After making Ric unconscious, Maria, Lucas, and Rosévet took him to the underground church where it all began. They tied Ric to the holy table. The priest arrived and sprinkled holy water on his body – as soon as it touched him, it evaporated. Lucas almost screamed because he knew what would happen. Maria gripped her gun and said:
Maria - "Master, isn't death more peaceful for him than this?" (She collapsed in tears)
Rosévet pulled Maria close and held her, trying to calm her. Lucas kept his weapon aimed – who knew what might happen?
Priest - "Quiet, all of you! Look at him! We were lucky this time – the ritual of words wasn't completed by that delivery man. We were lucky he might just not—"
As the priest spoke, it was already too late. They turned and saw Ric's eyes had rolled back, now blood-red. His fangs emerged, lips curling into the most ruthless smile as he laughed, coughing blood. A beast tied to a cross. Maria immediately charged with her holy-water-coated knife while Lucas screamed. The priest began his exorcism. Rosévet whispered:
"What have we done?"
After a bloody nightmare, the sun finally rose. After tremendous effort, they'd tamed the Bloodhound again. Rosévet sat silently. Maria and Lucas were badly injured; the priest had lost an eye.
The day after tomorrow was Lilly's big event – a public gathering she would host, while the family crumbled. Rosévet ordered them to keep Ric locked there and tell Lilly he'd left on a family trip – making her less suspicious. Lucas, despite everything, would act as her bodyguard.