‘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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LNrgmG3SB
But when I look at these women—75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKh2p08sw5
I only see strength.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERdDf283Pz
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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvP94bwb6b
I will never betray my people!’
‘Then you’ll die, lady.’
The shadow beneath the mother moved—slithering toward Suriel.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UETXhzZUO
As it approached, Suriel stepped back—75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWyF4hZcls
but froze when Jessie and Larah appeared behind her.
‘This is a test,’ Suriel proclaimed.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gD6a5dQpg
‘My faith is being tested—and I shall pass it.’
The shadow merged with her own.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JLubLRl1T
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—75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUE1pnu69q
the ground shook.
The source was Suriel.
Despite the invisible force restraining her, she managed to move—75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLl6dbOMv8y
a single, powerful leap launched her toward the mother, who still hadn’t moved.
Just as Suriel’s fist was about to land—75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3axLGYcVf
Sark’s bullets forced her to retreat.
‘What would you have done if I hadn’t stepped in, Mother?’
‘That wouldn’t have happened.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7JLJ0Mtgt
And even if it had, one fist wouldn’t be enough to defeat me.’
Now, Suriel stood at the center.
Her army was dead.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2QK4hFWUs
The enemy had surrounded her.
They opened fire.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbmpyPej6Y
Jessie unleashed flames.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡde2gzpJw5M
Larah fired energy blades.
Yet Suriel refused to bow.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHf6c2vkrr
Refused to fall.
Finally, the mother joined the battle.
She stretched out her hand toward Suriel—palm open.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4V3tuXtt2
Then she closed her hand.
The shadow beneath Suriel erupted—forming spikes that pierced her body.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgI0R84CbCF
The light in her eyes faded for good.
Yet she remained standing.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39Fcl9yqQy
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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VRrMsBNg8
I think his name was Dean.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7SZ3KvTbbz
He told me some very interesting things.’
‘Then bring him to us instead,’ Larah snapped.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlfgXZhpYD
‘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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7Zs0MsdZ6
But I don’t see it.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY47K2yUt0o
Your heart is corrupted. Your soul, tainted.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyDtPnTf6f
You can still return, Larah—if you wish.’
‘Return from where?’
‘From the darkness, my child.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnemtzcAho
Well, it’s up to you whether you follow me or not.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltZ4HTTsT8
I don’t really care.’
And with that, the mother turned and walked away.
Sark shrugged—and followed.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutZuZosi4t
The soldiers did the same.
Jessie glanced toward the White House—75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVeWXFb0SBQ
then at Larah.
‘Let’s go—for now.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNEdCS5Mk6
We won’t stay long, and we need to rest.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLUxuRlReF
You know I’ve got business there too, so I get how you feel.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBu7U7z4HXR
But... I was about to become something.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZqvcCoFTp
That axe was consuming me.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFjoCrFu5o
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.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAKddE7JQx
Just... don’t let it get to the point where you’d even consider something like that.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfdocqWDIp
When we arrive, put the sword away. Far from you.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxeKh67pYU
Maybe then your mind will clear.’
Jessie walked on.
Larah looked down at her weapon.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4TT6AGVZD
She slid it back into its sheath—75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjNinGLrcv
and followed.
In the Forest
Nicole now faced the commander.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUStgRjx0J
He stood still.
There was no time to waste.
Nicole launched herself at him.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmh6PNtzx1
As she closed in, she used her blood to create a double.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfNLgl5PfX
Both wielded blood-forged scythes and slashed at the commander.
One strike.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHL3CqTRlr
Then another.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHuU3BxMWRC
And another.
Nicole quickly realized—75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cwneKPnLS
he wasn’t fighting back.
He was already covered in deep wounds.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjV2HQXfNw4
Severe wounds.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVwyXBTKYQ
And they weren’t healing.
His form shifted.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpWeOMAFgF
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…75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRAqGjDGWf
The only reason I didn’t finish you—or the others—75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlDDSVeKMT
was because you were there among them.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcKubff3wR
I went to hunt the fleeing ghouls, hoping it would satisfy the hunger…75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCV3ikblOjE
But it wasn’t enough.
And when I came back—75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPQTUkXir9
and saw the corpses…75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVhLDgPrSW
and you…
I knew the hard choice you must’ve made.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpU21jD3Fu
I’m sorry, Nicole.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoT7xVKYKfc
For hurting you.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdzwzwqcEP
For forcing you to kill them.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjjMfrYpOI
I failed you all. I—’
‘Ssh… it’s okay.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOG06nLnZll
Please—don’t speak.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZCefKdo2J
It’ll only hasten your death…75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjK91B5iE7
and I need every moment we have left.’
Nicole leaned in—75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopXmTzFAOP
and kissed the commander.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLblR7zVWc
