Revelation - Chapter 30 (Patreon)

Xion

Thud.

I sit up, looking around. I know what I heard.

Thud.

There it is again. That sound. It’s so slow. So soft, that if I weren’t silent from my tears, I wouldn’t have heard it. I let go of Ezra, laying him down gently on the grass. Remus’ body is still. So still.

Thud.

“Kuron, Kuron quick!” I know what I heard. And I won’t waste another second trying to figure out what it was. Not when there’s a chance. Remus’ father comes running over immediately kneeling next to his son. I look at Remus’ deathly still body.

“He’s alive,” I whisper. Tears are already forming.

“His heart, listen!” I say. We sit still for a whole minute before it quietly beats again.

“Save him!” I shout. He’s seconds from dying. Seconds.

Kuron doesn’t hesitate. He holds his hands out in front of him, closing his eyes and focusing. A bright light forms on his fingertips and he holds it over Remus, placing his hands on his chest. I watch with wide eyes hoping that whatever it is he’s doing will work. Remus’ wounds aren’t healing. He isn’t breathing still. I look at Kuron and he seems to really be struggling.

“Come on!” He growls. I look back at Remus, hoping for a miracle

“Come on, Remus… Come back to us.” I urge. Kuron finally stops, collapsing next to me. His breathing is heavy and he has a light sheen of sweat on him. He sits up looking at Remus and then looks back to me. He shakes his head grimly. I don’t believe him though. I look back to Remus, waiting to hear that heartbeat, but I don’t.

Not for a whole minute.

Suddenly, his eyes fly open and he reaches up snatching Kuron by his shirt. His wounds are sealing themselves and he screams as he sits up. He pulls Kuron face to face with him, looking deadly into his eyes.

“Where. Is. Iris.”

~

Remus

My body hurts. I haven’t felt pain like this since I was a child still discovering my bodies capabilities. If it weren't for my father's quick thinking and healing, I would be dead. My wounds have healed for the most part. All of the non-life-threatening ones anyway. I still have broken bones and a blade wound through my abdomen. Not only that, but my face now has a brand new scar. Where Iris clawed my face.

Three claw marks that start at the top of my eyebrow and end at my jaw. Her fingers were coated in that dark energy when she clawed me. I feel bitterness wash over me at the thought. She definitely wasn’t herself. I know Iris like the back of my hand.

She may have wanted to fight me, and hurt me. But kill me? She isn’t capable of something so barbaric.

The door opens and Xion comes in with a bowl. She pauses when she sees I’m awake, but continues to make her way into the room. Her gaze drops to the floor.

“Mother says you need to build up your physical strength before you siphon energy.” She murmurs. I don’t respond. The only place that they could think to bring me to recover was my mother's palace. And for some reason, she let them.

Xion takes a seat next to me placing the bowl on the nightstand.

“How are you feeling?” She asks. I slowly sit up in bed flinching from the strain it puts on me and she jumps from her chair.

“No, don’t sit up!” She says. I watch her a moment before laying back down. She sits.

“I…” She looks up at me.

“I’m sorry… For everything.” She says. Tears are already welling up in her eyes. My eyes widen in shock.

“I didn’t think of the strain everything put on you… Your past, our mom, everything... I should’ve been there to help soften the blow then maybe you wouldn’t have had to deal with everything on your own… maybe we could have avoided so much trouble, but now you and Ezra-“

“Don’t,” I say. I make eye contact with her.

“You shouldn’t be sorry, Xion. I should be. And I am. I’ve always put my duty and my people first. I should have thought about you and everyone that was involved feelings. I should have paid closer attention. I should have…” I trail off clenching my fist in anger. There’s so much I could have done to prevent it.

Now my brother is fighting for his life, my sister was almost left alone, and Iris is now in the hands of that psychopath with no idea of what he is capable of. This is my punishment.

I look up at Xion and she’s silently crying. Her eyes are squeezed shut and she’s clenching her teeth.

“I never wanted you to die Remus.” She says. I smile softly at her and open my mouth to respond when the door is open. Our mother comes in with all the grace and glory she was born with. Her eyes land on Xion and to me.

Xion immediately stands.

“Leave us.” My mother says. Xion looks between me and her, hesitant to go. I nod my head giving her permission to go.

“It’s ok,” I say. She slowly nods her head and leaves. I watch as our mother gives her a comforting smile and the door closes behind her. She takes the seat Xion once occupied, smiling at me.

“Oh, how the mighty have fallen.” She says.

“If you came here to gloat, you can leave.” I snap. She laughs softly.

“I actually didn’t come here to gloat. Just to talk.” She says. I look away from her. The one being in the universe that actually strikes fear into me.

“I’ve been watching you from afar, Remus. It seems you're more like me than you originally realized. The problem is, your father got his claws into you.” She says. She shifts and I hear her coming closer to me. And against my better judgment, my heart starts beating faster. I’m at her mercy. And I have no way of defending myself.

I squeeze my eyes shut taking in a deep breath. She wouldn’t harm me. When I open them again, she’s right in my line of vision.

“I can make it all go away, Remus. Like I’ve done every time before.” She says. Her gaze is terrifying.

“No.” I snap. I look her in the eyes.

“Get away from me.”

She smiles softly and steps back.

“You know I was right, Remus. About everything.” She sits.

“You are just like me. In love with another, but married to someone you hate. In the end, you chose duty over your love just like I did. I may have revered you as a monster, but in the end, you and I are one and the same.” She says. I look up at her.

“You love that, don’t you? You love to see me fall. Broken.” I growl. She shrugs.

“A little. Your father tried to convince me that you were a prodigy. But deep down, you’re just as vulnerable as the rest of us. He crippled you.” She says.

“Why are you really here,” I say. She seems to be thinking it over for a moment.

“I guess I’m just curious. I want to know what you plan on doing next?” She holds her hand out in front of her and I can see the small flicker of energy. She’s broken the seal I put on her days before I left for the conversion. She looks at me with a smirk.

“Your father expects you to wipe them out once you’re fully recovered. But your lover is among them. And if I recall, she’s actually one of them now, correct?”

“So what are you going to do, Remus? Ignore your duty? Or follow it?” She smiles at me. She knows exactly what I’ll do. Because I’m just like her. And that was the point of her visit today. She wanted to let me know that. And make sure I understand it.

She stands from her seat, placing her hand over my chest. I can feel that warm trickle of energy as she slowly heals me. I look up at her in confusion, but she doesn’t say another word. She only leaves the room, leaving me once again alone with my thoughts.

~

It’s been days. My body is taking forever to heal. My mind is getting even worse. The only person I allow in my room is Xion. My father and Nira have been banned. Xion is sitting in the corner reading a book.

“How is Ezra?” I ask. She looks up at me.

“He’s still breathing… But…” She trails off. Braith was smart. He made sure to get rid of Sky. In turn, he didn’t have to touch Ezra. All he had to do was wait for the bond to kill him. But it hasn’t yet. Meaning Ezra is insanely strong, or Sky may very well be alive.

“Mother has been caring for him.” She says. She notices my tensing and clarifies for me.

“She knows what she’s doing, and she’s never had malicious intent towards him. You know Ezra’s always been her favorite.” She gives me a soft smile and I can’t help but smile back. Even as we grew up together mother always coddled him. Xion used to beat him up solely for that purpose when we were kids.

“Any sign of Sky?” I ask. She shakes her head.

“What are you going to do about Braith?” She asks. Anger latches onto me at the mention of his name.

“Father wants me to kill them all. But I can’t. They have Iris. He knew that when he decided to rebel. He planned it all out so perfectly. He knows I won’t kill them. Not while Iris is among them. And especially with him having a hold on her.” I say in frustration.

Braith implanted his energy within her, making her susceptible to him. She has no idea how to build it, or make herself stronger to prevent him from harming her. If he wishes to, he could end her life. And I can’t reach out to her through the bond. I don’t know what her mental state is. The moment she realizes I’m alive it could ruin everything. She doesn’t know what he’s capable of. But I do.

His race is a group of emotionally complex creatures. Their powers were taken away to protect not only them but those around them as well. They have never been able to control themselves. One emotional folly and anyone within 5 feet could be killed.

They’re unstable. It’s always been their place to stay by our side to keep their power in check. But years ago, my father’s father decided it was time to strip them of their power. Along with a war that destroyed parts of the planet that are still recovering, they lost their power and became a piece of our society.

Braith’s head has been filled with lies about his people’s past.

I look up at Xion, a plan already forming in my head. In the past, I’ve had one thing on my mind. Duty. Duty before everything. But I am king now. I am the ruler. My word is law. And right now, I am angry. I’m angry at Braith and his people for using someone as innocent and naïve as Iris.

They lied to her and used her against me, and now they hold her hostage. They’re all cowards. Every single one of them. And they don’t deserve to live. Especially their ring leader. Braith. He killed Sky to get to my brother. And I have no idea if he succeeded or not. I feel helpless as I’m too weak to do anything.

Once I’m healed, I’ll kill him. All of them. I will wipe their existence from the face of this Earth. And I will take back Iris, and make her my queen. Because she deserves that title. I won’t make the mistake of my parents. I am king now.

And no one will touch anything that is important to me, ever again.