‘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.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXJYfZpMBm
But when I look at these women—199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHuYPXW0sX
I only see strength.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhfaF5HVri
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.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DcvQsla9w
I will never betray my people!’
‘Then you’ll die, lady.’
The shadow beneath the mother moved—slithering toward Suriel.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2AqmYLD2s
As it approached, Suriel stepped back—199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgai8f71oj7
but froze when Jessie and Larah appeared behind her.
‘This is a test,’ Suriel proclaimed.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqXME6DYFK
‘My faith is being tested—and I shall pass it.’
The shadow merged with her own.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BzRT0Y0Ux
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—199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XkS8HsqtI
the ground shook.
The source was Suriel.
Despite the invisible force restraining her, she managed to move—199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzve9zD7XY
a single, powerful leap launched her toward the mother, who still hadn’t moved.
Just as Suriel’s fist was about to land—199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkv6AfVqam
Sark’s bullets forced her to retreat.
‘What would you have done if I hadn’t stepped in, Mother?’
‘That wouldn’t have happened.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EbPH9d7VQ
And even if it had, one fist wouldn’t be enough to defeat me.’
Now, Suriel stood at the center.
Her army was dead.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFM6wMbxIwS
The enemy had surrounded her.
They opened fire.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELE6YjySd4
Jessie unleashed flames.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdaiWEMQFV
Larah fired energy blades.
Yet Suriel refused to bow.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEw7Ct71ZF
Refused to fall.
Finally, the mother joined the battle.
She stretched out her hand toward Suriel—palm open.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNldyGXOhi
Then she closed her hand.
The shadow beneath Suriel erupted—forming spikes that pierced her body.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08BYm6dqME
The light in her eyes faded for good.
Yet she remained standing.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCCxBjMRuB
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.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUe2ikC1Mpm
I think his name was Dean.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HfO1NYP8u
He told me some very interesting things.’
‘Then bring him to us instead,’ Larah snapped.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXdSgbo53n
‘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.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdcVHf1s4H
But I don’t see it.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVSIKrpLHq
Your heart is corrupted. Your soul, tainted.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8nkkB8EIJl
You can still return, Larah—if you wish.’
‘Return from where?’
‘From the darkness, my child.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatdewIpdJK
Well, it’s up to you whether you follow me or not.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46Y894Ldjt
I don’t really care.’
And with that, the mother turned and walked away.
Sark shrugged—and followed.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYVESf4Ypz
The soldiers did the same.
Jessie glanced toward the White House—199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5WdV3s04n
then at Larah.
‘Let’s go—for now.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpOxQrl77v
We won’t stay long, and we need to rest.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgyGzaOmiw
You know I’ve got business there too, so I get how you feel.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNeoN3d726
But... I was about to become something.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YzjV7NCxS
That axe was consuming me.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGcNBVpdpk
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.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL238RTIzG5
Just... don’t let it get to the point where you’d even consider something like that.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorFUG4hjc2
When we arrive, put the sword away. Far from you.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhyJm5gnDQ
Maybe then your mind will clear.’
Jessie walked on.
Larah looked down at her weapon.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXrzL1tzDs
She slid it back into its sheath—199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkF0WprcBF
and followed.
In the Forest
Nicole now faced the commander.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJzzKb1Kzd
He stood still.
There was no time to waste.
Nicole launched herself at him.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz00dgCVUck
As she closed in, she used her blood to create a double.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59NrXXHq48
Both wielded blood-forged scythes and slashed at the commander.
One strike.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5meyF9DXMv
Then another.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJ1NXlxiXM
And another.
Nicole quickly realized—199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUls6zDQhQ
he wasn’t fighting back.
He was already covered in deep wounds.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmlju9MzBt
Severe wounds.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62KlXxFjt2
And they weren’t healing.
His form shifted.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1u4QVj70Ef
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…199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1029yF1Z9
The only reason I didn’t finish you—or the others—199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡueXleQ2rlB
was because you were there among them.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTw3kZb7Pk
I went to hunt the fleeing ghouls, hoping it would satisfy the hunger…199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNg2UFeI8zc
But it wasn’t enough.
And when I came back—199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiM9QlYut0I
and saw the corpses…199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjO1lWGkxvD
and you…
I knew the hard choice you must’ve made.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7ofae58WJ
I’m sorry, Nicole.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQ6LbXb08P
For hurting you.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EpDzZ0eje
For forcing you to kill them.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadwT0w4p8x
I failed you all. I—’
‘Ssh… it’s okay.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKifmSc4JEO
Please—don’t speak.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcXwpFvnTJ
It’ll only hasten your death…199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxjCMXxQQa
and I need every moment we have left.’
Nicole leaned in—199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1pzmC6UB1
and kissed the commander.199Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBttc8HumE
and then Add to home screen.