I crawled out from under the bed as quietly as I could. Tempted as I was to stay hidden, I couldn't let those bastards get away with Lady. Too many of my friends had died protecting her. If I lost her now, all of that would have been for nothing. Plus... you know... the end of the world and stuff.

I climbed to my feet, still holding the Sword of the Bequest I'd swiped earlier. Our hotel room was a disaster. There were bullet holes, blood, and a huge dent in the wall next to the far bed. Two men in tactical gear lie dead across from me. Another one was half propped against the wall by the bathroom door. His hands stretched out, reaching for something. Ice covered his body. The Blue Knight's rapier was lodged in his chest.

The Blue Knight was curled up next to the frozen man, blood rapidly pumping out of his body. A man in red armor lay near him, a ghastly rent slashed through the front of him. Mike, I guessed. Not good. Closest to me was the Green Knight. Well, most of him. His head was missing.

There was nothing I could do for them. A terrible grief welled up within me. A single sob escaped before I could choke it back. God damn it. Mike was...

I swallowed, forcing the feelings down. It would have been nice if a terrible rage had risen to blank out the grief, but all I settled for a deep breath and cold logic. Mike might not have known what the hell he was doing, but the other two were veterans. Mr. Evil had taken them out. Barely had to work for it. Even with magic knight powers, I doubted I'd do much better. Without magic knight powers, I had no chance at all. I glared down at the Sword in my hand. Should I risk it? Would it accept a man whose only kill was a vampire?

Screw it. Not like I had much to lose at this point. I raised the blade, bringing the point to my chest. The Green Knight sat up. His head was still missing. I let out a manly yell of surprise. A very manly yell. I didn't sound at all like a terrified six year old girl. I didn't. No matter what William might tell you.

The headless knight fumbled around, looking for something. I heard a voice call out. "Kevin? Is that you?"

I recognized the voice. "William?" Stepping gingerly around the headless fumbler, I went looking for the speaker.

"Good," Sir William was trying for cheerful, but there was a strain and an urgency he couldn't hide. "You're alive. Find my head, please? The bastard kicked it somewhere."

I followed the sound, stepping over the bleeding bodies of the other knights. I noticed with a hint of relief that Mike was still breathing. Sort of. He was making a shuddering, gurgling noise. If I could find William's head quick, he might be able to save the others. A hope almost as terrible as the grief had been surged, kicking my adrenaline into overdrive. "Keep talking. I'll find you."

"Well, fucking hurry, man." I followed the voice into the bathroom. The Green Knight's helmet had rolled halfway across it and was now facing the wall near the shower. The head and a section of neck were still inside of it. Blood spatter and a small puddle surrounded it. I had no time to waste being squeamish. I hustled in and grabbed it. "We don't have-" the Knight cut himself off as I picked him up.

I dashed out of the bathroom, stumbling over the Blue Knights prone form. The Green Knight's body was on its feet now, hands held out. "Give it here, quick!"

I pressed the gross, leaking thing into the Knight's gauntlets. Patrick's body deftly spun his head around and placed it on the bloody stump of his neck. "Thank fuck." The newly whole Green Knight slapped a hand down on Mike. Mike stopped gurgling.

William grabbed Patrick's leg next. "Damn," said the Blue Knight. "That was close."

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"No time," said William. "After them! Mike, you're with me."

Patrick jumped up and pulled his rapier out of the dead man leaned against the wall. He sprinted out of the room. William hustled to the hotel window, throwing back the curtains. "Shit! They're at the cars!" He swung his sword, shattering the window. He jumped out.

Say what you want about Mike, the man's got balls. He didn't hesitate, jumping right out after William. We were on the third floor. I guessed William could heal him once they landed but... damn. Not something I would have done.

William hadn't bothered giving me orders. I didn't blame him. I didn't have magic armor. I guess I could have grabbed a gun from one of the dead guys, but I wouldn't really know how to use it. I'd be useless in this fight. The sound of rifle fire knocked me out of my reverie. I looked out the window.

A white RV had been flipped onto it's side. A fancy looking red van with tinted windows was parked next to it, doors open, men in tactical gear using it for cover. They fired wicked looking compact rifles at Mike, who was next to the RV. Mike advanced on them. He held a big red kite shield which seemed to be stopping most of the fire. In his other hand he held a flaming sword.

A man in gray armor was engaged with William. Mauvaise, I presumed. The Green Knight moved with frightening speed and grace, deftly deflecting Mr. Evil's weapon and sliding his sword around the Gray Knight's shield. William stabbed Mr. Evil twice while I watched, but the other man didn't seem to notice.

Patrick burst out of the hotel, rapier in hand. Mauvaise noticed him when he got halfway across the parking lot. Laughing, the Gray Knight sheathed his weapon. William continued to swing his sword, but the blade passed through the sorcerer with no effect. Mr. Evil placed a hand on his chest. Shadows burst forth.

Shit. Mike and Patrick wouldn't be able to do shit against the Shadow Men. William could, but Mauvaise was going to keep him locked down. All three of them were going to die.

William's Sword of the Bequest was on the floor near the bed I'd hid under. Mr. Evil hadn't bothered taking it. Probably because he knew William wasn't dead. We'd used the Sword on the Shadow Men before, and I figured it would work again. I just had to get it down there.

I thought about just tossing it out the window, but quickly rejected the idea. Even if I could throw the thing close enough, I doubted Mike or Patrick would get the chance to grab it. I could try to run it out there myself, but I was pretty sure I wouldn't make it across the parking lot. The armor of the Knights seemed more or less bulletproof, but I definitely wasn't. One bullet would be all it would take.

"Damn it." I didn't want to do this. I didn't want to be a Knight. I certainly didn't want to die just because an oversized letter opener decided I wasn't worthy. But I didn't want Mike to die, either. Or Lady and Patrick I guess, but mostly Mike. That moron was my oldest friend, and also the best. I'd fight motherfucking Godzilla if it meant I wouldn't have to go to his funeral.

I'd dropped the Sword during the search for William's head. It was lying in a puddle on the carpet. I picked the stupid thing up, wiping the blade as clean as I could on my shirt. Like Sir Williams' sword, this one was a double edged longsword with a gleaming blade. The gemstone in the pommel was clear, perfectly cut, and very shiny. A diamond? Do they make diamonds that big? Questions for later.

I didn't know if it would help, but I spoke to the blade directly. "Alright, listen up. My name's Kevin, and I've protected the Lady. I've fought evil spirits, and vampires with guns. I killed a vampire with nothing but a sword to help me, and if you lend me your power I'll kill those assholes outside. I'm asking you, please. Work with me, here. Not for my sake. Not even for my friends. Do it because if you don't then the bad guys will take Nynyane and the world is gonna end. Ok? Are you with me on this?"

The Sword didn't say anything. My mouth was dry. I swallowed. "Ok. Good talk."

I carefully positioned the blade, tip pressed against the center of my chest. I took a breath, told myself I'd wasted too much time already, and declared, "I accept the Bequest." I threw myself at the floor. The hilt of the Sword led the way.

A pain like nothing I'd ever felt before exploded through my chest. I had time to realize I'd killed myself, but not enough time to do anything about it. I tried to force out a breath, to say one last thing. I couldn't. My body was frozen, rigid, paralyzed with pain.

Then it was gone. The pain disappeared. The Sword holding me up off the ground disappeared. I fell the last few inches, turning my head just enough to keep from smacking my nose on the floor. Gasping, I finally uttered the thing I'd been trying so hard to say.

"Oh, fuck."