‘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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxEJHK6kph
But when I look at these women—219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8mSZBqO5r
I only see strength.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCl9cpjP6Z
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZLkorLkZ4
I will never betray my people!’
‘Then you’ll die, lady.’
The shadow beneath the mother moved—slithering toward Suriel.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWvlhAGm36
As it approached, Suriel stepped back—219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaX3RepDTdp
but froze when Jessie and Larah appeared behind her.
‘This is a test,’ Suriel proclaimed.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhuFreOvK1
‘My faith is being tested—and I shall pass it.’
The shadow merged with her own.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpagPvPjKR
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—219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLU2ZCLiYKR
the ground shook.
The source was Suriel.
Despite the invisible force restraining her, she managed to move—219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDotshM7sY
a single, powerful leap launched her toward the mother, who still hadn’t moved.
Just as Suriel’s fist was about to land—219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpxY723ZyE
Sark’s bullets forced her to retreat.
‘What would you have done if I hadn’t stepped in, Mother?’
‘That wouldn’t have happened.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdHdo0mfGb
And even if it had, one fist wouldn’t be enough to defeat me.’
Now, Suriel stood at the center.
Her army was dead.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYQMKQXn3N
The enemy had surrounded her.
They opened fire.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngQJgVi5Fb
Jessie unleashed flames.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVK945LSJFs
Larah fired energy blades.
Yet Suriel refused to bow.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83fDnGLQ7T
Refused to fall.
Finally, the mother joined the battle.
She stretched out her hand toward Suriel—palm open.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcHPXsuXyL
Then she closed her hand.
The shadow beneath Suriel erupted—forming spikes that pierced her body.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoKgdG66kx
The light in her eyes faded for good.
Yet she remained standing.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxjaDOvMaP
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82D3JYNVUg
I think his name was Dean.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGWWDjJmzU
He told me some very interesting things.’
‘Then bring him to us instead,’ Larah snapped.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXNW7EGkGg
‘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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzb6qgJeqc
But I don’t see it.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHztsOhb75n
Your heart is corrupted. Your soul, tainted.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78CMy9IslF
You can still return, Larah—if you wish.’
‘Return from where?’
‘From the darkness, my child.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnRK26jfih
Well, it’s up to you whether you follow me or not.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNAtLya3XH
I don’t really care.’
And with that, the mother turned and walked away.
Sark shrugged—and followed.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7iaTPhLtvo
The soldiers did the same.
Jessie glanced toward the White House—219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UG6p5yFdP
then at Larah.
‘Let’s go—for now.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ciCDypfet
We won’t stay long, and we need to rest.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jjdSsRmPk
You know I’ve got business there too, so I get how you feel.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXl2dtMZFkS
But... I was about to become something.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYAj0GRy4M
That axe was consuming me.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCD2mRgtOA
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08mJwaeqqu
Just... don’t let it get to the point where you’d even consider something like that.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FrgchPTRc
When we arrive, put the sword away. Far from you.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuTqWhmadK
Maybe then your mind will clear.’
Jessie walked on.
Larah looked down at her weapon.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3t1Y1tgf7f
She slid it back into its sheath—219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVM8BRJdHb
and followed.
In the Forest
Nicole now faced the commander.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiU3P4lWLVj
He stood still.
There was no time to waste.
Nicole launched herself at him.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3Sq7mI4Yz
As she closed in, she used her blood to create a double.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoF1daQoVd
Both wielded blood-forged scythes and slashed at the commander.
One strike.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYIoto4i5a
Then another.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqkl9ragBH
And another.
Nicole quickly realized—219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetZrF0FNOQ
he wasn’t fighting back.
He was already covered in deep wounds.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cRYNXN8IY
Severe wounds.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hpKUExwM3
And they weren’t healing.
His form shifted.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjKxILLsPR
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…219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQQyW8NUpa
The only reason I didn’t finish you—or the others—219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrS2kGuipie
was because you were there among them.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBgE2q6Qr6
I went to hunt the fleeing ghouls, hoping it would satisfy the hunger…219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksjwp03EJa
But it wasn’t enough.
And when I came back—219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSFW8cDQXg
and saw the corpses…219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQm811o5xc6
and you…
I knew the hard choice you must’ve made.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOKdZ5sx3t
I’m sorry, Nicole.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWU3nOhJ91p
For hurting you.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0tWEuQvoM
For forcing you to kill them.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pDx42Tags
I failed you all. I—’
‘Ssh… it’s okay.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4P6MqnT1fS
Please—don’t speak.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBV81gbjKg
It’ll only hasten your death…219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJeIyAcqibc
and I need every moment we have left.’
Nicole leaned in—219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1O1TiLD0wi
and kissed the commander.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtWmyBhBgu
and then Add to home screen.