‘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.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtJpyD8yma
But when I look at these women—71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RnpiBc7b3
I only see strength.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBj1d3Oqi3K
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.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwwx0Y1N8X
I will never betray my people!’
‘Then you’ll die, lady.’
The shadow beneath the mother moved—slithering toward Suriel.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbGmC3wE51
As it approached, Suriel stepped back—71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyB75DWD5rX
but froze when Jessie and Larah appeared behind her.
‘This is a test,’ Suriel proclaimed.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgn9Debso3
‘My faith is being tested—and I shall pass it.’
The shadow merged with her own.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrcW2MlEJ8
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—71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡas9vnuSl8A
the ground shook.
The source was Suriel.
Despite the invisible force restraining her, she managed to move—71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1whLzfk5B
a single, powerful leap launched her toward the mother, who still hadn’t moved.
Just as Suriel’s fist was about to land—71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡum5McQz0Y5
Sark’s bullets forced her to retreat.
‘What would you have done if I hadn’t stepped in, Mother?’
‘That wouldn’t have happened.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZXBE9XaJo
And even if it had, one fist wouldn’t be enough to defeat me.’
Now, Suriel stood at the center.
Her army was dead.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjL4lUrBnsg
The enemy had surrounded her.
They opened fire.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevzBW6THGK
Jessie unleashed flames.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzBrfOoystO
Larah fired energy blades.
Yet Suriel refused to bow.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7M7ERMKvY
Refused to fall.
Finally, the mother joined the battle.
She stretched out her hand toward Suriel—palm open.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmPYVLDGYd
Then she closed her hand.
The shadow beneath Suriel erupted—forming spikes that pierced her body.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vaN9HH6Eb
The light in her eyes faded for good.
Yet she remained standing.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZZ4kOAMDH
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.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gTnSEzkNc
I think his name was Dean.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSsMnk5cyN
He told me some very interesting things.’
‘Then bring him to us instead,’ Larah snapped.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAu8Xv1d0Em
‘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.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDkbYNOtn8
But I don’t see it.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIuvlFk9pJ
Your heart is corrupted. Your soul, tainted.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOii5e7xEu4
You can still return, Larah—if you wish.’
‘Return from where?’
‘From the darkness, my child.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93A8labUSY
Well, it’s up to you whether you follow me or not.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYUDlRuYIO
I don’t really care.’
And with that, the mother turned and walked away.
Sark shrugged—and followed.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJhUoK69un
The soldiers did the same.
Jessie glanced toward the White House—71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosADA8vEVm
then at Larah.
‘Let’s go—for now.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvAgGt9uVI
We won’t stay long, and we need to rest.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNb1N0BLson
You know I’ve got business there too, so I get how you feel.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqQwDabXIl
But... I was about to become something.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZiRWRNs9v9
That axe was consuming me.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDgelZep1Q
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.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNY4rfqCcEP
Just... don’t let it get to the point where you’d even consider something like that.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskIOQLj3mI
When we arrive, put the sword away. Far from you.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmeZ67zsq9
Maybe then your mind will clear.’
Jessie walked on.
Larah looked down at her weapon.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuyefm2AZe
She slid it back into its sheath—71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7o0cYRsKY
and followed.
In the Forest
Nicole now faced the commander.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDJWkVoak0
He stood still.
There was no time to waste.
Nicole launched herself at him.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmvcdt50wh
As she closed in, she used her blood to create a double.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXwnKHXt6s
Both wielded blood-forged scythes and slashed at the commander.
One strike.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9caquuoeJ
Then another.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQ8KYRIZ0G
And another.
Nicole quickly realized—71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIOAqXzXpb
he wasn’t fighting back.
He was already covered in deep wounds.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiw4c06FNYu
Severe wounds.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jpBv2Pchr
And they weren’t healing.
His form shifted.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM47Y6jQn4v
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…71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bOJHjNIbT
The only reason I didn’t finish you—or the others—71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcq9GO11jHd
was because you were there among them.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7nJWgDT3U
I went to hunt the fleeing ghouls, hoping it would satisfy the hunger…71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ctDeRduT3
But it wasn’t enough.
And when I came back—71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXK35FlU3tD
and saw the corpses…71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfQO6LCBsk
and you…
I knew the hard choice you must’ve made.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AwHzpxnUl
I’m sorry, Nicole.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzDRUxcnv9
For hurting you.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9BMsyCWWp
For forcing you to kill them.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIt8UXLQOC
I failed you all. I—’
‘Ssh… it’s okay.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsV6goLfcPS
Please—don’t speak.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLs5aCmzoB3
It’ll only hasten your death…71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dVRubfv3S
and I need every moment we have left.’
Nicole leaned in—71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3tu4O4dH0
and kissed the commander.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqubDiWB3Gd
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