himself out of his strange trance. Without looking he speaks.

“Are you going to stare at me all day, Iris?” he asks. His usual mocking tone is absent. His voice is strangely calm and soothing. After I don’t respond he shifts his head in my direction. His purple gaze pins me to my seat on the bed and I find myself squirming under it. He’s always made me nervous. But today he seems strange. A small smirk plays at his lips and he seems like he wants to say something but decides not to. He only rests his leg on the floor and shifts his weight so that he is sitting up in the seat.

He closes his eyes taking a deep breath before opening them and looking at me. He rises so gracefully and makes his way over to me. Everything about him is regal and elegant. All the way down to the way he walks. It’s inhuman. But then again, so is he.

He walks to the bed's edge and takes a seat near me. He doesn’t speak as he reaches out to touch my forehead. I flinch away from him. His hands bring back painful memories. Memories I don’t want to relive. His eyes narrow slightly but he drops his hand.

“Do you fear me, Iris?” he asks. His voice is low. His eyes are searching mine for the answer. I nod my head slowly. There’s no need or use in lying to him. He would know.

“Why?” he asks. That question doesn’t need an answer yet he asks me. It’s obvious. Any being that isn’t Remus should fear him. He’s unpredictable. He destroys and takes and kills without consequence. I think of all the people on Earth. The innocent men women and children that suffered his wrath. The same for Leviathar. Yet he seems confused as to why I hate him. Why the world should hate him.

“You know why.” My voice comes out shaky and soft. I’m afraid and I don’t care if he knows. He smiles softly. It’s just a simple pull of the corner of his mouth. And if my eyes weren’t so wide and my gaze so focused, I wouldn’t have noticed it.

“Because I destroyed a planet?” he asks. I don’t respond. He seems intrigued now. He wants to play.

“Because I enslaved yours?” he asks. I still give him no response. He moves closer to me, like a lion stalking its prey.

“Because I almost killed my siblings?” he asks. His amusement is gone. A visible frown forms on his lips. His eyes become unfocused.

“Because I tortured you…” He reaches out touching my cheek. I feel the heat from his palm. His body is vibrating with energy. His brow furrows.

“Because I killed the life that was inside of you…?” Silence washes over us after those words. His bright purple gaze meets mine. I look into those eyes. The same eyes that mesmerized me scared me, taught me, and cared for me. I hate how vulnerable I feel. I break his gaze looking at my feet.

“No…” My voice is a shaky whisper. “That’s why I hate you,” I say. Silence washes over us. My vision grows blurry as warm tears slip down my face. His thumb wipes away the tear, only to remove his hand immediately from my face. He lays on his back in front of me staring at the ceiling.

“Hate me…” He repeats. He closes his eyes letting out a deep sigh.

“Everyone hates me, Iris.” I don’t know if he’s telling me this to go into a new conversation, or it’s just the pain he’s feeling and wants to share with me. But I can’t tell by the tone of his voice. He opens his eyes again looking at the mural.

“The painting on the ceiling is Lintep. It’s where my parents first met,” he says. I look up at the ceiling. It’s arched and high, leaving plenty of room for the mural.

“My father knew the circumstances of their marriage wasn’t preferable to my mother. So he put off tradition, and decided to meet her in a place he felt would put her at ease.” He takes a deep breath.

“The walls are decorated with this place,” he adds. He’s silent for a moment taking in the painting.

“My father loved my mother so much. He wanted things to work. But her heart already belonged to another. And she hated him before she even met him.” I listen intently to the story, not daring to ask a question. This is the most entertainment I’ve had in weeks.

“Even though she married. And did her duty. Ruled with grace. Bore a son. An heir. She still hated him. And she hated the result of him.” I slowly move my gaze away from the mural and look at Remus.

“She tolerated me for years yes. But love me? Never,” he says. “I can still remember every time she cursed me. Every time she called me a monster. It was nice having those memories locked away.” He says. He seems to be talking to himself at this point. But I feel my heart slowly breaking. I keep trying to remind myself I hate him. I have to harden my heart.

“You are a monster. She was right to do those things to you,” I snap. He doesn’t respond. His face is stoic of any emotion. He only sits up, shrugging slightly.

“Perhaps.” He says. He doesn’t seem to be bothered in the least by my words.

“The only reason she took me with her is that she couldn’t kill me,” he says. He looks at me with a smile.

“But that is a story for another night,” he says. He stands walking across the room to the balcony where he steps outside making sure to close the door. I stare at the spot he was just in. My heart threatening to break.

“He’s evil,” I say aloud to force my thoughts back in order. He has no feeling. This is just another one of his mind tricks. His manipulation to get to me. I look back up to the ceiling at the mural.

“He is a monster.”