8. Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight

Iris

I miss the sun. I miss the warmth that the sun granted. Remus's home is air-conditioned and cold, and the more time I spend here, the more it seems that the walls were made of glass solely to torture me. I keep my eyes focused on the greenery that spans beyond Remus's living room, my fingertips tingling in anticipation. I can always see the scenery that surrounds us but never touch it.

"Iris. Step away from the glass."

My excitement immediately fizzles out as Remus steps into the room. He never allows me near the glass. I turn to face him, and he's focused on something in his hand, not bothering to ensure I move away from the glass. He keeps his head down the entire way, taking a seat on the couch. I use the moment to return to the glass, taking in the scenery, my longing and despair growing by the second .

"Iris." Remus's voice comes out like a whip, causing me to tense from his tone. I slowly back away from the glass, making my way to where he is seated. His eyes drop back to the device in his hands, and I round his shoulder, taking in the object in confusion. Symbols and numbers dance across the screen, and I don't understand them in the slightest.

"Curiosity killed the cat," Remus murmurs. He looks up at me with those captivating irises, and I immediately look away, unable to hold his gaze. After a moment of silence, he finally speaks again.

"You have an issue with following directions." I keep my eyes down but don't miss the unmistakable sound of him rising from his seat. I close my eyes as a chill runs through me the moment he touches my cheek.

"You don't understand how lucky you are to be taken as mine instead of death or where we send able-bodied prisoners of conquered planets to live out their lives."

He runs his fingers through my hair, his grip tightening on the strands as he speaks.

"You're just a wild mongrel who lacks the ability to obey. When I say to move, does that mean to linger until you feel like it? No. You are to follow my command immediately. Why is that so difficult for you to comprehend?" he asks.

Remus takes my silence as his chance to think about a decision he's making, and I see the moment he finally makes it. He steps away from me, no longer interested in talking down to me, before calling out his command.

"Come."

Remus is taking me someplace. My eyes travel out the glass window of the machine we're in. The world flies by me so quickly that I don't have the time to take it in. I shift my gaze to Remus, and he is focused on the scenery in front of him.

Where could he be taking me now?

I use the silence to study the creature that is Remus. He's as emotionless as he always is. I can never tell what he's thinking, let alone what mood he's in. He never lets it show. If he weren't so keen on speaking his mind, I'd never know when he was "pleased."

My stomach dips as the machine we're in begins its descent out of the sky. I've only ever seen airplanes when I was young. They would fly through the air at high altitudes, blasting up the runway just to be able to take off. And yet, the Leviathan have invented a technology that allows a car-like craft to effortlessly glide through the air at low and high altitudes. It's another reminder of how advanced their society is.

"How did you make this possible?" I find myself asking the question before I can think of the consequences, my curiosity getting the best of me. I keep staring out the window as the clouds pass by before I finally look over to Remus. I don't expect him to answer or even acknowledge that I've spoken, but he does.

"We learned to travel on the energy that the stars provide. Or, in simpler terms, solar energy," he says .

His answer does nothing for my question, and he realizes it, smiling before launching into an explanation.

"We learned eons ago that to keep moving forward and conserve our planet, we had to learn how to use our resources—all of them. Your people came to a similar conclusion regarding harnessing the natural energy given to them. Whereas they built ships to travel using the wind, we built ships to travel using the energy light provides in its purest form. Where your people focused on building physical objects in mass and volume to do their bidding, we learned to manipulate matter."

My eyes widen as he speaks. Manipulate matter? I can't imagine that he's being serious, but his face gives no indication that this is a joke. He takes my silence as a lack of understanding and continues a more in-depth explanation.

"Light is nothing more than a plane. Our ships take that light and use it to travel at the speed it allows. Not on this plane of existence where you can see it physically, but the massive amount of energy it releases when harnessed properly. We are not only able to intensify the speed but bend the space surrounding our ships, taking us weeks, days, or even hours, depending on how far the destination is. It all works as one entity, advancing our way of life."

I take in what he says, my fascination for his race growing by the second. He wasn't lying when he told me about feeding off my essence. Why would he start now? The thought of his feeding sends an involuntary shiver up my spine. I hate the feeling it gives me. I hate when he does it, and I hate what it entails. Remus seems to be in a conversating mood, so I tread lightly with my next question.

"Why haven't you killed me yet?" I ask.

Now, I've caught his attention. He turns his head, his purple gaze studying me closely before responding.

"Because I do not wish for that at the moment," he says.

I shake my head, ignoring the discomfort settling in my stomach at his admission that I am only alive currently because of his personal feelings.

"No... I mean, you take a piece of my life each time you... feed. So, how much longer do I have to live?" I clarify.

The corner of Remus's mouth upturns slightly, and a breathy laugh escapes him.

"The fluid you drink daily keeps you as youthful as you were yesterday or last month, which gives me plenty of room for feeding," he says.

That must be why I feel refreshed when I drink the strange drink. I frown, looking down at my hands.

"What's in it?" I ask.

Now, he frowns.

"I think you're getting too bold with questions, Pet." I immediately close my mouth, going back to my brooding. Even though I'm set on remaining silent, my mind keeps wandering back to his race. Remus himself is terrifying, but that doesn't keep the questions from rolling around in my head about his race. They are a mystery—a complete mystery .

How did they come here? Why is Remus so different than the rest of them? How did they even discover our planet? How could we have never discovered Remus and his people if they've always been out there? But most importantly...

Why are they still here?

The way Remus talks about the Earth sheds light on his hostility toward humanity. If he's nobility, why would he stay on the "most primitive" planet he's conquered?

The questions become too much to keep in my head, so I try again.

"Why are you still here if we are conquered?" I ask.

Silence stretches over us.

"Tell me something, Iris. Do you like having your tongue?" The question is random, and I find myself stumbling over my response.

"Yes...?"

"Then, no more questions. Or you will no longer have one."

The remainder of the ride is silent, my nerves growing more shot by the second. I look up as we descend upon another section of the city, this one completely different from the part that held the ball. The building does the same as the last as we approach, opening its walls to allow Remus a landing spot inside.

Once we land, Remus turns to me, his tone completely different from earlier.

"Do not try and run, Iris. This is your only warning unless you want to give me another challenge." He eyes me with such intensity I find myself shaking my head vigorously. I can see the excitement in his eyes at the thought of another challenge. He's a sadistic being. He wants me to defy him just so that he can exercise his power over me. When he's pleased with his intimidation technique, the doors to the craft lift open, and we begin our trek into the mystery building.

The halls are dark as we make our way to our destination. I look up at Remus's looming presence before me. He's dressed in his signature white, including a shorter cape that wraps around his body. I assume these are a part of his noble regalia. Today, however, his hair is not pulled away from his face as it usually is. It's free of its restraints, flowing around him as he walks without a care in the world. The longer I study him, the more I find myself giving in to the thought that Remus is an attractive being.

But the moment the thought manifests itself, so do the lifeless eyes of my loved ones, allowing me to push the ridiculous thought from my mind.

We finally reach our destination, and instead of a wall dissolving upon approach, the double wooden doors open. The building itself is extravagant. And just like Remus's home, it is an open concept. The glass ceiling is vaulted so everyone below can see the sky they will never touch. The interior itself is foreign as each wall curves and stretches, allowing natural light to filter in. Unfortunately, the natural beauty is dampened by the presence of enslaved humans who sit behind the glass walls with hopeless expressions on their faces.

Humans who have yet to be placed within cells stand near the center of the room with alien locks around their wrists. The Leviathan in charge circles each of them individually, using rectangular tools to scan and mark each individual human before sending them off. This must be where humans are sent after having their freedom taken from them. It sickens me, the cross between a prison and a zoo, as I look around in despair.

My legs carry me backward, my mind unable to accept what I am seeing. Remus notices me before I can move too far, snatching me by the arm. His grip is tight, causing me to flinch as he pulls me close to him.

"Do not push me today, Iris."

His tone causes me to shiver, and I have to fight my instincts to remember my "place" and not anger this alien.

" Harena wa'yomi newa Aureon atano." 1

Remus releases me as a Leviathan approaches with a smile on her lips. She speaks to Remus in their native language, her tone suggesting familiarity. She's a beautiful Leviathan wearing stilettos and a tight dress that hugs her curvy frame perfectly. And like most Leviathan, she's tall with dark hair that's glossy in texture. I briefly glance into her eyes, noticing that they are black. She's another Leviathan who looks nothing like Remus or his brother.

She bows once she reaches Remus, remaining in that position until he murmurs something in their language, after which she stands up tall and proud, extremely pleased to be in his presence. They continue to speak in their language, and Remus gestures to me once before her eyes light up, and she nods her head, turning away from him. The sound of her heels echoing against the floor is enough to frighten me further.

"Pet. I can hear your heartbeat," Remus chuckles in front of me.

He turns to face me, and I hate the excitement I see in his gaze.

"Why are you frightened?" he asks.

Just as the question leaves his lips, a scream erupts in the room, pulling my gaze. It's a man, and he's pulling at the illuminated chains around his wrists.

"No! No! Please, No!"

I watch in horror as a Leviathan holds onto his chains with ease, pulling him toward another Leviathan who looks irritated with the exchange. The man is fighting for his life, but it does nothing against these monsters. They drag him to his fate, snatching him roughly around the throat to cut off the noise he makes. A sickening gurgle fills the room, and we all watch in horror as the man pathetically continues his feeble attempt to fight for his life.

My eyes shift to Remus, who is watching the drama unfold with a smirk on his lips. As if sensing my gaze, his eyes shift to mine.

"How foolish," he says before making his way to one of the doors. "Come."

I force my legs to move, keeping my eyes down even when I begin to hear more struggles behind me as more people are given their fate in this place. Tears burn my eyes. I don't understand the point of Remus bringing me here yet, but I know it has something to do with my lack of following his directions. We continue our trek across the main hall, and I hear humans begging as we pass, some going as far as reaching for us, crying for freedom .

"This is where we bring humanity from this region of your planet that isn't killed on sight. This is where it is decided what the role for your lives will be," he says. We reach the door on the far side of the room, and the woman who greeted Remus originally appears with a smile on her lips.

Instead of Remus speaking in their native tongue, he switches to English. And I immediately understand why.

"I've come to inspect the production rate of your facility. I hope nothing is out of place, Yura, for your sake," he says.

The woman, Yura, visibly pales at Remus's threat and whips away from him, gesturing for the doors to open. Remus takes the moment to turn to me, pulling a familiar object out of his pocket. A heavy weight washes over me as I take in the necklace. My necklace. He pops it open, looking at the picture.

"Such a quaint little family," he smiles.

My hand twitches as the desire to snatch it from him surges over me. He knows I won't, though. This is another test.

"I like to think of myself as a fair being. I want you to use this time to learn about what could be and what will be. I want you to comprehend where you stand on the spectrum of my society."

He glances at me, taking in my reaction with glee. He then closes the locket, tucking it away in his pocket.

"Come. There is much to see."

The tour of this place is hell. I walk closely behind Remus, keeping my head down, but I don't miss the screams—the screams of pain, torture, and begging for death. The Leviathan have created a system to sort out humans imprisoned and find a proper place for them in society. Whether it's as a slave, a servant, physical labor, or sexual pleasure, some of the rooms have been created for obedience training, while others have been created to beat the will to live out of us. It's terrifying. And it's the fate that awaited me had Remus not taken a peculiar liking to me.

Remus walks slowly in front of me, making sure to stop at each glass and make me watch the horror that unfolds. It's a stark contrast to the landscape that lies beyond the torture, providing a beautiful backdrop to hide what's happening in the interior of this facility. It's like the rest of this society, beautiful at first glance, but when you look at the lives taken to establish it, it becomes sickening. And Remus wants me to see what could easily become of me if I don't play my cards right.

When we reach the end of another hall, Remus asks Yura another question in English. He's doing it on purpose.

"How many shipments are incoming per day?" he asks.

"We currently have thirty per day, each carrying a load of fifty to one hundred humans," she answers quickly. I note that even she seems intimidated by Remus's judgment.

"Show me," Remus quips.

The woman quickly leads us through more winding halls until we finally arrive to where they receive new shipments of humans. At this point in the tour, my footsteps begin to falter. And Remus takes notice. My eyes widen as I take in the massive ship that hovers close to the bridge, the dock opening to reveal hundreds of humans that have been torn from their lives. They're bloody, dirty, and scared. There are children among them, and even some people who have reached their elder years. I watch in horror as the Leviathan corral them out of the ship, holding a rod that sends an electrical crack through the air. Some even grab them, pushing them for not moving fast enough.

Tears brim my eyes as mothers scream for their children who are ripped from their arms.

"Pet."

The sound of Remus's voice pulls me from my gaping. I tear my gaze away from the scene before me, looking at the irritation on his face. Not an ounce of remorse. Not even a shred of pity. I open my mouth, unable to form a sentence. What can I say? What can I do? I am weak myself. I force my legs to move, bowing my head in shame as I make my way behind him, ignoring the cries and screams. Even when we leave the loading bay, I can still hear the echo of their cries in my head. The sound feels like it's been burned into my skull.

I don't know how much more of this I can take, but I know Remus is set on making me appreciate my position when it comes to belonging to him. Remus finally stops, his attention completely drawn to the scene unfolding in the next room.

"What's this?" he asks.

I feel a sinking in my stomach as I take in the display beyond the glass that Remus is so fond of at this moment. There's a group of slaves all standing in a circle. A Leviathan stands above them, speaking, and I see the fear in all of their eyes as they stare at the ground.

"This is group," Yura chuckles as she stands beside Remus .

"Come, Pet. Take a look," Remus says in amusement.

I will my feet to move, standing in front of the glass. The Leviathan in the room points to a man and a woman, pulling them out of the circle. Their faces visibly pale after the command is relayed to them, and when they don't immediately obey, the Leviathan activates the chips installed at the back of their necks. They collapse, their bodies convulsing in pain in front of us with technology we know nothing about.

This isn't training. It's instilling fear. Pure, unfiltered fear.

I release an audible gasp as the Leviathan in the room snatches the man by his hair, tossing him to his knees, and begins pressing the sharp edge of her heel into his back. I watch in horror as she continues to press, breaking the skin and digging her heel into his flesh with ease. I turn my gaze away, squeezing my eyes shut. I can't watch. This isn't training. It's abuse. No one moves to help him. No one would dare be on the receiving end of the Leviathan wrath.

Remus finally notices my terror and speaks to Yura in his native tongue. The glass suddenly shifts, becoming clouded where we can no longer observe the atrocities happening beyond. Yura bows before leaving the room, and Remus slowly begins to follow.

"Come, Pet."

I make a move to follow Remus, my eyes catching a familiar human as we pass by another group behind the glass. I recognize her instantly. Her brown hair is pulled into a low bun, and her gray eyes are filled with terror deeper than the one I saw in the blight.

It's Margot .

My feet move of their own accord, desperation fueling my foolish act. I forcefully hit my hands against the glass, ignoring the pain vibrating over my palms as I call to her.

"Margot!" I scream her name, hoping she can hear me.

I repeatedly beat against the glass with my fists, tears streaming down my face as I take her in. She looks awful, her body littered with bruises. All the rage and will I had stuffed deep down comes crashing back to the surface, and I immediately switch to using my elbow to try and break the glass separating me from the person I thought was dead.

"Margot! Margo—"

I'm cut off as my body is ripped away from the glass. I feel the rough pull of my clothing as Remus seizes me, but I don't care. I don't care about any of the pain he is willing to threaten me with. I claw at his hands, kicking and screaming, never taking my eyes off Margot. My brain moves quickly, and I straighten my arms, slipping out of the shirt that I have on, freeing myself from Remus's grip.

I watch in horror as her head slowly turns, and I know the moment she sees me. Her eyes fill with tears, and she's moving toward the glass with as much intensity as I have on the other end. Her mouth is open, and I can read my name coming from her lips. A smile forms on my lips the closer she gets to me. Her fingers are outstretched toward me, inches from meeting mine against the glass.

"Margo—Ah! "

My body is wrenched away from the glass just as pain flashes across her eyes, her body tensing as her chip is activated. I watch in horror as she collapses, writhing on the floor in pain.

"No!" I scream.

Those are the last words of my own free will as I feel something press against my temple. My body tenses, a heavy weight washing over me as my words are silenced. The tight grip Remus had on me is loosened, and against my own volition, I stand silently in front of him, keeping my gaze on his chest. It takes a moment, but I finally realize that he's put an inhibitor on me. I want to scream and fight, but I can't. I feel Remus's fingers underneath my chin as he lifts my gaze to meet his. My heart beats faster at the sight that greets me.

He doesn't speak. He only searches my face and looks back beyond the glass where Margot screams as she is beaten. A light scoff leaves his lips before he stands tall, handing me the shirt I pulled off.

"Very good, Iris. Show me every weakness you have so that I may exploit it." Remus stands to walk away from me toward the exit of the hall. He doesn't have to command me verbally. My body knows what he wants me to do. I immediately put the shirt on and he doesn't wait for me to finish, making his way to the door that remains open. I wait for the usual verbal command, but I get none. Against my will, my legs are moving to follow my master away from Margot.

Once we reach the end of the tour, the Leviathan, Yura, takes Remus into her office. The window in her office overlooks the entire facility. Two women and two men stand silently in her office, holding trays without inhibitors placed on their skin. Remus makes his way to one of the women, eyeing her closely. He reaches toward her, brushing her cheek softly. She doesn't move. The training they do here works like a charm.

"You truly are the best, Yura," he says.

Yura takes a seat behind her desk, gesturing for one of her slaves, who silently makes their way toward her, pouring her and Remus a drink.

"You are too kind, Aureon 2 . "

I notice that Remus doesn't touch the drink that's been poured for him. He doesn't even acknowledge it. He seems more interested in the slaves she's trained.

"How do you do it?" he asks, moving to take a seat.

"It takes a lot of training. Humans may be weak, but they are a willful group of individuals whose place in society over the years has given them a sense of entitlement. Though I do find most to be receptive to physical pain more than mental torture," she smiles, taking a sip of her drink.

Her eyes drift to me.

"Would you like me to take this one off your hands?" she asks.

Remus chuckles.

"Not exactly. But I think this was a very eye-opening experience for both of us. Right, Pet?" he chuckles, looking at me.

Words of hate and disgust burn at the tip of my tongue, but they won't come out. Not even a mutter leaves my lips. Remus laughs softly before turning back to face Yura. He switches back to their native tongue, and I immediately notice her eyes drift from Remus to me and back to Remus. She slowly stands, nodding her head before leaving the room.

Whatever Remus spoke to her about, she wasn't all too pleased.

"Leave us," Remus calls to everyone in the room. I feel my heart beating faster at the thought of being alone with him, but as per the hierarchy, everyone follows his command. Once the door closes, Remus reveals the lesson he was intent on giving today.

"Yura is known far and wide for her role in our empire. She collects imperative information on the surrounding species and discovers the best ways to condition them. This could be your life, Iris. Think very carefully. Is this what you want? Do you want to end up like the woman you were screaming for?" he asks.

In the silence, I realize I am trembling. His clear threat hangs in the air. This will be my life if I don't fall into line quickly. Remus places his hand under my chin, lifting my gaze to meet his. A soft smile plays on his lips as he removes the inhibitor from my temple.

"Answer me," he says mockingly.

But I can't. This entire day has left me in a pitiful state. I never thought fear would grip me like this, but it has, forcing tears down my cheeks in response. I shift my attention behind Remus to the door, trying to find the strength to go after Margot and fight for her freedom. But nothing materializes within me, and Remus notices.

"Your display today is more than enough reason to leave you in the care of Yura. But I won't do that, not yet anyway. I think I may have been a little premature in expecting obedience from you so soon," he says.

A light knock sounds at the door, and Remus keeps his eyes focused on me for a second longer before responding in his native tongue. The door to the room opens, and my eyes widen. Yura looks between me and Remus, and a smile appears on her lips. I suddenly know exactly what the conversation they had before she left the room was about, and Remus's cryptic words earlier.

"Show me every weakness you have so that I may exploit it."

Margot steps into the room, her eyes dull and lifeless from the inhibitor at her temple. I can't move as the trembling shifts into violent tremors. More tears spill down my cheeks as I take her in. I can't even bring myself to say her name. Not when I know she cannot respond to me.

Remus watches my suffering intently, enjoying every second of it when he finally decides to speak.

"Would you like to rename this one as well, Pet?"

1. Translated: "It's an honor to have our great leader attend my facility."

2. Leviathan equivalent to leader, ruler, god