"This new ape Helios was it? You said he freaked you out...how exactly?" The man asked becoming a little interested.
Iris ran a hand through her hair as scoffed "Well for one he acted like a religious nut job...I don't really how to discribe it you would have to meet him to understand what I mean...the vibe coming off him wasn't normal..." She said emotionless.
Her eyes then frowned hard as her hand onn her leg clenched tight. " I had every right to suspicious of him...if I knew what he what be envoled in months later I would have killed him then and there..." Iris said deathly calm but the man could see she was holding back some rage but was also confused when he saw a tear run down her eye.
Ape village, 3 years ago
Iris sat near the waterfall in the village as she tried to deal with the emotional turmoil she been going through. It had been two weeks since Mikey had been imprisoned , two weeks since she found out her step mom was still alive, 2 weeks since Carely tried to kill her, two weeks since she found out someone in this village wants her dead, and two weeks since she found out she was pregnant... Caesar had been keeping her pregnancy on the down low knowing how fast things would go down hill if they find who the baby's father was...while some did respect her for being their King's sister and for what's she's done helping them with the wolves and the bodies but other still held disdain for her...so much so they wanted her dead...so she couldn't comprehend what they would do if they found out she was carrying a ape hybrid which made her worry more, she could handle some trying to kill her alone but now it was different cause she had a life inside her.
She had her hands tightened in her brunette locks with her head resting against her bent knee while she was breathing deeply. " Sweetheart...it will be ok " She could hear her father.
She brought her head up to look up the hallucination. "How do you know?...how can you possibly know Dad?..." she said as stood up to glare at the imaginary firgure.
" You said that 9 years ago too but looked what happened! People got sick and died, riots broke out, militia formed, people where murdered or nabbed..." Iris raised her voice the last part most personal to her" and you ended getting shot with me having to bury you in the backyard!" Iris said with her voice breaking.
Her father just stated at her sadly.
Iris could feel sadness overwhelme her as well "I don't want to leave my child like- Iris cut herself when she realized someone had appeared she froze but then turned to see the last ape she ever wanted to catch her...Helios. Iris shock disappeared as she quickly made her face blank and wiped her face of tears.
" How long were you standing there" she asked the gorilla curtly and firmly.
"Enough to know what your going through my Daughter" he answered.
"I don't know what your taking about..." Iris tried to snug him off and walk past him only for the male to grab her arm halting her.
"You are suffering from a form of Psychosis aren't you? The voices in your head can't seem to go away" he said staring into her eyes.
Her eyes widen slightly but but then realized he was still holding her arm" More like ghosts from the past..." she grumbled as she roughly yanked her arm out his grip.
" Never thought a religious zealous as you would even use the word psychosis" Iris said as she tried to walk off again not feeling comfortable being alone with him.
"I know your hurting my daughter, I like to help you even if it doesn't require praying I believe I can help with your ghosts, If you want it" Helios smiled.
She paused for few seconds when he said this then turned around to frownat him" Really how?" She asked as she crossed her arms as her hazel eyes stared at him with scrutiny.
"Would you kindly follow me this herb I will share won't give you addiction's or negative effects on your well-being..think of it as a sleep inducer" he offered his hand to her hoping she'll grasped it.
Iris all sudden felt very calm and slowly took his hand when he said this even though her insides were screaming at her to tell him off and run, Helios smiled when her hand was placed in his huge one.
"It won't take long Sister of our beloved Caesar" he bowed his head taking her to his humble shrine.
He took the dazed young woman through a more isolated part of the village, alarm bells were going through Iris's head as kept yelling internally to snap out of it.
He placed her in front of his Altar inscribed with Sun symbols as he brought out a bowl and pestal for his mixing "Would you kindly sit and relax my daughter?" he asked fishing into his sack for the herbs and like she was told she went over slowly to sit in front his alter.
Her eyes watched him as he moved around and gathered things, Iris was becoming freaked out and trembled slightly but she still couldn't move for the life of her.
He fished out a water jug taking the cap off pouring in the bowl while placing it on the small cloth table, he fished out the purple leaves crunching them down to small flakes pouring the flakes into the bowl "It'll be almost ready my daughter" he spoke.
Iris was using every fiber of her being to try to move and by some stir will power she was able to a bit, Helios was caught off gaurd when he noticed Iris was moving and trying to sit up.
"Would you kindly relax my daughter it's almost ready" he said turning his to look at her he was almost finished with the herbs.
" What...did...you...do..to...me..." She struggled to say.
"You asked for my help and I'm giving it to you" he simply answered handling the bowl to her "Would you kindly take a sip you'll be asleep for awhile" he said flexing his fingers emphasizing the word sleep.
Iris took the bowl shakely while she had a mental war with her body, she knew Helios had something sinister planned and when he said it would make her" sleep for awhile" it struck fear in her soul. She slowly began to drink the bitter liquid in the bowl after a couple sips her grip loosened making her drop it and she could feel herself lower to ground on her side.
"Now sleep Sister of Caesar" Helios's voice echoed in her ears.
It was like the world was spinning with her body feeling very heavy as she looked up the at the sky in a unblinking gaze not noticing what Helios was doing next. Iris saw a figure looming over her it was fuzzy at first but then it clear out to reveal a dark furred chimp with light golden eyes making her eyes widen but then tears of joy came out" M-moon.." she said she shakely as she reached out to touch the side of his face not knowing it wasn't deceased husband but infact Helios.
" I missed you so much..." she said softly as she stared up at him to lost in her in world to notice the gorilla raising his hand with a knife in his grip.
"It's going to be over soon..." Helios whispered carresing her cheek with the knife.
But just then the gorilla paused when he heard footsteps coming over to area making him scramble to hide the knife and turn to see the oldest Prince and captain of the Gorilla Gaurd.
"Welcome to my chapel your highness, it is an honor that your here with your respected soldier" Helios smiled bowing his head.
Blue eyes looked at him and then saw Iris laying on dirt unmoving in dazed state, his eyes widen making brush past him to go to the young woman's side, cradling her face as her checked her over in deep concern.
" What's wrong..with her?!" Blue eyes spoke as he turn his gaze away from his aunt to Helios, Luca had the same reaction as well with a couple other emotions when he looked between Iris and Helios.
"She wanted healing and sleep, I gave her herbs to relief her symptoms."
The silverback didn't by that for one minute, he like Iris had a bad feeling about the gorilla since day one and now finding Iris in the state she was in just proved him right. Blue Eyes put one arm under Iris's back, another under her legs and then picked her up.
Luca glared at Helios.
" I dont...know what...you have... done to...her or...what you planned...on doing..to her...but Caesar will..hear of this..." He told the other gorilla very low as Blue Eyes walked past him with Iris, Luca glared at him for a few more seconds before turn around to follow the Prince.
"Would you kindly hear what I have to say" he spoke.
Blue eyes was already gone but Luca had stopped and turned around to look at him.
"Would you kindly listen to my orders?" Helios smiled his intellect was vastly strong taking ahold of Luca.
"Yes..." was all the gorilla said.
Helios was couldn't help be nervous about Blue Eyes though, he knew once he talked to his father and showed him Iris's condition he knew no doubt the king would angry which will end him being questioned by Caesar and mostly reprimanded "I want you to defend me... my reasons...luckily the herbs will make Iris forget what happened to her she'll only remember she had a good night's sleep I want you to guard her especially in her sleep when the time is right strangle her now.. would you kindly do that?" Helios commanded he needs this to die down fast he can't risk everything to be destroyed right now he needs a little bit more time, just a little bit of time.
Luca nodded and then headed off in the direction of where the blue eyed ape went. The red gorilla did the Same thing to the blue eyed ape once they caught up to him.
Looking straight into Caesar son's eyes could give him the advantage he can't keep saying the same word but indirectly moving his fingers can help him grasp Blue Eyes in his hold very easy as long as he keeps his hold on the two "Now we improvise" Helios whispered following Luca close.
Caesar was holding his head and sitting with his wife, Cornelia stroked his face and fur well looking at him with warm eyes, with eveything that's been happening recently her calming prescene really helped him with overwhelmingly stress.
" What is your worried about? I think you would be happy to see you mother again" she signed to her husband.
While he does admit he was completely shock that Caroline was still alive but he was also overjoyed. He remembered he almost forgot to breathe when he saw dark haired woman only to go up to her and embrace her seconds later.
" Its not that..." he said quietly.
Cornelia raised a eyebrow " So it's Iris then...Her being a pregnant is not a bad thing Caesar..." the queen signed sternly.
Caesar was about to respond when he saw Blue Eyes coming in carrying a limp Iris along with Luca and Helios coming up from behind him. Caesar rose from his seat with deep concern on his face as he made his way over to his son.
" What's wrong with her?" Cornelia signed to her son as she looked at him then the young woman with worry on your face.
Caesar moved Iris hair out her face to see her half-lidded dazed look he brought his gaze to look at Luca, Helios, and his son. " What happened?..." he demanded as he frowned hard at them.
Helios spoke first "My King and Queen Iris is asleep due to eating the herbs in my pack, I hope it won't worry they're used to treat symptoms and let individuals sleep peacefully, my prince is it alright if you explain the rest?" The red gorilla spoke in concern allowing the young chimp see his gaze indirectly twitching his fingers.
Blue Eyes nodded agreeing quickly at his response" He was...trying to help Iris...she was hallucinating.." He told his father sincerely.
"I didn't want to keep this under your noses your highnesses because I worry if she trys to grab more in my pack I don't want her to rely on herbs too much" Helios spoke sounding concerned his fingers twitched slightly.
" It seemed like she was trying to do anything to forget Caesar..." Luca signed to his king.
Caesar closed his eyes deep in thought...he didn't know what to believe he knew his son and Luca would never lie to him but he also knew Iris would never ever do something that might endanger a child and inculding her own but with all her inner demons and trauma he wasn't so so sure. " Take her to Tinker...and see if my mother is there...she will probably help...Luca keep a eye on her" The king said softly. Luca and Blue eyes nodded before leaving and Helios started to leave thanking his god inside for not getting caught.
"My King with your permission allow me to bring blessings to the ape in prison even the sun should extend it's Ray's to others" Helios bowed respectfully he needed to do one favor for Onyx and this was risky.
Caesar looked at him and huffed deeply, he wasn't really sure about Helios yet but he could tell their was something not right about him and had nothing to do with his belief, what he just gave Iris didn't make just heightened his suspicions but he hasnt shown any violent tendancies and gone against the laws so the king couldn't judge him unfairly just on his opinion.
" Alright..." Caesar agreed"but I'll have to warmln you he just recently became stable..."he warned him.
" It also would be best if you didnt mention about what happened with Iris today with him..." The king continued to warn him knowing madly in love the young chimp was with his sister and most likely would snap if he knew Iris condition speacily since she was carrying his baby.
"Understood your majesty" With that he walked off to see Mikey, Caesar watched him go still having a feeling in gut there was something suspicious about him.
Mikey in the corner of his prison was holding his legs tightly to his chest, tremdous feelings of guilt filled as he replayed everything he had done 2 weeks ago. Not to mention he was still was trying get through his that he was going to be a father, he like Iris didn't believe it was possible for it to happen but it did and now both them has become most the talk and arguments of the council.
He hasn't seen Iris in the last 2 weeks and frankly he wasn't surprised after everything has happened he could only imagine what the young woman was going through. He then heard someone come up to his cage and talk to Spear who was his gaurd at the moment he looked up to see it was the new gorilla Helios making him raise a brow in confusion to see him.
" Helios?...why you...here?..." Spear asked him as he came closer.
"I'm here to offer my blessings to young one Mikey" Helios smiled twitching his fingers.
Spear suddenly became relaxed and moved out the way so Helios could get closer, Mikey was completely confused.
" Why are you here Helios?..." he asked curiously and attention then turned to his gaurd "What's wrong with Spear?"
"Spear is relaxing my son, right now I have a message from your master" Helios smiled turning his head towards Spear "Would you kindly guard the entrance and let me know if someone is coming" the red gorilla asked.
Spear just nodded quietly as he walked off making the chimp shocked that that his gaurd listen to the gorilla and left with out protest or question, Mikey was becoming a little catious at this and he didn't like it when the gorilla said "master" " What are...you talking about Helios?" Mikey frowned hard at him.
Helios went up close to the bars "Onyx ... he's waiting for you and Iris..." Helios whispered quietly only letting Mikey hear.
Mikey eyes widen and felt his blood run cold at this he then glared and bared his teeth at Helios" If he touches her!...if you touch her!" he growled at him.
"Silence your mouth boy" Helios twitched his fingers looking straight into Mikey's eye's and like that all emotion voided from Mikey's face and he became quiet making the gorilla smile.
"Your orders are followed, take this knife and hide it in a crevice or hole when the time comes use it well Protoge of Onyx" Helios chuckled handing the military knife in Mikey's hand.
The dazed chimp slowly his hands out from the bars to grab the knife and then brought it back into the cage with him.
"Now sleep apprentice of Onyx" Helios commanded turning around to exit the cave turning his head looking at spear "You will forget what you saw here" the red gorilla said viciously snapping his fingers.
Mikey fell unconcious on the side of the cage making Helios smirk as he turned around and walked off with a sbut in the back of his mind he couldn't help but be nervous what will happen once Iris woke up recalling how she was able to break from his hold for a little bit, he knew she has a strong will of steel.
Iris woke groggy while holdinher head, she groaned as she open eyes to see burly figures talking a couple around her. " Do you know what exactly he gave her Caesar?" a soft voice asked, she regonized it as Caroline.
One the figures noticed the young woman was trying to sit up making them out a hand her should made gently lay back down, she looked to see it was Luca.
" What happen?..." Iris asked hoarsely, she looked around to see that she was the healing hut.
" You tell me Iris...from what your brother has been telling me you where found by Luca and Blue Eyes under the influence of a herb Helios gave you to help with your stress..." Caroline said told her.
This made Iris grown as she lowered herself gaze to the ground, the last thing she remembered was talk I g to Helios by the waterfall but the rest was blank.
" He also said you took more then you needed" Caroline crossed her arms as she stared at her adoptive daughter" Iris were you trying to get high?" Caroline asked her very seriously.
The brunette looked completely bewildered at this.
Caesar frowned at his sister"Iris how could you...do something so irresponsible?" he lectured her.
This made Iris snap out her shock and look at him in disbelief.
" You actually believe I would do something like this?" She frowned at him hard making his gaze soften some what.
" You have been through so much Iris...sometimes you don't act like yourself..."he said carefully.
Iris got up quickly making her wobble" Ok I might be nuts but not not stupid! Speacily not enough to do drugs! " She raised her voice as she stared him down.
Caesar rubbed his brows in fustration" I didn't say Iris!"
"You were implying it!" she spat back at him.
Caroline was becoming concerned" Alright you two calm-
"I saw your condition Iris!..." He raised his voice back to her" you looked the same like that one time 10 years ago" Spat at her, Iris eyes widen in shock knowing he was talking about true time she got drunk...the time he was in the shelter.
" Your pregnant Iris didn't you think of your child!"he shouted disappointed at her.
The argument was becoming very loud causing most apes outside to here. The tension of the hut became thick at this and all emotion fell off Iris's face as she looked at Caesar with very calm eyes.
" I am thinking of my baby Caesar...more then you could ever know...which is why I would never ever do what your accusing me of..." he expression then turned to sorrow" Do you honestly not trust me?...have I ever lied to you before?" she asked him her voice nearly breaking.
Caesar huffed deeply and closed his eyes, the brunette as she ran a hand through her hair in fustration.
" Your not Dad Caesar...stop trying to act like him" Iris said bluntly as a couple tears ran down her eyes.
Caesar looked at Iris bewildered while Caroline cover her mouth in sorrow.
" I'm not trying to be him..." Caesar replied.
" Yea...dad would have at least tried to listen to me..." Iris was all she said before she left the hut with Luca following after her living Caesar in the hut speechless making Caroline put a comforting hand on his shoulder as she hugged him from behind" She's just mad sweetheart...you both got pretty heated" She said softly to him.
While he knew that was true it didn't stop the guilt he was feeling for making his sister cry again.
Iris had been walking pretty quickly for awhile then felt morning sickness overfill her making her her stumble lean next to a tree as she empty out her stomach contents while she slowly brought he knees to the ground as she began to cry. She had known Helios was planning on doing something to her which obviously got interrupted and somehow got her to agreed to those herbs because the was no way in he'll she would willingly take anything he offered her.
" Dammit!Dammit!" She yelled in a broken voice as she punched the dirt making the apes around look at her in confusion.
She then pulled herself being pulled up by Luca.
"Let's go to my hut you need to rest"He signed to her.
He guided her back to his hut and helped her lay down on the furs that she was surprised he still had, she could feel herself nodding off.
Once him and Iris were alone and he saw she was getting tired a switch off in him of Helios earlier making him slowly bring his hand to her neck shakley trying to fight it. Iris eyes opened wide as she started to choke when she felt his leathery hand wrap tightly around her throat causing her to grab his arm with both her hands trying to push it off.
She looked up at him with disbelief and hurt" L-Luca..." She managed to gasp out as she choked her.
This chapter for pretty heated with a whole bunch of characters and what will happen to Iris. I would like to thank my good friend Marianofcintra for helping with this and for letting my use her character Helios she's awesome ^^ I hope you guys liked the chapter