Nathaniel threw the door off of himself, sending it back across the room. It knocked more picture frames free of their hooks and brought them crashing to the floor. He heard the woman beside him moan in pain, but there was another woman that was currently more important—Barbara. Nathaniel hoped that he was not already too late.
“Look out!” Michael yelled as he leapt back in the room, carrying something in his hand.
Barbara barely had a chance to look when Vincent was nearly upon her. She jumped to her right, and that took her further from the hallway which might have made her a better escape. Nathaniel knew what she thought—that at least it was also farther from her children.
The object Michael carried was now clearly visible. Even Vincent saw the saber as Michael attempted to bring it down upon him. But, it took no effort for him to grab the arm wielding the vintage Civil War weapon before it could be used against him. Vincent used Michael’s own momentum to toss him across the room, sending him sprawling into the wall below the Dispatcher’s counter. The detective ceased all movement. The saber rolled harmlessly out of his hand.
Barbara followed her husband with her eyes as he was discarded, and tried to make a move toward the saber. Vincent had her in his viselike grip and slammed her against the nearest wall. The force of the blow dented the thin metal door of the cabinet. She tried to scream as the air within her was suddenly trapped by the vampire’s grip around her throat. Nothing was getting in and nothing was getting out.
Vincent turned as another took aim upon him. As Nathaniel came rushing back into the room, Mark came flying into Vincent, knocking Barbara free and Vincent into the dispatcher’s microphones and console. Vincent attempted to throw Mark away, but found it not nearly as easy as it should have been. His eyes widened in surprise as the man bared his teeth.
Barbara fell to the ground and rolled away as the sound of violence continued to her right. She cried out when Nathaniel suddenly grabbed her by the arms and helped her up rather forcefully, pushing her back into the hallway.
Nathaniel quickly rejoined the fray.
“What’s this?” Vincent strained to say as he continued to fight to free himself while Nathaniel rushed in to help subdue him. “What have you done?”
“Anything that I need to do to destroy you!” Nathaniel roared just inches from his face.
“You blame me for so much, but we are the same! We are the same, do you hear me?”
Mustering his strength, Vincent rallied against the two, sending them off of him just enough to regroup. Mark was the nearest when Vincent regained his balance. Vincent had a hold of him and threw him against the large glass window. He fell onto the counter and then rolled off of it, coming to rest atop his partner’s legs just as Michael was beginning to climb back to his feet.
Nathaniel rushed back, but having not fed much during the night, he really was no match for the much stronger vampire. Vincent caught him easily, picked him off of the ground and drove him backward into the small wall near where the lobby door had once stood. Nathaniel cried out as the blow did damage. Vincent smiled, gritting his teeth with delight as the long awaited moment had finally arrived. Years, decades and centuries of waiting were upon him. The vampire slammed Nathaniel into the wall five more times. With each blow, it took Nathaniel more energy to hold his head up; his arms dangled aimlessly at his side. Soon, holding open his eyes became difficult as well.
It was only as Michael approached Vincent from behind, his saber pointed purposefully before him, did Nathaniel spring to life with whatever reserves he had left. He grabbed each of Vincent’s arms and held them as tightly as he could.
Vincent grinned. “So much the better! It would be a pity if you put up so little a fight!”
Nathaniel grinned back as Michael drove the saber through Vincent’s back, driving it through the brown leather coat and into Nathaniel a few inches as well. It hurt a great deal, but the pleasure of seeing the smile fade from the great beast was well worth it.
Michael let go of the blade and retreated as Vincent dropped Nathaniel and spun around to face him. The end of the blade was black with the mingled blood of countless others as well as Vincent’s. The vampire looked at it dumbfounded for a time, and then looked back up at Michael as he began to approach him.
“You missed my heart,” Vincent hissed. “I am going to leave it there until I rip off your head. Then I will use it to draw and quarter your children, as well as your wife!”
“I’m right here, you sonofabitch!”
Vincent spun just in time to take the second saber. Barbara had a wild look on her face at Vincent’s mention of how he was planning on murdering her children. There was no squeamishness in her actions as she focused her aim and pierced Vincent’s heart. She did not stop driving until the hilt of the saber rested evenly against his chest.
“No!” Vincent screamed as all of his power began to drain down his front and down his back in dark rivulets. Soon, the blood began to stream out, splashing and puddling upon the thin carpeting. He quickly fell onto his knees.
“Barbara.” Nathaniel called for her assistance, stretching out his hand for her to take. She took it immediately and helped him to his feet. It was not easy but she managed to help him up.
Michael appeared uneasy as he watched Vincent dying. Much could be attributed to his wounds. They would need to get him to a hospital soon. Nathaniel also wondered whether Michael feared that Vincent he might somehow pull off some miraculous resurrection, just like in horror movies. Meanwhile, Mark began to stir there on the floor.
“Nathaniel,” he called out, but did not make a move to get up. “The light.”
Nathaniel limped across the room as quickly as he could manage, dragging one leg as he moved behind Vincent. Nathaniel then took hold of the saber that Michael had driven into Vincent’s back. The mortally wounded vampire almost took no notice of it as he fell onto his hands now. His once strong hands shook as they attempted to hold up his weight.
“Barbara, can you turn out the lights, please?” Nathaniel asked, glancing her way.
Barbara appeared as if she was not yet through with punishing the dying vampire; the look she wore seemed to indicate that she wanted very much to knock him over and kick him repeatedly in the face. She held her composure, however, although it took most of her remaining strength to do so. As she turned to do what had been asked of her, she noticed the mayor standing against the Lobby glass. It gave her pause.