‘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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqK9ap2u94R
But when I look at these women—27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInhe08B82M
I only see strength.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2Ol4caH3c
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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7an2x0sdvE
I will never betray my people!’
‘Then you’ll die, lady.’
The shadow beneath the mother moved—slithering toward Suriel.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiZs5Sm0zm
As it approached, Suriel stepped back—27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1NWsCiLew
but froze when Jessie and Larah appeared behind her.
‘This is a test,’ Suriel proclaimed.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuumrfINqxH
‘My faith is being tested—and I shall pass it.’
The shadow merged with her own.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fQGpQi1QB
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—27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKIWz2uqTL
the ground shook.
The source was Suriel.
Despite the invisible force restraining her, she managed to move—27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7SCiDbq4Z
a single, powerful leap launched her toward the mother, who still hadn’t moved.
Just as Suriel’s fist was about to land—27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLMf13BaKg
Sark’s bullets forced her to retreat.
‘What would you have done if I hadn’t stepped in, Mother?’
‘That wouldn’t have happened.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmkj7IWr4t
And even if it had, one fist wouldn’t be enough to defeat me.’
Now, Suriel stood at the center.
Her army was dead.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6vOyotoYv
The enemy had surrounded her.
They opened fire.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPPDCtNknG
Jessie unleashed flames.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgqZqHXrd1
Larah fired energy blades.
Yet Suriel refused to bow.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDY6U6qBW64
Refused to fall.
Finally, the mother joined the battle.
She stretched out her hand toward Suriel—palm open.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrReFI5RE80
Then she closed her hand.
The shadow beneath Suriel erupted—forming spikes that pierced her body.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTZLhRVGo8
The light in her eyes faded for good.
Yet she remained standing.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKY6N8efgVj
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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6AatSzQVVn
I think his name was Dean.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyqkTakbMu
He told me some very interesting things.’
‘Then bring him to us instead,’ Larah snapped.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHDa5sNHWN
‘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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavnEp1z9Ho
But I don’t see it.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFFzx4HqB1
Your heart is corrupted. Your soul, tainted.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9t5Dfkn9OY
You can still return, Larah—if you wish.’
‘Return from where?’
‘From the darkness, my child.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwnzweH3aK
Well, it’s up to you whether you follow me or not.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmBCpdhUz8
I don’t really care.’
And with that, the mother turned and walked away.
Sark shrugged—and followed.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6ogb3A15J
The soldiers did the same.
Jessie glanced toward the White House—27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt30HyHdkRd
then at Larah.
‘Let’s go—for now.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBUoowqXV3
We won’t stay long, and we need to rest.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNfyNjzxda
You know I’ve got business there too, so I get how you feel.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYcXElp8kI
But... I was about to become something.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YVzbSJowU
That axe was consuming me.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzDA1lXd1E
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.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNLnCB203t
Just... don’t let it get to the point where you’d even consider something like that.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuyrXxw1Th
When we arrive, put the sword away. Far from you.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaS44eXnP0
Maybe then your mind will clear.’
Jessie walked on.
Larah looked down at her weapon.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LoERvsLkv
She slid it back into its sheath—27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0hi0iDvVV
and followed.
In the Forest
Nicole now faced the commander.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHTvTcdJhS
He stood still.
There was no time to waste.
Nicole launched herself at him.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfQzHIIEuj
As she closed in, she used her blood to create a double.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxAlRR18mQ
Both wielded blood-forged scythes and slashed at the commander.
One strike.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7EmZdUyIs
Then another.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdihJsK5WZK
And another.
Nicole quickly realized—27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7jS7Cjdv8
he wasn’t fighting back.
He was already covered in deep wounds.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQrrjpe93z
Severe wounds.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LjqN53zAP
And they weren’t healing.
His form shifted.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxz2KiE21yX
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…27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrOxPGsxyG
The only reason I didn’t finish you—or the others—27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTruSj6EDn
was because you were there among them.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcHhJkSc5X
I went to hunt the fleeing ghouls, hoping it would satisfy the hunger…27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLknMIpRYn
But it wasn’t enough.
And when I came back—27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBmDJaPdhY
and saw the corpses…27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLBaP0YfMP
and you…
I knew the hard choice you must’ve made.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6coAHO5nRB
I’m sorry, Nicole.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidXE5g1m1F
For hurting you.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMiDyh10Z6
For forcing you to kill them.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDtsmr7bQu
I failed you all. I—’
‘Ssh… it’s okay.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2U00wT1iY
Please—don’t speak.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSPPEas1F4
It’ll only hasten your death…27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5a7HXtj8ig
and I need every moment we have left.’
Nicole leaned in—27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZlObww0Rz
and kissed the commander.27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjWGH01SFe
