"Did you… see anyone else in there? Besides me?"
"No," I replied, my tone even. I didn't want to lie, not about something so simple. "What were you doing?"
Her gaze flickered away, as if weighing her words carefully. I could feel the tension in her posture. She was cautious, wary, which was reasonable. After all, she had just been on the receiving end of an apocalyptic battle, and she didn't know me—or Shalltear—well enough to trust us completely.
"I… my friends and I were going to Ohio," she said slowly. "We found a device that can… supposedly stop the apocalypse. But only S.H.I.E.L.D. has the technology to activate it. That's why my friend and I…" Her voice trailed off, as though she were debating whether to finish the explanation.
I raised an eyebrow slightly but remained silent, letting her words settle. Then I spoke, nodding slowly. "That makes sense. You must have gone to Ohio, which explains why I didn't see anyone else there. The battlefield was clear—just you, and the aftermath of their fight."
Kate blinked at me, and for a moment, I saw something like relief pass across her face. She had been expecting suspicion, interrogation, maybe even hostility—but I simply nodded, accepting her explanation.
After a brief pause, she asked, curiosity peeking through the fatigue in her voice, "What are you… doing here, then?"
Shalltear's voice broke in smoothly, calm and confident, almost rehearsed. "My lord wishes to eliminate the two beings who were fighting here. That is all."
Kate let out a short, incredulous laugh, the sound sharp against the quiet of the ruined landscape. "Wait… you mean you just came here to…?" Her voice faltered, unable to finish the sentence.
Shalltear tilted her head slightly, as if amused by the question. "If you doubt my words," she said, her tone serene but commanding, "the corpses of the two beings lie in the battlefield before us. You are welcome to inspect, should your curiosity persist."
Kate's eyes flicked toward me, a mix of disbelief and curiosity, as she tried to gauge whether I would confirm this. I merely smiled faintly, an edge of amusement in the expression, though my eyes stayed calm and calculating.
"You need to rest," I said softly, letting the words drift in the quiet evening air, "we need to move tomorrow. Ohio isn't going to wait for us, and neither will the chaos spreading there."
Kate looked down at her hands, the memory of the blast still fresh in her mind, the exhaustion of survival heavy on her shoulders. I didn't push; there was no need. She already understood that the world wouldn't pause for her recovery.
Shalltear remained near, silent but attentive, her crimson eyes following Kate's every movement. The vampire's presence was both intimidating and reassuring, a silent reminder that I was not without formidable allies.
Kate finally spoke, her voice quieter now, tinged with resignation. "Ohio… right. I suppose there's no time to waste."
I nodded, giving her a faint smile. "Exactly. Rest now. The journey ahead will demand more than just your strength—it will require focus, strategy, and endurance."
Her gaze lifted slightly, meeting mine with a flicker of determination returning to her eyes. I could see it—the spark that refused to be extinguished, even after what she had endured. It was the same spark I had noticed before, when she had struggled to survive against the devastation of Captain Marvel's energy.
"Then we move at first light," I continued, my tone firm but gentle. "You've had your rest. Tomorrow, we go to the Ohio base."
Shalltear inclined her head gracefully. "As you command, my lord. Your instructions are sufficient."
I returned my attention to the fire, letting the warmth of the flames provide a brief comfort against the lingering tension of the battlefield. Kate followed suit, eating a small portion of the remaining bison meat I had carved earlier.
~~~
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