Quiet.
The ocean splashed against the cliffs behind the large manor. Distant birdsongs could be heard once more.
Sharon pulled out her reserve pistol—the only loaded gun among the group. Pistol pointed at the windows of the manor, she led the way through the gate. Charles, Jorge, Sergio, the surviving four men, Nyetta, and the tattooed cultist followed.
Rains sauntered toward the stunned Morgan. Stood behind him. Breathed in through her nose. Exhaled luxuriously through her mouth. Relished in the victory of the moment.
She lifted the rifle. Pressed the butt of it against Morgan's head. Drew the rifle back. Then buttstroked the mage hard in his skull. A dull thump as wood slammed into bone. Morgan collapsed to the ground. Unconscious.
She grinned as she stared down at Morgan's body. Tilted her head some. A singular thought, a vengeful thought, occurred to her: How does it feel to be powerless?
Rains glanced up when Gabe addressed her. Nodded. "Yes. Come. You will be shown what you have been fighting for. What all who have come here have been fighting for. And you will see the depths of Deegan's evil."
Sharon, Sergio, and the rest of the group reached Gabe and Rains. Gathered around. Rains tossed the lightning rifle to Sergio. And she only needed to make a slight head gesture to the manor behind her for him to understand.
"Alright, my friends," Sergio said to the four men. "Draw swords. Secure the manor. We killed many, but still, be on guard."
The four men each dropped their rifles into a pile and unsheathed their swords. Sergio led the four in through the open front doors of the manor, the lightning rifle held up and ready to fire as he entered.
Jorge clapped a hand on Gabe's shoulder and gave him a friendly shake. "'Ey, don't think I didn't see that, buddy. Well, I kinda did, what with that flash and all. You punched the holy hell outta that fucker and his big dumb shield! That was some right pristine work, I'll tell ya that much!"
Charles crossed his arms and gave Gabe an approving nod.
Sharon holstered her reserve pistol. Smiled back at Gabe. "Good job, Gabe." She cast a concerned glance to his left hand. "Is your hand alright?"
As Sharon, Charles, and Jorge talked with Gabe, Nyetta and the male cultist circled around the group to Rains. They each hugged her one last time, and Rains hugged them back.
Nyetta, with a quick glance to the small patch of black skin and runes poking out from under her chestwrap, said, "Die as you were always meant to die, Sister Jessos. And love your fate."
Rains smiled. "And there shall be naught but joy in this heart."
Then Rains crouched down and searched through the pockets of Morgan's robe. Extracted a key from one of them. She stood, turned, and started walking toward the door.
"Hey," said Charles.
Rains stopped. Glanced over her shoulder at him.
Charles pointed down to the unconscious Morgan. "What about him?"
Rains smirked. Said, "Do as you please. Know that he deserves the worst punishment you can muster."
And Rains started walking again. Sharon caught up to her after a brisk jog. Jorge followed. And Charles, after a short moment of hesitation, decided to go with them.
White. White and immaculate.
The interior of the manor looked even more expensive than Earnhardt's own costly estate. Polished and smooth wooden floors. Luxurious furniture and lantern fixtures, original artwork and portraits hanging from the walls. White walls and ceiling, all kept to an unnatural standard of cleanliness; magic was likely involved.
Rains walked through these familiar halls. Not as Deegan's lieutenant. Not as The Butcher. This time, as a conqueror. As an avenging force.
She passed by the many rooms of the manor; some with open doors, some closed, as Sergio's men conducted their sweep of the building. She walked through the halls of sheer decadence and kingly prestige with a rough, fierce, and confident swagger. Soon, this extravagant manor, this opulent palace—built on the darkest and cruelest impulses of Man—would crumble and burn to the ground. Nothing but ash in the wake of the reckoning that was coming for Deegan.
Rains found what she was looking for. Near the back of the manor, tucked into a corner of the hallway, was a door unlike every other door in the building. Dark brown and bare wood. Iron studs, iron bars. Heavy. Reinforced. Lacking any and all elegance. Built to keep people out. Built to keep people in.
Rains inserted Morgan's key into the door. Kept her hand on it.
Glanced back to Gabe, Sharon, Charles, and Jorge in the hall.
A smile. "This heart is glad that you all have come. That Deegan's sins will be exposed. And that you will see them, and that you will carry with you what has happened here."
Sharon took in a steadying breath. A worried breath.