Chapter 37

Sentencing

It was their last hope, their last shot in taking down Nightmare once and for all. If she was right then the nightmare would end and everything would return to normal. They already destroyed one crystal on his head so that left only a couple more left, if logic dictated one would be located around his spleen and the final one would be located near his chest where his heart was located. As they crossed their fingers they all got into position for their final strike against the menace.

"So what if you found one weak point, just try and get past my pets!" he roared as five different serpent heads burst through the ground and surrounded him as their red eyes focused on all of them.

As Eva looked at her husband she took his hand as they both began their attack. First came the serpent head who charged up for another blast, but she was ready for it as she raised her cross bow. It was a mistake to ever underestimate her especially when her family was in involved. The timing had to be right for it to work though as she aimed for its open maw. The closer they got though the more dangerous it got so instead she took the shot.

"Black Rose fly and destroy the target I seek!" she exclaimed as she pulled the trigger.

At the same time their attacks collided but her's was just a bit better as it began absorbing the energy from the attack and instead used it against the serpent. While it's head was gone it would likely regrow being a part of Nightmare himself so with haste Vlad pulled his sword out using his own energy he threw five good slashes that managed to crack the crystal near his spleen.

"Hot damn she was right! Good one Julie!" said Vlad as his wife shot another bombtastic arrow between the center of the cracks,

In one explosion the crystal cracked almost to a point of breaking, but it just wasn't there yet. While theor foe howled in pain though Frank helped out the officer by loading in his strongest bomb, the Heroes Heart. While taking aim they found it a bit difficult to aim while the beast was still moving.

"We can't hit it sir!" one of his men yelled as they tried to lock on.

"Gr, well any ideas?" asked Fletcher.

"Not a clue, it's not like I could hold him or anything."

Their hope came though in the form of a fictional movie creature that matched even his stature.

"I got him for you boys." Jerel said as he rolled up behind him in the form of the majestic Gypsy Danger.

After seeing the movie with his girlfriend he had always wanted to try it out, but at first he didn't know if it would work but by the luck of the stars it did and with the strength of a giant robot he felt even more powerful than ever. So much so that he had no trouble wrapping his arms around his waste so that Nightmare would stay still.

"What's the meaning of this? A giant robot?!"

"Correction, a giant mecha."

Even his pets couldn't hurt him as their blasts simply hit his back then nothing. Still the rules of transformation still applied and while in the form of the mecha his energy was going down rather quickly.

"Alright men, fire!"

This time though they managed to get a clear shot as their good friend held him in place. As soon as the rocket took off it was curtains for the crystal. Upon impact the entire thing imploded, sending shards of crystal everywhere as blood spilled out.

"Ah damn it, all my hard work I won't let you take this away from me!" he roared as he shook free.

With all sights on him he waited for just the right moment. The moment they fired their lasers he transformed back into his human form to rest as Ela caught him.

"Heh sorry if I worried you. I just had to try it out you know."

Oh he expected a slap on the face but instead he got a big kiss from her not only for being so brave as to actually try a stupid stunt like that but to actually pull it off almost turned her on. Still they weren't done yet, there was still one crystal to destroy.

"You're growing weak Kiron, I can feel your aura fading before me." said Rorik as he floated on his little puff of air.

"Ugh, quiet you! I worked hard to kill the Nightmare King and I won't let you take this away from me!"

He was pissed as all five he along with his little pets lined up their sites on him. He knew though that it was over, with only one crystal left he knew exactly where it would be located. The brain, the spleen, the only place left was his heart. It confused Nightmare though as he stood there, glaring at him just as he did all those years ago. He took his love from him and now he was about to avenge her.

"What do you want? Wipe that smirk off your face."

But he never did as his own fear began to show. The fear of his sentencing after death.

"I said to cut it out!"

Upon fire though he simply fell a feet feet down as the lasts skimmed across the roof of the homes that lined the street. His face never changed though as he raised his staff only for it to change into his ultimate weapon, the Heaven's Lancer.

"You took my wife from me, the mother of my child and now with this lancer I send you back to the pits from where you came!" and with a throw of his holy relic the skies lit up as the blade pierced the final target.

Just like his daughter guessed there in his chest they could see his beating heart. There was nowhere for him to hide as both Alucard and his partner descended from the skies above.

"How, how can you defeat me like this?" he asked as blood ran from his mouth.

"Easy, you may have the power but we have the brains and the skills to take down scum like you. Ready Julie?"

"Yeah, let's end this." he said as they both pushed every ounce of their power into their final attack.

"Alright, now it's our turn so let's have some fun Nightmare."

"No I won't lose! I'm not losing again!"

With all five serpents up front to block his weak point he thought himself untouchable for even though their team attack was strong it probably would have the power to crush his heart. It was at that very moment that they felt an overwhelming sense of power, the power of a spellcaster.

"Alucard, Julie, don't let this go to waste alright?" Rorik asked of him as both he and Salena funneled their magic into their bodies to further charge their attack.

"It's amazing, I feel almost like a new man. It's time to end this partner." he said and with a nod of both approval and relief he tightened his grip around her waste and shot forward.

Even his pets stood no chance as each was torn to shreds upon impacting the glowing orb of light. As they closed in though Julie began thinking back to how her life changed. Alucard, Ela, Jerel, everyone, no matter what she went through they were always there to help and protect her from harm and it felt so good that they cared for her like that. Such love they shared.

"Final Blood Blaster!"
So much power had been granted to them, so much so that upon impact they both flew backwards through the air as the orb burned through his chest. Bits and pieces of flesh began flying everywhere as his final roars were heard. As his body began decaying into nothing but dust though he gave them one final warning.

"Give her to me!" he hisses as he tries to lunge forward.

His energy had been exhausted, the only thing he could do was the sensible thing as the clawed hand approached.

"Hey Julie, keep looking up alright?" he asked of her as he released his grip.

"What...?" was all she could think as she saw her friend's chest being pierced by a claw from the menace before he was flung through the nearby bakery and toy store.

"Son!"

"Brother!"

"Alucard...no you promised..."

As she fell into Frank's arms though she could tears forming in her eyes as images of their past encounters flipped through her mind. Their first meeting, the water park, the factory and now she wasn't sure what had happened. She couldn't believe it, she just couldn't.

"Julie come on let's..."

"No let me go! He's got to be alive, he can't just die like this...can he?" he cried out as tears began running down her face.

She may had only known him for a month but in that month they had all built a bond together, one that could be broken no matter what happened. It all seemed hopeless though as she began running towards the two buildings.

"You dark matter piece of shit look what you did to me!" she heard from the dust of the remains as a blast of nightmares collided with her scythe.

From the ashes stepped a new life form, a creature made of dark particles all gathered together to make one solid entity.

"Look at this, I could have built a new world for us. A new world to call our home but you and you and your bitches decided to take that away from me. You Rorik, you took my life and now you're little cunt of a daughter has taken my soul. That is what I will take from you!"

They were all prepared for an attack but instead their own shadows began to twist and turn around their bodies as they were squeezed to death. His yellow eyes glowed with such anger, such hatred, there was no if, and, or but about it he was hell bent on finishing them all off. With the twisting shadows nearing their throats they tried to break free but just as before they were frozen in place.

"You, you took our friend from us." said Julie.

"What did you say?"

"Alucard, you took him from us and we want him back..." she groaned as the binds got tighter and tighter.

"I'm sorry you said Alucard? I'm afraid I know of no such name. It must had a pet of yours or something." he replied with a wide grin on his face.

"Give him back or I'll..."

"You'll do what? Spit on me, maybe I should silence you right now to avoid another clean up later though." he replied as a dagger formed in his right hand while he pulled her closer.

"Kiron, take me instead! I'll go so she can live. I'm the one who sent you to the nightmare realm and I'm the one who turned you into this. Come on, take me instead!"

"Oooo tempting but I really want to hear her screams just as I did with your wife."

It was useless to even struggle as the dagger began coming down, but even so he never stopped wiggling in an attempt to break free. Even though she didn't want die there was no way for her to block the attack, her scythe was laying on the ground as was her father's staff. Everyone was weaponless. It felt like the end to the all when suddenly he felt a deep, stinging pain in his chest.

"W-What..." he groaned as the dagger fell to the ground and dispersed.

Through his chest was a hand that now held his still beating black heart. His body, he couldn't move it as it was ripped out through his back.

"Who...huh?!"

Looking down at him was a pair of fearless yellow eyes that stared deep into his soul as he gave the heart a squeeze.

"But I-I killed you. The claw, it pierced your heart..." he groaned as blood spilled from his chest.

"Yeah was kind of confused at first but now I see why I'm still alive and kicking. Oh you messed up big time by coming out of that body so fast."

Once she heard that voice her eyes opened up as she raised her head. It was a bit fuzzy but she could tell by his voice alone that it was him.

"Alucard..." she coughed as the shadows began receding.

"But how? I killed you!" he said as he fell to his hands and knees.

"Wrongo sir, you fled from your body to escape death just before you struck. At that moment though your other body lost all presence of magic and matter. True you stabbed me through my chest, but thanks to your little screw up it was reduced to just a shell with no magical properties. Touch luck." he said as he continued to squeeze his heart like a stress ball.

"Yeah that's right, only enchanted weapons or a steak can kill a vampire and since his titan body ran out of juice before impact it was just as effective as shoving a normal sword through his chest. Dang he did mess up." said Jerel.

Now that Kiron was on his knees he decided to give him a nice kick to the face for all the trouble he caused.

"You've caused nothing but pain and misery. People died today and it's all because of you."

"They deser..."

"Yes I've heard this a thousand times but guess what genius we fucked up too! We fed on them and preyed upon them for thousands and thousands of years and in response they killed many of us, but maybe that's what we needed. If it hadn't been for them my dad wouldn't had seen how alike both humans and monsters are. Sure we look different and we may even eat some strange things that they don't but we all have dreams and aspiration to live our lives the way we want too. I don't know if humanity will accept us after this, but no matter what we will continue to move forward. We may fail but we will never give up!" he explained as he pressed his foot to his head.

They were all speechless as to how confident he was while speaking. Never had they seen him take charge in such a way but it happened and if any of the other humans heard that then they hoped they would take it to heart.

"Kiron, you will spend eterinity in Hell repenting for your sin!"

And with his sentencing came the results as he squeezed the heart as hard as he could until it turned to black ash in his hands.

"Nonono, you can't do this to me, please just one more chance just one more...gah!" was all he could get out before his body exploded once and for all.

And as he tried to keep himself up he tried to contain his excitement as everyone was released.

"We did it, it's finally over. Yeah!" he yelled as it echoed through the city as the sky above changed back.

They were pretty quick to get in on the hugging train as his own sister gave him a nice, big, spine crunching hug. She wanted to punch him, she really did, but screw it they were all OK and the city. While destroyed wouldn't take much effort to rebuilt, especially with a few spellcasters on their side.

"Oh man I thought you were worm food." Jerel said as they fist bumped.

"We are both really proud of you sweetie and we'll always be proud, never forget that." his mother said as she kissed his cheek.

"And I'm sure if your uncles were here to see this they would feel the same way." followed his dad as he ratted up his hair.

"I'll fight by your side any day soldier." said Frank.

"As will I." followed Fletcher, which kind of surprised him.

Next came Rorik. Oh joy.

"Look maybe I was wrong to get on your case every time you were with my daughter. I told you to protect her and you did, a little sloppily, but you did nonetheless. I'm not sure what her mother would say right now but from both of us thank you." he said as he gave a respectful bow.

"Well you know it's no big deal. I hero has got to do what a hero has got to do. I guess you don't mind if I stay with you for a bit longer then."

"Eh heh don't push it."

Then finally came his partner. Getting a closer look she looked pretty amazing in her mother's old battle attire and the blackness of her eyes mixed with the purple hue of the two ovals of her eyes were just great. As he stood there though he cleared his throat and offered her a handshake.

"Are you kidding me?" was the only signal he got before she jumped onto him for a big hug.

"Whoa, uh hey there. Yeah nice and all but..." he said as his face began turning red.

"I never thought that my best friend would be someone like you." she said as she tightened her grip.

Then of course his friends had to start laughing.

"Dudes check it out he's like a tomato. Even his ears are red." laughed Locke.

"Hey cut it out or I'll..."

"Oh dude I'll just hug you. That will be enough to stop you." teased Jerel.

They didn't care though, the battle was over but the future was just beginning.