19. Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Nineteen

Iris

Is this truly what awaits us in the end? Is this really all that humanity has to look forward to? Our deaths by either one another's hands or Remus's? A life where we are unable to escape the horrors we have endured at the hands of this alien race? My eyes shift to Margot's still body. She's been placed in a glass chamber. For once, there's a soft expression on her face. She looks to be at peace in her permanent slumber. It's my first and only time seeing her look so peaceful. I've lived more of my life alongside Margot than with my own parents, and in an instant, she's gone.

The wound in her throat finally stopped bleeding, but every time I blink, I still see blood gushing from the wound, taking her life with it. I still feel the warm and sticky substance coating my hands, crusting under my nails. I still see Remus pleased with my suffering. I suck in a shuddering breath, unable to tear my eyes away from her. I did this. I provoked Remus, and in turn, he took the one person left in this world that I care for. The worst thing about it is that he didn't have to lift a finger to do so. He just had to prove his hold over us, and she broke.

I tense when I hear footsteps. I know who it is without looking. My flesh crawls at his presence from the sheer amount of hatred and fear I feel combined. I feel his looming presence behind me. I haven't the slightest clue what he could be thinking, but his voice comes off as gentle.

"It's time to say goodbye, Iris."

I'm not sure how I ever stopped, but at the realization that I have to leave her, I immediately begin to cry again. My sob fills the room, and I quickly place my hand over my mouth to staunch the sound. But it does nothing. The level of despair I feel at leaving Margot for good is suffocating. I place my hand against the glass that separates us, taking in her form.

"I don't want to," I whisper.

I slowly turn to face Remus, letting my tears flow freely.

"Why? Why did you have to take her from me?" My voice trembles from the pain. He doesn't seem to hold any remorse for what he's done. His face is once again impossible to read as he studies me, but he doesn't respond.

"She was all I had left," I whisper.

Remus's eyes drift past me to her lifeless body, and he shifts next to me, his gaze never leaving her.

"She was already dead, Iris. Her life was forfeit the moment we found your place of refuge. The human mind is a fragile thing. I did her a favor by placing her under the inhibitor. The horrors she witnessed and endured in Yura's care would not have allowed her to live past a month on her own," he says.

I press my hand against the glass, dropping my head in despair.

"...Why?" I whisper. "Why do you hate humanity so much? We did nothing to you," I sob.

"Hate? I find you irritating in your resistance to the natural order," Remus says.

"Natural order?" I ask, keeping my eyes on Margot.

Remus places his finger under my chin, guiding my gaze around to meet his. An involuntary tremble works its way through my body. His eyes seem to glow as he looks deep into mine.

"You are a volatile race. Had you been left to your own devices, you would have destroyed the only home you knew. That is if you hadn't destroyed each other first. While that is not the reason alone I abhor your kind, it is the reason I cannot allow you to continue leading an existence on this planet," he says.

"So you're just going to wipe us out because we hurt our own kind? She died before she would harm me. Margot is proof that all of us are not like that," I whisper.

Remus smiles at my words, and I find that I don't like it. I prefer him when his expression is blank. His thumb lightly strokes my cheek as his eyes roam over my face in curiosity.

"As are you, Iris."

He finally stands, making his way to the holographic panel on the glass where Margot's body lies. His gaze shifts to Margot.

"Say goodbye. And make peace with your loss."

I want to scream at him. I want to yell and release all of the anger I feel. But I won't. Not when he's allowing me the opportunity to say goodbye. My tears fall fast as I look at her, trying my best to take in her features. I don't want to forget her. Not like I've forgotten my own family.

"Goodbye, Margot," I whisper.

Remus presses something on the pad, and her body slowly becomes coated in a blue beam. My eyes widen, and Remus takes the liberty of explaining what's happening to me.

"In Leviathan culture, energy is the key to life. Once your life has ended, the remaining energy is used to collapse your form, and you are released back into your world to give it life as it has you."

I watch as Margot's body slowly becomes a beautiful beam of light. My knees grow weak as I watch, and I slowly sink to the floor. I won't let her death be in vain. I will stop him. I will find a way to help us all away from this nightmare.

Even if it costs me my own life.

The weather is beautiful. There's a slight chill in the air, but the sun shines lustrously with barely a cloud in sight. The sky itself is the most vivid blue I've ever seen. It's the complete opposite of how I feel. One thing I can appreciate the Leviathan for is their renewal of our planet. The blight may have been a terrible place to live, but the surrounding Earth has healed over the years. The air is crisper, the colors in the sky more vivid, and the greenery much more abundant.

Even from my place in this building, I can see the far stretch of the forest that not only surrounds the Leviathan city but melds into it. The Leviathan have built their society within nature instead of removing it to establish their cities. I suck in a shaky breath as more tears roll down my face. My eyes shift to the locket in my hands, my family's faded picture looking back at me. This is all I have left of them. And for now, I have Margot's memory.

Everyone's left me.

I pull away from the window, going back in search of information in Remus's study. He left an hour ago after what seemed like a heated meeting between him and some other Leviathan. I know that with the celebration winding down and still no sign of his brother, his patience is beginning to wear thin. It makes me wonder how long Remus can keep calm in a situation like this. It's taken everything in me to keep my mourning behind closed doors. I can't let Remus think anything has changed about me, especially my determination.

The resistance may think that they have Remus and his brother in a hard place, but we know virtually nothing of his sister. Even though she is light-years away, she could show up anytime if the situation becomes too unfavorable for the Leviathan. And having someone similar to Remus when we just got rid of one does not sound favorable to humanity.

I move back to Remus's desk, looking at the spread-out maps. The last time I was in Remus's study, I was close to discovering what he'd been up to when Margot entered the room with the vases. I feel a pang of sadness in my chest but push it aside. I can't be distracted—not now.

The information is difficult to decipher as I am still a novice in the Leviathan language. Remus's notes on the maps are completely different from these notes. I don't even know if they're notes. They look different than the original language. I hear the sound of footsteps and push down the irritation I feel. I know it isn't Remus, as I can never hear him coming. And right on time, one of his inhibitor-induced servants greets me.

"Your presence has been requested."

It takes an hour, but I'm dressed and sent on my way without another word from them. I make my way to the room of the building that leads to the ground floor, silently wondering what Remus could want with me now. My attire isn't as fancy as usual. I've been dressed in a white knit dress that hugs my body comfortably. It keeps my body exceptionally warm as I step out onto the street.

It's empty except for the one being who stands waiting for me. Remus is dressed in a white trench coat, his hair pulled away from his face with a pendant to hold it. He smiles as I step out of the glass doors and steps close to me. He lightly places his finger against my cheek, taking in my features.

"You've been crying," he says.

I feel a bitter swell in my chest. Remus knows everything about me, from my sleep patterns to whether or not I'm crying, even though it was an hour ago .

"Have you still not made peace with her death?" he asks. I bite back a bitter retort, but when I look at him, I see no amusement in his gaze. He's genuinely curious. I immediately look away, taking in my surroundings.

"No," I murmur.

Remus doesn't respond but gently places his hand on the small of my back, guiding me in the opposite direction of his residence. I think we're going to another celebration of sorts, but we don't. We make our way deeper into the city, with the ample foliage as our backdrop. I note that the trees have begun their shift, changing the leaves in color as well. When I was a child, I loved this time of year when the air got cooler, and the trees changed from green to orange. My current surroundings are much more breathtaking as Remus leads me to our unknown destination.

I hear the sound of trickling water once we finally reach our destination. Remus steps aside, guiding me in front of him to take in the beauty that surrounds me. There are trees everywhere, gently swaying in the breeze, and a large pond sits beyond us, the abundance of fish visible from the clear water. I look around at the Leviathan that have also come to enjoy the scenery. It's another thing they share with humanity. Enjoying the beauty of nature. I look at Remus in confusion, but he doesn't say a word as we make our way to the edge of the water. It's so quiet.

Peaceful.

Even the Leviathan in attendance only offer Remus a bow before going about their lives .

"All living things have a time, Iris. Making peace with that fact is the only way to save yourself from so much suffering," Remus says.

I look at him in confusion, and his gaze is focused on the water. I don't stop the bitter chuckle that escapes me.

"I thought you enjoyed my suffering," I say, earning a smile from him.

"I enjoy your spirit, Iris. Your suffering is something you bring upon yourself."

"Why did you bring me here?" I ask, looking out over the water.

"To help you find peace."

Remus places his hand in mine, leading me to an intricately crafted bench that overlooks the landscape. He gently pulls me down with him but keeps my hand in his own.

"I do not regret my decision to test you against your friend. But I do understand your sorrows. Loss is a hard thing to come to terms with for humanity. Your life span is so fleeting and fragile; death has always been something your kind have trouble digesting." He's speaking to me like I'm a child. I hate the gentle tone he uses. I want to hate him. I don't want his comfort or his help in making peace with Margot's death. A death he provoked. But he seems to be in a giving mood, so I let my anger fuel my determination and begin my mission of taking him down.

"What do you mean ‘for humanity'? Do you not fear death? Can you not die?" I ask, looking at him. He chuckles softly, his features softening as he watches me with a curious expression.

It's unnerving .

"Of course I can, Iris. As I said, all living things have a time," he says.

"And yet our weapons do nothing to harm you or your kind," I say, hoping he'll take the bait. I have to bite back my smile. He does.

"Your weapons were made to destroy man. They were designed with everything that is of the Earth in mind. But we, my sweet pet, are not of Earth. Our life span is more biological than destructive. Our bodies are made differently than your own. And, quite honestly, with the way the Earth is going now, I don't think you'll ever figure out how to kill the Leviathan."

I think about what it is that he's saying, then I realize something.

"You're different from them... so even if we figured out a way, you can't be killed the same way as them... can you?" I ask.

Remus's smile widens. "What a perceptive little pet you are."

I want to ask him how he can be killed and what makes him different, but he may become suspicious of my interest if he isn't already.

"You're not plotting to kill me, are you, Pet?" he teases, taking in my expression.I look up, trying to calm my suddenly racing heart. He's watching me closely, studying me. His amusement drops as he takes me in. He leans in close to me, tucking my stray hair behind my ear as he speaks.

"I will tell you this, Iris. You may be able to harm me with the same weapons you can harm a regular Leviathan, but none of those weapons will be enough to kill me. So, if you are planning something, I suggest you find my weakness before you try risking your already fragile life."

By the time he finishes his sentence, I'm vibrating in anger, and his amusement is back as he takes in my state. My hand is itching to slap his smug face, but I can't.

"You—"

"Oh? Did I light a fire in my little pet? I haven't seen this much anger from you since I first plucked you from those ruins you called home," he laughs. He leans in closer to me, his lips hovering over my own, and I feel like I can hear my heartbeat in my ears.

"You know why I chose you, Iris? You have the strongest will I've ever seen, a will that shines bright among your people. You may have been a great leader in another life, but in this one, you will be mine." He presses a kiss to my lips, but it isn't gentle.

He captures me, my body involuntarily reacting to his kiss. Warmth spreads over me, settling between my legs until my mind becomes a muddle of lust and desire. After a moment, Remus finally pulls away, his eyes searching mine as he angles his head to better take in my flushed appearance. He lightly taps my nose, the smattering of blue flecks within his amethyst gaze glowing in excitement as his cold tone washes over me.

"Tread carefully, Pet. I am much more experienced at making peace than you."