‘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.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSsHJQRrrn
But when I look at these women—200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEw8WyIDMat
I only see strength.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVstCZoNGvY
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.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnhZxdJX3B
I will never betray my people!’
‘Then you’ll die, lady.’
The shadow beneath the mother moved—slithering toward Suriel.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLse7bkzUc
As it approached, Suriel stepped back—200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMZeROzkmI
but froze when Jessie and Larah appeared behind her.
‘This is a test,’ Suriel proclaimed.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2qOsn8vV7
‘My faith is being tested—and I shall pass it.’
The shadow merged with her own.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdg2Lltcot3
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—200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFvANOMx0G
the ground shook.
The source was Suriel.
Despite the invisible force restraining her, she managed to move—200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZuytkv43b
a single, powerful leap launched her toward the mother, who still hadn’t moved.
Just as Suriel’s fist was about to land—200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4m4JknhB34
Sark’s bullets forced her to retreat.
‘What would you have done if I hadn’t stepped in, Mother?’
‘That wouldn’t have happened.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSYHvTciMI
And even if it had, one fist wouldn’t be enough to defeat me.’
Now, Suriel stood at the center.
Her army was dead.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqIs6JEmNW
The enemy had surrounded her.
They opened fire.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrH5etrHu8
Jessie unleashed flames.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4n7tljt8t
Larah fired energy blades.
Yet Suriel refused to bow.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkFI8Z7WH8
Refused to fall.
Finally, the mother joined the battle.
She stretched out her hand toward Suriel—palm open.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JYXp7zMbt
Then she closed her hand.
The shadow beneath Suriel erupted—forming spikes that pierced her body.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1dbJGNINo
The light in her eyes faded for good.
Yet she remained standing.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3Rhm9lDnc
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.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFD7X4igZTJ
I think his name was Dean.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ksXp9NoT7
He told me some very interesting things.’
‘Then bring him to us instead,’ Larah snapped.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFEAG1ly2w
‘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.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOluUafv3Ox
But I don’t see it.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPaU14ZMOa
Your heart is corrupted. Your soul, tainted.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8b5xdHliC
You can still return, Larah—if you wish.’
‘Return from where?’
‘From the darkness, my child.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8izlDQI2Yn
Well, it’s up to you whether you follow me or not.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvZetGFcKQ
I don’t really care.’
And with that, the mother turned and walked away.
Sark shrugged—and followed.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0ESKrsqSR
The soldiers did the same.
Jessie glanced toward the White House—200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeKxjzPE5W
then at Larah.
‘Let’s go—for now.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxC9spwcwu
We won’t stay long, and we need to rest.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakq1ERbKFT
You know I’ve got business there too, so I get how you feel.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XJi14EqMQ
But... I was about to become something.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPi9L5e92a
That axe was consuming me.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡag0oHZ9mll
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.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3H2EYFWl8s
Just... don’t let it get to the point where you’d even consider something like that.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3btHvj3J1W
When we arrive, put the sword away. Far from you.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRN222C4oa
Maybe then your mind will clear.’
Jessie walked on.
Larah looked down at her weapon.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0E2kV753kj
She slid it back into its sheath—200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvElBbsApw
and followed.
In the Forest
Nicole now faced the commander.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJ8O6QPtSh
He stood still.
There was no time to waste.
Nicole launched herself at him.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlGHRG02HE
As she closed in, she used her blood to create a double.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AACUUAVen
Both wielded blood-forged scythes and slashed at the commander.
One strike.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFvg5YsdMO
Then another.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIeUnNxQJrv
And another.
Nicole quickly realized—200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzyZsaMhjld
he wasn’t fighting back.
He was already covered in deep wounds.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikOTxiyW6l
Severe wounds.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVyF8ehyVg
And they weren’t healing.
His form shifted.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXZFllPd7j
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…200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJWyNXkawK
The only reason I didn’t finish you—or the others—200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAgnRya3Hr
was because you were there among them.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hDottPNpB
I went to hunt the fleeing ghouls, hoping it would satisfy the hunger…200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuBg1hzBfC
But it wasn’t enough.
And when I came back—200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XxVqxLanf
and saw the corpses…200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xsZTGExrV
and you…
I knew the hard choice you must’ve made.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeEgcVIwQNV
I’m sorry, Nicole.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97X52rOhX6
For hurting you.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPPlXD71fm
For forcing you to kill them.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡho4eJVh7Vv
I failed you all. I—’
‘Ssh… it’s okay.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtSE1rznWr
Please—don’t speak.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6w7sbBicUe
It’ll only hasten your death…200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAH1jpcbfW
and I need every moment we have left.’
Nicole leaned in—200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnku8c5qGM
and kissed the commander.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsVxGJKUPM
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