The fresh wave of zombies surged forwards once more, but right before their grasping arms reached you, Young thrust her own arms at them. A pulse of invisible energy flowed from her hands, and impacted the oncoming horde like a physical force! It crushed bone, pulverized flesh, and drove the mass of bodies apart with enough force that they flew into the air and onto other rooftops. Even from here, you could sense Young's life energy ravaging their bodies. It wouldn't be long before they experienced a second, more permanent death.

Your grandmother turned back to face you, her eyes and hands having lost their eerie glow.

“Maybe so.” she admitted. “Perhaps I should teach you the proper way to meditate. The fastest way to ease one's thoughts is to soothe the spirit.”

“Yeah…I think I'd like that.” you said, giving her a smile that only felt slightly strained.

Ward cleared his throat in a way that felt not only loud, but also…intentionally obnoxious.

“Need I remind you ‘Moons’ that we are in the middle of a very important battle? We should at least pretend that we are taking this seriously.”

“About as serious as you trying to have us killed just to please some crusty old vampire?” Delphyne mentioned.

“Now is not the time, Gorgon.” Carn growled, but only from the left side of his face. “Not when there is blood to be shed…”

“No one asked you, demon.” she said, glaring at the Were.

“How are you feeling, Carn?” Young asked, showing none of the hatred that Delphyne displayed.

“Still in control.” he confirmed, speaking with the other side of his face this time. “My blood boils, and my mind churns…but I am still myself.”

“As far as you know, at least.” his demon-half said.

Carn's only response was to grumble unhappily.

“I hate to say it, but…Ward's right. We should focus up here.” you recommended. “Varnae needs to see that we mean business.”

“I am sure we will have no trouble convincing him of that…” Young said, her scarlet eyes burning with hatred.

The others nodded their agreement.

“Good. Because we've still got a long way to go.” you said, turning to stare at the Zombie Prince, standing atop the tallest building at the center of the city.

—-----

For a while, your uncoordinated assault was effective enough to push your way past whatever Simon could throw at you. But as both the density and volume of each horde grew to unacceptable levels, you all agreed to let Young lead the charge, while you and everyone else did everything you could to cover her blind spots.

Young's fists flew faster and faster, carving out a direct path to the Zombie Prince by throwing out insane amounts of life energy!

(Cont.)

You closed your eyes and bowed your head in deference, a pleased grin on your face.

“No. The honor is mine, elder. You’ve been serving for longer than I have.”

The tear that represented Mercy’s mouth split open even further.

“Long have I desired for a powerful host with devotion such as yours. Together, we shall retake the night in his name.”

And with those words, the cloth tent collapsed around you. You relaxed, allowing Mercy to slide and slither all over you. It was a bit awkward when you remembered that she used to be an organic being, but she didn’t seem to mind it at all.

Her touch felt like a gentle caress, now. It was a gentleness that she didn’t have in the beginning. You were being treated far more delicately, now, her bandages gliding into place as she reformed your outfit. This one was a bit tighter. Tighter in the way that’d make a high school freshman feel self-conscious about her figure.

The material felt smooth too. So smooth that it made you feel like you were wearing nothing at all. You could feel some heat creeping into your cheeks as you followed that thread of thought.

That feeling immediately went away when you felt Mercy sowing herself into a skirt around your waist. Next was a vest that curved down your chest and looped itself into a belt. After that, you felt a pair of gloves curling around your fingers, and a pair of sandals slipping between your toes.

The only time you flinched was when you felt a band of cloth sliding past your eyes and wrapping around your head. Was this a…blindfold?

“Uhhh, Mercy?”

“Yes, my child?”

“‘My child’?” you thought, a little startled by the way she was addressing you now.

“What’re you doing?”

“Hm? Oh, I’m experimenting with our aesthetic, of course. We must be at our finest.”

You raised an eyebrow as you slowly rose to your feet.

“What, was the raggedy mummy look not working for you?”

“My mind was hazy, and stitchwork is complicated.” Mercy replied, a bit testily.

“So…you were being lazy.”

“It was made for comfort. Was it not comfortable?”

“No no, it totally was. It was really light and breathable.”

“Good. It was designed with that mind.” Mercy said with no small amount of pride. “It is meant to obscure, not restrict.”

“Wow! So you’re like a tailor, then. Or a fashion designer.”

“Uhhh...kid?”

You froze, turned your head, and stared at the one who had just spoken. It was Deadhead, his gun now holstered.

“Who’re you talking to?” he asked.

“Good question.” Harpy remarked, flying up beside him. She was surprisingly swift for someone so big. You were more surprised by that, than the fact that you could now suddenly see, despite your eyes being covered.

(Cont.)