‘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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Bvtpq6jQB
But when I look at these women—26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvFyR98WeP
I only see strength.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBbZtAlnme
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4znpA7Fwvg
I will never betray my people!’
‘Then you’ll die, lady.’
The shadow beneath the mother moved—slithering toward Suriel.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWmzr3rGRX
As it approached, Suriel stepped back—26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyeOiw6Hvp
but froze when Jessie and Larah appeared behind her.
‘This is a test,’ Suriel proclaimed.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoAkLct5ex
‘My faith is being tested—and I shall pass it.’
The shadow merged with her own.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLYLVCXPoi
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmdVwGNXWz
the ground shook.
The source was Suriel.
Despite the invisible force restraining her, she managed to move—26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdjt5gQZSQ
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrR10p6Tk6n
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5mN1ajpsz
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqlmWW4IhT
The enemy had surrounded her.
They opened fire.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EIhsWcbJZ
Jessie unleashed flames.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTb8OKr0eqV
Larah fired energy blades.
Yet Suriel refused to bow.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvG1zVhgUrV
Refused to fall.
Finally, the mother joined the battle.
She stretched out her hand toward Suriel—palm open.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZTgzTZMv7
Then she closed her hand.
The shadow beneath Suriel erupted—forming spikes that pierced her body.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0bDYRegKC
The light in her eyes faded for good.
Yet she remained standing.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIDrQc3x1i
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwVVi9Sq1R
I think his name was Dean.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbMJWgbGWg
He told me some very interesting things.’
‘Then bring him to us instead,’ Larah snapped.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqzilNlS5n
‘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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqxDYbxCYh
But I don’t see it.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMWnYjM9wc
Your heart is corrupted. Your soul, tainted.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMtpSKXBgk
You can still return, Larah—if you wish.’
‘Return from where?’
‘From the darkness, my child.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIjmpFoJ0k
Well, it’s up to you whether you follow me or not.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdbNdnYaqb
I don’t really care.’
And with that, the mother turned and walked away.
Sark shrugged—and followed.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8Rocp5FJZ
The soldiers did the same.
Jessie glanced toward the White House—26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19edqdRA23
then at Larah.
‘Let’s go—for now.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPEqeo3vlv
We won’t stay long, and we need to rest.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjIG59m2YB
You know I’ve got business there too, so I get how you feel.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoVYZSG8Gy
But... I was about to become something.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDokfDmeYi
That axe was consuming me.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYjg40dhLI
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEX4LCpkyDu
Just... don’t let it get to the point where you’d even consider something like that.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWB43pkLrJB
When we arrive, put the sword away. Far from you.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhcTEFZEYJ
Maybe then your mind will clear.’
Jessie walked on.
Larah looked down at her weapon.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDHz1cD4BV
She slid it back into its sheath—26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95v8tLHLrK
and followed.
In the Forest
Nicole now faced the commander.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNh12hoJtLk
He stood still.
There was no time to waste.
Nicole launched herself at him.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvCfYoznCp
As she closed in, she used her blood to create a double.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDCeykny0n
Both wielded blood-forged scythes and slashed at the commander.
One strike.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCgiA47n4u
Then another.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjziPKgqhv
And another.
Nicole quickly realized—26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NZQGeLnVi
he wasn’t fighting back.
He was already covered in deep wounds.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkPOJNuwz8
Severe wounds.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOWWSa3f8B
And they weren’t healing.
His form shifted.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qrTiUg6hu
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1pQDEhKHP
The only reason I didn’t finish you—or the others—26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4vXgs1OvO
was because you were there among them.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJGHaSkvMf
I went to hunt the fleeing ghouls, hoping it would satisfy the hunger…26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3S3ywWwndT
But it wasn’t enough.
And when I came back—26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjmzslpIPPr
and saw the corpses…26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYiQkPhooZ2
and you…
I knew the hard choice you must’ve made.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9jS0UyM5Y
I’m sorry, Nicole.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhqrmYtEvE
For hurting you.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4zprgmOvP
For forcing you to kill them.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCjRAs8ypu
I failed you all. I—’
‘Ssh… it’s okay.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3eKAxNw7y
Please—don’t speak.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡForaaiosdd
It’ll only hasten your death…26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhM9JdDNgJe
and I need every moment we have left.’
Nicole leaned in—26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9AdylyEaB
and kissed the commander.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDfugYLj7R
