Revelation - Chapter 31 (Patreon)

Remus

It’s raining.

Two whole weeks with no sign of Iris or Braith, and it’s raining. Two weeks of suffering and pain. Two weeks of not knowing if my brother will make it and if my people will ever recover. Two weeks. And now, it’s raining.

My body has been so weak, I’ve been asleep for most of it. Trying to get it to somehow heal at the rate of a human's. It’s miserable. My bones feel as though they are constantly aching, my senses are dull, and my nightmares have been even worse. With each passing day, I find it harder and harder to resist the temptation to locate Iris.

And it’s only been two weeks.

I take a breath stepping out into the rain, reveling in the feel of the cool water pelting my flesh. I’ve only ever had rain touch my skin one other moment in my life. When Iris coaxed it out of me. She convinced me to feel. To be… human. And now, I feel that way even more so now.

I close my eyes letting the water wash over me, feeling every little thing about it. The liquid, the temperature, the tiny grains that managed to soak up with the water. I can tell what part of the planet the drops of water even came from.

I smile softly as I let the emotions wash over me. The pain, the joy, the relief, the anger. All of it. It feels as though a door has been opened and I can see every color of light as it flashes through my brain. I see all the smiles and tears, and I even feel the betrayal she felt. The betrayal I caused.

I take a deep breath, digging deep within me feeling out the flame that was once a tiny spark and open my eyes releasing the energy within me. Instantly the raindrops stop around me as I finally reawaken my power. I can feel the bones snapping back into place and the wounds healing instantly. I can feel the ground around me all the way beneath the surface and the make-up of the planet.

I can once again sense every living being down to the smallest insect and plant. And I can feel the electricity running through my veins once again.

My eyes open and I look out beyond the land taking in the sight. Everything is much more vivid than it was. My sight, sense, and smell have heightened to levels beyond the human imagination. I smile. I can’t help it.

The doors open to the castle and I immediately begin registering everyone’s energy signature. I sense Xions, My mother and fathers, Nira, even Ezra’s extremely weak one. A week ago I couldn’t even hear his heartbeat, but now that I can, it doesn’t seem like it’s any more of an improvement.

I pass by a guard who immediately bows when he sees me.

“Gather my family.”

The room is small. But I don’t need a large one for this. My mother and father sit across from each other, Xion sits next to our father and Nira sits on the side of me. I feel a sadness in my heart at the sight of Ezra not being here. Not even being cognizant enough to be here, or even speak to us. But I know now the reason he is still alive. Even if it is barely.

I look around the room at all the faces. People that mean everything to me, and nothing to me. People that I have lived for and fought for. People that I would die for. I take a deep breath meeting Xion’s gaze. She has a soft smile on her face. We don’t have to speak to know what she wants to say.

“The kingdom has been divided,” I say. I look at each face, focusing on each reaction.

“The people have for the first time felt fear in their hearts, and rightfully so. A whole group of deadly beings has escaped our grasp, and at any moment could decide to wreak havoc.” I say. I look between both of my parents.

“Your squabbling has caused this.” I say. My father doesn’t respond, but my mother crosses her arms and sits back in her seat. I keep my gaze focused on her for a moment longer. They both know that their personal affairs have ruined this kingdom.

“I won’t take any action against the both of you.” I look at my father.

“You’ve kept this kingdom alive on your own in our absence.” I say. I look at my mother.

“You’ve kept my brother alive.” Her eyes widen slightly. She knows I know.

“I will take the responsibility of this kingdom off of both of your hands, as is my birthright,” I say. I look at Nira. I know what I’m about to say to her won’t go over well. I may even grow to regret it in the future, but I don’t care. This ends now.

“I want to apologize to you for being brought into this situation. You were never supposed to be a part of this. My father took things into his own hands, and I followed blindly because I thought that’s what I needed to do.” I say. My gaze narrows and I know she feels the chill sweep through the room before I speak my next sentence.

“You and I, are no longer married.” I say. My father jumps up from his seat, smashing his hands on the table and I see my mother smile.

“Remus!” I hold my hand up, silencing him.

“I never wanted to marry her. And you knew that. I thought following my duty would be easy but it isn’t. Look where it’s gotten us.” My father is seething.

“I refuse to repeat your mistakes. I refuse to become the way the both of you did and put my kingdom in danger, or the one I love. Once I retrieve Iris, I will make her the queen.” Now is Nira’s turn.

“How dare yo-“

“How dare you fix your mouth to speak to me in any form or fashion on this topic!” I shout. Everyone becomes deathly quiet. Even Nira’s eyes widen and she steps back. She can feel the anger radiating off of me. She knows I am not to be tampered with in this state. I’ve never shouted at her. Not once. But now my anger is visible. My usual calm demeanor gone.

“The only reason I haven’t snapped your neck yet is that you were an innocent brought in from the outside. Do you think I don’t know about your encounter with Iris? Do you think I don’t know you poisoned her and tried to melt off her arm?” Tears are beginning to well up in her eyes.

I step closer to her, and the temperature in the room drops.

“You are hanging on by a sliver of a thread. Leave now with my mercy, or the next word out of your mouth will be your last.” I growl. She seems to be thinking it over long and hard. She searches my eyes, and I can see she’s visibly shaking. No one dares speak. Not even my father. And finally, she steps back, bowing, and exits the room without a glance back.

I look to my mother and father who are watching me with shock.

“I am no longer your pawn.” I say.

“I am your King.”

~

All my life, protecting my family has been my goal. Pleasing them has been my sense of purpose. I failed. I failed that miserably.

Ezra is in front of me in the bed. His skin is clammy, his breathing slow and labored. I’m so weak that I can’t even hear his heartbeat. He looks to be dead.

The door to the room opens and I know immediately it’s my mother. I don’t bother turning around.

“That was quite the display Remus.” She says. I ignore her. She’s pleased that my father doesn’t get what he wants. She is happy that I’ve proven I’m just like her.

“You must hate me so much.” She says. I laugh softly.

“I did… but now I only pity you.” I say. She drops her gaze and I look back to Ezra.

“Being shackled to Nira even for the few hours I was, was torture. I knew who I wanted. I couldn’t imagine having a child with Nira after the way I feel about Iris.” I say. I take a deep breath.

“And I am the physical reminder of the love you had to give up.” She’s silent.

“I know you hate me. More than anything. But you and I are one and the same.”

“You don’t hate him,” I say referring to Ezra. She doesn’t respond. I smile softly.

“Of course, you don’t. Why would you scour the remains of the castle to find his mate?” I ask. I turn and look at her and she has a smug look on her face. “And keep her alive?”

“So you know.” She says. I nod my head. The moment I awakened my power, I sensed Sky’s energy signature. She’s alive. Barely. My mother can do nothing for her, but my brother can. I look back to Ezra. But he’s in no condition to do so. They are both crippling each other.

“Why didn’t you just do it?” I ask. She steps past me pushing Ezra’s hair out of his face. I notice tears beginning to stream down her cheeks as she stares at her son.

“I can’t hurt him.” She whispers. “I’ve seen how much he cares for her… If I took that from him… I don’t know if I’d ever see his smile again.” She says. Ezra was much different before he encountered this human. She’s right about that.

“How do you know he’ll regain his memory?” I ask. She shrugs.

“I don’t…” She looks at me. “But you did.” She says.

“And if he ever found out, he would hate me.”

The only way to save Ezra is to tamper with his memories. Remove Sky from them. Go down to the molecular level and destroy his entire being by breaking their bond. It will be physically painful for him. A bond that took so long to form as strong as it did. The moment the bond is broken, Sky may very well die. Her life force is being fed by Ezra’s. The blow from Braith was deadly. I’m sure the only reason she survived it in the first place was because of the bond her and Ezra share. But now…

I take a deep breath.

“I’ll do it.” I say.

I step over my mother, and she seems to be waging a war within herself. She looks to Ezra and caresses his face gently. I feel a ping of jealousy in my gut, but push it down. Deep down. Now’s not the time. I take a deep breath, looking over his face as well.

Each time I would watch his face light up because of her. All the lectures, the way he changed, the person he is now because of her. It makes me see my mother in a new light. How she could do something to me so easily just proves her hatred for me even more. This will be one of the hardest things I have ever done.

I know that if I were in Ezra’s position, I would rather die than know life without Iris in it.

I take a deep breath.

“I’m sorry, brother.”