25. Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Five

Iris

The Leviathan village has thinned out in a matter of hours as its inhabitants have begun to gather in different buildings to enjoy each other's company socially or retire for the night. My gaze shifts to the top of the hill where the fawn-colored home sits. According to Remus, that is where Iriel resides and where I am to deliver this package. Remus's words taunt me just like everything else he does as I make my way through the village.

"Good luck."

Remus never does anything without purpose. And he never sends me to do work that he could have easily sent Jude to do. He has a specific reason for using me to accomplish this, and my stomach knots as I think of what that reason could be. I silently look around at the remaining Leviathan, searching for Remus's disguise, but he's nowhere to be found .

Chills form across my skin as I think of Remus as an entity. There's little to nothing known about him. If anything, the more he reveals about himself, the more I realize just how in the dark I am. We're further away from knowing the truth about him than when I was relaying information to Jude. Remus can manipulate matter and change his form like it's nothing. It's beyond my imagination just how powerful he is and why he hasn't just used his power to wipe out humankind. I'm sure there's much more to him than the useless bits of information I've discovered. At this rate, I don't want to find out exactly how much power he has. I think back to my earlier days in his custody. I tried to attack him with a knife. The sharp blade wouldn't even scratch the top layer of his skin.

"Nothing on this planet is strong enough to bring me down."

Now I realize just how blatantly true those words are. We may be fighting a losing battle.

I continue my trek through the village, passing by humans and Leviathan, who don't seem bothered by my presence. I recall Jude saying some humans pose as slaves to infiltrate their society, and I find myself wondering how many of these humans are posing as slaves. It could be the reason Remus is here in disguise in the first place. And if that's the case, I feel my heart sinking for the humans who have found comfort in this village they believe is far from the leader of the Leviathans.

Remus being here can only mean one thing.

He knows .

The walk to Iriel's takes a while, but it gives me time to enjoy the fresh air and temporary freedom I've been granted. Even if it is for Remus's amusement. As I walk up the stone road to Iriel's residence, I note that many humans are leaving his residence. My eyes shift to the nearest human. He's wearing an inhibitor and has a blank expression on his face. He doesn't bother to look in my direction as he makes his way down the mountainside.

I suck in a deep breath, making my way to the large double door that allows entrance to Iriel's residence. I make sure to check my surroundings once again for Remus, but he is nowhere to be found. Once I reach the doors, they're pulled open as a slave with an inhibitor silently waits for my approach.

I step into Iriel's dwelling, my grip tightening around the box in my hands as I enter. The slave doesn't speak as his eyes focus on me, taking in my appearance.

"What is your purpose here?" he asks. I silently hold up the package in my hands.

"I was sent to deliver this to your master," I say softly.

In my time under Remus's roof, I've spent more hours than I like to admit around slaves with inhibitors. And somehow, I can tell something about this slave is different. He doesn't take the package from me immediately. He appears to be thinking—something that humans with full inhibitors don't do. His gaze shifts to my temple, where there isn't an inhibitor, and I suddenly realize the low dilation of his pupil.

My mind is instantly on high alert. Remus must know. He has to know. He's been observing this village for over a week now and doesn't seem the least bit paranoid. I almost open my mouth to warn this human before me but decide against it. I can't be one hundred percent sure he isn't being controlled by an inhibitor, and Remus sent me to deliver this package specifically.

If I'm wrong and I try to go against Remus again only after just getting my freedom back, there will be heavy consequences to pay. And Jude is still by Remus's side. I can't risk his life. I know there's only so far I can push him. And my tryst with Jude burned the last bit of patience Remus held with my disobedience. I need to tread carefully from here on out.

"Julius, what's the holdup?" A new voice enters the room coming from behind the human named Julius. His body tenses, and he silently steps aside to reveal me.

"A slave has come to deliver a package to Iriel," he says. The voice scoffs lightly before making its way to us.

"Just take it from her an—"

"She isn't wearing an inhibitor," Julius interrupts.

Silence washes over the room as both humans in front of me take in my appearance and my lack of an inhibitor. They both seem to be at a loss for what to do. Julius moves before I can react, his forearm pressing against my throat as he pushes me into the wall, holding a blade to my throat.

"Shall I dispose of her?" he asks, eyeing me with malice. I cry out in pain as panic washes over me. All I can think of is Remus charging in at any moment to destroy this place and any other humans hiding in it.

Why are there humans hiding in Iriel's home?

The new voice doesn't speak, but I hear his footsteps approaching us quickly. He steps around Julius, eyeing me as Julius's grip tightens.

"All slaves without inhibitors know not to come here tonight. Are you another human spy? Betraying the human race for your own freedom?" he growls. My eyes shift to his, my eyes widening as I take him in. His hair is dark like mine and pushed out of his face, giving me the perfect view of his vividly green eyes. He looks vaguely familiar to me, almost like my father in a sense.

I flinch in pain as Julius presses harder, pushing my locket into my collarbone.

"Let her go," the man says softly. Julius reluctantly drops me, stepping back and immediately aiming a weapon at my face.

"Answer quickly, or the inside of your head will decorate the wall," he growls. I rub my throat in pain, trying to catch my breath before speaking. I don't know how to respond. Am I a spy? Remus only wanted me to deliver this package to Iriel. He never said to look for anything or report anyone. But if he's aware of this development and I kept it from him, I know there will be hell to pay. I'm petrified. I shakily reach for the box, pushing it in front of me .

"I was only sent to deliver this," I whisper. I hear the deafening click of the loaded weapon and tense as I wait for my inevitable death.

"Wait."

The man immediately pushes aside the weapon, kneeling to my height. His hands shakily reach for the locket that dangles around my neck. He gently holds it and I immediately notice his hands are shaking. He knowingly places his thumb on the side, and it pops open to reveal the family picture I've carried with me since their deaths. Except, the boy in the picture is now a man. And he's kneeling in front of me with tears in his eyes as he looks at the image.

"... Iris?" His voice is hopeful as he looks at me, searching my face for our parents' features. He looks baffled to see me, and I am just as shocked to see him.

"How?" he whispers. "I thought... I thought you were dead..."

I can't find any words as I take him in. The last time I saw him was when he and my father had their final fight. A fight that resulted in him leaving and never coming back or even calling for years. A fight that my parents were arguing about on the day of their deaths.

Cypress slowly drops the locket, his arms wrapping around me.

My mind is racing as my thoughts collide with one another. Everything is slowly falling into place. Why Remus always asked about my brother's fate and my certainty of his death. Why he sent me here on this fake errand and why he even observed this town for a week. I finally find the words to say to my brother after years of thinking he was dead.

"You're all in danger."

Before he can respond, a loud explosion sounds in the distance. I feel Cypress tense over me, followed by Julius's voice.

"Dammit! We're late. Cypress, it's time," Julius says .

"You go. I'll catch up," Cypress says over me. Neither of them seems concerned about the explosion, which can only mean one thing.

"Cypress. We need our commanding officer—"

"I said, I'll catch up."

Julius looks irritated but presses an oval object to his chest. I watch in shock as his body is covered in armor—armor that I recognize as similar to what the Leviathan wear. Julius looks down at us before making his way to the door.

"You better," he calls.

Just as Julius exits, another explosion occurs, this time quaking the ground beneath us. I look around in a panic, but Cypress seems to be in control. His eyes are looking toward the door.

"What's going on?" I ask in a panic. Cypress stands from his place, helping me to my feet as he places the same object Julius had on the center of his chest. He slowly becomes encased in armor before answering me.

"We're taking another one of their towns."

He makes his way to a pad on the wall, typing in a code. The door slides open to reveal more armor, and he immediately reaches for one, placing it on me—the armor forms, building itself upon my body before Cypress pulls me along with him.

"I can't guarantee your safety out there. Iriel's home is known as a safe place among the resistance. They won't touch it or you. I will come back for you once this is all over."

Cypress moves to enter the battle, and I latch onto his arm with all my might .

"No! You can't go," I shout.

"Iris—"

"You don't understand. You will die if you go, Cypress. Remus is here. He knows! He knows everything. This is a trap for all of you." I rush out. Cypress eyes me in confusion but faces me, so I know I have his attention.

"What are you talking about?" he asks. I think back to what Cypress said about this being a safe house. Remus knew. He knew Iriel was the traitor. He knew my brother was here. He knew I'd be safe here and keep my brother distracted from battle.

My grip on his arm tightens, and I immediately begin pulling him toward the door.

"We have to get out of here. We have to run, Cypress. This isn't a battle. It's going to be a massacre," I say.

"I'm not going to run just because the Leviathan ruler joined the fight," he says. I glare at him in disbelief. Do none of them know how dangerous Remus is?

"You should," I say. Cypress narrows his gaze at me, attempting to pull his arm out of my grip. I can't let him go. If I let him walk out that door, I can't guarantee his safety. Cypress rips his arm from my grip, his gaze growing more impatient.

"You do know why he's here, right? He's here because we are finally giving him a run for his money. We had no problem handling his brother. Now that the playing field is level, we will have no problem taking him down as well," he growls out.

My eyes widen at his revelation and pure panic washes over me .

"Cypress—"

"I know this is terrifying, but I have played an important role in the resistance since the Leviathan arrived. I won't sit this battle out because of your fears. I promise I'll be okay. I've been fighting them for years." He turns his back to me, making his way out of the house.

"You don't understand!" I scream, but he's already out of the door, yelling back at me.

"Stay here!"

I don't, though. I follow him. I follow him down the hill and into the town, where the "battle" ensues. All the beauty I saw earlier has been destroyed and turned to ruin. I look around me in horror at the bloodshed. There are Leviathan dead.

Leviathan.

The rebels seem to have the upper hand, but if what Remus said about their society is true, that they are ranked among strength and value, these Leviathan never stood a chance against the rebels. They weren't trained for it at all. And that's why Iriel was stationed here, to protect them. But he betrayed them. And Remus hates betrayal.

More Leviathan are running with their children as more explosions go off, disintegrating their target. These are not weapons designed by humans. A Leviathan must be helping the rebels.

I scream, stumbling as a building explodes near me, the rubble falling between me and Cypress.

"Cypress!" I shout as I stumble back. The stone comes down fast, and I know there's no way I can dodge it in time. It's going to crush me. I suddenly feel a familiar tug on my body as I'm ripped out of the way by an invisible force. I cry out in pain as my body collides with the ground, and I look up at my savior. My heart stutters to a standstill as I take in Remus in his disguised form. His hair is still dark, and his eyes are still blue as he takes me in. He slowly kneels to my height, reaching for me when I hear my brother's voice.

"Get away from her!"

Remus grins slightly, his eyes shifting above me to take in my brother. He doesn't speak as he takes a small step back. I turn to see Cypress making his way toward us with his weapon still aimed at Remus. He holds his hand out for me.

"Iris, move away from him," Cypress calls.

Out of reaction, I look at Remus. His eyes meet mine as he steps further away.

"Do as he says," he murmurs. I don't understand his plans or what is about to happen. My heart thunders in my chest, making it difficult to breathe as I slowly move toward Cypress, keeping my eyes on Remus as I do. Once I am close enough, Cypress pushes me behind him, his weapon remaining locked on Remus.

"Cypress, don't," I whisper. My voice is trembling, and he notices.

"He'll kill you," I add. I keep my eyes trained on Remus, who isn't amused in the least. He has a look of irritation on his face as he speaks. And God help anyone who Remus finds irritating.

"Where has Iriel skulked off to?" Remus asks. His tone itself is cold and commanding. There's no room for mercy in his current state. I notice Cypress's grip on his weapon tighten as Remus mentions the name.

"Give me his location, and I won't kill your rebels. I'll allow you servitude," Remus smiles. Cypress steps closer.

"You sick son of a bitch!" he snaps. I grab his arm, pulling him back.

"Cypress, don't! It won't do anything!" I shout.

Remus chuckles, stepping closer. "You should listen to her."

Cypress holds his wrist to his mouth, murmuring into the mic.

"I need backup," he says.

Remus steps closer, catching Cypress's attention.

"Stop right there, or I'll fucking shoot!" he shouts. Remus stops, his smile disappearing. I know instantly things are about to go south. He doesn't like to repeat himself. I step around Cypress out of reaction, my gaze meeting Remus's.

"Please," I murmur. I know he hears me. But Cypress still doesn't understand the situation. He pulls on my arm, trying to move me.

"Iris, get out of here. What are you doing?" he shouts.

I stand my ground, keeping my gaze focused on Remus.

"Protecting you," I whisper.

I hear the sound of more rebels rounding the corner, weapons raised, and I know there's nothing I can do to de-escalate the situation.

"Shoot! Shoot! Shoot!"

I turn to face the rebels, trying to save them somehow .

"No!" I scream, but it's too late. The Leviathan made weapons fire, and I feel heavy panic as the beams make their way toward Remus. They never reach, however. The beams dissipate, never reaching him. And he doesn't lift a finger to deflect them. His hair slowly shifts, the black turning to white just as the blue in his eyes shifts to that vibrant purple. The air around him ripples and changes as he does, pulsating with his power.

He smiles as he takes in the rebels' looks of horror, revealing those sharp canines. I hear a mutter of curses among the rebels as the Leviathan leader reveals himself to them.

"Keep firing!" Someone shouts. But it's no use. All weapons fire, none reaching him as he deflects or absorbs them.

Remus has yet to move an inch. His gaze is focused on the humans before him, the excitement of the situation visible by the pulse of color within his vivid gaze. His hair levitates around him as a massive wave of energy surrounds his form. It's visible from the slow rise of dirt and the quaking earth beneath him. Masses of rock break off from the ground as he defies Earth's gravity, bending it to his will. His gaze roams over each of us, and I shiver from the lack of emotion on his face.

He's unearthly in his terror.

Remus takes one step, and the ground itself shudders and rips apart from the pure power that is Remus. His eyes meet mine briefly.

"Rem—Ah!" My body is forced in the opposite direction of where the rebels stand. I vaguely hear my brother's voice screaming my name as we are ripped apart, just as the cries of agony fill the air and Remus unleashes hell around him.