Unfortunately, Athos doesn’t have time to reach the trembling victims in the corner – at least not immediately. Hearing a door open on the landing above, he looks up just in time to see one of those creatures leaping down upon him. Athos falls to the ground, he and the vampire grapple as it tries to get its fangs into his skin. One of the poor souls in the corner screams, and Athos is almost glad for it – at least one of those students is conscious and has wits enough left to be frightened.

Fighting for what control he can, Athos manages to pull out his dagger and plunge it into the vampire’s heart. He hears something hiss when the silver blade sinks into flesh, and the creature lets out an animal scream as it falls back. Ignoring the way his vision still swims from the impact of the fall, he races for the stairway with his pistol out, ready to take on whatever waits upstairs.