Deal!

[Jessica's POV]

The man curses to himself, and then waves the man holding the crossbow off. Jessica, her heart pounding, sighs in relief.

"Fine" the man says. "We could use your help upstairs", he says, as the hunters begin to untie Jessica and Catherine. "There are dozens of those... half-vamp... things upstairs."

"Hybrids" Jessica says.

"Yeah, whatever, hybrids" the man continues, "creating a real mess for my men."

"Where is Elizabeth?" Catherine demands impatiently, rubbing her sore wrists.

"We have all the escapes blocked. As best we can tell, there are no tunnels out of here, even if the basement is massive" the hunter answers. There is more loud crashing and gunfire from upstairs. "We think she is somewhere on the top floor. A lot of hybrids between her and us though". Catherine hops off the table to her feet.

"Well then let's get to it" Catherine says, "but first, I need a snack" she says, baring her teeth. The men all immediately lift their weapons and point them at Catherine.

"I'm kidding!" Catherine says, laughing uncontrollably.

Jessica gives Catherine a look that says Catherine, are you fucking crazy?

It's a long night.

Catherine, Jessica and the human vampire hunters have to fight their way room to room through the mansion. The hunters, true to their word, have the mansion surrounded, all exits blocked. Elizabeth remains ensconced on the third floor, with dozens of loyal hybrids fighting fanatically to protect her. Jessica suspects that they are enthralled, but can't be sure. Why die for Elizabeth?

After a few hours, most of the hybrids, and many of the human fighters are dead, but Catherine and Jessica are on the third floor. With Elizabeth. Jessica is exhausted, but after everything, is determined to see this through.

Bursting through the door to the master bedroom, Jessica and Catherine find Elizabeth, alone. (Jade and Diana are nowhere to be found.) Elizabeth paces the room angrily, looking at the window. A strange blue light comes through. UV lamps Jessica thinks. She's trapped.

"Humans, Katyusha?" Elizabeth asks. "Really?"

Catherine's exhaustion shows, and she says nothing.

"It's over, Elizabeth. I'm sorry" Catherine says.

Elizabeth's face is so contorted with rage, it looks almost demonic to Jessica. Genuinely frightening. Elizabeth snarls.

"You think either of you can beat me?" Elizabeth asks. "I've devoured the lives of thousands of virgins. I can rip both of your heads off before you can even blink" Elizabeth taunts. Jessica isn't sure, but Elizabeth might be right. Elizabeth bares her fangs.

Jessica gives her no chance to attack. Lifting the gun the humans gave her, she takes aim and quickly shoots Elizabeth four times in the chest. Hollow-point silver bullets Jessica thinks. Elizabeth makes one shocked look at Jessica, and then down, and collapses to the floor, ****.

A wave of relief washes over Jessica, and she begins to cry. It's over. It's finally over.

Catherine walks over to Jessica, hugging her close.

"We should burn the body -- the only way to be sure" Catherine says. "And then get the hell out of dodge before the hunters change their mind."

It's finally over Jessica thinks, tears of joy running from the corners of her eyes.