Rose's sobs echoed through the small cabin, her body shaking in Blake's arms. The pain of losing Gunther was almost too much to bear. She had known him for centuries, and now he was gone forever.
"I can't believe it," Rose whispered between sobs. "Gunther... he was always strong, so brave. How could this happen?"
Blake held her tightly, his own grief mixing with hers. "Duncan caught us off guard. We never saw it coming."
"Duncan...how is that possible? Isn't he a legend, how did he kill Gunther? I don't get it."
Reggie stepped forward, his face a mask of sorrow. "Gunther died protecting us, Rose. He went down fighting, just as he would have wanted."
Rose nodded, trying to find comfort in Reggie's words. But as she opened her mouth to speak again, her eyes suddenly went wide. Her body stiffened, and a cruel smile spread across her face.
"Oh, how touching," the Nemesis sneered, its voice once again coming from Rose's mouth. "Poor, poor Gunther. Such a shame, really."
Blake recoiled, his face twisting with anger and disgust. "You monster! How dare you mock his sacrifice!"
The Nemesis laughed, the sound chilling in its lack of humanity. "Sacrifice? Is that what you call it? I call it the first of many."
Randal stepped forward, his fists clenched. "What do you mean, the first of many?"
The entity controlling Rose turned its black eyes to Randal, its smile widening. "Oh, you simple fools. Did you really think Gunther would be the only one to fall? The moment I'm free, there will be a bloodbath the likes of which you've never seen."
Blake's grip on Rose tightened, his voice a low growl. "That's not going to happen. We won't let you free."
The Nemesis cackled, the sound sending shivers down their spines. "You won't have a choice. Your precious Rose is growing weaker by the moment. Soon, she won't have the strength to fight me at all."
Blake's eyes widened in shock as understanding dawned. "You want to put her in a coma? For how long?"
Randal stepped forward, his face grim. "That's the thing, Blake. We don't know. It could be days, weeks... maybe even years."
Blake shook his head vehemently. "No. No way. There has to be another option."
Reggie placed a hand on Blake's shoulder, his voice filled with sympathy. "I know it sounds extreme, but it might be our only chance to keep her alive long enough to find a way to exorcise the Nemesis."
Blake looked down at Rose, his heart breaking at the sight of her weakened state. The Nemesis seemed to have retreated for the moment, leaving Rose unconscious in his arms.
"And what if we can't find a way?" Blake asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "What if she's trapped like that forever?"
Reggie's grip on Blake's shoulder tightened. "We won't let that happen, Blake. We'll find a way to save her, no matter what it takes."
For a long moment, the cabin was silent save for the sound of Rose's labored breathing. Blake looked from Reggie to Randal, then back to Rose's pale face.
"Okay," he said finally, his voice thick with emotion. "Let's do it. But Reggie, you have to promise me something."
Reggie nodded solemnly. "Anything, my friend."
Blake's eyes met Reggie's, filled with a fierce determination. "Promise me that if something goes wrong, if it looks like we're going to lose her... promise me you'll give her blood, consequences be damned. I can't bear the thought of her dying like this."
Reggie hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "I promise, Blake. If it comes to that, we'll do whatever it takes to keep her alive."
As they began to prepare for the dangerous procedure, none of them noticed the faint smile that flickered across Rose's face. Deep within her mind, the Nemisis waited patiently, biding its time.