Page 18 of Pet: Torment

Noah shifts his attention to Remus and Xion briefly before responding.

“Can I show you something?” he asks.

“I don’t think Remus wants me to—”

“You aren’t a slave anymore, Iris. You are his equal now. Especially since you have bonded. You have every freedom you once did. And more,” he says.

I shift my attention to Remus and Xion, and Remus’s attention is on me. But he only watches me. He doesn’t approach, nor does he gesture for me to join him. So, I decide to test Noah’s theory.

“…Okay,” I say. And as I follow him from the floor we’re on, Remus doesn’t stop us.

Our destination isn’t far at all. We move out of the main ballroom into a hallway. And Noah leads us to a balcony. I see why, as I stand on it, taking in the large portrait of a woman so stunning, she can’t be real. She sits on a throne, her white hair flowing around her as she looks with eyes resembling Remus’s.She’s wearing a crown and is dressed in a white gown except for the blue jewels that stand out on it.

I know without asking that this is Remus’s mother.

“Aureonwas originally her title. It means god in the Leviathan language. The Leviathan history is a complex one, but it starts with her. And continues with her son,” Noah says.

Silence drifts between us.

“So they let you in on the Leviathan history?” I ask, sarcastically.

Noah chuckles, shrugging.

“More or less. It is a vicious one. And although it starts with her, it really became something when her son took her place,” he says.

“Why are you showing me this?” I ask.

“From what I’ve been told, you are a very stubborn woman…You are no longer on Earth. You are onXyrannis.Theirhome. You don’t understand all that they are capable of—”

“I’ve seen what he is capable of. I watched him and Xion destroy what was left of Earth’s last hope—”

“What you saw was only a fraction of the power he radiates. He is… otherworldly. A bond is a powerful thing, and it opens the door to things you and I were never born to acknowledge. It’s dangerous for someone like him. These beings… they don’t process emotion the same way we do. He might seem human, but he is only mimicking what he knows will make you lower your guard. Something like him…it shouldn’t exist on the same plane as us. Yet he does. For everyone’s sake…please, don’t piss him off.”

Noah looks frightened as he warns me. I don’t know what he’s seen or what Xion has told him. But it has him terrified enough to warn me.

“Why are you telling me this? Did Xion force you?” I ask.

Noah shakes his head.

“Just something I wish someone had told me before I got in too deep with these beings,” he says.

Before I can respond, we are interrupted.

“Look who has proven herself enough to be invited to an event like this!” We both tense as Ezra’s familiar voice fills the hall. I follow the direction of his voice to see him approaching alone. Sky is nowhere in sight. Ezra grins mischievously as he stands next to us and looks at the portrait of his mother.

“So, what are we talking about?”

1. Translated: "Aureon, it is time."

Chapter Eight

Iris

Ever since I met him, Ezra’s presence alone has put me on edge. Remus’s presence is calm and patient. Even when we began our time together, he was always so reserved. Ezra, however, has always been a little more erratic. He’s unpredictable, and his smile is always a result of enjoying himself, tearing down thosearound him. Now is no different as he approaches, ignoring Noah as he steps into my personal space.

His different-colored eyes glitter in excitement as he pulls my hand into his, bowing mockingly.

“Has my brother completely released you from his grip so soon? It’s only been a few weeks since he tore through the rebels looking for you,” he chuckles, and I pull my hand from his grip.