“I’m sorry old man.”

It’d hurt but it was necessary.

Thrope crouches down next to an older man with a head of grey hair. If anyone else was in the room they would have seen some family resemblance. The man is family too, blood family. Which is why this hurts.

More than the blood, more than the whatever the hell that pain had been. Betrayal runs deeper.

It ran both ways today. Thrope for beating his Uncle and his Uncle for betraying the Family. How else to keep everyone safe than to see that the Exarchs are the only way?

~~~

A Seer had come to Thrope shortly after his Uncle had explained to him what his new world was. The Seer had explained what the world really is and offered Thrope a way to take his rightful place.

It had been an easy choice, a childhood of fear and pain drove the Thyrsus.

So Thrope had waited, listening to his Uncle and learning how the Pentacle worked. At the same time he was learning the rules of the Chancellor. Despite requests from the Praetorians, the Chancellor’s path is the one that rings true in Thrope. Violence works but it’s only a tool. Better to make the Sleepers only care about the next shiny thing. It pervades the Family, something Thrope knows he can use and control.

Thrope knew it was expected of him but he bargained anyway. His Uncle was His. Everyone else who wouldn’t submit was fair game. Though the Thyrsus knew most wouldn’t, most believed in the Dream. The Stories make sense, there’s no reason to doubt them. The problem is the Pentacle keeps losing. They lack focus, lack drive.

~~~

A syringe filled with ketamine and potassium chloride is gently removed from a pocket. The old man’s eyes grow wide before closing, finally the pain had taken him under. All the better, today had centered around making sure he went some level of peace and dignity. No telling what those lunatics of the Praetorians would have done. All part of the deal, bring down the weaklings and Thrope’s uncle was his to deal with.

His heart stops soon enough. No need to check his pulse, Thrope watches with Life.

~~~

Some time later Nic buries his Uncle in a deep grave out in the woods. Some of the sick fucks may wanted to use his body as a message. The fuck is with some people. Zealots

Still the deal had been made. The Family would now serve Thrope and through him the Exarchs. The Chancellor and the Father would get their dues. Hesitating one last time Thrope places the stone coin his Uncle had commissioned for him onto his grave.

“I’m sorry old man.”