Revelation - Chapter 18 (Patreon)

5 Days Until The Conversion

Remus

I stay silent as I study my mother. She continues to play her instrument, but it’s obvious that she thinks she has the upper hand in this situation. She may have before my bond was re-created with Iris. Now, everything is different. And I won’t give her any kind of window to harm Iris. Not ever again.

“I see your father has chosen your bride.” She’s trying to get under my skin.

My mother was transferred back to her parent’s land and exiled from the kingdom. Even though her decision had affected the way of life for my people so heavily, my father could not find it in his heart to kill her. So exiling her was the next option. But it doesn’t seem she’s suffering any kind of punishment in her current condition.

She’s away from the men she so hates and gets to live out her life in luxury. I can see her growing stronger. But no one knows what her intent is. The man she paraded as my father all these years has been exiled along with the Leviathin race. She hasn’t had contact as far as I know with him, and that doesn’t seem to bother her in the least. If anything, she looks at ease.

“Nira. I remember when she was just a girl. She always showed such promise. It’s no surprise that your father chose her to be your wife. If you two are suitable enough, a child even more talented than you can be born.” She says. I don’t miss the sarcasm in her voice.

In our culture, perfection and pride are the two things we strive for. Over millennia, the royal family has never been changed or tainted. It’s always been a part of my father’s bloodline. And only one bride or groom can be chosen. Meaning the one that is closest to perfection. Which is how we have managed to bear such gifted offspring and never waver in our strength.

My mother looks at me and I see nothing but hatred in her gaze.

“To think my other children are seen as abominations next to you. You, the monster I brought into this world. The one that has no compass or emotion. No feeling. Nothing.” She growls. She finally begins playing again, looking away from me. In the past, her words may have stung. But not anymore. Now, things like that don’t bother me.

“It hurts, doesn’t it? Knowing she deserves the love and attention. Knowing she should be by your side. Also knowing she will never be by your side and never have anything she deserves. She’ll always be treated as second rate. Never good enough for your people. It’s torture, being so powerful, yet so powerless to change the situation.”

She’s comparing my situation to hers. She isn’t wrong either. I stay silent though. I don’t want to give her any indication that her words bother me.

I walk across the room to where my mother is seated, and she stops playing as I approach.

She looks up at me, and her eyes widen as she sees it. She finally sees the change in me. And she finally knows to fear it. My hand is around her throat before she can speak, and a rush of wind surges through the room as I release my power.

“I want to make something very clear to you, .” I keep my voice calm as the words seep out like ice.

“As we are both aware, I leave the plane in 5 days to begin the conversion. How long I will be gone, no one knows. If you come near Iris while I’m gone, I will end your existence upon my return.” I growl out. Her hands claw at mine and I can feel her power struggling to come forth. I can’t help but smile. She’s no longer as powerful as me.

I bring her close to my face, looking deep in her eyes.

“I know where your lover is hiding among the stars. I will kill him. Slowly and painfully.” I drop her, and as she takes in a breath my hand shoots out. I focus on the makeup of her body and use my abilities to suppress her power. Her screams echo off the walls but I don’t care. They only remind me of the screams Iris had when she was harming her. It furthers my motivation.

“You took the life that grew inside of Iris. You knew what you were doing when you took my memory.” I growl. I squeeze the hold around her tighter, and her mouth drops in pain as her eyes widen.

“You used me. You hurt me. You took me. You destroyed me. Everything that I am, is because of you.” I growl.

As quickly as I started, the room becomes still and my mother lays in front of me. Her breathing comes out in ragged pants and her hair has fallen around her. She looks at me in rage.

“What the hell have you done?” Her voice is a broken whisper. I just glare at her. I feel nothing as I stare. No pity, no regret, nothing. She was right about that. Any emotion that I had is gone. Anything that I thought I felt is wrong. I feel myself waging a constant battle against myself, trying to rid myself of these unnecessary emotions.

“I’ve become exactly what you’ve always told me I am.”

~

Upon my return to the castle, Nira is waiting for me. Her presence is a constant irritation, but I can’t let that be known. Even as she smiles and touches me, I have to find the will to not take her life for doing so.

She asks questions about me that I have no intention of answering, and she tells me things about herself that I don’t care for. My mother was right about one thing.

It kills me to know that everything she will get Iris deserves.

I find myself wondering about Iris the same questions she asks me. I could tell any basic form of information about Iris, down to her blood type. I can tell how she will react, or what she is more prone to like. But her own personal favoritism towards things, I have no idea. It makes me curious.

I can also tell Nira trying to seduce me. But her charms are useless. Everything that she does, I find myself comparing to Iris.

It's strange how such a simple being has grown on me so much. To the point that I don't even want the celestial standing in front of me.

Braith finally comes to my rescue about some business I have to tend to, and with a polite goodbye, I leave Nira behind.

I’m skimming through my current plans when the doors open and in comes Ezra. In the past few days, I haven’t seen him. But I can tell by looking at him that he is unhappy. He stands in front of my desk quietly waiting.

“What?” I ask. He takes a deep breath, so I immediately know that I won’t like whatever it is he’s about to ask.

“I want to see Xion.” He says. I stop what I’m doing and look up. He’s watching me with a serious gaze.

“Why?” I ask.

“I need to speak to her.” He says.

“About?”

“Something you wouldn’t understand.” He snaps at me. I sit back in my seat, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Oh?” I ask. He nods his head and I can tell it’s something serious he wants to discuss. He’s shaking. Even if it’s small, his fingers have a slight tremor to them. His muscles are stiff. Something is wrong with him. I stand from my seat.

“Ok.” I walk out of the room and wait for Ezra to follow me.

We move through the castle, making our way to the wing that has been locked off from everyone. It’s the wing Iris and I reside in as well as Ezra. But I decided to keep Xion locked within the wing, knowing she couldn’t be trusted. Now is a good time more than any to test her loyalty.

I stand in front of the solid wall, closing my eyes and focusing on the makeup. It slowly dissipates revealing an entirely new hallway. I couldn't have Iris or Sky wandering and accidentally running into my sister. Especially in her current state.

“Where the hell have you been keeping her?” Ezra asks as we continue our walk. I don’t respond. But we finally reach the doors and I push it open.

The large windows are open and light pours in from the outside. Xion is sitting by the window gazing out at the land. It’s been a while since she’s been out of this place, and I haven’t been to see her in a while as well.

She turns looking at us. The usual light in her eyes is gone. She looks saddened. Her gaze focuses on Ezra, and tears slowly well up in her eyes as she takes him in. She stands from her seat, making her way past me to pull Ezra in an embrace.

“What has he done to you?” She whispers. Ezra brings his hands up to hug her back, but his eyes don’t leave mine. He’s angry.

Xion pulls away from him, clasping his face between her hands as she inspects him. She immediately turns on me.

“What the hell have you done?” She snaps.

“Xion!” Ezra calls her name and she immediately stops. She looks at him and he’s watching her with wide fear filled eyes.

“…Don’t.” His voice is shaky as his eyes move quickly between us. She looks at him and looks back at me. She shoves me hard and moves so that her face is inches from mine.

“I knew you would destroy him.”

~

“You’ve ruined him, you know.” Xion stands next to me as Ezra disappears up the hall. He refused to speak to her while I was still in the room. Something he has never done. I feel uneasy about it. It bothers me. My siblings and I have always been close. But it seems now we are further away than ever.

“I only did what I had to.” I say. Xion laughs shaking her head.

“You manipulated our brother, Remus. In every way imaginable.” She says.

“He’s terrified.” She adds. I look at her.

“And you?” I ask. She looks at me in confusion.

“What?”

“Are you terrified?” I ask. She stares at me and looks away after a moment.

“No.” She says softly.

“I pity you.” She says.

“Why?” I ask. She shrugs.

“At least Ezra and I have a parent that loves us. Both of your parents fear you. They manipulated the hell out of you, tried to control you through whatever means necessary. Even your father still tries to find ways to keep a hold on you.” She takes a deep breath.

“I can see why. You’ve changed brother.” She says. I look at her in confusion. Iris said the same thing a few days ago.

“Ezra and I have someone that loves us. Someone we can go to. Someone we can speak with, and learn about, and be ourselves with. But you… You’ve taken the one person you care about more than anything, and you’ve all but destroyed her sanity. She despises you.” She says. I feel irritation at her words.

“I don’t know who you are now Remus. But you are not my brother. My brother would never do the things that you have done.” She says. She turns away from me to walk back into the room.

“Xion.” I say. Her footsteps stop.

“I’m releasing you from this room.” I look up at her meeting her gaze head-on.

“But I need you to do something for me.”

~

Iris

Remus said the benefit of being bonded to him entailed me having a longer life span. But it seems like much more than that. The world seems brighter. Much more vibrant. And I can see things I never would have noticed before. Textures, colors, smells. Is this because of my connection to Remus?

I get an electric sensation over my body and the hairs on my arms stand. Just as it does, Remus comes in the room. The wall disappears and in he walks looking as regal and powerful as ever. The first time we were bonded I could feel him like this too. Anytime he was near, I could sense it. Which is why I was even able to stab him when during the escape to the resistance.

I didn’t know it at the time, but we were bonded. And in his rage he must have let his guard down, letting me sense his every move. If this is what it means to be bonded as a human and celestivine, I wonder what the bond would be like between him and his own kind?

“What are you doing?” Remus’ voice pulls me out of my thoughts, and I realize I’m still squatting by the bookshelf.

“I was… looking at the books.” I say. Remus raises a brow at me but doesn’t say anything. We’ve barely spoken to each other since his lecture about humanity and his brother. Remus seems to be getting more and more closed off as the days pass and that worries me.

For once, Remus doesn’t bother me or ask me to elaborate on my choice of action. He only walks past me to the bathroom.

I go back to staring at the books. Even though I can’t read them, I can see the material they’re made from. Down to the paint that’s been smoothed into the grainy surface. It’s fascinating. I must have been occupied for a while because I suddenly hear Remus again. He’s walking out of the bathroom with nothing on but a pair of shorts, and he plops down in the bed closing his eyes.

I stand from across the room and stare at him. I’m not sure if he’s asleep or just resting. But it’s strange nonetheless. In the time we’ve been on this world, Remus has only ever been working. He’s never just stopped and relaxed as he seems to be doing now.

“Come here.” I jump as his voice breaks through the room. I open my mouth to give him a snarky response and stand my ground against his tyranny but he beats me to it.

“Please.”

My feet are moving before I can think to stay where I am. I stand over Remus studying his features. With his eyes closed, he almost looks innocent. Almost. His eyes open and land on me immediately. Those bright purple eyes burn through me. He reaches up and pulls me down so that I’m on the bed with him.

His body is warm and his skin is soft.

“What must it be like, to live so simply?” He says out of nowhere. He takes a deep breath.

“I took my mothers power. Locked my sister away. Scared my brother into obedience to the point of losing his mind… Am I wrong?” He asks. I keep my mouth shut, but I feel Remus shifting under me. He moves my body and looks at me. That’s when I realize he’s waiting for an answer.

“Yes?” I say. He purses his lips.

“Everything I do, I do for my people.” He says. It almost seems like he’s trying to defend his actions to me. Is he actually valuing my opinion?

I look at him.

“Remus… what happened?” I ask. For once he looks caught off guard. His eyes widen, and he gets a confused expression on his face. He smiles softly, pressing a kiss on my forehead.

“Nothing.”

He’s silent for a moment. He shifts sitting up in the bed and rolls over so that he is straddling me. His hair falls around us, but his eyes keep my focus. He studies my face so intensely. For the life of me, I wish I knew what was running through his mind.

He leans down and hovers over my lips. I can feel my heart beating erratically in anticipation. He closes the distance kissing me. His kiss is so gentle. I don’t know how long it lasts, but it feels like forever. He pulls away from me and a ghost of a smile is over his lips. His next words shock me.

“Tell me about yourself.”