‘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
