Page 11 of Pet: Torment

I watch her curiously as her footsteps falter. She goes from testing the texture to playing in it, her attention focused as she smooths it atop the wide column, pulling it into a pile to shape it. She continues to shape it until it is in a ball, and she holds it closer to her face, squinting before placing it back down. She then moves onto more of the snow, doing the same thing.

I keep my distance, not wanting to startle her as she’s finally found something interesting. She’s been snapping and crying since the departure of her planet. It feels pleasant to see her enjoy herself, even if it is for a few seconds. I won’t bother telling her this entire location is of my design. She doesn’t know it, but this area in the mountains is my creation. I wanted quiet and seclusion. And I love the mountains. I created this mountainside and the home that is a part of it specifically to my liking. She’d only force herself to outwardly hate it to spite me if she knew.

She finally finishes her little project, stepping back with a small smile of pride as she studies it. It looks like three balls stacked on top of one another, and I note that she has poked eye holes in it, and buttons on it.

I laugh.

“What is this?” I ask, stepping closer to her.

“It’s a snowman,” she says, studying it. After a moment, she looks at me, confusion in her expression.

“You don’t have snowmen here?” she asks.

I shrug. “Not that I’ve seen,” I say, eyeing the hideous little creature.

She turns back to the snowman, smiling.

“Well, they were all the rage during my childhood, anytime it would snow,” she says.

I watch her carefully as she stands, for once unburdened by the emotional strain of losing everything. The more time I spend around her, the more I am intrigued by her. The emotions I feel in her presence are something I haven’t experienced before. I know I am selfish for holding fast to that feeling at her expense. But it’s better than the emptiness that clawed at me for years.

She breathes in a sharp breath, stumbling slightly as she presses her fingers against her temples.

“Ah!” she whispers, but I am by her side, holding her close to me before she can collapse.

“What is it?” I ask.

She pulls in a deep breath, pulling away from me.

“My head...it’s pounding,” she murmurs.

I grab her before she can get too far, pulling her close to me.

“That’s enough touring for today. Let’s get you inside. It’s too unstable for you out here,” I say.

I see the disappointment in her expression, but she doesn’t argue with me, meaning her pain must be more than she’s letting on. So, I give her a smile in an attempt to reassure her.

“You’ll be able to come back once I get you a proper wardrobe. For now, let’s get you warmed up.”

Chapter Five

Iris

Three days have come and gone.

I wish I could say the wonder of this place has worn off in those three days, but it has only intensified as I anticipate seeing more of this new world. Since the rest period is up, the Divine Three will now return to civilization to update their world on theirnewest conquest. And more than likely, whatever they’re adding to the list to conquer next.

Remus’s home is just like him. Unique and dauntingly beautiful. It’s a magical place hidden in the mountains and surrounded by snow, filled with peace and tranquility. I will never understand why Remus would ever want to leave to conquer hideous planets he hates on a personal level. He has everything he needs here including the giant neighboring planet visible in the atmosphere.

It’s been difficult keeping track of time since arriving.Xyrannisobviously has a different orbit than Earth did. And the days are either longer or shorter. I can’t tell as I’ve been asleep for most of it and exploring the other times. And with no access to a clock, the days have blurred together.

I flinch as another throb strikes my temple. For days, I’ve been having unbearable headaches and difficulty moving around. Remus suspects it’s because of the shift in gravity and oxygen. He claims it will pass in a few days, but it only feels like it’s worsening. And the dreams have become more vivid as well. I keep seeing a world I don’t recognize as a voice calls out to me. But instead of my name, it calls for Remus. I can’t begin to contemplate why I am having that kind of dream.

I release a calming breath, exhaling slowly before bringing the pink liquid I drank on Earth to my lips. This has also been part of my regimen since arriving. At first, I thought it was because Remus wanted to feed. But he has barely touched me since leaving Earth. He’s given me space and has been patient even with my outbursts. I hate that it’s making me see him in a different light. I don’t want to acknowledge his kindness to me, not after what I watched him do to Earth. But in the three days I’ve been here, he’s made it all about me—allowing me space and giving me time to get to know my new home…

I frown at the direction of my thoughts.New home. This cannot and will not be my home. Ever. I won’t acknowledge it.

A familiar tingle appears at the base of my spine, and I look towards the stairs just in time to see Remus step into the room. My mouth waters at the sight. He’s dressed in attire native to his planet but still all-white. It looks similar to what he wore on earth, except there are more jewels that resemble the pendant he gave me located in different places on his clothes. I immediately notice he has replaced the hairpin he gave me with a new one that holds his white locks out of his face.