True Deceit

Chapter 17: 18 Years Earlier Pt.3

Janus and Remus sat themselves at the table whilst Virgil gargled and giggled as he slammed his hands down on his high chair table. Janus began scooping from a bowl of baked beans into Virgil's mouth, cleaning up the drips which slid down his mouth with his bib.

"Remus, I think it's time we discuss something important," Janus spoke. "I intend to make a few differences about how things work around here, to make it a little fairer on me. How does that sound?"

Remus nodded, his mouth full of beans. He swallowed before grinning. "Now my top is as stinky as my bottom."

Janus dismissed the comment, continuing on. "For the past several years I've been doing all the work around here, and I'm beginning to realise there are a few things I need to change. One of them is that you, and Virgil once he can talk, address me as Father."

Remus stopped eating, and glanced up at Deceit. "Okay, Father."

Janus smiled favourably. "Good boy. Some other differences you may not feel so comfortable with, however. For example, I am no longer allowing you to see Roman."

Remus froze. "F-Father? What do you mean?"

"I mean that I think he impacts on you negatively, and if I am to raise you I want you to never associate with him."

Remus was trapped in a state of disbelief. "No, I have to be allowed to see him. I'm sorry we broke you're vase, please, we won't do it again."
Janus sighed. "Thank you, but it isn't entirely about that. I want you to be a proper dark side, and I need you to conform to our standards. This means no interactions with the light sides again."

Remus didn't know what to do with his body, so he simply sat, muscles tense. Eventually he spoke. "There is no way I'm never seeing Roman again. You can't stop me."

Janus frowned. "This is what I am talking about. Disobedience, misconduct. All ideas which you have taken from Roman's and Logan's behaviour. It is not on. I will not tolerate it."

Remus's heart was beating painfully in his chest, and his face was burning. "No it's not, I'm a good boy, like you say. I'm only arguing because your trying to take away my brother!"

"Silence!" Janus barked, and Remus quietened. Virgil stopped laughing, glancing worriedly up at Deceit.

"From now on there will be no answering back. What I say is final, understand?"

Remus's breathing hastened. "No, Deceit, you can't, no," Janus stood up from the table, towering over Remus. Remus gulped, attempting to steady his breaths. When Deceit meant no, he always meant no. "F-Father, he's my brother."

Janus thought about shouting, but instead lowered his tone. The websites had informed his to never yell at his son, or discipline when angry.

"I understand Remus," he spoke calmly. "This is a big change for you-"

"Shut up!" Remus shouted.

Janus clenched his jaw. "I know for a fact you did not learn that piece of vocab from me."

Remus was shaking. Tears rolled down his cheeks as he sobbed, the empty feeling of powerlessness hollowing out his insides.

"Go to your room, I'll join you once I figure out how best to punish you." Those his tone was relaxed; his words spoke fire.

Remus ran to his room and slammed the door, continuing to cry for many minutes more.

Janus sighed, finishing feeding Virgil and tidying up dinner. He thought about what he could do to Remus, such as take away his favourite book for the night or ask him to clean the floors. However, his mind kept on floating into corporal punishment, something he was incredibly curious to try.

He slowly entered the bedroom in a much less enraged state, saddened to find Remus curled into a ball in the corner sobbing his heart out.

"Remus, are you okay?" He spoke softly, crouching down beside him. Remus continued to cry, but uncurled himself from the wall and embraced Janus tightly.

"I'm sorry Father," he whispered between choking tears.

"Shh, it's okay Remus, I'm not mad anymore. I know I'm doing something that is very hurtful to you, but you have to understand it's for the best."

*

It was hours later now, the middle of the night, and Janus had never punished Remus. Some part of himself felt disappointed, another part relieved. Instead he'd been thinking about what he could do to help Remus, and make the pain of an ended brotherhood easier to handle.

Then it struck him. He knew exactly what to do.

*

The following morning after he'd fed and whipped up breakfast he led Remus into his lab.

"What's going on Father?" Remus questioned.

"Sit down in this chair," Deceit spoke, gesturing to a seat in the far corner. He proceeded to grab a syringe from his lab bench and jab the point into his son's neck, before he could make a real move to fight or escape him. Once he was under the venom's full effect, he began brainwashing him. You do not have a brother, you do not have a brother, you know nothing about him, you do not have a brother...

This event took place almost a dozen times of the course of the next three days until eventually Remus could remember nothing about his brother at all.

"I love you Father," Remus spoke under the venom's effects.

"I love you too, Son." Janus replied guiltily.