Page 72 of Pet: Torment

A loud crack is followed by searing pain, and I can no longer hold back.

“It was a gift! You gave it to me!” I sob.

I open my eyes, pleading with any corner of his memory as I look into his.

“Please, I swear I’m telling the truth! Please!” I scream.

Just when I think Remus is going to completely splinter my arm, the pressure stops. I collapse, cradling my arm as Remus stands over me. It throbs in pain but isn’t bent unnaturally. My sobs fill the quiet, and I drop my head further, letting my tears rattle me. I don’t know what hearing those words from my lips is going to do to him in this state. If it opens up the doors for him to question his mother, or throw off the balance of this world, I don’t know.

I flinch, scrambling away when I feel fingers gliding over my cheeks.

Remus is kneeling in front of me, his features a mix of confusion and irritation as he studies me. I know exactly what he’s thinking right now. He doesn’t understand why my bodyexhibited signs of telling the truth when I was in distress, no less. And he has no memory of giving me the hairpin.

“Please…just let me go…” I whimper. “I won’t bother you again,” I add when he doesn’t respond immediately.

Thankfully, someone interrupts us.

“Iris!” I’ve never felt so much relief from hearing Ezra’s voice. He’s suddenly at my side, between me and Remus, to inspect my injuries. “Are you okay?” he murmurs.

I can’t find it in me to voice how I’m feeling. So, I nod. But Ezra’s fingers drift over the swelling of my arm.

Ezra whips around, snapping at Remus in their language. I pick up bits and pieces of it, mostly him yelling at Remus for hurting me. But Remus has composed himself and is standing, his voice chilling as he responds to his brother.

“You are housing a thief. You need to train her properly, or else something worse than this will happen,” Remus says in their language.

I look up in confusion, but Remus isn’t looking at his brother. He’s looking at me. His eyes narrow, and he scoffs when he realizes I can understand him. He’s putting the pieces together himself. I haven’t been around him since he returned to us without his memory intact. Maybe he’s already noticing things that don’t add up in his life. His time on Earth was extensive, and a lot happened during that time. His mother can’t have swiped everything that perfectly.

Remus doesn’t wait for Ezra to respond, and though I am happy he’s left the room, I am devastated at what he took from me. I lower my head, my tears quietly dripping to the floor beneath me, with Ezra to witness the crushing defeat I feel. I know Ezra has a lot he wants to say to me, but I know even he realizes how broken I am right now and I am grateful that he holds his tongue.

“I told you not to roam alone! Do you have a death wish? Why can’t you follow the simplest of orders?” Ezra may have understood that I am in no position to be yelled at, but Xion is livid.

Remus ended the meeting abruptly and much earlier than anticipated. It wasn’t until Ezra joined Sky that they realized I was missing, as was Remus. The throbbing pain in my arm is a bitter reminder of how things went in his company.

Luckily, he only fractured part of my arm during his interrogation. Unlucky, however, I have yet to reveal to them that I told him about the hairpin. I doubt they’ll be receptive to that information or even know what to do with it. It feels like every day another obstacle crosses our paths, and they don’t know how to handle it because Remus is at the helm.

Silence covers the room as Xion finishes her rant. I think she finally realizes I am not in the mood to yell back. She releases a breath, moving closer to where I am seated on her couch. Ezra is quiet behind us, once again allowing his older sibling to take over the situation.

“The only reason we brought you to the capital is that I wanted to give you some freedom. But if you can’t listen and keep doing things to put your life in harm’s way, I won’t be bringing you anymore,” she says.

I release a bitter chuckle, looking at Xion.

“Putting my life in harm’s way? You mean walking around? How was I supposed to know Remus was going to find me in some old records room?” I ask.

“You weren’t. And that’s the point!When I say to do something, you need to do it. We can’t predict everything right now, especially Remus,” she says.

Ezra speaks up behind me. “What were you doing in there anyway? What was so important that you would risk him finding you?” he asks.

I shake my head, not giving them a response. I can’t tell them I was looking for history about their mother. They would only throw an even bigger fit.

“Are you done yelling at me?” I murmur. “Can I go now?”

Xion releases a huff of irritation before gesturing for me to leave. As I stand to leave, a sudden wave of bravery washes over me, and I turn back to both of them to speak my mind.

“It’s very evident that neither of you has a grasp on this situation. Remus isn’t stupid, and your mother isn’t perfect. Eventually, he’s going to ask questions that you refuse to answer, and he’ll go to her on his own when none of this adds up. Just like he did before,” I say. “You need to do something other than wait. And I know you need him to remove the rings. Or else you would have done it yourselves by now,” I say.

Xion narrows her gaze at me but doesn’t respond. It’s Ezra who steps forward.

“Right now, all we’re focused on is keeping you alive and keeping Remus unsuspecting. It may take a while, but at least at the end of it, you’ll be alive. That’s what matters,” he says.