Chapter 65: I Am the One Who Rings Death’s Bell, Part 19

If he had done nothing, Hunger would have decisively defeated War and they would probably be out of here already. He was aware of that. Anyone would be, and it made sense that if you had an easy way to win, you'd pursue it. But that victory consisted of fleeing with their tails between their legs with no gain other than their survival. War and Hunger, pregnant or not, would certainly continue to be a problem. All he would achieve with that would be to gain time to catch his breath and plan his next move. When he couldn't aspire to more, that had been not only acceptable but his most fervent hope. But now he could aspire to more. He was capable of getting rid of half of the damn whores of the apocalypse, why should he waste the opportunity?

"We had a deal!" Hunger insisted, as if she felt truly betrayed.

"I didn't say anything about not killing War. You can have what you want if you step aside, or you can die screaming like her. But I already know what you're going to choose. So die."

Sam fired the various ice weapons. It was worth taking the time to mold them, even if it was just a few seconds, because after all, a few seconds could decide the outcome of a battle. The reason different types of weapons existed was that. There were spears, swords, maces and all that because the shape mattered, not just the material, which was always iron, or so he hoped it would also apply to ice, which would give him an advantage.

Anyway, he was no expert.

They flew out quickly. He couldn't reach War, as she was just lying on the ground, as if still trying to process the betrayal of her older sister, spitting blood from her mouth, her wounds regenerating, although he observed not as quickly as Hunger's attacks, for some reason.

Did his nature as Satan's son give his attacks a special boost?

In any case it was advantageous, don't look a gift horse in the mouth. He directed his attacks towards Hunger, who was the biggest threat. Hunger dodged it, as said, she didn't possess the same defense system as her sister, so she had to physically dodge, ducking, jumping, contorting. The damn woman slipped like a snake between the ice weapons and none of them hit the mark. Then Hunger raised an arm and aimed at him, firing that invisible charge. Sam gritted his teeth and prepared to receive the shot, even though he couldn't see it, all he had to do was catch it. He raised a large ice barrier in front of him, and then realized he should do the same in front of the three of them, to keep up appearances and for the value he believed the sisters had for him.

He raised the barrier as fast as he could, as strong as he could, solid, unbreakable.

He wished it was, but it shattered into a thousand pieces and he flew back along with the ice remnants, back to the tavern. He writhed, it hadn't been a direct hit or he would have lost his limbs, at the very least. What power that attack had, damn it.

Yes, Hunger was the biggest threat without a doubt, but it didn't matter. At least he knew, unlike with War a few minutes ago, that he could hurt her, that he could kill her. She had no special defense, no secret he had to unravel.

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He got up again while Violet and Christina distracted, one couldn't say they did much more, Hunger with their attacks.

Now the sisters had a reason to ally against him. It wasn't a good situation, but the alternative was much worse in his opinion. Besides, he had a plan, a fucking good plan. He wouldn't have set it in motion if there wasn't a way to cling to victory. He wasn't that kid who had sabotaged his own mission to prove something to Rose, to Detective Adams and to everyone, to not feel inferior. This time he had a head as cold as hell. And his enemies would discover, like the Wright family, the bite of ice.

War slowly got up, taking a few wobbling steps towards her sister.

"Who would have thought we'd be fighting side by side again so soon?" said Hunger.

"Don't think I've forgiven you so easily," said War, with a grimace. "But for now we'll do what needs to be done, okay? Don't come at me with nonsense, sister."

"No, no. I didn't... I didn't want this to happen."

"I got it. Now move."

"Get into the tavern and go up to the first floor," Sam shouted, ordering.

He had no idea why he was saying it, but Christina didn't hesitate for a second to turn around and start running inside. In no time he saw her going up the stairs. Violet took a little longer, but eventually followed her little sister. Well, she was here, risking her neck for him. Despite everything, he couldn't ask for much more. It was already a miracle that she hadn't reported him to the authorities. He supposed it was more for what could happen to them than for him. But in the end, intention wasn't what counted, but results.

War and Hunger approached together. Just walking for now. Sam was right on the threshold. The tavern light illuminated his silhouette.

"You've made a serious mistake, Hunger. Do you think your sister is going to let it slide? This betrayal, this pain. The humiliation you've put her through. Shaking her around like a toy. Proving she's weaker. You could have had exactly what you wanted. But because of sentimentality, now all that's going to happen is that you'll die as soon as you lower your guard, at the hands of your own sister."

"You don't know us," said Hunger. It wasn't a particularly convincing answer. He wondered if Hunger herself believed what she was saying. He supposed she had to believe it.

"It's true, but I think it's enough to tell the truth. You're not called what you're called by chance. You're always hungry. A voracious hunger for everything. Because you're famished. You lack everything. And your sister's... Well, War is confrontational. War has hot blood. She would never back down from anything. And what she likes most is violence. But she's not going to applaud you for achieving the good maneuver of betraying her. No, sir. She'll make sure the enemy isn't close enough to try it again, like any good general in a war."

His shoulders shook slightly. It was forced laughter, but necessary.

"As I said, you don't know us," Hunger said simply. "After all, we are sisters. We are the only beings in this creation that resemble each other. Unlike you humans, who can go around killing any human that comes your way. Since you reproduce like rabbits, that at any moment I can step on hundreds or millions of you like ants and expect you to come out again. We are only four. And we stick together. No matter what."

Sam clicked his tongue. He hadn't expected his strategy to work, but he thought he had to try. Was it possible that Hunger had told the truth, that the bond between the sisters was so unbreakable? That was something to keep in mind anyway, for when he dealt with Death and the other sister. Pestilence. Just by the name, by how it affected or defined their personalities and what it suggested about their powers, he had no desire to encounter Pestilence. Death least of all.

But Pestilence would be, well, real fucking disgusting.

I Am the One Who Rings Death's Bell, Part 19: END