“You killed my mother,” the girl said, drilling Witch with a fierce gaze that could have melted steel. “I don’t want to be like you.” She suddenly reached into the bag. Her hand came out cupping water. Careful not to spill a drop, she brought her hand to her face, closed her eyes, and let the water spill over the bridge of her nose.

The healing water seared her skin, sealing it as if by magic. Her small body trembled with pain. But the sensations passed, and her mouth parted in a silent cry. Tears began to seep from her eyes.

“Drop it! Kill her!” the Dark Priest screamed.

Johnis dove at Witch while all eyes were locked on the girl. He grabbed the priest’s cloak and threw him to the floor. Alucard flapped for the ceiling, squawking with rage.

Johnis dragged the flailing priest into the group of four Forest fighters. “Douse him, Karas!” he yelled, foot on the priest’s cloak so he couldn’t stand.

She understood immediately. In one step she was over him, bag poised to douse him. But she was still fixated on the water for herself, he thought. Desperate for more.

“Get back!” Johnis cried at the Horde.

The priest threw both hands over his head. “Back! Do as he says. Back!”

No one moved.

Karas dipped her hand into the bag and splashed water over herself, this time her head, and another palmful on her neck. And more on her chest and her shoulders. She began to tremble like a twig in the wind, weeping as she quickly doused herself and washed away the disease at the heart of the Teeleh’s temple.

“It’s getting on me!” the priest shrieked. “Stay back, stay back!”

Only a spot or two of water touched him, but in his mind it might well be acid burning his flesh. And perhaps it was.

Silvie had her sword at the priest’s throat. “One move and you’ll pray it was only water, not your own blood.”

The room squirmed with a thousand Shataiki cowering back into the corners. They’d never been this close to the healing waters.

“Out of the room, all of you,” Johnis snapped.

The temple guard still didn’t move. Their twisted minds couldn’t fathom being so soundly routed by a bag of water.

Silvie pressed her blade against Witch’s neck. “Tell them.”

“Get out. Out, out, out!”

They rushed out, clogging the doorway. Shataiki bats streamed out above them like a swarm fleeing their cave at dusk.

Silvie yanked the priest to his feet. “Don’t think I can’t sever your head with one jerk of my sword. Move!”

Johnis took the bag of water from Karas and splashed half of what remained on her back. What was once Horde had become a creature of Elyon once more.