Page 97 of Pet: Torment

“You killed my brother. We have nothing to talk about,” I say.

He grunts in irritation, walking away from me.

“Your mother has let your heart become too soft. You are aCelestivine, Remus. That bastard has no place in this world—no place to call himself your brother of all things,” he says, his anger palpable in the air.

I don’t fear him, however.

“That ‘bastard’ismy brother,” I say.

“Can you not see he was born to replace you?” he snaps.

I release a humorless laugh, holding his gaze.

“There is nothing left for us to talk about. You might as well end my life now. I have no intention of doing anything you want,” I say, trying to hold back the pain of losing so many important people so quickly.

Silence drifts between us, and he continues to watch me, trying to figure out my intention.

“I think there is plenty to speak about, Remus,” he says.

The air behind him ripples, and Xion appears. She’s lying on her side, with a similar binding to mine around her arms. She’s awake, but her eyes are dulled as she stares at nothing.

“Xion!” I call to her, trying to move, but I can’t. These bindings drain my energy with even the slightest movement. Xion doesn’t even react to my voice.

“You should try to minimize movement. The more you struggle, the more it takes,” Kuron says, proving my theory as he moves toward Xion.

“Don’t fucking touch her!” I shout.

Kuron stops, turning to face me.

“What do you think I would do to her? She is my child, as are you. I only want what’s best for you both. Me’Rite’s decision to steal you both away from me is what caused this, not me,” he says.

I can’t bring myself to care about anything he just said. In my eyes, he is just as much an enemy as my mother.

“Why go through all of this just to get us back? Why destroy the lives we have here?” I ask.

Kuron straightens, his expression becoming eerie as he looks at me. He then shakes his head.

“These are not lives befitting ofCelestivine. This is beneath you both,” he snaps.

Suddenly, the air ripples again, and this time, it is my mother who appears. She is bound with the same blue beams, her eyes wide with tears as she screams at Kuron in a language I somehow know, but don’t recall learning. She doesn’t look after me or Xion at this moment. She’s screaming at him for the destruction he’s caused. She’s claiming she wants her revenge. She’s cursing him and me for the loss of Ezra’s life.

Kuron ignores her completely, his attention remaining on me. He’s letting me understand the situation. He’s showing me just how much she has used me in my lifetime. She doesn’t care about me. She doesn’t even care about Xion. This was all caused because of her, but she still sees us as the reason for it ending this way.

Kuron moves away from my mother, approaching me and her gaze follows. She quiets down, her expression shifting from anger to desperation.

“Kuron, Kuron stop!” she shouts as he approaches.

His expression is blank as he kneels in front of me, reaching for my face. My mother’s cries are desperate. But not for my life; she doesn’t want Kuron to reveal all the secrets she’s kept locked away inside of me to remain hidden.

“I am a victim just like you, Remus. I hold no animosity for you. I held none for the halfling you saw as a brother. Let me show you…let me help you remember,” he says.

“No! Don’t! Don’t listen to him! Don’t!” My mother’s screams break through my thoughts, and they are the last thing I hear as Kuron’s fingers gently press against my temples. His eyes remain focused, the purple glittering more intimidating than my mother’s ever has. I feel his touch in my mind, seconds before everything grows too bright, and I am assaulted by my past.

I know this world. From the moment I could comprehend, I’ve known it as my home. The grass is taller than me this time of year, and Celise decided to do my training out here today. I was supposed to be focusing on consuming energy. The joke is on her, however. I’ve mastered consumption, and I have no interest in training today. I’ve grown bored of it.

“Remus! Remus, come out now!” she calls in the distance.

I laugh to myself as I stand. I learned how to mask my energy signature. Father taught me a few weeks ago. I wasn’t able to perfect it until this moment. So even if she tries, she won’t be able to find me unless I allow her to. I’ve grown bored with the training lately, my mind wandering to more advanced techniques.