Revelation - Chapter 36 (Patreon)

I stand at the edge of the glass looking down at the planet that houses Iris. I feel a sense of déjà vu. The last planet I conquered was Earth. The planet I had no idea was home to a woman that could bring me to my knees if she wanted.

From the moment I saw her risking her life for someone she didn’t know, she had me. Each and every time I tested her loyalty to her species she never once failed. Not once. She fought every single time. Never once letting her fear of me stop her. I can feel my fingertips itching at the thought of having her in my arms again.

It will be a constant battle getting her to agree to my terms, and me agreeing to hers. But that’s what ruling is about. Give and take. And I know she’ll be marvelous at it. She was born to lead. To stand against those that are wrong. No matter the consequence. Not someone that will agree with everything that I say because it’s what she was trained to do her whole life.

The ship dips slightly as we descend closer to the atmosphere. I know the plan in my head, but I also know that it won’t be easy. If Braith has proven one thing, it’s that he’s just as smart as me. He’s calculating. Cunning. And taking Iris back won’t be easy. I feel uneasiness in my stomach at the thought. He won’t kill her. He’s fascinated by her for the moment. He feels what I felt when I first found her. He’s trying to break her. But she won’t break.

I fear if he knows of my arrival he’ll use her to get to me. I know he will. But I can’t let that force me to hesitate.

I look back to the pilot, and to Xion.

“I’m ready to claim what is mine.”

I’m exhausted.

I figure it’s from the constant drain of the cage I’m in most of the day. I also figure it’s from the life growing inside me. I figure if Remus was an energy-consuming being, why wouldn’t his child be? The only thing that gives me comfort in these last few weeks, is the constant heartbeat I can hear.

It’s like a smooth cadence that keeps me aware of how important it is that I stay alive. That stay alive.

I open my eyes looking around at the greenery around me. I’ve finally managed to figure out where I am in relation to everything. We’re on a planet. A refugee planet I’m assuming. The people that inhabit this land have really allowed the greenery to thrive here. I can also sense the people that escaped the . Braith’s people. They are far from my location, but all in one area.

I haven’t been able to see or speak with anyone other than Braith. His once kindness has turned into a constant hostility. I can only guess what his plans are from here on out. I think he plans on attacking the while they’re weak and in mourning from the loss of their King. Remus was a very powerful being. I can tell from the interactions the people really depended on him for safety and power.

I can only imagine how upset the entire planet must be from his death. At my hand. Each time I think about it, my heart breaks in my chest. Even if I manage to get out of here alive, the simple fact that I killed him is enough for the people to kill me on the spot. They wouldn’t consider taking my child in.

But there’s no way I can care for it. I don’t even know how.

I tense when I feel a presence. I immediately look around trying to see who it is, but there’s no one there. I hate feeling this way. Constantly in fear like this. I constantly think Braith is going to attack me out of nowhere. He never holds back when he does.

It’s strange having this power. I see now why Remus was constantly meditating to control it. I feel like I’ll explode if I don’t. I’ve finally learned how to do some form of meditation. When I would watch Remus he would sit silently with his eyes closed and slow breathing. I’ve started by just sitting silently and feeling the world around me. It’s amazing what you can sense when you’re actually searching for it.

I sense him before I see him. Braith is coming towards me. He has a blank expression on his face, his hands behind his back. His gaze is focused on me as he approaches. I feel an uneasiness.

He sits next to me looking out over the trees. The silence stretches out over us before he finally decides to speak.

“I had such high hopes for you.” He says. I don’t respond. I don’t dare utter another word.

“I would have treated you like you deserved. But I see the truth now. You’ll never be on our side. How can you?” He asks.

“Anything you wish to tell me, Iris?” He says. His gaze zeroes in on me. My heart explodes in my chest. He knows. I know he does. I try and keep myself calm. I know he can sense everything about me. Including when I’m about to lie. But I try anyway.

I shake my head.

“No.” My voice comes out a shaky whisper.

He smiles softly. Laughing.

“Iris. Your heart is beating so fast. Are you sure?” He says. He stares at me. My mouth has gone dry. I nod my head unable to find the words to speak. His gaze travels over my body.

“Is that your heart I hear?” He asks. “Or someone else’s?”

I sense it before I see it. His hand forms a blade as he aims straight for the growing life inside of me.

“No!” I scream. Energy is whipped from me surrounding me in a burst of black. The grass is uprooted as life is ripped from it and fills my veins with its unwilling sacrifice. I look up and Braith is watching me with a wicked smile on his face. He stands and I gasp in shock. His arm is broken.

“People often need a reason to fight. Home. Country. Love. I believe you’ve found yours, Iris.” He begins walking towards me as he continues his speech.

“You never would have been able to fight anymore. Not with his seed growing inside you.” His face twists into one of disgust.

“You were so perfect and he ruined you. He made sure to leave one last trace of himself in this world.” His arm slowly heals as he walks towards me. I feel my energy being drained and I have to fight to keep my eyes open.

“I am not the monster you may think me to be Iris. I know I have been hard on you these past few weeks. But that’s only because I need to know how on board you are with me and my people. We were pulled out of our home. The don’t deserve the life they have. We can end that. We can end all the suffering for all the worlds. Including Earth.” He says.

I shake my head.

“I’ve already done that. I killed Remus for you, remember?” I murmur. He shakes his head.

“It isn’t enough. They need to pay for what they did.

“Your people still live Iris. Some may be slaves, and some are spread across the galaxy, but they are all a part of Remus’ culture. It was his doing that put them in that situation.”

“No! I don’t want to kill anyone, Braith. That may have been Remus but that isn’t me!” I say. He narrows his gaze.

“You don’t have a choice in the matter Iris. Do you want your child to live?” He snaps. Horror washes over me at his threat.

“You wouldn’t…” I trail off not wanting to provoke him into proving me wrong. He shakes his head.

“You’re right. I wouldn’t. Like I said Iris, I am not a monster. I am giving you a chance to be a part of something big. And to keep your child safe. Do you not want that?” His black gaze sends chills down my spine.

“I could force you. Regardless of the outcome of your child.”

“Why are you doing this?” I ask. “You’re acting just like him, I thought you told me you would never be that way…” I say remembering how kind he was when we first met. He completely changed once we left. He looks away from me in anger.

“You are now carrying Remus’ child. His blood. His firstborn whether it is legitimate or not. The wouldn’t dare touch you. No matter what you did or where you went, especially the King. He would die for the offspring growing inside of you.” He says.

“I never wanted to use you like this, Iris. But I know now you can never be mine. And you never will be. I won’t force you to be. But I will get the most I can out of you while I can.” He says. My eyes widen at his words.

I open my mouth to respond when a sudden chill ripples down my spine. I tense as the hairs on my arms stand on end and something washed over me. Something familiar. I look around in shock. The feeling is so intense that I have to voice my concerns.

“What is that?” I whisper. I look at Braith who is watching me in confusion. He’s on edge from my reaction and it’s obvious that he isn’t sensing what I am. Which can only mean one thing. My heart leaps into my chest as excitement rushes through me. I want nothing more than to take off running but I don’t know where he is or where I would even begin to go.

Tears rush in my eyes before I can stop them, and I realize Braith is watching me. He steps over me, and I feel a control coming over my body. The same way I felt the day I killed Remus in cold blood. I have no control over it any longer. I open my mouth screaming as I realize what it is. Braith is trying to control me.

“No!” I scream. I lunge at Braith, letting my rage fuel me, but it seems as though he’s counting on that. He smiles at me, and the last thing I see is Braith’s smug grin before the world goes black.

The anticipation I feel is killing me. Everyone has been dispatched to the surface, and I can do nothing but wait. My “death” is the biggest advantage we have right now. If Braith realizes I’m alive, he could use Iris against us. And that’s the worst-case scenario.

It’s been two hours so far. I know that Xion and the others have rounded up the people. Andrew was dispatched a while ago to find Iris but has not come back yet. I can only assume the worst. I stand unable to hold in my frustrations any longer.

I find Xion and speak to her through my mind.

“I’m going to find Iris,” I say. I make my way to the doors, no longer in the mood to wait. It shouldn’t take this long to retrieve her.

I’m walking through the greenery towards the location she seems to be at. Braith was smart. He made sure to keep her away from the people. Isolating her so that he could better control her. It’s easy to control someone who is weaker than you. Especially emotionally. I can see the signs of her being here. Along the way, there are random spots that have been sucked dry of any nutrients.

Each time I think of how he tortured and attacked her, it makes my blood boil. Once I have her back in my arms, I’ll never let her go. I’ll never do harm to her. I’ll listen and we’ll have disagreements over our styles of ruling, but we each will be better for it. I’m ready to be the man that she needs. No matter the sacrifice. I’ve already seen life without her, and I don’t want that. I couldn’t live with it.

I sense a force of energy coming at me, and I can only assume it’s Braith with the dark mass and power. It can be the only explanation of why Andrew never came back or contacted me. I hold my hands up releasing my own energy and blocking the powerful blow. A mass of our mixed attacks shoots into the air, causing a stream of bright and dark light.

“Your highness. Isn’t it good to see you still kicking.” Braiths voice comes out of the smoke that surrounds us. I sense him walking towards me, but something is off about him. So I refrain from attacking. I keep my mouth shut and my body ready to strike if necessary.

Braith emerges from the smoke with a blank expression. The moment I see him I tense ready to strike but out of nowhere, I’m attacked from the side. I throw my hands up just in time to block the blow but the force from the blast sends me flying into the surrounding trees.

Debris flies around me and a large tree trunk finally stops my forceful crash. I immediately move to get up when a body is on top of me, pinning me down. Her hands around my throat, her hair is flowing around her in an energy field that is too much for her body. Her gaze is black along with her veins in her body.

I feel joy and worry all at the same time as a string of emotions rush through me from seeing her.

“Iris?”