Mary: "Well that's odd. How do two-"

The smaller, angstier vampire seemed to fly out of nowhere, knocking Mary onto the pool table and sending her stake clattering across the floor. She struggled to get her breath back as the vampire pushed on her throat. From the corner of her eye she saw James trying to set himself right after the larger vampire with the fire-like hair had knocked him against the wall. He was struggling - they were fairly evenly matched.

The vampire on top of her was strong - too strong for her to push off or get away from. Her arms flailed on the table, sending balls scattering away from her. Finally her hand gripped the pool cue. She held it tightly, but it was too large and the vampire was too close. She looked back at James, who seemed to be losing the fight, his eyes spending too much time on Mary and the vampire attacking her, and not enough on his own opponent. Mary met his eyes, widened them and then looked at the pool cue. James nodded once, grabbed the fire-haired vampire by his shirt and pushed him backwards, straight into the pool cue. The vampire dissolved into dust instantly. James picked up the cue as Mary let go, never missing a beat, and plunged it into the other vampire's heart. It exploded into dust and James let the pool cue clatter to the ground as he reached for Mary.

James: "Are you okay? Are you hurt? Can you hear me?"

He picked her up without waiting for an answer and carried her to the couch.

Mary: "I'm fine, I'm fine, jeez. I'm fine."

Mary sat up, smiling at James. Relief washed over him.

Mary: "We make a pretty good team, don't we?"
James: "I'll say."
Mary: "Now, about the rest of the night..."

She pulled James into her, kissing him hard on the mouth. He melted into her, and it felt like home.

Xero: "Ahem."