Back in the chapel-like basement, still smelling of incense and dried blood, there were now 5 new residents. They were the scouts from the tribe. Serlo looked at the unconscious scouts and felt proud, like looking at your child walking into school on their own for the first time.
They were about to go through the same transformation he did. They would become reborn, rise though the ashes, break through the confines of their cocoons. He was even more proud when he thought of how he was going to help, help the lost find the way, the way to the lord.
He knew now that getting closer to the lord was the only right path in life, even if you could never reach the lord, or even see the lord, knowing you had walked the right path in life is enough… even if you maybe can't see it now, you will, the lord will light up the darkness and show the path ahead with his light.
How could these mongrels who have never seen the lord's light know the path ahead like him? After all he had seen the path ahead. Then since he knew the right path ahead, he felt an obligation to help them, help them on the right path.
He wanted them to see the light just like he did.
Just when Serlo was day dreaming, Thorn walked in and said, "Separate them. We can't have them forming a group."
"Yes, sir" Serlo responded and grabbed 4 of the scouts and dragged them out and then separated them into different rooms.
The cellar had a lot of these rooms, Thorn had the Husks dig them out under the church a few months ago, it was to deal with any… stubborn towns folk, who had trouble seeing the lord.
Sadly he hasn't gotten the chance to use them, but it's only natural, the lord is too charming. Everyone knows following him is the right path… except these mutts… but what can you expect from dogs?
He is truly too benevolent, helping these dogs recognize the lord. Hopefully it does not offend the lord to have such… creatures as subjects.
But it's also good that these mutts came along, he now has an excuse to use the kitch… use the torture chambers. He loves to torture people… and mutts… he doesn't discriminate.
One by one the scouts awakened, they looked confused for a second probably believing the previous events was just a bad dream caused by paranoia.
Spoiler, it was not.
When they came to and realized it was not a dream, they were angry and their ego was hurt.
"Hey! Serlo, you bastard, where am I, untie me now." one of them screamed, in a demanding tone, like he was the boss, not the poor bastard about to be tortured.
When the other scouts awoke they slowly took the same route, all starting to curse Serlo for poisoning them and betraying their trust. No one was grateful… I wonder why that is?
They could not hear each other since the walls were thick and made of stone and mostly sound proof, and the chains they were adorned with blessed by the lord sealed most of their powers, if not all, so the superhuman senses were gone.
Then the door opened to one of the cells and Thorn walked in and tow was Serlo, Thorn was smiling, like he was looking at a new toy made just for him to take apart. Serlo was looking excited as well but in a different way, he was more nervous and excited, thinking of how it would please the lord if he could make them become his loyal subjects as fast as possible.
The torture started pretty quickly, after a few quick words exchanged, it was on. Multiple Husks swarmed the rooms and started to preach, and Serlo was actively trying to convince them through debate, which worked wonders, it must have something to do with "mutt to mutt" language or something.
The days passed and under the same pressure Serlo was under they didn't last long, they started to crack after only a few days of no food, no water and constant preaching.
The constant nagging from their previous kin Serlo also didn't help.
`These damn fantical cultists, when I get out of here I will rip them apart, and that damn Serlo, how could he? He was the star of the tribe.` One of the tribe scouts thought. He wasn't alone in thinking this either. The other scouts had similar thoughts and from these thoughts rose doubt.
`If Serlo was the star of the tribe but still chooses to join this cult, does that mean that the cult is right? No, it can't be.`
`Why do their arguments sound more and more correct? Is it true that the cults is the right way?´
These thoughts started to appear like mushrooms after rain, they all had them or similar ones. They were hungry, thirsty, tired and in pain, they started to go along with the preachers only to receive less physical punishment, they repeated mantra upon mantra, until they were etched into their memory.
A few days later.
"You know, one of your scout buddies already signed a contract with the lord yesterday." Thorn said to one of the scouts. "No way! They would never." The scout exclaimed in shock, anger and slight betrayal.
Thorn chuckled on the inside. He had used this technique on all of them and they all reacted the same way, and with their powers sealed they couldn't use their telepath link to talk to each other. So they had to blindly believe in their comrades, believing they wouldn't betray them. That might have worked before, but now? With the betrayal of Serlo, will they take the risk?
And the answer was no. No, they did not. They started to fold one by one and signed the deal with the lord.
"The lord, the lord is so bright." One of the scouts shouted as he signed the contract. The previous hesitation, sadness and guilt disappeared in an instant, replaced by a fanatical belief in the lord.
This happened to all 5 of them, Thorn smiled with satisfaction and Serlo beside him felt proud and satisfied, he had finally done something for the lord.
Just then a Husk burst in, it reported to Thorn about another shapeshifter that had entered the town. Serlo on the side who heard the rapport looked confused then said, "Sir, let me go and retrieve the shapeshifter." Thorn looked at him and nodded.
Serlo ran out and headed in the direction of where the shapeshifter had been last seen. After arriving at the spot he followed the trail all the way back to one of the inns in town, the smell was familiar, too much so.
He felt weird as he made his way to the upper floor of the inn, towards the residential area. He soon came upon a door he knocked and waited, soon the door opened and a young man or boy stood there, when they met eye contact they both froze.
After staring at each other for a while the younger of the two said, "Older brother, I've been looking for you everywhere." He took a step forward and hugged the older man.
"We need to go back, let's go." The younger man said as he hurried inside and grabbed his ready packed bag. Serlo just shook his head and said, "No, brother we are not leaving, I have found something greater… something that will save us all."
The young man looked confused, then really looked at his brother for the first time in their reunion. He looked… off. He didn't look, smell or act like he used to.
"What happened brother?" The young man looked concerned.
Serlo stepped inside the room and sat down on the bed, "I've joined the cult of the hollow lord, it's the right path, and I think you should do the same." Serlo said.
The younger man looked confused, then horror began to creep in, "Brother, what did they do to you?" he said.
Serlo shook his head, "They didn't do anything. They just helped me see." Serlo looked his brother in the eyes and said, "They can help you see as well, younger brother."
The young man had a look of horror on his face as he backed away.
Serlo seemed not to notice and continued with more enthusiasm, "Remember when we were children, and I swore I'd always protect you? I can still protect you… but you must let me.
This power isn't chains, it's freedom. You'll never starve, never bleed, never be alone again."
The young man was shaken but said, "But… this feels wrong,"
Serlo stood up and took a few quick steps towards his younger brother and said, "Osbern, you don't need to worry, just trust me, like you always have." as he said that he rubbed his younger brother, Osbern's cheek with his thumb.
"You don't need to live in fear." Serlo flipped his hand and a paper appeared in his hand, it was a contract.
As the contract appeared it was accompanied by a slight chanting just loud enough to hear.
"Brother, drip your blood onto this page, and press down your finger." Serlo said as Osbern tremblingly lifted his hand, Serlo flashed his hand and made a small cut on Osbern's finger with his partially transformed claw. Blood flowed from the small wound and dripped onto the paper, "Now brother press your finger."
Osbern hesitated and asked, "Is this the correct way brother?" Serlo without hesitation said, "This is not only the right path but the only right path."
Serlo continued, "You don't need to be strong anymore. Just take my hand, and let the lord carry the weight for us both." Osbern tremblingly moved his hand towards the paper and pressed his finger in the blood.
His body tenses and then relaxes. The doubt in his eyes dull then dissipates replaced by devotion.
Osbern lets out a sigh, "...You were right. I feel… lighter. Like this is who I'm supposed to be."
Serlo embraces him in a tight hug and whispers, "Now we'll never be apart."
As this brotherly love moment goes on, in the shadows on the roof of another building with direct view into the room they were in Thorn watches and smiles, because love has just been twisted into a chain.
CHAPTER END.