‘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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqskBnEXI6u
But when I look at these women—26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0sxs3HTJz
I only see strength.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwGI1Ihg7J
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBFdCiOQzy
I will never betray my people!’
‘Then you’ll die, lady.’
The shadow beneath the mother moved—slithering toward Suriel.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOipfTBpNy
As it approached, Suriel stepped back—26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSndheWqAm
but froze when Jessie and Larah appeared behind her.
‘This is a test,’ Suriel proclaimed.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxeKNYENHUM
‘My faith is being tested—and I shall pass it.’
The shadow merged with her own.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmdynldKGc
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—26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lwLNeE2cZ
the ground shook.
The source was Suriel.
Despite the invisible force restraining her, she managed to move—26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSs4qAesPw
a single, powerful leap launched her toward the mother, who still hadn’t moved.
Just as Suriel’s fist was about to land—26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2N4d1o4fu
Sark’s bullets forced her to retreat.
‘What would you have done if I hadn’t stepped in, Mother?’
‘That wouldn’t have happened.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrztUlUNgdn
And even if it had, one fist wouldn’t be enough to defeat me.’
Now, Suriel stood at the center.
Her army was dead.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzIxlFZgcj
The enemy had surrounded her.
They opened fire.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufs75exL5u
Jessie unleashed flames.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9dryoLV1B
Larah fired energy blades.
Yet Suriel refused to bow.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3vjjzft8I
Refused to fall.
Finally, the mother joined the battle.
She stretched out her hand toward Suriel—palm open.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBq1n5KZSpm
Then she closed her hand.
The shadow beneath Suriel erupted—forming spikes that pierced her body.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlEworvhjv
The light in her eyes faded for good.
Yet she remained standing.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBythdx8kZ
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0tr3LIsrD
I think his name was Dean.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ70s9wOon6
He told me some very interesting things.’
‘Then bring him to us instead,’ Larah snapped.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyFojdbEl5
‘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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquGRrEIW1F
But I don’t see it.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDh9mE1XGa1
Your heart is corrupted. Your soul, tainted.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZfiVQd0hk
You can still return, Larah—if you wish.’
‘Return from where?’
‘From the darkness, my child.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiERkkUSze
Well, it’s up to you whether you follow me or not.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkvS1Jkkew
I don’t really care.’
And with that, the mother turned and walked away.
Sark shrugged—and followed.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYpEY8RJnu
The soldiers did the same.
Jessie glanced toward the White House—26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl26EqJUyDF
then at Larah.
‘Let’s go—for now.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSX6GzMvTu
We won’t stay long, and we need to rest.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1G1mMwsbII
You know I’ve got business there too, so I get how you feel.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGcAWCHp7lu
But... I was about to become something.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAg54Dbp8Ts
That axe was consuming me.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNgmXS6ElQ
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.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcldaF9Umb
Just... don’t let it get to the point where you’d even consider something like that.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrN194Q3Ps7
When we arrive, put the sword away. Far from you.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HI5NX3Fjk
Maybe then your mind will clear.’
Jessie walked on.
Larah looked down at her weapon.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMioTtfly4S
She slid it back into its sheath—26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXwVfECJRF
and followed.
In the Forest
Nicole now faced the commander.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDF0xDriu0p
He stood still.
There was no time to waste.
Nicole launched herself at him.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3L7dEbBfFy
As she closed in, she used her blood to create a double.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8g12Hq8Jq
Both wielded blood-forged scythes and slashed at the commander.
One strike.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qyuMszIwO
Then another.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltAnQkKks0
And another.
Nicole quickly realized—26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtc6y5BwSu
he wasn’t fighting back.
He was already covered in deep wounds.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SkzOt1Zyb
Severe wounds.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnpEmEZ3PM
And they weren’t healing.
His form shifted.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50iURK9upX
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…26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmMupEB4UF
The only reason I didn’t finish you—or the others—26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN78FTLHRyB
was because you were there among them.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzriE5HyOjX
I went to hunt the fleeing ghouls, hoping it would satisfy the hunger…26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOpKqK9H84
But it wasn’t enough.
And when I came back—26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Km8R6Xf8U
and saw the corpses…26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhaJLMCQ5s
and you…
I knew the hard choice you must’ve made.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDXXXkTJEA
I’m sorry, Nicole.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVtI3GF0oJ
For hurting you.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXawcEX4Pf
For forcing you to kill them.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdUWYW4vk8
I failed you all. I—’
‘Ssh… it’s okay.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQGtHqGLUB
Please—don’t speak.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORstovpUMs
It’ll only hasten your death…26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddu10k0pb8
and I need every moment we have left.’
Nicole leaned in—26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrTJZEU6ML
and kissed the commander.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjmWrT9d0n
