-The next day, back at the bunker-
Early morning rays crept into the room. Highlighting portions of beds and the floor in a warm orange color. After coming back with the news, Valentine and Oria felt very proud of Ether.
Which resulted in a firm pat on the shoulder from his former Sherpa while Oria gently licked his forehead until they all fell asleep.
A gentle warmth touched his soft skin.
Morning was here. Around him were Oria's arms. She treated him like her own cub. Despite being at the age of where a Feral would normally stop using the term 'Neddy.'
He felt comfortable and safe inside her grasp. From where he was positioned, he could admire the rich tan skin she developed. Along with the rough hair she had on her head.
The moment of admiration ceased after he felt something was off about the room. Ether glanced to the corner where Demon stood. Except, that wasn't his brother.
Instead of having his younger sibling there. A more horrific version took its place. Both eyes stretched towards the ceiling, completely pale. His mouth hung wide open, with his lower jaw split in half.
As Ether studied his sibling's body, he realized his torso was strange. Instead of being covered in clothes. His stomach and chest looked like they were torn open.
His heart continued to beat as normal. All while, his stomach and intestines hung off his body, as if it was nothing out of the ordinary.
"AGH! WHAT THE HELL?!?" Ether screamed.
Oria, Jakery, and Valentine opened their eyes in a panic. Instantly shaking them out of their sleep-induced trance.
Instantly, Demon's body returned to normal. He dropped to the floor, clenching his belly while sickly black vomit poured onto the floor.
Upon hearing one of the younger siblings vomit, Valentine quickly leapt out of his bed. Without a moment of hesitation, he helped Demon up and assisted him out the door.
Jakery yawned, rubbing his eyes to brush off the haze. "W - what happened?"
Oria hugged Ether tighter. "Yeah, little one. What happened?"
"Demon... he... dead. I saw it. He stood in the corner of the room. Skin as pale as snow, while his brutally disfigured body leaned against the walls," Ether explained.
Hoping to correct his mind, he fought out of Oria's arms. Running out the door and up the stairs to where Valentine took his sibling.
When he got outside, Valentine stepped back out of shock. His eyes were fixed on the collapsed Zesher.
Pain and regret tainted his groans. Begging for forgiveness, although he did nothing wrong. It was punishment in its purest form. Not branded with scorching hot rods.
But being uncomfortable even where one was supposed to feel comfortable in. Demon was not alone in his body, neither was he off the hook yet.
Vile darkness escaped from his eyes, ears, and nose. Getting swept away by the seemingly still morning air.
Ether's eyes widened, frightened to his core. "Demon? Demon, are you okay? Hey, listen to me. It's only for the momen- "
Demon slammed his fist on the ceiling. "No... no. Chop my head off. Kill me quick. I do not want to endure... this suffering. Agh... dammit. Please, if you love your first brother... off with my head."
Surprised, Ether stumbled back. Horror twisted his mind and heart. Demon was in actual agony. Voices kept yelling at him to attack everyone else while they slept.
The more he disobeyed, the angrier the voices got. Until this point. Earlier that morning, Demon tried to resist. Causing the unknown forces to mangle his body into what Ether saw.
Valentine closed his fists, a guilty warmth washed over his spine. It was the feeling of a murdered child in his hands. Although he did not understand what it was.
Raw anger slowly crept into his mind. He wanted to fulfill Demon's wish of setting him free. Although the desire to was present, Valentine knew better.
"Cover your ears. The Broken Melody is starting to influence us as well," Valentine ordered.
Ether shook his head. "It can influence all it wants. But that's my brother and I'm going to fight for him."
Just as he charged towards his sibling, Valentine caught him. "Do not get closer. All the Broken Melody wants to do is break Demon's mentality further, if not take full control of his corpse."
"I don't care! Demon, I want my Demon!" Ether cried out to his brother.
That's when one tentacle sporting a vicious black color wrapped itself around Ether's waist, lifting him out of Valentine's reach.
Up there, he looked down at Demon's paralyzed body. His lifeless eyes stared up at him, waiting to slowly bring his older brother down into his gaping maw.
"Your lineage prides itself with their accomplishments," a drowned voice said. "Now in the hands of a creation that was not meant to be, the possibilities are endless."
Surprisingly, Valentine was capable of using some black chemicals that remained beneath Demon to becoming small spikes. Intimidating the attacker.
"Put that young Zesher down, you reckless monstrosity," Valentine snapped back.
Ether tried to tear open the tentacle, hoping to liberate himself. Only to fail. Whatever substance formed the appendage was designed to only get destroyed through more powerful methods.
Demon groaned as he collapsed, bringing the extra limb with him. Letting Ether go from his temporary prison.
Valentine quickly made his way over, releasing the black chemical from his grip. "Hey, hey. Are you okay?"
"I want Demon. I want my brother, I want him back," Ether hysterically repeated.
"Easy, easy. Listen, that was not your brother. He isn't with us anymore. What replaced him is the thing that attacked you," Valentine softly replied.
Tears rolled down Ether's cheeks. "No... I refuse to let this go. The Light Legion was the catalyst for my brother's corruption. I am going to bring them to their knees."
A fatherly side bowed its head, telling Valentine he should encourage it. "Yes, get on your feet and push forward. You're a mighty Zegus, are you not? Keep on pushing forward."
Ether held his tears. "Wh - where are some bases that belong to them? Is there - is there anywhere that I can take down?"
Valentine nodded. "Not too far from here, there's a farm that belongs to them. Reclaim the memory of your ancestors and strike them down."
He knowingly suggested an easy target. The Light Legion would not care if one of their many farms went down. Especially since they rarely, if ever, have any elites stationed on those farms.
As the duo allowed the silence to deafen their ears. Anger controlled Ether's emotions. Fueled by the experience and pain, he was determined to bring down those to blame.