‘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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjviWhOC3M
But when I look at these women—28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIpbGwKeeg
I only see strength.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FoueDReCf
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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSLcqAlcGQ
I will never betray my people!’
‘Then you’ll die, lady.’
The shadow beneath the mother moved—slithering toward Suriel.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopREFNnpul
As it approached, Suriel stepped back—28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFCAr7cI5c
but froze when Jessie and Larah appeared behind her.
‘This is a test,’ Suriel proclaimed.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3MAaubOVU
‘My faith is being tested—and I shall pass it.’
The shadow merged with her own.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Cn6KUv7nJ
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—28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgO0WHC8aR
the ground shook.
The source was Suriel.
Despite the invisible force restraining her, she managed to move—28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2leeYhWaRH
a single, powerful leap launched her toward the mother, who still hadn’t moved.
Just as Suriel’s fist was about to land—28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhH7llqRUP
Sark’s bullets forced her to retreat.
‘What would you have done if I hadn’t stepped in, Mother?’
‘That wouldn’t have happened.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRItSR2rPIB
And even if it had, one fist wouldn’t be enough to defeat me.’
Now, Suriel stood at the center.
Her army was dead.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLaxZ3COnx
The enemy had surrounded her.
They opened fire.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7ZidLj7ka
Jessie unleashed flames.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCskfxymv4
Larah fired energy blades.
Yet Suriel refused to bow.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LubUAlpqN
Refused to fall.
Finally, the mother joined the battle.
She stretched out her hand toward Suriel—palm open.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDyxbShPe5
Then she closed her hand.
The shadow beneath Suriel erupted—forming spikes that pierced her body.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqRFoIG9NE
The light in her eyes faded for good.
Yet she remained standing.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mFTlsSMD1
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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlOwxbNee0
I think his name was Dean.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25cfAWFBsu
He told me some very interesting things.’
‘Then bring him to us instead,’ Larah snapped.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTAaPd80vn
‘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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx74zSOqQDL
But I don’t see it.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRT5LsOGnk1
Your heart is corrupted. Your soul, tainted.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7GYN8DB1x
You can still return, Larah—if you wish.’
‘Return from where?’
‘From the darkness, my child.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2nfnlvIJH
Well, it’s up to you whether you follow me or not.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp83TEpade1
I don’t really care.’
And with that, the mother turned and walked away.
Sark shrugged—and followed.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KMLJPEDwa
The soldiers did the same.
Jessie glanced toward the White House—28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgmm4bqMl5
then at Larah.
‘Let’s go—for now.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzkeINISPg
We won’t stay long, and we need to rest.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelemywwL7X
You know I’ve got business there too, so I get how you feel.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxTxDoYrzM
But... I was about to become something.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSzgB3hCVX
That axe was consuming me.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6tnryTKND
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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8pzNW7uBpN
Just... don’t let it get to the point where you’d even consider something like that.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjK4gYV9mMM
When we arrive, put the sword away. Far from you.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8sxTAvu69
Maybe then your mind will clear.’
Jessie walked on.
Larah looked down at her weapon.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTtegppOnn
She slid it back into its sheath—28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmSGheyKvf
and followed.
In the Forest
Nicole now faced the commander.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEwsUx07Wi
He stood still.
There was no time to waste.
Nicole launched herself at him.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡks9vBSES2K
As she closed in, she used her blood to create a double.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3P3xxk1GVl
Both wielded blood-forged scythes and slashed at the commander.
One strike.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwk4jmfM7dR
Then another.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjNva2LB7q
And another.
Nicole quickly realized—28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlyFBUxBgb
he wasn’t fighting back.
He was already covered in deep wounds.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupcsIjyIE2
Severe wounds.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIC9wI4NmDY
And they weren’t healing.
His form shifted.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RDk2YLeSF
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…28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pvsTpHiX1
The only reason I didn’t finish you—or the others—28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKOxIccmVO
was because you were there among them.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazvp9Vmf2F
I went to hunt the fleeing ghouls, hoping it would satisfy the hunger…28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKar8xoHc2
But it wasn’t enough.
And when I came back—28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3YgXFpvYga
and saw the corpses…28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XHl0jq4Vi
and you…
I knew the hard choice you must’ve made.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgO4nKaGDs
I’m sorry, Nicole.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt27VQGEihJ
For hurting you.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWUU7i8Hld
For forcing you to kill them.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRe6B1Z7w3s
I failed you all. I—’
‘Ssh… it’s okay.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDdZid9VMP
Please—don’t speak.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXp4AgCKhwO
It’ll only hasten your death…28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxnsx98ZkeS
and I need every moment we have left.’
Nicole leaned in—28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9qKw7BZWA
and kissed the commander.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydRaF4YeVm
