The dragon opened its mouth to engulf the helicopter in flames. “No!” I slipped and scrambled my way forward, trying to get to the embedded ax. Fire arched across the sky, but Skippy was too fast, and the Hind rose up and away just ahead of the attack and out of the dragon’s range. However, that wasn’t even close to being out of Julie’s range, and as the chopper turned and with just enough time passed to work the bolt, a third round blasted through the Nachtmar’s jaw, through one of its arms, and through the engine block of an upside-down police car.

The street was aglow with spilled dragon blood. The bitter taste was in my mouth. The Nachtmar was visibly smaller, deflating as its essence was spilled from its wounds.

Someone passed me quick on the right. The Nachtmar had returned to all fours, but only for an instant as a two-foot line was slashed along one wrist. Franks appeared on the other side as the claw rose, easily dodging the same type of attack that had crippled me. Franks had learned from my mistake, and as the claw went past he hacked a chunk off of it the size of a Thanksgiving turkey with his ancient Roman sword.

Movement on the left. This was even faster, just a flash of red fur, and claws sunk into one of the rear legs. The werewolf was gone as quickly as it had struck, and by the time the dragon’s tail pulverized that area into nothing, Heather Kerkonen was attacking the other leg.

The Nachtmar rose up on its tail and hind legs, one unscathed wing covering the entire street. It aimed its head downward, preparing to engulf the street directly beneath it in flame, taking us all to hell with it. But then Julie’s next round creased the side of its skull, took one horn completely off, and the burst of flame went to the side to melt the front of another casino and to cook their world-famous fountains into steam.

I reached Lord Machado’s ax and grabbed on with my working hand. Desperate, still being peppered with bullets from all around and now being hacked to bits from beneath, the Nachtmar slammed its remaining wing inward against its body. The concussion hit the street and a massive blast of wind swept everyone away. The others were closer. I saw Franks hurled through the air to disappear into the steam. Heather was knocked through the windshield of an army truck.

I held onto the ax as the wind washed over me. It tried to carry me away, but I was as embedded to the earth as the ax. Fuck you, Nachtmar. I’m not done yet.