Chapter 24
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
The tables and chairs lay in pieces scattered across the dining area when Demetrius and Cody emerged from the kitchen.
Marlowe stood near the back hallway, several cuts across her face and one up her left arm that Demetrius could see through her torn sleeve.
Liam, the younger vampire who’d run in front of Zenona’s car the night they’d all visited The Rusty Screw, stood at her side, fists raised and cuts across his face and throat.
They were facing off against another bald vampire who’d shed his leather jacket for just a white tank top stained with human and vampire blood.
A couple of vampires were circling Dave and Oliver near the front door, while off to the side, Deputy Alberti was tending to Deputy Rockford who held her arm at an awkward angle. Lucia and Gayle were just helping each other up from the floor near a fresh pool of dark fluid.
Demetrius stooped to pick up a chair leg, holding it with the jagged edge pointed out. “Where do you want to help?”
Cody pointed with the mop handle. “I’ll give Dave and Ollie a hand.”
“I’ll see if I can help Marlowe and Liam.”
Demetrius paused by Lucia and Gayle to whisper, “Bastian and Annie are dead. Zenona is locked in the cooler. Bastian busted one of the hinges, and we can’t get the door open.”
“Shit.” Lucia’s shoulders sagged, and she held herself stiffly, one hand pressed to her side. “I’ll call for assistance.”
“I’ll do it,” Gayle said. “Let someone else do something, for God’s sake.”
“There’s still more of them,” Lucia said, grimacing. “And we’re out of silver bullets.”
“We’ve got it,” Demetrius assured her. “You’re injured, sit down.”
He came up behind the big vampire swiping at Marlowe and Liam. Holding the chair leg tight, he called, “Hey, baldie. Afraid to pick on someone human?”
The vampire whirled, one corner of his mouth lifting in a snarl. Marlowe was on him in a flash, and a moment later he was gone. She slung the residue off her hand and nodded to him. Liam gave him a quick smile.
Demetrius watched as Cody jabbed one of the vampires threatening Oliver and Dave, distracting it.
Oliver, despite stepping in a slick puddle and having his foot slide out from under him, struck the killing blow.
Dave feinted to his right then moved to the left and lunged forward, stabbing the remaining vampire with his stake and jumping back to avoid the splatter.
It was over. The diner was a wreck: furniture destroyed, the kitchen in shambles, the walk-in cooler damaged beyond repair, and the floor and booths splattered with gore.
Demetrius limped toward his and Cody’s usual booth and dropped into it, setting the chair leg on the table with a thunk.
A moment later, Cody joined him, and they both fell back across the vinyl seats.
Out on the street, they heard the sounds of the stores burning and the firefighters battling the blaze.
The temperature inside the diner was even hotter, and Demetrius hoped with the vampires handled, for now, that the firefighters would have a chance to save the rest of the businesses.
“I could use a double helping of Margie’s meatloaf,” Cody said.
Demetrius laughed and turned his head to look at him beneath the table. Cody was looking back and smiling.
“I love you,” Demetrius said.
“I love you, too,” Cody replied.
“This place is a mess,” Dave said.
Demetrius forced himself to sit up. Dave and Oliver stood by the booth, taking the place in.
Cody sat up as well. “Yeah, it looks like your wedding.”
Dave gave him a dirty look.
Oliver sat heavily in the next booth down and bent over, head between his knees.
“You okay, babe?” Dave put a hand on the back of his neck.
“Yeah.” Oliver stared at the floor. “It’s just been a lot.” He sat up and looked at Dave. “Again.”
“I know. But it’s done now.” Dave looked between Demetrius and Cody. “Right?”
“Bastian is dead,” Demetrius said. “And this wave of his followers is gone.”
“And Annie,” Cody added. “Hopefully there aren’t any more of his army out there waiting for a new attack, because I don’t think I have any fight left in me.”
Demetrius had to agree. The Fang had done its job, but he could feel his energy flagging. It appeared to have healed his concussion and other recent injuries, but a hint of his old neck injury was returning, like a shadow of itself.
Marlowe approached them. “A group attacked the bar and Beverly Sue, but we fought them off. Hortense stayed behind to protect Beverly Sue.”
“The dog or the man?” Cody asked.
Marlowe actually grinned. “I may be starting to like you, Cody.”
“Well, that’s a relief,” Cody said.
Lucia came up to them, leaning on Gayle. “Gayle called for backup and told them about the cooler.”
“What about the cooler?” Marlowe asked.
“Zenona is inside,” Demetrius said. “And Bastian crushed one of the hinges so the door won’t open.”
“Huh.” Marlowe turned away and went through the swinging door, Liam following close behind.
Demetrius exchanged a look with Cody before standing and waving toward the booth. “Sit down, Lucia.”
“I’m fine,” Lucia said, even as Gayle helped her to the bench.
“For God’s sake,” Gayle said, “you’ve probably got at least one broken rib. Sit the fuck down, will you?”
The loud screech of metal bending followed by a snap and a hiss of air releasing sent Demetrius, Cody, Dave, and Oliver running for the kitchen.
Demetrius pushed through the door in time to see Marlowe carrying the thick steel cooler door across the room where she leaned it against the counter.
After setting it down, she switched off the burners and twisted a couple of knobs beneath the griddle.
Liam was already inside the cooler, crouching behind the chair and snapping zip ties around her wrists and ankles like they were thread.
Demetrius stepped in as well, shivering as he crouched before Zenona.
Her skin was pale and her lips tinged with blue, eyes blinking rapidly.
The tracks of blood had dried on her neck, and Demetrius wondered just how much Bastian had drank from her.
“Zenona?” He gently patted her cheek. “It’s Demetrius. Can you hear me?”
She murmured something, but didn’t open her eyes. Instead, she started to slip sideways in the chair. Demetrius reached to steady her, but Liam swept her up into his arms, easily carrying her out of the cooler and into the dining room.
Demetrius stood and, before leaving the cooler, he took a box off one of the shelves then followed the others out of kitchen. Liam was carefully placing Zenona on a stretcher a couple of EMTs had positioned out on the sidewalk. They hurriedly pushed her out of sight, and Liam stood watching her go.
Setting the box on the counter, Demetrius tore it open. He grabbed several ice cream bars and went around distributing them. Marlowe refused, and when Demetrius stepped outside to offer one to Liam, he shook his head.
“Thank you for your help,” Demetrius said.
Liam smiled shyly.
“I hope we can become friends.”
Liam nodded, and Demetrius returned to the diner where he found Cody digging into the box himself.
“We’ll have to tell Margie to put this on our tab,” Cody said as he took a massive bite, devouring half of the sandwich at once. He moaned and closed his eyes as he plopped onto a stool.
“I really hope her insurance is paid up,” Dave said, reaching for a second helping.
Demetrius sat beside Cody and took a bite of his own sandwich, leaning his head against Cody’s shoulder as he chewed. The sugar and cream sang through his worn out system.
Marlowe stood in front of them, Liam just behind her.
“Sun will be up in a few hours,” she said. “We have a lot of cleanup to do back at the bar.”
Demetrius stood and extended his hand. “Thank you for helping.”
Marlowe shook with him, her grip cool and dry. “We would have been here sooner, but had our own battle to fight.”
“Understandable,” Demetrius said. “Thanks for everything.”
She nodded. “You’re a good one, Demetrius. I’ve been watching you for a number of years, and I’m glad we’ve finally met.”
“Oh, um, thanks.”
Marlowe turned to Cody, and he said, “I owe you a pint,” and he held out an arm, pointing to the crook of his elbow.
She grinned and shook her head, then moved on to Dave and Oliver, shaking hands with them before she approached Lucia and Gayle, Liam trailing after her like a puppy. Demetrius watched as Lucia got slowly to her feet, wincing. She shook Marlowe’s hand.
“Thank you,” Lucia said. “You made all the difference.”
In between the comings and goings of the first responders, Marlowe and Liam slipped out the door and vanished.
“My God!” Margie stood in the doorway, staring around in shock with her hands against her cheeks and tears running down her face. “My diner!”
Demetrius went up to her, Cody right behind him.
“Margie, I’m sorry—”
Demetrius wasn’t able to finish because Margie cried out and grabbed them both in a strong hug.
“Boys! Oh my God, I’m so glad you’re both all right.”
“Sorry about your diner,” Demetrius finally said.
Margie released them and looked around again, shaking her head. “It’s terrible, but I’m well-insured. And I made sure there were no clauses or statements about coverage being denied for uprisings or monster activity.” She lifted her chin a bit. “You know how Gordon can be with his policies.”
Demetrius started laughing, and he couldn’t seem to stop for a very long time.