Blood and Belief

Weeks of skirmishes and patrols grind the squad down. They capture a Karthian prisoner named Edric, a seventeen-year-old conscript who reveals both sides believe the other worships demons. Cael has a private conversation with Edric realizing they're mirror images.

Abigail fully reveals her golden-eyed powers for the first time in combat. Elianna recognizes her as a fellow Faithful warrior and they synchronize in battle despite never meeting. Abigail faces 40+ vampires alone while forcing Haatim and Emma toward the exit.

First major battle against Karthian forces. Sevrin performs an amplification ritual, boosting the blood magic blessing to superhuman levels. The battle is brutal but Valorheim holds through enhanced strength. Aldric is wounded by a Karthian officer but Mira saves him.

Fifty soldiers including Squad Two launch a night raid on a Karthian scout camp. The raid is brutal and successful—forty-two return, eight are killed, and approximately twenty Karthians are slain. Cael kills his first enemy: a young, terrified Karthian soldier.

Strategy meeting at safe house. Emma reveals The Turning ritual plan to create vampire-Hunter hybrids. Elianna introduces the concept of the Faithful—humans with supernatural powers called to fight darkness. All eyes turn to Abigail as proof of the hybrid concept.

Safe house reunion: Haatim brings Abigail's unconscious body to the warehouse. Frieda cares for Emma while Petrillo and Damien arrive. Elianna and Matthew set fire to The Crimson Veil and head toward the Hunters to propose alliance. Abigail wakes to Haatim beside her cot.

Haatim returns to rescue Abigail from the battle. They fight back-to-back, reuniting after six months. Abigail's powers are depleted from the battle; she uses remaining strength to telekinetically launch them both out of the building. They escape The Crimson Veil as it burns.