<i>Oh, Christ</i>, he thought, as the fireball came rocketing toward him.  He wasn't quite up to speed yet, his ribs still knitting, so he couldn't dodge the spell.  However, he almost smiled inside his mask, and resisted the urge to reach up and caress the amulet he wore.<br/><br/>The fireball exploded right in front of his face, setting the table and the rafters a-smoulder.  He was thrown backward again, over the table, where he rolled over to the wall.  He lay limp, seemingly dead.<br/><br/>Of course, a vampire always looks dead, whenver it's not moving...