Chapter 2

The sound echoed through the hall.

Arthur's sword clattered down. He threw himself at the coffin, pounding the lid.

"Lilith! Is that you?!"

Whispers flooded in:

[Demon: Stay calm! You're still a fledgling. Your body hasn't fully transformed yet. You still need air!]

[Demon: Cratch the lid! Make him hear you before you suffocate!]

[Demon: The lead is blocking my magic!]

I glanced at the musicians.

"Play! Send her to eternal rest!"

"BLAAARE!"

Trumpets drowned out everything.

Arthur roared at me.

"STOP! I heard her voice! She's alive!"

He clawed at the lead seams. His fingers began to smoke.

I wrapped my arms around his waist.

"You've gone mad! That's a ghoul turning! If you open it, it'll drain your blood!"

"GET OFF!"

He shoved me back hard.

I held on, screaming to the nobles.

"Bear witness! The Duke is bewitched! He wants to unleash a ghoul!"

"If it harms you, I accept death!"

The guests went pale at the pounding inside.

"Madness! The dead can't return! It's transforming!"

"Arthur! Cremate it now!"

"Suppress it before it breaks free!"

Opinion turned against him.

Arthur's eyes blazed. He channeled power into his palm and struck the lid.

"CRASH!"

A crack appeared in the lead seal.

The scratching became violent pounding.

Time for my killing move.

"The corpse is turning! It will claim our souls! Dead Man's Blood! Suppress the ghoul now!"

Buckets of rotting blood were brought forward.

"Pour!"

SPLASH!

The foul blood flooded the coffin, seeping through the crack.

Whispers shrieked:

[Demon: It burns! ]

[Demon: Damn this bitch! I'm invoking emergency power! Burning part of your lifespan to fuel a strength curse! You need to break out NOW before you suffocate!]

The pounding became frantic.

Arthur stared at the blood-drenched coffin, lips trembling.

He spun and kicked my stomach.

"WHAM!"

I flew back, hit the pillar, spat blood.

He grabbed my collar, lifting me.

"Chloe Nightshade, you're dead!"

I swallowed blood and smiled.

"My lord... I'm saving you... This abomination will destroy House Crimson..."

"Noble. Righteous."

His grip tightened on my throat. My vision darkened.

"Since you love purging evil, meet the Devil first!"