Free Vampire Hunter D: Dark Road Part Three Page B

mud as it began to dissolve.
    â€œThis is what melted those ancient ruins—run for it!” the hoarse voice cried, but there was no point listening to it. White smoke already filled the cavern, and the floor and ceiling were both collapsing.
    Looking back as he ran toward the cataract with Gordo under one arm and Rosaria under the other, D saw, in the far reaches of the white smoke, the silhouette of the deflating globe spilling deadly fluid everywhere.
    â€”
    â€œIs it clear whether Schuma is alive or dead?” the great General Gaskell asked, his voice issuing from somewhere in the darkness. His tone suggested neither sorrow nor regret. “Madame Laurencin, Dr. Gretchen, and the Duke of Xenon have all been slain, and although Grand Duke Mehmet hasn’t, his wounds keep him occupied. Including you, only four of the resurrected remain. What’s more, one of the four has sided with the enemy. I have to wonder if any of you will actually do any good.”
    â€œI resent that, General,” said another voice. It was that of the Dark One—Major General Gillis. “However, there certainly may be something to what you say. I have faced him myself. What I can tell you about D’s ability wouldn’t help us at all. But if I may, I’d like to ask you this—just who is D?”
    â€œI don’t know,” Gaskell answered simply. “There wasn’t a single mention of him in the data I was given by the Sacred Ancestor. And it’s pointless to speculate why that might be. All we can do is slay the bastard.”
    â€œIndeed, milord. However, the only problem is that those you’ve summoned might not be up to the task.”
    Gaskell donned a bitter grin. He had no choice but to nod in agreement.
    â€œHowever, I have a proposal for you.”
    â€œWhat would that be?” the great general asked, his gaze flying up toward the unseen ceiling.
    â€œCombining the lives of Schuma, Mehmet, and Lady Ann, you might invite one more. That should certainly be possible.”
    If Major General Gillis was expecting a refusal, he was to be sadly disappointed. The great General Gaskell allowed himself to sink into a silence heavier than the darkness.
    â€œWas I out of place to suggest such a thing?” Major General Gillis inquired apprehensively after some time had passed.
    â€œWe’re one short,” the general responded gravely, freezing the other Nobleman. “With four lives instead of three, I might select a worthy replacement. Oh, that’s merely a jest. But this will definitely call for three lives.”
    â€œOf course, milord ,” Major General Gillis said; apparently he was quite the flatterer.
    â€œI have orders for you, Major General Gillis.”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    â€œDevote every ounce of your energies toward defeating D. That is my condition if you don’t wish to be added as the fourth life.”
    â€œIt will be my pleasure.”
    â€œIt would seem to be too much of a task for you alone. Take some of my chamberlains with you. These are the locations of Schuma and Mehmet.”
    While it was unclear how he shared that information with the Nobleman, a startled cry of “Oh!” rang out in the darkness.
    â€œIt shall be done. Milord, you may begin preparations to awaken your newest guest.” Gillis then continued, “Actually, I’ve had a secret love for the daughter of Roland, the Duke of Xenon. Now I might have contact with her openly.”
    First his ebullient tone and then the rest of his presence vanished. As he disappeared, the southern Frontier’s greatest warrior, guardian, and overseer, General Gaskell, spat, “Filthy little pedophile.”

THE PLAGUE VILLAGE
CHAPTER 4
    â€”
    I
    â€”
    W hat’s this? A roadblock?” Juke said from the driver’s seat, seeing men on the road about sixty feet ahead.
    The men were most definitely armed, and there was a barricade behind them, made