Sam ripped her axe from the body of a vampire, and then kicked it back as it burst into flames.  Ashes rained down upon the carpet in front of her.  She looked over at Mr. Bartlett, who was standing over a vampire, his cane pinning it down by the throat.  It writhed in agony, letting curse words slip out when it could get a breath.

He was looking Sam, staring at her bright hazel eyes.  He admired the perfect mixture of brown and green. “Just stopped to admire your work,” then he pressed the cane down with an immense force.  The vampire erupted into flames. 

The sound of several guns blazing broke out behind them.  Sam instinctively flinched as she turned around to see Mr. Scott blasting away at the mutants rushing in from the lobby.  She was surprised at Mr. Scott, not because of his combat prowess, but that Mr. Scott was holding four guns in four arms.  She turned to Mr. Bartlett, confusion on her face, “What is he?” 

Mr. Bartlett pulled out a cloth from his pocket and started wiping down his cane. “He’s one of a kind.  Some say he is the offspring of a goddess.  He is an invaluable member to my team here.  I wouldn’t have made it this far without him.” 

Mr. Bartlett held his elbow out for Sam to take. “There are more vamps in the kitchen, if you’d accompany me?” 

Sam noticed his sudden change in conversation, as he normally does when she gets close to a straight answer from him.  Sam put the thought from her mind.  This was no time to be second guessing Mr. Bartlett.  She needed to make sure that Starr would be safe.  That was her highest priority.

Sam looked around the restaurant.  All the vampires had retreated or moved deeper into the restaurant, probably still looking for Starr, or just trying to escape alive.  She looked back at Mr. Scott at the door.  He had just finished firing his guns and with Mr. Tentin there, they should have the mutants covered for now.  Sam relaxed a bit.

Sam looked back into Mr. Bartlett’s eyes.  A slight smile crept on his face as she did so.  He had the perfect mix of yellow and blue, making a beautiful green, equal to the most luscious forests.

She looped her arm in his, “After you.” 

Mr. Bartlett held out his cane, “This way, madam.”

Joseph slowly moved through the elevator doorway, holding his gun in firing position.  He quickly scanned the area and then waved at his partners to come out.  Joseph had been caught before by creatures lurking around corners, but with the life of a little girl in his hands, he would do anything possible to protect her.  “Okay, I’m looking for B3.  There should be a brown minivan with some instructions inside.”  He looked around the parking garage, not knowing where to even start looking, “I guess we’ll just go straight and hope we find it.” 

Andrelle looked at Joseph and shrugged, “Your guess is as good as mine.”  She took a few steps forward, “Who knew there’d be so many cars down here.  They must be the guards’ cars.”  She looked out on the full parking garage in surprise.  “And Mr. B sends us down here to look for a minivan. You think he would give us a corvette, that cheap bastard.”

“Can we hurry this up?”  Red didn’t quite enjoy Andrelle’s lack of seriousness.  At any time they could be in a serious predicament, especially with Starr in his arms.  He could feel her fright strongly with her being this close.  Red shifted Starr around in his arms, “I’d like to get away from all the people trying to kill us.”   Starr nodded and held him tighter.

Joseph scoffed, “So would I.” 

They walked down the main aisle, their heads turning at every sound and echo.  It was the unnerving silence that stabbed at their minds.  Silence was never a good sign.

After a few moments of the eerie silence Red spoke up, “It’s getting creepy down here.”  His anxiety was picking up, making him shifty.  He tried to fidget with his hands, but he was too busy carrying Starr.

“Don’t be such a baby, Red, or would you like me to hold you?”  Andrelle laughed at her comment, “I mean Starr’s not even as scarred as you.” 

“Quiet!”  Agent Flaurence stopped in his tracks.  He slowly turned around raising his gun at the dark figure behind them. 

Red jumped with a small yelp and took a few steps behind Joseph.  

The figure stepped into the light. 

His long hair was covered in blood and a scar reached across his face.  Two bullet holes were noticeable in his chest.  He let out a sinister laugh.

“Yerick,” Andrelle snarled as she pulled out her gun.  She turned back and looked at Joseph, “Take the girl and get out of here.  Red and I will cover your escape.”  She normally didn’t take many things seriously.  She lived long enough that most things didn’t bother her as they did mortals.  But any situation involving Yerick, she wouldn’t joke about.  He was a bottom feeder vampire, but luck seemed to always be on his side.  Andrelle wouldn’t let him escape this time.

Agent Flaurence holstered his gun and nodded slightly.  He pulled Starr from Reds arms and whispered to him.  He took off running, the girl in his arms, down the garage, his head turning side to side as he passed numbers on the wall.

“What did he say, Red?”  Andrelle gave a slight look at Red. 

Red rubbed the back of his neck, “He said, don’t go dying.” 

Andrelle sighed, “So inspiring.” 

“Put down your weapon, Andrelle!” Yerick shouted at the female vampire, “Just come quietly and I might not have to kill you.” 

Adrelle let out a mocking laugh, “Did you forget about your recent plastic surgery?  Or did you want some more?  It’s on the house.”  She tilted her head slightly to get a better aim at the vampire.

He raised his gun at her as well, “You know I’m as good of a shot as you, so how about we put down the guns and settle this like the old times. A show of strength, perhaps.”  The vampires’ ancient tradition of settling of disputes in a fight to the death, only using one’s body as a weapon was as old as the vampires themselves.  Andrelle knew it well.  She had lost her father to such a fight.

Yerick set down his gun and held his arms out, “Or are you just as weak as your father.”  He gave a devilish grin as he finished his sentence, knowing that it would spark anger in the woman. 

Andrelle threw her gun to the ground, anger spread over her face, “My father was better than you will ever be Yerick.  Shut your mouth before I rip out your tongue.”

Red stepped back behind a car, “Andrelle, this isn’t a good idea.” 

“Quiet!”  Andrelle snapped at Red.  Her eyes turned pitch black and fangs started to emerge from her mouth.  “My father was the only vampire to care about our kind.  He didn’t try to rule over us all like the clan fathers, but he tried to help us live in peace in the new world.  Your speaking of him taints his name.  Now I will kill you.”

Red was startled by her burst of anger.  “Oh, god.”  He slumped down behind a car, lying on his stomach to watch from beneath it.  It was the only place he could think of staying safe in this fight.

“Come then, Andrelle.  Show me you’re not as weak as that man was.”

Andrelle let out a fierce yell and charged the man.  She leapt into the air and slashed at his face, landing behind him.  She smiled revealing the long, bone white, fangs in her mouth. 

Yerick tuned to face her.  Another cut stretched across his face, adding to the wounds he received earlier in the night.

Yerick laughed and slowly turned to face Andrelle, “You fool.  You’ve been tricked, just like your old man.”  He pulled a pistol from his coat and shot Andrelle in the leg.  She let out a cry of pain and fell to the ground. “His bout with Horus’s cousin was rigged from the beginning.  You think the vampire lords would let such a man defy them and live?”

Yerick walked up the woman and aimed the gun towards her head, “Lucky for you, Horus likes his traitors alive.  When we get back to the lair, he will make an example out of you.”  Yerick bent down to meet her gaze, “And I will enjoy every minute of it.” 

“Good, I wouldn’t want you getting bored now.” Andrelle managed to growl at the man squatting in front of her.  She swung her leg up, kicking the gun from his hand. 

She then pulled her legs up to kick the vampire. 

Yerick pulled his arm back and grabbed her by the throat.  He pulled her from the ground and dangled her in the air for a few moments.  She dangled from his hand, gasping for air.

“Red,” Andrelle was barely able to get the words out as a whisper. 

“Your friend hides under a car watching your demise.  I can smell his fear from here, he smells of a lost puppy, pissing himself.  I don’t need to worry about him.”  Yerick then tossed Andrelle against a car, breaking the windshield, and smashing in the hood.  She slowly tumbled to the ground, letting out moans of pain. 

Red lay quietly beneath the car.  He couldn’t believe Andrelle had lost the fight.  He couldn’t do any better against a man like that.  He was already wiped out from his powers at the dock, as well as in the lobby.  He sweated profusely and fidgeted with his fingers, “I should help her. Come on Red you can do it.  You’re psychic for Christ’s sake.”  

A black car with tinted windows then raced up to Yerick, screeching to a halt before it hit him.  Two more vampires got out and grabbed Andrelle, dragging her body to the trunk of the car.  One of them spoke up, “Come Yerick, let us leave this place before they find us.”  The vampires then got into the car and waved for Yerick to enter.

Yerick stood a second longer, staring at Red.  “You’re not worth the effort, you coward.”  Yerick entered the car and they sped off into the night. 

Red smacked himself with his hand, “Why are you so cowardly, Red?”  He started to shed tears as he pulled himself from out of his hiding place and stood.  He watched Andrelle be taken off to face her demise. 

Red paused and thought of what to do next.  His cowardice had let him down throughout his life.  He tried to be more courageous, more confronting, but something held him back.  “No more!”  Red shouted out into the echoing parking garage.  There was only one choice.

Red glanced at the door of the car next to him.  He pulled on the handle and it opened. 

“You know what you have to do, Red,” he whispered to himself as he climbed inside the car.  He shut the door and focused on the engine for a moment.