Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“ T his usually isn’t what people mean when they invite someone over for steaks,” Lucia said.
Demetrius chuckled as Clarabell held up a foot and a half long piece of wood one of them had whittled to a wickedly sharp point.
“We thought the sheriff’s department might want a few wooden stakes to have on them as they patrol tonight.”
A shout from the street below Clarabell’s apartment made them all tense. Laughter followed right after, and each of them visibly relaxed. Somewhat.
“Are we really supposed to just…” Deputy Walsh picked a stake up from the kitchen island and mimed stabbing it downward. “Stab this into someone’s chest?”
“If they’ve got fangs and are trying to tear your jugular open, I would say yes,” Clarabell said, then she gestured toward Lucia. “But I’ll let Deputy Durant make that call.”
Lucia gave her a look. “Gee, thanks.” She grabbed a stake, then two more. “And, yes, if you have a stake in hand and an attacker is showing signs of vampirism, you may defend yourself with a stake to the heart.”
“Seems really extreme,” Deputy Walsh said, but she took two stakes for herself.
“What are your plans for the night?” Lucia asked, looking between the three of them.
“Maybe find Dr. Graham and work with him to try and track down Zenona,” Clarabell said, looking at Oliver and Demetrius. “That sound good to you two?”
“I do need to get home and catch Dave up on all of this,” Oliver said. “But the two of us can meet up with you in a little while.”
Clarabell looked to Demetrius. “How about you? Do you want to go see Cody?”
A flash of guilt went through him. He had yet to respond to Cody’s text, and as much as he wanted to see and be with him, it didn’t feel like the right time for them to be having the intense conversation needed to get themselves back on track. He smiled as steadily as possible.
“No. We’re okay to be apart a little longer.”
“If it were me, I’d make that a lot longer,” Lucia said. Then she gave each of them a stern look. “Do not take any chances. If you find out anything that could lead to Zenona, call it in. Do not investigate on your own.”
“Call the department phone or your phone?” Oliver asked.
“The department’s been brought up to date. I don’t want to be the bottleneck in saving Zenona if I’m involved in something else.”
“How’d that department briefing go over?” Clarabell asked.
Deputy Walsh gave a quiet snort. “Not as crazy as you’d think. Most of the deputies have seen or lived through something weird here in town. The newbies have heard stories from those who have. Only one who really reacted badly was the sheriff himself.”
Lucia’s expression tightened slightly. “He’ll come around when it comes right down to it.”
“You should be the sheriff,” Walsh said to Lucia. “You’re more of a leader on the force than he is.”
“All right, Deputy, that’s enough,” Lucia said, but with a tone that sounded a bit like gratitude.
“So, where will you be patrolling?” Demetrius asked. “And have you found anything that might be a dwelling for vampires?”
“Nothing yet. And we’re going to cover the city. Tomorrow’s Halloween, and I expect the tourists are going to be doing dry run parties tonight to prepare for tomorrow.”
Clarabell ducked out of sight behind the kitchen island, then popped back up with two long range squirt guns. She handed one to each deputy, and the women looked at squirt guns, each other, then back at Clarabell.
“What the hell is this?” Lucia said.
“Holy water.” Clarabell smiled. “The seniors at Parson’s Pines gave me the idea.”
That made Demetrius think about Amelia and Otis, and he pulled out his phone. “I should check on Amelia.”
“I saw her just a little while ago,” Lucia said, then nodded to Oliver. “She and Eileen were hauling gallon jugs of water out of Holy Mother of Perpetual Twilight, so I guess that explains that.”
“I’m glad she’s preparing herself.” Demetrius tightened his grip on his phone. Maybe he could check on her in a few minutes. Besides, if he knew his husband at all, Cody would have checked on Amelia and Eileen both after seeing to Felicia.
Lucia and Deputy Walsh left to go on patrol, stakes gripped in one hand and squirt guns in the other. Oliver took a few stakes and a squirt gun with him before departing as well. Clarabell grabbed some protein bars and stuffed them in her bag, then she and Demetrius loaded a canvas shopping bag with the remaining stakes, and each of them picked up a squirt gun before they left her apartment.
The sun had gone down, leaving long smears of orange and yellow across the clouds in the west. Demetrius shivered in the chill and wished he’d brought a heavier coat.
“I’m not climbing in and out of your truck all night,” Clarabell said. “Let’s take my car.”
Demetrius was glad to be a passenger for the night. So many times he’d been the one making decisions and driving things forward. It would be refreshing to get a break from that, from being the town savior once again.
Once Clarabell had shifted the pile of papers and books off the passenger seat of her Kia Soul into the back, Demetrius got in the car. They took a few minutes adjusting the positions of the squirt guns, stakes, and crucifixes, making sure everything was readily available. When they were finally settled, Clarabell started the engine, put her hands on the wheel, and turned to him.
“Where to first?”
Demetrius almost laughed. So much for just being a passenger.
“The hospital, I guess, to talk to Dr. Graham.”
“That’s what I was going to suggest, as well. Give a shout if you see a vampire.”
“Oh, you’ll know about it.”
Cody had no idea where to begin looking for Demmy. He hadn’t responded to Cody’s texts, and that had him worried not only about Demmy’s safety, but also their future as a couple. Had Cody finally done what he’d been afraid of all along and really fucked everything up between them?
Adding to his frustration and anxiety were the tourists. The sidewalks were packed with costumed people in varying levels of sobriety. Since Eileen’s hip was bothering her, Cody left his truck parked in front of Amelia and Otis’s condo and backed Geraldine out of Eileen’s garage. Geraldine was the name he’d given to the tank of a car the Widow Monroe had left to him in her will. She was a classic: a tan, four-door mid-70s Cadillac Sedan DeVille with a white vinyl roof and leather interior. The car had saved their lives on numerous occasions, and during all of the accidents and incidents, had received barely a scratch. It nearly broke the bank for him to drive her—a staggering twelve miles per gallon, on a good day—but after years of frustration at seeing the car pull out in front of him, Cody loved being behind the wheel.
It was long and wide, with plenty of room in the front bench seat for all three of them. Amelia sat in the middle, a squirt gun in her lap, while Eileen took the passenger seat, her cane between her knees and a squirt gun across her thighs.
“Still smells like JoAnn,” Eileen said.
“Probably pressed into the leather itself,” Cody said. “I think I’ve become immune to it.”
“You do look good behind the wheel,” Amelia said. “This car suits you.”
“I’ve always considered myself a vintage classic.” Cody flashed a tight smile, then braked hard as a group of people in their mid-twenties darted across the street in front of him. They all wore headbands with werewolf ears, and a couple of the guys sported plastic fangs. “Damn kids.”
“Why don’t you just move out to Parson’s Pines now and get it over with?” Eileen said.
“Are you kidding? We’ve got the best house in town, thanks to our lovely benefactor,” Cody said, shooting the stink eye to the backs of the carousers before taking his foot off the brake and moving on.
“Oh, pine trees, go on with you,” Amelia said, but she looked pleased.
Cody left the downtown area and slowly wound his way through the residential streets. He slowed even more as he passed Amelia’s house where he and Demmy lived, his hopes dashed when he didn’t see Demmy’s truck in the drive.
“I’m sure he’s fine,” Amelia said, touching his arm. “He’s out trying to find Zenona as well.”
“He knows how to take care of himself,” Eileen said, leaning forward to look at him around Amelia. “You know that better than anyone.”
“Yeah, I know. Would be nice if he let someone take care of him once in a while,” Cody said.
“But that’s not who he is,” Amelia said. “You know that as well as I do.”
“I know. I can wish, can’t I?”
They fell silent, and Cody finished patrolling his and Demmy’s neighborhood. He caught a glimpse of a pudgy shadow trundling up someone’s driveway and sent a gentle good evening to Trevor, hoping he stayed safe.
The high school was dark and quiet as he made a circuit through the parking lot, and then he turned into the Hollow Hills subdivision just down the road. A builder had bought up the empty fields between the high school and the western edge of town heading out toward Harriettville and had spent the last few years putting up big houses based off of three sets of blueprints.
Eileen scoffed as they rolled slowly down a street. “Soulless McMansions.”
“They are very similar, aren’t they?” Amelia said.
“The more established neighborhoods are all made up of three styles, too. Cape Cod bungalows, colonials, and Craftsmen.” Cody said.
“Yeah, but those have character,” Eileen said. “Look at all the empty space inside these monstrosities.”
Cody had to give her that.
“All I see is a lot of impossible to reach corners where cobwebs could gather,” Amelia said.
“You two should have your own show on HGTV.”
“We’d put those others out of business,” Eileen said. “Think we should cruise over to the hospital and pay a visit to the good vampire doctor? See if he’s had any leads?”
“Yeah, sure. And I’ll check in with Lucia once we get there.”
“Vampire medical examiner,” Amelia said with a shake of her head. “Never thought I’d say that.”
“That’s a show I’d watch, though,” Eileen said, and she and Amelia shared a laugh.
Cody couldn’t help throwing cold water on their humor. “You say that now, but when an evil vampire crawls out of a body bag and takes someone you care about hostage, you’ll change your tunes.”
Amelia patted his arm. “I’m sorry, dear. We know it’s a serious situation, and we’re both worried about Zenona, too. We just needed a little humor to break the tension.”
“Yeah, sorry about that,” Eileen said, then she leaned forward again. “But you have to admit, that does sound like a great show.”
Cody shook his head but couldn’t hide his smile. “Yeah, all right.”
A few minutes later, Cody pulled Geraldine into the main parking lot of Memorial Hospital. He parked under an LED light that threw out a wide apron of cool white light, then chided himself for it. It wasn’t like vampires were afraid of LED lighting. He considered moving to a new spot, but Eileen had shoved the door open and was already swinging her legs out. Well, that settled it.
“Eileen, dammit, wait a minute. We need to check the area,” he said.
But she was already getting slowly to her feet. Cody cursed quietly, then shoved the heavy driver’s door open and got out. He felt ridiculous holding the plastic and brightly colored squirt gun across his chest as if it was an actual weapon, but he pushed those thoughts aside. Rounding the back of the car, he tried to look everywhere at once, his senses on high alert. Was it his imagination, or did the night feel too quiet?
Amelia slid out the driver’s door and closed it. Cody stood beside Eileen, right hand holding the gun down along his leg, holy water dripping slowly from the nozzle, and his left supporting her by the elbow. With slow movements, he helped Eileen move clear of the door so he could close it.
“What’s that?” Eileen pointed toward the hospital. “Isn’t that someone we know?”
Cody saw Clarabell and Demmy threading their way between cars, headed for the entrance. A surge of love and relief went through him, but it was followed quickly by a cold fist of dread. Two figures were moving through the shadows between cars toward them from either side.
“Oh, it’s Demetrius,” Amelia said. “Let’s catch up to them.”
“Wait, stay here,” Cody said. “They’re in trouble.”
“What?” Amelia practically shouted.
Cody ran, holding the squirt gun across his chest. His heart pounded and a loud buzzing had kicked off inside his skull. Having to dodge and weave between the parked cars and trucks cost Cody time, and panic flooded his chest with ice. He wasn’t going to make it. Visions of Demmy on the cold, hard asphalt with his throat torn open slammed into Cody’s brain, and tears blurred his vision.
“Demmy!” Cody shouted, but it was weak as he gasped for breath. Dammit, they should have kept that membership at the fitness center. He drew in a breath and tried again, louder this time. “Demmy!”
Demmy and Clarabell both stopped and looked back. Cody was glad Demmy smiled at the sight of him. Maybe they could save the heavy conversation for later and just be glad to see each other.
The other two figures stepped into a circle of light and Cody nearly cried with relief. It was Ollie and his brother, Dave. Jesus Christ, Cody’s brain could invent more threats than it had a right to.
He stopped and raised his hand in greeting, then bent over with his hands on his knees, the squirt gun held awkwardly off to one side as he caught his breath. His heart rate was slowing, and the buzzing in his brain had quieted somewhat. Demmy was safe and they were together again.
Cody straightened up, a big smile on his face. He took a step forward, his gaze fixed on Demmy, seeing only the matching smile and bright expression undimmed by the washout of the LED light overhead.
Something moved in front of the light, passing its shadow over Demmy and Clarabell. Cody stopped, his smile fading, then shivered as a breeze gusted around him.
“Cody!” Demmy shouted and pointed at him.
The smell of death and dirt and rot wrapped around him, bringing with it a deep and terrible cold as strong hands grabbed his upper arms from behind, claws digging into his skin. Before he could shout in surprise or cry out at the hot and angry pain blossoming in his arms, Cody was lifted off his feet, dropping the squirt gun.
He found his voice and shouted as he watched the ground drop away in a dizzying spiral. Demmy’s face was a pale oval looking up, his mouth a black circle of shock and anguish. Cody caught a glimpse of Amelia and Eileen watching him fly away, then the roof of the hospital sped past beneath him, all air conditioning units and air exchanges, weathered and rusted. The rush of air in his face was cold, and he thought wildly that he should have grabbed a heavier jacket when he’d left the house.
Awareness came back, and he shifted within the grip of whatever had him, trying to get loose. Then a large head dipped down close to his ear, an awful cold streaming off of it, colder even than the air around him. In a terrible voice that sounded like it had dirt in its throat, the thing said, “Hold still, my prize. You wouldn’t like two broken legs to deal with as well as a slow exsanguination.”
Cody tipped his head as far from the thing as possible and screamed as it carried him off into the night.