Stepping forward, Aramis takes a fistful of the dead vampire's hair and lifts, slicing her head from her neck with one stroke. "Just in case," he says and smiles, stepping away from the corpse to regard both men with a smile. They are both breathless but unharmed, all but glowing with the thrill of victory.

"We ought to let them lead us to a secluded wood more often," he says. "Far more discreet."