Smoke on the Horizon

Silas hissed, his face contorting into a mask of rage.

"They're here."

He grabbed Clara and flashed up the stairs.

The main hall was filling with grey smoke. Through the heavy velvet curtains, the orange glow of fire flickered.

Silas went to the window, pulling the curtain back just an inch. A beam of sunlight hit his hand, and his skin sizzled, blistering instantly. He yanked it back.

"Who?" Clara asked, coughing.

"Graves," Silas spat. "And half the town."

Outside, a voice boomed.

"COME OUT, BLACKWOOD! WE KNOW YOU HAVE HER!"

It was the Sheriff. He sounded drunk, pain-killers or whiskey masking the agony of his broken shoulder.

"SEND THE GIRL OUT, AND WE MIGHT JUST BURN YOU QUICK!"

Silas turned to Clara. He looked weak. The sunlight leaking through the smoke was draining him.

"The sun sets in twenty minutes," Silas rasped. "I can't fight them yet. Not with the light."

"They set the stables on fire," Clara said, looking at the smoke curling under the door. "They're going to burn the house down."

Silas grabbed her shoulders. "Go to the cellar. The stone will protect you from the fire. I will hold the door."

"You'll die!" Clara screamed. "If they breach the door, the sun will kill you."

"I deserve it," Silas said calmly. "For what I let happen to you. Go, Clara. Hide."

He tried to push her toward the hidden panel.

Clara dug her heels in. She looked at the vampire who was willing to burn for her. She looked at the "monster" who had shown more humanity in five minutes than her husband had in five years.

She saw his revolver lying on the hallway table. It was an antique Colt, heavy and silver.

She grabbed it.

"No," Clara said.

She walked to the front door.

"Clara!" Silas roared, reaching for her, but the sunlight from a broken window pane blocked his path. He hissed, trapped in the shadows.

"You waited five years for me," Clara said, checking the cylinder. It was loaded. "I can buy you twenty minutes."

She aimed the gun at the heavy lock on the front door.

*BANG.*

The lock shattered.

Clara kicked the door open and stepped out onto the porch.

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