‘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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CyvWg129E
But when I look at these women—25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9MFaWVWv1
I only see strength.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgZbQdkKsl
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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCp8ASe18x
I will never betray my people!’
‘Then you’ll die, lady.’
The shadow beneath the mother moved—slithering toward Suriel.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF619tODkcQ
As it approached, Suriel stepped back—25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP16XzluElO
but froze when Jessie and Larah appeared behind her.
‘This is a test,’ Suriel proclaimed.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsjwtN2y3U
‘My faith is being tested—and I shall pass it.’
The shadow merged with her own.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfvzJ9dQyC
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—25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9fMr5Fdib
the ground shook.
The source was Suriel.
Despite the invisible force restraining her, she managed to move—25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CiNh8Fo03
a single, powerful leap launched her toward the mother, who still hadn’t moved.
Just as Suriel’s fist was about to land—25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnruUOMlYUR
Sark’s bullets forced her to retreat.
‘What would you have done if I hadn’t stepped in, Mother?’
‘That wouldn’t have happened.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEE5wFOFi3P
And even if it had, one fist wouldn’t be enough to defeat me.’
Now, Suriel stood at the center.
Her army was dead.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7gdgZ8rC0
The enemy had surrounded her.
They opened fire.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuYkxfzXhd
Jessie unleashed flames.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp03mVSqHlr
Larah fired energy blades.
Yet Suriel refused to bow.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnIAESPAEo
Refused to fall.
Finally, the mother joined the battle.
She stretched out her hand toward Suriel—palm open.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGB1nC2znOu
Then she closed her hand.
The shadow beneath Suriel erupted—forming spikes that pierced her body.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGnoJiaQoi
The light in her eyes faded for good.
Yet she remained standing.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmdKpxlXRY
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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNs6mlh3bj
I think his name was Dean.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDC7ewspDe
He told me some very interesting things.’
‘Then bring him to us instead,’ Larah snapped.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjykAFdzyZ
‘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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwSu9cXRTZ
But I don’t see it.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTemnyabzLR
Your heart is corrupted. Your soul, tainted.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbJ3ASDmDL
You can still return, Larah—if you wish.’
‘Return from where?’
‘From the darkness, my child.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxUSlg2Yr1
Well, it’s up to you whether you follow me or not.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡId9BnrZ8P1
I don’t really care.’
And with that, the mother turned and walked away.
Sark shrugged—and followed.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfp1WTwjR1
The soldiers did the same.
Jessie glanced toward the White House—25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEDU8O7g34
then at Larah.
‘Let’s go—for now.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaAkAqgLkV
We won’t stay long, and we need to rest.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBL2u3LcXI
You know I’ve got business there too, so I get how you feel.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpi6YYwFB2
But... I was about to become something.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJIyzmcr09
That axe was consuming me.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFVSbZIIb8
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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3J93v3yrqg
Just... don’t let it get to the point where you’d even consider something like that.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6v8DePacn
When we arrive, put the sword away. Far from you.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfMCAv3mBL
Maybe then your mind will clear.’
Jessie walked on.
Larah looked down at her weapon.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6QUHjDMtw
She slid it back into its sheath—25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZPuJxQ9vU
and followed.
In the Forest
Nicole now faced the commander.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTQuOA8iTD
He stood still.
There was no time to waste.
Nicole launched herself at him.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDu3aq8usGC
As she closed in, she used her blood to create a double.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmpL7tweBg
Both wielded blood-forged scythes and slashed at the commander.
One strike.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkra3s2iWz
Then another.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUug2WVYFp
And another.
Nicole quickly realized—25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1PSKqenH3
he wasn’t fighting back.
He was already covered in deep wounds.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7khjHHdSt
Severe wounds.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsnxUnuA0c
And they weren’t healing.
His form shifted.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9SsejhV1g
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…25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQmMhrY0py
The only reason I didn’t finish you—or the others—25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH547poLlms
was because you were there among them.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRq6wc6bWqf
I went to hunt the fleeing ghouls, hoping it would satisfy the hunger…25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzANHNge0P
But it wasn’t enough.
And when I came back—25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqkzOWro3v
and saw the corpses…25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJ0zRdh4tr
and you…
I knew the hard choice you must’ve made.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIQYt0qlQg
I’m sorry, Nicole.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWiz8ohq8K
For hurting you.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPb6Ik9aq9a
For forcing you to kill them.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9oy6ahUM7
I failed you all. I—’
‘Ssh… it’s okay.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6aMyX3SSgr
Please—don’t speak.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8nrMqWTbZT
It’ll only hasten your death…25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUW39ZKxWKz
and I need every moment we have left.’
Nicole leaned in—25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5XMD16kTr
and kissed the commander.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhBguCp3sX
