“I see your senses are quite sharp, maybe I’ll let you run a bit before I devour you.” Muna’s heart sank as she watched the man’s hands extend and grow into catlike paws, and when he opened his mouth she could now clearly see his fangs.

“One of you, I never thought I’d encounter one of your kind.” Muna stood firm, there was no way she would be able to outrun him. He began to pace in the sand and turned his back on her several times. It was obvious that he wanted her to run! His growling began to get louder. It was hard for her to resist the panic that was quickly overtaking her. He looked at her disappointed.

“Are you really not going to run? It won’t be as much fun if you don’t run.” He bared his fangs at her and hissed just like a cat at her. His features were changing right before her eyes. For a moment she thought he was a therianthrope, but the evil that she felt from him assured her that he was not.

“I won’t run from you!” Muna steadied herself for the impending attack. She closed her eyes, and began chanting an ancient prayer to the gods aloud.

“Very well, at least you will feed me for tonight,” The man said as he lunged at Muna. She readied herself for his claws to tear her flesh and involuntarily let out a whimper as she felt his attack.

Suddenly the sound of wood on bone erupted from directly in front of her. When she opened her eyes she could see another man standing in between her and the vampire. “You will go hungry tonight, if I can help it, chupasangre.” Ernesto shattered a wooden bat over the creature’s head in mid-air as it leapt at Muna. Ernesto stood over the vampire after his blow had knocked it to the ground. He turned to Muna and ordered her to, “run!”

Muna was not sure what to do, was this why she was here? Was she meant to help this man? She just took a few steps back. Ernesto spun the broken shaft of the bat in his hand and dove onto the vampire; he was attempting to impale him with the jagged wooden remains. Muna watched as Ernesto and the vampire rolled around in the sand. Gash after gash was delivered to Ernesto’s arms, legs and torso and when the vampire finally got a firm grip, it tossed Ernesto high into the air. He landed ten feet away and the vampire pounced on him instantly, pinning his arms and legs in the sand.

“Who are you?” The vampire leaned in close and sniffed him as it asked.

“My name to the living is Ernesto Guerrero, but to you my name is death, and I have come for you,” he replied scornfully.

“Well, Ernesto, my name is Coquilados, and it looks like I will have two meals tonight.” Coquilados raised a paw and brought it down on Ernesto’s chest with thunderous crushing force. Ernesto went immediately limp and stopped struggling. Without turning around, Coquilados spoke, “Do not think I have forgotten you.” Muna was surprised when he leapt from Ernesto onto her and forced her to the sandy ground. “It really is a shame you wouldn’t run, blood tastes so much richer when the heart is pounding, but I’ll taste you just the same.” Coquilados opened his maw and began to bring his mouth down to her neck.

The first Chihuahua latched onto Coquilados cheek, the second to his nose and the third to his ear. Muna watched as the pack of miniature dogs from earlier sprang onto Coquilados and began tearing into his flesh. Hands, face, legs, they nipped and bit at anything they could get their tiny teeth into, doing their best to protect her. Muna was not even sure if they had made any noise as they approached, she had not heard them and it was obvious that neither had the vampire. Coquilados in a panic sprung to his feet and began pulling the animals off of him. They barked and yapped at him incessantly. He tried to kick one away as he tore the ones latched on his face from him. The small canines were no match for the vampire, but he could not catch even one. Acting in concert, barking when not biting, it seemed to confuse and distract him. He could only focus solely on one dog these dogs, eyes wide as he targeted and missed repeatedly, as they ran in circles around him.

“Do you remember my name,” Ernesto asked as he drove a polished wooden stake into Coquilados back and through his heart? Muna watched as Coquilados fell to his knees, and the dogs, as if sensing she was no longer in danger rushed to her side.

“How? My blow should have crushed all of your ribs and left you near death, how?” Coquilados could no longer move; the stake was deep in his heart, a perfect strike.