Chapter 2 The sounds of combat echoed through apartment 221 of the Lyons' Head Apartment Complex. Wrenching a growl of frustration from the throat of Reshard Blackheart, frustration not only at his current circumstance, but also at the fact that he had let events get so out of hand. At that moment Reshard found himself within the kitchen of 221 which thankfully was small, only room for about four people, which he knew for a fact, because that was how many of them there were. Himself and the vampires.

He could see them all in the dim light, eyes shimmering red with fangs extended. They were the same people he had seen asleep on the sofa. Now they were very animated and out for his blood, which he believed served him right for being such an idiot.

He had had the vampire woman cold, but hadn't been able to kill her. Maybe able wasn't the right word because he sure as heck was able, more like he couldn't. But why? Why couldn't he? He couldn't think of a thing. He had killed countless others that fit her type. Woman, beautiful, vampire, none of that had stopped him before, and anyway she was a man-eater. A cold blooded killer. The proof was all around him, the odor of blood, it had caught him when he first entered and by the smell it he was sure it was human. No, he shouldn't have had any problems killing her but he had hesitated.

Shortly after she had attacked, he dodged away without effort. This gave him at least three chances to finish her. Then came another attack, that received similar treatment and once again left him in prime position for the kill Damn it all, still he hadn't struck the blow. After that all hell had broken loose, Reshard attacking directly like an amateur, the vampire's misting away, and his inability to stop her from waking the others. That was why he was an idiot, and he still didn't know why.

So the growl continued to reverberate in his throat and he found himself suddenly wanting something to take his frustration out on. Thank God for stupid vampires, because at that moment one of the three leaped across the circular table separating him from Reshard. Reshard stood for a moment side by side with the creature, so close that he could smell the monster's last meal on his breath. The moment seemed to last forever, but was more like seconds. After that the vampire went low and Reshard went high. Dodging the vampire's martial arts sweep, Reshard balanced on the table's edge only to fall backward into a reverse leap frog bring his blade down. Leaping back to his feet, Reshard wasn't surprised to see three vampires once again peering at him from across the table. If they kept coming like that, Reshard would have to do something serious.

Suddenly Reshard realized that he had made a grave error. Turning, he was not surprised as he noticed a pair of crimson orbs watching him from the darkened room behind him. Quickly he snapped back against the left wall, halfway, so that he could see both the vamps standing watch and those preparing the ambush. Then he searched his extremely long memory, hoping to think of anything that could get him out without much collateral damage, but frankly other than the Shadow Reaver he didn't have anything that wouldn't bring the house down. Literally. Suddenly like a strike of lightning it was there, his way out, he just had to hope he could pull it off and not kill innocent bystanders.

"Killing innocent bystanders is bad." He joked to himself, not feeling the urge to laugh, but knowing it made him feel better. So relaxing maybe a millimeter he stepped back toward the table, using his keen ears to keep track of the vampires in the next room, and he reached casually into the left inside pocket of his trench coat. For a moment he let it linger there, considering what he had planed, and all the lives that might be lost if he fowled up even a little. He thought about it for a moment maybe longer than he should have, but with or without his doubts he didn't have a choice. So he finally grasped the object that was stored there and began little by little to focus his spiritual energy into it.

"Hum.hum .uh. Do you really expect to stop us with that?" one of the vampires laughed as he watched the Devil Hunter point a gun their way.

The Devil Hunter of course ignored this and continued careful addition to the energy store within the .45 Magnum that was griped far too tightly in his hands. The process of charging the weapon exactly was a slow one. So slow that he thought maybe the vampires would get wise to him, but to his relief they didn't seem to notice. Not that they should because this charging was on a much lower level than even the Shadow Reaver, so it didn't make much atmospheric disturbance. Silent but deadly, but the question was how deadly.

That question stayed in his mind even as he pulled the trigger and let go with the words that would allow him to focus on the technique. "Soul Shot!"

For a moment nothing happened at all and Reshard thought the vampire that taunted him earlier had a second chance, but that moment of inactivity only the calm before the storm. A storm that began like any other with a low rumble, anyone listening would have mistaken the sound for thunder, and he even caught a few worried glances from the vampires. But it was too little too late, as his energy exploded from the gun's muzzle not to unlike a lightning bolt. A lightning bolt fused with a fire's back draft, all smothered in the deepest shadows. This beam of force completely engulfed the three vampires before him and anything else that happened to be in the way until it hit the apartment wall where it caused another explosion. An explosion of spiderweb cracks that made the wall look as if it would crumble to dust, but it held, bringing a smile to Reshard Blackheart's lips.

"Four down three to go." He said with a bit of actual cheer in his voice. Maybe tonight was his night after all, because he couldn't think of a time that he could control his energy output that well, but the pat on the back would have to wait. He still had vampires to deal with, and by the sound of them the other three weren't too happy.

The first of them dove from the room, moving at super human speed, and went for the jugular. Reacting out of pure instinct, Blackheart focused the Shadow Reaver, dodging he went for what should have been a decapitation. Should have been being the operative phrase, because at that moment it misted. Becoming an incorporeal mist that was blade proof, energy or otherwise. The mist then proceeded to engulf him, taking his breath away, and nearly immobilizing him. Falling into a coughing fit Reshard nearly didn't notice that the mist was moving, but when he did knew what was happening. A kamikaze attack, the vampire was reforming with him inside, a move that would merge their bodies and cause irreparable damage to both of them. Even as he comprehended this he found his strength waning with little to do about it. So he once again tried his earlier solution. He pulled his .45, this time throwing caution to the wind and dumping energy into the thing as fast as he could. After about two heart beats, that he could not tell if they were his own or the forming vampire's, he fired out of the kitchen window. Relaxing he let the kickback throw him clear, just as the vampire solidified.

"That was a really really dirty trick!!!" he roared as he got to his feet.

"Yeah it was wasn't it?" the vampire taunted as a grin stretched a cross its features.

A grin that stayed on its face as Reshard disappeared, reappeared with his Shadow Reaver focused, and took its head.

"Five down!"

Even as Reshard sighed falling back to the wall, he could feel two distinct life forces enter the room. Standing he caught sight of two mist clouds. Both were coming toward him.

"Damn you guys. I'm getting really tired of that trick." He growled at the mist clouds. At the same time he jumped upward landing on the table. There he balanced, watching the clouds, knowing that in their gaseous state the vampires were blind and nearly deaf. All he had to do was keep out of the mist, but as the clouds to a lap around the floor and instantly began to rise he knew that was easier said than done.

"I really hate you guys." He once said once again talking to the clouds. Then steadying himself he leapt, leaping clear of the kitchen and the mist. After righting himself, he once again pulled the .45 and began to focus.