Chains of Vengeance

Chapter 58: The Price of Faith

Narinder gave the twins the order to explore the cult, instructing them that if anything caused them curiosity or doubt, they were not to hesitate to ask him. The twins, displaying the loyalty they had cultivated during their time in the Veil, left the temple with a determination to learn and adapt to their new surroundings.

Finally, Narinder stood up and left the temple. With a snap of his fingers, he ordered the pig who always served him to begin the construction of an elegant house next to his own. The pig obediently set off, a group of cultists following his lead as they began to erect the structure with fervor.

It was a beautiful day, the sun shining in the sky, and Narinder allowed himself a moment of peace as he looked out at the vastness of the horizon. Despite his tendency to get distracted, today he felt the weight of tiredness on his shoulders; he would not do his daily duties, trusting others to take care of those tasks.

With renewed purpose, he walked towards the prison, heading first to see Heket. Arriving in front of her cell, he looked at her with a mixture of defiance and frustration. "Are you going to tell me where your relic is now?" he asked firmly, hoping that the pressure of his situation would cause her to give in.

The sound of his sister's stomach rumbled in the air, a palpable reminder of her hunger. Heket, defiant of her situation, took the notebook and wrote urgently: "GIVE ME FOOD."

Narinder read those large words and, in an exasperated tone, replied: "Sure, just tell me where your relic is." Repeating his earlier comment seemed like an exercise in patience.

Heket growled in frustration and began to write furiously, pressing the charcoal against the paper. Narinder looked at the message, and although the words were poorly written and filled with anger, it was clear that his sister's rage knew no bounds.

Heket's anger and desperation were reflected in her scribbling, making Narinder feel a pang of guilt. Even though her plan was strict and full of challenges, he couldn't help but remember the times when they were both gods, times when unity and happiness were their only reality. Still, he knew that the answer he sought was more important than any feeling of nostalgia.

"I just need a little effort from you, sister," he muttered, more to himself than to her, as he stared at her through the bars.

Heket snarled at Narinder ferociously, her eyes filled with contempt and defiance.

Narinder watched her with a mix of exhaustion and determination. "Do you really think you're going to get through this? Even if you die, your soul is mine," he declared, his voice echoing with an eerie firmness. "I will revive you as many times as necessary until you tell me where the relic is." His words sounded more like a plea than a threat, but the undertone of his statement made clear the power he held over her.

Heket shivered slightly at the intensity of his gaze, huddling as far back as she could inside her cell, as if the cold metal of the bars could offer her some comfort. She pulled out her small bowl of cooked grass and began eating, trying to preserve each morsel as if it were a priceless treasure meant to last.

Narinder watched her internal struggle and the silence that filled the cell became thick, fraught with tension. A pang of sadness pierced his heart at the sight of his sister in such a condition, but he knew he had to stand firm.

With a resigned sigh, he turned and walked away from the cell.

Narinder, with a long sigh, left Heket's cell behind and made his way to where Sozo was. His footsteps echoed heavily in the prison hallway, each one slower than the last, as if deep down he didn't want to face the chaos that now inhabited the mind of the lamb's former ally.