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 their newest 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. Xyrannis obviously 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.
His purple gaze meets mine, and he smiles, making my heart flutter as I once again fight against the desire of the bond. Remus’s face lights up whenever he sees me, and it’s beginning to unnerve me. The smile he reveals is only ever reserved for me.
“Are you ready?” he asks, pulling me from my ogling.
I release a bitter chuckle, gesturing to myself as I speak.
“No chains? No inhibitor or bracelet that controls my every move?” I ask.
Remus gently grips my hand, bringing it to his lips. “Of course not, Iris.”
He kisses my hand gently, the blue in his eyes glittering in excitement at the prospect of a challenge, but it only makes my stomach twist as he speaks.
“I can trust you, right?” he asks.
Silence drifts between us as I contemplate the meaning of his words.
I know he’s still sore about the “betrayal” that occurred with Jude.
And he thinks now that my planet is no longer a threat I should have moved on from it by now.
There is no reason to defy him—no reason to fight.
I’m confident this is where most of the freedom he allows comes from.
There’s no other reason not to trust me.
I have no allies and no home. I am completely dependent on him.
His eyes continue to search mine, making me uneasy as I am once again forced to acknowledge the differences between us, especially when Remus is still studying my every move as he tries to understand the kind of person I am.
But I don’t respond, and he realizes that I won’t, releasing me with a scoff.
“Yes. Hold fast to that loyalty to a dead world, Iris. I’m sure it will continue to make this transition as easy as it has been, weighing on your mind,” he says, all amusement evaporating from his features.
He doesn’t give me a chance to respond as he moves away to leave the room. It’s the first time he’s shown signs of irritation. And I know, without him voicing it, that he expects me to follow.
The trip to our location is much different than our arrival to Xyrannis.
When we arrived, Remus’s ship lowered itself into the atmosphere, already pinpointing its location as it traveled to its landing area.
So, what I could see during that time was the edges of a city.
And when we left to go to Remus’s home, he kept us high above the clouds, unable to see anything until the mountains came into view.
But now, even though he is visibly irritated with me, he is traveling below the clouds, letting me see the wonders of Xyrannis.
And right now, it takes all of my strength to keep my mouth shut as I take in the bristling gold trees below that stretch for miles.
The trees look similar to the dried pampas grass my mother used to decorate the walls in our home.
Except these are much larger, the branches thick and sturdy with the wispy trees.
The longer I look, the more I begin to notice there are homes nestled in these forests, some of which are built around the trees, reminding me of fairy houses in books I read as a kid.
I know Remus senses my excitement, and I know he wants more than anything to explain his world to me. But both of us are giving one another the silent treatment, which is out of character for Remus.
“Where are we going, exactly?” I ask, breaking the silence.
When we were on Earth, each time Remus would take me somewhere, it was to enact a bloodbath or a lesson. But now that we are on Xyrannis, I know those aren’t a possibility. And with the Divine Three returning from their rest days, that leaves only a handful of options.
“The capital,” Remus says.
I shift my attention away from the window, looking at him when he doesn’t elaborate, but his gaze is focused ahead. I almost laugh despite the tension.
He’s pouting.
“What’s in the capital?” I ask.
Remus is silent for a moment, contemplating on answering me. But then, he does the most human thing I’ve ever seen him do. He takes in a deep breath, rolling his eyes before answering.
“The council.” Once again, he doesn’t bother elaborating.
But I am full of questions. I had no idea there even was a council.
I thought Remus was their Divine leader.
Why would they need a council? It opens more questions about this world I want answered, but Remus is no longer in a giving mood to answer questions he knows I’m holding on to.
He’s making me work for the answers I seek.
“I thought you were their leader,” I say.
Remus doesn’t respond, so I push a little. “Why would you need a council?” I ask.
Remus finally turns his attention to me, his gaze searching mine.
“Only those who acknowledge this as their home are entitled to that information,” he says, effectively shutting down the conversation.
My frustration bubbles to the surface as I glare at him, and I huff in irritation, turning to look out the window.
“I didn’t ask for this, you know. You can’t punish me because I won’t forget my real home,” I say.
Remus chuckles.
“But you did choose this, Iris. Remember? I gave you a choice. And you chose life. But you are so hellbent on being a martyr for a planet that offered you nothing you would continue to ignore your true feelings about this one,” he says.
I open my mouth to rebuttal, but Remus interrupts me.
“Don’t bother. I thought I could bring you here, and once you saw the potential of a new life, you would finally let that wasteland go.
But I see I was too optimistic. Take your time in coming to terms with things.
It is you who will continue to suffer in the long run, not me. I have all the time in the world.”
The duration of the trip to the capital is tense due to Remus finally letting his patience slip.
His words were uncharacteristically harsh, making me feel less confident about my emotional state.
And as we pass over the capital, I am once again reminded of Remus’s words to me and my own seemingly ridiculous decision to reject this place.
The buildings of the capital are tall, rigid, and reflective in the sunlight.
There are more buildings in the distance, stretching far beyond the three that greet us, and it is surrounded by trees that don’t come close to reaching the heights of the buildings.
The large building in the center has a waterfall pouring from underneath, leading to the river below that flows out to the sea.
It looks foreign to my eyes but still objectively beautiful, making me wonder where we went wrong in creating our cities.
Why did we mow down the land instead of building along with it?
We land on the roof of the tallest building, surpassing the usual adoring crowds, and are greeted by Leviathan.
They each bow as Remus approaches, and I shift my attention to the edge of the building, looking to the other side as we continue to walk.
There’s a massive maze-like garden with water in between it, leading to a side of the building I cannot see from this angle.
“Iris.” I tense when I hear Remus’s voice, looking at him in confusion. He’s watching me with a blank gaze, his eyes drifting to the Leviathan in attendance, and when I finally look, I notice they are bowing to me.
My eyes widen.
“I—”
And I look back to Remus in confusion. He smiles to himself, speaking for me, and the Leviathan rise, speaking to Remus as they lead us into the building.
As the elevator moves, I realize my heart is beating in my ears.
I’m nervous from the gesture of the Leviathan bowing to me.
I’m human… one of the beings they conquered recently.
Why would they give me the same respect they give Remus?
As we reach the designated floor, I note that Remus’s demeanor has changed significantly.
He’s silent, barely acknowledging the Leviathan as they speak to him, his regal stature and distant expression unnerving.
He only offers the occasional nod in response to the Leviathan, making even me uncomfortable.
The doors open, and we follow the Leviathan up the wide hall. My stomach twists as I take in the two people who scare me almost as much as Remus.
Xion and Ezra.
The sister who ripped open the mountainside and reduced an army of heavily weaponed men to a pile of shredded flesh and bone, and the brother who escaped his captivity, took out of a room of guards single-handedly, and somehow prevented Sky from the intimate death she wanted.
My footsteps falter as Xion’s gaze falls on me, her eyes narrowing slightly at my presence. I note that as we approach, his siblings bow slightly to him in respect. And it’s Ezra who speaks, his boyish grin forming as he approaches.
“Well, look who has been given freedom despite her betrayal—”
“Ezra,” Remus snaps, pulling his brother’s attention.
He laughs, shaking his head as he steps into my personal space, his dual-colored eyes roaming over me in delight.
“I’m only kidding. I’m happy to see the woman who briefly argued for my humane treatment,” he chuckles.
He is suddenly pulled out of my space as Remus uses his powers of gravitational force to move his brother, quipping something to him in his language.
It is Xion who steps forward and responds to Remus.
Her gaze shifts to me as she speaks, her irritation prominent.
Remus snaps something at her in response, and she steps back, trying to control her anger as she looks between me and Remus.
And when I look at Ezra, he is watching the exchange with cautiousness. Xion whips away, storming through the large double doors, and Ezra shakes his head in disappointment before also turning away.
I flinch from Remus’s tone as he speaks to the Leviathan in attendance, and they bow, shifting their attention to me.
“Go with them,” he says.
He doesn’t offer me anything, not even a brief glance as he brushes past me, his anger for the first time in a while visible. He storms into the room his siblings entered without looking back, giving me a new view of the being I “chose” to live life with.