Revelation - Chapter 17 (Patreon)

Iris

I know that before I even open my eyes, things are bad. Things are horrible. And things will never be the same. I can feel the familiar throbbing on my throat. And I definitely remember the events of the night before.

Remus spent all night making sure our bond together was sealed. Tears spring into my closed eyes spilling past my temple soaking the pillow underneath me. And I can’t stop the quivering sob that escapes me. I turn over burying my face into the pillow, my shoulders shaking from the tears.

I lost. Again. Remus now has a hold on me that extends past the power he possesses. There's no point to me trying anymore. To fighting. He found me on Earth because of this bond. We're connected in ways I can't fathom.

I feel a hand on my back and immediately turn over my heart racing. Remus is seated next to me. He has a strange expression on his face. For the life of me, I can’t read it. And I don’t have the energy to fight him anymore. So I just stare.

I stare as more and more tears fall down my face. I try and keep a brave face, but the longer I try, the more my lips begin to quiver and my throat feels like it’s closing.

“Iris…” He says my name with such a gentle tone. It almost makes me forget he’s the source of my pain. Almost. I squeeze my eyes shut, as hiccups escape me. I feel his hand on my cheek, and I open my eyes. Remus wipes the tears streaming down my face with the pad of his thumb.

“You try so hard to be strong even when it’s painfully obvious you are not.” He says. His hand slowly moves from my cheek down to the right of my collar bone, and his eyes follow the motion.

“I can feel you Iris.” He says softly. I shake my head softly.

“I didn’t want this.” I whisper. I look at him through my tear streaked vision.

“Why did you force this on me?”

He frowns slightly, leaning forward so that he is inches from my face. I can feel myself wanting to lean into him, but I fight it.

“Because, I want you to live.” He says. His eyes search mine, digging into my soul while he does it. I slap his hand away, baring my teeth.

“I didn’t want it.” I snap. He’s still for a moment, and a smile spreads over his lips. He places his hand over the symbol that is now glowing on my flesh, moving to the back of my neck and up until his fingers thread into my hair. He pulls hard while keeping a firm grip on my hair. I cry out in pain, arching my neck to ease the pain and exposing my throat to Remus in the process.

I feel his tongue over my exposed throat and he sucks gently before nipping at it with his teeth.

“I don’t care what you want, Iris.” He says in my ear. His voice is smooth yet chilling. He lets go of my hair pushing my back on the bed.

“Why…?” It’s a broken whisper that barely even forms as a sound. But Remus hears it.

“You should have left me to die…” I sob. I expect him to yell at me, or walk away, but he does the exact opposite. He laughs. It’s a soft laugh and he closes his eyes shaking his head before looking back to me.

“Should I?” He says. His eyes search my face and he reads me like a book.

“Do you want to know something about yourself, Iris?” He asks. He leans in closer to me and my mouth waters from his intoxicating scent.

“You’re a survivor. You don’t want death. No matter how much I threaten you, at the end of the day you don’t want to die.” He says. He grabs ahold of my chin holding my gaze to his.

“If you were ready to die, why did you fight this whole time, hm?” He tilts his head slightly.

“You had plenty of chances to let yourself go, but you didn’t. Because it isn’t in your nature. You don’t want to die. You want to live.” He leans into me placing a soft kiss on my cheek.

“And I just gave that to you.” His expression is serious and his gaze is intimidating. He moves away from me standing at his full height.

I step out of the steaming bathroom with nothing on but a towel. I see the clothing that was left out for me laying on the bed. I look around the room until I see Remus, causing me to stop in my tracks. It must be the bond between us. It has to be. My skin is slowly heating up and I can feel warmth between my legs.

Remus is sitting on the couch, laying on his side. He has his head propped up with one hand and a book in the other. He’s wearing a loose robe-like garment. He obviously notices my presence because he looks up from whatever it is he is reading locking his gaze with mine.

My cheeks heat up immediately and I look away making a beeline for the bed to get my clothes. I snatch the clothes off the bed heading back to the bathroom to get dressed.

I drop the towel from around me looking at myself in the mirror. My eyes are glued to the spot around my collar bone. Remus’ family crest is now engraved on me. The same way it was on Earth when I woke up in the resistances grungy hospital.

My fingers are shaking as I bring them up to touch the spot on me. It doesn’t feel any different, other than the warmth coming from it. I apply pressure using the tips of my nails, digging in. I keep digging even when I feel pain. Even when I see blood welling up.

But the blood coming from the symbol is not red like the skin on the outside. My eyes widen as flickers of light travel over the gouges I made in my own skin, and slowly heal them until it looks like it did moments ago.

Once I’m dressed I step back out to find Remus in the same spot with a small smile on his lips. I don’t speak to him as I make my way to the wall. I pause in front of the spot he usually enters from.

I don’t know how long I stare at the wall waiting for him to just open it, but I finally open my mouth to speak my mind.

“I want to leave.” I say. Nothing.

“Remus. I want to leave.” I try again. The wall stays in place. I turn over my shoulder, and Remus hasn’t moved from his place. And he’s still reading.

“Remus.” I call his name and he finally looks up.

“I want to go to my room.” I say. He laughs softly looking down at the book.

“This is your room.” He says. My eyes narrow.

“No. My room is up the hall. Away from you.” I try again. He doesn’t respond, and I get even more upset.

“Remus.” I call his name. He still doesn’t respond.

“Why are you doing this?” He says without looking up.

“What?”

“Why are you making a dramatic scene as if I’d let you leave my bedroom after last night.” He says. He flips the page.

“You and I are bonded, Iris. You aren’t going anywhere.” He adds. After a moment of silence, he speaks again.

“Come here.” He calls to me from across the room. I don’t move. If he won’t honor my request, I won’t honor his. So I plant my feet firmly and stand my ground.

“No,” I say. He pauses mid page turn and looks up. His expression isn’t amused. He holds his hand out in front of him and motions for me to come to him. The moment his finger moves backward, my whole body grows warm and I'm pulled forward by some invisible force until I am directly in front of Remus. He doesn’t look up but I immediately begin to pat myself down to get the feeling away from me.

He closes his book and sits up facing me head on. He holds his hand out to me, but I refuse to acknowledge it. He lets out an irritated sigh.

“The last time you and I bonded, I handled it poorly. I won’t make that same mistake twice.” He says. I still don’t move and he rolls his eyes.

“I’m offering to be open and honest with you Iris.” He says. My mouth slightly drops from his admission causing him to smile. Like an actual smile that isn’t evil. And it looks amazing.

“You and I are bonded now. Meaning your life is my life, and my life is your life. It’s a way for you and me to share our existence.” He says. I recall him saying something along those lines the last time.

“That does not mean that if you die, I die. I am not bound by the same laws of existence as my siblings that are only half. For celestivine, a bond is special. Your life will now match my own. You will now draw from the energy that flows through me. Like the garden.” My mind is spinning right now.

I don’t respond, but I don’t have to at this point. Remus has it all handled.

“Since you’re human, the bond will work differently for you than it would someone of my own race. But it still is beneficial for you.” He adds. He looks at the marking that now wraps around my collar bone.

“Unfortunately this will cause problems if anyone sees it.” He says. He places his hand over the mark, and I feel a familiar warmth. I look down and see the symbol slowly dissipating, leaving nothing behind except for my unmarked flesh.

“What?” I whisper. Remus removes his hand and I immediately feel the skin.

“I’ve embedded it. It’s the same thing I did the last time which is why no one knew about it.” He says. I think back to the resistance and shudder from the horrifying memory. Remus is looking down at me with a blank expression, but as I look at him I see the same monster that ripped open that mountain.

“Is there some kind of time limit on it?” I ask. He raises a brow.

“No.” He says. “The reason it appeared before I showed up is that I allowed it to.” He says as if reading my thoughts.

“Then can I-“

“No. Unfortunately, you are human. You don’t have the same abilities as me. So in our case, it’s like a one-way telephone.” He explains.

“Then how is it beneficial to me?” I ask. Remus smiles.

“Because you’ll have a long life filled with less injury.” He says. His smile drops and he leans in closer to me.

“That doesn’t mean that I can’t hurt you though, Iris. Don’t get any ideas.” He warns. I take a deep breath.

“I won’t.” I say. Remus doesn’t respond, and as my mind runs a mile a minute, I remember why this even happened in the first place.

“Sky…”

“Ezra had a choice to make. He could let her die a painful death, or live out her days by his side. His emotions overruled.” He says.

“But she didn’t want that… She trusted him and he broke that trust.” I say looking at him. He takes a deep breath reigning in his patience. And looks at me once again.

“It’s not about what she wanted Iris. It’s about what had to be. My brother cares deeply for her. He would have never let her die.” He says. His words cause my ears to ring. He said the same thing to me last night.

“If you had to choose to let humanity die, or let them live under my rule, which would you choose?” He asks. I'm caught off guard by such a heavy question.

“It’s a simple answer, Iris. Let humanity die. Be gone from existence, or let them live, and thrive under my jurisdiction.” He says.

“I would let them di-“

“Ah ah ah,” he interrupts, “Does all of humanity share your invested loyalty to becoming a martyr? What about the innocent children that just want to grow up and have a chance at life? Any life? What about those that don’t want to die? That want to live? You would make such a heavy sacrifice without even consulting any human? You’d just assume they were all ready to die and cease to exist?” He says. I’m speechless. For once, I don’t have a response. He’s right. I can't make such a heavy decision for an entire species. That would make me no better than him. I don’t know what they want. Hell, Sky wants to live even in these circumstances. If I had to, I would choose for them to live.

He smiles taking a step closer to me and grabbing my hands in his. His gaze travels up to mine, and his purple eyes are stunningly bright as he speaks to me.

“If you had to, you would choose to let them live. Because you love them. You have a deep connection with them. Why would you let them be wiped from existence?” He says. “It’s the same situation with my brother. He will always choose her. He already has several times since he’s been here.” He says.

“So, the next time you encounter either of them, be mindful of their situation. Unlike you and me, they both have a love for each other.”

Remus

The last thing I wanted today was to be away from Iris. Especially now. Her body is slowly changing, coding itself to be in sync with mine. It’s hard staying away from her and keeping her hidden like she’s some kind of dirty secret.

But if I reveal her, there’s no telling what kind of hell could break loose.

“My prince?” I look up from my work to see Nira standing in the archway of the office I’m in. Her wide eyes look around the room hesitantly and she gives me a soft smile bowing.

“I’m sorry to bother you, I just thought maybe we could-“

“No bother,” I say. I motion for her to step in and she does so. She walks with arrogance in her step. Something that comes from being born in such a high position in society. But I can see she’s nervous around me. Something I care so little about easing.

“What are you working on?” She asks. I motion to the map that is spread out in front of us on a hologram.

“The areas that have been labeled as “dead” aren’t. They’re also sporadically placed around the regions. I’m trying to figure out why.” I say. It’s different telling her things I have to keep from Iris. I know if I reveal too much to Iris, she will want to fight for the freedoms of people she doesn’t even know. But Nira, she shares whatever interest I have.

She takes a step closer to the map looking over the regions.

“It’s very impressive, everything you’ve done since returning home.” She says.

“The King couldn’t be more proud. He’s had to take on the responsibilities alone for the past centuries. It’ll be nice for him to rest once he passes you the crown.” She says.

“Indeed,” I say.

“What was it like? The other worlds?” She asks. I look up from my reading and she’s facing me with a curious gaze. She has no idea the emotion she has elicited from me. All I can think of is Iris.

“Stubborn,” I say immediately. “Yet brave.”

“Naïve, yet… intuitive.” I add. I smile softly.

“Entrancing.” Images of Iris stay in my head as I speak. Nira smiles softly having no idea the direction of my thoughts or the person behind my responses.

“They sound fascinating.” She says.

“They are,” I say. She’s hesitant on something so I know she wants to ask me something.

“I was looking at the garden… It looks very beautiful. When I tried to go in the guards said it was off limits?” She says.

“Yes. It is.” I say. She looks down.

“Oh.”

“I know you leave in a few days, I was wondering if we could get to know each other better?” She says. I look at her. Really look. Her words are irritating, but she has only good intention behind it. But there is nothing I want from her. Everything I want comes from the one woman that doesn’t want me back. I plaster on the best smile I can.

“Of course.”

Heavy security for a cushy sentence. I walk through the halls looking at the paintings that are proudly hanging up even after what their daughter has done. The servants lead me through the halls and out through a beautiful courtyard. I can tell by the energy signature it’s been tampered with by someone. Someone familiar.

I take a deep breath looking up at the sky as I walk. It’s vibrant. For the first time in a long time, I feel nervous. I feel intimidated. And a little fearful. But then again, this is the only being in existence that has ever been able to strike fear into me.

I look around to see the other servants slowing what they're doing to look at me as I pass by. This is the last place anyone would expect me to be.

The servant pauses at two double doors.

“She’s inside.” He says. He bows to me as he speaks and immediately scurries away. I watch him as he leaves. The wind slightly picks up, and I feel a caress on my cheek from the wind. But I know who’s behind it. I take a deep breath turning to open the doors. The winding stairs visually coincide with how I'm feeling at this moment. I take a deep breath and walk up the steps. As I grow closer to the top, I can hear music and light humming along with it.

Humming from a voice that used to falsely comfort me my entire life. A soothing voice. I pause in front of the door. I know who is on the other side of this door. It doesn’t make things any easier. I slowly push the door open to reveal the woman on the other side.

She’s beautiful. Exuding vibrant energy that draws life to it. She sits and plays a harp-like instrument as she hums along. Her hair flows around her like waves and her eyes are closed as she hums along. I can’t even bring myself to make a sound. But I know I don’t have to. She knows I’m here.

She stops playing and opens her eyes, her gaze immediately falling on me. I feel a cold grip on my chest and I feel sick as she stares me down. A soft smile graces her lips.

“Remus, my son. To what do I owe this visit?”