‘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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4AfOcnvK0B
But when I look at these women—113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8neaND7yD
I only see strength.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7iUdldpt0
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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOcRQGeNTp
I will never betray my people!’
‘Then you’ll die, lady.’
The shadow beneath the mother moved—slithering toward Suriel.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡft7HOwfsYi
As it approached, Suriel stepped back—113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjJN7i5km8
but froze when Jessie and Larah appeared behind her.
‘This is a test,’ Suriel proclaimed.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvMv6PLCTa
‘My faith is being tested—and I shall pass it.’
The shadow merged with her own.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZ05AnenqI
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—113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5jl4DNwml
the ground shook.
The source was Suriel.
Despite the invisible force restraining her, she managed to move—113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMHp8QtUrv
a single, powerful leap launched her toward the mother, who still hadn’t moved.
Just as Suriel’s fist was about to land—113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSuWW12ffj
Sark’s bullets forced her to retreat.
‘What would you have done if I hadn’t stepped in, Mother?’
‘That wouldn’t have happened.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbSUPNnUf7
And even if it had, one fist wouldn’t be enough to defeat me.’
Now, Suriel stood at the center.
Her army was dead.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMQrIchF81
The enemy had surrounded her.
They opened fire.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZP3EpavAG
Jessie unleashed flames.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzHYIhfs6F
Larah fired energy blades.
Yet Suriel refused to bow.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYeAvKom0h
Refused to fall.
Finally, the mother joined the battle.
She stretched out her hand toward Suriel—palm open.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyA7ZkikWC
Then she closed her hand.
The shadow beneath Suriel erupted—forming spikes that pierced her body.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpT9eZsto7q
The light in her eyes faded for good.
Yet she remained standing.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdUfbx5doE
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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ14dryo6ASl
I think his name was Dean.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAR6BYwFR3i
He told me some very interesting things.’
‘Then bring him to us instead,’ Larah snapped.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmO0cpthKo
‘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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKztxYhayG
But I don’t see it.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLVni0pSAi
Your heart is corrupted. Your soul, tainted.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkI4lyfeE1
You can still return, Larah—if you wish.’
‘Return from where?’
‘From the darkness, my child.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZB9VujKqA
Well, it’s up to you whether you follow me or not.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQG0TSxjM7g
I don’t really care.’
And with that, the mother turned and walked away.
Sark shrugged—and followed.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyK3BerA1C
The soldiers did the same.
Jessie glanced toward the White House—113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiNvnXQAwz
then at Larah.
‘Let’s go—for now.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyNJ2hPRzT
We won’t stay long, and we need to rest.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mRbf9w0Yc
You know I’ve got business there too, so I get how you feel.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSiQhSDOhtz
But... I was about to become something.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhI9ox85R5
That axe was consuming me.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzt8xroNRC4
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.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyiAruaESg
Just... don’t let it get to the point where you’d even consider something like that.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxdinngVGX
When we arrive, put the sword away. Far from you.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFQ4oZmzro
Maybe then your mind will clear.’
Jessie walked on.
Larah looked down at her weapon.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRtpVd9Pv3
She slid it back into its sheath—113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0mNqNyBYa
and followed.
In the Forest
Nicole now faced the commander.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEZp8uaUBS
He stood still.
There was no time to waste.
Nicole launched herself at him.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFdmlEBZFF
As she closed in, she used her blood to create a double.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVej0GJJz1
Both wielded blood-forged scythes and slashed at the commander.
One strike.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FY5a9mMS5
Then another.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsxAp2vjUu
And another.
Nicole quickly realized—113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQREs38H5L
he wasn’t fighting back.
He was already covered in deep wounds.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yuOPW7wPi
Severe wounds.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT0T5I7HFXw
And they weren’t healing.
His form shifted.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UZz2lDaZH
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…113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFe4yoKQNAq
The only reason I didn’t finish you—or the others—113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWsli5wfJa
was because you were there among them.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPFvVPFON7
I went to hunt the fleeing ghouls, hoping it would satisfy the hunger…113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDeoijQtnsq
But it wasn’t enough.
And when I came back—113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNOVtxjBq1
and saw the corpses…113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyj91e2gvMl
and you…
I knew the hard choice you must’ve made.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4AUqjAn8O
I’m sorry, Nicole.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbD2jM2UEoi
For hurting you.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFm03Vjgvkc
For forcing you to kill them.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkIQGCN89Ru
I failed you all. I—’
‘Ssh… it’s okay.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFHsfDGEh0
Please—don’t speak.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzyyS8Jjd5
It’ll only hasten your death…113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9QDmtMg5x
and I need every moment we have left.’
Nicole leaned in—113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8sFChsaT5
and kissed the commander.113Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡal0Pz1L8OL
and then Add to home screen.