The dying screech of a bat

Raymond’s blue eyes bore into Kaliyah with an intensity that could ice the underworld.

"Vladia... you have hurt the Lion's cub. You hurt Hana-chan..."

"You shouldn’t have done that," Martha added, her golden eyes gleaming with something far more chilling than mere anger. "We never planned to execute the entirety of your army, but you’ve forced our hand."

Raymond let out a dry chuckle, shaking his head. "At least, she didn’t succeed with Butcher. Otherwise, even death would have been an act of mercy."

Martha nodded, her expression unreadable. "Yes. He’s an idiot… but a tenacious one. That child once escaped the maws of Lunaria-chan—a feat about as likely as rain in hell—do you really think he’d die from a half-hearted attack?"

Kaliyah’s eyes flickered, something clicking in her mind. Her memory jogged.

“Wh-What are you talking about?!” she rasped, her voice hoarse, like the dying screech of a bat.