Глава 13

Tiny drops of liquid fall on my face.

My vision blurs.

Delphine!

A shadow draws near.

Delphine!

Mother?

I try to wipe my eyes.

I see another pair of eyes right there in front of me.

Red flows from their sockets.

Delphine... go no further...

You're hurt—

You'll only be in the way. Same for me.

Kill me, before whatever this is consumes me.

The Swordguards and Her Grace will kill the Sarkaz.

Do not put yourself in danger, Delphine... no...

I don't even feel the pain anymore...

Free me. Then stop.

I draw my sword.

She is still conscious. I should not do this to her. But I see the relief in her eyes.

She grabs my sword, sending it into her own body.

I'm trembling. I can't see clearly.

Lady Delphine—You must live—

Thank you—for freeing me—

I look down and see the red eyes.

She gives up breathing, smiling to the end.

This is... Sarkaz...

Mother...

My feet cannot move. Worry, unease, and fear grip them.

The lights go out. The only light comes from above deck.

There is only silence amongst the bodies. Rain solidifies as it falls.

Flowing backwards, evaporating, converging.

A red-black sun rises into the sky, obscuring its white counterpart.

A bloodless complexion emerges from the black sun, not a speck of blood on it.

He descends from the black sun.

I avert my gaze.

Am I afraid?

How shameful...

Hmm.

You should not have dodged.

The paleness of your face would have contrasted well with the blood drops.

They would have painted a picture of beautiful despair.

Hmph.

Leeches can't stop playing with blood, I see.

Nothing has changed with you people, even after all these centuries.

Rain begins to fall again.

Drip. Drop.

Look.

It's a good day to die.

Your Grace, this attack was planned.

As expected.

For a sovereign of the Sarkaz to pay a personal visit, though... all well and good, I suppose.

The battle below is not going well. The officers are organizing the defense.

No matter. This one is our only threat.

Mother... the Duke of Windermere points her sword towards the invading Sarkaz leader.

I cannot see the expression on her face, but I know that is not the mother I know so well.

The soldier was right. I would only be in the way.

I've long had enough of Leithanian Spire Arts.

I wonder what the spine of a Vampire looks like.

Hmmm.

You're a strong Victorian. You don't think you'll shirk back.

But your blood will betray you.

The creator built a bridge of life for humanity, and I stand above the bridge.

Oh?

Not any worse than those spire madmen.

A blue blade cuts through the rain of blood.

A tiny drop of rain cuts open Mother's cheek.

Was it the red rain, or blood seeping out? I could not see.

There is no change in Mother's expression, but... have I ever seen her get hurt before?

Poor fool.

Still clinging to dreams and fantasies.

Guess why your battleship fell from within?

Focus on the mission at hand, soldiers.

Ready.

Roger.

Your duty is to kill the enemies of Windermere, not protect the life of Windermere.

Do all you can to weaken the Sarkaz. Victoria will take back what is hers.

The Vampire's movement starts to slow.

No, the Swordguards are too fast.

I've received formal military training. I did not go to Londinium unprepared.

But here and now, I realize the weight of the words 'Duke of Windermere'.

My mother never let her daughter see the kinds of battlefields that she knew.

Hm.

Not bad, not bad... you aren't a duke of Victoria for nothing.

How many Sarkaz have you eaten?

I don't have any such disgusting habits.

No.

You and your ancestors reveled in war, from Kazimierz to Leithanien.

A Duke of Windermere once had an army of Sarkaz. In the War of the Four Nations, which engulfed most of the land...

How did you or your ancestor use them?

Parlor tricks, the theft of witchcraft, a favorite of the Nachzehrer.

The blood and flesh of Sarkaz spread across the battlefield, becoming yet another bulwark for your glorious armada.

You ate them up, alright.

Are you after revenge, Sarkaz?

Of course.

How dare you trifle with the methods of my creation, the property of the Crimson Court?

He's being strengthened by the blood of the fallen?

No.

It is no longer bodily fluids, but a part of the curse.

Prepare counter-Arts.

Stay calm.