Revelation - Chapter 9 (Patreon)

Iris is standing in front of me with wide eyes and a red face. I patiently watch her, waiting for her to tell me what it is she wants to talk about. I have to fight my impatience. This is the first time she’s come to me and wanted anything. Especially to talk. I tilt my head, angling my gaze so that I have a better view of her face. Her eyes grow distant for a moment, and I realize what’s about to happen a moment too late.

A light hiccup escapes her followed by a fountain of vomit.

~

This world is beautiful. Although the castle is located in the most intriguing of spots, I do miss my own privacy. My own home. Without interruption or constant call to duty.

Braith stands over me once again telling me what needs to be done today along with the status of the world. All of this seems like things my father should be doing but I assume he has his own share of problems to deal with otherwise I wouldn’t be messing with it. Either that or he’s keeping me occupied so that I have less time with Iris.

My blood boils as I think back to the proposition, he made with me. And although I hated his words, he was right. I want Iris to rule by my side and understand my decisions as a ruler. But at this rate, she will always be against me. Not only that but in my eyes, she may be strong, but in the eyes of my people, she is an energy consuming being. Weak and powerless. With a life that can be snuffed out within seconds.

I let out a deep breath trying to staunch the oncoming headache. Iris has been asleep for two days from the drink she barely took a sip out of. I wake her up in between hours for food and baths, but the best thing for her right now is rest. What with everything that was in her system from that drink. At this rate, she will be cleansed in a few more hours.

My eyes linger over a place over the map and I sit back in my seat focusing back to the task at hand.

“What part of these lands are you from?” I ask looking over to Braith. His eyes widen slightly and he takes in the map looking back to me.

“None, my Lord. I was born and raised here in the royal lands.” He says. I sit up suddenly intrigued with his past.

“Ever been outside of the palace?” I ask. He looks a little uncomfortable but I keep my gaze steady.

“Only with the king. When he would travel while I was doing my training.” He says. I sit back looking at the architecture of the room for once appreciating the soft glow emanating from the walls.

“But you are aware of the ties between your people and mine, correct?” I ask. He hesitantly nods his head.

“I only know that we are indebted to you forever sir. It is our honor and duty to repay that debt by dedicating our lives to you.” He says. A light scoff escapes me. He’s been brainwashed to the fullest extent of naïveté. I stand up walking across the room to grab another book. If Iris heard him say that she would probably start a war all on her own. One race serving another is not in her nature of understanding. Sooner or later I’ll have to face her on the subject.

“So you’ve never seen the way your people are living now?” I ask. I keep my back to him but make sure to focus on the sounds in the air. I hear nothing. No breath, no shuffle, no sign of uncomfortableness or anger.

“I have, sir.” He finally responds. I raise a brow turning back to face him.

“And?” I ask. Braith only looks confused.

“And…what, sir?” I pull the book I had been looking for out of the shelf.

“How did you feel about it?” I clarify. He thinks for a second and finally shrugs.

“I’m not sure.” He says.

“Oh? You don’t feel any kind of attachment to your people?” I ask.

“My people didn’t give me this opportunity at life sir. Yours did.” He says. I narrow my gaze looking him in the eyes. His gaze stays focused on mine. I walk towards him until I am directly in front of him. His black gaze meets mine unbothered by my questioning. These people have been brainwashed and enslaved to the fullest extent of existence where it seems they don’t even have emotion towards their situation. It’s sad in the eyes of the weak. Smart in the eyes of the strong. Something Iris and I will never agree on.

“Good.”

~

Iris

My head hurts. I barely remember anything from the past day or so. All I know is that my head hurts. And I have a constant ringing in my ear. I make my way through the halls of Remus’ wing, following the guards as instructed. They lead me passed the doors that have been once again shut and to the dining hall.

Remus always told me that foo isn’t a part of his existence. It always made me wonder about his existence. But after seeing his people the other night at the dinner, I understand now. Whatever it is they eat is compatible with their bodies.

I step inside the room and squint from the bright light.

“Are you alright?” I hear a voice and look up to see one of the guards leaning over with a worried expression on his face. Of course, he’s worried. Remus would kill them if something happened to me. I nod my head slightly, placing my fingers to my temples trying to staunch the headache.

“I’m fine.” I murmur. The dining room has open windows that let the natural light from outside shine in beautifully. At this point, I have no idea what lies beyond the windows or how the outside world looks. I wish more than anything I did.

The guards both stop at the archway and I walk into the room, pausing when I see an unexpected guest.

“Sky?” She looks up when she hears my voice. Relief mixed with excitement and irritation cross her features and she stands from her plate.

“I’ll leave.” She murmurs.

“No! Please…” I trail off not knowing how else to beg. She’s dressed in a short sundress, and her hair is pulled up in a ponytail. Each time I see her I’m fascinated by her beauty. Her hazel eyes are looking at me untrustingly, but she slowly lowers herself back to her seat. She grabs her apple and takes a bite of it going back to ignoring my presence. I look around the room to see if anyone else is here. Other than another set of guards, it’s just me and her. And even though we haven’t gotten along in the past, I’m happy to see her.

I haven’t seen anyone from Earth since arriving here. I haven’t even seen my own brother, and Remus expressly told me that wasn’t going to happen. The last I even heard about her was from Ezra the night of the dinner. He was worried and on edge because Remus had her held somewhere to ensure he behaves himself. I’m glad to see she’s ok.

I slowly walk up the table and have a seat next to her. She immediately looks at me, then goes back to chewing.

“For what it’s worth…I’m glad you’re ok,” I say. She looks at me in surprise and lowers her apple to the table before responding.

“Thank you.” She says. I look around the room, feeling the need to speak to her more.

“How has your time here been?” I ask. She sits back in her seat and smiles softly.

“It’s been hell.” She says. Her hazel eyes meet mine.

“I miss home. I miss my father. I miss not being scared all the time. This place… it’s just foreign to me.” She says. She pauses as if in thought.

“Ezra tries his best to make me feel better. And now that he understands the hurt I felt, he is better at understanding my feelings as well.” She says.

“It’s sad really. To see a being with that much power so lost.” She looks out the window as she speaks.

“How have you been?” She asks. “It’s a relief to see you alive and well.” She says. I laugh softly.

“It’s been… scary.” I say.

“I don’t understand Remus. I don’t know him. Or this place.” I say. Sky laughs next to me shaking her head.

“What?” I ask in irritation.

“Have you tried to get to know him?” She asks. I immediately shake my head and cringe as the headache intensifies.

“You stupid girl.” She says. I narrow my gaze.

“Excuse me? Why would I try and get to know him? He’s a monster, just like Ezra. All of them are monsters” She looks at me now, irritation prominent in her features.

“You really are a stupid girl.” She says. I stand quickly feeling anger rush through me, at which she stands as well. I expect her to attack me but she does the opposite. She closes the space between us, pointing her finger at my chest.

“Say what you want about them, but at this point, you are the monster. Remus is screaming out to you to show him something other than what it is he’s felt his entire life, and all you do is kick him while he is down. You have a chance to make a change for all of the creatures that are about to endure his wrath, yet you set them up for pain and no mercy.” She growls at me. My eyes widen at her words, and her eyes pin me to the spot as she gets her point across.

“Yes, everything he has done is fucked up. But he himself is nothing more than an extension of what his parents made him be. At this point all he wants to latch on to and be a part of is you. You can show him the way. You can show him what it is to love and to be loved. How to not just be a ‘fair’ being, but loving and compassionate.” She growls at me.

“Our world was filled with selfishness and hate. And out of all of that, they chose us. That wasn’t for no reason. It was because we showed them something they had never seen before. Something that confused them. They saw us loving someone other than ourselves. And that’s why they chose us. They want that experience. Yet you refuse to show him that. You show him rejection and hatred.”

I feel anger at her words. She is blinded by her love for Ezra and has been brainwashed into believing these lies about them.

“Do you feel nothing for the Earth?” I say in anger.

“Or what about the planet of people Remus himself blew up? You want me to show compassion to someone like that?” I half shout.

“You’re blind by your love for Ezra.” I spit at her. She rolls her eyes and laughs at me.

“Do you think I always loved him? Or that he always loved me?” She says. All of my anger dissipates at her words as confusion washes over me.

“Ezra didn’t love me at first. He was intrigued by me. He hurt me. He lied to me and manipulated me. He hurt my people. He took away my family and my world, and did so unapologetically.” Tears spill over her eyes as she continues to speak.

“Sky- “

“He paraded me as a prize of war and forced me to do things I had never done before. Do you really think I would love him through all of that?” She says looking at me like I sprouted two heads. I have no words for her. I don’t even know what I can say. She hastily wipes her tears.

“I will never see my father again.” She whispers.

“But I knew my situation. And I saw something in him as well. And I taught him to love, and how to be loved. Because you don’t take people that are already hurt and hurt them more. Even if they’ve done so to you. That’s how you breed more evil in the world.” She says. I open my mouth to respond.

“Sky?” We both look up as Ezra comes in the room. He has a look of worry on his face as he moves across the room with that inhuman grace his brother shares. He pauses in front of her completely ignoring my presence and I see it.

That love she speaks of. I see it in the way he asks her if she’s ok and wipes her tears away. I think back to when I first saw them interacting with each other, the way he looked down on her and commanded her around. When he had chains on her and teased her in the ways Remus teased me. He’s changed. Tremendously.

He places a soft kiss on her forehead and I take note in the way he closes his eyes reveling in the touch of her. I recall how worried he was at the dinner when Remus had taken her away.

I recall the way Remus watches me all the time in confusion and asks me questions. All the times I thought he was teasing me when he truly was asking because he didn’t understand. I think back to the moments he would be vulnerable with me and I responded by calling him a monster. By beating him down more. My eyes widen as I realize everything she’s been trying to get through my head.

A sniffle echoes off the walls and Ezra immediately turns towards me, his face morphing into one of confusion.

“you’re crying too?” He says in warily. I blink and bring my fingers up gently touching the water that’s running down my face. A soft laugh escapes my lips.

“I guess I am.”