Remnya

Lightning broke through the night sky as violent winds stripped the trees from their leaves. Remnya was leaning on the balcony of her window, a flame flickering in her hand, unyielding. A burst of rain whipped her cheeks, evaporating against her skin. Her body was dry; no raindrop could penetrate the crimson aura surrounding her.

Thunder rumbled in the distance, shaking the ground under her feet.

The crystal windows from her room opened behind her, and Brisa walked outside, carrying an umbrella. She squinted as a gust of wind splashed her face. “Why don’t you come inside?” Brisa asked. “You’ve been there for hours.”

Remnya said nothing. Her mind was stranded far away.

“I asked Ronner what you told me.” Brisa stood next to her, covering both of them with her umbrella. “He agreed to it. Magenta will be buried next to Marcus.”

“Thank you,” Remnya replied, her voice empty.

“You did everything you could,” Brisa assured, combing Remnya’s messy hair with her fingertips and then rubbing her back. Remnya’s body was glowing crimson, but it would never harm Brisa. “You were there for her until the end.”

“Yeah.” Remnya closed her eyes and allowed the cold raindrops to land on her skin, washing away the sorrow. “When will the wedding be now?”

“I don’t know. Ronner needs to get rid of some people first. Her sudden death raised a lot of questions among the citizens.” Brisa let out a deep sigh. “I wish the world could see who he really is.”

“They will.” Remnya’s gaze landed on Brisa. “I’ll make sure of it.”

“Rem, you need to think about this carefully.”

“I did.” Her voice was sharp like a knife.

Brisa gulped. “What if your plan fails?”

“It won’t.” Remnya’s eyes returned to the sky as her body glowed crimson again. Her drenched clothes waved as the water evaporated.

Brisa lowered her gaze and nodded. “So, what do I need to do?” she asked, tightening the grip around her umbrella.

“Nothing.” The fire in Remnya’s hand crackled, spitting sparks. “When the day comes, I’ll take care of them.” She glanced at her bedroom. Two loaded weapons hid under her bed. “I’ll take Skado down with a surprise attack. Viper won’t be here that night, so I’ll take my chances.”

“What if that fails?”

“I still have my fire to fight.”

“What about Zeo?” Brisa bit her lower lip.

“I’ll talk to Zeo. He will have to hide and come for you once Skado is out of the game. Meanwhile, I’ll lure Ronner away from the mansion.”

“No way Zeo would allow you to do such a thing!” Brisa raised her voice, furrowing her eyebrows.

“He will!” Remnya glared at her, her eyes landing on Brisa like a punch. “I’ll force him to leave if necessary!” She slammed her fist against the railing of her balcony, cracking the marble. “Even if I have to knock him out and drag him out of here myself!”

Brisa widened her eyes, disbelief spreading across her face.

“None of them expect the little Nephilim to stand up for herself and fight. They’ve always used fear to control everyone.” Remnya’s pupils dilated and spat fire. “But I’m not afraid of them anymore!”

“Remnya, please!” Brisa pleaded, wrapping her fingers around her clenched fist. “Don’t do this. You’re not thinking straight. They’ll hurt you!”

“I don’t care!” Remnya yelled, shaking her hand off her. “They have to pay for everything!” Her hair bristled as crimson flames burst from her body, missing Brisa’s face by inches and quickly fading into sparks and smoke.

Brisa flinched, stepping backward as the heat kissed her skin. Remnya’s eyes glowed in the darkness as fury boiled in her veins.

Another thunder rumbled through the sky.

“Remnya, please, you’re not like this . . . “ Brisa tried to continue, but her whole body became paralyzed. She let out a sudden groan of pain and arched her back. She staggered toward the wall, dropping her umbrella.

Remnya rushed to her side before she fell to the floor. “What’s wrong?” she asked, holding Brisa tightly between her arms.

“Nothing . . . “ Her voice was weak, half-muffled by the sound of rain.

“Nothing?” Remnya narrowed her eyes and helped Brisa to walk back inside. She eased Brisa onto her bed and rushed to close the windows.

Everything fell silent and still.

Brisa trembled and breathed heavily. “I’m just dizzy,” she murmured.

Remnya scowled, reading the lie through her pale face. “Should I call the doctors?”

“No, I-Ah!” Brisa let out a short scream, and her eyes opened wide. She sprang from the bed and darted toward the bathroom. Remnya gasped and followed her.

Brisa leaned against the sink and began throwing up again.

“You need a doctor!” Remnya shouted, her voice escalating with fear.

“No,” she mumbled and let out a grunt. “I’m fine . . . “

Remnya’s heart kicked hard against her ribs. Fearing the worst, she grabbed her phone and dialed the doctor’s number.

Brisa snatched her hand. “Please, don’t,” Brisa pleaded, staring at her through the mirror.

“Please, tell me what’s going on.” Remnya rubbed her tense back and brushed strands of hair out of Brisa’s face. “This is the third time in the day . . . “

“I don’t know,” Brisa murmured, refusing to look into her eyes.

“I believe you know.” Remnya searched for her gaze, unsuccessfully, and then leaned her hand on her belly. “Could it be . . . “

“Remnya, please . . . “ Brisa’s voice cracked, gripping Remnya’s wrist. Tears welled up in her eyes. “It can’t be that.“

Remnya wrapped her arms around her, pulling her against her chest, allowing her to cry all her pain out. “It’s ok, my dear sister.”

“I can’t be! I can’t!” Sobs muffled her voice as she shook between her arms. Hot tears drenched Remnya’s shirt.

“You took the test, didn’t you?”

“Yes . . . “ Brisa sniffled.

“So, are you?”

A long silence.

“Yes.” Her voice shattered. Brisa tightened her grasp around Remnya and muffled her wails against her chest.

Remnya was out of words. All her plans had suddenly turned upside down.

“Why don’t you tell him?” Remnya whispered in her ear.

“No!” Brisa shouted, terror in her voice. “If he knows, he might do something awful!”

“No,” Remnya assured confidently. “Even if he’s a monster, I know he won’t hurt you.” She couldn’t believe her own words. Perhaps it was the fact that they both shared Nephilim’s blood, but deep inside, she knew Ronner’s twisted feelings for Brisa were real, even if no sane person would ever understand them.

“Still!” Brisa let out a whimper. “He can’t know!”

Remnya rubbed her shoulders and then caressed her face, wiping her tears. “Ronner’s awful, yes, but he seems to care about you. Despite the odds, he’s kept his promise so far. I believe that if he knows you’re carrying his baby, he won’t dare to hurt you.”

“How can I carry the baby of a monster, Remnya? Tell me!” Brisa’s glistening eyes pierced Remnya’s soul; they screamed for help.

Remnya had no answer. She lowered her head and clenched her fists while opposite feelings wrestled in her mind. Even if the father was a monster, her baby was innocent. However, Brisa shouldn’t be forced to have him. She had gone through too much already.

Remnya let out a silent, resigned sigh. “Whatever you decide to do, I’ll support you, ok?” She caressed her moist cheeks and tried to gift her a smile of hope. “I made you a promise, and nothing in the world will change that.”

Brisa dried her tears with a handkerchief, her eyes and nose red like blood. “Thank you . . . “ she murmured.

Remnya bobbed her head. “Come, you need to rest.” Remnya accompanied Brisa back to the room. She eased her onto her bed and removed her shoes. She rushed to turn off the lights, leaving only the bathroom LEDs on.

She sat next to her sister and held her cold hand tightly.

“I’m sorry . . . “ Brisa whispered, covering her face with a pillow.

“For what?” Remnya asked, leaning closer.

“For worrying you . . . You already have too many things to worry about. I’m sorry for adding another problem.”

“Please, don’t say that!” Remnya shook her head, squeezing her hand. “None of this is your fault!”

Brisa’s lips quivered. She tried to say something, but words didn’t dare to come out. She just nodded.

The rain hit violently against the windows while blue flashes lit the sky. Yet, a loud silence filled the room. The soundproof crystal didn’t allow the tempest unfolding outside to reach their ears.

Finally, Brisa fell asleep. Remnya sat still in the shadows, playing with a diminutive flame that wandered above her palms, wrists, and forearms back and forth.

A familiar perfume of roses floating in the air reminded Remnya of The Lady. Her words resonated in her head. She had to protect them, no matter what. Now, one more life was in her hands.

She could not fail.

A knock at the door drove Remnya’s attention away. She covered Brisa with her blanket and rushed to answer the door.

Belo stood there, his bulky figure looming over her. He tried to smile but failed.

Remnya scowled. “What do you want?”

“Mr. Ronner requests your presence in the great hall, young lady,” he said, clasping his hands.

Remnya scanned him from head to toe and twisted her lips. What could that jerk want from her so late at night? She had already done her daily blood test.

“I’m busy right now. Tell him to stop bugging me!” Remnya tried to slam the door in his face, but Belo stopped it with the tip of his boot.

“Please, young lady,” Belo almost begged, bowing to her. “He’s not in a good mood. He might do something reckless if you refuse to do as he says.”

Remnya rolled her eyes. She knew Ronner would beat Belo if she didn’t go with him. Remnya had nothing against him. He was just following orders, plus he had never hurt Brisa or Zeo. In fact, he was the one who carried Zeo to the infirmary that night.

Remnya sighed and nodded. She stared at Brisa for a moment, making sure she rested well, and then closed the door behind her. They strode through the corridors. Belo looked oddly nervous; she could swear he was shaking. Why?

Remnya broke into the great hall and glared at every corner. “Ok, what the heck do you want from me now?” she yelled, but Ronner was nowhere to be found. “So?”

A cold piece of metal buried into her neck. Burning pain filled her veins as something was injected into her system. Remnya whirled and tried to react, but the strength had escaped her body.

The hall spun around her. She felt dizzy and closed her eyes, staggering before falling onto her side. Belo caught her in time just before her head touched the floor. He picked her up and glanced at his boss with disdain.

“Well, that was easy,” Skado said, smirking as he threw a large steel syringe over a luxurious glass desk, cracking the crystal in half. “Time to do this. Let’s go!”

*°*°*

The moist grass sprinkled as the first sunbeams disintegrated the last layer of clouds in the sky. The scent of dampness lingered throughout the garden, along with orange butterflies rejoicing in the humidity from last night’s rain.

A bead of sweat dripped from Zeo’s forehead as he finished his last push-up. His arms and chest burned, but a smile drew across his face after breaking his own record. Zeo had never thought he could train so much without fainting; his body didn’t seem his own anymore.

Before his working day started, Zeo headed outside to jog around the Servants’ House. The old lady Hena shook her head as he ran past her. She had advised him to get those crazy ideas out of his head. Hena knew better; she had served in the mansion for fifty years and had witnessed the lowest miseries of life.

Zeo bowed to her respectfully and thanked her for the wise advice. However, he was not wise himself, and his heart belonged to the girl with the crimson eyes.

He ran ten laps around the house.

“Very impressive, buddy.”

Zeo halted to scan his surroundings until he spotted Ronner strolling in his direction. Zeo took a deep breath, fixing his eyes on the monster.

“I’m impressed with your progress.” Ronner smirked, closing the distance between them.

“Thank you, sir,” Zeo mumbled through clenched teeth.

“Sagan said your regenerative skills had matured, and every flaw in your body was corrected.” Ronner scanned Zeo from head to toe, paying close attention to the growing muscles in his arms.

Zeo swallowed the hatred obstructing his chest.

“But I didn’t come here to talk about that, right?” Ronner placed his hand on Zeo’s shoulder and leaned closer, his gelid eyes seeing through his soul.

A sharp silence cut the air.

Ronner’s smirk faded, and his expression turned into stone. “I want you to tell me where Maria is.”

Zeo lowered his gaze, gluing his eyes on the ground.

“You know I could use Remnya to force you to speak, right?”

“Please,” Zeo mumbled, his heart racing in his chest. “Remnya has nothing to do with this. Whatever you want to do, do it to me.”

“I was considering the possibility of,” a twisted smile deformed Ronner’s face, “using your girlfriend’s body to test the weapons we’ve been developing.”

A monster crawled through Zeo’s chest, burning his insides as it possessed his body with ardent fury. His hands moved on their own and snatched Ronner’s collar, pulling him against his face.

Zeo glared at him and let out a muffled roar. “Do not dare.”

Ronner’s smile grew wider. “Marvelous. Those are the eyes of an Anglish.”

In a powerful thrust, Ronner buried his fist into Zeo’s stomach.

Zeo let out an airless groan and dropped to his knees, coughing as intense pain traveled throughout his body.

“You should be more grateful, Zeo. I allowed your girlfriend to have a great life. I gave her everything. I protected her. Can you imagine what Persen or Skado would’ve done to her if I wasn’t around?” Ronner shook his head and sighed.

Zeo glared at him, his knuckles turning white as he dug his nails into his skin. Staggering, he stood up, his eyes tearing apart Ronner’s body. “You’re not better than them,” Zeo spat.

Ronner chuckled and shoved his face in front of his. He grabbed Zeo by the hair and yanked him against his forehead. “Am I not?”

Ronner smashed Zeo’s head against the ground. “Stupid!” he roared. “I’m giving you all damned creatures a chance in life. I saved you from that disgusting orphanage and provided you with the best life you could ever imagine.”

He squatted next to Zeo and brushed his hair tenderly. “And how do you return my kindness?” Ronner whispered in his ear. “You backstab me by allowing that Maria bitch to escape, trying to take what’s mine.”

Zeo glanced over his shoulder at him and shouted with all his strength, “Do whatever you want to me, but leave Remnya alone!”

“Tell me where Maria is.” Ronner stood up, stretching his hand at Zeo, a soft smile drawing across his face. “If you tell me, I promise you no harm will fall on Remnya. You have my word.”

“I can’t . . . “ Zeo’s arms trembled as he tried to get up, ignoring Ronner’s hand, fury burning his insides.

A powerful kick met Zeo’s sides, almost shattering his ribs.

He rolled on the concrete and contorted his body, gritting his teeth before the agonizing pain escaped his mouth.

“Pathetic creature, you have yet to know what true hell is,” Ronner sneered as his eyes turned red with anger. “But, it’ll be my pleasure to show you, little Anglish.”

Before Zeo could process his words, a glowing fist crashed against his temple, shaking his whole world.

Everything faded to black.

The taste of blood and the murmurs in the distance brought Zeo back to his senses.

A punch landed on his jaw, causing his neck to twist sideways. He could barely breathe, his cracked nose obstructed his nostrils, but he could perceive the reek of dampness and decay. Blinding lights surrounded him, causing his pupils to burn.

As his eyes adapted to the brightness, Zeo realized he was sitting in the middle of an immense room. Dried blood splatters stained dark gray walls, and bones were scattered across a black-tiled floor. Deep into a corner, a fresh corpse lay half-buried by dust and debris; he still wore his butler suit. Was he Christian?

Zeo swallowed the knot in his throat and lifted his gaze to face his nightmare.

Two macabre figures loomed over him.

“Did you sleep well?” Ronner asked.

Zeo tried to stand up, but his body didn’t respond. He was bound to a metal chair, his arms and legs restrained by titanium locks.

“We meet again, Anglish.”

Zeo’s blood froze when he recognized the horrible voice of Skado. His eyes opened wide, witnessing the crooked smile of his executioner.

“So,” Ronner started, leaning closer, whereas his nose touched his. “Where is Maria?”

Zeo stared deep into his gelid eyes and spoke, “I don’t know.”

“Ok.” Ronner nodded and smiled. “In that case . . . “ Ronner stepped aside, revealing the most horrifying sight Zeo had witnessed in his life.

An unconscious Remnya hung from a steel platform, held by devices attached to her neck, arms, and legs. A familiar collar wrapped around her neck; it looked like the one she used to wear in the orphanage, but thicker, with wires connected to a computer screen.

“I’ll ask for the last time . . . Where is Maria?”

*°*°*