[Back at the Surveillance room]
"You see anything?"
"No. Just bats everywhere."
The two camera guys, Josh and Derek, conversed among themselves.
They're looking at ten cameras that show the inside and outside of the manor.
"Things just spiral out of control huh?"
"Whoever it was that controlled those bats must be strong."
"Did you see the kid's condition? It gave me goosebumps. What kind of grudge do they hold to kill him in that manner?"
"If you think about it, it makes sense that they will go after him, whoever they were. The other descendants are untouchable. If something were to happen to them then all hell would break loose. Especially the Heir, Young Master Adam was said to be a once-in-a-lifetime genius."
"You're right about that. I guess the only one they could lay their hands on was that kid. Sucks to be him."
"The most suspicious thing about this situation was how the hell did they trespassed the Family territory."
"What if the culprit was from the family?"
"Motherf*cker! Shut your mouth! We're dead if someone hears us."
"Hiiek!"
After the short conversation, the two proceeded to do their job in silence.
A few minutes later -
"Heard anything from the Captain?"
"No, they've been silent for a while now. We can't see anything inside the room. The freakin bats wrecked the camera well."
*kssk*
As if on cue…
"Josh, Derek can you hear me?" After a static, Captain George's voice was suddenly heard.
"Captain! We hear you loud and clear." Josh exclaimed thinking what a coincidence, they were just talking about him.
"Great! Get over here, quickly! We've caught the perp. The bastard's been hiding inside the room the whole time and is putting quite a fight!"
*kssk*
"Wha- What do you mean Captain?"
"Hello? Captain?"
*kssk*
"Shit let's go!"
The two hurried it up after losing contact with the Captain. But just before they leave the room, they catch a glance of two figures on camera running up the stairs, making their way to the master's bedroom. It was Nick and John, 'probably called by the Captain too.' They thought as they hurried.
…
[Back at Master's Bedroom]
A few minutes before Josh and Derek received the call -
"You've meddled with Dark Arts! Do you know the consequences if the Garden finds out?" Captain George tried his best to remain calm while trying to gain some leverage.
"IF they find out." Arthur flashed a huge grin.
Captain George was about to stall for more time when he suddenly panicked.
"!!!!"
The chains coiled around him and Thera suddenly caught on dark flames. It began to burn and corrode the Aera surrounding their body. Both Captain and Thera began to use larger amounts of Aera to keep the barrier up, decreasing their power even more.
'Fuck!'
"Ahhh!" Thera screamed after feeling the burning sensation. She just ran out of Aera and the moment her barrier went down, chains immediately pierced her body. She was hanged in mid-air like the rest.
"Thera!!!"
"Now there's only you. I wonder how long you'll be able to last?!" The flaming chains on Captain George rapidly began burning even more. Although coated and protected by Aera, he could feel the extreme heat. 'I'm going to die' Captain George thought as his body began to turn red from the extreme heat. Dread, despair, pain and absolute horror began to cloud his mind.
He was young, too young and still had a promising future ahead. He worked tirelessly to finally achieve the rank he had right now. He can't die just yet! 'I still have to avenge-'
"AHHHH! I- I Yield!" Captain screamed with all of his might.
And just as he did, his Aera reserve extinguished. Arthur removed the flames and pierced the muscular body of Captain George. He was skewered easily like butter.
"Now then, choose. Become my slave or become my puppet."
Arthur aligned everyone in chains in front of him. He looked at their eyes and saw unwillingness but at the same time helplessness. This made Arthur's Devil nature ecstatic. 'How fun'
Arthur's demonic eye squinted into a crescent shape as he wallowed in their despair.
Roger was the first to reply…
"What's the difference?"
Arthur shifted his eyes at Roger and couldn't help but smile. He could see the ambition and the wariness in Roger's expression.
Become a slave or a puppet…
Arthur waited for a while before he answered the question.
Wild thoughts and assumptions began to cause chaos in the minds of the captured, being Arthur's slave is no different than being the Devil's plaything. He will surely make them commit grievous sins in his place. Being tortured for pleasure was also a possibility.
On the other hand, being a puppet sounded like he'll make them into a living golem or worse, a mindless beast after being experimented on.
And if they were ever discovered by the Garden, eternal suffering would await them at the Tower of Babel. A prison meant for those who meddled or had been corrupted by Demonic power. Surely, Arthur had been corrupted, or worse he was possessed! That would explain his claim that he was the Devil.
After feeling the intense anticipation on their faces, Arthur began to explain.
"Being my slave or being my puppet. I don't know how you still can't process it, but it means what it means." Arthur explained. His vague explanation only made the surveillance team more anxious. Whatever they chose was hell. Was living like hell more worth it than death?
But then again, would Arthur kill them? Perhaps he's planning something more sinister than those two options for those who won't choose. The intense dilemma made the team tear up. This was a choice they never thought they would make in their whole life. Although they were nothing more than foot soldiers for the Family, at least they could still live somewhat comfortably.
Arthur's heart was beating like crazy from seeing their expression. 'Ah I can't get enough' like a sadist Arthur enjoyed breaking the mentality of his enemies.
"I can tell you one thing though, being my slave had more benefits than being my puppet. After all, a slave's status will always be bound to the status of their Master."
Arthur left the interpretation to their own. He said more than what was necessary. In the first place, he initially wanted to break their will and consciousness by using Hell's Messiah. He would make them all into mindless and obedient puppets. Numb to affection, numb to pain, numb to… death.
Like a zombie but a little more... alive.
But after seeing their potential and teamwork, Arthur came up with a more elaborate way to use them. Rather than a puppet, having the cognitive ability to make their own choices might come in handy in the future.
Having some slaves who would take actions based on the best interest of their Master would make his move unpredictable. A puppet would be more efficient, but they would also be predictable. The strength he'll need in the future wasn't something a mere puppet can fill in, especially a puppet made from cheap materials. As for a slave who was ambitious and would strive to become stronger. Now that's something to look forward to. With his knowledge, upgrading a slave is easy.
"I'm willing to serve you, My Lord!" Roger immediately screamed out.
"Roger… you-" Captain George couldn't believe it. The consequences of such a decision were too great, making the future look bleak for them.
"Wise choice." Arthur grinned. He wielded the chains to put Roger down before him in a kneeling position. The old man was still bound by chains. "Who else? You have ten more seconds to decide."
"10"
"9"
"8"
.
.
"Hmmmf! HHhmmf!" Colt struggled as he tried to express his intention to yield. His mouth was rendered useless so he could only make sounds.
Arthur put him beside Roger knowing what he wanted to say.
After seeing Roger and Colt surrender, Daniel also followed.
"5"
Losing more comrades, Thera screamed, "JUST KILL ME!"
"3"
'I can't! I can't! I can't die yet!' Captain George struggled inwardly. Then a face of a woman surfaced in his mind.
"I- I too..." said by a man wearing a military hat.
Thera's eyes opened wide after hearing Captain Roger surrender. "Captain-" He was the man she looked up to and respected the most. To think he would also succumb to fear, this made Thera hopeless. And as Arthur was about to count to one, she too yielded. She didn't know why but...
'I guess I'm also…' Thera thought as she looked up and faced Arthur. She was kneeling like the rest and feeling Arthur's presence closer solidified the thought that servitude might have been the best choice out of everything.
The group silently waited for Arthur's unholy mandate, but hearing what he said next made them feel despair and regret beyond anything.
"Thanks for the meal."
*Puchi! Puchi! Puchi!
Like a domino, the bodies of the kneeling soldier began to rupture like a fountain. Blood gushed out from the holes dug by the chains on their body. Their veins and their arteries popped as blood was forcefully dragged out from them.
The group couldn't even utter a single word and the last thing they saw before the veins in their eyes popped was Arthur's maniac smile.
Then all that was left was darkness…
Arthur absorbed all the blood in the room and relished every last bit of it. Even the blood from the dead bats weren't spared.
The bloody scene made Dian weak on the knees. The iron smell was so strong Dian had to cover her nose so she wouldn't feel overwhelmed. And seeing Arthur devour those liters of blood as if nothing made her break in cold sweat. 'Is this really my Young Master I serve?' She thought.
After everything was done, all that's left of Captain George and the rest were pale dried-up corpses.
"How are we going to cover this up?" Dian asked, seeing the corpse and broken furniture.
"They're still alive, barely. It's going to take a while, but they'll soon wake up. I know you have many questions, and I will answer them I promise. For now, rest." Arthur arrived in front of Dian in a flash. Arthur's eyes glowed and like a hypnotic gem. "Maste- " Dian fell unconscious after looking at them. Arthur then carefully laid her on the bed.
Arthur walked towards the bodies and dropped a bit of his own blood in their mouths. After that he wielded one of the chains. It came closer to him, it was coiled around an object like a snake. Arthur uncoiled it and saw a communication device. He snatched it from Daniel during the chaos.
After masterfully altering his vocal range Arthur managed to mimic Captain George's voice. He then proceeded to call Nick and John first, then Josh and Derek.
After the call he crushed the device and waited for his next meal.