Chapter 935 - 934: The Black Emperor is Stronger, More Perfect, and More Charismatic than the Warmaster

Aboard the Vengeful Spirit, in Horus Lupercal's private chamber.

Fulgrim sat opposite Horus, watching him cut into an apple with a gleaming, serpent-hilted knife.

A mysterious energy, impossible to clearly perceive, filled the air.

Fulgrim felt uneasy. He spoke, "Your wounds have healed well."

Horus placed a piece of apple in his mouth. "You've heard?"

Horus shrugged, his eyes deep.

"I tried to keep the news from reaching other Expedition Fleets. I was worried about morale."

"It was nothing, just a small wound on my shoulder."

Fulgrim smelled the lie. "I heard you were near death."

"I survived. I am stronger than ever."

Fulgrim raised his glass. "Then let us drink to your rapid recovery."

He emphasized the word rapid, a smile on his face. It pleased him to match wits with such a powerful being.

"Be patient. The truth will be revealed soon," a voice whispered in Fulgrim's mind.

"Trust Horus. Your fate is inseparable from his."

Fulgrim frowned. He would not wait.

He looked at the knife in Horus's hand. "Tell me about your perfect rebirth."

Horus stared at Fulgrim, seeing his brother's burning pursuit of perfection, a fire blazing in the Warp.

An impulse swelled within him. The urge to draw Fulgrim to his cause was overwhelming.

Horus spoke for three days.

He told Fulgrim everything about the 63rd Expedition Fleet on Davin: Eugene Temba's betrayal, the wound from the cursed blade.

He glossed over the dreams in the Serpent's Coil, but spoke in detail of the great truths he had seen and their father's terrible deception.

A chill ran down Fulgrim's spine. The xenos warlock's warning had been true.

Every time he tried to deny his brother's accusations against their father, a powerful force within him compelled him to silence.

"The Emperor has lied to us." Horus's words made Fulgrim's muscles tense.

"He intends to abandon us in the cold galaxy and ascend to godhood alone."

He slid a stack of papers over. "Read this. The Lectitio Divinitatus. His priests are preaching on my ship."

Fulgrim's fingers trembled as he read the dozen pages.

He looked at the mural of the Emperor on the wall. "I have spent my life trying to become like Him."

"The perfect being who guided me to the stars." Fulgrim said.

"Father was the shining example of perfection. Now you have taken that dream from me."

Horus shot to his feet. "We all believed the Emperor was the embodiment of perfection, but we were wrong."

"He is not perfect. He is just a man. Everything we have strived for has been a lie."

"While we brought the light of scientific reason to mortals, they worshipped a false god and prayed to Him for protection."

He roared, swinging his fist at the mural, shattering the Emperor's portrait.

The broken panels fell from the wall, clattering on the metal deck. Fulgrim stared blankly as the fragments fell.

Tears streamed down his face. His heart was as shattered as the mural. His love for the Emperor had been torn from his chest. What had he been fighting for?

"Brother, I know you are in pain. Nothing built on lies is ever pleasant." Horus rose, walking to him, kneeling, and taking his hands.

"But I must say this: I need my closest brother by my side."

"I ask you to stand with me."

His gaze was fervent, his words earnest.

"I cannot do this without you."

"My brother, my Phoenix, my hope. Soar through the darkness, break the bonds of fate."

"Rise from the ashes!"

"Join Horus, and you will become more perfect!" a whisper tempted.

Fulgrim met his brother's earnest gaze. "What do you want me to do?"

At the same moment, in a corner of the officer's deck.

Lord Commander Vespasian looked around, then asked Akurduana, opposite him, "Did you convince our father?"

Akurduana frowned, shaking his head.

"He believes the organ implants and drugs will make us more perfect."

Vespasian looked at Akurduana with disappointment. He hadn't expected even their father's most beloved son to fail.

After a long silence, he spoke. "Then I must speak with him."

"I advise against opposing him." Akurduana counseled.

"For the Emperor's Children, and for our father, I must speak with him." Vespasian said, resolute.

Akurduana was about to reply when both their communicators buzzed.

They answered simultaneously, then rose.

They met with Eidolon.

The Emperor's Children stood together as the Warmaster and their father approached.

"Akurduana, Champion of the Palatine, I have heard of your deeds."

Horus walked to Akurduana, clapping him warmly on the shoulder.

"You step onto the battlefield like a perfect dancer, decapitating the enemy's mightiest warriors."

"In this, your achievements surpass even Abaddon's."

"I wouldn't say that." A topknot flashed beside the Warmaster. Ezekyle Abaddon stepped to Horus's other side, appraising Akurduana.

Akurduana felt the strength and warmth of the Warmaster's hand, seeping through his pauldron.

The image of the Black Emperor's majestic form flashed through his mind.

He had seen a being more powerful, more perfect, more charismatic.

Akurduana pulled himself from the pride stirred by the Warmaster's praise.

He saw his father approaching with a proud smile.

He said to the Warmaster and Abaddon, "My swordsmanship is far from perfect. Thierry is better than I am."

'Thierry.' Abaddon repeated the name.

"Look at your ungrateful son." A voice of contempt echoed in Fulgrim's mind.

A flicker of disappointment passed through Fulgrim's eyes. He murmured, "He needs help. I will help him."

Moments later, Horus watched the ornate Aquila Lander lift from the deck. He said to Maloghurst, Abaddon, and the others beside him.

"I never understood why Fulgrim favored Akurduana. Now I do."

Inside the Aquila Lander, Eidolon glanced at Akurduana, then asked Fulgrim.

"Father, what is our next task?"

"An Imperial world in the Calinides system is under Ork attack. We must liberate its people from the xenos' foul claws."

"I will meet Ferrus again. The Emperor's Children will fight alongside the Iron Hands."

....

If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.

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