Page 82 of Pet: Torment

He moves to Sky first, his touch is gentle as he runs it over her cheeks and neck, holding her gently.

“Are you okay? What he did was unnecessary,” he says. I’m shocked at how gentle his tone is. But Sky places her hand over his, lowering his touch as she looks at me.

“We’re fine,” she says.

Ezra furrows his brow, shifting his attention to the door. I note that council members have begun to enter, meaning this has nothing to do with our current issues. It especially won’t have anything to do with their mother.

Ezra releases a deep breath.

“Don’t go far,” he says, before shifting his attention to me. “I mean it—no spontaneous trips to the records rooms. Stay close. If she comes back, I won’t be able to protect you if you are too far away,” he says, his expression serious.

“I won’t,” I say, trying to hide the quiver in my voice.

Ezra gives us one more stern look before making his way into the meeting. We both remain silent, watching him depart untilthe doors close completely, signaling the start of something I can only hope they will be able to handle.

It never occurred to me, the other issues that could have or already have arisen since Remus’s return. Now it weighs on me that there may be more to pull the attention away from their mother’s wrongdoings, prolonging this version of Remus.

I’m pulled from my thoughts as Sky laughs next to me, walking up the hallway.

“What do you think it could be now?” she asks.

I shrug, shifting my attention to the tall glass windows that overlook the city. I want to tell her that Remus has been visiting me, and what’s worse is that his last visit left me feeling uncertain, especially since it was on the heels of this meeting. But I can’t. Not with this threat lingering in my mind.

“Whatever it is, I have a bad feeling,” I say. It’s the most of my true feelings I can get out without putting her life in danger.

My footsteps falter as Ezra’s warning comes to mind.

“Do you know much about their mother? About her history with this planet?” I ask.

Sky pauses, looking at me in confusion. “Why would I know that?” she asks.

“Ezra tells you everything,” I say.

Sky stops walking, giving me her full attention.

“Why are you asking?” she asks.

I take a deep breath as I think of Noah’s words to me this morning. Ever since this started, I’ve only felt the desperation for Remus’s memory returning. But the conversation has made me see this for what it truly is. Children against their mother—against their lives. All they’ve ever known.

“Have you ever thought about how all of this ends? I mean, what’s the solution to it? That Remus remembers that his mother fucked him up for most of his life? Ezra and Xion areaware, and they still are having issues coming to terms with it,” I say.

“And you think knowing her history will do what?” she asks.

“It will at least let me know if there is a way to control her—that she isn’t as powerful as Remus,” I say. “I just don’t see this ending well, is all.”

Sky scoffs, pulling my attention.

“So you think we can pull off what an entire planet managed to do centuries ago?” she asks.

“Of course not. I just need to know I’m not fucking up their lives with no solution to it all. I don’t want the solution to be them fighting their mother to the death,” I say softly.

Silence passes between us, and Sky steps closer to me.

“I thought you cared about him,” she says.

“What?” I ask.

“I thought you said you cared about him,” she repeats.