Ominous shadows appeared across the towers sphere heralding the presence of the demonic creatures' that dwelt within. Their black wings extended they glided along the golden rays now bursting forth from its midst to where Cessiro stood chanting a strange gibberish language.
Screeching their spurious alliance they came to rest at Cessiro's feet engulfed in a blinding light. In that moment Cessiro shred his human skin and joined in the creatures wailing song. Just as quickly as the light had appeared, it dissipated returning Cessiro to his human form.
None had borne witness to this transformation
Then with an imperious wave of his hand Cessiro commanded the demons to enslave the terrified teenagers before him.
The demons encircled the ones who had just turned thirteen separating them from the initiated older gang members who looked on knowingly. One by one the demons bat like wings drew the youths into their embrace, their boney fingers invading their bodies searching for the tattoo that denoted their maturity.
Swasie marched up and down silently passing the death sentence over those who the demons discarded. Disdainfully he pushed them aside mentally noting the names of those missing the sacred red tattoo of twisted snakes that should have appeared on this, their thirteenth birthday.
Now the demons danced around the chosen ones bathing them in the light of the Holy Baton; chanting all the while the spell that would awaken their alien genes.
Cessiro watched in satisfaction as the demons completed their task. With a wave of his hand he ordered their withdrawal. Off they flew into the night, their shrieks fading into insignificance as horrendous claps of thunder heralded the fledging Underlings 'Awakening'
Swasie glared at Cessiro infuriated by the demon's subservience to him. Tonight was his moment of glory! How dare his master's messengers obey Cessiro!
Enraged Swasie declared his supremacy to the skies above, and in the ancient language of his alien ancestors, ordered them to obey his command.
Swords of lightning flashed through the dark sky bending to Swasie's will as he orchestrated their ritualistic dance. Battle stations drawn, they pierced the stormy clouds that had gathered, setting them ablaze with fiery abandonment. Horrendous claps of thunder acknowledged the warning, as the clouds released their watery burden.
Rain pelted unmercifully upon the fledging Underlings standing speechless and afraid as the sound of Swasie's evil laughter penetrated their being.
Swasie eyes locked with Cessiro, daring him to retaliate. Electricity pulsated between them as their eyes carried out a deadly conversation. Finally, after what seemed an eternity, Cessiro reluctantly bowed his head in subservience. Satisfied that he'd put Cessiro in his place, Swasie turned his thoughts to the final part of his mission.
The church bells had begun to toll the third hour. The hour of the dead zone was near; it was time to deliver the 'Scribe of Unity' to Tuloosa.
"Now Underlings it is time for you to know your destiny! You have bathed in the light of the holy baton destroying your human traits! Your alien genes now reign supreme and you no longer have any allegiance to humans. Your life belongs forever to our great ruler Sissnaska. At the ritual of Moon Harvest, all will be revealed," Swasie declared imperiously.
"Now imbeciles follow me!"
In a state of shock the Underlings followed Swasie through the pelting rain back to the passageway, unable to disobey one of pure alien blood. Trembling, their footsteps faltered as they heard a sad pitiful moaning resonating all around them.
Pudge clung tightly to Hunk as an eerie mist floated towards them. Louder the moaning became as the mist began to take the form of the mangled corpse of Isobelle De Witt Braden.
The ghoulish apparition hovered above the terrified teenagers, beseeching them to listen; imploring them to abandon the path of evil...warning them that their fate would be as hers if they followed the path of her bastardized son Tuloosa.
Strangely unafraid Hunk couldn't take his eyes away from that wretched face dripping with blood; he could only feel the suffering that this tormented soul had endured.
Then as Braden's church bells rang out the third hour, an agonized cry reverberated throughout the passageway. The pitiful bellowing escalated swiftly into the tortured roar of a vengeful beast, howling for its departed mother.
The ghostly apparition of Isobelle De Witt cried out, responding to the forlorn wail. Then, with one last mournful look, she vanished without a trace.
A deathly silence followed, then, like jet propulsion, the newly anointed Underlings took off.
"Cowards! Cessiro, deal with them!" Swasie ordered as he roughly grabbed Hunks arm, forcing him into the side passage that led to where Tuloosa waited.
"No Swasie, stop!" Hunk screamed as he saw the staircase where he'd heard that terrifying growl.
Without a word Swasie reached into his pocket and placed a silver Rune onto the first step. Immediately the grating sound of moving stone echoed up the stairwell from behind the door below which had for centuries, blocked entry to the outside world.
Hunk watched as the ancient wooden door slowly creaked open.
"Come on Swasie...let's get out of here!" Hunk pleaded as he freed himself from Swasie's grasp.
With one last cold stare Swasie walked unwaveringly down the stairs, the 'Scribe of Unity' in his hands.