‘Your eyes! So, you’re also a true immune one… mother!’
‘So that’s what they call it. Interesting. You still hate me, don’t you?’
‘You’re the reason Father died!’
‘He died because he was weak.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAxBkhFcX5
But when I look at these women—29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjaADzZTOxT
I only see strength.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiWfkr3ir4
You! You’re a priest, aren’t you?’
‘Yes!’
‘Are you loyal enough to die for them?’
‘I became High Priest because my belief was the strongest.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivx5V1L1js
I will never betray my people!’
‘Then you’ll die, lady.’
The shadow beneath the mother moved—slithering toward Suriel.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKyGSib6HG
As it approached, Suriel stepped back—29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGpp8u3VyB
but froze when Jessie and Larah appeared behind her.
‘This is a test,’ Suriel proclaimed.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSvocEex2K
‘My faith is being tested—and I shall pass it.’
The shadow merged with her own.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhbjKwj0YX
Her body went rigid.
‘You can finish her off, ladies,’ the mother said, calmly taking a seat on a stone.
Jessie and Larah closed in.
Just as they reached striking distance—29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8bZqlJgwf
the ground shook.
The source was Suriel.
Despite the invisible force restraining her, she managed to move—29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmOBdKAxuC
a single, powerful leap launched her toward the mother, who still hadn’t moved.
Just as Suriel’s fist was about to land—29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pIQE6cbU4
Sark’s bullets forced her to retreat.
‘What would you have done if I hadn’t stepped in, Mother?’
‘That wouldn’t have happened.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMN2n2AseO
And even if it had, one fist wouldn’t be enough to defeat me.’
Now, Suriel stood at the center.
Her army was dead.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKblIXvixK7
The enemy had surrounded her.
They opened fire.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwdNCmO6Je
Jessie unleashed flames.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzpnLcqgMW
Larah fired energy blades.
Yet Suriel refused to bow.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTytWVZn0Au
Refused to fall.
Finally, the mother joined the battle.
She stretched out her hand toward Suriel—palm open.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAfkodzqIl
Then she closed her hand.
The shadow beneath Suriel erupted—forming spikes that pierced her body.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXZluxa3cE
The light in her eyes faded for good.
Yet she remained standing.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUp070hnDF
She died with a smile on her face.
‘Now that she’s taken care of—follow me,’ the mother ordered.
‘Why should we?’ Sark asked.
‘I have a guest you might want to see.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoOV8NkHMD
I think his name was Dean.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWoeuIMiI4b
He told me some very interesting things.’
‘Then bring him to us instead,’ Larah snapped.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0VA0zo2tVu
‘We don’t have time! We must press on and destroy the enemy—’
‘And destroy your own body in the process?’ the mother interrupted.
‘You must be Larah. Dean told me beautiful things about you.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OKxhlOyW4
But I don’t see it.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Dyeg16PeK
Your heart is corrupted. Your soul, tainted.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKdV4nOwg6
You can still return, Larah—if you wish.’
‘Return from where?’
‘From the darkness, my child.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkTd2GIJG1
Well, it’s up to you whether you follow me or not.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjHnhdzO6R
I don’t really care.’
And with that, the mother turned and walked away.
Sark shrugged—and followed.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYOWNYtjK5
The soldiers did the same.
Jessie glanced toward the White House—29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4KRhHmIPD
then at Larah.
‘Let’s go—for now.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNyYfdqTVW
We won’t stay long, and we need to rest.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1N9SV15SVW
You know I’ve got business there too, so I get how you feel.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPF3wF8Wmp
But... I was about to become something.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Y1PbA13iC
That axe was consuming me.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakQl0CsoOP
Luckily, I didn’t turn when the ghoul bit me.’
‘So you want me to get bitten by a ghoul?’
‘No—of course not! That’d be crazy.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xcYz2uPv1
Just... don’t let it get to the point where you’d even consider something like that.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMWnVcUemf
When we arrive, put the sword away. Far from you.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT67NvbvBg2
Maybe then your mind will clear.’
Jessie walked on.
Larah looked down at her weapon.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarlsP3lpNf
She slid it back into its sheath—29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpWYlQblYW
and followed.
In the Forest
Nicole now faced the commander.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmXN1AaWE9
He stood still.
There was no time to waste.
Nicole launched herself at him.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPzfSiJtnP
As she closed in, she used her blood to create a double.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GnucePAxe
Both wielded blood-forged scythes and slashed at the commander.
One strike.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYLz3PGZsK
Then another.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDuARf6TO8
And another.
Nicole quickly realized—29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkwB0FUxKQ
he wasn’t fighting back.
He was already covered in deep wounds.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0lHVI3kWL
Severe wounds.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOYmwrHBbl
And they weren’t healing.
His form shifted.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJInF838sfD
He became human again.
Just as he was about to collapse, Nicole rushed forward and caught him.
‘I got you, Nootra! I got you!’
She lowered him gently to the ground, holding him steady.
The commander finally spoke:
‘When I killed Dracule… and wounded you…29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPpNPzlGSU
The only reason I didn’t finish you—or the others—29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyQIdX7lBH
was because you were there among them.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IM0Wm1jiS
I went to hunt the fleeing ghouls, hoping it would satisfy the hunger…29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6Y58plm5P
But it wasn’t enough.
And when I came back—29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1y0S6GbCSw
and saw the corpses…29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJbcvAOH2z
and you…
I knew the hard choice you must’ve made.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgKv0JF4pR
I’m sorry, Nicole.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41zyUwKjeK
For hurting you.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84Vm28Co1C
For forcing you to kill them.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGwEVBXTsx
I failed you all. I—’
‘Ssh… it’s okay.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqGWCLfhAP
Please—don’t speak.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKZP8kWpLa
It’ll only hasten your death…29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0y0iUefmF2
and I need every moment we have left.’
Nicole leaned in—29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38G07o6mI9
and kissed the commander.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmpFmWQZYC
