‘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.65Please respect copyright.PENANAAMInwy9LX0
But when I look at these women—65Please respect copyright.PENANATdnzqXVicE
I only see strength.65Please respect copyright.PENANA0ItX163g32
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.65Please respect copyright.PENANAqXnZE3TOiG
I will never betray my people!’
‘Then you’ll die, lady.’
The shadow beneath the mother moved—slithering toward Suriel.65Please respect copyright.PENANAB9VQUSXrBa
As it approached, Suriel stepped back—65Please respect copyright.PENANAoslMOgEvvd
but froze when Jessie and Larah appeared behind her.
‘This is a test,’ Suriel proclaimed.65Please respect copyright.PENANAG0tg3tK2em
‘My faith is being tested—and I shall pass it.’
The shadow merged with her own.65Please respect copyright.PENANAJp5cWIv3oC
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—65Please respect copyright.PENANAgHrGgsvcIq
the ground shook.
The source was Suriel.
Despite the invisible force restraining her, she managed to move—65Please respect copyright.PENANABMouxOeqLX
a single, powerful leap launched her toward the mother, who still hadn’t moved.
Just as Suriel’s fist was about to land—65Please respect copyright.PENANAgcqnva9aLD
Sark’s bullets forced her to retreat.
‘What would you have done if I hadn’t stepped in, Mother?’
‘That wouldn’t have happened.65Please respect copyright.PENANAzmagDcIg71
And even if it had, one fist wouldn’t be enough to defeat me.’
Now, Suriel stood at the center.
Her army was dead.65Please respect copyright.PENANAR15s9Evze4
The enemy had surrounded her.
They opened fire.65Please respect copyright.PENANAcacNR8MKYp
Jessie unleashed flames.65Please respect copyright.PENANAQET5mqC5Gp
Larah fired energy blades.
Yet Suriel refused to bow.65Please respect copyright.PENANALS5F3mcciu
Refused to fall.
Finally, the mother joined the battle.
She stretched out her hand toward Suriel—palm open.65Please respect copyright.PENANANcyI9vtzws
Then she closed her hand.
The shadow beneath Suriel erupted—forming spikes that pierced her body.65Please respect copyright.PENANAsxhkxA3w1K
The light in her eyes faded for good.
Yet she remained standing.65Please respect copyright.PENANA008cxKMSvO
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.65Please respect copyright.PENANAz6K2thcljJ
I think his name was Dean.65Please respect copyright.PENANAffp7qarB8g
He told me some very interesting things.’
‘Then bring him to us instead,’ Larah snapped.65Please respect copyright.PENANAJ8SkSaLTf8
‘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.65Please respect copyright.PENANAMGcKtHb5MA
But I don’t see it.65Please respect copyright.PENANAfQbOnK5jma
Your heart is corrupted. Your soul, tainted.65Please respect copyright.PENANAtq0cIbm0xq
You can still return, Larah—if you wish.’
‘Return from where?’
‘From the darkness, my child.65Please respect copyright.PENANAwjGm1fpiOV
Well, it’s up to you whether you follow me or not.65Please respect copyright.PENANAF2H89aHclA
I don’t really care.’
And with that, the mother turned and walked away.
Sark shrugged—and followed.65Please respect copyright.PENANA9Y7CC90wRb
The soldiers did the same.
Jessie glanced toward the White House—65Please respect copyright.PENANAXnewXgRvjL
then at Larah.
‘Let’s go—for now.65Please respect copyright.PENANAUAi3NNxWjM
We won’t stay long, and we need to rest.65Please respect copyright.PENANA1eaS7zTqY7
You know I’ve got business there too, so I get how you feel.65Please respect copyright.PENANAwhEoRZhm1s
But... I was about to become something.65Please respect copyright.PENANAY7RTfwGpty
That axe was consuming me.65Please respect copyright.PENANA7QDwsV23Fh
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.65Please respect copyright.PENANA4NcmrBWL9l
Just... don’t let it get to the point where you’d even consider something like that.65Please respect copyright.PENANADagBmQL8Mm
When we arrive, put the sword away. Far from you.65Please respect copyright.PENANA6Pq8uOCKP4
Maybe then your mind will clear.’
Jessie walked on.
Larah looked down at her weapon.65Please respect copyright.PENANAxqJqub2lz4
She slid it back into its sheath—65Please respect copyright.PENANAdNclxgVnEo
and followed.
In the Forest
Nicole now faced the commander.65Please respect copyright.PENANANonXDHWnFA
He stood still.
There was no time to waste.
Nicole launched herself at him.65Please respect copyright.PENANA6gvPjRYqsu
As she closed in, she used her blood to create a double.65Please respect copyright.PENANA41Kq5n3Lpr
Both wielded blood-forged scythes and slashed at the commander.
One strike.65Please respect copyright.PENANAOAMGD6jj1M
Then another.65Please respect copyright.PENANAZ4xDibsoxz
And another.
Nicole quickly realized—65Please respect copyright.PENANAV9U5KjeGdw
he wasn’t fighting back.
He was already covered in deep wounds.65Please respect copyright.PENANAYXrhF2hOmf
Severe wounds.65Please respect copyright.PENANA0psrrZtXVY
And they weren’t healing.
His form shifted.65Please respect copyright.PENANAfAgKOFRfB2
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…65Please respect copyright.PENANAQ6DJ1Q0BeO
The only reason I didn’t finish you—or the others—65Please respect copyright.PENANAPEyCACKxA1
was because you were there among them.65Please respect copyright.PENANAQJGHUgeV48
I went to hunt the fleeing ghouls, hoping it would satisfy the hunger…65Please respect copyright.PENANACZ1Ch2Nkp1
But it wasn’t enough.
And when I came back—65Please respect copyright.PENANAmWR4HcEKdY
and saw the corpses…65Please respect copyright.PENANAvLDS53hSvZ
and you…
I knew the hard choice you must’ve made.65Please respect copyright.PENANAaymx2KOVCi
I’m sorry, Nicole.65Please respect copyright.PENANALLfXHck1IO
For hurting you.65Please respect copyright.PENANAEBZN7ts8Re
For forcing you to kill them.65Please respect copyright.PENANA8YKuJSZCnX
I failed you all. I—’
‘Ssh… it’s okay.65Please respect copyright.PENANAi50s1IFEfF
Please—don’t speak.65Please respect copyright.PENANAsWDYuVyVpV
It’ll only hasten your death…65Please respect copyright.PENANAysRDwx1ax5
and I need every moment we have left.’
Nicole leaned in—65Please respect copyright.PENANAqbE7jUoAVg
and kissed the commander.65Please respect copyright.PENANAScDTBVbBbX