Sarai kept close to the self proclaimed Primarch Evaria. A part of her was of a mind to kill her, and reclaim her Order's honor by ending a suspected heretic. Yet as soon as that thought entered her mind, it was torn apart by a sense of awe at Evaria's every movement. Sarai pulled a banner from the wall and held it up to Evaria.

  "For modesty, my lady."

  The angelic being looked down at Sarai, unadulterated gratitude and warmth spilling from her gaze. A blush creeped up on Sarai’s skin, spread across her cheeks, ears and neck. It was a warm, foreign feeling as Evaria accepted the banner and wrapped herself in it. The woman bowed her head gratefully to Sarai, her gentle smile and warm, approving eyes only further endearing the Palatine’s heart to her.

  Sarai cleared her throat. "Sisters! It is our duty to guard the prisoner. The Ordo Hereticus will lead the way."

  Fahlia's head whipped around to Sarai, poison on her lips. "My Adepta Sororitas will guard the prisoner. Palatine Eloroch, your order will spearhead our advancement back to the Thunderhawks."

  Sarai took a step forward, her hand gripping her power sword tightly. Yet, before she could utter any words, Evaria placed a large hand on the Palatine's shoulder. "Do as the Inquisitor says, child. My w-" she stopped herself, and Sarai stared up at her. "My father's will protects."

  Unbeknownst to Sarai, Evaria’s blood smeared on the exposed skin of the Palatine’s shoulder through her broken Sororitas power armor. The crimson fluid sunk into the battle sister’s flesh, and she felt her heart swell with boundless pride for her people, and unfathomable rage for the forces of Chaos that encroached upon them.

  "Sisters, we will lead the way. To me!"

  The Inquisitor watched, dumbfounded, as Sarai and her remaining order members followed her. Sarai glanced at one of her sisters.

  "Hanai, send out this message: every sister of the Order is to assist in the evacuation, and to get aboard a vessel themselves. Martyrdom here will not bring the atonement we seek: the God Emperor has provided us an alternate path to glory."

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  Hanai relayed the message through her vox-caster. As responses started coming back, they were suddenly cut off. Sarai led her sisters through the breach in the wall that the Ordo Hereticus sisters had made, the rest following close behind with Evaria amidst the Inquisition's Sororitas. They made their way down dark and silent corridors. Candles cast intermittent light in the gloomy stone pathways. Sharp chains hung from the darkness above, censers dragging the chains down like weighters. The aroma of incense remained ever present. The only sound was the metal clad boot steps of the Adepta Sororitas, and the soft slapping of Evaria's bare feet on the damp stone. Her eyes widened.

  "Stop-"

  She rushed forward at dizzying speeds as a warp tear ripped open before them. She came to blows with two large crimson daemons, the symbol of Khorne branded on their foreheads. Sharp teeth snapped at her, their dead white eyes still somehow burning with an insatiable fury. Each bore an enflamed greatsword in their claws that they swung with unreserved ferocity. Their skin was left bare, save for a loincloth the color of dried blood, girded with skulls that clattered against one another with each movement. Smaller twisted creatures, reminiscent of hairless maroon minotaurs, rushed through the portal and assaulted the sisters of battle.

  Sarai and her sisters ran into the fight without hesitation or regard for their own safety, the Palatine herself moving like a whirlwind of blades and bolter rounds. Fahlia was stunned for a brief moment, awe creeping in at the administrator's sudden prowess. The moment was short lived however, and Fahlia joined the fray with her battle sisters. With each beast of the Immaterium that they felled, the remainder only grew stronger. Sisters began falling to their foes, torn asunder by crushing blows that rent armor and shattered bone. Yet for the Order of the Crimson Grail, their cries were that of pride and war, no pain, nor tears shed amongst them as their sisters fell. The stones ran red with the blood of warriors from both sides, the bodies piling up. And yet still more minions of the Blood God spilled through the portal.

  One of the Ordo Hereticus sisters cut a Khornate warrior in twain with her chainsword. "What are we to do, Inquisitor?"

  Before Fahlia could reply, an all too familiar power sword made the sister's head topple, her body dropping to its knees. She was left staring up at a Khornate space marine, his skin rippling with corruption. His voice the grating roar of a chainsword, he bellowed the warcry of his infernal master.

  "Blood for the Blood God!"