Page 93 of Dark Obsession

“Besides the point.” Cody raised both hands to get their attention back. “Last October, another vampire tried to take us all out, to turn us.”

“That vampire turned my grandma,” a young woman said. “She tried to bite my baby daughter.”

Cody’s stomach turned, and he had a flash of the cold DPW basement and Aldrik’s fangs in his neck. He closed his eyes and clenched his hands tight, feeling his nails dig into his palms. After a breath, he opened his eyes again and looked at the woman in the crowd. “That was a scary time.”

“They never found my grandma,” the woman added, swiping a hand across her cheek. “Is she out there tonight?”

More mumbling and fidgeting within the crowd.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know the answer to that. But, look, it was dangerous as fuck back in October when it all started to happen, and it’s dangerous as fuck out here again tonight. Please, do the smart thing and go to your homes. Lock your doors and stay inside until sunrise.”

“Will it be over then?” someone asked. “Will we be able to go out at night tomorrow? I’ve got movie tickets for over in Glenmont.”

Lucia stepped up beside Cody. Her voice was cold and brokered no bargaining as she said, “This is a very fluid situation. You know the danger we’re facing, we’ve explained it to you. At some point during the day tomorrow we’ll provide an update, but for now go to your homes and stay there.”

“How will you update us?”

“We’ll post an update on the city’s website,” Lucia said.

“That hasn’t been authorized,” Sheriff Grubbs hissed. “You can’t say that.”

Cody turned, wide-eyed. “Dude. Read the room. Shut the fuck up and let her work.”

Grubbs blinked and pulled his head back in surprise, but kept quiet.

“Come on, now,” Demmy said to the crowd, coming up on Cody’s other side. “Please, for your own safety, go home.”

“What about our cars? I parked in the lot.”

“Those who have cars available can drive others to their homes,” Dave suggested. When people started grumbling about it, he added, “It’s a terrible night, and we need to come together as a community. Please support each other.”

In a show of perfect timing, something down the street exploded, sending flames high into the night sky. Everyone ducked and turned terrified faces toward the fire. When they’d all recovered, the crowd started to thin. People offered rides to others, heading for nearby lots and side streets. Others clumped together in groups and hurried off on foot.

“Now what?” Ollie said, taking Dave’s hand and standing close to his side. “How do we find Zenona? Where would Bastian have taken her?”

“That’s the priority,” Lucia said. “Others are missing as well, along with the firefighters and our deputy.”

Cody took in their group: he and Demmy, Dave and Ollie, Jugs and Agatha, Clarabell, Robin, Tracey, Lucia, and however many deputies might be left. Amelia and Otis were still there, as were Eileen and Dieter. Margie hovered nearby, wringing her hands. Bastian had had it right, damn him. They were a ragtag group, but they’d been through a lot of monster shit already and survived. Hell, Amelia and a group of seniors had saved Demmy and him from zombies last year, so no one should be counted out, no matter their age or ability.

But they needed a small strike team. A group nimble and quick, comfortable with this kind of fight.

He resumed pacing. If he were a vampire with a huge ego and a plan to turn the whole town into vampires, starting with the one woman who’d been a do-gooder pain in his ass for a while now, where would he want to make a final stand? Where would he go to bring his entire vision full circle? A place to really prove a point and drive his takeover of their town home, drive a stake through the heart of Parson’s Hollow?

Cody stopped in his tracks. Even at this distance, he could read every name on the memorial monument. Down the street, he heard the snap and pop of the fire, the spray and hiss of the water from the hoses, and the static and garbled sounds from police radios. And embedded in all of that, a brief cry of pain and fear, followed by the quiet tinkle of a bell.

He turned and looked at Demmy. “I know where he is.”

Everyone stopped talking and looked at him, the sheriff and fire chief included.

“You getting telepathic messages or something?” Sheriff Grubbs said with a deep chortle.

Cody ignored him. “I’ve got a hankering for meatloaf, don’t you?”

Demmy frowned, then his expression cleared, and he nodded. “I could eat.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Grubbs looked between them. “We’re not just up and leaving Main Street to burn.”

“You’re right, we’re not leaving Main Street.” Cody threw him a glance. “You all focus on the fire. We’ll handle the rest.” He met Lucia’s eyes. “Right?”

Lucia’s mouth pressed into a thin line as she nodded. “Right.” She triggered her mic and said, “Deputy Walsh, I need you here at Memorial Park.”

Gayle responded she was on her way, and Lucia crossed her arms. “Okay, what’s the plan?”

“Plan?” Cody said with a smile and a shrug. “Save the world. Like any other Tuesday night.”